Walking Toward a Milestone
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Mailed free to requesting homes in Douglas, Northbridge and Uxbridge Vol. II, No. 44 Complimentary to homes by request ONLINE: WWW.BLACKSTONEVALLEYTRIBUNE.COM Friday, August 29, 2014 THIS WEEK’S ‘Dean of the QUOTE Walking toward a “What worries delegation’ you masters you.” milestone Haddon W. Binienda Robinson CSC RELAY FOR LIFE APPROACHES $1 MILLION RAISED passes away INSIDE ‘WORCESTER HAS LOST ONE OF ITS GREATEST CHAMPIONS’ A2-3— LOCAL A4-5— OPINION BY DAVID DORE A7— OBITUARIES NEWS STAFF WRITER A9— SENIOR SCENE LEICESTER — John Binienda, who taught stu- A11 — SPORTS dents in Leicester before B2 — CALENDAR representing the town EAL STATE and part of Worcester in B4— R E the State House for nearly B5 — LEGALS 30 years, has died. He passed away at Rose Monahan Hospice Home LOCAL in Worcester Friday, Aug. 22, at the age of 67, after battling diabetes and kid- ney disease. File photo Binienda announced A scene from last year’s Central South County Relay for Life at Lemansky Park. This in February that after John Binienda year’s event is slated to start on Friday, Sept. 5. 28 years as a state rep- resentative for the 17th in the Legislature as a Worcester District, state senator, announced BY DAVID DORE Several years ago, the Auburn Binienda’s passing in a NEWS STAFF WRITER which includes Leicester Relay was renamed the Relay for Life and a couple of wards in statement Friday morn- AUBURN — By the time the first of Central South County and expand- Worcester, he would not ing. steps are taken at the Relay for Life ed to include Oxford, Leicester and seek re-election. He cited “Worcester has lost one of Central South County in a cou- Millbury as its primary towns. Over Webster church complications from diabe- of its greatest champi- ple of weeks, a milestone might be the years, Narris said, teams from tes and problems with his ons,” Augustus said. “For preps for annual reached. as close as Charlton and as far as kidneys. 28 years, John worked According to Relay committee Waltham, Rhode Island and New Greek Festival In the summer of 2012, tirelessly for the people member Al Narris, the local fund- Hampshire have come to the Auburn Binienda spent a week of Central Massachusetts. Page A2 raiser for the American Cancer Relay. and a half in a Boston John was not only an Society could reach the $1 million “Just about every town in Central hospital after passing out effective voice for his dis- mark — the amount it’s brought in New England has had a team at some in a State House eleva- trict, he was a dear friend. since the first Relay 11 years ago. point or another,” Narris said. tor. He said at the time it As those of us touched by “We are very quickly approaching This year’s edition of the walk- was caused by high blood John’s life and his work the $1 million level for the Relay,” athon starts at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5 LEARNING sugar, called hyperglyce- mourn his passing, our he said Sunday, Aug. 24. “In 11 years at Lemansky Park (across from the mia, and his failure to test thoughts and prayers are we will definitely be over $1 million Auburn police station and behind the his sugar, eat and take with his children John, total.” Horgan Rink on Oxford Street North) insulin. Jamie, and Julie and all That money was raised one foot- and wraps up at noon Saturday, Sept. Worcester City Manager his family and friends.” step at a time, and by teams both Edward Augustus, who Binienda was elect- near and far. Please Read MILESTONE, page A9 represented Leicester Please Read DEAN, page A9 Celebrating 200 years all year long Blackstone Valley Tech welcomes NICHOLS TO KICK OFF BICENTENNIAL HOMECOMING WEEKEND historic class BY JOY RICHARD According to Nichols profes- marked with that special hall- the athletic center. He said there Page A12 NEWS STAFF WRITER sor of psychology and Nichols mark that can only be defined as will also be food available and DUDLEY — How many col- Bicentennial Coordinator Dr. Bison pride. the event is free to the public. No leges can you name that have Brian McCoy, hitting the big 200 McCoy added that the fire- alcohol will be permitted. lasted 200 years? won’t just be commemorated works will be near the school’s Nichols President Susan West Not many institutions have with a day, but will be a yearlong gym located off of Center Road Engelkemeyer also spoke about managed to survive two centu- party of sorts, with the school in Dudley, and will be weather the event last week, adding that SPORTS ries, but Nichols College is now using homecoming 2014 as their permitting. she hopes residents will join stu- among that elite, bicentennial official kick off. He encouraged residents to car dents in celebrating Nichols as group that have survived all of From fireworks, which the pool to the event as he “expects not only a college, but a local those years, and the school will school invites all of Dudley to there to be large crowds,” as institution. celebrate that milestone with on Friday, Sept. 19, starting at there will already be students “Nichols’ 200th anniversary students, staff, alumni and the 9:15 p.m., to dinners, to a fun run and staff on campus. McCoy is a wonderful opportunity for community of Dudley all year and a community giveback day, added that parking would be per- long. McCoy said the 200 years will be mitted on the street adjacent to Please Read CELEBRATING, page A9 Spencer Fair to feature trucks, trophies and more ‘END-OF-SUMMER BLAST’ SET FOR LABOR DAY WEEKEND Blackstone Valley Tech Fall BY ELISA KROCHMALNYCKYJ from 5-9 p.m. Schedule NEWS CORRESPONDENT In addition to a new circus, shows SPENCER — This year’s Spencer and bands, there are a good number Page A11 Fair offers something old, like racing of new attractions, many with an pigs, fair food, and something new, automotive theme. like a truck tug-of-war, a Harley- There’s the traditional Friday Davidson motorcycle raffle and night Demolition Derby. On OPINION the Boston Red Sox Championship Saturday, there’s the regular trac- Trophy. tor pull on cement, as well as a new GET YOUR “With the wonderful fair food and transfer-sled tractor pull on dirt, POINT ACROSS carnival rides it’s a real end-of-sum- Knight said. PAGE A4 mer blast,” said Bob Knight, presi- Saturday evening will feature dent of the president of the Spencer truck pulls in the grandstand, while Agricultural Association, which Sunday’s grandstand event is the sponsors the fair. truck tug-of-war, Knight said. Contact the The fair will be held Labor Day “It’s two trucks hooked on to each File photo Tribune editor weekend, Friday, Aug. 29 to Monday, other’s bumper and they see who at aminor@ Some brave ride-goers are ready and set to ascend at last year’s Sept. 1, at the Spencer Fair Grounds, can pull each other the furthest,” he Spencer Fair. This year’s fair is slated for Labor Day weekend, Friday, 48 Smithville Road. Carnival rides said. “There will be a lot of smoke stonebridgepress.com Aug. 29 to Monday Sept. 1. only will be open Thursday, Aug. 28 Please Read FAIR, page A14 2 • Friday, August 29, 2014 BLACKSTONE VALLEY TRIBUNE Webster church preps for annual Greek Festival TRIBUNE ANNUAL FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS FAMILY, CULTURAL TRADITIONS ALMANAC BY JASON BLEAU night, but even if the food runs short, NEWS STAFF WRITER there is still plenty more to enjoy, includ- QUOTATION OF THE WEEK WEBSTER — It’s a tradition dating ing traditional Greek dancers and even back to the 1980’s, and on the first week- more typical activities for any festival, “Worcester has lost one of its great- end of September, the Sts. Constantine like children’s games and raffles. What est champions. For 28 years, John and Helen Greek Orthodox Church makes the food stand out in the event is worked tirelessly for the people of will continue the tradition of holding that the recipes are all unique, and date Central Massachusetts. John was not its annual Greek Festival, providing back to the family histories of the mem- only an effective voice for his district, a glimpse into the culture and flavors bers of the church. Veronis commented he was a dear friend. As those of us on this, saying that there are many fam- of Greece during the community-wide touched by John’s life and his work ily traditions as well as cultural tradi- event. mourn his passing, our thoughts and tions that make up the festival at its core. The festival takes place on Sept. 6 and Courtesy photo prayers are with his children John, “A lot of our women have a tradition 7 this year, according to Father Luke Jamie, and Julie and all his family Traditional Greek dancers perform for visitors that they’ve learned from their parents Veronis, the Presiding Priest at Sts. and friends.” Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox at last year’s Sts. Constantine and Helen and grandparents, so you’re eating pas- Church, who noted that the event has Greek Orthodox Church Greek Festival. The tries and food that are the product of tra- - Worcester City Manager Edward evolved tremendously over it’s history dancers are expected to return for the this ditions that have been passed down over Augustus, who represented Leicester into the community-based spectacle it year’s installment on Sept.