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Wednesday, September 1, 2010 Local stories Yesterday’s question Your opinion Weather Today’s question Should teens compete in life-threatening extreme sports? Has the end result in Iraq been worth the price paid by the U.S.? See story on this page, then go to telegram.com to vote. Bright, sunny WORCESTER LEICESTER Man gets 7-8 years in shooting, Page B1 Police: Tow truck driver hit officer, Page B1 OXFORD WORCESTER Barton Center buys Camp Joslin, Page B1 Officials grapple with flood prevention, Page B1 High 92, Low 70 Page A2 MONEY A new approach to rolling your own Page B8 Our 144th year telegram.com WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $1.00 $1.50 in Coastal New England areas Earl barrels toward the US Obama: ‘Turn page’ from Iraq to jobs By Emery P. Dalesio THE ASSOCIATED PRESS RALEIGH, N.C. — A powerful Hurricane Earl threatened to sideswipe much of the East Coast just ahead of Labor Day, worrying countless vacationers who planned to spend the traditional last week of summer at the beach. The Federal Emergency Management Agency warned people along the Eastern Seaboard to prepare for possible evacuations and islanders in the Turks and Caicos hunkered down in their homes Tuesday as the Category 4 hurricane steamed across the Caribbean with winds of 135 mph. Earl was expected to remain over the open ocean before turning north and running parallel to the East Coast, bringing high Turn to Hurricane/Page A8 0 350 mi 0 UNITED STATES 8 a.m. Fri. 350 km Hurricane Earl Category 4 MOVEMENT WNW 14 mph 8 a.m. tomorrow MAX WIND 135 mph Atlantic Ocean BAHAMAS 8 a.m. today 11 a.m. yesterday CUBA President formally ends combat role By Ben Feller THE ASSOCIATED PRESS T&G Staff Photos/RICK CINCLAIR Second-grader Michael Valutkevich finds his locker yesterday and, below, second-grader Amy Canavan talks to new classmates on the first day of school at Walter J. Paton School in Shrewsbury. Time for lessons Doors open to new season of learning in area schools JAMAICA SOURCE: NOAA; ESRI THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WEEPIN’ Shrewsbury, WILLIE’S Rt. 9 across from (Spag’s) Building 19 www.weepinwillies.com LAND O’LAKES AMERICAN CHEESE $ 2.49 lb. Everyday Low Price GREEN BEANS .79¢ lb. WED. THRU FRI. By Elaine Thompson TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF Likely with visions of summer still in their heads during a late summer heat wave, thousands of children throughout Central Massachusetts returned to class this week. “We could not have had a smoother opening,” Grafton School Superintendent Joseph F. Connors said yesterday. Grafton students in Grade 9 and kindergarten through Grade 6 returned to school Monday. They were joined by students in prekindergarten and remaining grades yesterday. Because of unprecedented millions of dollars in federal funds, the state’s school districts are in much better fiscal condition than in previous years. School officials across the state are working out how to best use $250 million in federal Race to the Top funding and $204 million from the federal Education Jobs Fund. “Right now for us, these are the best of times,” said Fitchburg School Superintendent Andre Ravenelle. “The five years I’ve been here, when school starts each year, we’re looking at what are we going to do without. This year, I’m looking at what resources will we choose and how will they enhance or WASHINGTON — Fiercely opposed to the war from the start, President Barack Obama formally ended the U.S. combat role in Iraq after seven long years of bloodshed, declaring firmly Tuesday night: “It is time to turn the page.” Claiming no victory, he said the nation’s most urgent priority now must be fixing its own sickly economy. From the Oval Office, where George W. Bush first announced the 5 ‘Nothing’s invasion that would changed!’: The word on come to define his presiIraqi streets, Page A3 dency, Obama addressed millions who 5 More dead: Six were divided over the soldiers die in war in his country and Afghanistan, Page A3 around the world. He said the United States “has paid a huge price” to give Iraqis the chance to shape their future — a price that now includes more than 4,400 dead, tens of thousands of troops wounded and hundreds of billions of dollars spent since March 2003. In a telling sign of the domestic troubles weighing on the United States and his own presidency, Obama turned much of the emphasis in a major war address to the dire state of U.S. joblessness. In his remarks of slightly less than 20 minutes, only his second address from the Oval Office, Obama looked directly into the TV camera, hands clasped in front of him on his desk, family photos and the U.S. and presidential flags behind him. Turn to Doors open/Page A8 Turn to Combat ending/Page A6 Typing at the wheel Ban doesn’t apply to data terminals in cruisers By Kim Ring TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF When they got their first look at a new law that will ban texting while driving in Massachusetts after Sept. 30, some law enforcement personnel wondered if it meant police would be restricted from using mobile data terminals in their cruisers while moving. But most now agree that officers may continue to use the computers because they are permanently affixed inside the vehicles and don’t meet the definition outlined in the law of a “handheld device.” As the new law stands, police officers apparently will be allowed to enter data into computers mounted next to them, even while the car is in motion. “I think it’s (under the law) OK, from a police standpoint, to use the MDTs,” Spencer Police Chief David B. Darrin said. “But I still have a policy which basically says, ‘Driving is your No. 1 concern when you are on patrol. Ev- Going on Now! Turn to Cruisers/Page A6 ATTIC & MATTRESS TENT SALE! 25 -75 Off % % Sgt. Michael Befford of the Spencer Police Department is seen in a cruiser with one of the data terminals. $ 1,000,000 of Inventory in the Main Store, Attics & Tent! T&G Staff/JIM COLLINS ANNIE’S MAILBOX ..C8 BRIDGE .................C9 CLASSIFIED ...........C8 COMICS.................C6 CROSSWORD .........C6 DEATHS ................B4 EDITORIALS...........A9 ENTERTAINMENT..B6 HOROSCOPE.........C9 LOTTERIES...........A2 MONEY ................B8 NATION/WORLD....A3 STOCKS...............B9 TELEVISION..........C5 News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 791-9245 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 Weather Yesterday’s question Thursday, September 2, 2010 Has the end result in Iraq been worth the price paid by the U.S.? Sunny and hot Your opinion Yes, we have greater influence in the region 14.7% Today’s question Are you taking any storm precautions as Hurricane Earl approaches? See story on this page, then go to telgram.com to vote. No, the instability there will only get worse 85.3% High 94, Low 67 Page A2 WorcesterU .com Local stories WORCESTER City in compromise on window signs, Page B1 WORCESTER Brazilian singer enthralls at DCU Center, Page B1 telegram.com Our 144th year Inside, a special addition to GO! for the region’s college students WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $1.00 $1.50 in Coastal New England areas Coast prepares for hurricane THE ASSOCIATED PRESS President Barack Obama and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas leave the Oval Office Wednesday. ‘Too much blood has been shed’ Mideast talks convene By Robert Burns THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Jay Farley installs covers to a homeowner’s oceanfront window Wednesday as Jason Wheeler, below, looks on while Hurricane Earl heads toward the eastern coast of Atlantic Beach, N.C. WASHINGTON — Struggling to break decades of hostility, President Barack Obama hosted an ambitious new round of Mideast peace talks Wednesday and told Israeli and Palestinian leaders they faced a fleeting chance to settle deep differences. “This moment of opportunity may not soon come again,” Obama said at the White House before being joined by Israeli Prime Minister BenjaTurn to Mideast /Page A10 Officials get ready for possible direct strike 0 0 By Lyle Moran THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BOSTON — A hurricane watch was issued for Cape Cod and the islands and tropical storm watches for other stretches of the Massachusetts coast Wednesday, as state officials prepare for a direct hit from Hurricane Earl this week. telegram.com The National Hurricane Center issued the hurricane watch for the area from Woods Hole to Sagamore Beach, including Nantucket and Mar- Slideshow online 5 Predictions: Forecasting hurricanes has come a long way, Page A9 tha’s Vineyard. The tropical storm watch covers the Atlantic coast from Sandy Hook, N.J., to Woods Hole, including Block Island and Long Island Sound, and from north of Sagamore Beach to the mouth of the Merrimack River. Massachusetts officials are hoping that Hurricane Earl veers away from the state’s coast, but are preparing for much worse. “Everyone is poised and ready to pull the trigger if Earl turns west, but our hope is that this thing goes out to sea and we’re all golfing this weekend,” said Peter Judge, a spokesman for the state Emergency Management Agency. The state Emergency Operations Center in Framingham will be open around the clock beginning Friday. The category 3 storm is forecast to pass about 100 miles southeast of Nantucket on Friday, bringing no more than heavy seas, high winds and rain to the region. The state is prepared for the storm, Gov. Deval Patrick said, Turn to Hurricane/Page A9 8 a.m. Sat. 350 mi 350 km UNITED STATES Hurricane Earl 8 a.m. tomorrow Category 3 MOVEMENT NW 17 mph MAX WIND 125 mph 8 a.m. today BAHAMAS CUBA Atlantic Ocean 11 a.m. yesterday SOURCE: NOAA; ESRI THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Illegal aliens on the decline By Hope Yen THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — The number of illegal immigrants living in the U.S. has dropped for the first time in two decades — decreasing by 8 percent since 2007, a new study finds. The reasons range from the sour economy to Mexican violence and increased U.S. enforcement, which has made it harder to sneak across the border. Much of the decline comes from a sharp drop-off in illegal immigrants from the Caribbean, Central America and South America attempting to cross Turn to Illegal/Page A9 Schools off to a sizzling start Worcester’s new charter opens Lock in a low price for 2 years. By Jacqueline Reis TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF WORCESTER — School opened yesterday for most Worcester public school chil- dren, and buses also rolled to the city’s newest charter school, the Spirit of Knowledge Charter School, which opened its doors for the first time. The charter school marked its entrance at 10 Irving St. with green and brown balloons (the colors symbolize the school’s commitment to environmentalism and the Earth) and posted makeshift signs to help students, parents and visitors navigate the labyrinthine space it is renting at All Saints Church. The school opened with 156 students in Grades 7-9 and plans to expand to Grades 7-12 over several years. Otuwe Anya, 14, of WorcesTurn to School/Page A12 See our ad for details. T&G Staff/RICK CINCLAIR Going on Now! ATTIC & MATTRESS TENT SALE! 25 -75 Off % Principal Maureen Binienda answers questions yesterday from students and teachers from the lobby of South High Community School on the first day of classes. % $ 1,000,000 of Inventory in the Main Store, Attics & Tent! ANNIE’S MAILBOX.C8 BRIDGE................C9 CLASSIFIED..........C8 COMICS ...............C6 CROSSWORD........C6 DEATHS...............B4 EDITORIALS ........A11 HEALTH .............A6 HOROSCOPE .......C9 LOTTERIES .........A2 MONEY...............B6 MEDICAL MEMOS A6 STOCKS .............B7 TELEVISION ........C5 News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 791-9245 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 Yesterday’s question Weather Your opinion Friday, September 3, 2010 Today’s question Are you taking any storm precautions as Hurricane Earl approaches? Should some Bush-era tax cuts be allowed to expire? See story on this page, then go to telegram.com to vote. Rain and wind High 80, Low 62 Page A2 LOCAL MONEY Burger King sold, looking for growth overseas STURBRIDGE Dog escapes death row, Page B1 Our 144th year WORCESTER Grand St. bar license revoked, Page B1 Page B12 telegram.com WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $1.00 $1.50 in Coastal New England areas ... Large waves crash Thursday around the Oceanana Fishing Pier as Hurricane Earl approaches Atlantic Beach, N.C. Tax hike for rich may fail Plan daunted by economy By Stephen Ohlemacher THE ASSOCIATED PRESS All eyes on Earl THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Nantucket in storm’s path; officials fear turn to west By Mark Pratt THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BOSTON — The projected path of Hurricane Earl shifted closer to the island of Nantucket on Thursday as the storm weakened slightly but still threatened the New England coast, where officials were wary of a turn farther west. “We’re preparing for the worst,” said Nantucket’s assistant town manager, Gregg Tivnan. Massachusetts Gov. Deval L. Patrick declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm’s arrival, saying the declaration would allow officials to respond quickly. He also urged people living in low-lying areas prone to flooding to consider leaving their homes by Friday afternoon. “We’re asking everyone: Don’t panic,” Patrick said. “We have prepared well, we are coordinated well, and I’m confident that we’ve done everything that we can.” The National Hurricane Center in Miami on Thursday issued a hurricane warning for the Massachusetts coast from Westport to Hull, including Cape Cod and the Islands, with Nantucket expected to be the hardest hit. A tropical storm warning was in effect from New Haven, Conn., to Westport, including Block Island, R.I. A tropical storm watch was in effect from Hull, Mass., to Eastport, Maine. Turn to Hurricane Earl/Page A9 Turn to Tax/Page A8 Closings, uncertainty start holiday weekend Steve Donahue, of Roy’s Marina on Southwest cutoff in Worcester, prepares a boat for delivery and use this weekend. The customer will try out the craft on local waters because of the impending storm. By Lisa Eckelbecker TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF T&G Staff/JIM COLLINS The last blast of summer starts today under a cloud. Hurricane Earl is roaring through the Atlantic Ocean and toward New England just as the calendar is signaling it’s time to rest, play, hit the road, fire up the barbecue and maybe take a moment to WASHINGTON — Congress seems increasingly reluctant to let taxes go up, even on wealthier Americans. Worried about the fragile economy and their own upcoming elections, a growing number of Democrats are joining the rock-solid Republican opposition to President Barack Obama’s plans to let some of the Bush administration’s tax cuts expire. Democratic leaders in Congress still back Obama, but the willingness to raise taxes is waning among the rank and file as the stagnant economy threatens the party’s majority in the House and Senate. “In my view this is no time to do anything that could be jarring to a fragile recovery,” said Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia, a first-term Democrat. The most sweeping tax cuts in a generation are due to expire in January, and that’s setting up a showdown when lawmakers return from their summer vacations this month. By waiting to act on the tax cuts until just before congressional elections in November, Democratic leaders have raised the stakes, politically and for taxpayers. Potential tax hikes appreciate the working man and woman. All of which means Labor Day weekend 2010 might get off to a dampened or delayed start. “We would urge people to keep a close watch on the weather forecast,” said Mary M. Maguire, Massachusetts spokeswoman for AAA Turn to Holiday weekend/Page A9 2011 taxable income Tax returns Average increase Less than $10,000 $10,000-20,000 $20,000-30,000 $30,000-40,000 $40,000-50,000 $50,000-75,000 $75,000-100,000 $100,000-200,000 $200,000-$500,000 $500,000-1Million $1 Million and over 28,681,000 24,383,000 18,523,000 15,679,000 13,001,000 23,972,000 15,245,000 16,885000 3,757,000 608,000 315,000 $70 $410 $756 $893 $923 $1,126 $1,837 $3,672 $7,187 $18,092 $101,587 Source: Joint Committee on Taxation T&G Staff/STACEY ARSENAULT Foley, Bove have vastly different qualifications ATTIC & BEDDING TENT SALE! Ultra Plush Mattress Set 2 Piece Full 1/2 PRICE! $ Now 498 Was 999 $ LIMITED QUANTITIES...ONLY 12 IN STOCK! ROTMANS By Lee Hammel TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF CAMPAIGN 2010 WORCESTER COUNTY SHERIFF the state Senate, on the lam. Scot J. Bove has been an official in the Worcester County Jail and House of Correction for 27 years, rising through the ranks to be an assistant deputy superintendent. Even when other supporters of the former sheriff, who was defeated by the current sheriff, left the jail with their defeated boss, Mr. Bove stayed and had his responsibilities doubled by the new sheriff. He has specific plans to increase programming while decreasing the budget. Yet, very little of this finds its way into the conversation around the race for the Democratic nomination for Worcester County Sheriff. Instead, the candidates face a shower of criticism over how they got into the race to begin with. Mr. Bove, son of the late Alphonse Bove, chief deputy sheriff under former Sheriff John M. Flynn, is criticized as telegram.com/election What’s a candidate to do? Thomas J. Foley has been head of the Massachusetts State Police, running a department six times the size of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Department. He also led one of the highest-profile organized crime investigations in state history, one that ended with mobsters and a highly decorated ex-FBI agent in prison, bodies of longago murder victims found in hidden graves, and James “Whitey” Bulger, a brother of the former president of the of Mr. Bove Mr. Foley the product of nepotism and favoritism. And Mr. Foley is confronted with the fact that he left the state police with a disability pension paying a tax-free $112,000 per year and now wants to be paid as sheriff as well. Asked about thriving in a sys- tem that many voters see as rotten, Mr. Bove, 44, said, “that was the system that was in place. It doesn’t work, and I’ve seen a lot of good people get passed over for promotions.” He said he would improve the system by changing the promotion tests — which did not exist until Guy W. Glodis instituted it after his election as sheriff six years ago — from pass-fail to weighted grades. But he also would increase the importance of interviews, evaluations by supervisors, and commendations. Mr. Bove said he thinks the disability pension of Mr. Foley, Turn to Sheriff/Page A10 ANNIE’S MAILBOX..C8 BRIDGE .................C9 CLASSIFIED...........C8 COMICS ................C6 CROSSWORD .........C6 DEATHS................B6 EDITORIALS..........A11 Enjoy the styling and value of our new product introductions. Complimentary In-Home Design Consultation See store for details Auburn (Rt. 20) 508-832-7678 • www.cabothouse.com ENTERTAINMENT ..B8 HOROSCOPE .........C9 LOTTERIES ...........A2 MONEY ...............B12 NATION/WORLD ....A3 STOCKS ..............B13 TELEVISION ..........C5 News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 791-9245 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 Local stories Saturday, September 4, 2010 Yes, the revenue will help reduce the deficit No, the nation 38.1% still needs them Yesterday’s question Should some Bush-era tax cuts be allowed to expire? 61.9% Your opinion Weather Today’s question Were any of your weekend travel or outdoor plans disrupted by Hurricane Earl? See the stories on this page, then go to telegram.com to vote. Much better REGION MENDON McGovern’s war chest at more than $1 million, Page A3 Parents start fund to address school budget shortfall, Page A3 CLINTON WESTBORO Economic development officer resigns Military camp in Afghanistan after scrutiny, Page A3 named for local man, Page A5 High 78, Low 52 Page A2 NATION/WORLD Major earthquake rattles New Zealand Page A12 Our 144th year telegram.com WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $1.00 $1.50 in Coastal New England areas UMass to cut 70-80 jobs Memorial to ax 28-bed unit By Lisa Eckelbecker TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF WORCESTER — UMass Memorial Health Care, the dominant health care system in Central Massachusetts, will cut about 70 to 80 jobs over the coming weeks and shut down an inpatient medical-surgical unit with about 28 beds at the Memorial campus as part of an effort to reduce costs, UMass Memorial officials said yesterday. The system, which was running a $48 million surplus as of July 31, is making the cuts and taking other actions in an effort to slash $80 million from the budget for the fiscal year that will start Oct. 1, according to UMass Memorial President and Chief Executive Officer John G. O’Brien. Higher costs and lower payments from some insurers are driving the moves, he said. “We’re having a halfway decent year, but we, like probably every hospital in the country, are looking at environmental factors for the coming year, and it is informing us that we have to do business differently,” Mr. O’Brien said. UMass Memorial operates a sprawling nonprofit system that includes the HealthAlliance hospitals in Leominster and Fitchburg, hospitals in Clinton, Marlboro and Palmer, a physicians’ practice and other busi- Firefighters charged in 3 house fires By Gerard F. Russell and Kim Ring TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF PALMER — Saying they were “bored because they were not getting any fires to respond to,” five Brimfield and Holland call firefighters were arraigned yesterday in connection with three fires that were set in those towns this summer. In police interviews with the men, they readily admitted their involvement and detailed a series of failed attempts to light the fires in the early morning hours on three Tuesdays, and talked of text messages to each other that detailed their plans. Patrick K. Elliott, 19, of Power Station Road, Charlton, a Brimfield firefighter; Brian S. Findlay, 18, of 85 Armitage Road, Ashford, Conn., a Brimfield and Holland firefighter; Jordan R. Frank, 18, of 19 Cross St., West Brookfield, a Brimfield firefighter; Dylan J. Lajeunesse, 18, of 21 Union Road, Holland, a Holland firefighter; and Donald C. Moores, 20, of 3 Forest Drive, Brimfield, a Brimfield and Holland firefighter, were released on $250 Fire marshal laments betrayal Mr. Elliott Mr. Moores Mr. Frank bail. Their cases were continued to Oct. 8 for a pretrial conference. Not-guilty pleas were entered on their behalf by Judge Michael Goggins in Palmer District Court. The five men each face a single felony charge of burning a building, which if convicted could put them in state prison for up to 20 years. Assistant Hampden District Attorney James M. Forsyth said the men face additional charges and the cases will go to a grand jury for indictment. Mr. Findlay Mr. Lajeunesse The five young men, some of whom come from families in the firefighting service, were arrested Thursday night by Massachusetts State Police detectives in the Fire & Explosion Investigation Section. The arrests were in connection with fires set in abandoned homes June 15 at 153 Paige Hill Road in Brimfield, June 22 on 151 Washington Road in Brimfield and July 13 at 6 Chandler Road in Holland. In a press release yesterday, state Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan said, “A firefighter accused of deliberately setting Vacations disrupted or cut short By Bob Salsberg THE ASSOCIATED PRESS said yesterday, indicating rain that seemed to be ending at the time, “that’s fine, and once it goes through, it’s gone.” As the National Weather Service was announcing Hurricane Earl was downgraded to a Category 1 hurricane and was expected to be down to tropical storm strength as it passed Nantucket sometime Friday night, the Spencer Fair kicked off its annual long weekend of agricultural displays, rides, games CHATHAM — A weakened Tropical Storm Earl dumped wind-driven rain on Cape Cod’s gray-shingled cottages and fishing villages Friday night, disrupting vacations on the unofficial final weekend of the short New England summer. The storm swirled up the Eastern Seaboard after sideswiping North Carolina’s Outer Banks, where it caused flooding, but no injuries and little damage. The storm passed wide of New York City, Long Island and the rest of the mid-Atlantic region, but brought rain and high winds as it passed just off Cape Cod, Nantucket Island and Martha’s Vineyard late Friday night. Vacationers pulled their boats from the water and canceled Labor Day weekend reservations on Nantucket, the well-to-do resort island and oldtime whaling port. Shopkeepers boarded up their windows. Swimmers in New England were warned to stay out of the water — or off the beach altogether — because of the danger of getting swept away by high waves. Airlines canceled dozens of flights into New England, and Amtrak suspended train service between New York and Boston. No large-scale evacuations were ordered for Cape Cod, where fishermen and other hardy year-round residents have been dealing with gusty nor’easters for generations. “We kind of roll with the punches out here. It’s not a huge deal for us,” Turn to Spewncer Fair/Page A7 Turn to Earl/Page A7 TENT SALE! $ 497 Twin Headboards starting at $ 79 starting at 2 Piece Queen Mattress Sets starting at T&G Staff/PAUL KAPTEYN $ 299 Limited Quantities...Hurry for Best Selection! ROTMANS ANNIE’S MAILBOX...A8 BRIDGE..................B7 CLASSIFIED............C2 COMICS .................B6 CROSSWORD..........B6 DEATHS.................A4 EDITORIALS ..........A11 ENTERTAINMENT....A8 HOROSCOPE...........B7 LOTTERIES.............A2 MONEY ..................A9 RELIGION..............A10 STOCKS.................A9 TELEVISION ...........B5 News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 793-9245 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 Turn to Arson/Page A7 Rain, wind, sighs ATTIC & BEDDING Headboard, Dresser & Mirror fires betrays the public’s trust and destroys the credibility of the fire service.” He also said, “Firefighters as arsonists is not as uncommon as it should be.” Moments before yesterday’s noontime Earl storms out to sea in a huff Turn to UMass Memorial/Page A7 3 Piece Bedrooms T&G File Photo/DAN GOULD Firefighters hose down hot spots after the July 13 fire at 6 Chandler Road in Holland. Hope Belford, 3, of Spencer, runs with her umbrella yesterday as she and her family brave the rain at the start of the Spencer Fair. Storm no big deal at Spencer Fair By George Barnes TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF SPENCER — Looking a bit like Katrina or Camille earlier in the week, Hurricane Earl was expected to be a mellow dude by the time he made his way past the Massachusetts coast last night. In Central Massachusetts, the uncertainty of the story was worse than the reality. “We were concerned. I think everyone was, because you don’t know,” said E. Allan Walker, president of the Spencer Fair. Mr. Walker said that when he went home with his wife from setting up the fair earlier in the week, he turned on the Weather Channel. When he saw there was the possibility of a hurricane, he couldn’t believe it. The weather has been so good this summer, it seemed like bad luck that it would rain during the fair. “But if this is all we’re going to get,” he Weather Your opinion September 5, 2010 Yesterday’s question SmoAre V E than $co4up4ons.i6nsi5 de Sunshine on our minds High 70, Low 53 Page A2 Today’s question Who’s Earl? 40% No, it was a minor inconvenience. Were any of your weekend travel or outdoor plans disrupted by Hurricane Yes, reservations were Earl? canceled or changed. 56.4% Is the jobs market on the rebound in Massachusetts? See story below and go to telegram.com to vote. 3.6% ONLINE TODAY Local stories telegram.com ASHBURNHAM Man’s 90th birthday creates Web furor, Page B1 Our 144th year telegram.com REGION Oakmont students inspire solar power use, Page B1 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $2.50 ... $3.00 in Coastal New England areas Fun at the fairs Jobs Woodstock and Spencer fairs are popular draws this weekend. See video of the Woodstock Fair on Telegram.com Dems brace for midterm elections Light in the tunnel Massachusetts campaign 2010 Politics Blog Shaun Sutner telegram.com/electionnet Party hopes to save seats ‘one by one’ SLIDE SHOWS By Jeff Zeleny And Carl Hulse SPORTS THE NEW YORK TIMES College football gallery Slideshow of photos from yesterday’s Holy Cross-Howard, Worcester State-Anna Maria, Becker-Utica and UMass-William & Mary football games. Treasure trove Historical Green family heirlooms to be auctioned at DCU Center. See slideshow. T&G Staff/CHRISTINE PETERSON Conservation Services Group of Westboro, an energy services company, has hired 163 people this year for its various locations. Looking at project plans are Peter Hubbe, left, and Will D’Arrigo, project managers; Caitriona Cooke, program manager/new construction; and Gabriel Baldwin, home energy and green rating professional. By Martin Luttrell 106 TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF 104 What’s in it for U Fitchburg State and Worcester State renamed universities. Slideshow shows officials, students, campus changes. Sofa & Loveseat 2 Piece Sets as low as Limited Quantities $ 598 ROTMANS Lock in a low price for 2 years. WASHINGTON — As Democrats brace for a November wave that threatens their control of the House, party leaders are preparing a brutal triage of their own members in hopes of saving enough seats to keep a slim grip on the majority. In the next two weeks, Democratic leaders will review new polls and other data that show whether vulnerable incumbents have a path to victory. If not, the party is poised to redirect money to concentrate on trying to protect up to two dozen lawmakers who appear to be in the strongest position to fend off their challengers. “We are going to have to win these races one by one,” said Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, conceding that the party would ultimately cut loose members who had not gained ground. With the midterm campaign entering its final two months, Democrats acknowledged that several races could quickly move out of their reach, including re-election bids by Reps. Betsy Markey of Colorado, Tom Perriello On the rebound WORCESTER — Last week’s stock market Intuit Small Business uptick and reports that manufacturing continEmployment Index turns ues a slow, steady growth don’t offer much joy 102 up in Massachusetts for Stan F. Choinski. The laid-off teacher has been job hunting for 100 two years and spends much of his time going to job fairs, answering help-wanted ads and 98 gathering discarded cans to redeem. Prospective employers have offered pay too low to 96 live on or tell him he is overqualified, he said. “I’ve got a master’s degree and I collect 94 cans,” he said last week, while leaving the downtown office of the Workforce Central 92 Career Center. “I answer ads for teachers. Most of the time they don’t hire subs, but call 90 J F MA MJ J A S O N D J F M AM J J A S O N D J F MAM J J A S O N D J F MAM J J A back the teachers they already let go. I have no 2007 2009 2008 2010 income.” Mr. Choinski, who was recently turned T&G Staff/STACEY ARSENAULT down for jobs as a parking valet and tree planter on Burncoat Street, is one of more than Jarrod Gomes, 312,000 unemployed in Massachusetts, a state left, president of that has held for two months at 9.0 percent Certified Connecunemployment, up from 8.7 percent in July tions Inc., Worces2009. ter, shown with While the state added 19,000 jobs in July, company saleseconomic conditions indicate there could be a man David Goodslowdown in job growth, and some economists hue, said more warn of a double-dip recession. The U.S. Labor construction proDepartment said productivity fell in the jects would allow spring by the largest amount in nearly four him to add emyears, while labor costs rose, indicating that ployees. The comcompanies may have reached the limits of pany supplies their ability to squeeze more work out of their telecommunicareduced work forces. tions wire, cable Even as the nation celebrates the Labor Day and components. weekend, the climate for American workers is Turn to Jobs/Page A6 Turn to Midterm/Page A7 Muslims fear 9-11 reprisals Security heightened; loyalty to US declared By Rachel Zoll THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK — American Muslims are boosting security at mosques, seeking help from leaders of other faiths and airing ads underscoring their loyalty to the United States — all ahead of a 9-11 anniversary they fear could bring more trouble for their communities. Their goal is not only to protect Muslims, but also to prevent them from retaliating, if provoked. One Sept. 11 protest in New York against the proposed mosque near ground zero is expected to feature Geert Wilders, the aggressively anti-Islam Dutch lawmaker. The same day in Gainesville, Fla., the Dove World Outreach Center plans to burn copies of the Quran. “We can expect crazy people out there will do things, but we don’t want to create a hysteria” among Muslims, said Victor Begg of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan. Turn to Muslims/Page A7 See our ad for details. Today, 10-6 -9 Monday, 10 ATTIC & MATTRESS TENT SALE! of Inventory in the Main Store, Attics & Tent! 25 -75 Off 1,000,000 % % $ Hurry for Best Selection! Some Limited Quantities and One-of-A Kinds. MONEY ..................D1 DEATHS.................B6 EDITORIALS AND COMMENTARY ..A10-11 LIVING ...................... CROSSWORD ..........7 LOCAL NEWS..........B1 SPORTS .................C1 TRAVEL.................M1 TONIGHT’S TV ........N8 CLASSIFIED WORCESTERWORKS .. SECTION D AUTOMOTIVE AND REAL ESTATE ........... SECTION E News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 793-9245 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 Weather Yesterday’s question Monday, September 6, 2010 Is the jobs market on the rebound in Massachusetts? Sunny holiday! Weather No, the stats are too small to be meaningful I’ll believe it when I get a job 19.8% Page A2 SHREWSBURY High XX, Low XX Boy escapes fall into well with minor injuries, Page B1 Page A2 telegram.com Our 144th year Do you think the tea party rallies will help or hurt Republican candidates in Massachusetts? Go to telegram.com to vote. LOCAL Sunny holiday! ONLINE TODAY Today’s question 15% 65.2% High 76, Low 59 Your opinion Hopefully, and it’s about time CHARLTON telegram.com Charter group says change is needed, Page B1 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $1.00 $1.50 in Coastal New England areas Big tea party activity likely Local groups working hard on getting out the vote By Priyanka Dayal TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF SPORTS At a venerable 63, Bill "Spaceman" Lee baffled the Tornadoes. Complete local and national scores online at telegram.com With anti-incumbent sentiment running high, local tea party groups are likely to play a major role in mobilizing voters to support conservative candidates this election season. As they did in January, when Scott P. Brown won a surprising victory over Martha Coakley for the open U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts, tea party members are working to sway voters to choose small-government-loving conservatives. “I think they will be very much active,” said David L. Schaefer, professor of political science at the College of the Ho- more effective than ‘a It’stelevision commercial. It’s more effective than ‚ a robo-call. DANIEL KLINGHARD ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, HOLY CROSS ly Cross. The same concerns that drove the election of Mr. Brown are even more widespread now. “In Massachusetts, as far as I can tell, the tea party can be of considerable assistance to a Republican candidate. Given the uphill battle that any Republican in this state faces, a Republican candidate needs all the support he can get.” But as tea party organizers have shown already this year, they will not stick with a Republican who violates tea party principles. The same tea party members who helped elect Mr. Brown to the U.S. Senate later protested his vote for a bill that will regulate the financial services industry. “When he voted for bigger government and more spending and more regulation, the tea party was there to criticize him,” said Kenneth J. Mandile Turn to Tea party/Page A4 T&G Photo/JIM COLLINS Martin A. Lamb, right, who hopes to oust U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, is shown at a rally in May by tea party supporters of the Arizona immigration law. Tea partiers were facing off with opponents of the law, including Gordon Davis, left, of Worcester SLIDESHOWS LOCAL FAIRS Combat ends but US still in battle Policeman injured in ’91 is 60 Woodstock rocks! In the pony pulling contest, top prize was taken by Tom Avery, left, and Parker Moon, with their team of three pulling ponies. See slideshow online. Militants breach security in Baghdad By Barbara Surk THE ASSOCIATED PRESS T&G Photo/RICK CINCLAIR Peter Kneeland gets a kiss from his brother Timothy Kneeland, left, during his 60th birthday celebration on Sunday. Spencer soars! Jessica Furtado, 9, and Juliannah Kolfsky, ride the Flying Bobs ride, above. Below, racing pigs await competition. More photos online at telegram.com. Never forgotten Drunk driver hit officer By Scott J. Croteau TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF ATTIC & BEDDING TENT SALE! WORCESTER — Media reports of law enforcement officials being hit by drivers — either drunk or driving recklessly — still make the family of Peter Kneeland cringe. It was a drunken driver who left the now retired Worcester police officer with lifelong injuries. At a celebration for Mr. Kneeland’s 60th birthday inside Beaumont Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center on Plantation Street yesterday, the retired officer sat in his wheelchair with his brand new Worcester police baseball cap. “When I see either on the news or a news article about someone being hit or when I am driving down the road they have those signs, ‘Police officer Obama to ask for more tax credits 75 3 Piece Bedrooms Headboard, Dresser & Mirror starting at Twin Mattresses starting at 79 $ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Proposal meant to spur economic growth WASHINGTON — Seeking ways to spur economic growth ahead of the November elections, President Barack Obama will ask Congress to increase and permanently extend research and development tax credits for businesses, a White House offi- cial said Sunday. Obama will outline the $100 billion proposal during a speech on the economy Wednesday in Cleveland, the official said. The announcement is expected to be the first in a series of new measures Obama will propose By Julie Pace 497 $99 $ ROTMANS Turn to Officer/Page A4 Turn to Baghdad battle/Page A4 SHOP TODAY 10-9 SAVE % up to Twin Headboards starting at ahead,’ I think of Peter,” said his sister Kathleen M. DelloStritto. Paralyzed in his right arm area and unable to speak, Mr. Kneeland kicked his legs when one city officer’s radio at the party began to crackle with police activity. It is a sound familiar to Mr. Kneeland, a sound he heard often during his 14 years on the job. While working a paid police detail on Cambridge Street on Sept. 18, 1991, Mr. Kneeland was struck by a hit-andrun driver, who was arrested several days after the incident and was, according to officials then, driving drunk when he hit the officer. Mr. Kneeland suffered serious head and other injuries and was in critical condition for more than 24 hours after the accident. The city covers the cost of his care. He retired in 1998. News of law enforcement officials being struck by drivers became prevalent this year. In July, a Holden-based trooper was struck by an alleged drunken driver as he directed traffic at the intersection of Monsignor O’Brien Highway and Land Boulevard in Cambridge. A BAGHDAD — Days after the U.S. officially ended combat operations and touted Iraq’s ability to defend itself, American troops found themselves battling heavily armed militants assaulting an Iraqi military headquarters in the center of Baghdad on Sunday. The fighting killed 12 people and wounded dozens. It was the first exchange of fire involving U.S. troops in Baghdad since the Aug. 31 deadline for formally ending the combat mission, and it showed that American troops remaining in the country are still being drawn into the fighting. The attack also made plain the kind of lapses in security that have left Iraqis wary of the U.S. drawdown and distrustful of the ability of Iraqi forces now taking up ultimate responsibility for protecting the country. Sunday’s hourlong assault was the second in as many weeks on the facility, the headquarters for the Iraqi Army’s 11th Division, pointing to the failure of Iraqi forces to plug even the most obvious holes in their security. Two of the four attackers even managed to fight their way inside the compound and only died after running out of ammunition and detonating explosives belts they were wearing. The American troops who joined the fight and provided cover fire for Iraqi soldiers pursuing the attackers were based at the compound to train Iraqi forces, said U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Eric Bloom. Iraqi forces also requested help from U.S. helicopters, drones and explosives experts, he said. No American troops were hurt, Bloom said. Under an agreement between the two coun- President Obama this fall as the administration looks to jump-start an economy that the president himself has said isn’t growing fast enough. In addition to making the research Turn to Tax/Page A4 ANNIE’S MAILBOX.C8 BRIDGE................C9 CLASSIFIED..........C6 COMICS ...............C6 COMMENTARY......A5 CROSSWORD........C8 ENTERTAINMENT..B6 HOROSCOPE .......C9 LOTTERIES .........A2 MONEY...............B7 NATION ..............A3 NEW ENGLAND ...A3 TELEVISION ........C5 WORLD ..............A3 News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 793-9245 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 Weather They’re overdoing it and will Help most GOP Do you think tea hurt the GOP party rallies will help candidates candidates Tuesday, September 7, 2010 Mostly sunny High 82, Low 64 Page A2 ONLINE TODAY Yesterday’s question Today’s question or hurt Republican candidates in Massachusetts? Are you more likely or less likely to vote this year in primary and final elections? See stories on this page, then go to telegram.com to vote. 58.2% 41.8% Your opinion Local REGION telegram.com After chase, 4 charged with shoplifting, Page B1 REGION Our 144th year ‘No-idling’ signs at some schools, Page B1 telegram.com FITCHBURG Word’s out, city towing abandoned cars, Page B1 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $1.00 $1.50 in Coastal New England areas President assails Republicans for creating hard times Obama’s $50B jobs program Marlboro parade Marching to the beat on Labor Day. Watch our online video. By Darlene Superville THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Slideshow online Fill shelves, Kindles In our Lifestyle section, see a story about the books that will become bestsellers this fall. CAMPAIGN 2010 Election 2010 Get the latest on the candidates. Find out where to vote. Our election section keeps you informed. www.telegram.com/ election SPORTS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS President Barack Obama shakes hands Monday after speaking at the annual Milwaukee Area Labor Council Laborfest. On telegram.com More than 700,000 unique visitors per month 1. Labor’s error 2. Big tea party activity likely 3. Muslims fear 9-11 reprisals 4. Labor leaders prepare to defend local Democrats 5. Embalming leaves her cold 6. Letter: Muslims a varied group, and peaceful 7. Letter: Candidate is illogical on Muslim issue ANNIE’S MAILBOX....C8 BRIDGE ...................C9 CLASSIFIED.............C8 COMICS ..................C6 CROSSWORD ...........C6 DEATHS..................B4 EDITORIALS.............A9 Dems gritting teeth, readying for fight U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern listens Monday while Robert Haynes, president of the Massachusetts AFL/CIO, speaks during the Central Mass. AFL/ CIO Labor Day Breakfast at Coral Seafood in Worcester. By Jacqueline Reis See our ad for details. Sen. Scott P. Brown and the popularity of the tea party movement are mounting challenges to such local Democrats as Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray and U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern. And then there’s Friday’s announcement that UMass Memorial Medical Health Care will cut 70 to 80 jobs and the fact that a laborfavored bill that would have TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF T&G Staff/TOM RETTIG WORCESTER — The annual Central Massachusetts AFL-CIO Labor Day Breakfast is typically an event for local Democrats to celebrate their strength. This year, labor leaders seemed to be gritting their teeth and readying for a fight. Republican candidates emboldened by the success of U.S. Turn to Democrats/Page A6 Baker: Inefficiency, taxes hurting Mass. By Sandra Quadros Bowles CORRESPONDENT WORCESTER — An inefficient and spendthrift state government stands in the way of a successful and prosperous Massachusetts, Republican gubernatorial candidate Charles Baker said yesterday morning at the Republican Labor Day breakfast at the Elks Lodge. Candidate for governor Charles Baker addresses a GOP Labor Day breakfast Monday held at the Worcester Elks Lodge. Massachusetts has every other ingredient for economic success, he said, including an educated population, infrastructure and technology. Restrictions and taxes imposed by state government hold down economic growth, he said. “We solve that, and this place will boom,’’ he said. Mr. Baker, former chief execuTurn to GOP breakfast/Page A6 T&G Staff/TOM RETTIG NATO requests 2,000 more troops for Afghanistan Half will be trainers for rapidly growing Afghan security forces ENTERTAINMENT....B6 HOROSCOPE...........C9 LOTTERIES ............A2 MONEY..................B8 NATION .................A3 TELEVISION ...........C5 WORLD..................A3 Lock in a low price for 2 years. Turn to Obama/Page A6 Labor Day dealings Golf at its best View our slide show featuring the top players in the Deutsche Bank Championship. MILWAUKEE — A combative President Barack Obama rolled out a long-term jobs program Monday that would exceed $50 billion to rebuild roads, railways and runways, and coupled it with a blunt campaign-season assault on Republicans telegram.com for causing Americans’ hard economic times. GOP leaders instantly assailed Obama’s proposal as an ineffective one that would simply raise already excessive federal spending. Many congressional Democrats By Christopher Bodeen THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Afghans burn an effigy of Dove World Outreach Center’s pastor Terry Jones during a demonstration Monday against the United States in Kabul. Hundreds of Afghans also called for President Barack Obama’s death. KABUL, Afghanistan — The top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan is asking for 2,000 more soldiers to join the 140,000-strong international force here, NATO officials said Monday. It was unclear how many would be Americans. Coalition officials said nearly half will be trainers for the rapidly expanding Afghan security forces and will include troops trained to neutralize roadside bombs that have been responsible for about 60 percent of the 2,000 allied deaths in the nearly 9-year war. The officials, who spoke on 5 Years ahead: Billions needed through 2015, Page A8 condition of anonymity because they were not supposed to talk about the issue with media, said the NATO-led command had been asking for the troops even before Gen. David Petraeus assumed command here in July. Petraeus recently renewed that request with the NATO command in Brussels. The alliance has had trouble raising more troops for the war effort, with at least 450 training slots still unfilled after more than a year. With casualties rising, the war has become deeply unpopular in many of NATO’s 28 member countries, suggesting the additional forces will have to come from the United States. In Europe, polls show the majority of voters consider it an unnecessary drain on finances at a time of sharp cuts in public spending Turn to More troops/Page A8 News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 793-9245 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 Weather Wednesday, September 8, 2010 Yesterday’s question Less likely: The candidates are uninspiring Are you more likely or less likely to vote this year in primary and final elections? 19.2% T-storms High 81, Low 56 Page A2 ENGL NEW ONLINE TODAY AND NON- DAILY PUBL ICATI Inside: Westboro er motivator Grant mast . . 16 . Division 1C . . . stron g . 20 continues Tom Murphy QB tradition e Northbridg . 24 . Division 2B. . . Grasi s y’s David Prout le trouble twins are doub Division 3A. . . . . 28 telegram.com BONUS SECTION Local Hometeam High School football preview edition, Inside Mom arrested, children taken into custody, Page B1 Divisio . . 31 y FB Cody Savo r game powe to ’Gansett . 34 Letourneau Senior Matt for Tech eld coach on fi . 38 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS Prep schools . . stars rin Canaan Seve Academy at Worcester ... ƒlso insIDE ...2 Football 101 . . . schedule. . . 10 RNEY. YOUR JOU START ONG. START STR SM tial . Many influen of Army Strong with the help started WPI, you Then there’s strong. business leadersArmy ROTC at start There’s and a you a strong enroll in government When you training to give even receive hip You may no greater Army ROTC. on leaders Officer. There is get hands- as an Army to $215,000. Army ROTC. up Tom Maeder after collegescholarship future than a strong started, contact [email protected]. full-tuition To get start toward at armyro place to s the campu 28A, on rium, Room [email protected] gton Audito or email armyr ent of Harrin te (WPI) in the Basem chnic Institu Visit us ster Polyte of Worce ’S and 17 VARSITYSPOMEN RTS TEAMS WOMEN’S n, MA , Paxto et Lane u 50 Suns amaria.ed www.ann 2010 It’s time for picking apples in Central Mass. Watch our video. www.massmoms.com $1.00 $1.50 in Coastal New England areas Taxes, spending spur debate By John J. Monahan TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF Give it the boot St. Peter-Marian meets Holy Name in soccer. View the action in our photo gallery. T&G Staff/STEVE LANAVA Laura Lenahan and her daughter, Rhane Lenahan, 7, sit in the back row of the City Council chamber last night as they await the vote on a proposed dog ordinance. For the latest in the business world, subscribe to our Business at Noon newsletter. WEBSTER Gov. hopefuls clash at forum Celebrate Fall Business@Noon Should the Rev. Terry Jones be prevented from holding his Quran-burning event? See story on this page, then go to telegram.com to vote. 80.8% Division 3B. . . .key Division 3C. . . . Today’s question More likely: I want to be heard 0 W 201 Cal-bound dgers Richard Ro nked leads top-ran’s St. Joh n 1A, PƒGE 6 tball Girls’ Baske Year Player of thegliera Jacqui Bru Regional tt of Wachuse nowsky QB Luke Baka ont leads Oakm offense Our 144th year VIE LL PRE Bear Joe Brigham’s South right arm leads Division 2A. . . . TBA ÚÜ FOO Bewoaf rthee . . 12 .... Division 1Bsenio r Andrew telegram.com YEAR F THE ON O Your opinion BOSTON — The four candidates for governor clashed over tax cuts, spending, job creation and immigration in their first televised debate last night, which saw candidates link all of those issues to the state’s severe unemployment problems. Republican Charles D. Baker Jr. took aim at both incumbent Democrat Deval L. Patrick and independent candidate State Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill and drew fire from both, while Green Rainbow Party candidate Jill Stein was left out of much of the crossfire. The one-hour debate on WBZ-TV Channel 4 is also slated to be aired nationally on C-SPAN. In one of the more animated exchanges, the governor hit Mr. Baker for his role in the Weld administration for writing the Big Dig cost overrun bailout plan in the late 1990s, which the governor said “is still a great big albatross around the neck of the commonwealth.” “You can’t blame things on the past,” Mr. Baker said, adding the project was developed 20 Turn to Debate/Page A8 Pit bull rules Dangerous-dog ordinance OK’d Cover it live Follow reporter Shaun Sutner’s live blogging today of a forum with the three Democratic candidates for auditor, starting at 1 p.m. www.telegram.com Need a laugh? ection The comics sn the Web. o is available ram.com/ www.teleg comics By Lee Hammel WARL acting director, said after the meeting that the organization needs time to digest all of the amendments added to the proposal last WORCESTER — The City Council last night night. passed an ordinance that will regulate the liAmong the amendments adopted was one censing and ownership of pit bulls and “other exempting dogs trained and relied upon as a dangerous” dogs in the city. service dog or assistance dog by a person with a The ordinance will take effect April 1. The disability. It also exempts dogs that complete a vote was 9-2 with Councilor-at-Large Michael training program from a nationally accredited J. Germain and Mayor Joseph C. O’Brien facility or trainer. opposed. Those amendments were The ordinance had been proposed by District 5 Councidrafted initially aimed only at lor William J. Eddy, one of the pit bulls, but last night all of primary sponsors of the prothe councilors except for posal. Councilor-at-Large FreMayor O’Brien agreed with derick C. Rushton said it will Councilor-at-Large Kathleen be meaningless without furM. Toomey’s amendment to ther definition, but he was include other “dangerous unsuccessful in getting the dogs.” Ms. Toomey’s proposal proposals sent to a council to establish a task force to committee. determine what other dogs POLICE CHIEF GARY J. GEMME Mr. Eddy cited updated stawould come under the new tistics from the Police Departordinance was stymied, at least for last night, ment and the city clerk’s office showing that by District 3 Councilor Paul P. Clancy Jr. 3.75 percent of the city’s licensed dog populaMr. Clancy held her proposal under privi- tion comprises pit bulls, while dogs attributed lege, which prevented it from being discussed. to that breed are responsible for 46 percent of It will be taken up at the next council session, the dog bites reported to police. Those statisSept. 21. tics for the year ended June 30 are even higher The Worcester Animal Rescue League has than the ones from a couple of years earlier threatened to stop accepting all dogs that the showing that pit bulls are 2 percent of licensed city’s animal control officers turn over to it if dogs, but responsible for 25 the council passes the ordinance. Asked Turn to Dogs/Page A6 whether that will happen now, Allie Simone, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF you look ‘at When these numbers, something has ‚ got to be done. On telegram.com GOP candidates grill each other Victor to face McGovern in 3rd By Priyanka Dayal TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF WESTBORO — For the first time, five Republicans hoping to represent the 3rd Congressional District were allowed to ask each other questions last night in a public forum, and Martin A. Lamb took full advantage of the opportunity. Mr. Lamb, a real estate lawyer from Holliston, saved both of his allowed questions for his top opponent, Brian J. Herr of Hop- By Mitch Stacy Turn to GOP/Page A6 US warns action could endanger troops THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Rev. Terry Jones at the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla. GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The government turned up the pressure Tuesday on the head of a small Florida church who plans to burn copies of the Quran on Sept. 11, warning him that doing so could endanger U.S. troops and Americans everywhere. But the Rev. Terry Jones insisted he would go ahead with his plans, despite criticism from the top U.S. general in Afghanistan, the White House and the State Department, as 5 Local response: Clergyman condemns Quran burning, Page A8 well as a host of religious leaders. Jones, who is known for posting signs proclaiming that Islam is the devil’s religion, says the Constitution gives him the right to publicly set fire to the book that Muslims consider the word of God. Gen. David Petraeus warned Tuesday in an e-mail to The Associated Press that “images of the burning of a Quran would undoubtedly be used by extremists in Afghanistan — and around the world — to inflame public opinion and incite violence.” It was a rare example of a military commander taking a position on a domestic political matter. CLEARANCE CENTER EVENT NOW THROUGH SUNDAY kinton. Mr. Lamb asked Mr. Herr to explain why he was more than three months late in filing a financial disclosure form to the U.S. House clerk’s office — despite spending thousands of campaign dollars on compliance lawyers and consultants. Mr. Herr, an executive for an electrical supply company, said he filed for an extension when he knew he wouldn’t make the Pastor affirms plan to burn Qurans Most read stories 1. Girl injured at Spencer Fair 2. Lost and found 3. Courthouse records 4. Baker: Inefficiency, taxes hurting Mass. 5. No idling 6. Alleged attempted shoplifting leads to chase; 4 suspects arrested 7. Surprises mark Patriots’ cutdown THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Massachusetts Republican gubernatorial candidate Charles D. Baker, left, independent Timothy Cahill, second left, moderator and political analyst Jon Keller, center, Gov. Deval Patrick, second right, and Green-Rainbow Party candidate Jill Stein are seen last night. 20 -70 % %OFF original retail prices WESTBORO • 272 Turnpike Rd. RT. 9 East • 508-366-9595 EXTRA % 10 BONUS BRING YOUR MILITARY OR STUDENT ID CARD AND GET AN EXTRA BONUS! Turn to Qurans/Page A8 ANNIE’S MAILBOX ...C8 BRIDGE...................C9 CLASSIFIED ............C8 COMICS ..................C6 CROSSWORD...........C6 DEATHS .................B4 EDITORIALS ............A7 ENTERTAINMENT...B6 HOROSCOPE ..........C9 LOTTERIES............A2 MONEY .................B8 NATION/WORLD.....A3 STOCKS ................B9 TELEVISION...........C5 News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 793-9245 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 Weather Yesterday’s question Thursday, September 9, 2010 Should the Rev. Terry Jones be prevented from holding his Quran-burning event? Breezy day High 72, Low 54 Page A2 ONLINE TODAY Your opinion No, he has Yes, it will incite the right to violence and do it. hatred. 50.1% 49.9% Today’s question How should parents prevent their children from becoming overweight? See story on Page A4, then go to telegram.com to vote. Local WORCESTER telegram.com Embezzler gets 2 years, Page B1 SHREWSBURY VIDEO Our 144th year Animal-friendly festival Dog’s death sentence affirmed, Page B1 telegram.com DUDLEY Teen allegedly posed as officer, Page B1 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $1.00 $1.50 in Coastal New England areas City moves to cut staff Trio of plans to spur job growth, invigorate economy Pet Rock Festival will be the 12th annual event to benefit animal care organizations. SLIDESHOW Early retirement program OK’d By Nick Kotsopoulos TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF Fitness first First lady Michelle Obama participates in the Let’s Move! Campaign to promote exercise and fight childhood obesity. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS On telegram.com Most read stories online 1. Parents facing charges 2. Athletes accused of sex assault 3. Worcester adopts pit bull rules 4. Bachelorette revisits ‘Clarkie’ life 5. Unreal traffic control 6. Courthouse records 7. Truck and boat slip into Lake Quinsigamond Inside Today SPORTS Ready for the opener But no talk of contract extension for Tom Brady — at least, not right now. MASSACHUSETTS President Barack Obama delivers remarks Wednesday on the economy at Cuyahoga Community College in Parma, Ohio. Obama: Fiscal tough talk End tax cuts for wealthy; boost businesses By Julie Pace and Tom Raum THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CLEVELAND — Politically weakened but refusing to bend, President Barack Obama insisted Wednesday that Bush-era tax cuts be cut off for the wealthiest Americans, joining battle with Republicans — and some fellow Democrats — just two months before bruising midterm elections. Singling out House GOP leader John Boehner in his home state, Obama delivered a searing attack on Republicans for advocating “the same philosophy that led to this mess in the first place: cut more taxes for millionaires and cut more rules for corporations.” Obama rolled out a trio of Study: More than 30% of students in 80 school districts are overweight or obese. Page A4 A good start would be ... ‘freezing ‚ all tax rates. JOHN BOEHNER HOUSE GOP LEADER PRESIDENT OBAMA Boehner new plans to help spur job growth and invigorate the sluggish national economic recovery. They would expand and permanently extend a research and development tax credit that lapsed in 2009, allow businesses to write off 100 percent of their investments in equipment and plants through 2011 and pump $50 billion into highway, rail, airport and other infrastructure projects. The package was assembled by the president’s economic team after it became clear that the recovery was running out of steam. There was a political component, too: With Democrats in danger of losing control of the House in November, Obama is under heavy pressure to show voters that he and his party are ready to do more to get the economy moving and get millions of jobless Americans back to work. However, none of Wednesday’s proposals, nor Obama’s call for allowing tax rates to Turn to Tough talk/Page A11 BP and partners trade blame for oil leak Critics call company’s report self-serving By Harry R. Weber, Michael Kunzelman and Dina Cappiello THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Overweight kids We should not hold ‘middle class tax cuts ‚ hostage any longer. NEW ORLEANS — BP took some of the blame for the Gulf oil disaster in an internal report issued Wednesday, acknowledging among other things that it misinterpreted a key pressure test of the well. But in a possible preview of its legal strategy, it also pointed the finger at its partners on the doomed rig. The highly technical, 193-page report attributes the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history and the rig explosion that set it off to a complex chain of failures both human and mechanical. Some of those problems have been made public during the past 41⁄2 months, such as the failure of the blowout preventer to clamp the well shut. The report is far from the definitive ruling on the cause of the catastrophe. For one thing, government investigators have not yet begun to fully analyze the blowout preventer, which was raised from the bottom of the sea over the Labor Day Turn to BP /Page A11 SPECIAL OFFER FROM PERCY’S THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Deepwater Horizon blowout preventer is lifted out of the Gulf of Mexico Saturday by the Helix Q4000 near the coast of Louisiana. Offer Good September 9th - 12th YOUR MITSUBISHI TV COULD BE FREE! APPLIANCES • ELECTRONICS • FURNITURE • BEDDING Professionall Football Team wins the “Big g Game” Feb. 6th Mon., Wed., Fri., 10-8 • Tues. & Thurs. 10-6 • Sat. 10-6 • Sun. 12-5 Your E Y Energy Star St Appliance A li Superstore! S t ! Turn to Early retirement/Page A14 CAMPAIGN 2010 telegram.com/election Glodis misses forum Young Democrats hear Bump, Lake By John J. Monahan TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF BOSTON — As the Young Democrats of Massachusettssponsored debate for state auditor was about to start yesterday, only two of the three Democratic candidates were there. Moderator Mara Dolan announced to reporters assembled for Mr. Glodis the 1 p.m. forum that Worcester County Sheriff Guy W. Glodis’ campaign had just called, saying he could not attend because of “an incident” Turn to Glodis/Page A12 ANNIE’S MAILBOX ...C8 BRIDGE ..................C9 CLASSIFIED ............C8 COMICS..................C6 CROSSWORD ..........C6 DEATHS .................B4 EDITORIALS ..........A13 HEALTH .................A10 HOROSCOPE.............C9 LOTTERIES ..............A2 MONEY....................B6 MEDICAL MEMOS ....A10 STOCKS...................B7 TELEVISION .............C5 News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 793-9245 LED HDTV 40”-55” DLP HDTV 65”-82” *See store for complete details. No prior sales eligible. Percy’s reserves right to end promotion at any time. visit i i us online at www.percys.com WORCESTER — The City Council has approved an early retirement program for nonpublic safety municipal employees with at least 20 years of service. City Manager Michael V. O’Brien said notices of the program were going out immediately to eligible employees. The early retirement incentive will be offered to as many as 100 employees — 80 city workers and 20 school employees. The city hopes to generate a $2 million budget savings through the program. But in order to realize that savings this fiscal year, Mr. O’Brien said, the employees’ retirement will need to be effective by Nov. 1. “With this council vote, it is our intention to immediately go ahead with this early retirement incentive,” Mr. O’Brien told the City Council Tuesday night. “It is fairly important that we move expeditiously on 19 Glennie Street • Worcester • 508-755-5269 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 Weather Friday, September 10, 2010 Yesterday’s Encourage physical question activity and exercise How should parents prevent their children from becoming overweight? Sun, breezy High 70, Low 54 Page A2 Your opinion Set a healthy example 43.5% 41.6% Keep the junk food out of the house 14.9% ONLINE TODAY Today’s question Should the media have ignored the Rev. Terry Jones and his Quran-burning plan? See stories on this page and A7, then go to telegram.com to vote. Local BROOKFIELD telegram.com Planned bridge closing upsets officials, Page B1 WORCESTER Our 144th year Collector’s paradise The Brimfield Antique & Collectibles Show is on through Sunday. See a video and photo gallery online. telegram.com Police nab 17 in prostitution sting, Page B1 WORCESTER Fetus-snatching suspect given DNA test, Page B1 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $1.00 .. $1.50 in Coastal New England areas City’s revenues slipping Foreclosures cut tax collections By Nick Kotsopoulos TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF WORCESTER — Though the fiscal year is only a little more than two months old, city officials already have grave concerns about how municipal and state revenues are tracking. The big fear at City Hall is that real estate and motor vehicle excise tax collections could end up running well below what this year’s municipal budget is built on, thus throwing the budget out of whack. “Our revenues are challenged, to say the least,” said City Manager Michael V. O’Brien. The city historically has had a very high collection rate for real estate taxes — often in the vicinity of 99 percent. But Mr. O’Brien said there are indications that the city’s tax collection is showing signs of strain because of foreclosures and the challenges of the local real estate market. Last fiscal year, the city’s real estate tax collections totaled $204.64 million, compared to the $204.75 million in tax collec- tions that the city had based its budget on, according to City Auditor James A. DelSignore. For this fiscal year, the city’s budget is based on real estate tax collections of $214.9 million, but Mr. O’Brien acknowledged that figure may be difficult to attain because of all the foreclosures that have occurred. Turn to Revenues/Page A6 Gaining ground QURAN BURNING CONTROVERSY Auburn’s Nick Sullivan tackles Shrewsbury’s Pat Theodoss at Auburn H.S. Thursday. See a photo gallery of the game online. Pressure for peace On telegram.com Most read stories yesterday Declining city revenues For the year ended June 30 Budgeted Collected PROPERTY TAXES $204,753,010 $204,640,465 MOTOR VEHICLE EXCISE TAXES $12,100,000 $11,059,137 MEALS TAXES $1,491,000 $1,120,251 HOTEL/MOTEL TAXES $925,000 $610,949 Source: City auditor’s office T&G Staff/DON LANDGREN JR. Court OKs stem cell financing By Pete Yost and Lauran Neergaard 1. After morning crash, Brady attends practice 2. Embezzler of $2.5 million gets 2 years 3. Police investigate Worcester shooting 4. Glodis misses forum 5. Bus drops off boy at wrong place 6. Courthouse records 7. Police arrest suspect in string of break-ins THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — The government may resume funding of embryonic stem cell research for now, an appeals court said Thursday, but the short-term approval may be of little help to research scientists caught in a legal battle that has just begun. It is far from certain that scientists actually will continue to get federal money as they struggle to decide what to do with research that is hard to start and stop. After U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth issued a preliminary order barring the funding on Aug. 23, the National Institutes of Health suspended work on funding new research projects on embryonic stem cells. While NIH didn’t immediately comment Thursday on the temporary stay Turn to Stem cell /Page A7 Inside Today SPORTS-STATE Safe and sound THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Tom Brady escapes injury in car crash. See the news account on Page A5 and Rich Garven’s Patriots column on Page C1. ENTERTAINMENT The Rev. Terry Jones, right, of the Dove World Outreach Center, is surrounded Thursday by the media after he held a joint news conference with Imam Muhammad Musri, far left, of the Islamic Society of Central Florida. Dominican band performs to benefit many in need. Page B8 FINAL 3 DAYS! ATTIC & BEDDING TENT SALE! Ultra Plush Mattress Set 2 Piece Full 1/2 PRICE! $ Now 498 Was $999 LIMITED QUANTITIES...ONLY 12 IN STOCK! By Richard Duckett TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF After call from Gates, pastor backs off threat By Antonio Gonzalez Defense Secretary Robert Gates took the extraordinary step of calling Jones personally. Standing outside his 50-member Pentecostal church, the Dove Outreach Center, alongside Imam Muhammad Musri, the president of the Islamic Society of Central Florida, Jones said he relented when Musri assured him that the New York mosque will be moved. Musri, however, said after the news conference that the agreement was only for him and Jones to travel to New York and meet Saturday with the imam overseeing plans to build a mosque near ground zero. Hours later, Jones said Musri “clearly, clearly lied to us.” “Given what we are now hearing, we are forced to rethink our decision,” Jones said. “So as of right now, we are not canceling the event, but we are suspending it.” Jones did not say whether the Quran burning could still be THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Men on a mission Auction takes bids on history GAINESVILLE, Fla. — An anti-Islamic preacher backed off and then threatened to reconsider burning the Quran on the anniversary of the 9-11 attacks, angrily accusing a Muslim leader of lying to him Thursday with a promise to move an Islamic center and mosque away from New York’s ground zero. The imam planning the center denied there was ever such a deal. The Rev. Terry Jones generated an international firestorm with his plan to burn the Quran on Saturday, the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and he has been under intense pressure to give it up. President Barack Obama urged him to listen to “those better angels” and give up his “stunt,” saying it would endanger U.S. troops and give Islamic terrorists a Protesters rally in Multan, Pakistan, Thursday in reaction to the recruiting tool. Rev. Terry Jones’ plan to burn copies of the Quran. Turn to Quran/Page A7 WORCESTER — Lot 1. Antique 22’’ Reinforced Wax German Doll Circa 1860s. The doll, once no doubt prized by a Worcester girl but then packed away among many boxes and taken up and down New England, was the first piece up for bid last night at a four-day auction at the DCU Center Convention Center. It was one of 2,365 items of an accumulated collection spanning more than 250 years. The auction is of the estate of the legendary Andrew Turn to Auction/Page A6 T&G Staff/CHRISTINE PETERSON Auctioneer Richard Oliver, right, looks for another bid as runner Jamerson Allman holds an old coal truck that sold for about $300. ROTMANS CLEARANCE CENTER EVENT NOW THROUGH SUNDAY 20 -70 % %OFF original retail prices WESTBORO • 272 Turnpike Rd. RT. 9 East • 508-366-9595 EXTRA % 10 BONUS BRING YOUR MILITARY OR STUDENT ID CARD AND GET AN EXTRA BONUS! ANNIE’S MAILBOX...C8 BRIDGE ..................C9 CLASSIFIED............C8 COMICS .................C6 CROSSWORD ..........C6 DEATHS.................B6 EDITORIALS............A9 ENTERTAINMENT ..B8 HOROSCOPE .........C9 LOTTERIES ...........A2 MONEY ...............B12 NATION/WORLD ....A3 STOCKS ..............B13 TELEVISION ..........C5 News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 793-9245 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 Weather Saturday, September 11, 2010 Yesterday’s question Your opinion Today’s question Should the media have ignored the Rev. Terry Jones and his Quranburning plan? Very nice High 74 Low 56 Page A2 ONLINE TODAY With everything else that’s going on, are you ready for some football? Go to telegram.com to vote. Local WORCESTER telegram.com Goddard MCAS scores questioned, Page A3 WORCESTER Our 144th year telegram.com Four indicted in drug probe, Page A3 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $1.00 $1.50 in Coastal New England areas Obama urges religious tolerance Flick picks Before heading to the movies, check out what’s playing. See link from home page . ‘Inalienable rights’ of Muslims defended By Helene Cooper THE NEW YORK TIMES WASHINGTON — President Obama gave an impassioned call on Friday for tolerance and better relations between Muslims and non-Muslims at home and abroad, defending the “inalienable rights” of those who worship Islam to practice their religion freely. Mr. Obama made his statements as protests and violence continued in Afghanistan, set off by a Florida pastor’s plans, now suspended, to burn Qurans today, the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and against the backdrop of the controversy in New York over a proposed Islamic center near ground zero. With relations between the United States and the Muslim world perhaps at their most frayed since the invasion of Iraq 71⁄2 years ago, the president sought to appeal to America’s core founding principles. President Barack Obama at yesterday’s news conference in the White House. Mr. Obama said it was imperative for people in this country to distinguish between their real enemies and those who have the potential to become enemies because of continued vilification of Islam in the United States. At a time when polls suggest that a substantial number of Americans erroneously believe that Mr. Obama is Muslim, the president cited his own Christian faith at one point. “We have to make sure that THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Honoring Lunenburg man killed in 9-11 attacks ‘Kevin’s Gate’ Need a good laugh? The comics section is available on the Web at www.telegram.com/comics Memorial keeping name alive Inside Today By Lisa D. Welsh TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF THE NATION Highest honor President Barack Obama to award the Medal of Honor to Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta. Page A10 ED COLLIER The Kevin T. Szocik Memorial Gate will be dedicated at 3 p.m. today at Lunenburg High School. ENERTAINMENT ‘Thirteen Assassins’ Japanese director Takashi Miike remakes a classic for a younger generation. Page A8 People seek path to understanding Weekend gatherings to urge peace 3 Pc. Dinette only 99 5 Pc. Dinette $ only 199 $ FINAL 2 DAYS! ATTIC & BEDDING TENT SALE! 2 Piece Queen Mattress Sets starting at 299 $ Limited Quantities...Hurry for Best Selection! ROTMANS By Bronislaus B. Kush TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF Many hope today’s Sept. 11 commemorations will bring together, at least for a while, a nation fractured by polarizing issues and concerns about its future. For months, societal observers and pundits — bolstered by various poll findings — have maintained that the country is in a foul mood. Partisan politics, a high unemployment rate, the lingering and bloody military commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan, concerns about the economy’s future, the Wall Street and automotive industry bailouts, the sharp divisiveness over immigration and healthcare reform and even the Gulf oil spill have soured Americans, they say. “To say people are dissatisfied would be an understatement,” said Ken Mandile, a Webster resident who heads the Worcester tea party. “People are losing trust in our institutions. They are looking differently at the government, the corporations, the political parties and the unions. The anger has been building for some time. I think, however, that people from all sides will be thinking over the weekend about what happened on Sept. 11.” Meanwhile, Muslims — in the wake of the recent contentious debate about situating a mosque near Ground Zero and the on-again, off-again plan by a small evangelical church in T&G Staff/RICK CINCLAIR People gather for the Rally for Solidarity and Peace yesterday at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester. Florida to burn Qurans — are hoping the anniversary will remind non-Islamic Americans that they are not the enemy and that they also suffered on Sept. ND E K EE W L A N I F 11, 2001. “People sometimes forget that we are a part of this country. We Turn to Rallies/Page A7 LUNENBURG — Ground zero is 200 miles and worlds away from the athletic fields at Lunenburg High School, but Kevin T. Szocik easily moved between them. According to his lifelong friends, Jeremy A. Kullman of Watertown and Barry C. Smith of Westminster, Mr. Szocik was the same “selfless, kind, fun, funny guy” at 27 as when he was football captain and member of Lunenburg High School’s class of 1992. Mr. Szocik ascended the heights of world finance as vice president of equity research at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Inc. investment bank. KBW’s New York Mr. Szocik offices were in Building 2 World Trade Center. When United Airlines Flight 175 flew into the South Tower on Sept. 11, 2001, it destroyed floors 85 through 77. Mr. Szocik’s office was on the 89th floor, above the crash site. “When you are in high school, you never think you are going to build a memorial to your buddy,” Mr. Kullman said. Nicknamed “Kevin’s Gate,” two brick columns, a lighted walkway and landscaped area now welcome athletes and fans to the fields behind the high school. The spot was chosen because Mr. Szocik spent much of his childhood at the field, first as a youth football player and later in high school. The Kevin T. Szocik Memorial Gate will be dedicated at 3 p.m. today. Many of the young athletes playing this afternoon Turn to ‘Kevin’s Gate’/Page A7 ANNIE’S MAILBOX...A8 BRIDGE..................B7 CLASSIFIED............C2 COMICS .................B6 CROSSWORD..........B6 DEATHS.................A4 EDITORIALS ..........A11 Enjoy the styling and value of our new product introductions. ENTERTAINMENT....A8 HOROSCOPE...........B7 LOTTERIES.............A2 MONEY ..................A9 RELIGION..............A10 STOCKS.................A9 TELEVISION ...........B5 News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 793-9245 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 Auburn (Rt. 20) 508-832-7678 • www.cabothouse.com Weather Yesterday’s question September 12, 2010 SmorAe VthanE $co1up4on5s in.0side5 Grab a sweater High 66, Low 56 Page A2 ONLINE TODAY With everything else that’s going on, are you ready for some football? Your opinion Today’s question Which primary contest is most interesting to you? See stories in today’s paper and go to telegram.com to vote. Local stories telegram.com WORCESTER Canalfest a potpourri of history, culture, Page B1 Our 144th year telegram.com GARDNER Program gives students early college start, Page B9 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $2.50 ... $3.00 in Coastal New England areas Sorrow marks 9-11 rituals A brighter future Monday is the official kickoff ceremony for the transformation of the Worcester Common Outlets mall into CitySquare II. See our video of the project at telegram.com. Peaceful but tense protests Canal Diggers 5K By Verena Dobnik and Beth Fouhy Bryan Quitadamo, Barbara McManus win Fallon Community Health Plan Canal Diggers 5K. See slideshow THE ASSOCIATED PRESS telegram.com/election NEW YORK — Rites of remembrance and loss marked the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, familiar in their sorrow but observed for the first time Saturday in a nation torn over the prospect of a mosque near ground zero and the role of Islam in society. Under a flawless blue sky that called to PAGE B1 mind the day itself, there were tears and song, chants, and the waving of hundreds of American flags. Loved ones recited the names of the 5 Local Scouts mark 9-11 , Voters get their say in Tuesday primary By Shaun Sutner St. John’s-Holy Name Turn to 9-11/Page A10 TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF An unpredictable Central Massachusetts electorate heads to the polls Tuesday to take part in a host of primary contests, including six Republican primaries, the most in recent memory in a single election. While interest in politics appears high amid economic uncertainty and a general mood of voter anger, turnout is still expected to be relatively light, as in most primaries. The exception would be in areas with the highest-proPAGE B1 file runoffs, such as the 13th Worcester District, where six Democrats are vying to run to succeed state Rep. PAGES B5, B6, B7 Robert P. Spellane, D-Worcester. Also expected to boost turnout on Election Day is PAGE B4 a county-wide Democratic primary for Worcester County sheriff, which is PAGE B7 being vacated by Guy W. Glodis, one of three Democrats vying for the party’s nomination for state auditor. “I don’t think it will be a total snoozer,” said Ellen C. Gaboury, town clerk in Auburn, Mr. Glodis’ hometown. “While we should have a pretty good turnout because we have a local candidate, towns that don’t have a local candidate might not get as good a turnout.” On the GOP side, congressional districts that include significant portions of Central Massachu- Senior QB Dan Light throws five TD passes as the top-ranked Pioneers defeat the Naps, 40-0. See slideshow. 5 Hot contest for Worcester County sheriff, 5 Check out our local state rep races, 5 Auditor, treasurer races of local interest, WPI-Worcester State 5 POLLING PLACES, The Engineers scored 24 unanswered points in the second half and overtime to stun the Lancers. See slideshow. FINAL DAY! TENT SALE! ROTMANS Turn to Election 2010/Page A10 Lock in a low price for 2 years. Mall site changes abound Ceremony set for CitySquare By Martin Luttrell TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF WORCESTER — Looking across Foster Street at the former Worcester Common Outlets mall entrance provides a view of the city’s past and a glimpse into its future. Affixed to the weather-beaten facade of the mall is a banner nearly 30 feet square depicting the future Mercantile Street, which will be built through the mall property over the next two years as part of the first phase of the CitySquare II project. The scene shows automobiles parked on the side of the street, the sidewalks bustling with pedestrians and a woman pushing a stroller across a crosswalk. Looming on the left side of the illustration is the future Turn to CitySquare/Page A11 See our ad for details. To our readers: The television listings which usually appear on the back page of the Arts & Entertainment section can be found this week on the back of the Sunday Living section. We do them ALL ALLL We do them RIGHT IGHTT Auburn • 832-2131 Worcester • 756-8563 SPECIAL OFFER FROM PERCY’S Offer Ends September 19th YOUR MITSUBISHI TV COULD BE FREE! APPLIANCES • ELECTRONICS • FURNITURE • BEDDING Professionall Football Team wins the “Big g Game” Feb. 6th Mon., Wed., Fri., 10-8 • Tues. & Thurs. 10-6 • Sat. 10-6 • Sun. 12-5 Your E Y Energy Star St Appliance A li Superstore! S t ! LED HDTV 40”-55” DLP HDTV 65”-82” *See store for complete details. No prior sales eligible. Percy’s reserves right to end promotion at any time. visit i i us online at www.percys.com 19 Glennie Street • Worcester • 508-755-5269 MONEY ..................D1 DEATHS.................B6 EDITORIALS AND COMMENTARY ..A10-11 LIVING ...................... CROSSWORD ..........9 TONIGHT’S TV........10 LOCAL NEWS..........B1 SPORTS .................C1 TRAVEL.................M1 CLASSIFIED WORCESTERWORKS .. SECTION D AUTOMOTIVE AND REAL ESTATE ........... SECTION E News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 793-9245 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 Weather Yesterday’s question Monday, September 13, 2010 Your opinion Today’s question Which primary contest is most interesting to you? Mostly cloudy What did you think of comments by Randy Moss after the Patriots game? See story on this page, then go to telegram.com to vote. High 65, Low 53 Page A2 ONLINE TODAY Local REGION telegram.com Chiefs walk in memory of late colleague, Page B1 WORCESTER Our 144th year Pet lovers throng college campus, Page B1 telegram.com WORCESTER Guard unit gets new commander, Page B3 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $1.00 $1.50 in Coastal New England areas Congress expected to tread carefully Local Muslims proud to be part of America Off to a good start View a Patriots game-day photo gallery and read the full transcript online of post-game comments by Randy Moss. CAMPAIGN 2010 Election 2010 Get the latest on the candidates. Find out where to vote. Our election section keeps you informed. www.telegram.com/ election Little major action before Nov. 2 likely By Jim Abrams THE ASSOCIATED PRESS T&G Staff/TOM RETTIG Muslims pray at The Islamic Society of Greater Worcester during a recent afternoon prayer service. Faith in US Best of the weekend Hate speech seen as bigotry View a photo gallery of the top weekend shots from across Central Mass. by our photo staff. By Thomas Caywood TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF On telegram.com Most read stories 1. Mall site changes 2. NFL: Patriots looking to turn at least 10 3. Motorcycle crash injures 2 on Baker Pond Road 4. Golf: State’s high rollers cash in with new MGA series 5. Voters get their say Tuesday 6. Return from surgery 7. Foley, Bove both touting experience Inside Today WORCESTER — Dr. Amjad Bahnassi’s fingers trembled a bit as he perched his reading glasses on the tip of his nose and pulled a folded-up newspaper clipping from his wallet. Friday afternoon prayers had just finished at his mosque on Laurel Street. He sat at a folding table by a row of windows. In a solemn voice spiced with the resonant Mediterranean tones of his native Syria, the 50-year-old psychiatrist from Shrewsbury read out loud a passage from the Telegram & Gazette about a debate late last month among the Republican primary candidates vying to run against U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern in the general election this fall. In the passage, a candidate expresses what he considers a grave concern for America: “We’re just passively watching as Islam is expanding.” Dr. Bahnassi glanced up from Turn to Muslims/Page A6 Turn to Congress/Page A5 Patriots corral Bengals T&G Staff/PAUL KAPTEYN Dr. Amjad Bahnassi of Shrewsbury talks about life as a Muslim in the nine years since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. In the background is, from the left, Pirmar Marifatshah of Worcester and Dr. Bahnassi’s son, Ayham Bahnassi of Shrewsbury. Compared with other religions, Islam... By Bill Doyle July 2005 August 2010 Favorable 41% 30% Unfavorable 36% 38% Don’t Know 23% 32% August 2009 August 20 Is more likely than others to encourage violence 38% 35% Does not encourage violence more than others 45% 42% Neither/Don’t know 16% 24% TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF T&G Sta Source: The Pew Research Center To the highest bidder MONEY On the job Read about the career of an integrative massage therapist. Page B7 50% OFF SALE Tea-partiers rally People gather Sunday at the Capitol in Washington for a "Remember in November" rally to express opposition to government spending. Small-govt. activists gather in capital cities By Kevin Freking and Robin Hindery THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Remote Starters See Our Ad in Today’s Paper SHREWSBURY Route 9 AUBURN 64 Auburn St. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — Tea party activists gathered in capitals on each coast Sunday to spread their message of smaller government and focus their political movement on the pivotal congressional elections in November. From the grounds of the Washington Monument, with the Capitol looming at one end of the National Mall, Michael and Judy AN EVENING WITH THE HANOVER THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS Moss speaks bitterly after 38-24 victory Opinion of Islam LOCAL Auction of the extensive Green estate brings some surprising results. Page B1 WASHINGTON — Congress returns this week with embattled Democrats torn between trying to show they have the economic answers and fearing the further wrath of voters over 5 Tax plan: House new government pro- GOP leader John grams. Boehner would vote It appears the fears for President Obama’s will win out. plan to extend tax The inbox is over- cuts only for flowing as lawmak- middle-class earners, ers end their summer not the wealthy, if that recess and undertake were the only option. four weeks of writing Page A5 and trying to pass bills before leaving town ahead of the Nov. 2 election: Bush-era tax cuts are set to expire at year’s end; annual spending bills await action; and President Barack Obama has just come out with a new plan to stimulate the econo- visit TheHanoverTheatre.org call 1-877-571-SHOW (7469) or go to the Hanover Theatre Box Office Celebrating the new release of SQUIRREL SEEKS CHIPMUNK, arriving this Fall! Parsons-Power of Decatur, Ala., said lawmakers had lost touch with the people they were elected to represent. “It wouldn’t bother me to make a clean sweep,” said Michael Power, endorsing term limits for members of Congress. “There are some good ones, but we can lose those.” Thousands of people were expected to rally in Washington, St. Louis and Sacramento, Calif., as tea party leaders try to energize FOXBORO — The Patriots did just about everything right yesterday in manhandling the Cincinnati Bengals, 38-24, in their season opener at Gillette Stadium. Wes Welker returned from major knee surgery eight months ago to catch two touchdown passes to tie a career high. Tom Brady threw for 258 yards and three scores to show why the Patriots last week made Moss him the NFL’s highest paid player. Gary Guyton returned 5 Down by an interception and down: Game Brandon Tate returned coverage, Page C1 the second-half kickoff for touchdowns. Even the maligned Patriots’ defense did its part, outscoring the high-scoring Bengals in the first half, 7-3. Everything went according to the game plan — until Randy Moss stepped up to Turn to Patriots/Page A6 Turn to Tea party/Page A5 PRESENTED BY ANNIE’S MAILBOX.C8 BRIDGE................C9 CLASSIFIED..........C8 COMICS ...............C6 CROSSWORD........C6 DEATHS...............B4 EDITORIALS .........A7 ENTERTAINMENT B6 HOROSCOPE .......C9 LOTTERIES .........A2 MONEY...............B7 NATION ..............A3 TELEVISION ........C5 WORLD ..............A3 News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 793-9245 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 Weather Yesterday’s question Tuesday, September 14, 2010 He spoke his mind. Good for him. What did you He picked the think of comments wrong time by Randy Moss after to complain the Patriots game? Partly sunny High 72, Low 49 CAMPAIGN 2010 Today’s question 33% Will you make it to the polls Tuesday? See story on this page, then go to telegram.com to vote. 67% Page A2 Your opinion Local telegram.com/election Today’s primary election WEBSTER Neighbors lash out at Douglas wind farm, Page B1 Polls open: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Polling sites at telegram.com ATHOL Online Today ■ Early morning updates on voting ■ Live blogging by T&G staff ■ Election results as they come in throughout the evening Our 144th year Auditor REPUBLICANS Mary Z. Connaughton Kamal Jain DEMOCRATS Suzanne M. Bump Guy W. Glodis Mike Lake Friends mourn woman found dead, Page B1 telegram.com MILFORD University re-examines policy after suicide, Page B1 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $1.00 $1.50 in Coastal New England areas Primaries offer many choices Treasurer DEMOCRATS Steven Grossman Stephen J. Murphy U.S. Rep. 2nd District REPUBLICANS Jay S. Fleitman Thomas A. Wesley U.S. Rep. 3rd District REPUBLICANS Robert J. Chipman Robert A. Delle Brian J. Herr Martin A. Lamb Michael P. Stopa Galvin anticipates spotty voter turnout U.S. Rep. 5th District REPUBLICANS Jonathan A.Golnik Sam S. Meas Robert L. Shapiro Thomas J.M. Weaver By John J. Monahan TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF Worcester County Sheriff DEMOCRATS Scot J. Bove Thomas J. Foley STATE REPRESENTATIVE 1st Middlesex REPUBLICANS Sheila C. Harrington Cornelius F. Sullivan DEMOCRATS Jane L. Morriss Jesse Reich Anthony J. Saboliauskas T&G Staff/RICK CINCLAIR Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray and the city of Worcester break ground Monday for the CitySquare project. CitySquare fanfare 13th Worcester DEMOCRATS Margot R. Barnet Gina M. DiBaro John J. Mahoney Michael C. Perotto Donald P. Sharry Joffrey A. Smith WORCESTER — Primary day has arrived, and voters today have plenty of choices on which candidates to advance to the final election in races for U.S. Congress, Worcester County sheriff, state auditor and treasurer, as well as a handful of state legislative primary contests. While many are expecting a relatively low turnout overall across the state, higher vote totals are expected to come out of places such as the Worcester area, where there are numerous contests on the primary ballot. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. It is too late for unregistered voters to sign up to vote today, but anyone uncertain about where to vote can get that information by typing in their Turn to Primaries/Page A8 Groundbreaking buries years of false starts 6th Worcester REPUBLICANS Peter J. Durant Michael Jaynes By Martin Luttrell TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF 2nd Worcester DEMOCRATS Amy Feeley-Knuuttila Patrick Gerry WORCESTER — As city and state officials hailed the beginning of demolition that officially starts development on the long-awaited CitySquare project, the lead investor said yesterday developers are close to acquiring the adjacent Notre Dame des Canadiens Church at Salem Square to incorporate into the project. 2nd Franklin DEMOCRATS Table 5 Denise Andrews Lee Chauvette Martin McGuane David R. Roulston Roxann Wedegartner Yesterday’s hourlong groundbreaking ceremony packed the plaza at the north entrance to the former Worcester Common Outlets mall with a telegram.com standing-room-only crowd, as city and state officials celebrated the perseverance and public/private partnership that moved the project forward. The vacant mall and part of an adjacent parking garage will be Video online demolished over the next year while a 214,000-square-foot, eight-story office building is constructed for Unum Group, which will move its Worcester operations there under a 17-year lease. At the same time, a new city street, to be named Mercantile Street, will be built through where the mall now stands, connecting Foster and Front streets. Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray, who, Turn to CitySquare/Page A7 GOP leader says keep all tax cuts By David M. Herszenhorn THE NEW YORK TIMES ONLINE TODAY Local architect made CitySquare happen telegram.com By Nick Kotsopoulos TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF WORCESTER — While local architect Daniel R. Benoit may not be considered the father of CitySquare, he is close to it because he was instrumental in hatching the concept behind the project. Just about 11 years ago to the day, Mr. Benoit first broached the idea of reconnecting Front Street to Washington Square by tearing down part of the Worcester Common Outlets mall. It was his feeling that the city made a major mistake when it allowed the downtown shopping mall to be built some 40 years ago because it eliminated the Front Mr. Benoit Street connection to Washington Square, thus effectively cutting off the downtown to the city’s East Side. To re-establish that link, he felt it was essential to extend Front Street, and that necessitated tearing down the outlet mall and part of the parking garages — those structures essentially between the two office buildings. While Mr. Benoit’s idea was scoffed at by many, including some of the powers-to-be at City Hall, then-Mayor Timothy P. Murray was more than intrigued by it. Turn to Benoit/Page A7 WASHINGTON — The Senate Republican leader proposed legislation Monday to continue all of the Bush-era tax cuts indefinitely, testing the willingness of Democrats to allow a tax increase on the wealthiest Americans in a weak economy and making clear that a partisan fight will extend deep into the campaign season if not beyond. The proposal by the Senate leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, came a day after the House Republican leader, John A. Boehner of Ohio, suggested a potential compromise, saying he would vote for President Barack Obama’s plan to extend the cuts only for households earning less than $250,000 if he had no other choice. In part, McConnell’s proposal illustrated the greater leverage that Republicans enjoy in the Pats chat at 1 p.m. Turn to Tax cuts/Page A10 Join T&G reporter Rich Garven today at 1 p.m. for a live online chat about Randy Moss, Tom Brady and a host of other hot Patriots topics. ‘Old Nellie’ keeps on chugging Legendary 1931 Model A still driven daily By Paula J. Owen CORRESPONDENT Lock in a low price for 2 years. See our ad for details. Kayem Skinless Hot Dogs Expires 9/19 WEEPIN’ 1 $ 69 lb. WILLIE’S Shrewsbury, Rt. 9 across from (Spag’s) Building 19 www.weepinwillies.com LUNENBURG — Gibby L. Lashua, 73, is best known for sharpshooting with his .22-caliber Winchester rifle and masterful skill with an accordion. He is less-known for his 1931 Model A, legendary as the being the longest-driven Model A in the country. He bought the car in 1959, and has since replaced the motor himself 13 times, worn out the speedometer three times and replaced the front end just as often. He’s gone through countless mufflers, he said. In the 1980s, the car had been driven more than 1 million miles, he said. Signs on the outside of the black Ford A sedan, which he calls “Old Nellie,” read, “Longest driven A ‘In the USA’ Hell, I was there!” and “Squeeze Box Favorites” for his traveling accordion show. The antique horn in the car SPECIAL OFFER FROM PERCY’S still bellows the distinctively old-fashioned “ooogah” sound. “It’s hard to let it go,” Mr. Lashua said. “I bought it when I was a kid before I was married. It’s been on the road 75 years.” Mr. Lashua has owned the car since he was 18, he said. To pay for it, he worked three months for the Ashburnham farmer who had owned it for more than 17 years, and also traded a secT&G Staff/RICK CINCLAIR Turn to ‘Old Nellie’/Page A8 Gibby Lashua sits on the bumper of his 1931 Model A Ford. Offer Ends September 19th YOUR MITSUBISHI TV COULD BE FREE! APPLIANCES • ELECTRONICS • FURNITURE • BEDDING Professionall Football Team wins the “Big g Game” Feb. 6th Mon., Wed., Fri., 10-8 • Tues. & Thurs. 10-6 • Sat. 10-6 • Sun. 12-5 Your E Y Energy Star St Appliance A li Superstore! S t ! ENTERTAINMENT B6 HOROSCOPE .......C9 LOTTERIES .........A2 MONEY...............B8 NATION/WORLD ..A3 STOCKS .............B9 TELEVISION ........C5 News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 793-9245 LED HDTV 40”-55” DLP HDTV 65”-82” *See store for complete details. No prior sales eligible. Percy’s reserves right to end promotion at any time. visit i i us online at www.percys.com ANNIE’S MAILBOX.C8 BRIDGE................C9 CLASSIFIED..........C8 COMICS ...............C6 CROSSWORD........C6 DEATHS...............B4 EDITORIALS .........A9 19 Glennie Street • Worcester • 508-755-5269 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 Weather Yesterday’s question Wednesday, September 15, 2010 Will you make it to the polls Tuesday? Partly sunny High 70, Low 48 Page A2 Your opinion Not very likely. 32.9% Yes, you couldn’t keep me away. If I find the time. 57.7% 9.4% ONLINE TODAY Today’s question What do you think of yesterday’s primary election voter turnout? See stories on this page, then go to telegram.com to vote. Local WORCESTER telegram.com Mahoney earns 13th Worcester win, Page B1 GARDNER Looking for clues Watch our video of an arson investigation on Dewey Street in Worcester. Our 144th year telegram.com Gerry wins nomination to succeed Rice, Page B1 SPENCER Durant wins 6th Worcester GOP primary, Page B5 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $1.00 $1.50 in Coastal New England areas CAMPAIGN 2010 More score targets missed telegram.com/election Election results ✔ Checkmarks denote apparent winners last night Auditor REPUBLICANS ✔ Mary Z. Connaughton Kamal Jain DEMOCRATS ✔ Suzanne M. Bump Guy W. Glodis Mike Lake State releases MCAS results Treasurer DEMOCRATS ✔ Steven Grossman Stephen J. Murphy U.S. Rep. 2nd District By Jacqueline Reis REPUBLICANS Jay S. Fleitman ✔ Thomas A. Wesley TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF U.S. Rep. 3rd District T&G Staff/STEVE LANAVA REPUBLICANS Robert J. Chipman Robert A. Delle Brian J. Herr ✔ Martin A. Lamb Michael P. Stopa Activity outside of Temple Emanuel, at Chandler and May streets, was busy yesterday as campaign workers held signs. Voter mood wary U.S. Rep. 5th District REPUBLICANS ✔ Jonathan A.Golnik Sam S. Meas Robert L. Shapiro Thomas J.M. Weaver Bump defeats Glodis in auditor race Worcester County Sheriff DEMOCRATS Scot J. Bove ✔ Thomas J. Foley By Shaun Sutner TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF Worcester County Sheriff Guy W. Glodis failed in his first bid for statewide office, as former Patrick administration labor secretary Suzanne M. Bump defeated the former Worcester legislator in yesterday’s Democratic primary for state auditor. Ms. Bump surged a few weeks ago after Mr. Glodis was forced to confront allegations of campaign finance lapses and his political committee’s failure to pay taxes. But Mr. Glodis fought back, spending about STATE REPRESENTATIVE 1st Middlesex REPUBLICANS ✔ Sheila C. Harrington Cornelius F. Sullivan DEMOCRATS Jane L. Morriss ✔ Jesse Reich Anthony J. Saboliauskas $500,000 on statewide direct mailings and wall-to-wall radio ads attacking Ms. Bump — who was endorsed by many newspapers across the state — for a 1994 ethics violation. But the effort fell short. Ms. Bump got 49 percent of the vote to Mr. telegram.com Glodis’ 31 percent; Michael Lake got 19 percent. “Sue Bump ran a great campaign,” Mr. Glodis, who served eight years in the Legislature Slideshow online 5 Sheriff’s race: Foley leads in tight race with Bove, Page A5 5 The debate: Candidates for governor spend the evening debating, Page A5 5 The loss: Glodis suffers major loss in auditor race, Page A8 5 The votes: Ballot totals from across the region, Pages B4-B5 Turn to Mood wary/Page A9 13th Worcester Tea party favorite Lamb may face McGovern DEMOCRATS Margot R. Barnet Gina M. DiBaro ✔ John J. Mahoney Michael C. Perotto Donald P. Sharry Joffrey A. Smith By Priyanka Dayal TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF 6th Worcester With support from tea party activists and other frustrated conservatives, Martin A. Lamb of Holliston appeared to have won the Republican primary in the 3rd Congressional District yesterday and was poised to face U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern in the Nov. 2 general election. It would be the first serious challenge in years for Mr. REPUBLICANS ✔ Peter J. Durant Michael Jaynes 2nd Worcester DEMOCRATS Amy Feeley-Knuuttila ✔ Patrick Gerry 2nd Franklin 50% OFF SALE Remote Starters See Our Ad in Today’s Paper SHREWSBURY Route 9 AUBURN 64 Auburn St. Kayem Skinless Hot Dogs Expires 9/19 WEEPIN’ Marty Lamb of Holliston is embraced by deputy campaign manager Desiree Awiszio last night. Turn to Lamb/Page A9 1 $ 69 lb. WILLIE’S Shrewsbury, Rt. 9 across from (Spag’s) Building 19 www.weepinwillies.com Field of many dreams Albanian immigrant Mihallaq Qeleshi stands yesterday with his wife, Fehmije Qeleshi, both of Auburn, while attending a naturalization ceremony at Fenway Park. Local residents become citizens at Fenway By Ellie Oleson 5,200 immigrants from 136 countries, according to Denis C. Riordan, director of U.S. Two local families arrived at Citizenship and Immigration Fenway Park at 9 a.m. yesterday, Services for District I. not to cheer on the Red Sox, but to “This is the largest cerebecome the newest citizens of the telegram.com mony we’ve ever held. RouUnited States in the largest nattinely, naturalization ceremouralization ceremony ever held in nies for 400 new citizens are held at Massachusetts. Faneuil Hall twice a month, with addiFor the second time in its history, tional ceremonies aboard the USS ConFenway was temporarily turned into a Turn to Fenway/Page A10 federal court to naturalize more than CORRESPONDENT Slideshow online T&G Staff/TOM RETTIG Turn to MCAS/Page A7 Compare your town McGovern, a Worcester Democrat and seven-term incumbent. Mr. Lamb, who has no public office experience, says he was the first of the five Republicans to jump into the race. He announced his intentions at a tea party gathering in April 2009. “Our priority has always been jobs and bringing jobs back to the district, and giving people T&G Staff/PAUL KAPTEYN DEMOCRATS ✔ Denise Andrews Lee Chauvette Martin McGuane David R. Roulston Roxann Wedegartner The state yesterday highlighted individual school and district gains on MCAS tests, but the overall picture shows more schools and districts failing to meet escalating targets set by No Child Left Behind. The annual Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System results, available for Grades 3-8 and 10 in English and math and for Grades 5, 8 and 10 in science, are the foundation of the state and federal government accountability systems. The scores are compared against federal targets for adequate yearly progress, and if a school does not consistently meet targets for all of its students and for subgroups based on income, ethnicity and special needs, it is assigned an accountability status. The number of years a school misses those targets helps determine whether it is a Level 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 school. The state released Level 4 (among lowest performing/least improving) schools in February, triggering changes such as new principals, but did not announce the other levels until yesterday. Worcester has 27 Level 3 schools in danger of slipping to Level 4 status. State percentage averages for each grade and subject Key: A=Percent “advanced” B=Percent “proficient” C=Percent “needs improvement” D=Percent “warning/failing” State Grade 3 English Math Grade 4 English Math Grade 5 English Math Science Grade 6 English Math Grade 7 English Math Grade 8 English Math Science Grade 10 English Math Science A B C D 12 20 45 40 33 25 10 15 11 16 42 32 35 41 11 11 15 22 17 48 32 32 29 29 39 8 18 12 16 24 50 33 24 27 9 16 14 16 56 33 23 30 7 21 15 20 4 63 28 35 15 28 40 6 23 21 29 47 16 52 28 45 15 18 29 4 8 9 NOTE: Grade 10 science and technology/ engineering scores represent the highest score a ninth- or 10th-grade student received on any of the four science tests (biology, chemistry, physics or technology/engineering). Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education ANNIE’S MAILBOX.C8 BRIDGE................C9 CLASSIFIED..........C8 COMICS ...............C6 CROSSWORD........C6 DEATHS...............B6 EDITORIALS ........A11 ENTERTAINMENT B8 HOROSCOPE .......C9 LOTTERIES .........A2 MONEY .............B10 NATION/WORLD ..A3 STOCKS.............B11 TELEVISION ........C5 News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 793-9245 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 Weather Yesterday’s question Thursday, September 16, 2010 Your opinion Those who really It was business as usual– too small What do you think care made of yesterday’s the difference primary election 51.9% voter turnout? Clouds, rain High 66, Low 56 Page A2 ONLINE TODAY 48.1% Today’s question Should public pension benefits be reduced to help government contain costs? See story on this page, then go to telegram.com to vote. Local ATHOL telegram.com Authorities say woman was strangled, Page B1 WESTBORO Our 144th year Bridge to stay open during raising, Page B1 telegram.com REGION Republican says he will take on Coakley, Page B1 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $1.00 $1.50 in Coastal New England areas Hangin’ out with Ben States cutting pensions Gary Galonek of Sturbridge and his daughter Kristie enjoy ‘‘The Town’’ premiere at Fenway Park. Gary has a cameo role in the film. See our photo gallery. No funds to pay ‘fairy-tale’ benefits By Geoff Mulvihill and Susan Haigh A fine farewell THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The end of an era and the end of Prifti Candies after more than 40 years in Worcester. See the photo gallery. Live chat tonight Join Jim Wilson at 8 p.m. every Thursday as he talks high school football with players, coaches, parents and fans. Take part in the chat or just follow along. On telegram.com Most read stories 1. Foley wins sheriff primary 2. Bump tops Glodis 3. Patriots finally give up on Maroney 4. 2 men in truck plead not guilty in Route 9 highway worker’s death 5. Mahoney wins 13th 6. McKenna says he reached write-in goal 7. Raids in Webster, Dudley net five arrests 8. Lamb takes GOP Inside Today GO! stART your engines The city’s fastest growing arts festival comes to the streets on Sunday. See the GO! cover story. T&G Staff/DAN GOULD Worcester County Sheriff Guy Glodis, left, and Gov. Deval Patrick share a light moment yesterday with Suzanne Bump, who defeated Glodis in the Democratic primary for state auditor. The three participated in a unity meeting in Worcester. Campaign fever Hunt begins for voters’ hearts and minds TRENTON, N.J. — William Liberty began as a trash collector in Lindenwold 37 years ago and worked his way up to public works supervisor. Until recently, he figured he would hold on to the job until he turned 65. But last week, at 62, he was preparing his retirement papers, joining a rush among New Jersey public employees. Liberty’s reason for getting out now: He is feeling the sting of a campaign by Republican Gov. Chris Christie and a growing number of other public officials across the U.S. to balance their budgets by making government employment — and retirement — less lucrative. Liberty’s pay has been frozen for two years, he has been told to take unpaid furloughs, and now, “it’s going to get worse.” Pension proposals announced this Turn to Pensions /Page A7 By Shaun Sutner TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF Republican congressional candidate Martin A. Lamb’s fiery anti-Washington style and victory in Tuesday’s primary were among the signs of the anti-incumbent tumult that has erupted across the country this year, observers on both sides said yesterday. The Holliston lawyer will challenge U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester in the Nov. 2 election, a bid he gained by overcoming favored GOP establishment candidate Brian R. Herrand and three other contenders. He did so, he said, by relentlessly campaigning against what he and his tea party backers decry as the evils of big government. “People have woken up and want to get involved, whether it’s to get rid of over- ELECTION 2010 Worcester primary voters by ward State primary turnout Registered voters Voter turnout 795,325 1998 871,745 2002 1,024,908 2006 1,012,172 2010 597,204 92,601 Precinct with highest turnout 35.13% 3,047,011 1,691 WARD 3 WARD 2 1 1,055 3 9 1,213 WARD 5 WARDWARD 3,314,253 104 26.3% 3,922,412 3,901,393 26.13% 7 WARD WARD 8 WARD 5 6 4,151,075 14.38% Source: Secretary of State’s office T&G Staff/DON LANDGREN JR. Turn to Campaign fever/Page A10 Precinct with lowest turnout 3.73% 938 WARD 7 1,717 WARD 8 607 WARD 9 By Gary V. Murray TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF WORCESTER — Three years after the Worcester Trial Court officially opened for business at 225 Main St., a custom-built alcove in the first-floor lobby remains conspicuously vacant. The curved stainless steel railing designed to keep the public at a distance serves no useful purpose. The two overhead spot- lights have nothing to illuminate. The shallow recess in the wall just inside the front entrance to the $180 million court complex was to have been the new home of the centuries-old Statue of Justice that once graced the dome of the old Bulfinch courthouse at the north end of Main Street. The state Division of Capital Asset Management agreed to incorporate the alcove 17.4% 8,368 10,088 28.3% 16.7% 12.0% 14.5% 18.9% 12.4% 7,536 9,823 8,109 Pipeline safety at issue Tougher federal oversight sought 17.5% By Joan Lowy 7.5% THE ASSOCIATED PRESS into the building’s plans for no other reason than to showcase the statue. But the life-size wooden carving remains in disrepair at the Worcester Historical Museum on Elm Street, “lying in state,” in the words of lawyer James D. O’Brien Jr. In the spring of 2007, several months before the new courthouse was scheduled to open, Mr. O’Brien, a former president WASHINGTON — The Obama administration called for tighter federal oversight of oil and gas pipelines Wednesday in the wake of a deadly California gas explosion that raised alarms about the safety of the nation’s aging infrastructure. In the meantime, the head of the National Transportation Safety Board said the federal agency responsible for the regulation is too accepting of Patrick Daniel assurances from industry that its equipment and practices are safe. Deborah Hersman’s comments echoed what safety advocates have long called for: a pipeline agency that needs to be less Turn to Statue /Page A8 Turn to Pipelines/Page A7 Ward 10 Precinct 4 10,795 3,087 Source: Worcester Election Commission T&G Staff/DON LANDGREN JR. WARD 10 685 ‘Lady Justice’ needs a makeover Fund drive launched for historic statue 8,763 1,904 WARD 6 WARD 25.94% 10,137 WARD 4 WARD WARD 26.1% 11,513 3,254 WARD 2 WARD 50.23% 3,088,848 16,151 WARD 1 Ward 1 Precinct4 1990 1,551,644 1994 Voter turnout CITY TOTAL Registered voters telegram.com/election 7,469 28.6% 9.2% ANNIE’S MAILBOX ..C8 BRIDGE .................C9 CLASSIFIED ...........C8 COMICS.................C6 CROSSWORD .........C6 DEATHS ................B4 EDITORIALS...........A9 HEALTH ...............A5 HOROSCOPE .........C9 LOTTERIES...........A2 MONEY ................B6 MEDICAL MEMOS..A5 STOCKS ...............B7 TELEVISION..........C5 News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 793-9245 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 Weather Yesterday’s question Friday, September 17, 2010 Your opinion Today’s question Should public pension benefits be reduced to help government contain costs? Showers High 68, Low 53 Page A2 ONLINE TODAY Should all the Bush-era tax cuts be extended? See story on this page, then go to telegram.com to vote. Local telegram.com OXFORD Boy struck by car at bus stop, Page B1 WORCESTER Our 144th year Thursday game action View our photo gallery of Thursday night high school football games. Schools to ask mediator to resolve impasse, Page B1 telegram.com STURBRIDGE Backers hope sports site will be a draw, Page B1 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $1.00 $1.50 in Coastal New England areas ... Erasing Glodis’ name comes at a cost By Thomas Caywood TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF Your opinion Cast a vote on today’s hot topic. See today’s poll on telegram.com homepage Good night, sleep tight, don’t pick the wrong hotel.... See cartoons commenting on bed bugs, charity car washes and Worcester tax revenues telegramtowns.com T&G Staff/PAUL KAPTEYN A Worcester County Sheriff’s Department prisoner van displays “Sheriff Guy W. Glodis” on the fender. Couple lived violent lives Boyfriend admits choking, biting girlfriend before death By Scott J. Croteau TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF 4 Fitchburg/Gardner/Leominster/Lunenburg/Westminster 4 Holden/Paxton/Princeton/Rutland 4 Northboro/Shrewsbury/Westboro 4 Douglas/Grafton/Millbury/Northbridge/ Sutton/Uxbridge 4 Worcester 4 Auburn/Charlton/Dudley/Oxford/Webster 4 The Brookfields/Leicester/Southbridge/ Spencer/Sturbridge 4 Clinton/Lancaster/Sterling/Bolton/Berlin (The Item) 4 Boylston/West Boylston (The Banner) WORCESTER — Struggling to speak, Kristi M. LeClair begged her longtime boyfriend to stop choking her hours before paramedics would find her dead Tuesday inside a West Street apartment. Court records reveal that Ms. LeClair, 24, was bitten and strangled by her boyfriend of two years, Jamaal F. Dottin. It was the latest incident in a string of alleged escalating assaults by the couple on each other this year. Mr. Dottin, who lived with Ms. LeClair at 76 West St., Apt. 1R, was arraigned yesterday for assault with intent to murder and domestic assault and battery for allegedly attacking Ms. LeClair before her death. The 29-year-old has not been charged with Ms. LeClair’s slaying, but yesterday authorities said they anticipate filing a formal charge against him once Turn to Violent/Page A10 On telegram.com Most read stories 1. Boyfriend admits to strangling and biting girlfriend before her death 2. Abby Kelley student waiting for school bus hit by car in Oxford 3. Brady: What’s wrong with our fans? 4. Bittersweet endings 5. Fire hits Worcester threedecker 6. Foley looks forward to campaign for county sheriff 7. Management cancels nurses appreciation night Inside Today ENTERTAINMENT The world in focus Local photographers contribute to ‘‘Things we project’’ exhibition. Page B8 MONEY Transformation Jobs and new business seen at site of former furniture maker. Page B12 T&G Staff/RICK CINCLAIR Jamaal F. Dottin, flanked by a court officer, is arraigned yesterday in Central District Court. Lamb: Debts a time of learning By Priyanka Dayal TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF Martin A. Lamb of Holliston, the GOP candidate for Congress promoting fiscal responsibility, filed for personal bankruptcy in 1999 and was cleared of more than $226,000 in credit card debt. Mr. Lamb, who at the time had $18,000 in assets, owed thousands of dollars to dozens of different banks and credit pro- Mr. Lamb viders, according to court records obtained by the Telegram & Gazette that detail his case in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Worcester. His credit card debts ranged from $1,800 on a Bank One card to more than $17,000 on an American Express account. He also owed There will be a new sheriff in town come January, but the old one’s name remains plastered across scores of Worcester County Sheriff’s Department cruisers, SUVs, prisoner transport vans and even the $500,000 mobile command center. Peeling and scraping Worcester County Sheriff Guy W. Glodis’ name off fenders and doors letter-by-letter could cost taxpayers roughly $50 per name, depending on how easily the vinyl letters come off and how much glue residue is left behind, said experts at area sign shops. One local sign shop owner warned that Glodis’ name might remain “ghosted” on the vehicles long after his six-year term ends because the paint under the letters won’t have faded in the sunlight like the surrounding paint. The three candidates vying to succeed Mr. Glodis as sheriff in the general election said they would not follow the current sheriff’s practice. “I have no intention of putting my name all over the equipment. The Sheriff’s Department is not about me. It’s about the men and women who work there,” said independent candidate Keith E. Nicholas. “He used it as publicity, to make it about him, so Guy Glodis would be associated with the Sheriff’s Department.” Mr. Nicholas said that he sees Turn to Glodis/Page A8 TAX CUT BATTLE Expiring tax cuts hit all Taxpayers at every level may have to pay more By Stephen Ohlemacher THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — Here’s some pressure for lawmakers: If they don’t reach agreement on extending soon-to-expire Bush-era tax cuts, nearly all their constituents back home will get big tax increases. A typical family of four with a household income of $50,000 a year would have to pay $2,900 more in taxes in 2011, according to a new analysis by Deloitte Tax LLP, a tax 5 The people speak: consulting firm. The same Latest poll results on family making $100,000 a tax cuts, Page A7 year would see its taxes rise by $4,500. Wealthier families face even bigger tax hikes. A family of four making $500,000 a year would pay $10,800 more in taxes. The same family making $1 million a year would get a tax increase of $52,300. The estimates are based on total household income, including wages, capital gains and qualified dividends. The estimated tax bills take into account typical deductions at each income level. Democrats have been arguing for much of the Turn to Tax cuts /Page A7 Tax cuts Tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003 are due to expire in January, unless Congress acts. Below are the tax increases people at different income levels would face if all the tax cuts expire, and under President Barack Obama’s plan. Household All cuts Obama Filing Status Income expire budget Single, no children $50,000 $1,100 0 Married, 2 children $50,000 $2,900 0 Single, no children $100,000 $2,100 0 Married, 2 children $100,000 $4,500 0 Single, no children $325,000 $6,600 $6,600 Married, 2 children $325,000 $7,400 $5,400 Single, no children $1,000,000 $48,500 $54,200 Married, 2 children $1,000,000 $53,200 $56,300 Single, no children $5,000,000 $271,700 $323,500 Married, 2 children $5,000,000 $276,400 $325,600 Source: Deloitte Tax LLP. T&G Staff/STACEY ARSENAULT House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio Turn to Lamb/Page A7 Direct Factor y ANY SIZE • Twin • Full • Queen • King 99 $ ONE 32" HD TV* The Ultimate Mattress Package INCLUDES a Limited Quantities Only 25 Sets one set per customer LOW PRICE *details at Rotmans • 508-755-5276 ext. 4110 (508)755-5276 • Mon.-Fri. 10-9 • Sat. 9-9 • Sun. 10-6 725 Southbridge St., Worcester, MA • www.rotmans.com King is 3 Pc. All others are 2 pcs. Firm EA. PC. Must be purchased in sets. ANNIE’S MAILBOX..C8 BRIDGE .................C9 CLASSIFIED...........C8 COMICS ................C6 CROSSWORD .........C6 DEATHS................B6 EDITORIALS...........A7 ENTERTAINMENT ..B8 HOROSCOPE .........C9 LOTTERIES ...........A2 MONEY ...............B12 NATION/WORLD....A3 STOCKS..............B13 TELEVISION..........C5 News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 793-9245 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 Weather Yesterday’s question Saturday, September 18, 2010 Your opinion Today’s question Should the Bushera tax cuts be extended? Mostly sunny Should the underground tank tax be restricted to its original purpose? See the story on this page, then go to telegram.com to vote. High 69, Low 55 Page A2 ONLINE TODAY Local FITCHBURG telegram.com Woman bags 1,000-pound gator, Page A3 WORCESTER Our 144th year Mother wants to retract confession, Page A3 telegram.com ATHOL Man’s death ruled suicide drowning, Page A3 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $1.00 $1.50 in Coastal New England areas Gas taxes not going into tanks Under the lights View our photo gallery for Friday night football games with St. Peter-Marian at Wachusett and Clinton at Nashoba. State siphons off funds for cleanup By Lyle Moran Flicks picks THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Before heading out to the movies, check out what’s playing in Central Mass. See link from home page. T&G Staff/TOM RETTIG Massachusetts Teacher of the Year Floris Wilma Ortiz-Marrero is recognized yesterday at the statewide Latino public policy conference at the DCU Center in Worcester. She is a teacher at Amherst Regional Middle School. Beetle battle The region’s encounter with the Asian Longhorned Beetle is told through the T&G’s coverage at www.telegram.com/section/asianbeetle. Inside Today STATE NEWS SJC rules on GPS Court says no GPS for sex offenders unless they violate conditions of probation. Page A10 WORLD NEWS Dangerous voting Taliban threaten attacks to disrupt parliamentary elections in Afghanistan. Page A12 ROTMANS CARPET & FLOORING Dividends for the future Report: Educating Latinos like putting money in bank By Jacqueline Reis TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF WORCESTER — Here are a few facts about Worcester’s Latinos: They’re young, many don’t have much money, and they’re more likely to drop out of school than they are to get a bachelor’s degree. It’s a pretty grim picture, but the researchers who put the data together look at it this way: education will be the key to everything from better jobs to better health, and given the state’s aging population and the fact that the state will need a strong work force, spending money on Latino education is like putting money in a bank. “Investment in the education and training of younger generations of Latinos will be a kind of bank account that will pay long-term dividends, as their participation in the workforce will be likely to support older generations of residents of the state in the near future,” its authors write. The Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy at the University of Massachusetts at Boston released the data yesterday as part of its statewide public policy conference, called “Securing the Dream”, at the DCU Center. Speakers included Gov. Deval L. Patrick, who told the crowd he believes in governing from a core of values, whether the issue is education gaps or immigration. He remembered, for instance, the humiliation he felt as a black student at Milton Academy when police officers questioned him on his way to the convenience store. He said he would never sign an Ari- Sq. Ft. 2 1/4” Wide 3/4” Thick T&G Staff/CHRISTINE PETERSON 3 $ 99 Sq.Ft. Asian Black 3.9% 7.8% Latino 22.3% Latino population by origin Turn to Gas taxes/Page A7 Other Latino Mexican 6.5% 5.4% Brazilian* 11% Puerto Rican Salvadoran 51.1% 11.2% Dominican 14.8% *Most Brazilians in the survey did not identify themselves as Latino. Whenever the catagory “Brazilian” appears in one of the figures, it includes all Brazilians, but the catagory “Latino” includes only those Brazilians who self-identified as Latino. Source: The Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy T&G Staff Turn to Latinos/Page A7 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Carpet $ 75 and Pad SOLID OAK 63.8% 2.2% By Jim Kuhnhenn “Checkpoint” Hardwood Flooring White Other Race T&G File Photo/RICK CINCLAIR One of two underground fuel storage tanks is removed from a former gas station in Ashburnham in August 2006. Warren set to shape agency Natty dog STAINMASTER SAXONY 1 Ethnic population in Worcester BOSTON — Massachusetts drivers are paying an extra 2.5 cents tax on every gallon of gasoline they buy to support an underground storage tank cleanup fund, but more than half of the $75 million it generates each year is being diverted by state lawmakers to other programs. The practice has created a backlog of more than 1,700 claims from gas station owners and other fuel tank owners awaiting reimbursement for cleanup work they’ve already done. And it has prompted other owners to delay tapping the fund for its stated purpose: rectifying potential environmental hazards. Barbara Anderson, co-founder of Citizens for Limited Taxation, said the diversion is another example of legislators using bait-and-switch tactics to misspend taxpayer money. “The Legislature tricks everybody into supporting the tax and spends the money on what they want to spend it on,” Anderson said. “They are laughing at us all as they do it.” The practice, which is legal, isn’t used just with the underground tank tax, especially as the national recession has choked off receipts from income and sales taxes. Legislators in Massachusetts and across the country have diverted large amounts of a $250 billion tobacco industry settlement from 1998 to programs unrelated to health. In Massachusetts, they also sweep all unclaimed 5-cent bottle depos- WORCESTER — Richard Donald trims Chewy, a 5-month-old mixed breed, at Lake Avenue Park on Wednesday. Mr. Donald was training Chewy to remain still during grooming. WASHINGTON — In a poke in the eye to the financial community, President Barack Obama yesterday named Elizabeth Warren, an aggressive consumer advocate and Wall Street adversary, to oversee creation of a new agency to regulate banks, lenders and credit card companies. Sidestepping a Senate confirmation fight — for now — Obama stopped short of nominating Warren to actually head the new Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. Instead, his action will let the Harvard Law See design associate for details regarding Cabot House Gift Card* School professor and expert on bankruptcy move quickly to shape the bureau. Senate Republicans view her as too critical of Wall Street and big banks. The business and banking community opposed Warren Warren as director of the new bureau, contending she would make the agency too aggressive. Obama praised her highly. “Never again will folks be confused or misled by pages of barely understandable fine print that you find in agreements for credit cards or mortgages or student loans,” Obama said, standing alongside Warren and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner in the White House Rose Garden. “Elizabeth understands what I strongly believe: that a strong, growing economy begins with a strong and thriving middle class,” the president said. “And that means every American has to get a fair shake in their financial dealings.” Billed as a big help to abused consumers, the new bureau is charged with writing and enforcing new rules Turn to Consumer/Page A7 ANNIE’S MAILBOX...A8 BRIDGE..................B7 CLASSIFIED............C2 COMICS .................B6 CROSSWORD..........B6 DEATHS.................A4 EDITORIALS ..........A11 * not available on all lines ENTERTAINMENT....A8 HOROSCOPE...........B7 LOTTERIES.............A2 MONEY ..................A9 RELIGION..............A10 STOCKS.................A9 TELEVISION ...........B5 News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 793-9245 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 Complimentary In-Home Design Service Auburn (Rt. 20) 508-832-7678 • www.cabothouse.com Weather Think positive High 72, Low 53 Page A2 ONLINE TODAY Yesterday’s question September 19, 2010 SAVE more than $70.05 coupons inside No, there may be other needs Your opinion 9.8% Should the underground tank tax be restricted to its original purpose? Today’s question Are you going to participate in the Rx Drug TakeBack Day? See story below and vote on telegram.com. Yes, old tanks are dangerous 90.2% Local stories telegram.com WORCESTER Our 144th year Correction officer’s lawsuit alleges retaliation, Page B1 telegram.com WORCESTER Kyrgyzstan native gets rehab for stroke, Page B1 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $2.50 ... $3.00 in Coastal New England areas The X factor Nov. 2 Mushroom delights The fourth annual Fungus Fair in Athol Saturday attracted more than 150 mycologists and mushroom lovers from coast to coast. See the slide show on telegram.com. ELECTION 2010 Many voters disillusioned telegram.com/election 44 days to go Your vote will count Nov. 2. Keep up with the latest developments in the local election scene by checking out telegram.com each day. By Julie Hirschfeld Davis THE ASSOCIATED PRESS T&G Staff PHOTOS/JIM COLLINS Todd Ugine, Cornell University entomology researcher, checks fungal bands on streets in back of Salem Covenant Church on East Mountain Street. stART on the Street Researchers keep looking for ways to protect trees By Lisa Eckelbecker TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF Worcester’s fast-growing free annual arts festival opens at 11 a.m. today with demonstrations, items for sale, musicians, food and more. See video online for a preview of what to expect. For any Asian longhorned beetles wandering across certain Central Massachusetts trees this summer, one false step could be fatal. Researchers from Cornell University have wrapped cloth bands coated with soil fungus around more than 100 trees in an effort to find out whether the bands might help control infestation by fatally infecting those insects that trot across the spores. There’s no guarantee the research will lead to commercial products, but fungal bands are already used in orchards in Japan and forests in China to control longhorned beetles. Cornell entomology professor Ann E. Hajek said that paired with scents that draw in insects, the bands might have a role in controlling Asian longhorned beetles in certain areas. “I definitely think this is something that could be used by homeowners,” Ms. Hajek said. “I could see these bands being used in parks or in high-value trees, along with attractants to bring the beetles to make sure they get Precisely-sized snips of fungal bands are put in containers to take back to Cornell, where they will be tested to see how many of the spores remain viable since the bands were installed. ALB eradication program Worcester County since August 2008 Trees surveyed 531,892 Infested trees removed 17,954 Other trees removed 10,250 Size of regulated zone 76 sq. miles Suffolk, Norfolk counties since July 2010 24,602 6 0 9.6 sq. miles Source: Massachusetts Asian Longhorned Beetle Cooperative Eradication Program T&G Staff/STACEY ARSENAULT Turn to Beetle/Page A10 Let the battle begin Civil War re-enactors representing Union soldiers of New England and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia are meeting over the weekend in Rutland and spectators are getting an idea of what the war was like. The event continues today, with the grounds opening at 9 a.m. and a battle scheduled for 1 p.m. Watch the video on telegram.com. ROTMANS STAINMASTER SAXONY “Checkpoint” 1 Carpet $ 75 and Pad T&G Staff/JIM COLLINS Matthew C. Murphy, assistant DEA special agent, at Park Avenue Pharmacy. Election amid fear More fraud possible in Afghan voting Drop-off aims at prescription drugs It’s their unused, unwanted and probably forgotten prescription medications. And there’s a police department nearby willing to take them off their hands Saturday. So far, 110 police departments in Massachusetts have joined more than 3,400 law enforcement agencies across the counPAGE A10 try in the DEA’s first national Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, according to Matthew C. Murphy, assistant special agent in charge of the DEA’s New England Field Division. KABUL, Afghanistan — Despite Taliban rocket strikes and bombings, Afghans voted for a new parliament, the first election since a fraud-marred presidential ballot last year cast doubt on the legitimacy of the embattled government. As officials tally votes over the next few days, the real test begins: Afghans will have to decide whether to accept the results as legitimate, despite a modest turnout and early evidence of fraud. The Taliban had pledged to disrupt the vote and launched attacks starting with a rocket fired into the capital before dawn Saturday. The insurgent group followed with a series of morning rocket strikes that hit major cities just as people were going to the polls — or were weighing whether to risk it. At least 11 civilians and three police officers were killed, according to the Interior Ministry. The governor of Kandahar province sur- Turn to Prescriptions/Page A10 Turn to Afghanistan/Page A8 TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF See our ad for details. Turn to Voters/Page A6 DEA sees danger in medicine chest By Lee Hammel Lock in a low price for 2 years. DREXEL HILL, Pa. — Victoria Newman is a proud Democrat who says that when she voted for Barack Obama in 2008, it was the most excited she’d been about politics in all her 58 years. But now, Democrats grasping to keep control of Congress will have to do without her. Newman says she’s planning to stay home on Election Day. As she pays for a package of corn muffins at a grocery store, Newman, a retired state employee who’s black, sums up her feelings about voting in November’s congressional elections with a dismissive flick of her wrist. To retain House control, Democrats must find a way to reactivate core supporters and re-energize the independent and new voters who handed Obama the White House and swept Democrats into office. It’s a tall order in dozens of competitive districts where enthusiasm for the president is at a low; even some of his strongest backers aren’t motivated to go to the polls. The challenge is boosting Republicans’ hopes of winning the 40 seats they need to seize the House in a year when a sagging economy and disillusionment with Obama have created a grim outlook for the majority party. National surveys show Republicans are far For folks used to hauling out of their garage sludgy 10W-30 oil they’ve drained from the family Ford to the local hazardous waste day site, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says there’s a lot more dangerous stuff they should be cleaning out of the house. It’s probably in the medicine cabinet or stashed near the towels in the linen closet. It’s the cough medicine that got them through the flu six years ago or the pain killer that quieted the throbbing after they needed stitches to close that nasty gash right after Bill Clinton defeated Robert Dole. 5 A list of sites for Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, By Heidi Vogt THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Sq. Ft. Factor y ANY SIZE Direct The Ultimate Mattress Package INCLUDES a • Twin • Full • Queen • King $ ONE 32" HD TV* Limited Quantities Only 10 Sets Left one set per customer LOW PRICE *details at Rotmans • 508-755-5276 ext. 4110 (508)755-5276 • Mon.-Fri. 10-9 • Sat. 9-9 • Sun. 10-6 725 Southbridge St., Worcester, MA • www.rotmans.com 99 King is 3 Pc. All others are 2 pcs. Firm EA. PC. Must be purchased in sets. MONEY ..................D1 DEATHS.................B6 EDITORIALS AND COMMENTARY ..A10-11 LIVING ...................... CROSSWORD ..........7 LOCAL NEWS..........B1 SPORTS .................C1 TRAVEL.................M1 TONIGHT’S TV ........N8 CLASSIFIED WORCESTERWORKS .. SECTION D AUTOMOTIVE AND REAL ESTATE ........... SECTION E News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 793-9245 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 Weather Yesterday’s question Monday, September 20, 2010 Are you going to participate in the Prescription Drug Take-Back Day? Sunny, breezy High 69, Low 47 Page A2 ONLINE TODAY Yes. I want the old meds out of the house No, I might need them Your opinion 32.8% Today’s question How likely are you to examine the Worcester municipal check register online? See story on this page, then go to telegram.com to vote. 67.2% Local REGION telegram.com McKenna, Coakley gird for showdown, Page B1 WORCESTER State to auction off old courthouse, Page B1 telegram.com Our 144th year PRINCETON Volunteers refurbishing Frisbee course, Page B8 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $1.00 $1.50 in Coastal New England areas Iranian leader to visit UN Right in step Marchers joined in the 350th Quaboag Plantation Parade in West Brookfield. See our photo gallery Ahmadinejad touts the future Gridiron greats Another big win for St. John’s High School football squad. See our photo gallery By John Daniszewski and Edith M. Lederer THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Photos/JOHN FERRARONE Police estimate some 40,000 people visited exhibits yesterday at the stART on the Street festival on Park Avenue. A taste of Brazil The Brazilian Expo of New England was held at the DCU Center exhibition hall. See our photo gallery On telegram.com Most read stories 1. Man challenging constitutionality of gun permit revocation 2. Correction officer brings lawsuit 3. Prescription drugs drop-off 4. Making your phone a football machine 5. Millbury man killed when car hits utility pole 6. Golf: Fran Quinn on road to recovery 7. Beetle band aid 8. Patriots vs. Jets: Battle of loud vs. proud 9. Millbury man killed in car crash Inside Today SPORTS ART stART 40,000 drawn to annual outdoor arts festival NEW YORK — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Sunday that “the future belongs to Iran,” and challenged the United States to accept that his country has a major role in the world. The comments came in an hourlong interview with The Associated Press on the first day of his visit to the United States to attend the annual general assembly of the United Nations this week. He insisted that his government does not want an atomic bomb — something Ahmadinejad he has said in the past — and that Iran is only seeking peace and a nuclear- 5 No spying: Freed weapons-free world. He woman hiker says repeatedly sidestepped there was no spying, questions on when Iran Page A4 would resume talks on its disputed nuclear program, and he said anti-nuclear sanctions against his government would have no effect. Appearing calm and self-assured on his seventh trip to the United States, the Iranian president showed every sign of being in command of himself and prepared to deflect questions about his government’s harsh suppres- By Nancy Sheehan TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF Some 40,000 people took stART to heART yesterday. The eighth stART on the Street, already the city’s largest outdoor arts festival, was bigger than ever this year as people packed a closed down section of Park Avenue between Pleasant and Highland streets. The main attraction was about 250 artists and crafters selling their handmade work and also included musicians and other performers, local food vendors and kids’ activities. “Last year it was about 30,000, but I would say this year probably closer to 40,000 people have telegram.com been through here — or will be,” Sgt. Andrew Avedian of the Worcester Police Department said at about 3:30 p.m. What’s the big draw? “It’s just an outstanding event,” he said. ‘It’s one of the best things that happens in the city.” Slid h Slideshow and video online Turn to stART/Page A6 Above, Joshua Swalec of Ferromorphics Blacksmithing directs his apprentice, Melissa Grandmaison of Worcester, to hammer a design into a leaf they are hand-forging. At left, Maureen Fleming of Lonach Farm in Milton, N.H., spins some wool from her farm. Turn to Ahmadinejad /Page A4 Spending to go public City’s check register to be posted online By Nick Kotsopoulos TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF Errors beget errors N.E. Patriots lose their momentum, and the Jets end up with a 28-14 win. Page C1 MONEY More people voting early Candidates try to map out winnable election strategies The master of suds Go On The Job with Dave Howard, the brewmaster for Wachusett Brewing Co. Page B7 ANNIE’S MAILBOX ..C8 BRIDGE .................C9 CLASSIFIED ...........C8 COMICS.................C6 CROSSWORD .........C6 DEATHS ................B4 EDITORIALS...........A5 By Nancy Benac THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ENTERTAINMENT ...B6 HOROSCOPE ..........C9 LOTTERIES ............A2 MONEY .................B7 NATION.................A3 TELEVISION...........C5 WORLD .................A3 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 793-9245 50% OFF SALE Remote Starters See Our Ad in Today’s Paper SHREWSBURY Route 9 AUBURN 64 Auburn St. File Photo/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, left, casts his early vote for the state’s primary election in Baltimore, as his official photographer Jay Baker takes photographs. WASHINGTON — Candidates of all political stripes are latching on to the tantalizing reality that a huge — and growing — chunk of voters casts ballots well ahead of Election Day. They know it’s big. They know it requires different campaign strategies. They just don’t agree on how to do it. Some are spending more money earlier. Others are trying to gradually dole out their stash of cash. Some are courting loyal supporters first. Others are trying to lock in unreliable voters. Some are rushing out ads. Others are pumping up early phone contacts. Whatever the strategy, more candidates are keenly aware their campaigns must have a smart early-vote program. “If they don’t, the manager should be sued for malpractice,” says Dave Boomer, campaign manager for Rep. Lee Terry, a Nebraska Republican in a competitive race this fall. More people, too, are figuring out that early voting has benefits for them beyond the convenience of voting at the time Turn to Early voting/Page A6 WORCESTER — In an unprecedented move, the city will soon post its check register online, giving the public more of an opportunity to see how local tax dollars are being spent. City Manager Michael V. O’Brien said the online check register will be available for public viewing on the city’s website (www.worcesterma.gov) beginning next month. He said residents will be able to search the register by vendor name, account type, or check date range. Mr. O’Brien said Worcester will become the first municipality in the state to post its check register online. Results will display a check number, date of check issuance, vendor name, Mr. O’Brien amount and account description, he said. Payment history would be displayed for 180 days. Councilor-at-Large Konstantina B. Lukes has been pushing for this as a way to increase transparency on how local tax dollars are spent. “I want to recognize the leadership of the City Council for bringing forth this request, as well as the city’s Technical Services Division and the Turn to Check/Page A6 Weather Yesterday’s question Tuesday, September 21, 2010 How likely are you to examine the Worcester municipal check register online? Sunny High 67, Low 55 Page A2 Your opinion Unlikely. Who has the time? 57.6% Very likely. It’s great information. 42.4% ONLINE TODAY Registration is easy. Go to upper right corner of Today’s question Do you support the GOP’s effort to repeal all or part of the health care law? See story on this page, then go to telegram.com to vote. Local telegram.com WORCESTER ‘Anti-snob’ law said to be good for city, Page B1 Our 144th year Moving the mussels See our photo gallery of the mussel-moving project under way on the French River in Webster. telegram.com Reporter Shaun Sutner keeps you in the know with his daily blog on campaign politics. www.telegram.com/ electionnet Man admits to large weapons cache, Page B1 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $1.00 $1.50 in Coastal New England areas Four to spar in gubernatorial debate tonight Televised showdown with a live audience ELECTION 2010 By John J. Monahan TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF ElectionNet AUBURN telegram.com/election BOSTON — With more people relying on news websites, blogs, talk radio and paid ads for their information, it may seem that televised debates are not as important as they once were in political campaigns. But don’t tell that to U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, whose come-from-behind victory seemed to turn on one now-memorable line delivered in a live televised debate Jan. 11, when he said, “With all due re- spect it’s not the Kennedys’ seat. It’s not the Democrats’ seat. It’s the people’s seat.” And with that in mind, all four gubernatorial candidates will be looking to spark their campaigns tonight in the first post-primary live television debate in the final phase of the campaigns. There have been several radio and one studio TV debate earlier in the race, but Mr. Patrick each successive debate becomes more important in a statewide election campaign, officials said. “With 43 days left, a lot more people are tuning in and it is a good opportunity for people to pop on the TV and kick the tires,” Join T&G reporter Rich Garven today at 1 p.m. for a live online chat about the Patriots, their recent loss to the Jets and many other hot football topics. On telegram.com Most read stories 1. Man challenging constitutionality of gun permit revocation 2. State to auction old courthouse 3. Courthouse records 4. City offers tough love to teachers 5. Busy street 6. On the job 7. Correction officer brings lawsuit 8. McKenna, Coakley gird for November showdown 9. Traffic report: Slow-going on 290, 190 India to Worcester Oscar-winning composer is bringing his tour to the DCU Center. Page B6 ANNIE’S MAILBOX ...C8 BRIDGE ..................C9 CLASSIFIED ............C8 COMICS..................C6 CROSSWORD ..........C6 DEATHS .................B4 EDITORIALS ............A7 ENTERTAINMENT...B6 HOROSCOPE ..........C9 LOTTERIES............A2 MONEY .................B8 NATION/WORLD.....A3 STOCKS ................B9 TELEVISION...........C5 said Rick Gorka, spokesman for Republican Charles D. Baker Jr.’s campaign. “There are a lot of folks who still don’t know who Charlie is,” and debates offer Turn to Debate/Page A6 Tactic is to withhold administrative funds By Robert Pear THE NEW YORK TIMES billion. Netezza, whose appliances are used by a variety of businesses to analyze large volumes of data, was founded in 2000, and went public three years ago at $12 per share — less than half the $27 per share now being offered by IBM, based in Armonk, N.Y. The offer represents a nearly 11 percent premium on Netezza’s Friday closing price of $24.60 The sale, slated for completion in the fourth quarter of this year, is subject to WASHINGTON — Republicans are serious. Hopeful of picking up substantial numbers of seats in the congressional elections, they are developing plans to try to repeal or roll back President Barack Obama’s new health care law. This goal, although not fleshed out in a detailed legislative proposal, is much more than a cam- 5 New plan: GOP paign slogan. That conclusion will unveil new emerged from interviews with a election-year agenda range of Republican lawmakers, Thursday, Page A4 who said they were determined to chip away at the law if they could not dismantle it. House Republicans are expected to include some specifics in an election agenda they intend to issue Thursday. Although they face tremendous political and practical hurdles to undoing a law whose provisions are rapidly going into effect, they are laying the groundwork for trying. For starters, Republicans say they will try to withhold money that federal officials need to administer and enforce the law. They know that even if they managed to pass a wholesale repeal, Obama would veto it. “They’ll get not one dime from us,” the House Republican leader, U.S. Sen. John A. Boehner of Ohio, told The Cincinnati Enquirer recently. “Not a dime. There is no fixing this.” Republicans also intend to go after specific provisions. U.S. Sen. Orrin G. Hatch of Utah, a senior Republican on the Finance Committee, has introduced a bill that would eliminate a linchpin of the Turn to Netezza/Page A5 Turn to Repeal/Page A4 T&G Staff/TOM RETTIG WESTMINSTER — Joe Werner of Westminster drives a load of firewood down Baker’s Grove Road to his house yesterday, stocking up for colder weather. He heats his home primarily with firewood. ENTERTAINMENT Ms. Stein GOP seeks to repeal, hamstring health law Getting ready for winter Pats chat at 1 p.m. Inside Today Mr. Cahill Mr. Baker IBM to buy Netezza for $1.7B Big win for Marlboro technology firm By Martin Luttrell Netezza Corp. Headquarters: Marlboro TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF Products: Data warehousing appliances for business intelligence Formed: 2000 Employees: 425 Revenues for fiscal 2010: $223 million Net income: $9.6 million Stock symbol: NZ Source: Netezza Corp. T&G Staff MARLBORO — For the second time this year, a Marlboro technology firm has become the acquisition target of a major U.S. computer and information technology company. International Business Machines Corp. announced yesterday that it would buy data warehousing appliance maker Netezza Corp. for $1.7 Clark will pay city $6.7 million University giving $262,000 annually for library, Main South By Nick Kotsopoulos TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 793-9245 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 T&G Staff/CHRISTINE PETERSON City Manager Michael V. O’Brien and Clark President David P. Angel are seen at Clark to announce the PILOT. WORCESTER — Clark University has become the third local private college to step up and agree to make annual payments to the city in lieu of property taxes. Clark President David P. Angel and City Manager Michael V. O’Brien announced the agreement yesterday, hailing it as a new chapter in the college’s longstanding partnership with the city in addressing mutual goals. Upon full implementation of the 20-year voluntary Payment in Lieu of Taxes agreement, Clark will make annual payments of about $262,000. That amount will increase by 2.5 percent annually over the term of the agreement. Clark’s overall payments to the city will total more than $6.7 million over 20 years. The money will be used to directly support the Worcester Public Library and enhancements to the Main South neighborhood, including public safety and much-needed improvements to University (Crystal) Park. Mr. Angel and Mr. O’Brien said the agreement also forges a partnership to improve public safety and the continuity of the Clark campus. The college and city will be cooperatively pursuing the necessary approvals to discontinue a short section of Downing Street that runs through the Clark campus — from Florence Street to Woodland Street — to create a pedestrian plaza for Turn to Clark /Page A5 Weather Wednesday, September 22, 2010 Yesterday’s question Your opinion Today’s question Do you support the GOP’s effort to repeal all or part of the health care law? A nice day High 80, Low 61 Could you get through the day without a computer and other personal electronic devices? See the story on this page, then go to telegram.com to vote. Page A2 ONLINE TODAY Local Registration is easy. Go to upper right corner of LANCASTER telegram.com Atlantic Union losing its accreditation Page B1 WORCESTER Our 144th year Fire on Vernon Hill A two-alarm fire heavily damages a three-decker on Lund Street, displacing six adults and six children. See the video at telegram.com telegram.com CSX petitions put on hold, Page B1 DUDLEY Driver re-sentenced in double fatality, Page B1 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS Finance rules ignored $1.00 $1.50 in Coastal New England areas ELECTION 2010 telegram.com/election GOP’s McKenna will refile reports By Glen Johnson THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Order in the court When it comes to counting clicks, one of telegram.com’s most popular features is courthouse records. www.telegram.com/ courtrecords Out sister site, MassMoms, lets you know that you’re not alone. Inside Today THE NATION BOSTON — The former prosecutor who shocked even the Massachusetts Republican Party by winning a write-in bid to be his party’s nominee for attorney general did so, in part, with a race that skirted state campaign finance laws. State campaign finance records show James McKenna of Millbury spent less than $1,600 in succeeding to become, apparently, the first candidate in state political history to win a statewide nominaMr. McKenna tion via a write-in campaign. He will be on the Nov. 2 general election ballot against Martha Coakley. She was derided by Democrats across the country in January after she surrendered her party’s traditional advantage in the state and lost to Republican Scott Brown in the special election to succeed the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. Yet in an interview with The AssoTurn to McKenna /Page A6 Tuesdays turn back the clock One day a week, school bans high tech By Bradford L. Miner THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CNN reporter John King, center, explains the rules to Democrat Gov. Deval L. Patrick, left, independent Timothy P. Cahill, Republican Charles D. Baker and Green-Rainbow candidate Jill Stein before last night’s debate. Candidates unleashed No punches pulled in debate By John J. Monahan TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF In their most contentious confrontation to date, the three leading candidates for governor threw pointed criticisms and accusations at one another over taxes, spending cuts, the Big Dig, school standards and the economy in a televised debate last night. Throughout the one-hour debate, Republican Charles D. Baker attacked Democrat Deval L. Patrick for raising taxes and not cutting spending enough, while admonishing independent Timothy P. Cahill, the state treasurer, for not speaking out against the governor’s fiscal policies. But Mr. Cahill swung back, accusing Mr. Baker of lying in ads that blamed him for tax hikes, even though he had no say on them as treasurer. He also criticized Mr. Baker for tax hikes when he was a Swampscott selectman and health insurance rate hikes when he was head of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. For his part Mr. Patrick, the incum- Asian longhorned beetle battleground Regulated area as of Sept. 21 Regulated area as of Feb. 22 Additional land added to ALB regulated zone TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ Senate Republicans block effort by Democrats and the White House to lift the ban on gays from serving openly in the military. Page A3 BOYLSTON HOLDEN Borders expand in beetle fight By Steven H. Foskett Jr. TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF Additional discoveries of trees infested with the Asian longhorned beetle have prompted state and federal officials to expand once again the regulated area that delineates the presence of the invasive species in the area. The state Department of Conservation and Recreation yesterday announced that more trees infested with the tree-boring beetle have been found in Boylston and Holden, forcing the expansion of Y WORCESTER GRAFTON AUBURN Source: USDA MILLBURY Starting at 299 WESTBORO • 272 Turnpike Rd. RT. 9 East • 508-366-9595 the area in those towns. That expands the regulated area by 18 square miles, creating a federal and state quarantine zone that is now 94 square miles. In addition to part of Holden and Boylston, the regulated area includes Worcester and West Boylston and parts of Shrewsbury. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the most recent detections were on Monday and yesterday in West Boylston, at Shrewsbury and Hartwell Turn to Beetle/Page A5 T&G Staff CLEARANCE! LEATHER CHAIRS $ Turn to Debate/Page A5 More infested trees discovered; periphery widens in area towns BUR Turn to No-Tech/Page A5 Wachusett Reservoir EWS Remote Starters See Our Ad in Today’s Paper SHREWSBURY Route 9 AUBURN 64 Auburn St. WEST BOYLSTON SHR 50% OFF SALE WOODSTOCK — Most mornings, the computer lab in Annhurst Hall has standing room only, according to Hyde School senior Caitlyn Colley. Yesterday, the room was empty. The screens were dark. It must be Tuesday. In simplest terms, No-Tech Tuesdays mean just that, according to Miss Colley and fellow seniors Hope Eldridge and Rudwan Bakhsh. Drawing a line of demarcation at the year 1980, anything in use before that date is still allowed on No-Tech Tuesdays. Any technology developed since is not. Laura Gauld, head of the school, said the monthlong experiment is meant to re-explore human interaction, as well as understanding the role technology plays in the daily life of Hyde School. The idea had its skeptics when first proposed at a school meeting. “It may well be harder for some faculty members than for students,” she said, admitting that she had neglected to leave her BlackBerry at bent, challenged the Republican for a lack of oversight of the Big Dig as the state’s finance chief at a time when massive project cost overruns were being covered up, leading to steep turnpike toll and MBTA fare hikes. Mr. Patrick fended off a barrage of criticism, citing actions to cut thousands of state jobs and curb spending while protecting health care subsidies EXTRA % 10 BONUS BRING YOUR MILITARY OR STUDENT ID CARD AND GET AN EXTRA BONUS! ANNIE’S MAILBOX...C8 BRIDGE..................C9 CLASSIFIED............C8 COMICS .................C6 COMMENTARY........A6 CROSSWORD..........C6 DEATHS.................B4 EDITORIALS ...........A7 ENTERTAINMENT....B6 HOROSCOPE...........C9 LOTTERIES.............A2 MONEY..................B9 STOCKS.................B9 TELEVISION ...........C5 News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 793-9245 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 Weather Yesterday’s question Thursday, September 23, 2010 Could you get through the day without a computer and other personal electronic devices? Partly sunny High 73, Low 61 Page A2 ONLINE TODAY Your opinion Yes, but In a heartbeat. it would be hard. 38.2% 39.6% No, I’m too wired. 22.2% Today’s question Are you worried about consuming genetically engineered food? See the story on this page, then go to telegram.com to vote. Local Registration is easy. Go to upper right corner of GARDNER telegram.com Mother’s trial gets under way, Page B1 WORCESTER Manet at the WAM "The Dead Torreador" arrives at the Worcester Art Museum in an exchange that sent "The Brooding Woman" to the Tate Modern in London. GO! video City and manager agree on contract, Page B1 telegram.com Our 144th year PHILLIPSTON Voters reject housing on Town Common, Page B1 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $1.00 $1.50 in Coastal New England areas Boone sees progress and hope for city schools ‘ Worcester public schools will be a part of this renaissance. ‚ MELINDA J. BOONE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS By Steven H. Foskett Jr. said. And in the face of many obstacles to student achievement — from family poverty to language barriers — the district must continue to strive, she said. “Whatever the perceived challenge, we do not have an option to lower our heads, bemoan our circumstances, and say we could if the sun, the moon and stars aligned,” Ms. Boone said. “Wishing for results and perfect circumstances won’t accomplish expectations, but focus, align- TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF WORCESTER — Touting gains and acknowledging challenges, Superintendent Melinda J. Boone used her first “State of the Schools” address at Worcester Technical High School last night to lay out her vision for the city’s schools. Public education must compete to retain its market share of student enrollment, Ms. Boone ment, coherence and accountability will.” Ms. Boone touched on some of that accountability when she highlighted positive results gleaned from recently released Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System testing results. For the first time since 2002, the district this year saw a double-digit increase in the perTurn to City schools/Page A11 JOHN FERRARONE Pretty and gritty Seven local artists capture the pretty and gritty sides of Worcester in "Paint the Town," opening tomorrow at the Print and the Potter Gallery on Highland Street. T&G Staff/RICK CINCLAIR These acorns from a yard in Ashburnham are typical of this year’s crop. Acorns usher in autumn Your opinion Cast a vote on today’s hot topic. See today’s poll on telegram.com home page Inside Today By Bill Fortier TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF SPORTS File Photos/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Pelting people and cars like stones, big and abundant acorns are falling with a loud thud this year. “This is what our arborists call a big mast year for acorns,” said Wendy Fox, press secretary for the state Department of Conservation and Recreation. Today is the first day of fall, and for many people that means pumpkins, apples and the changing colors of leaves. Cooler weather is surely on the way, but yesterday the region was treated to temperatures reaching into the 80s, and tomorrow the mercury may be pushing 90 degrees. However, the buzz this season A cow with an ear tag eats on a government farm in Nova Canaa do Norte, Brazil, where the growing of crops, cattle and timber are integrated in an attempt to protect the Amazon from deforestation.. Food tinkering Some urge caution By Seth Borenstein and Malcolm Ritter Faulk out for season Patriots running back and team captain Kevin Faulk is officially out for the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Page C1 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — We’ve always played with our food — even before we knew about genes or how to change them. For thousands of years, humans have practiced selective breeding — pairing the beefiest bull with the healthiest heifers to start a new herd. That concept was refined to develop plant hybridization and artificial insemination. Today we’ve got tastier corn on sturdier stalks, bigger turkeys and meatier cattle. Now comes an Atlantic salmon that is genetically engineered to grow twice as fast as a regular salmon. If U.S. regulators approve it, the fish would be the first such scientifically altered animal to reach the dinner plate. Scientists have already determined that it’s safe to eat. They are weighing other factors, including environmental risks, after two days of intense hearings. Whatever the decision on salmon, it’s only the start of things to come. In labs and on experimen- Farmers and students protest the production of genetically engineered potatoes in Mannheim, Germany, in April. Turn to Acorns/Page A11 Summer 2010 Average mean temperature The average of the high and low temps for each month 74° Normal 2010 70.1° 67.4° Turn to Genetics/Page A10 70° 68.3° 64.7° June Lt. gov. hopefuls echo running mates July 61.7° August Sept.* Normal precipitation 4.19” 4.36” 4.09” 4.02” ELECTION 2010 By John J. Monahan TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF Go faster with Charter Internet™ BOSTON — The leading candidates for lieutenant governor drew different pictures of the state’s economy in their first debate yesterday. Republican challenger Sen. telegram.com/election Richard R. Tisei described a “terrible business climate” in the state. Incumbent Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray pointed to seven months of job growth as a sign the state’s economy is rebounding. It was one of many differences sketched out among four candidates that largely mirrored the postures of their gubernatorial running mates. Green Rainbow Party candidate Richard Purcell made a case for “more democracy” and greater protection of poor towns and people in the state, while independent Paul Loscocco complained that “people are tired of the two-party system and what it has brought.” SALE THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY SEPT 23 • 10-6 SEPT 24 • 10-8 SEPT 25 • 10-6 SEPT 26 • 12-5 Special Buys • Closeouts • 1 of a Kinds APPLIANCES • ELECTRONICS • FURNITURE • BEDDING *See store for complete details. HUNDREDS OF MODELS TO CHOOSE FROM• LIMITED QUANTITIES IInterest-Free nteres teres 0% Interes 0 Financing F Fi inanc * FOR 1 YEAR! Some with cosmetic blemishes, small dents. 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GiantTENT 2.94” 2.59” Source: National Weather Service T&G Staff/DON LANDGREN JR ANNIE’S MAILBOX...C8 BRIDGE..................C9 CLASSIFIED............C8 COMICS .................C6 COMMENTARY ......A12 CROSSWORD..........C6 DEATHS.................B6 EDITORIALS ..........A13 HEALTH.................A8 HOROSCOPE...........C9 LOTTERIES.............A2 MONEY..................B8 STOCKS.................B9 TELEVISION ...........C5 News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 793-9245 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 Weather Yesterday’s question Friday, September 24, 2010 Are you worried about consuming genetically engineered food? Warm breezes High 84, Low 65 Page A2 ONLINE TODAY Your opinion If it tastes good, I’ll eat it. Today’s question 11.0% No, we already do. Yes, it’s not natural. 32.8% 56.2% Do you think the response level to the discovery of mercury at the Grafton Street School was appropriate? See the story on this page, then go to telegram.com to vote. Local Registration is easy. Go to upper right corner of GARDNER Witnesses testify about toddler’s bruises, Page B1 telegram.com WORCESTER Our 144th year telegram.com Candidate loses in recount, Page B1 WEBSTER Woman sought in bank heist, Page B2 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $1.00 $1.50 in Coastal New England areas ... Medicare drug costs will rise Moon Festival today Keeping Southeast Asian traditions alive telegramtowns.com Fungal bands? Seniors face hikes By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar THE ASSOCIATED PRESS T&G Staff/TOM RETTIG Making noise to rid trees of Asian longhorned beetles telegramtown.com Inside Today Bags containing clothing and other items brought to the Grafton Street School by students yesterday wait to be checked for mercury contamination. State widens search for mercury Decontamination goes on, students bused What is mercury? Fatal bullying case Three South Hadley teens will ask judge to dismiss grand jury indictments based on insufficient evidence in fatal bullying case. Page A3 Sound strategy Defense Secretary Robert Gates says that the Obama administration’s redrawn Afghanistan war strategy is sound. Page A10 Gates ROTMANS CARPET & FLOORING STAINMASTER SAXONY “Checkpoint” 1 Carpet $ 75 and Pad Sq. Ft. SOLID OAK Hardwood Flooring 2 1/4” Wide 3/4” Thick 3 $ 99 Sq.Ft. Mercury is a naturally occurring metal which has several forms. Elemental mercury (also known as metallic mercury) is a shiny, silver-white, odorless liquid at room temperature. If heated, it is a colorless, odorless gas. How can you be exposed? When spilled or a device containing mercury breaks, it can vaporize and become an invisible, odorless, toxic vapor. Exposure primarily occurs by inhalation of mercury vapors that are released into air. How can mercury affect health? Short-term exposure to high levels may cause effects including, but not limited to: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increases in blood pressure or heart rate, skin rashes, eye irritation, metallic taste in the mouth, and irritation of the respiratory system. Are there tests to show exposure? Urine or blood samples are used to test for exposure. Urine is most useful for testing for potential inhalation exposure. Source: Massachusetts Department of Public Health T&G Staff By Linda Bock and Jacqueline Reis got under way. Building 1, which houses students in pre-kindergarten TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF through Grade 2, is operating as WORCESTER — Two days usual. The district will continue after a student brought nearly a to bus students in Grades 3 to 6 to pint of mercury to Grafton Street the Fanning Building on School, local and state author- Chatham Street today and Monities widened their efforts from day. the school itself to the homes and If Grafton Street’s Building 2 is day cares of 11 students not ready by Tuesday, the found with mercury on district will have to find their shoes. another site for the stu“It’s an ongoing investidents, Worcester schools gation. We’ll be going to Chief Academic Officer their homes today,” Jeffrey J. Mulqueen said. Edmund J. Coletta Jr., Students have had more spokesman for the state than a change of scenery telegram.com Department of Environto keep them busy. Stumental Protection, said dents and faculty in the yesterday. building, plus secondThe home of the sixth-grader graders who entered Building 2 who brought the mercury to to have lunch, had until 6 p.m. school Tuesday is also being yesterday to voluntarily have investigated. their urine tested for mercury Meanwhile, the district bused exposure. Mercury leaves the about 240 students in Grades 3 to body quickly, so testing after a 6 away from Grafton Street’s certain window doesn’t make Building 2 yesterday as a multiTurn to Mercury/Page A7 agency decontamination effort Video online WASHINGTON — Millions of seniors face doubledigit hikes in their Medicare prescription premiums next year unless they shop for cheaper coverage. A new analysis of government data finds that premiums will go up an average of 10 percent among the top plans that have signed up some 70 percent of seniors. That’s according to Avalere Health, a private research firm that crunched the numbers. Marketing for next year’s drug plans gets under way Oct. 1, and seniors will see some of the biggest changes since the Medicare prescription benefit became available in 2006. More than 17 million are enrolled in private drug plans offered through Medicare. “People are just going to have to get on top of this and shop around,” said Dan Mendelson, president of AvalTurn to Medicare /Page A7 Obama: It’s peace time Mideast challenge issued By Ben Feller THE ASSOCIATED PRESS UNITED NATIONS — Grasping for Mideast peace, President Barack Obama on Thursday challenged a pessimistic world to overcome decades of shattered promises and help Israelis and Palestinians PAGE A5. close a historic deal THE ASSOCIATED PRESS within a year. “This time will Barack be different,” he declared, offer- President ing a now-or-never choice be- Obama addresses the tween Mideast stability and per- United Nations. petual bloodshed. To a hushed audience of global leaders, Obama made Mideast peace the dominant theme of his yearly address to the U.N. General Assembly, a sign of the fragile state of the latest talks and the importance he attaches to 5 Iran’s president implies Sept. 11 attacks a fraud , Turn to Peace/Page A8 Baseball love lingers Clark University history professor Janette Greenwood holds a copy of the PBS video “Baseball” by filmmaker Ken Burns. Sport’s glory, messy history in Clark course By Bill Ballou TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF WORCESTER — Even in this age of Twitter and tweet, where secrets are exposed every day and reality rules, baseball retains a nostalgic wholesomeness, like a Labor Day picnic. Alas, those who seek to uncover some inner truth about the game that goes deeper than fair or foul, safe or out, ball or strike — they risk having the fairy tale destroyed. Clark University history professor Janette Greenwood has not set out to demolish her students’ love of the game’s history and traditions, but in telling the truth, takes them dangerously close to the edge. She grew up in Western Pennsylvania, a Pirates fan back when they were good. “I Turn to Baseball/Page A7 T&G Staff/MARK C. IDE ANNIE’S MAILBOX...C8 BRIDGE..................C9 CLASSIFIED............C8 COMICS .................C6 COMMENTARY........A8 CROSSWORD..........C6 DEATHS.................B6 EDITORIALS ...........A9 ENTERTAINMENT....B8 HOROSCOPE...........C9 LOTTERIES.............A2 MONEY.................B12 STOCKS................B13 TELEVISION ...........C5 News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 793-9245 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 Weather Yesterday’s question Saturday, September 25, 2010 Yes, children were in danger Do you think the response level to the discovery of mercury at the Grafton Street School was appropriate? Mostly sunny High 80 Low 51 Page A2 ONLINE TODAY No, people overreacted Your opinion Today’s question 35.8% How likely are you to vote in the Nov. 2 general election? See the story on this page, then go to telegram.com to vote. 64.2% Local GARDNER Registration is easy. Go to upper right corner of Witness says mother vague about daughter’s injuries, Page A3 telegram.com LANCASTER Our 144th year telegram.com Trial of three in beating case postponed to December, Page A3 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $1.00 $1.50 in Coastal New England areas Homes inspected for mercury Clark’s 9th president inaugurated Under the lights Among last night’s high school football games were Doherty versus Marlboro and Gardner at Shrewsbury, featured in our photo gallery. telegram.com Flicks picks Before heading to the movies, check out what’s playing in Central Mass. See link from home page. Inside Today 70 students’ belongings tainted T&G Staff Photos/RICK CINCLAIR Clark University President David P. Angel acknowledges the applause yesterday during his inauguration. By Jacqueline Reis TELEGRAM& GAZETTE STAFF Angel takes helm WORCESTER — Environmental investigators will visit dozens of homes this weekend after the belongings of approximately 70 students tested positive for high levels of mercury. Officials are asking Grafton Street School families whose children were in Building 2 on Tuesday to ventilate their homes as a precaution. Short-term exposure to mercury vapors can cause vomiting, coughing and a sore throat. High-level exposures to mercury can lead to central nervous system damage and to liver and kidney damage. A sixth-grade student brought nearly a pint of mercury to Grafton Street School to show a teacher on Tuesday, prompting a multi-agency health and environmental investigation. The district bused about 240 students in Grades 3 through 6 from Grafton Street’s Building 2 to the Fanning Building on Chatham Street Thursday and yesterday and will do the same Monday, although preliminary tests show decontamination work has made a difference at Grafton Street School. On Tuesday, the teacher poured a bit of the substance onto her hand before she suspected it could be mercury and put it back in the container. At some point, drops spilled in one of the classrooms and the substance made its way onto some students’ shoes. The school asked parents to bag the backpacks and clothes students had with them on Tuesday and Wednesday and drop them off Thursday, and Will work to strengthen liberal arts ed The teams that are checking people’s houses are doing so by appointment, and each visit takes one to two hours. By Jacqueline Reis TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF He said, he said President Barack Obama and Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad trade heated remarks on the subject of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, as hopes appeared to fade for a quick resumption of talks on Iran’s suspect nuclear program. Page A12 Don’t ask, don’t tell A federal judge rules that a decorated flight nurse discharged from the Air Force for being gay should be given her job back as soon as possible. Page A10 ATTIC BEDDING SALE! SAVE 40%-75% OFF Mfg. List on Brands like Sealy, Serta,Tempurpedic, Stearns & Foster, Beautyrest Black,King Koil & more. 2 Pc. Queen Mattress Sets starting at $ 299 Floor Samples & One-of-a-Kind Sets Limited Quantities...Hurry for Best Selection! WORCESTER — Clark University inaugurated its ninth president yesterday, as David P. Angel was formally welcomed to the job he has held since July. Richard Freeland, the state’s commissioner of higher education and a former Clark professor, noted that Mr. Angel has worked telegram.com at Clark for 23 years and is no stranger to the school. “David is the complete package, and he does love this place. This is not the blind date,” Mr. Freeland said. “This is a marriage.” Mr. Angel, who was born and raised in England and earned his Ph.D. at the University of California at Los Angeles, is an expert in economic geography. But before Slideshow online Clark University faculty, above, and students at yesterday’s inaugural ceremony for new president David P. Angel. Turn to Angel/Page A7 Turn to Mercury/Page A7 GOP’s fervor tops Dems’ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Voters eye both parties critically WASHINGTON — A political enthusiasm gap is helping Republicans in their effort to roll up big gains in the congressional elections. GOP supporters are a lot more interested in getting their party’s candidates elected than Democrats are in electing theirs, a new AP-GfK poll shows. Democrats struggling to defend their control of Congress have lucked out in one way: Re- publicans are at least as unpopular as they are, the poll shows. Yet GOP voters are more fired up, leaving the Democrats little more than a month to energize their supporters. How? They’re using President Barack Obama and his Cabinet. Al Gore, too. And until Election Day dawns on Nov. 2, the Democrats will try to refocus voters from their anger over the stubbornly limp economy to the By Alan Fram risks of putting Republicans in charge on Capitol Hill. It’s a common theme: A TV ad by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., accuses his GOP opponent of a proposal that is “not just extreme, that’s dangerous,” while one by Rep. Larry Kissell, D-N.C., says his challenger would shield tax breaks for companies that ship Turn to Republicans/Page A7 &GOUCPF)12FKUNKMGFD[OQUV While 59 percent are unhappy with how Democrats are handling the economy, 64 percent are upset by the GOP’s work on the country's top issue. Q: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in Congress are handling the economy? Approve 39% Disapprove 59 Q: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling the economy? Approve 34% Disapprove 64 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ROTMANS See design associate for details regarding Cabot House Gift Card* * not available on all lines Open Thursday evenings until 8PM (beginning 9/30) ANNIE’S MAILBOX...A8 BRIDGE..................B7 CLASSIFIED............C2 COMICS .................B6 CROSSWORD..........B6 DEATHS.................A4 EDITORIALS ..........A11 ENTERTAINMENT....A8 HOROSCOPE...........B7 LOTTERIES.............A2 MONEY ..................A9 RELIGION..............A10 STOCKS.................B9 TELEVISION ...........C5 News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 793-9245 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 Complimentary In-Home Design Service Auburn (Rt. 20) 508-832-7678 • www.cabothouse.com Weather September 26, 2010 SAVE more than $178.29 coupons inside Touch of fall High 66, Low 53 Page A2 ONLINE TODAY Your opinion Yesterday’s question How likely are you to vote in the Nov. 2 general election? What’s the point Somewhat 2.8% 9.8% likely Very likely 87.4% Today’s question Have you cut back on buying lottery tickets? See story below and go to telegram.com to vote. Local WORCESTER Registration is easy. Go to upper right corner of Commerce High’s class of ’45 reunites, Page B1 telegram.com MARLBORO Our 144th year Treatment center gets new name, Page B1 telegram.com REGION Parley promotes green careers, Page B1 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $2.50 ... $3.00 in Coastal New England areas Miles from earth 4-alarm fire Stratosphere AIR TEMP. 26°F 23 A more-than-a-centuryold mill building in Orange was destroyed yesterday. See slideshow online. 2010 22 21 Carrots and sticks 20 Felix Baumgartner plans to break Joseph Kittinger’s records and free fall 120,000 feet rushing toward Earth at supersonic speed before he parachutes to the ground. The fall will last 5- 1/2 minutes. Free falling from space SUBMITTED PHOTOS Told to eat vegetables, America eats fries. telegram.com/health Felix Baumgartner and members of the Red Bull Stratos project visited David Clark several times for fitting and production of the qualification suit and two “full-up” suits that will be available for the jump. In photo below, Baumgartner tests high altitude jump in equipment made by David Clark. Free fall from heaven Last dog days of summer telegram.com/pets Local company suits up world record attempter INSIDE TODAY ORCESTER — When fighter pilot Capt. Joseph Kittinger was preparing for his record-setting high-altitude parachute jump in 1960, the U.S. Air Force went to David Clark Co., its provider of test pilot G-suits. The Worcester company produced a pressurized suit that Capt. Kittinger wore during his free fall from a balloon gondola at 102,800 feet, protecting him from extreme cold and speeds over 600 mph. Some 50 years later, Austrian daredevil and skydiver Felix Baumgartner, backed by Red Bull, an energy drink company, is enlisting the help of David Clark in providing a fully pressurized suit and helmet for his planned recordattempt jump from a helium balloon at more than 120,000 feet. The project, called Red Bull Stratos, aims at having Mr. Baumgartner, 41, be the first person to break the sound barrier — about 690 mph — during a free fall. A Red Bull spokeswoman said Mr. Baumgartner later this year will DAN MCCARTER ascend to the fringes of PROGRAM MANAGER AT DAVID space in a pressurized capCLARK sule attached to a highaltitude helium balloon. He will jump from the capsule, wearing a specially modified full-pressure suit and helmet, parachute, and chest pack containing communications equipment and data recorders. After about 35 seconds he is expected to break the speed of sound before parachuting to the ground. The descent of the capsule and balloon will be triggered remotely. A team of scientists and physicians will analyze data and release findings for the benefit of the research community, Red Bull said. Red Bull spokeswoman Maddy York-Stephens declined to comment on the cost of the project, which W Tufts University journalism-nonfiction teacher’s new book looks at when moral vigilantes battled social evils. See Living section. Auburn • 832-2131 Worcester • 756-8563 Go faster with Charter Internet™ See our ad for details. Leather! New Collections just arrived! $ Sofas as low as 599 Upper limits of tropopause Aug. 16, 1960 18 17 16 Joseph Kittinger jumped 102,800 feet. He was in free fall for 4 minutes, 36 seconds, reaching 614 mph. At 18,000 feet he opened his parachute; the total time from jump to landing was 13 minutes, 45 seconds. ‘ I’m looking forward to seeing Felix succeed ‚ AIR TEMP. -4°F 100,000 ft. 14 TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF 13 Full-pressure suit Nov. 16, 1959 Designer-manufacturer: Joseph Kittinger jumped from an altitude of more than 76,400 feet. David Clark Co. Worcester Construction: Made of lightweight synthetic materials with innovations including enhanced mobility. The uninflated suit, without the helmet and visor, weighs approximately 28 pounds. 12 185 students give urine samples By Gary V. Murray Felix Baumgartner is expected to break the sound barrier and fall faster than the speed of sound (690 mph) just 35 seconds into his descent 15 WORCESTER — Teams of environmental and public health workers continued to screen the homes of Grafton Street School students yesterday after an accidental spill of mercury Tuesday at the elementary school. The home screenings, which were expected to continue today, were prompted by the discovery of high levels of mercury on the belongings of 60 to 70 students, according to Catherine Young, an on-scene coordinator with the federal Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA is one of several federal, state and local agencies responding to the spill. Parents of students who were in Building 2 at the school at the time of the spill were asked to bring their children’s clothing and backpacks to the school Thursday for testing. Turn to Mercury/Page A6 Protection against ... Ebullism: In which body 11 fluids would begin to “boil” from lack of atmospheric pressure. The inside of the suit is filled like a bladder with gases to provide pressurization. By Martin Luttrell TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF Censorship 19 Mercury testing goes on 10 Decompression sickness: 9 Upper limits of troposphere AIR TEMP. -61°F 8 Designed to provide pressure equivalent to the environment at 35,000 feet. Heat and extreme cold: The suit is made of a material that is both fire retardant and an insulator against extreme cold. T&G Staff/RICK CINCLAIR Gina Quinn talks about lottery sales from behind the counter at the Broadway in Worcester. Helmet: 7 Features a sunshade, a heated visor to prevent fogging, and a two-stage regulator that supplies 100% oxygen at all times. The helmet weighs about 8 pounds. 6 35,000 ft. 5 4 Altitude of jet planes 3 18,000 ft. 2 Parachute opens 1 High-altitude balloon A 30-million-cubic-foot balloon partially filled with helium is launched with a capsule holding Baumgartner. The trip takes two to three hours. Material: Polyethylene film that is only 0.0008 inches thick. Thinner than sandwich wrap,the balloon covers 40 acres and weighs about 3,000 pounds. Shape: At the time of launch, the balloon has a long, reverse-teardrop shape. As the helium gas expands, the balloon shape becomes a round sphere. Size: The height of the balloon at launch is close to 615 feet. As its elongated shape expands to a sphere as the balloon rises to 120,000 feet, the diameter at jump altitude is roughly 400 feet across. NOTE: Jet, balloon and man not shown to scale Sources: Red Bull Stratos; NASA T&G Staff/DON LANDGREN JR. AIR TEMP. 72°F Economy scratches lottery Uncertainty hurts play By Thomas Caywood TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF The persistent economic downturn that cost thousands of locals their jobs, and left many more worried they could be next, has taken a sizable bite out of the region’s appetite for gambling on state lottery games, figures show. Over the last three complete fiscal years, lottery sales in Central Massachusetts fell $37 million, or 6 percent, from $605.1 million in fiscal 2008 to $568 million in fiscal 2010, according to a Telegram & Gazette analysis of Massachusetts State Lottery figures. The drop, which was even more pronounced in affluent suburbs such as Shrewsbury and Northboro, mirrors an overall state trend of flat or Turn to Record-attempt/Page A17 Turn to Lottery/Page A16 ROTMANS GiantTENT SALE Final Day! SUNDAY SEPT 26 • 12-5 Special Buys • Closeouts • 1 of a Kinds APPLIANCES • ELECTRONICS • FURNITURE • BEDDING *See store for complete details. HUNDREDS OF MODELS TO CHOOSE FROM• LIMITED QUANTITIES Interest-Free teres 0% Interes Financing F inanc * FOR 1 YEAR! Some with cosmetic blemishes, small dents. ALL WITH FULL MANUFACTURER’S WARRANTIES Dishwashers • Refrigerators • Washers • Dryers • Ranges • Microwaves • Freezers • Dehumidifiers • Gas Grills • Furniture • Mattresses visit us online at www.percys.com 19 Glennie Street • Worcester • 508-755-5269 Your Energy Star Appliance Superstore! MONEY ..................D1 DEATHS.................B6 EDITORIALS AND COMMENTARY ..A18-19 LIVING ...................... CROSSWORD ..........7 LOCAL NEWS..........B1 SPORTS .................C1 TRAVEL.................M1 TONIGHT’S TV ........N8 CLASSIFIED WORCESTERWORKS .. SECTION D AUTOMOTIVE AND REAL ESTATE ........... SECTION E News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 793-9245 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 Weather Monday, September 27, 2010 Yesterday’s question I gave up Have you cut playing the back on buying lottery years ago lottery tickets? Rain, cooler 55.1% High 60, Low 58 Page A2 Your opinion Yes, I don’t have a lot of money Today’s question 32.2% No, I’m hoping to hit it big 12.7% ONLINE TODAY How aggressively should the new texting while driving law be enforced? See story on this page, then go to telegram.com to vote. Local Registration is easy. Go to upper right corner of WORCESTER telegram.com Mercury-hit school may reopen tomorrow, Page B1 WEST BOYLSTON telegram.com Our 144th year Honoring officers The annual Police Memorial ceremony is held in Worcester. See our photo gallery. WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $1.00 $1.50 in Coastal New England areas Texting-driving ban near Police, drivers gear up for new law By Lyle Moran THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Flags flying high Miniature horse’s fate left up to judge, Page B1 BOSTON — April Baker admits she often texts her friends while driving, even though the habit has caused her to nearly crash into other vehicles in front of her on a few occasions. But Baker says she’s working to break her texting habit because of a new state law banning the practice that goes into effect Thursday. “I am trying to put my phone in my bag so it is not visible and I cannot reach it,” said Baker, 23, a student from Hamilton. “I also put it on silent so I can’t hear it.” Baker and other Massachusetts drivers who are caught texting while driving will face fines ranging from $100 for a first offense and up to $500 for repeat offenses. Massachusetts is the 30th state in the nation to introduce a texting ban as more states 5 The penalty: Drivers caught texting while driving will face fines from $100 for a first offense and up to $500 for repeat offenses. 5 The provisions: The law also prohibits scanning the Internet on a phone or mobile device while driving and bans anyone younger than 18 from talking on a cell phone while driving. have decided to crack down on distracted driving. The new law also prohibits THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Turn to Texting-driving/Page A6 A sign over the Massachusetts Turnpike in Boston alerts motorists to the new state law banning texting while driving. Marching bands in Gardner honor the memory of late band director. See the photo gallery. Detainee damages unpaid On telegram.com Most read stories 1. Economy scratches lottery 2. Mass. green economy is second in US 3. Woman who ‘found’ card charged with credit theft 4. Free fall from heaven 5. Baseball: Lowell deserves to be admired 6. Bomb found in Sturbridge 7. Golf: Korean announcer enjoys quiet round 8. Four-alarm fire destroys mill 9. Worcester police nab man alleged to be major crack dealer 10. Jumbo emerald’s ‘owners’ face off in court Inside Today High Court ponders Abu Ghraib case By Pete Yost THE ASSOCIATED PRESS T&G Staff/PAUL KAPTEYN James Cremens of Fitchburg gives his son Thomas, 5, a ride yesterday on Belmont Street in Worcester during the 12th annual Walk to Cure Cancer. Walk for a cure 14,000 help cancer research SPORTS Pats get past the Bills Tom Brady threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns and a 38-30 win. Page C1 By Priyanka Dayal 5 The expense: Cost of some cancer TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF care is sky high, Page A4 WORCESTER – If she had known earlier, maybe things would have been different. But Jeryl Anderson learned of her pantelegram.com creatic cancer only months before she died, on Aug. 16, 2009. She was 45. She couldn’t be at yesterday’s Walk to Cure Cancer, but her friends and family were there, thinking of her. “She was a wonderful wife and mother,” Laura Anderson-Hennessey of Worcester said of her friend from Millbury. “She never complained a day. All she wanted was to make sure her kids would Video online be OK.” The women, who shared a last name but were not related, were lifelong friends. When they grew up and had children, their children, too, became friends. The ultimate goal of the cancer walk is to find a cure, but until that happens, Ms. AndersonHennessey is hoping the walk raises enough money to help researchers find better ways of Turn to Walk/Page A4 WASHINGTON — Fending off demands that he resign over the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, then-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told Congress in 2004 that he had found a legal way to compensate Iraqi detainees who suffered “grievous and brutal abuse and cruelty at the hands of a few members of the United States armed forces.” “It’s the right thing to do,” Rumsfeld said. “And it is my intention to see that we do.” Six years later, the U.S. Army is File Photo/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS unable to docu- Defense Secretary Donald H. ment a single pay- Rumsfeld rubs his eyes while ment for prisoner testifying in 2004 about Abu abuse at Abu Ghraib. Ghraib. Nor can the more than 250 Iraqis or their lawyers now seeking redress in U.S. courts. Their hopes for compensation may rest on a Supreme Court decision this week. The Army says about 30 former Abu Ghraib prisoners are seeking compensation from the U.S. Army Claims Service. Those claims are still being investigated; many do not involve inmate abuse. Turn to Abu Ghraib/Page A6 ON THE JOB Being on call Barron running against polarized two-party politics A Q&A with an Oxford call fire- Independent challenging fighter and emergency medical technician. Page B7 By Priyanka Dayal McGovern in 3rd District TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF 50% OFF SALE Remote Starters See Our Ad in Today’s Paper SHREWSBURY Route 9 AUBURN 64 Auburn St. For years, no conservative challenged U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern. This year, there are two, but only one has an R next to his name. Patrick J. Barron, an independent from Worcester, is running a low-budget, ELECTION 2010 telegram.com/election low-profile campaign with the hope of unseating Mr. McGovern, a Worcester Democrat and seven-term incumbent. In many ways, Mr. Barron is a conser- Mr. Barron vative, but he said he’s so disgusted with the hyper-polarized twoparty system that he chose not to run as a Republican. On the Nov. 2 ballot, he’ll be competing for votes with Martin A. Lamb of Holliston, the Constitution-loving Republican running in the 3rd Congressional District. Both men face a formidable battle, but Mr. Barron even more so, because he lacks the support of a party. Mr. Barron, director of the Community Transition Program at the state Department of Mental Health, said he was so repulsed by partisan politics that he didn’t vote at all for 10 years. In January Turn to Barron/Page A4 ANNIE’S MAILBOX ...C8 BRIDGE ..................C9 CLASSIFIED ............C8 COMICS..................C6 CROSSWORD ..........C6 DEATHS .................B4 EDITORIALS............A5 ENTERTAINMENT ...B6 HOROSCOPE ..........C9 LOTTERIES............A2 MONEY .................B7 NATION.................A3 TELEVISION...........C5 WORLD .................A3 News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 793-9245 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 Weather Tuesday, September 28, 2010 7.8% 7% T-storms High 76, Low 60 Page A2 ONLINE TODAY Registration is easy. Go to upper right corner of Your opinion Yesterday’s question Today’s question How aggressively should the new texting while driving law be enforced? How will you vote on reducing the state sales tax? See story on Page A9, then go to telegram.com to offer your opinion. Local telegram.com WORCESTER Pair arraigned in college student’s death, Page B1 Our 144th year GARDNER telegram.com Mayor wants elected officials off health plan, Page B1 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $1.00 $1.50 in Coastal New England areas Pakistan bombing escalates Crosstown rivals North High met South High in soccer at Foley Stadium. See our photo gallery. Weekend’s best CIA is ramping up deadly drone attacks See our photo gallery of weekend images from events around Central Massachusetts. By Mark Mazzetti and Eric Schmitt On telegram.com THE NEW YORK TIMES Most read stories 1. Men invade tattoo parlor, shoot employee 3 times 2. Pair arraigned on charges connected with college student’s death 3. Walk for a cure 4. Fire destroys barn in Grafton 5. Evangelidis backers seek focus on Foley pension 6. Britney’s dad finds site for Haiti orphanage 7. Horse’s fate in hands of judge 8. Courthouse records Inside Today ENTERTAINMENT Not-so-round table Monty Python’s ‘Spamalot’ is hoofing its way to the Hanover this weekend. Page B8 T&G Staff/PAUL KAPTEYN From left, Worcester Public Schools superintendent Melinda Boone, Commissioner of Public Health Dr. Leonard J. Morse, and DEP emergency response chief Nicholas Child discuss the mercury contamination. Toxic tests negative School pronounced safe again for class By Bronislaus B. Kush TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF WORCESTER — Students at the Grafton Street School received a clean bill of health yesterday from authorities — about a week after they were exposed to nearly a pint of mercury brought to the old brick schoolhouse on lower Grafton Hill by a sixth-grader. Dr. Leonard J. Morse, commissioner of the city’s Public Health Division, said urine samples taken from students tested negative for the material. The school, which was closed Thursday to allow emergency response workers to telegram.com scrub the building of the toxic substance, will reopen this morning. Its 240 or so students had been bused for classes during the three school days to the School Department’s Fanning Building on Chatham Street. “The building is indeed safe and the students can return,” Dr. Morse said. Last Tuesday, a 6th-grader brought the mercury, stored in a large old bottle, to the school to show a teacher. The instructor poured some of the substance onto her hand before she suspected it could WASHINGTON — The CIA has drastically increased its bombing campaign in the mountains of Pakistan in recent weeks, U.S. officials said, strikes that are part of an effort by military and intelligence operatives to try to cripple the Taliban in a stronghold being used to plan attacks against U.S. troops in Afghanistan. As part of its covert war in the region, the CIA has launched 20 attacks with armed drone aircraft in September, the most ever during a single month, and more than twice the number in a typical month. This expanded air campaign comes as top officials are racing to stem the rise of U.S. casualties before the Obama administration’s comprehensive review of its Afghanistan strategy set for December. The strikes also reflect mounting frustration both in Afghanistan and the United States that Pakistan’s government has not been aggressive enough in dislodging militants from their bases in the country’s western mountains. In particular, the officials said, the Americans believe the Turn to Drones/Page A10 Videos online T&G Staff/TOM RETTIG Above, U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Strike Force members Chris J. Messenger and Rob Alvarez test for mercury at a Grafton Street School staff member’s house. At left, the bottle of mercury. Turn to Tests/Page A8 SUBMITTED PHOTO Confusion during spill harmed trust Government response called ‘a lot like Custer’ By Seth Borenstein and Dina Cappiello THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MONEY Almost finished Heywood Hospital’s $37 million expansion is nearing completion. Page B10 Patrick: Recession rattled confidence Globe poll calls race for governor a dead heat By Glen Johnson 5 The funds: Spending bill called urgent, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick said Monday the gubernatorial race is close because people have been battered by the recession and that’s rattled their confidence in the future. Yet the Democrat said a good leader remains optimistic, as well as confident in his actions. And Patrick believes he’s set the state on the trajectory to recovery faster than most other states. “Folks are hurting,” the governor Page A9 5 Sales tax: Voters split on sales tax cut, Page A9 Gubernatorial Election Poll Results Don’t know/ Jill Stein other 16% 4% Deval Patrick 35% Tim Cahill told reporters after a meeting about fisheries issues. “They’ve been hammered, everybody, every household, every business large and small. It’s done a number on folks’ income and 11% Charlie Baker 34% Source: www.boston.com WASHINGTON — The Obama administration’s repeated low estimates of the huge BP oil spill undermined public confidence in the government’s entire cleanup effort, leaders of a White Houseappointed commission declared at an investigatory hearing Monday. One likened the mistakes to Custer’s disastrous decisions at Little Big Horn. Federal officials botched the government’s response, a local official and government and university scientists contended as the commission focused on the Graham questions of who was in charge and how much oil spewed out of the well into the Gulf of Mexico. Eventually, U.S. officials said the spill was about 60 times bigger than originally estimated. Instead of 42,000 gallons a day, the volume of leaking oil was closer to 2.4 million gallons a day. “It’s a lot like Custer,” said panel co-chairman T&G Staff Turn to Panel/Page A8 Turn to Race/Page A9 SPECIAL OFFER FROM PERCY’S HURRY! FOOTBALL PROMO FINAL 2 DAYS! YOUR MITSUBISHI TV COULD BE FREE! APPLIANCES • ELECTRONICS • FURNITURE • BEDDING Professionall Football Team wins the “Big g Game” Feb. 6th Mon., Wed., Fri., 10-8 • Tues. & Thurs. 10-6 • Sat. 10-6 • Sun. 12-5 Your E Y Energy Star St Appliance A li Superstore! S t ! ENTERTAINMENT...B8 HOROSCOPE ..........C9 LOTTERIES............A2 MONEY................B10 NATION/WORLD.....A3 STOCKS ...............B11 TELEVISION...........C5 News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 793-9245 LED HDTV 40”-55” DLP HDTV 65”-82” *See store for complete details. No prior sales eligible. Percy’s reserves right to end promotion at any time. visit i i us online at www.percys.com ANNIE’S MAILBOX...C8 BRIDGE..................C9 CLASSIFIED............C8 COMICS .................C6 CROSSWORD..........C6 DEATHS.................B6 EDITORIALS...........A11 19 Glennie Street • Worcester • 508-755-5269 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 Weather Wednesday, September 29, 2010 High 76, Low 63 Page A2 ONLINE TODAY Your opinion Against the reductions Today’s question 29.4% How will you vote on reducing the state’s sales tax? Some sun In favor of the reductions 70.6% How do you feel about your family’s economic future? See story on Page B10, then go to telegram.com to vote. Local Registration is easy. Go to upper right corner of WORCESTER telegram.com Students back at school that had mercury, Page B1 MILLBURY Your opinion Cast a vote on today’s hot topic. See today’s poll on telegram.com homepage Yesterday’s question Our 144th year telegram.com Scouts’ embezzler must pay restitution, Page B1 LEOMINSTER Mayor holds hearing on pay-cut decision, Page B1 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $1.00 $1.50 in Coastal New England areas CAMPAIGN 2010 Recession rips at marriages as pay gap grows Election 2010 Get the latest on the candidates. Find out where to vote. Our election section keeps you informed. www.telegram.com/ election By Hope Yen THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Tracking toxics See the video of city officials discussing the Grafton Street School mercury incident. On telegram.com Most read stories 1. Soccer crowds nasty 2. 4 dead, including child, 1 clings to life after shooting 3. Unique pair puts Patriots on the run 4. Courthouse records 5. ‘We’re here to help’ 6. Back to school 7. Woman admits to stealing from Scouts T&G Staff/RICK CINCLAIR Worcester Art Museum Director James A. Welu, left, and Board of Trustees President Cliff Schorer talk yesterday about the Edouard Manet painting ‘‘The Dead Toreador,’’ on loan to the museum. ‘The next step’ Art museum director trading the helm for ‘emeritus’ status Skating along Holy Cross hockey star Jordan Cyr is testing the ice with the Sharks. Page C1 Worcester Art Museum’s director is stepping down after 36 years at the institution, but it’s not quite time yet to say “Adieu, Welu.” James A. Welu announced yesterday that he will leave the directorship of the museum, but stay on in the newly created position of director emeritus. The museum’s board of trustees has hired an executive search firm to help find a successor and Welu, 66, will continue as director until a new person is hired. The search is expected to take from three to six months, but could last as long as a year, Clifford J. Schorer III, president of the museum’s board of trustees, ELAINE said. PUSATERI-COWAN Welu has been SPEAKING OF MR. WELU museum director since 1986. He began at the museum as assistant curator in 1974. He began speaking with trustees about succession three years ago, he said. “We did planning and analysis and we really saw there were so many things I could do for the museum if I didn’t have the day-to-day operation,” Welu said. “So it was very comforting to me and in a way I’ve been preparing for 36 years to do the next step.” That will include special projects most of which in some way involve raising funds for the museum, which has been buffeted by a weak economy, like most other institutions. He also will be involved in improving the museum archives, writing a history of the museum, and organizing an exhibition of European paintings acquired by the museum during his tenure. “This gives us a great opportunity,” Schorer said. “Jim can do the projects that really interest him and we’re going to have Jim here so we get the benefit of both worlds.” Going social on us ‘The Social Network’ takes a look at Facebook culture and networking. Page B8 50% OFF SALE Remote Starters See Our Ad in Today’s Paper SHREWSBURY Route 9 AUBURN 64 Auburn St. Title: Charles-Auguste d’Allonville, 2. Judith Leyster Title: A Game of Tric-Trac Year: circa 1631 Medium: Oil on panel Year acquired: 1983 3. Andrea del Sarto He loves this ‘place. This is Title: Saint John the Baptist Year: circa 1517 Medium: Oil on panel, transferred to his home and you can really feel that. Year acquired: 1984 ‚ ENTERTAINMENT 1. Hyacinthe Rigaud Marquis de Louville TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF SPORTS During his 24-year tenure as director of the Worcester Art Museum, James Welu helped acquire more than 7,000 works of art. Some paintings in order of the year acquired ... Year: 1708 Medium: Oil on canvas Year acquired: 1980 By Nancy Sheehan Inside Today Welu’s favorite acquistions canvas, 4. Anders Zorn Title: Opal Year: 1891 Medium: Oil on canvas Year acquired: 1986 5. Joseph Wright of Derby Title: Portrait of Sarah and Ann Haden Year: circa 1796 Medium: Oil on canvas mounted on WASHINGTON — The recession seems to be socking Americans in the heart as well as the wallet: Marriages have hit an all-time low while pleas for food stamps have reached a record high, and the gap between rich and poor has grown to its widest ever. The long recession technically ended in mid-2009, economists say, but U.S. Census Bureau data released Tuesday show the painful, lingering effects. The annual survey covers all of last year, when unemployment skyrocketed to 10 per- 5 Tax fight: Dems break ranks on tax cuts, Page B10 5 More worries: Americans have grimmer view of economy, Page B10 cent, and the jobless rate is still a stubbornly high 9.6 percent. The figures also show that Americans on average have been spending about 36 fewer minutes in the office per week and are stuck in traffic a bit less than they had been. But that is hardly good news, either. The reason is largely that people have lost jobs or are scraping by Turn to Recession/Page A10 Morgans give $2.1M to WPI By Lisa Eckelbecker TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF WORCESTER — The Morgan family and two related charitable organizations have donated $2.1 million to Worcester Polytechnic Institute to endow its center promoting teaching excellence. The center will now be known as the Morgan Center for Teaching and Learning, and the funding will go to programs and services to help WPI faculty and graduate teaching assistants improve their teaching. “The education and training of faculty members provides us with deep knowledge of our disciplines and develops us as scholars but doesn’t always provide us with training in teaching, so centers like the Morgan Center give faculty the tools, the inspiration, the knowledge, the support to help their students achieve the type of learning that they’re aiming for,” said Chrysanthe Demetry, director of the center and an associate Charles H. professor of Morgan mechanical founded Mor- engineering at gan Construc- WPI. tion in 1888. The money was donated by Morgan-Worcester Inc., the philanthropic foundation of the former Morgan Construction Co., the BeagTurn to Morgans/Page A7 O’Brien contract extended to 2015 Year acquired: 1991 panel Rushton casts lone opposing vote 6. Pierre-Auguste Renoir By Nick Kotsopoulos Title: Coco Eating His Soup (Coco mangeant sa soupe) Year: 1905, Medium: Oil on canvas Year acquired: 1991 TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF 7. Frans Hals Title: Frans Post Year: circa 1655 Medium: Oil on panel Year acquired: 1994 Turn to Museum/Page A10 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL Talk about it! Every Thursday at 8 p.m., join the live chat with Jim Wilson, T&G sports reporter, on: telegram.com/hometeam Plus, follow our live Twitter feed for updates, highlights and final results. WORCESTER — City Manager Michael V. O’Brien has been given a three-year contract extension and will remain as the city’s chief executive through March 2015. Mayor Joseph C. O’Brien announced the contract agreement and its details last night after the City Council met in executive session for nearly 90 minutes. The vote on the contract extension was 10-1, with Councilor-at-Large Frederick C. Rushton casting the lone vote against it. Mr. Rushton said his only objection to the contract was its severance provision, which he felt is overly generous and far Mr. O’Brien more than the average person would receive if they lost their job. Under the terms of the extension, City Manager O’Brien’s annual salary will be adjusted Turn to O’Brien/Page A7 ANNIE’S MAILBOX ...C8 BRIDGE ..................C9 CLASSIFIED ............C8 COMICS..................C6 CROSSWORD ..........C6 DEATHS .................B6 EDITORIALS............A9 ENTERTAINMENT...B8 HOROSCOPE..........C9 LOTTERIES............A2 MONEY................B10 NATION/WORLD.....A3 STOCKS ...............B11 TELEVISION...........C5 News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 793-9245 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600 Weather Thursday, September 30, 2010 Yesterday’s question More optimistic than last year How do you feel about your family’s Less optimistic economic future? than last year Soggy day High 76, Low 62 32.3% 67.7% Page A2 ONLINE TODAY Your opinion Today’s question Should the state have authority to site wind farms anywhere in Massachusetts? See story on this page, then go to telegram.com to vote. Local Registration is easy. Go to upper right corner of GARDNER telegram.com Suspect said girl fell in playground, Page B1 WORCESTER Live chat at 8 p.m. Join Jim Wilson tonight for a live chat about high school football. Our 144th year telegram.com City hopeful on deal with Holy Cross, Page B1 FITCHBURG Burbank closing mental health unit, Page B1 WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS $1.00 $1.50 in Coastal New England areas Terror plot in Europe probed PARENTS, OFFICIALS MEET ABOUT CONTAMINATION A gridiron guru See our photo gallery of Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly, a graduate of Assumption College. Pakistan strikes target suspects By Paisley Dodds THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Driving safely Watch our video of high school students testing their skills on the road. On telegram.com Most read stories 1. A refund for bikers 2. Robbery suspect identified 3. Courthouse records 4. Ex-boyfriend testifies against mother in 2-year-old’s death 5. Bolton Flats expansion celebrated 6. Sox eliminated Inside Today REGION T&G Staff Photos/STEVE LANAVA Worcester School Superintendent Melinda Boone and Worcester Commissioner of Public Health Dr. Leonard Morse field questions last night regarding the recent Grafton Street School mercury incident. Mercury fears linger Boone promises full review of hazmat response time By Steven H. Foskett Jr. TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF WORCESTER — Superintendent Melinda J. Boone told a gathering of Grafton Street School parents in the basement meeting room of St. Stephen’s Church that she wanted to have an open forum to seek closure as the school’s mercury contamination cleanup wraps up. But parents seemed to think the issue was far from over, and voiced concerns over everything, including confusion over the returning of belong- ings taken for mercury testing, addressing gaps in the response, and what sort of discipline the sixth-grade student will face after he took a bottle of the toxic substance to school last week. After the boy took nearly half a pint of mercury to school Sept. 21, a massive response from local, state, and federal public safety officials started a cleanup and follow-up effort that included decontamination of the building; getting 185 urine samples of students and Trish Collins, right, a parent of a second-grade student at Grafton Street School, poses a question to the officials. Turn to Mercury/Page A10 LONDON — Police increased their guard around Buckingham Palace and other landmarks Wednesday as security officials monitored what they described as a fledgling terror plot to wage Mumbai-style shooting sprees or other attacks on Britain, France or Germany. At least some of the recent CIA strikes in Pakistan were aimed at al-Qaida operatives suspected in the plot, U.S. officials said. European officials said the plot was still in its early stages and not considered serious enough to raise the terror threat level. Still, the Eiffel Tower in Paris was briefly evacuated Tuesday — the second time in two weeks because of an unspecified threat — and French police were on alert. A heavy police presence was seen Wednesday around Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and Big Ben. Victoria Station was briefly evacuated after an unusual smell was reported. “This plot was in its embryonic stages,” a British government official told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of his work. He said the plot had preoccupied the security community more than other recent threats, but did not merit changing the security threat level from severe to critical. Turn to Terror plots/Page A9 Endangered buildings Wind proposal gets blowback ‘Goldilocks’ planet could support life Board votes not Go faster with Charter Internet™ See our ad for details. to accept money Temperatures close to those on Earth By Kim Ring TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF By Seth Borenstein BRIMFIELD — After hearing three hours of mostly opposing comments from residents, selectmen last night voted unanimously not to accept $30,000 from First Wind, the company hoping to build several turbines in town. The funds would have been used to study the financial impact of a wind energy facility on West Mountain, near Steerage Rock. About 160 people attended the public hearing at Brimfield Elementary School, most speaking THE ASSOCIATED PRESS JOHN FERRARONE Thomas C. Marino, chairman of the Brimfield Board of Selectmen, gestures last night during a meeting about the proposed wind farm. in opposition to the project that would site eight to 10, 400-foot wind turbines on the ridge just north of Route 20, and express- ing concern that taking the money would allow First Wind Turn to Brimfield/Page A9 WASHINGTON — Astronomers say they have for the first time spotted a planet beyond our own in what is sometimes called the Goldilocks zone for life: Not too hot, not too cold. Juusst right. Not too far from its star, not too close. So it could contain liquid water. The planet itself is neither too big nor too small for the proper surface, gravity and atmosphere. It’s just right. Just like Earth. ANNIVERSARY ROTMANS ! e 100 l a S $ Register to win a 5000 $ Shopping Spree! Details at rotmans.com GIFT CARD towards a purchase of $999 or more. This $100 gift certificate may be used towards any new one time purchase of furniture or carpet of $999 or more (excludes Tv’s and Appliances, Ekornes,Tempurpedic, Simmons Beautyrest Black, Simmons ComforPedic, Stearns & Foster.) One per household address, not redeemable for cash or credit. Can not be used as a deposit and can not be applied to existing or prior sales. Certificate must be presented at time of purchase. Can not be combined with any other Free Gift Certificate, Free Gift Card or coupon. Copies not accepted. Offer is good through 11/21/10 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS This artist rendering shows a new planet, right, that may be just right for life. “This really is the first Goldilocks planet,” said co-discoverer R. Paul Butler of the CarneTurn to ‘Goldilocks’/Page A10 ANNIE’S MAILBOX...C8 BRIDGE..................C9 CLASSIFIED............C8 COMICS .................C6 CROSSWORD..........C6 DEATHS.................B6 EDITORIALS ..........A15 HEALTH................A6 HOROSCOPE..........C9 LOTTERIES ...........A2 MONEY.................B8 MEDICAL MEMOS ..A6 STOCKS................B9 TELEVISION ..........C5 News e-mail: [email protected] tips Phone: (508) 793-9245 CODE: FP10 Historic structures in Central Mass. are among the most threatened buildings in the state. Page B1 Home delivery Phone: (508) 791-4600