By Chief Steven J. Wojnar
Dudley Police Department

I continue to receive a number of questions surrounding a local intersection.  The particular area referenced was along Webster’s Main Street near the Dudley line, between Pleasant Street and Davis Street. There are two traffic signals in this location, one at Pleasant Street and the other before the railroad tracks near Davis Street.  Both traffic signals operate simultaneously.  When drivers are heading toward Dudley and stop at the red light near the tracks, is it legal to proceed over the railroad tracks, through the first red signal, and stop at the second light?  

This area, despite the close proximity of the respective signals, is to be treated the same as any stand alone traffic light.  Basically, it is a violation to proceed through the first stop light and stop at the second traffic signal.  A solid red traffic signal is the same whether it is near railroad tracks, a street intersection, or other area.  The only movements which can be made contrary to these signals are authorized turns on red (Right on red, unless it is otherwise prohibited) or when directed by a police officer.    

This location can be confusing as there are three areas of concern.  There are the tracks, the intersections of both roads, and the crosswalks.  You must pay particular attention as it is a violation to stop on the tracks, in the crosswalk, or block the intersection.  The law requires a vehicle to stop a minimum of fifteen feet from the railroad tracks.  The light near the tracks is present to insure drivers stop a sufficient distance from the tracks.  Several stop lines are present in this area.  Violations generally call for civil fines.  This area is very busy with both vehicle and pedestrian traffic.  For safety purposes, please wait the few extra minutes and observe the appropriate markings and signals.

I wish to take a moment to thank The Patriot Newspaper for their many years of service to our area and, in particular, their assistance with printing this column every week.  This article has the distinction of appearing in the final edition of the paper due out on May 8^th.  For over 10 years, the dedicated staff of the paper has printed this column, printed public information, and provided a tremendous service to our department without hesitation.  They have covered numerous events and stories over the years and their presence will be surely missed in our area.  I wish everyone there the best of luck for the future.

Thanks again for your questions and comments.  Please send them to me at the Dudley Police Department 71 West Main St., Dudley, Ma. 01571 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Opinions expressed in this weekly column are those of Chief Wojnar only and unless clearly noted, do not reflect the ideas or opinions of any other organization or citizen.  

I guess there’s a hundred different ways I could start this final column for The Patriot newspaper. However, I can’t think of one that doesn’t make me feel saddened that after 40 years another small town weekly publication must call it quits and take down the masthead.

We could make this a eulogy and talk about all the good times we’ve had together and how we made a difference in the lives of our readers and our subscribers. We could even take a walk down memory lane and pat ourselves on the back for a job well done when together we fought a good battle against the proposed dump site or any of the other “great ideas” that somehow only served to quicken the bitter end of yet another small American community. A local newspaper that honestly and accurately presents the news is the true lifeblood of an area.

None of us can argue that the owner Chris Robert could have or should have tried any harder or editor Barbara Van Reed could have worked harder to make the newspaper turn around and reach the potential we all could see and hoped to attain.

There is a litany of reasons why the paper couldn’t pull itself out of the red and go forward so we could be back into the list of profitable papers that are publishing in the black. But pointing the ugly finger of blame won’t change what has happened… it is what it is and will only serve to underscore the deep loss we’ll all feel the next time one of us tries to find out what is really going on in town.

So what I will do is thank the many readers and fans that have called or written me in the past sharing how much they’ve enjoyed reading my columns and articles. Some of you even shared which was your favorite column.

I will also thank all the people who let me into your life to share your story so that another person could find inspiration, humor or be called to action. Many of you helped me to spread my journalistic wings and build upon my craft making me a more confident writer and polished story teller.

In closing I want to share with all of you that I am going to have the Bariatric Surgery in August after I come home from Colorado Springs and visiting with the grandchildren. I will be using the next three months to strengthen my coping skills so that I learn a better way to handle my emotions than eating food. I will also be working on my exercise plan to help tighten up miles and miles of sagging skin.

by Henry Lane, Attorney
Lane & Hamer, Whitinsville, MA

The ongoing saga of the recently constructed billboard on the Long Subaru property along Route 395, has moved a step closer to resolution.  On March 18, 2013, Judge Tucker of the Worcester Superior Court entered a judgment on the billboard company's appeal of the Building Inspector's determination that the billboard violated the height restriction in the Town's zoning bylaws.  Although Judge Tucker determined that the billboard did in fact violate the height restriction, he did not order the sign demolished or reduced in height.  Instead he ruled that the billboard could remain until it is damaged or destroyed by weather or accident or the ownership of the property on which it is located changes.

The case was heard on cross motions for summary judgment and without the necessity of a trial since both parties agreed that the facts were not really in dispute and that the Judge could decide the case without the necessity of live testimony.  Both sides agreed that the billboard had been constructed pursuant to a building permit issued by Webster's Building Inspector and that the Webster Zoning Board of Appeals had previously decided that the sign was located in a zoning district in which billboards are permitted after an initial challenge to the construction of the billboard. It was also agreed that a third building inspector ultimately determined that although the sign is properly located, it was 85 feet high and exceeded the "four story" height limit in the zoning bylaws.  That determination was appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals which on a 3-1 vote failed to overturn the Building Inspector's determination because such decisions require a 4 vote majority of the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The primary issue before the Superior Court Judge was a question of whether or not the Building Inspector would be allowed to take a "second bite" at enforcing the bylaw after the first attempt was overturned by the Zoning Board of Appeals.  The billboard company argued that, since the legality of the billboard had once been challenged, and that the Zoning Board of Appeals' decision denying that challenge was not appealed by anybody, its decision was final and that no further challenge should be allowed.   The Town, on the other hand, argued that the initial challenge was limited to the question of whether or not the sign was located in an appropriate district and it did not deal with the height issue and, therefore, the Town should not be precluded from enforcing the height issue separately. 

In a 14-page decision, Judge Tucker addressed all of the issues and concluded that the sign did exceed the "four story" height restriction in the zoning bylaws. He also decided that since the first enforcement action only dealt with the location of the sign and not its height, the Town was not precluded from bringing a separate enforcement action related to the height issue. However, the Judge also found that the billboard company had obtained a building permit for the sign and had constructed the sign in good faith.  Furthermore, he noted that there was no challenge to the construction of the sign until it had been completed.

Under the circumstances, the Judge weighed the equities and determined that requiring the sign to be lowered would result in economic waste and a reduction in its usefulness.  Accordingly, Judge Tucker determined that as an equitable matter, the sign should be allowed to remain until it was damaged or destroyed or ownership of the property changed.  Despite Judge Tucker's efforts to resolve the case in a manner he judged to be fair to both sides, apparently neither side was satisfied and both parties have filed appeals from the decision. Assuming the trip to the Appeals Court follows the usual course, the billboard will remain for at least another year. 

By Chief Steven J. Wojnar
Dudley Police Department

Tragic events, such as what occurred at the Boston Marathon, often result in large donations to victims.  Unfortunately, some people use these opportunities to prey on the generosity of others and conduct a variety of “scams.”  Recently, Attorney General Martha Coakley provided some valuable information on this topic.  I wanted to provide this to the readers for your consideration.

Attorney General Martha Coakley “reminded those who want to give to support victims of the Boston Marathon attacks to do their homework first to ensure the charity is reputable. More than 125 website domain names relating to the Boston Marathon explosions were registered within a few hours of the attacks Monday, according to Consumer Affairs Undersecretary Barbra Anthony.  Fraudulent websites have popped up in the aftermath of other national tragedies, including the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newtown. Coakley warned would-be donors to protect themselves from fundraising scams by making sure any websites they visit match a registered charity and to beware of professional fundraisers who try to make their solicitations sound like they are coming directly from the charity itself or volunteers.  Coakley's office offered a handful of tips, including getting to know the charity by taking time to verify the address, phone number, and contact information and reviewing the website and written material. When possible, consider the charity's history. Be wary of appeals that are "long on emotion," according to Coakley's office. A legitimate charity will tell donors how it's using the money after a disaster. Do not pay cash and never give a credit card number to a fundraiser over the phone. Websites like Charitynavigator.org and BBB.org/charity help donors get additional information on a particular charity.”

The important thing to remember is do not conduct business transactions unless you are sure of the people and places you are dealing with.  At this time, the main donation organization established through the Commonwealth is the “One Boston Fund.”  It can be found at onebostonfund.org.  Please take the time to protect yourself and insure your donation is going toward its intended purpose.

Our thoughts and sympathies go out to all the victims (including those killed and their families), participants, spectators, and thousands of others impacted by the tragic events last week in Boston.  This includes the family of MIT Officer Sean Collier, who was killed Thursday, and MBTA Officer Richard Donohue who was severely wounded.  Special thanks, prayers, and our best wishes go out to the Boston Police, Fire, EMS and all the first responders (including the many extraordinary citizens) for their bravery and efforts during the marathon and in the subsequent investigation.  All the law enforcement agencies, including local, federal, and state, worked together to bring the search for the suspects to a conclusion (including the successful capture of the second person).  Although to some it may appear to be over, we realize the investigation continues and the work of prosecuting this person has just begun. Continue to keep everyone in your thoughts and remain vigilant in your daily lives. 

Thanks again for your questions and comments.  Please send them to me at the Dudley Police Department 71 West Main St. Dudley, Ma. 01571 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Opinions expressed in this weekly column are those of Chief Wojnar only and unless clearly noted, do not reflect the ideas or opinions of any other organization or citizen.  

In the big picture of things, I’d have to say that normally I’m a peaceful person who doesn’t search for nor enjoy conflict of any kind.  I can’t say though that I’m a true pacifist because when I’ve had enough, I’ll come out fighting. And this week - I’m fighting.

Coming from a big, barren, neonized place like Las Vegas, I loved the idea of living in peaceful harmony with all of the wildlife in our yard.  All year long we feed the birds, squirrels and whatever random critter that passes through the Costen compound.

You’d think that by now, after all the school shootings, the Oklahoma City bombing, the terrorists attacks of September 11^th, the DC area sniper, malls and movie theater shootings, I’d be used to the violence and utter lack of respect some people have for human life.

You’d think by now, after watching the hours or even days of endless news coverage, I’d be numb to the overwhelming despair and pain that I feel watching and listening to the reporters interview the families and loved ones who have lost a part of themselves and are now facing a life that will never be the same.

by Ginger Costen
Patriot correspondent

WEBSTER - When most Americans think about the 4^th of July, their memories include a celebration marked with parades, picnics, fireworks and parties. Tricia Gasparik thinks about a weekend in 2011 when she didn’t know if she’d be alive to celebrate another Christmas.

It was a Friday evening on July 1, 2011, when 34-year-old Tricia mindlessly scratched her right breast. But instead of just satisfying an itch, she found a large mass that went from one side of her breast to the other.

“I didn’t have any symptoms – no pain, no tenderness – nothing, said Tricia. Suddenly there’s a lump the size of a golf ball at the bottom of my breast. So I freaked out for a couple of hours and then I decided that whatever it was, I’d deal with it. So I went on with my plans for the weekend trying not to think about it, but I knew it was cancer.”

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards

By Cheryl Rosen

WEBSTER, Massachusetts (March 6, 2013) — The Rotary Club of Webster-Dudley welcomed Ed King from RYLA, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, a 3-day leadership workshop for high school sophomores from throughout central and eastern Massachusetts.

Rotary District 7910 (which Webster-Dudley is part of) is holding its 21st RYLA weekend.  It is held annually at the end of June (all day Friday-Sunday, June 28-30 this year) at Worcester State University.  On average, yearly, 155 students from 45 Rotary clubs, who have just completed their sophomore year of high school, participate in the program. 

Some of those who completed the leadership weekend the previous year go on to be Group Facilitators after their junior year, while between 3-5 of them continue as Program Facilitators after they graduate.  There are even some who keep on coming back to volunteer for many years afterwards. Kosta Karamanakis, from Shephard Hill Regional High School, who the Rotary Club of Webster-Dudley sent to RYLA two years ago, is a Program Facilitator this year.  He and all the other facilitators are taking training sessions this spring to prepare for the event.

Ed provided the Rotary Club with a rundown of the weekend's events and described the activities.  A Reality Fair is held to teach students about daily life as an adult with careers/jobs, family, financial surprises - everything they think they already know, but don't. 

There is a Rotary Expo to see different things that not only Rotary is involved in, but possibilities for themselves such as youth exchange, Interact (Rotary for ages 12-18), Rotaract (for ages 18-30), College Scholarships (to study abroad), and Rotary club projects.  One exhibit is Shelterbox, a 10-person tent that the students can walk through, that is used in natural disasters around the world.  It fits in a carrying bin with enough supplies for a family of 10 to use for up to six months or longer (cooking utensils, blankets, stove, water purification kit, tools and even a coloring book and crayons).

Many students arrive shy, never being away from home before.  It doesn't take long before they start to open up, meet new friends, and are the first to make it to the top of the rock wall - yes, there is even a rock wall to climb.  For students not too sure about taking the climb, all you need is a group of vocal teenagers to encourage you to make it all the way to the top!

The individual groups are assigned different tasks during the weekend.  Assignments are given to the students by their group facilitator (each group has 6-7 students).  They also do journaling in their binder.  Although many Rotary clubs send more than one student, and they may know each other, they will not be in the same group or dorm.

There is also social time each evening which usually includes indoor dodge ball, music with a DJ and dancing.  At the end of the weekend, everyone gets dresses up and participates in an event for the parents. 

Most of the volunteers throughout the weekend are Rotarians who either "observe" (actively assist), run the sessions or chaperone the overnights.  Training for those who run the sessions are also done in advance.  The cost for the leadership weekend is paid for each student by the individual Rotary club who sponsors them.  Ed highly recommends that the clubs interview their own candidates and invite them back to the club to speak about their experience.

Please contact the Rotary club if you would like more information on RYLA, on how to sponsor a future student or would like to attend a meeting when one of our students is a speaker at our club.

Mark your calendar for some upcoming speakers and events of the Rotary Club of Webster-Dudley.  Jean Walker, who is already working on her third book on fairies, will be speaking on April 3rd.  The Rotary club will be sponsoring a Red Cross Blood Drive on April 16th from 1:00 - 6:00 pm at Point Breeze.  Please schedule your appointment online at www.redcrossblood.org.  You can also call 800-REDCROSS.  Appointments are preferred, walk-ins welcome.  For more information, go to the Red Cross Blood Drive event page on Facebook.

The Rotary Club of Webster-Dudley meets weekly on Wednesdays from 5:00-6:15 pm at Point Breeze Restaurant in Webster.  Meetings are free, open to the general public - and highly encouraged!  Check us out online at www.websterdudleyrotary.org or "LIKE US" on our Facebook page at: websterdudleyrotary. For more information regarding being a speaker, membership, or our upcoming projects, contact club PR chair Cheryl Rosen at (508) 791-9283 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Rotary is a global humanitarian organization with more than 1.2 million members in 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Rotary members are men and women who are business, professional and community leaders with a shared commitment to make the world a better place through humanitarian service. Rotary’s top priority is the global eradication of polio.

For photos, video or more information about Rotary International please visit: www.rotary.org.
 

by Michelle Lafleche
Webster Animal Control Officer

Recently, there have been two public hearings in Webster regarding to two different dog bite incidences.  One was requested due to the fact that the dog had a prior bite history.

The other was a first time bite incident and the hearing was requested by the bite victim.

Just like the age old question, “How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?” it is often questioned how many bites does it take to deem a dog vicious or dangerous?