Regional digest.

COLUMN: Regional Digest

Apple Blossom Festival postponed

LEOMINSTER - The Apple Blossom Festival that was to take place at Sholan Farms today has been rescheduled because of the chance of rain. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the farm, 1125 Pleasant St., May 17. For information on the event, visit sholanfarms.com or call [phone].

Brookfield OKs $7.25M budget

BROOKFIELD - Town meeting approved a $7.25 million operating budget for the fiscal year that starts in July that is 2 percent more than current spending, tightened up zoning bylaws and, after lively discussion, rejected a $32,000 request from Police Chief Ross B. Ackerman for a new cruiser.

Chief Ackerman said the vehicle was needed because the 2002 model it would replace has 120,000 miles and some rust. The chief also said a new vehicle would make the town eligible for additional grants, but said he did not know the dollar amount of those grants.

Highway Superintendent Herbert Chaffee II said, "I got a 1977 truck with 500,000 miles on it; I have been told to wait."

Resident James Cooke said the grant money would be used to write additional tickets, adding, "That does not sit well with me."

Man seriously injured when tree falls

RUTLAND - A River Road man was seriously injured while doing tree work in his yard yesterday morning and taken by Life Flight helicopter to UMass Memorial Medical Center - University Campus in Worcester.

Nathan Locke, who is about 48 years old, of 73 River Road, was hurt when a tree he was cutting with a chain saw partially fell on him, according to Fire Chief Thomas P. Ruchala. People who had been working with Mr. Locke called for rescue crews.

Members of the town's Emergency Medical Services department and the Department of Public Works responded to the accident, where DPW workers secured the tree to prevent it from falling further on the injured man or on emergency workers as they tended to him, according to a police spokeswoman.

Mr. Locke was taken by town ambulance to Memorial Field to meet the Life Flight helicopter. His condition was not available last night.

3 vie for 2 spots on Gale library board

HOLDEN - The only race on Monday's town election ballot is a three-way contest for two positions as Trustees of Damon Memorial, the six-member board that oversees the Gale Free Public Library.

Incumbents Contance M. Marr of 9 Windsor Circle and Stephanie Poh of 78 Walnut St. are being challenged by former Wachusett Regional School Committee member Kelly J. Maxwell of 233 Holden St.

Seats on other boards will be filled by candidates running unopposed. There is no candidate for a three-year position on the Holden Housing Authority.

A question on the ballot will ask voters to exclude from the limits of Proposition 2-1/2 funds to clean the oil spill at Jefferson School.

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the following locations: Precincts 1 and 2 at the Senior Center, 1130 Main St.; Precinct 3 at Davis Hill School, use the Highland Street entrance; Precinct 4 at Mountview School, 270 Shrewsbury St.; Precinct 5 at Holden Municipal Light Department, 1 Holden St.