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Uxbridge Times Happy Thanksgiving
“Your Hometown News” VOLuME 19 • ISSuE 11
A FREE Monthly Publication
uxbridge • North uxbridge • Linwood • Douglas • Northbridge • Whitinsville • Sutton • Manchaug
NOVEMBER 2010
Sutton TM A Long Time Forgotten runs in short order BY BOB Haigis
BY COnsTanCe DwYer
Our Lady of the Valley Regional School celebrated its annual Grandparents Day on September 15th. More photos on page 30
Lemire honored for service to community Gerald Lemire, an Uxbridge attorney, Clerk Magistrate and community leader, was honored at the 2010 Good Scout Award Breakfast on October 7th for his commitment and service to area communities and his support of local youth. Many community leaders of Uxbridge and surrounding communities were gathered for the breakfast at Blissful Meadows Country Club in Uxbridge. Lemire is the Clerk Magistrate for the Uxbridge District Court. The son of Jerry and Sandy Lemire, Mr. Lemire graduated from Uxbridge High School in 1986, where he was Class President and was Captain of the
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football and tennis teams. He played football at Assumption College, where he also was named Captain, and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in political science. He graduated from the New England School of Law in 1994 and was Worcester’s Assistant District Attorney from 1994-1997. Gerry was Chief of Staff and Legal Counsel for the Massachusetts Senate Public Service Committee from 1997-1998 before starting his own practice in Uxbridge in 1998. He was Chairman of the Uxbridge Charter Commission, a member of the continued on page 21 PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID BOSTON, MA PERMIT NO 55800
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Sutton’s Fall Annual Town Meeting commenced promptly at 7:30 p.m. on October l8th in the Simonian Early Learning Center under the efficient direction of Town Moderator Carl Licopoli. The first five articles of the sixteen article warrant dealt with financial matters, the first four being sponsored by town government bodies and the fifth a citizens petition to waive the $5,000 sewer privilege fee for a Manchaug Water District construction project. All five articles passed unanimously and only the fee waiver drew comment, favorable, from the public. Articles six and seven were also citizen petitions; Art. 6 requested the rezoning of 2.09 acres from Residential Rural to V (Village) at the site of the burned out popular Blue Jay restaurant at the four corners of 489 Central Turnpike. Despite a plea by co-owner Bob Sadowski (stressing how difficult it is to find either financing or a buyer for the property in this difficult economic climate, Town Meeting voters, supported by recommendations of the Finance Committee and Planning Board, defeated the article unanimously. The main objection lay in voter’s concerns that if the property were re-zoned it could be used for “numerous uses” such as a store selling goods to the public, auto repair shop, family day care, etc. This would place the burden on the Town. Art. 7 also supported by recommendations of the Finance Committee and Planning Board (as were all of the remaining nine articles) passed unanimously. Articles eight through fifteen were sponsored by the Planning Board and passed unanimously without public comment. Art. 16 to correct a deficiency (absence of a penalty clause for violations) in the Scenic Roadway bylaw prompted a series of questions by citizens, especially continued on page 21
At noon on September 26th of this year, a group of local citizens gathered in South Uxbridge on a grassy area beside Quaker Highway, and adjacent to the Rte. 146 overpasses. The day was perfect for the ceremony, which after many years of waiting, hoping and effort was finally going to take place. The assemblage, many of whom were related, was there to witness the dedication of the two bridges in memory of Titus Ebbeling Jr. He was an Uxbridge town employee who lost his life on Rte. 146 nearly 30 years ago. In fact, the original highway passed over the exact spot where the dedication was held. I was asked to attend the occasion, and to record what transpired. I am so glad I was part of it, not so much for what I personally observed, but from what I learned about a relatively inconspicuous person who lived through remarkable times: One member of our “Greatest Generation” for sure. What was most impressive to me about the dedication was the number of
family and friends that came to see the memory of this man honored, especially after such a long lapse in time. I just knew that there had to be more to the story: And there is. Searching back nearly ninety years to get information about somebody that wasn’t really in the mainstream of society, doesn’t turn up much to get excited about. Of course if your name was Tom Mix, Lindbergh, Roosevelt or another notable member of our populace, there are volumes that record just about every hour of your life. Titus Ebbeling’s name doesn’t appear on any rosters of the famous that I can uncover, but he left behind a family legacy of which he would be proud had he lived. Junior (named after his dad) as he was called by family and friends, made his debut in 1921 along with millions of other Americans like him: baby boomers of WW1. He matured at an early age to struggle through the Great Depression. At around nineteen, he entered the Army, and spent time serving continued on page 20
Titus Ebbling’s daughter; Linda Ebbling Dzcek (at right) proudly holds the sign bearing her fathers name. Linda is joined by her husband; Steve and their daughter Morgan.
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BUsiness BiO:
Bert’s Restaurant You have to love your job to be at work by 5 a.m. That’s precisely the case for ‘Bert’ Berard, owner and cook at “Bert’s Breakfast” in Uxbridge. Open for 7 years, the breakfast and lunch restaurant is “busy, busy” with many customers waiting in line on weekends. See story on page 39
Bert Berard
Town News ..............Page 4 Calendar...................Page 25 Society .....................P a g e 2 9 Senior Corner ..........Page 33 School News............Page 35 Business News........Page 39 Sports.......................Page 43 Real Estate...............Page 45 Classified .................Page 47