BOSTON – Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, announced today that the Webster Public Schools has been awarded a 21^st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) competitive grant through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The $55,707 grant will enable the creation of a CCLC Demonstration Site at the Webster Middle School.

“These funds will go a long way to help Webster students to achieve success and ultimately boost learning outcomes in the district,” said Sen. Moore. “I applaud the faculty and staff of the Webster Public Schools for their hard work and foresight in applying for this grant,” he continued.

The purpose of the Massachusetts 21^st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Exemplary Program is to expand and enhance the mentoring capacity of Community Learning Centers that operate during out-of-school hours. Programs provide students with academic enrichment opportunities along with other activities designed to complement the students' school-day programs. Community Learning Centers may offer literacy and related educational development to families of students participating in the 21^st CCLC programs.

Shepherd Hill boy’s team event

Text by Steev Riccardo. Patriot staff photos; more photos follow.

FISKDALE – Oxford high school senior Emily Dawidczyk and Shepherd Hill junior Stella Worters both continued their Indoor track dominance at the Southern Worcester County League championship meet at Tantasqua Regional on Wednesday, Jan. 30.

Dawidczyk won both the 55-meter hurdles and the 55-meter dash and also came in third place in the shot put.  In the process of winning both the 55-meter hurdles and the 55-meter dash, she broke SWCL records in both, in a masterful performance.

Text and photos by Steev Riccardo

OXFORD – The Oxford Pirates outscored the Millbury Woolies 51-20 and had 12 steals in the first half en route to a huge 78-46 victory Friday (February 1) night, which earned them their tenth win of the season and a district playoff birth.

The Pirates stormed out of the locker room and played a flawless first quarter dominating the Woolies and outscoring them 29-8.  Senior co-captains Mike James and Donnie Freeland led the early attack with eight points apiece.

Senior co-captain Tyler Barrie joined the hit parade in the second quarter, burying a pair of deep 3-pointers and helping his team build its enormous 31-point half-time lead.

JANET MALSER HUMANITIES TRUST – DEADLINE APRIL 1

The Janet Malser Humanities Trust is accepting applications for the 2013 grant cycle. Ms. Malser set up the charitable Trust in order to support the arts and humanities, community service and conservation in the towns of Dudley, Oxford, and Webster, MA.

The causes for which funding will be considered include: “the restoration and preservation of historic sites; the furtherance of art and music in the schools, both public and private; public concerts with an emphasis on classical music; the improvement and growth of public libraries; the support of church work aiding the indigent, homeless, aging citizens and needy children; beautification through planting and the preservation of park areas and cemeteries; the improvement of service and equipment at the Hubbard Regional Hospital [now Harrington Healthcare at Hubbard], and the environmental protection of Webster Lake.”

Trustees will make awards annually to verified tax-exempt organizations meeting the charitable purposes of the Trust. Prior recipients are eligible to apply so long as proper follow up status reports have been filed; otherwise they will not be considered.

Applications and instructions for the current year are available at www.janetmalsertrust.org.  Please use the 2013 application as changes have been made. All applications must be postmarked by April 1, 2013.

By Becky Harvey
Patriot correspondent

Kosta Karamanakis, student representative to the Dudley-Charlton School Committee, started off last  Wednesday’s  meeting with a report of his visit to the presidential inauguration in Washington DC.  He returned only just before the meeting.  He was part of a Student Council program that invites select students to take part in a very special program.  Later in the meeting he read a thank you to the committee for its efforts to make the schools a safer place.  Karamanakis made sure to say that it isn’t the role of just the school committee, but of the entire school community, including students, who are responsible for creating a safe environment.

by Becky Harvey

OXFORD - Parents of Oxford students received a shocking call from Superintendent of Schools Allen Himmelberger on Monday, January 29.  He opened the call stating that he “regrets to inform that a white male in his thirties with spiked red hair and driving a small black SUV with tan interior drove up to the bus stop” and exposed himself to students of Clara Barton Elementary School who were waiting to be picked up for school. 

According to Detective Rick Bryn of the Oxford Police Department, the suspect passed the bus stop and then turned down Matthew Circle from Holly Street.  He then made a three point turn about half way down the street and then made his way back to the bus stop.  While stopped for the stop sign, he exposed himself to the children.  There were four students present and no parents at the stop.  Three of the children claim to have seen the act, while one says she didn’t see anything. 

Bryn stated that all of the locally registered sex offenders have been interviewed and all have alibis for the time during which the crime allegedly happened.  Officers continue to work on the case though there really aren’t any leads.  Bryn stated that anyone seeing an unfamiliar, dark-colored SUV in their neighborhood should take down the license plate number and contact the Oxford Police, just to be on the safe side.  Tips can either be called in to (508) 987-0156 x:122 or by emailing the detective directly at:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   The Oxford Police also offer an anonymous tip line on their website, http://www.oxfordpolice.info/, under the contact us tab.

Police urge citizens to remain vigilant and on alert for vehicles or people who seem unfamiliar.

Wednesday January 23, 2013
Location:  75 Mason Rd., Dudley

Particulars:   Last Wednesday evening, while most folks were hunkered down in the warmth of their homes to escape the absolutely arctic conditions outside, Dudley firefighters were battling fire and ice as they were called into action to fight a house fire on Mason Road.

Shortly after 6 PM, Dudley firefighters were requested to respond to 75 Mason Road.  The occupants of the residence were reporting a fire in the basement of the home.  First due Dudley firefighters arrived on the scene to find heavy smoke enveloping the neighborhood, and a couple of the occupants anxiously awaiting the fire department.  All of the home’s occupants escaped unharmed.

Friday, 10-1, at Harrington HealthCare at Hubbard 

Harrington HealthCare at Hubbard, 340 Thompson Road in Webster, invites the local community on Friday, February 1 to free blood pressure screenings in its main lobby from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will help celebrate National Go Red Day, with information on cardiac health, nutrition and exercise. In the event of inclement weather, event will be postponed.

by Charles Kelleher Harris

OXFORD-Department of Public Works Director Sean Divoll revealed he results of a recent pavement management study to the Board of Selectmen at their Jan.15 meeting.

“During the development process we learned many things. One of  the key things learned is that our annual expenditure on road maintenance and repair is not enough to maintain the overall pavement condition average,” said Divoll.

Through a PowerPoint presentation, Divoll showed how action needed to be taken quickly in order to save the town potentially millions of dollars in coming years.

Text and photos by Steev Riccardo

OXFORD – The Oxford Pirates (7-5) ended a three game losing streak in style with some impressive long range shooting, resulting in a big 71-61 win over archrival the Shepherd Hill Rams (9-4) on Wednesday (January 23) night at Oxford High School.

It was pretty obvious to everyone that the Pirates needed a win to save their playoff hopes and in the process put together one of their best performances of the year, hitting fourteen 3-point shots while getting tremendous efforts from several players on both sides of the ball.