Mailed free to requesting homes in East Brookfield, West Brookfield, North Brookfield, Brookfield, Leicester and Spencer Vol. XXXV, No. 25 PROUD MEDIA SPONSOR OF RELAY FOR LIFE OF THE GREATER SOUTHBRIDGE AREA! Complimentary to homes by request ONLINE: WWW.SPENCERNEWLEADER.COM Friday, July 1, 2011 Vigil shows the power of inspiration Spencer board hears PETIT SPEAKS AT MOLLY BISH EVENT, appeal of Gabriel order BY DAVID DORE ITEMS COLLECTED FOR TIME CAPSULES NEW LEADER STAFF WRITER SPENCER — People who live BY DAVID DORE along Borkum and Buteau roads NEW LEADER STAFF WRITER asked the Zoning Board of Appeals WARREN — The circle of peo- last week for a respite from the ple inspired by the Bish family sound of all-terrain vehicles ema- has grown by one. nating from 51 Borkum Road. Dr. William Petit Jr. attended “This is a neighborhood that’s a the vigil Monday, June 27 that quiet neighborhood,” said marked the 11th anniversary of Benjamin Sanderson, who has the disappearance of Molly Bish called Borkum Road home since and praised the work the Bishes 1973. “It’s a natural scenic route. It’s have done to protect children. the Midstate Trail. We enjoy our Petit and his family — wife quiet there who lives up in that Jennifer and daughters Hayley, neighborhood, and I just appeal for 17, and Michaela, 11 — were liv- mercy.” ing in Cheshire, Conn., in July But the lawyer for property David Dore photo 2007 when they were the victims owner Jonathan Gabriel presented of a home invasion. Two evidence at a public hearing Jonathan Gabriel, right, listens as attor- parolees, Steven Hayes and Wednesday, June 22 he said indicat- ney Morris Bergman speaks at a June 22 Joshua Komisarjevsky, are ed racing is allowed — as long as Zoning Board of Appeals hearing in accused of breaking into the the track is not open to the public. Spencer on land Gabriel owns on Borkum Petits’ home, beating him, setting Morris Bergman’s evidence was Road. the house on fire and killing letters from 2006 by former Town can be a touch noisy to some. Under Jennifer, Hayley and Michaela. Planner Karen Cullen and former current bylaws, the town has no Hayes was sentenced to death last Zoning Enforcement Officer Robert authority to regulate such events.” year, while Komisarjevsky is Morra he said show a “general and Bergman said the letters from awaiting trial. consistent position held by the Morra and Cullen are “denial of According to Petit, a couple of Town of Spencer that Mr. Gabriel enforcement letters that, it is our people who knew the Bishes could use that property for private position, should have been introduced him to Noah Lis of use.” appealed by the neighbors. Palmer, who sings at the Bish vig- For example, Bergman quoted Procedurally, that would be the cor- ils and did the same at a motorcy- from an April 13, 2006 letter from rect process to take. Mr. Gabriel is cle ride for the Petit family last Cullen to residents that stated in unfairly before this board because fall. The same people who intro- part, “[T]his appears to be private of their inability to do that. They duced him to Lis invited him to use of private property. It can be may not have known that, and I’m Warren to meet the Bish family. compared to someone holding a not putting the responsibility on “It’s been my privilege to do Fourth of July party for a dozen or so,” Petit said. so friends, albeit off-road vehicles Turn To BORKUM page A15 He noted the Bishes embody two quotes his daughters were “enamored” with: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world” from Mahatma Gandhi, which Michaela Petit learned while studying his life just before David Dore photos her death, and a quote Hayley Magi Bish is overcome as she looks at her daughter Molly’s American Red Cross liked from the Book of James in lifeguard shirt and puts it into one of the time capsules. the Bible “about people needing ness and prevention. Likewise, affected by violence. faith and works.” the Petit Family Foundation was “I hope with our foundation we The Bishes set up the Molly established to fund programs in can do some things similar as you Bish Foundation and Life three areas: educating children, have done as a family over the “Guard” Center to advocate for helping people affected by chron- last 11 years,” Petit said. missing and exploited children ic illness and protecting people through safety education, aware- Turn To BISH page A11 Leicester budget earns Town Meeting OK BY DAVID DORE public safety or more kids in class- in federal stimulus funds and CUTLINES: Kevin Flanders photos NEW LEADER STAFF WRITER rooms. Medicaid reimbursements to help Henry and Linda Chrabaszcz prepare for their second ride in this event, standing LEICESTER — Next year’s “That’s our backup plan,” he close a $1 million deficit. Town beside their 2000 Harley Davidson motorcycle. municipal and school budget, com- said. “ … We’ve been dipping into departments also reduced their plete with 2 percent across the the backup plan for a pretty long budgets by 2 percent, which saved board cuts and money from the time. At this point in time, we’re about $100,000. town’s rainy day fund, was kicking the bucket down the road.” The school budget now stands at approved last week with just three Town Administrator Robert Reed $15,349,690. The town’s portion is Riding for Molly people against it. said he saw “no good or preferable” $4,802,583 for general government One of the people who said he alternative to taking money from operations and $5,124,372 for debt BY KEVIN FLANDERS the history of the event. All pro- wouldn’t support the nearly $25.3 reserves for the fiscal 2012 budget. and interest payments, the town’s STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER ceeds benefited the Molly Bish million budget was Andrew Klein, Selectman Douglas Belanger assessment to the Worcester STURBRIDGE — About 500 Foundation, which has provided who ran for the Board of Selectmen pledged that some of the unspent County Retirement System, poten- motorcycles rumbled into children with more than 165,000 in last month’s election. money from this year’s budget (also tial unemployment costs and Sturbridge Business Park Sunday free digital pictures and finger- Klein said at the June 21 called “free cash”) would go into employee benefits. morning, June 26, their riders pre- prints since its establishment. adjourned session of the Annual stabilization, “as we have in the Reed said he thought fiscal 2012 pared to participate in the 12th “Last year was our first time rid- Town Meeting he appreciated the past. But it won’t be done with a “would be a disaster for us” annual Molly’s Ride for Child ing in this rally, and we were over- “almost heroic efforts” of select- guess. It will be done with real because of lower state aid and the Safety. whelmed by the tremendous show men, the School Committee and the numbers.” condition of the economy. But the Each rider offered a $20 donation, of support along the way,” said Advisory Finance Board to agree to Funding for the budget came town will “avoid severe cuts for one and many of them brought friends Henry Chrabaszcz, of West 2 percent cuts at last month’s from several places, including more year,” he said, and is taking and family members along with Warren, who attended the event for Convention of the Boards. But he $326,000 from stabilization and steps to deal with future years. The them. According to Jeff Peck, who the second consecutive year with wanted to see even more reductions $24.54 million from property taxes. town also got $600,000 more in state helped organize the event, nearly his wife, Linda. “This is such a to avoid taking any money from the The School Committee agreed aid than expected. Reed said he is 700 total individuals (operators and great cause, and we want to keep stabilization account — even if it last month to reduce its budget by passengers) showed up, represent- coming back every year.” caused longer response times for $313,000 and give the town $310,000 Turn To BUDGET page A15 ing one of the better turnouts in Turn To RIDE page A16 2 SPENCER NEW LEADER • Friday, July 1, 2011 Voters OK $75K for Hodgkins Building repairs BY ELISA KROCHMALNYCKYJ dumping more money into it,” she building generating enough income work and other work needed to spending $10,000 to demolish and NEW LEADER CORRESPONDENT said. and become self-sufficient, select- acquire the necessary easements or clean up the former highway EAST BROOKFIELD — The town Selectmen said the idea is to ren- men said. land acquisitions. Those acquisi- garage on Stevens Road. will spend $75,000 to fix up the ovate the building, then rent out If money is not invested into fix- tions could be by gift, purchase or Once all of the approved money Hodgkins Building and start the more of the space. Right now, the ing the building, they said, it would eminent domain. Construction is is spent, the town’s free cash, which process of replacing the Shore building is used by the town’s have to be closed and demolished. expected to be done between March started at $324,000 at the start of the Road bridge, thanks to voters at a Historical Society as well as the “It’s an excellent building, struc- and October of next year.