North Brookfield, Brookfield, Leicester and Spencer Vol
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Mailed free to requesting homes in East Brookfield, West Brookfield, North Brookfield, Brookfield, Leicester and Spencer Vol. 34, No. 42 Complimentary to homes by request ONLINE: WWW.SPENCERNEWLEADER.COM ‘You don’t get older, you get better.’ Friday, October 15, 2010 Bound for First recall effort adventure on ballot Monday VOTERS TO DECIDE IF FILIPKOWSKI BENNINGER HEADS SHOULD GO TO SEA FOR SUMMER VACATION BY GUS STEEVES nents of this recall are pledging to NEW LEADER STAFF WRITER target the town’s other male select- NORTH BROOKFIELD — For the man, Chairman Jason Petraitis, as first time since the recall bylaw well. was drafted, voters will decide In both cases, the proponents — Courtesy photo Monday, Oct. 18 whether to invoke former Selectmen Richard Chabot, Taylor Benninger, front, a junior at David it against first-term Selectman James Lovett, James Foyle and Prouty High School, spent part of her Robert Filipkowski. summer vacation on a 30-foot boat, They might get to do it all again Turn To RECALL, page A13 thanks to the Thompson Island Outward in a month or two, as the propo- Bound program in Boston. BY M. CATHERINE BYSZEK NEW LEADER CORRESPONDENT North Brookfield’s Taylor Benninger didn’t have a tradi- tional summer vacation by any means. Instead of tanning at the beach Participants in the Thompson Island Outward Bound program in Boston show or hanging out with friends at off their rowing skills. the movies, the David Prouty High School student spent 14 together as a team, and how to her class since the seventh grade. days on a 30-foot pulling boat via motivate people to do what you What prompted this honor roll an Outward Bound Expedition. need them to do instead of just student to become involved in the Her mother, Sandie Benninger, giving orders. I have learned a lot Outward Bound Expedition? stated that the Outward Bound from Tay just by listening to the Taylor Benninger is a highly program is a wonderful organiza- stories she has told us.” motivated teen running for the tion to work with. She observed Taylor’s mother confessed that Congressional Award. She some major changes in her the hardest part of this trip from explained the Congressional daughter after her involvement a “mom’s” point of view was Award “basically rewards youth in the Outward Bound experi- going two weeks with no commu- who excel in four areas: personal ence. nication with her daughter. development, community serv- “As a parent I have found that Before this expedition, they had ice, physical fitness, and expedi- the Outward Bound never gone even one night with- tion/exploration.” Outward Environmental Expedition out speaking to each other. Bound was one of the three Angela L. Zajac photo (OBEE) has helped her to become “Leaving my 15-year-old daugh- organizations the award would much more organized, and has ter in the hands of complete accept, and she decided on taught her the consequences of strangers was extremely diffi- Thompson Island Outward CRAFT ON DISPLAY what can happen if you don’t fol- cult,” Sandie Benninger said. “ … Bound in Boston. low through on things,” Sandie It was definitely a growing expe- Taylor is involved with a large BROOKFIELD — Podunk Candle of East Brookfield, the maker of soy wax Benninger said. “Not to mention rience for both of us.” number of extracurricular activ- candles, was among the 70 crafters at the 32nd Annual Apple Country Fair the sailing skills, navigating She spoke highly of her daugh- ities, sports and academics. She Saturday, Oct. 9 on the Brookfield Town Common. Here, Jessica Cobb from skills, etc. that she learned. It ter, stating “Taylor is amazing.” the Cournoyer family organizes their table. For more photos, please turn to also taught her how to work Taylor has been valedictorian of Turn To ADVENTURE, page A9 Page A14. ELECTION 2010 Durant, Alicea agree to debate next week BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL Worcester District seat, will first to a state seat; he already sentative now living in Rhode STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER debate incumbent Geraldo serves on the Spencer Board of Island, will moderate, according After repeated attempts to Alicea, D-Charlton, at 7 p.m. Selectmen. Alicea, a to Durant. arrange a debate, both candi- Thursday, Oct. 21, according to Southbridge native, is running “We’re going to sit down with dates for state representative several sources. The location has for a third term. The general Mr. Whitney and go over the for- have agreed to square off next yet to be finalized, but organiz- election is Tuesday, Nov. 2. mat. Myself, I prefer a Lincoln- week. ers are aiming to hold the event While the format has yet to be Douglas style debate where the Peter Durant, a Spencer somewhere in Charlton. finalized, James Whitney, an Republican vying for the 6th Durant’s election would be his attorney and former state repre- Turn To DEBATE, page A13 Geraldo Alicea Peter Durant Hopedale’s Wesley runs Neal views record as on economic issues his strongest asset BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY Hampden and Worcester counties. BY CHRISTOPHER TANGUAY incumbent sentiment STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER A veteran Naval pilot and sailor, Wesley said STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER around the nation Hopedale hopeful Tom he hopes to help the United States reaffirm its Democratic Congressman Richard fueled by the Tea Wesley plans to bring position as a political, economic and moral Neal intends to keep the seat he has held Party movement and jobs back to the United leader on the global stage. in the U.S. House since 1988, but for the relatively unknown States, better prepare the “That mantle of leadership falls on the first time in several years he faces oppo- GOP candidates workforce for those jobs, United States,” Wesley said. sition. emerging to take on and assist the business The issues at the forefront of Wesley’s agen- The Springfield native is up for reelec- longstanding politi- community in maintain- da are those that are also on the minds of many tion next month and will be facing off cians, Neal said his ing them if he is elected Americans: the against accomplishments in to Congress in economy and job Hopedale Congress should be November. growth, homeland U.S. REP. 2ND DIST. Republican the litmus test for his Wesley won the security,healthcare Tom Wesley for value as a lawmaker Richard Neal Republican primary on reform, and education. the Second Congressional District of — not the length of Tom Wesley Tuesday, Sept. 14, defeat- With unemployment holding steady at Massachusetts, which encompasses an time he has held the position. ing Northampton’s Jay approximately 9.5 percent nationally, Wesley area stretching from the Connecticut “I think the better measurement, real- Fleitman. Wesley will now face longtime U.S. said he aims to not only bring outsourced jobs River to the Blackstone Valley. ly, is whether or Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, for the 2nd Turn To WESLEY, A18 Despite a measurable climate of anti- Turn To NEAL, A18 Massachusetts District, which includes page not one has page INSIDE THE NEW LEADER ON PAGE A3 ON PAGE A10 Calendar......................B5 Police Logs ................A12 Classroom Corner..........A6 Sports .......................A10 Town Meeting Golf Team Featured Obituaries ....................B2 Viewpoint ..................A8-9 by the numbers Our Towns....................B4 2 SPENCER NEW LEADER • Friday, October 15, 2010 Brookfield selectmen agree to buy land ALMANAC BOARD ALSO DISCUSSES BYLAW COMMITTEE, EMPLOYEES’ TERMS QUOTATION OF THE WEEK BY DAVID DORE informational meetings at 7 p.m. Thursday, Heller said selectmen hope to appoint NEW LEADER STAFF WRITER Oct. 14 and Tuesday, Oct. 26 at Town Hall to members to the Bylaw Committee within the BROOKFIELD — With one proposed deal, discuss the articles on the Oct. 29 Special next four weeks. “The food ... well, the Town of Brookfield will become both the Town Meeting warrant, including the • Board members agreed to give Mundell a I wouldn’t eat it at home, owner of land near Town Hall and a land- request to buy the land on Prouty Street. written copy of advice they received from lord. The Town Meeting will start at 7 p.m. Oct. the town’s law firm, Kopelman & Paige, on but it was food, I guess.” Selectmen announced Tuesday, Oct. 5 they 29 in the Brookfield Elementary School cafe- the recent appointments of Dunbar and Tax signed an agreement to buy three pieces of teria. Collector Lois Moores. — David Prouty High School junior Taylor Benninger, on what she ate while participating in an Outward Bound land on Prouty Street, next to the post office In the meantime, selectmen will meet with Dunbar was appointed for one year program this summer. and Town Hall, for $150,000. But the deal Town Treasurer James Dunbar and the because of the possibility the treasurer and needs approval from voters at a Special Town Advisory Committee to figure out how to pay tax collector jobs might be combined. Meeting in two weeks. for the land purchase. Options, selectmen O’Connell said last week Moores was kept on WEATHER Two of the parcels (3 Prouty St. and 5 said, including borrowing or transferring as a “holdover employee” until she reaches Prouty St.) are vacant, a press release from from the town’s Stabilization Fund (its sav- certain benchmarks for collecting overdue the board stated, while the third (7 Prouty ings account). The request needs a two- property taxes. Weathering the price of St.) has a single-family house that can be thirds margin of approval at Town Meeting. Mundell claimed last month — and reiter- rented and “provide an immediate revenue ated last week — that Section 30 of the town’s stream.” All three pieces of land “have been TAXES AND BYLAWS bylaws state Dunbar and Moores should coffee, sugar of high priority to acquire in all recent town Also at the Oct.