By Thomas D’Agostino
Patriot Correspondent

WEBSTER -  The Webster Board of Selectmen met once more with the Hazards in regard to a previous dangerous dog hearing. The Hazards failed to appear before the board during the scheduled March 5 hearing, and had not complied with the measures requested by the board.

Amy Hazard appeared before the board on Monday, March 18, stating that the dog was no longer in their possession but presently staying elsewhere. Selectman Mark Dowgiewicz asked Hazard if the dog was still in town and her reply was, “It doesn’t matter.”

solar project, health plan changes, budget

By Becky Harvey
Patriot Correspondent

DUDLEY - The March 13 school committee meeting for the Dudley-Charlton district started off with a lively presentation of certificates to students who are being acknowledged by the Kennedy Library for their Make a Difference program. Jordan Blackadar and Matthew MacKay, 8^th and 7^th graders at Dudley Middle School were recognized for their coat and pajama drives (respectively) for the needy. 

to Support ED Fund-Raiser

WEBSTER, Mass. – Harrington HealthCare at Hubbard will host a Taste of Poland event on Saturday, April 20, 2013 at the 200 Sportsmen Club (184 Sutton Road) in Webster. The event takes place from 5:30 p.m. to midnight and features authentic Polish food, dancing and raffles.

The event is a fund-raiser to support the Strengthening our Future campaign to rebuild the Emergency Department in Webster. The $8.8 million campaign, which kicked off in March 2012, is led by a $4 million anonymous matching gift. To date, donations from individuals, businesses and the community have totaled more than $2.2 million.

March 13: Webster police arrest William Ferrante
for impersonating a police officer.

On March 11 Webster Police Officer Robert Ela developed information that a young woman had been followed to her boy friend’s house by someone who was utilizing a blue light similar to that which is commonly found in police cars. This occurred on March 5th and was reported to the Webster Police Department, however no vehicle was found at that time.

After a brief investigation by Officer Ela, it was determined that the driver in question was William Ferrante, 24, 21 Mill Street Webster. Allegedly Ferrante would use the light to “slow cars down” when they were speeding past him on the highway. He would also come across accidents and use the light to warn traffic until police arrived. In the above mentioned incident, the victim was driving on 395 Northbound when Ferrante was behind her utilizing the blue light. She pulled over and he passed her, only to slow down again and again pull behind her with the blue light flashing.

Fearing for her safety, the victim drove to her boyfriend’s house and Ferrante approached the victim and demanded her license. He then apparently identified himself as a military police officer.

Officer Ela applied for and was granted a warrant for the arrest of Ferrante for impersonating a police officer. He is being held at the Webster Police Department on $240.00 bail. He will be arraigned tomorrow at Dudley District Court.

Text and photos by Steev Riccardo

WEBSTER – Bartlett senior Lauren Hughes attributes a lot ofher great learning habits, which have resulted in high grades, to the fact that she attended St. Louis school in Webster from kindergarten until the eighth grade.

“I feel that going to St. Louis really helped me,” said Hughes. “It helped form good study habits, with the smaller classes we were able to get into. I wish they we could have read a little more in English classes and focused more on the literature, but other than that, it really prepared me for high school.”

By Becky Harvey
Patriot correspondent

OXFORD - The superintendent of the Oxford schools, Allen Himmelberger, began the school committee meeting on March 11 with a Smartboard presentation of the school budget for 2014.  In his presentation, he reviewed two separate budgets, a mandatory and an optimal one.  Himmelberger stated that the lack of federal funding was making a marked difference in the budget, explaining the need for two proposals. 

Districts across the commonwealth have had to spend lots of money in their quest for Race to the Top.  Mapping the curriculum to match the national common core standards and complying with the new educator evaluation system has cost much.

Credit Art teachers for their growth

Text and photos by Steev Riccardo (MORE PHOTOS FOLLOW)

WEBSTER – The Bartlett High School Art Department is without question one of the coolest around and now anyone who wants to experience the work of these talented young people will get the chance.

Throughout the next few months, you can check out the latest art by some of Bartlett’s gifted art students at the Booklovers’ Gourmet on East Main Street in Webster.

On March 10, 2013, at approximately just before 11:00 p.m. Officer Aaron Suss was on patrol when he observed a vehicle speeding in the North Main Street area. While observing the vehicle, he saw it almost strike a group of pedestrians. After initiating a motor vehicle stop, it appeared the operator, later identified as Carlene Divoll (4/49/71) from 557 School Street in Webster, spit out what appeared to be mouthwash. She also apparently consumed peanuts as well in an attempt to mask the odor of alcohol.

DUDLEY – The Board of Selectmen received a letter from the Charlton Board of Selectmen last week supporting the concept of limiting the local minimum contribution to Chapter 70 funding  to 2 ½ percent annually. In the letter, signed by Charlton Town Administrator Robin L. Craver, she said that the Charlton board had unanimously supported the concept.

Dudley board chairman Jonathan Ruda said in a statement, “The Dudley Board of Selectmen is happy to have the support, in concept,of the Charlton Board of Selectmen in pursuing legislation to cap the local minimum contribution of Chapter 70 funding at 2.5%.Chapter 70 mandatesimpact the local budget plan of every city and town in the Commonwealth. Pursuing a legislative remedy and a more thoughtful approach to education funding is a good first step in opening a statewide dialogue about the unsustainability of the current Chapter 70 formula. We look forward to the continued bipartisan support of Senator Moore and Representative Durant in facilitating that dialogue and we are encouraged by their willingness to consider cosponsoring the bill. When the language of the bill has been determined, presumably by the first week in April, the Board's next step will be to meet with members of the school committee and school administration to answer their questions and seek their input and support.”

WEBSTER - Just 158 residents turned out for Monday's election to vote to on a debt exclusion to fund Webster's $3.3 million share of the $73  million project to renovate Bay Path Regional Technical High School in Charlton.  Voters approved the measure 103 to 55. Town Clerk Robert Craver called it "the lowest turnout I've seen since I've been here."

Approximately 73 voters had unanimously approved the debt exclusion article on the town warrant at the February 25 Special Town Meeting. The average cost to Webster households will be about $33, starting in future fiscal years. There are 131 Webster students at Bay Path.