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January 7, 2006 - Onnie’s and Nonnie’s seemed like the ideal place for state Sen. Richard T. Moore (D-Uxbridge) to hold one of his local meetings with constituents. 

After all, the condition of the Central Street bridges is one of the biggest issues in town, and the 32 Central St. variety store has been a focal point of all the calamity.

With motor vehicle traffic interrupted by the continuing repair of the bridges, business at the once-thriving deli and variety has dropped off precipitously, forcing the owners to lay off 14 people.

"I’m sure I’ll get an earful about the bridges," Moore said recently, commenting on his plans for the "coffee with constituents" session.

But now, he’ll get it later instead of sooner: Moore was unexpectedly forced to cancel the session, originally scheduled for Jan. 13.

The reason?

The bridges will be closed that day.

Despite the $5 million Massachusetts Highway Department overhaul of the bridges, the five spans clustered beneath a short stretch of Central Street have been open for most of the project. 

However, traffic moves across them at a crawl, restricted to a single lane that moves in alternating directions, controlled by a double set of lights. It’s become a spot to avoid.

With the bridges closed, the town is virtually split in half, forcing motorists to drive far into Blackstone or Uxbridge to cross the Blackstone River.

Interim Executive Secretary Helen Coffin sent an e-mail to town officials last week informing them that the state transportation agency will close the bridges from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 13. Weather permitting, construction crews will be unloading 80-foot beams in preparation for the next phase of the work, she said.

Onnie’s and Nonnie’s was in the news recently because state officials, citing flaws in the design of the replacement bridges, disclosed that the project will take a year longer to complete than originally forecast -- until November 2007. The struggling sisters who own the variety store, Diane "Nonnie" Berthelette and Anna "Onnie" Laplume," took the news hard, saying they doubted they could hang on.

After the disclosure, Moore fired off an angry letter to the transportation agency, saying it should cover the store’s financial losses resulting from the diminished capacity of the bridges. He also pledged to work on Beacon Hill to obtain financial assistance for the sisters, who mortgaged their homes to start the fledgling store. 

Although business will almost certainly dry up, Berthelette says the store will remain open while the bridges are closed. But it probably would be pointless for the senator to come.

"He could stand here and see how dead it can get," she said.

A spokeswoman for Moore said the senator now plans on meeting with constituents at Onnie’s and Nonnie’s on Feb. 10 from 7 to 9 a.m.

If you can get there, coffee is on the senator. 

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