The Past Speaks
The first of the approved 32 units in Lancaster Commons was nearing completion and a lottery was announced for those units set aside for low-income housing. Five of the eight units were set aside for West Boylston residents, their children, town employees or former residents who had left less than three years earlier.
Members of the Junior National Honor Society named at the Tahanto eighth-grade recognition ceremony were: Nicole Albertine, Kelly Benedetti, Benjamin Bickford, Jonathan Blomiley, Blair Brisette, Kevin Curran, Andrew Cutler, Amy Dubrule, Karen Dziczek, Holly Frank, Sam Gow, Amy Grenier, Lisa Grimley, Keith Gvazdauskas, Elizabeth Haynes, Joel Kelsing, Brian Lane, Cheryl Nicholas, Kevin Olson, Myles Peterson, Shellee Quinn, Kenneth Rahn, Jason Sardell and Eli Stephanou.
The Wallpaper Factory Outlet, in the Fair Shopping Plaza abruptly closed its doors with no explanation. Part of a four-store chain, the Agawam-based owner could not be reached by managers, landlords nor the IRS. Employees said they had not been paid in two weeks. Customers who pre-paid with credit cards were being told to seek reimbursement, while those who paid cash were being told to take their claims to the Attorney General.
An early count showed 38 pets had been registered for the Friends of the Beaman Library Pet Show. Animals registered, not including those who arrived without registering, were hamsters, cats, dogs, guinea pigs and hermit crabs. Though allowed, no stuffed animals had been registered.
Christ Lutheran Church dedicated its new stained glass window, designed and created by West Boylston resident Anita Loomis and a gift from the estate of Jean Rugg. The four panels of the window were representative of different aspects of Christian practices and beliefs.
Citing bird droppings as a major pollutant, the Metropolitan District Commission began placing signs around the Wachusett reservoir instructing residents not to feed geese or seagulls.
Citing the fees paid by athletes at other schools, the West Boylston Athletic Association was planning a major membership drive in fall. In the middle of its annual lottery program, officers included Gary Draleaus, Steve Howland and Paul Morrone.
Town Administrator Paul Guida told the Board of Selectmen the town needed to address outstanding building needs. Town meeting voters in spring had approved $40,000 to repair an �inoperable� boiler and heating system, including a leaking oil tank, at the Mixter Municipal Building. The issue was being addressed by switching the building to gas heat from oil. Left untouched was a revamping of the Bruce L. Shepard Public Safety Building, for which voters had approved $25,000 for improvements. About $10,000 was spent on a study that returned with an estimate for $1.2 million, far exceeding the $500,000 to $600,000 selectmen were willing to bring forward to voters.
Boylston�s Michelle Lupien was sporting a new hair-do. The 10-year-old had cut her waist length hair for the Locks of Love charitable organization.
The West Boylston Municipal Light Plant hung a 15-by-25 foot flag on the Old Stone Church to celebrate the community�s patriotism in light of the Sept. 11, 2011 attacks. The flag joined 90 smaller flags already hung on light poles throughout the center of town.
Three years after the �substantial completion� of Boylston Elementary School, which allowed students to return to the building, the Building Committee said a �punch list� of unfinished but minor items still remained. The problems included a leaking roof that involved flaws in the heating and ventilation system, lifting floor tiles and high decibel levels in the cafeteria. Part of the delay was that the town had fired the contractor for failing to finish the list, leaving the matter in litigation.
The votes were in and Allen Phillips was declared the winner in the special election to fill an open seat on the Board of Selectmen. Phillips would fill the final eight months of the unfinished term, after which he said he would run for re-election.
District Attorney John Conte announced he would be seeking re-election. The 72-year-old was facing only his second challenger in 26 years, Gregory White of Boylston.