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Uxbridge Times
“Your Hometown News” Vol. 24 • Issue 4
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Solar Farms proposed in Sutton a “Green Community”
Uxbridge Police to add K9 Unit The Uxbridge Police Department is proud to announce that they are in the initial stages of implementing the departments first ever Police K9 unit. Officer Josiah Morrissette (Department Grant Writer) applied and was awarded a Twenty Five Thousand Dollar grant from the Stanton Foundation. This grant has a future potential of an additional Fourteen Thousand Dollars. Frank Stanton created the Stanton Foundation. Mr. Stanton is widely regarded as one of the greatest executives in the history of electronic communications and one of the television industry’s founding fathers. He was a lifelong dog owner and admirer, from the collie who accompanied him on his first paper route to the Pembroke Welsh Corgis who added warmth and companionship to his last years. In 2002 he provided the lead gift for the Clinical Care Center at Angell-MSPCA in Boston. He is survived by his Corgi, Annie, who is cared for by the Foundation. Prior to his passing in 2006 at the age of 98 Mr. Stanton identified that K9 units are a priority to support. The Stanton Foundation’s goal is to increase the number of communities in Massachusetts with K9 units and to add additional canines to departments with only one dog. Chief Lourie believes that the initial amount received will cover operational costs for the program for approximately 3-5 years. Officer Thomas B. Stockwell Jr. has been selected to be the departments K9 handler. Officer Stockwell will attend the fourteen-week Boston Police K9 Academy in September 2015. The Uxbridge Police Department is extremely excited about the deployment of this new unit and feel that the addition of this program will provide the Town of Uxbridge and its neighbors an enhanced level of service for years to come.
POSTAL PATRON
aPrIl 2015
By Constance Dwyer
FIRST PLACE - Northbridge High School Students, Chloe Burchard & Mary McLaughlin took home First Place for their experiment; The Effects of Dumping Snow into the Boston Harbor on Marine Ecosystems in last month’s Annual NHS Science Fair and Invention Convention. The event recognizes students' ability to think critically and apply both the scientific method and the engineering and design process. See Story on page 30
Sutton’s Planning Director Jennifer Hager says there are several solar farms being planned in Sutton, a “Green Community” that has developed nearly 500 kW of its own municipal solar. One commercial ground mounted solar system has already been approved for 2.6 megawatts off Oakhurst Road in Sutton on a site that straddles the town line so one half of the project is in Northbridge and the other half in Sutton. Another solar farm at 49 W. Providence Turnpike (northbound) is on file and the public hearing was opened on February 9 but due to bad weather was continued to February 23. The applicant is Renewable Generation, LLC, and the solar company is NextSun Energy. This 500 kW installation will be on the same site as JD ByRider . A third filing is in the works at 80 Providence Turnpike (southbound) behind the former Great Canadian Canoe, TLC Pet Haven, and Minardi Landscaping. The entrance will be “a little south of those properties and wraps behind those properties,” Planning Director Hager added. The applicant is Greg Carey for Clean Energy Collective and the installation is to be 1.3 megawatts. Ms. Hager acknowledged that solar farms are increasingly popular due to
“Massachusetts offering some aggressive incentives.” A local PILOT (Payment in lieu of taxes), she added, “Will have to be negotiated for the Route 146 solar projects.” In response to preliminary questions about the encouragement of solar farms on scarce business land she noted that there is a “conundrum” in terms of establishing businesses at these sites because there isn’t water and sewer available on Route 146; and “It would cost multi-millions of dollars to hook up businesses like retail or manufacturing.” As much as the town would love to have higher revenues to offset taxes and businesses that create more and/or higher paying jobs, the lack of infrastructure to support these uses remains a conundrum. “While we would like some more manufacturing facilities or retail uses along Route 146 the parcels we’re talking about are well over a mile away from sewer and water lines which has us facing a quandary here.” However, she noted that residents at the meeting made it clear that renewable energy generation is an “acceptable use in the Town of Sutton” and the lack of opposition to date of the one approved solar farm and the two others being proposed suggests the townspeople’s support of Sutton’s designation as a “Green Community” that fosters renewable energy generation.
Callahan’s 17th Annual Sutton Egg-Stravaganza cancelled Due to the historic snowfall and continued slow melting of ice and snow, it is with great regret former State Representative Jen Callahan and her husband Mike must announce that for the first time, as a result of extreme weather conditions, their 17th Annual Sutton “Egg–Stravaganza” must be CANCELLED this year. “This has truly been such a difficult call for Mike and I to make because we absolutely love doing this for all the kids every year. We know that it has grown into being one of largest events of its kind and only wish Mother Nature had not PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID BOSTON, MA PERMIT NO 55800
eCrWSS
delivered so much snow!” said Jen Callahan. It was originally scheduled for Saturday, April 4th. Unfortun-ately, it is anticipated both the fields and parking areas at Waters Farm will either remain covered with snow and ice or be extremely wet and muddy from melting snow drifts still covering the acres of open fields. Anyone who has ever attended the event understands how large of an area it requires to safely and adequately accommodate over a 1,500 children and their families, hundreds of cars, volunteers, a large petting zoo, Spring
Fling Picnic and more than 8,500 eggs. The Callahans considered postponing or relocating the event, but believe it to be a tradition that best coincides with the Easter holiday weekend at Waters Farm, rather than some other time period or at a more confined location. Additionally, the damage to the fields due to increased runoff as well as foot and perimeter vehicle traffic would not be a good thing, since they have a history of being cultivated for hay. Mike Callahan said, “We wanted to give families enough advance notice to plan ahead with their children and not
BuSineSS Bio
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Regal Pet Grooming
Town News ..............Page 4 Calendar...................Page 21 Dining Out…………Page 20 Society .....................Page 23 Senior Corner ..........Page 25 School News............Page 27 Business News........Page 33 Sports.......................Page 37 Classified .................Page 39
Groomer & Owner, Shawna Paquette, offers convenience for you and complete pampering for your pet. See story on page 33
keep everyone in a holding pattern and then have to cancel the last minute. It’s simply better to just let the kids know it has just been one heck of Winter for the Easter Bunny to dig out of his borough in time to get to every field, but perhaps he can still hop into their own backyard.” However, despite the announcement, Jen and Mike Callahan want to assure all the children and their families that their Egg-Stravaganza will return to Waters Farm next year and once again be the beautiful community tradition everyone has come to love.
Shawna Paquette and Libby