CROWLEY FUEL TO HOST ‘BRACING FOR THE COLD: A HOME HEATING SEMINAR”

North Brookfield, MA – Crowley Fuel Company, Inc., of North Brookfield, will host a public forum to address the high cost of home heating fuel on Tuesday, September 16, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Haston Public Library in North Brookfield.

“The forecast is difficult to predict because there are so many unknown variables,” said Crowley Fuel owner, Bob LaFlamme. “Some say the cost of home heating fuel may be higher than last year, but the possibility always exists that prices could come down. That’s why it’s important to understand the playing field and plan accordingly.” (more…)

From: Detective Mark Saloio - Sturbridge Police Department

August 26, 2008

The Sturbridge Police Department would like to make the public aware of a scam being attempted on area residents. Various residents have received phone calls from an automated system identifying themselves with either the Southbridge Credit Union or the Sturbridge Credit Union, and are asked to enter or provide their respective ATM, debit or credit card information. THIS IS NOT LEGITIMATE, and is in no way affiliated with any financial institution in Sturbridge. Residents are cautioned not to provide any type of information to this calling party, and are asked to notify the Sturbridge Police at  508-347-2525 , or their local police agency if not in Sturbridge, should they receive any calls. 

The following article is taken from today’s (08-24-08) Sunday Telegram.

Communities brace for spike in winter fuel

By Ellie Oleson CORRESPONDENT

The coming winter is likely to be a chilly one inside many homes, prompting concerns that the high cost of heating could result in health, safety and widespread economic problems, local and state officials say.

“No matter how you heat your home, you will pay more this year. The outlook is grim,” said Michael D. Goodman, director of economic and public policy research at the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute.

The institute predicts that fuel oil will cost Massachusetts residents $1.4 billion more this year than last year. 

“Every dollar spent on fuel is one less spent on the local economy,” he said. “This strain on spending at local restaurants, grocery stores, movie theaters and so on will slow the state’s economy, while sending our money overseas to those who sell us the fuel,” Mr. Goodman said. (more…)

The following article was written by a reporter from the Worcester Telegram & Gazette and published Friday, August 22, 2008. It is surely most telling.

Service agencies get calls for aid

By Paula J. Owen CORRESPONDENT

People working with area seniors say they are experiencing a record level of requests for help with fuel costs this year.

They are hoping the state will expand its fuel assistance program and get the word out sooner than in previous years on what is available and who is eligible.

Ashburnham Council on Aging Director Mary Lee Muessel said she is getting many more calls much earlier about the state fuel assistance program and she does not have any answers to give.

“You call the number they have listed and you hear the same recording from last year,” she said. “I just keep telling them I am trying to find out.” (more…)

Today, we are extremely pleased to announce that the REAS Foundation has surpassed the 20% milestone in our fundraising efforts. In fact, we have reached 22% of our overall goal for a total of $4,400 raised in just the first few weeks of fundraising.  

Clearly, this is a tribute to the residents and businesses of Sturbridge who have thus far stepped forward to join hands among the REAS 10k Circle of Friends. With each passing day and each new member, our ability to provide assistance to Sturbridge seniors strengthens, as does our message of hope to those who see despair on the horizon.

We at the REAS Foundation extend our deepest gratitude to those of you - who despite your own burdens - have somehow found the ability to extend yourselves.  One donor, a senior herself, provided a gift of $2.00. She indicated her concern for those who might be less fortunate than her.

It’s really true, as the old proverb states, in that it does “Take a Village…”

Thomas R. Creamer
Executive Director

The following is an Op-ed written by the editor of the Boston Globe, which was published Saturday, August 9, 2008.

The Boston Globe

August 9, 2008

THE NEAR doubling of heating oil prices since last year could create a public health disaster if federal, state, and local officials do not act now to protect the most vulnerable. The country had a few days to prepare for Hurricane Katrina, and failed. It has more than three months to prepare for this frozen Katrina, and there will be no excuse this time.

While natural gas rates have also increased since last year, the most dramatic hike has been in the cost of heating oil, which is up 81 percent. Of the country’s 8 million households that heat with oil, 1 million are in Massachusetts. In recent years, about 45,000 of them have qualified for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which is limited to families of four earning less than $41,300. With the spike in heating costs this year, many families earning above that level are going to have trouble keeping oil in their tanks. (more…)

As we are still in the construction phase of our website, some aspects of our public information flow are still a few days to perhaps weeks away. Recently, we added a Resources tab to our website, which will provide access to an array of REAS Foundation documents including our Table of Organization, which contains our functional descriptions and explanations, current committee assignments, award criteria, distribution format, applications, etc.

Presently, site visitors can access a draft of the REAS Table of Organization, as well as the REAS Leadership Doctrine.

Some of these documents will be fluid and subject to change as conditions dictate; others will be static and remain rather consistent, due to the very nature of their composition. As an organization grows, so too does its needs, commitments, responsibilities, and structure. This necessitates the ability for successful organizations to maintain and ever-increasing state of adaptability. If an organization cannot respond to evolving demands, challenges, or needs, its sustainability is questionable. (more…)

The Friends of Sturbridge Seniors held their annual yard sale today (Saturday, Aug. 2, 2008), and the REAS Foundation was fortunate to be on hand to help raise funds for the Friends of Seniors, while simultaneously raising awareness about our energy assistance program.

We distributed nearly 200 brochures to “yard salers”, and were able to engage a significant number of “shoppers” in direct communication. REAS Board members, Stacy Courtney and Jeff Bonja, did an outstanding job of educating folks about our vision and our mission, which, quite unexpectedly, inspired some to donate right then and there. It was inspiring to witness the commitment of these REAS Board members anxiously distributing literature to passers-by.

Board member Rebecca Blanchard was on hand to photograph the event and provided some great pictures of the day’s activities, as was Ginger Peabody, who in addition to manning her own booth, continued to direct folks toward the REAS table all morning. REAS Chief Operations Officer, Patrick Babcock and his two sons - Aidan and Connor - helped round out the group, establishing a clear connection between our youth and our seniors.

We were also able to raise $90.00 for the Friends of Sturbridge Seniors from the sale of a few items we had on hand, and were met with hugs and smiles from the “Friends” President and Treasurer when we presented the proceeds from our sales. We all recall hoping to raise $50.00 to donate to the “Friends” organization in support of their efforts, so it was exciting to nearly double that. Much of the kudos there belong to Stacy Courtney - a prolific yard-saler herself - who demonstrated a keen ability to deal with the best of them, by selling nearly all of our items, quickly and profitably. 

In addition to our donation to the “Friends”, we received some additional hugs of gratitude for help with the breakdown and clean-up of the tables and food stations set up by the Seniors. Today was a great opportunity for us to partner with the Friends of Sturbridge Seniors, and the REAS Foundation is most grateful for that opportunity. We look forward to continuing and further developing this partnership with our Friends, in a shared effort to assist Sturbridge Seniors.

Thomas R. Creamer
Executive Director