In North Brookfield PSYCHOTHERAPY HOLE in and COUNSELING Brookfield Orchards CHILDREN,ADULTS,FAMILIES

5 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU BETTER DECEMBER SPECIALS Hamburger Pizza Sausage Grinder $ OPEN 7 $ Small 1.99 DAYS A WE ACCEPT Small 3.99 WEEK CREDIT & DEBIT $ $ CARDS Large 6.99 Large 2.99 Look for our coupon EVERYDAY in the paper 2 Large Cheese - $11.99 SPECIAL 2 Large Roni - $14.99 or 1072 MAIN ST. LEICESTER 508-892-8888 118 MAIN ST. WARE 413-967-0436 1 Cheese & 1 Roni - $13.99 400 EAST MAIN ST. (Rte 9) E. BROOKFIELD 508-885-5019 Lunch Time Special Only 11am-2pm 974 MAIN ST. WORCESTER 508-890-7888 19-23 KELLY SQ. WORCESTER NOW OPEN 508-797-5100 Small Cheese Pizza FREE DELIVERY ALL DAY! $ any additional Order online@ unclesamspizzas.com 2.99 +5% tax toppings $1.00 ea. Mailed free to requesting homes in East Brookfield, West Brookfield, North Brookfield, Brookfield, Leicester and Spencer Vol. 33, No. 49 Complimentary to homes by request ONLINE: WWW.SPENCERNEWLEADER.COM ‘Politics is like football; if you see daylight, go through the hole.’ Friday, December 4, 2009 Meals tax Need outpaces toy collections off table GROUPS REPORT HIGH NUMBER OF REQUESTS THIS YEAR BY TERESA A. FRANCO The North Brookfield Police Department is instead of swapping gifts, make a donation. NEW LEADER STAFF WRITER currently collecting donations for its Toys for Some have benefited from [Toys for Joy] in for now in It is the time of year again when people dig Joy campaign. Police Chief Aram the past and they are returning the favor. It’s into their pockets to shell out money for holi- Thomasian said donations so far have been a special thing that people feel like doing for day gifts. While people may be tightening “OK.” families that do not have it so good.” their bank accounts for themselves given the “It seems to be pretty steady,” he said. “It’s Thomasian said the department collects Leicester poor economy, are they doing the same for hard to tell because we are still early into it.” donations right up until Christmas. the less fortunate? Thomasian said the level of donations so Donations should be marked “Toys for Joy” Local Toys for Joy and Toys for Tots collec- far is the same as last year. He said there are and can be sent right to the police station at STATE SUGGESTION tors are gearing up for another year of gath- usually the same people that donate every 13 Summer St., North Brookfield, MA 01535. ering donations to buy toys for children in year. The Brookfield and East Brookfield Toys POSTPONES IDEA need. While it is still too early to tell, many “I think it’s a special thing with those peo- for Joy is experiencing some difficulties, say contributions have not been the greatest. ple that donate,” he said. “Some of them, BY DAVID DORE Turn To TOYS, page A18 NEW LEADER STAFF WRITER LEICESTER — With visions of raising more than $30,000 from restaurant goers dancing in their heads, town officials had hoped to ask Town Meeting voters later this month to approve a 0.75 percent meals tax A bountiful feast of football increase. However, a decision from the state Department of Revenue has postponed that vote for JUST PERFECT: PROUTY CAPS UNBLEMISHED SEASON a few months. A Special Town Meeting BY DAVID DORE is being planned for NEW LEADER STAFF WRITER Tuesday, Dec. 29 in case SPENCER — It’s been quite the cuts have to be made to year, and quite the turnaround, for this year’s budget — cuts the David Prouty football team. municipal departments do The Panthers came into their 2009 not agree to make on their campaign several months removed own. The meals tax from a 2-9 record and a 15-0 loss to increase could have Douglas Belanger Leicester in the 40th edition of the Battle of Breezy Bend. Turn To SELECTMEN, page A15 Fast forward to last week, and Prouty walked off the field on Thanksgiving with a 33-7 win over the Wolverines, its first-ever perfect season and the Central Massachusetts Division 2B crown. Blood drive The team was greeted by throngs of thrilled fans and a couple of “11- 0” banners, one from the stands and the other from the Prouty cheerlead- to remember ers. “Kudos to them,” said Leicester coach Tim Griffiths. “11-0, that’s a great year for them.” Prouty earned the No. 2 seed in Worcester 6 the Central Mass. Division 2 Super Bowl and played No. 7 Grafton Brothers Zach, left, and Mike Grasis were all smiles after BY TERESA A. FRANCO Tuesday, Dec. 1 for a chance to David Dore photos the game as Zach holds the Thanksgiving game’s Most NEW LEADER STAFF WRITER advance to the finals. Seniors Ben Romano, left, and Joe Martin hoist up the Valuable Player trophy and game ball that he earned. Battle of Breezy Bend trophy after Prouty earned the 33- WORCESTER — This week, locals have the Zach ran for 240 yards in the game, and is the first Turn To PROUTY, page A9 7 win. opportunity to save lives and remember Panther to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season. those that have been lost. The Worcester Fire Fighters and International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 1009 are sponsoring an THANKSGIVING TRADITION BEGINS AT QUABOAG American Red Cross Blood Drive in memory of six fallen fire fighters who lost their lives BY DAVID DORE Ware (9-1) scored 24 unanswered while battling flames at the Worcester Cold NEW LEADER STAFF WRITER points in the first half, despite being Storage Warehouse Fire a decade ago. The WARE — In a few short years, Ware held to a three-and-out in its first pos- drive will take place at the National Guard and Quaboag have gone from pigskin session. The first eight points came Armory on Lincoln Street (Route 70) from 1- partners to Turkey Day rivals. halfway through the first quarter and 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4 The Indians and Cougars fielded a capped off a 68-yard drive that featured The six fallen firefighters are Paul A. cooperative football squad for a few a 27-yard run by quarterback Chris Brotherton of Auburn, Timothy P. Jackson years before Quaboag struck out on its Guzik to the Quaboag 32. Dylan Sawabi of Hopedale, Jeremiah Lucey of Leicester, own three seasons ago. On Wednesday, ran it in the rest of the way and picked James F. Lyons III of Worcester, Joseph T. Nov. 25, they found themselves pitted up the two-point conversion to put Ware McGuirk of Rochdale and Thomas E. against each other in both teams’ regu- up 8-0. Spencer of Worcester. lar season finale. Four minutes later, the Indians dou- Lt. Don Courtney of Ladder Five on the The playoff-bound Indians topped bled their lead when Joe Butler ran 39 McKeon Street Fire Station, who is helping Quaboag 38-14 on their home field, but yards to the Quaboag 17, Zack Cloutier coordinate the blood drive with firefighters the towns of Ware, Warren and West scored the touchdown and another two- Tom Valentine and Seamus Shanley, knew Brookfield have together found a point conversion attempt succeeded. David Dore photos Thanksgiving tradition to call their Turn To BLOOD DRIVE, page A18 Quaboag players come up to the line for a play. own. Turn To QUABOAG, page A10 INSIDE THE NEW LEADER ON PAGE A2 ON PAGE A12 Calendar......................B5 Police Logs ................A12 Classroom Corner..........A6 Public Meetings ...........A3 Fire damages home on Locals to perform ‘The Obituaries ....................B2 Sports ....................A9-11 Thanksgiving eve Nutcracker’ in Worcester Our Towns....................B4 Viewpoint.....................A8 2 SPENCER NEW LEADER • Friday, December 4, 2009 Fire damages home on Thanksgiving eve ALMANAC BY DAVID DORE ited to the second floor and attic, NEW LEADER STAFF WRITER Parsons said. The blaze seems to QUOTATION OF SPENCER — John Lasell, his have started from the chimney, wife Thelma and her sister, visit- he noted Monday, Nov. 30. THE WEEK ing from Florida for Collins said John Lasell built Thanksgiving, were in the the house himself, a place where Lasells’ Ash Street home the 89-year-old has lived for “Right then I woke up. And I Wednesday, Nov. 25 when one of three-quarters of a century. The thought, ‘You know what? them heard a crackling noise property also has a sawmill. Everything he has can be fixed.’” from upstairs. A little over an hour after fire- — JULIE LAUZON, COMPARING HER SON’S When Nancy Collins went up fighters arrived, John Lasell said CLEFT LIP AND CLEFT PALATE TO THE to the second floor of the two- he was concerned town officials LEUKEMIA A GIRL SHE MET AT CHILDREN’S story wooden house to check it would condemn the house. out, she discovered flames com- “If they stayed home, I would HOSPITAL IN BOSTON WAS FIGHTING. ing from a closet. The closet had be better off,” he said. pipes from a wood stove down- The house was not declared off THE STATS stairs that went up to the attic. limits Wednesday afternoon and Attempts to put the fire out has not yet been condemned. The themselves were unsuccessful, Spencer building inspector visit- MEDIAN HOUSEHOLDER INCOME, BY said Spencer Fire Chief Robert ed the house Monday, Parsons AGE, 35-44 ($ IN PREVIOUS YEAR) Parsons, as were attempts to call said, and recommended to the Auburn...............................................61,397 911 from both the house tele- Lasells repairs to be made. Brimfield........................................... 58,250 phone and a cellular phone. The The Lasells and Collins were Brookfield..........................................57,500 David Dore photos Lasells, Parsons said, were able forced to make alternate plans Charlton.............................................75,299 to reach a daughter in Worcester, Wisps of smoke were still visible almost an hour after Spencer police received for Thanksgiving.

Load more