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Uxbridge Times
“Your Hometown News” VOlUME 23 • ISSUE 7
FREE Monthly Since 1991
Uxbridge • North Uxbridge • linwood • Douglas • Northbridge • Whitinsville • Sutton • Manchaug
Uxbridge Rotary plans Golf Open
BVT moves forward despite setback By Constance Dwyer “We will advance with our three new accept or reject.” In rejecting the under programs by adjusting our timetable,” $3 million expansion, it was a surprise said Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick, Super- to discover that most towns did not perintendent of Blackstone Valley ceive this “conservative request” as Regional Technical High School “something affordable, attractive and (BVT). With his usual optimism, he achievable with a number of incentives, acknowledged that he was unable to get even delays in funding.” the support of 9 comSome townspeople munities out of the 13, and officials saw Dr. or 2/3rds, for his proFitzpatrick’s proposal “I believe competition as potentially stealing posed $2.9 million expansion, even belongs on the athlet- students from their though he had the sup- ic fields and need not schools, thereby port of most of the be used as a negative decreasing local revDistrict Finance Com- campaign for alterna- enues available for their mittees, adding, “I tive school choices. students. Dr. Fitzpatrick don’t take it personally countered that all disand I can serve as a Our society is built on tricts offer options for role model for my stu- freedom of choice.” alternative schooling, dents to teach them not just technical - Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick schools; for example, how to deal with obstaSuperintendent of cles. Every experience some parents choose to blackstone Valley Regional is a learning experisend their children to technical high School ence!” he said. private schools, paroDr. Fitzpatrick in his chial schools, charter personal presentations at 13 town meet- schools and some even home school. ings made it clear that in his 21 years as He added, “I believe competition Superintendent, he has always made belongs on the athletic fields and need conservative requests to support this not be used as a negative campaign for school. This time, though, in hoping alternative school choices. Our society that the towns in the Valley might sup- is built on freedom of choice.” port his three new innovative programs When questioned, he acknowledged ranked as both “high in need and inter- that those towns supporting the expanest”: Veterinary Assistant, Engineering, sion would have first claim on the conand Legal & Protective Services (Cyber sequently lower number of available Security), he found what he terms a seats in these critical and highly desir“split family.” “This was a radical out- able areas of study, some of which are come in contrast to all 13 towns sup- already offered in other vocational high porting him in 2000 for his $36 million schools. dollar expansion,” referring to the He was pleased to bring up during the towns as then being “family” and interview that when meeting a variety adding, “family stands together.” of parents at town meetings, many were The upbeat Superintendent thought- so excited about these three new profully mentioned, “It’s my professional grams that they begged him to “sign up responsibility to make my best recom- their daughters or sons right away,” but mendation to my committee, to the he had to explain that there was a towns and to their policy makers. Once process to go through first to gain supI’ve done that, it is their choice to continued on page 10
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JUlY 2014
PATRIOTIC PRINCESS - Carly McKay (3) enjoys the Memorial Day activities in Uxbridge. She is the daughter of Nicole and Scott McKay of Uxbridge. More photos from this event can be found at: www.facebook.com/groups/Uxbridgepride. Photo by Nicole A. McKAy
Northbridge Schools finalize cuts due to Override failure The Northbridge School Committee voted to finalize $1.1 million in cuts to the district’s FY15 budget, an action that resulted from the failure of the town’s override request. The cuts include the elimination of 21 staff positions, all middle school interscholastic sports, four high school sports (golf, hockey, swimming, and wrestling), extracurricular clubs, technology hardware, professional development, team leader stipends, and instructional supplies. Staff positions that were cut include classroom teachers in grades 1, 2, 3, and 4 that will result in larger class sizes, as well as teacher positions that
will eliminate programs such as the foreign language program at Northbridge Middle School and the culinary arts and Latin programs at Northbridge High School. Other staff cuts include tutors and an academic coach at the Balmer Elementary School, the librarian and a behavior technician at the middle school, and a world language teacher, health and wellness teacher, special education inclusion teacher, behavior technician, and athletic secretary/lunch aide at the high school. A full list of budget cuts can be found on the Northbridge School District website at www.nps.org
buSiNeSS bio
North Smithfield Fence
Adding beauty and safety to your home the color, selections & variety of fencing are unbelievable. terri and Michael “Mike” bartomioli, a husband and wife team, have offered the quality and service of a local family owned business for over a decade. See story on page 31
The Uxbridge Rotary Club has announced plans for this year’s Annual Golf Outing to be held Sunday, July 27, at the Blissful Meadows Golf Club. The all day event will include lunch served at 11:30 a.m., tee time of 1:00 p.m. and dinner following the event for all golfers. In addition, there will be contests for closest to the pin, longest drive and raffle prizes. Cost per golfer is $130 and $520 for a foursome. Help us to raise money for scholarships while enjoying a day of golf and fun! Rotary Club Members will accept registrations or mail to The Uxbridge Rotary Club, P O Box 4, Whitinsville, MA 01588. Please be sure to include the name of golfer(s), telephone number and email address. Checks should be made payable to The Rotary Club of Uxbridge. The number of golfers is limited and will be on a first come, first served basis, so please register early to ensure your spot at this year’s tournament! For information about the tournament, contact Golf Chairperson, Ed Eldridge at eldridge.edward@gmail. com or call 508-341-0040. Where does the money go that is raised at the tournament? All proceeds from this event are used to fund scholarships provided by the Rotary Club to graduates of Uxbridge H.S., Northbridge H.S., Douglas H.S., Blackstone Valley Regional Technical H.S. and the Whitinsville Christian School. Each school receives scholarship money. To date over $100,000 in scholarship funds have been awarded to local students! Sponsors are needed. If you would like to sponsor a hole, your company name will be displayed on a golf ball sign on the course the day of the event. The cost to sponsor is $100. It’s an easy way to help out while promoting your business!
~ INDEX ~ Town News ..............Page 4 Calendar...................Page 19 Dining Out…………Page 20 Society .....................Page 21 Senior Corner ..........Page 23 School News............Page 27 Business News........Page 31 Sports.......................Page 33 Classified .................Page 35