A single individual – whose identity remains unknown – lit the fuse of the rocket that exploded on 16-year-old Sean Lavallee who suffered deep burns to 90 percent of his thigh, which required skin grafts and an extended hospital stay after a July 4 celebration on Walker Pond.

Five months later and no one has stepped forward with an apology or to claim responsibility. And an entire community, the Walker Pond neighborhood, remains silent on the matter, despite being home to many people who have done a great deal of good for Sturbridge and surrounding towns in a variety of ways both public and private.

Hundreds of witnesses were present, but no one saw a thing? Hard to believe.

That’s where the case stands now, the story continues to unfold as
Sean and his father David Brown will testify before a grand jury and tell the court their story.
According to Brown one man, who apparently had been drinking, accidentally dropped the road flare that set off fireworks into the crowd.

Police, fire and town officials all confirmed the display was illegal. The alleged addition of alcohol to the mix can only be described as an act of gross negligence. Keep in mind Sean did not attend an event hosted by teenagers, on some back road, where the booze was bought with a fake I.D. and the fireworks were picked up in New Hampshire the day before.

Adults coordinated, or at the very least condoned, the party on the shores of Walker Pond. These were men and women with careers in professional fields like law and education, yet their reaction to this accident has been juvenile.
The pain, physical and mental, Sean endured can’t be erased, obviously. But it’s not too late for whoever is responsible to step forward, apologize, and accept responsibility. If his conscience doesn’t compel him to own up to his mistake, hopefully the courts will.

And it’s not too late for the Walker Pond Association to apologize for their role – however limited – in the affair.
Denying the facts, even if done skillfully, consistently and with great knowledge of the law, does not make them go away.

For the safety of all, leave the fireworks to the professionals next year.

Scene at the REAS Foundation’s Wine and Beer Tasting Gala Event held at the Publick House Nov. 20

To date the Foundation has raised $27,504 to be used for heating assistance for area seniors beating its goal of $20,000. The Thursday night Gala served as a thank you/fundraiser to celebrate the achievement. Read the full article in next week’s Town Common. To find out more about REAS click here.

Area businesses that donated food and drink for the event were: The Publick House Yankee Spirits, Pioneer Brewing, J. Polep Distribution Services, BTs Smokehouse and Gritty’s Beer.

Students performing “Shhh…We’re Writing the Constitution” in the afternoon on Nov. 20

BROOKFIELD – “We’ve got to be one people, we’ve got to be one country, we’ve got to be one nation, if we are to survive,” sang fifth-grade students at Brookfield Elementary School. The students, costumed in tri-corner hats, were performing the musical “Shhh…We’re Writing the Constitution”  for parents and seniors in the school’s cafeteria after a free turkey dinner, on Nov. 20.

Though the play focused on our nation as it was in 1787, its core message appeared to mirror current events.

“Our ships are being attacked by pirates. Our troops are being captured,” one student said. “Gentlemen, we are at a critical moment in our history,” the student who played George Washington told the other constitutional “delegates.”

The history lessons you learn at Brookfield Elementary School.

With Thanksgiving approaching, Principal Kathleen Hosterman said the meal and play were held for the benefit of seniors and was made possible with money from a Community Service Learning Grant. The grant’s purpose, Hosterman said, is to foster ties between the school and the community. It was the first time the school held such a dinner. “Everyone has been saying ‘can we please do it again?’” Hosterman said about the day’s success. The grant paid for the food, which included traditional Thanksgiving fixings. Cafeteria staff prepared the meal, fifth-grade teachers Ashley Barringer and Suzanne Nagle directed students in the play. 

The event occurred because of communication between the Brookfield Council On Aging and school staff, Hosterman said. Though the dinner was free, seniors who were willing opted to make donations. All donated money was sent to the Brookfield Food Pantry. Thursday’s play was an encore performance for students. It was first performed earlier this month to coincide with the school’s mock election. 

 

And now a word from Planning Board member Thomas Creamer…

At the Nov. 17 Board of Selectmen meeting the bylaw proposal called to allocate 61% of the annual flow for residential connections; 8% for commercial connections; and 30% for industrial connections. The matter will be revisited next month. In the meantime, we know where Mr. Goodwin and Mr. Creamer stand on the issue, how about you?

 

We know what you’re thinking: not another online survey…

This one’s different though. Each week the Town Common steps into every home in Sturbridge, Brimfield, Brookfield, Holland and Wales. Until now the conversation has been pretty one-sided. We come in, tell you about the selectmen’s meeting, what’s happening in the school’s, and print a few photographs before landing in the recycling bin, trash, the bottom of your kid’s hamster cage or framed and hung in your living room (though we’ll settle for taped to the fridge). Here’s you chance to tell us what you like, don’t like, etc., about the paper. Take a moment, fill out the survey -it’s only 10 questions – tell us what we can do better. 

Town Common Reader Survey

On Nov. 10 Tony Vacca of Northampton and his friend Massamba of Senegal, Africa, performed for and with students at Holland Elementary School. Before students and parents gathered in the gymnasium Vacca spent and hour with 4th, 5th and 6th grade students where they learned to play a percussion composition.

See video below:

6th grade students rehearse

Tantasqua voting results

The ballot questions were: 1. Repeal state income tax? 2. Decriminalize a set amount of marijuana? 3. Abolish dog racing in the state?

 

Sturbridge 

 

President:
Barack Obama and Joseph Biden 2,723

John McCain and Sarah Palin 2,310

 

U.S. Senate:

John Kerry 2,776

Jeffrey Beatty 2,077

Robert Underwood 193

 

 

Question 1:

Yes 1,794

No 3,339

 

Question 2:

Yes 3,325

No 1,795

 

Question 3:

Yes 3,022

No 2,070

Holland 

President:

Barack Obama and Joseph Biden 654

John McCain and Sarah Palin 636

Others 34

U.S. Senate:

John Kerry 722

Jeffrey Beatty 491

Robert Underwood 83

Register of Probate:

Thomas Moriarty 812

John Cesan 259

Question 1:

Yes 491

No 812

 

Question 2:

Yes 944

No 382

 

Question 3:

Yes 811

No 500

 

Wales

 

President:

Barack Obama and Joseph Biden 537

John McCain and Sarah Palin 443

Others 26

 

U.S. Senate:

John Kerry 547

Jeffrey Beatty 365

Robert Underwood 70

 

Register of Probate:

Thomas Moriarty 642

John Cesan 180

 

Question 1:

Yes 314

No 681

 

Question 2:

Yes 736

No 267

 

Question 3:

Yes 582

No 416

Tuesday marked the “second” presidential election held at Burgess Elementary in as many weeks. Last week, students participated in a mock election for the first time in over a decade.

With all precincts reporting, here’s how Burgess Elementary School students voted:

Barack Obama – 333

John McCain – 281

Bob Barr – 3

Ralph Nader – 2

Hillary Clinton – 1

Other (SpongeBob Squarepants was a favorite write-in) – 8 

Burgess Elementary School is busy, busy, busy with today’s Presidential election. The Town Common is pushing back its deadline tonight in order to bring you preliminary election results for Thursday’s edition. They will be printed here first shortly after 11 p.m. tonight. 

The scene at Burgess:

 

Feel free to post your thoughts and feelings on Election 2008 on this blog.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Fall Photo Contest. We received a number of submissions. Winners will be announced shortly. In the meantime, view the photographs online and feel free to comment on them below. 

Click below to see the photos.

Town Common Fall Contest