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Mailed free to requesting homes in East Brookfield, West Brookfield, North Brookfield, Brookfield, Leicester and Spencer Vol. 34, No. 50 Complimentary to homes by request ONLINE: WWW.SPENCERNEWLEADER.COM ‘The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power.’ Friday, December 10, 2010 HeartbreakHeartbreak atat WorcesterWorcester StateState ROCKETS SOAR TO THIRD STRAIGHT SUPER BOWL TITLE BY MICHAEL CORSO SPORTS CORRESPONDENT WORCESTER — The Auburn football team came into this season with one goal in mind, and that was to win another Super Bowl title. Those goals became a reality Saturday afternoon, Dec. 4, when the Rockets defeated the previously unbeaten David Prouty Panthers 28-8 on the campus of Worcester State University to claim their Turn To SUPER BOWL, page A10 Photos courtesy Mark Seliger, www.seligerphotography.exposuremanager.com Above: David Prouty’s Mike Grasis, left, and Auburn’s Steve Wallace go for the ball, which is in the air and up for grabs. At right: David Prouty’s Clayton Fahey maneu- vers past an Auburn defender. Far Right: David Prouty’s Zach Grasis, left, and Auburn’s Dan Flink both go for the ball. Coming back to North Brookfield NEW SENIOR CENTER DIRECTOR PLEASED WITH JOB BY ELIZABETH GREGORY NEW LEADER STAFF WRITER NORTH BROOKFIELD — The first time Linda Wasiak walked through the doors of the North Brookfield Senior Center two years ago, “I just got this feeling that this place would be a part of my life. I had no idea that I would end up being the director.” Wasiak, who worked as the recep- tionist at the Senior Center for one year in 2008, was picked last month as the facility’s new director. She started Nov. 15. Wasiak said her past work experi- ence has simply been just that — work experience — but now she feels she is in a place she can stay, as well as a place she can build a career rather than just build a resume. “I feel like all the other jobs I’ve had were just pay checks, but this is dif- ferent,” she said. “This is a part of my life. It’s very spiritual, very com- Elizabeth Gregory photo munity focused. I feel like I’m making Master Cribbage player Paul Berry takes a picture with Senior Center Director Linda a difference. So that’s how I know I’m Wasiak, who said, “He’s one of the good ones. He gave me a going away card and then going to be here for a while.” a welcome back card.” Turn To WASIAK page A18 Angela L. Zajac photo Wreaths are red bows have been placed on the landmark West Brookfield common Toy drives cope with tough times fountain. donations, but they are managing. in need. A White wrap-up to WORK TO MAKE “Numbers are way up — requests Meanwhile, over at the North are probably up 25 percent from last Brookfield Police Association’s Toys CHRISTMAS MERRY year — but donations are down,” for Joy, donations are keeping up said Keith Audette, who runs the with requests, said Police Chief 350th birthday party FOR FAMILIES Toys for Joy program for East Aram Thomasian Jr. Brookfield and Brookfield. “I get a response and a half here,” BY ANGELA L. ZAJAC Sunday evening as family and BY ELISA KROCHMALNYCKYJ Donna Flannery, who organizes Thomasian said. “We do very well SPECIAL TO THE NEW LEADER friends gathered on the historic NEW LEADER CORRESPONDENT the Spencer Toys for Tots program, with donations. It works out good WEST BROOKFIELD — The town common for the annual tree Despite the generous contribu- said the group has been able to make for us, and it works out good for the clip-clop of the horse drawn car- lighting celebration. At 5:45 p.m., tions from so many kind people, up for the decrease in donations by community.” riage and the carolers’ voices the beautiful tree was illuminated some local toy-drive organizers say finding people to “sponsor” a family singing, “I’m dreaming of a white the requests for help still exceed the Turn To TOY DRIVES page A18 Christmas” filled this black, cold Turn To WHITE page A7 LOCAL NEWS SPORTS INSIDE THE NEW LEADER ON PAGE AX ON PAGE AX ON PAGE A4 ON PAGE A11 Calendar......................B5 Police Logs....................A Calendar......................B5 Police Logs ................A14 Renovations begin Millbury over Leicester xxxxxx xxxxxxxx Classroom Corner..........A6...........A PublicSports...................A10-13 Meetings .............A at Second Chance In Division 2 Obituaries ....................B2 SportsViewpoint ...........................A ..................A8-9 Animal Shelter Playoff Football Our Towns....................B4 Viewpoint ..................A8-9 2 SPENCER NEW LEADER • Friday, December 10, 2010 6th Worcester recount heads to court ALMANAC HEARING SCHEDULED FOR THIS WEEK ON ALICEA-DURANT RACE QUOTATION OF THE WEEK BY GUS STEEVES Officially, the recounts determined Durant NEW LEADE STAFF WRITER received 6,587 votes and Alicea, got 6,586, with “If there’s a glimmer of hope, it’s Last month’s recount saga took a new turn 357 blanks and three votes cast for other peo- that the other businesses that were this week, as a Suffolk Superior Court judge ple. The only town that had any change in the his competitors in the area will see a hosted the first hearing Wednesday, Dec. 8 of tally between Nov. 2 and its recount date was little more business, and that it helps incumbent Democrat Geraldo Alicea’s lawsuit Southbridge, a place overwhelmingly won by them stay.” over two alleged Election Day issues. Alicea. Recounters found the most problemat- — Central Mass South Chamber of Formally, he’s suing the Southbridge Board ic issues with Precinct 5, which had a missing Commerce Executive Director (and of Registrars and the Secretary of State, not ballot box seal, an extra ballot not counted on West Brookfield resident) Alexandra his opponent, Republican Peter Durant. The Nov. 2, and a statistically unlikely string of McNitt, on the closure of Aubuchon recounts of the week of Nov. 16 resulted in a about 15 consecutive blanks for this race. Hardware in Spencer. Durant victory by just one vote, after Election Precinct 1’s box also had a large crack in it, Day tallies showed him having a four-vote but there were no ballot-count issues there. margin. Southbridge Registrar James Dyer said he WEATHER “In the Town of Southbridge, the Registrars Geraldo Alicea Peter Durant and fellow board members Jennifer Vizard and John Sypek had not received copies of the of Voters erroneously determined that a “the circumstances surrounding it.” He said court filing or notice of being defendants, but spoiled ballot which was protested by Alicea he does know the name and address of the 50 percent chance did know that Town Clerk Madaline Daoust not be counted in the recount,” the incum- voter,but declined to reveal them, and they are was subpoenaed. The Registrars met briefly bent’s complaint states, adding, “… [O]ne per- not stated in Alicea’s complaint. last week and unanimously voted to have of White Christmas son who was registered to vote and should Durant is technically not a party to the case, have been on the voting list on Election Day Assistant Town Clerk Julie Pena go to the but is mentioned as “an interested party” and BY HEATHER BUCHMAN hearing in Daoust’s place, since Daoust will be and was wrongfully denied the opportunity to plans to participate therefore as “an interven- ACCUWEATHER MET cast a ballot by the duly appointed election out of the country that week, he said. er,” Durant said. For millions of people hoping for a Gus Steeves may be reached at (508) 909-4135, worker at the precinct.” “I’m the winner, so I don’t think anything white Christmas this year, or by e-mail at [email protected]. After requesting a “de novo” hearing and else has to go on,” he added with a laugh. AccuWeather.com Chief Long Range decision “as reasonably as possible,” Alicea’s Forecaster Joe Bastardi has good news, complaint states, “[I]n the event the election is especially for residents of the East. deemed to be in doubt or ends in a tie vote, the Bastardi says that more than 50 percent Plaintiff seeks an Order that this election be NEWS BRIEF of the country may be covered with an run again in the Six Worcester District inch or more of snow on Christmas Day, between Alicea and Durant.” which is quite a feat considering the aver- After simply saying “It’s always been about Shepard Municipal Complex. age coverage is usually between 25 and 35 making sure every vote counts,” Alicea Warren looking for For more information, contact the percent. referred more detailed queries to his attorney, Selectmen’s Office at (413) 436-5701 or war- Looking at the current snow cover William McDermott of Boston. McDermott [email protected]. across the U.S., it is evident that we have a said he has “a policy not to comment on ongo- Citizen of the Year long way to go in order to get more than ing cases.” WARREN — The Warren Board of half of the country whitened by He did note he hopes to be able to conclude Christmas. the process before the new Legislative session Selectmen is inviting nominations for the SCM Elderbus office 2010 Citizen of the Year. However, Bastardi says that over the begins Jan. 5, but would not speculate on how next few weeks, a series of storms will likely that is. All nominations must be in writing and signed. The board discourages nomina- closed Dec. 24 and 31 track west-to-east across the country, Durant, however, said he doubted that bringing enough snow to at least cover the tions of town employees if the reason for would happen, leaving the 6th District’s repre- All S.C.M.