Mailed free to requesting homes in East Brookfield, West Brookfield, North Brookfield, Brookfield, Leicester and Spencer Vol. 32, No. 46 COMPLIMENTARY HOME DELIVERY, 75 CENTS ON NEWSSTANDS ONLINE: WWW.SPENCERNEWLEADER.COM ‘An idealist is a person who helps other people to be prosperous.’ Friday, November 14, 2008 Coming together to help Dottie BENEFIT HELD FOR WEST BROOKFIELD FIXTURE BY DAVID DORE known, is a friend to pretty much hope they’d be retired.” NEW LEADER STAFF WRITER everyone who has crossed her path. “She’s better than the post office,” WEST BROOKFIELD — For near- They marvel at her honesty and said West Brookfield Police Officer ly four decades, Dorothy Kelton has work ethic, for she’s been doing the Patrick Swain, who has known been in a position to help people. morning shift every day for many Kelton for the eight years he’s been Whether it’s been cooking at the years. on the force. former Top Hat restaurant or mak- “A lot of people depend on it,” said She’s even been known to ask ing sure the coffee’s hot in the morn- former West Brookfield Police local police officers to check on ing at Country Corner Citgo, Officer Richard Tracy. “She’s up “Dottie,” as she is affectionately every morning in years you would Turn To KELTON, page 18 Dorothy Kelton David Dore photo Drum major Jen Parker shows off the musical (only in terms of theme) earrings she wore for Italian Night. Brookfield KOs Italian Night hits TRHS turf plan the right notes BECOMES SECOND TOWN TO DPHS MARCHING BAND VOICE DISAPPROVAL HOSTS ANNUAL FUNDRAISER BY ALANA MELANSON vote on the article at a Special Town NEW LEADER STAFF WRITER Meeting Monday, Nov. 10. Not a sin- BROOKFIELD — Despite a gle person was in favor of passing BY DAVID DORE NEW LEADER STAFF WRITER motion from Tantasqua Regional it. From a show of hands, the Nick Ethier photo School Committee member Don majority of residents were against SPENCER — The David Prouty High School Faugno to pass over a request for the article, and a considerable cafeteria was the place to be this past weekend for artificial turf for the fields at amount abstained. Frangiamore both good food and good entertainment. A WINNING TRADITION Tantasqua Regional High School, did not count either of these The school’s Marching Band held its annual Brookfield voters decided to vote on groups, and considered the article Italian Night Saturday, Nov. 8 to raise money for WORCESTER — The Quaboag field hockey poses with the the item and, in turn, shot it down. done. equipment, uniforms and transportation to Central Massachusetts Division 2 trophy they won Sunday, Nov. 9 by beating Oakmont, 1-0, in sudden-death overtime. It After lengthy discussion on the Following the turf article’s defeat is the fourth consecutive year they took the Division 2 crown. topic among the 54 residents pres- at Brimfield’s Special Town ent, Brookfield Town Moderator Turn To ITALIAN, page 14 For more on the game, please turn to Page A10. William Frangiamore asked for a Turn To MEETING, page 17 Election 2008 Moore cruises to Senate victory DEMOCRAT TO TAKE OVER FOR AUGUSTUS IN JANUARY BY TERESA A. FRANCO date Steven W. Baer, for the 2nd STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER Worcester District seat last week. Democrat Michael Moore is After all the votes were counted, embracing his new role as state Moore prevailed over Lebeaux by senator-elect after beating out his opponents, Republican John Michael Moore Turn To MOORE, 9 John Lebeaux Lebeaux and Green Party candi- page Win in hand, Alicea looks toward future Alana Melanson photo LAYS OUT AGENDA FOR Recently re-elected state Rep. Anne Gobi (D-Spencer), far left, poses with brother and co-campaign manager Richard Gobi of West Brookfield, state Sen. Stephen Brewer, NEXT TWO YEARS and co-campaign manager Amber Start at her election party at the Spencer Fish and Game Club on Tuesday, Nov. 4. BY RYAN GRANNAN-DOLL lenger, Southbridge STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER Republican Ronald J. Chernisky. Alicea gar- Two days after his re- nered 11,040 votes to election, state Rep. Chernisky’s 7,216. Comtois is again Geraldo Alicea was clean- “It’s still going to be a ing out his Southbridge learning experience,” campaign headquarters. Alicea said. But his agenda for his Specifically, he said he topped by Gobi next two years in office plans to file a bill that was not far from his would require the state to mind. provide assistance to vic- NCUMBENT KEEPS TH ORCESTER Working on environ- tims of sibling-on-sibling I 5 W mental, public safety,edu- sexual abuse. ISTRICT SEAT cation and creating more With his environmental D jobs for his 6th Worcester portfolio, Alicea plans to BY ALANA MELANSON District are just a few of votes cast, a total of 13,639 to focus on ways of provid- NEW LEADER STAFF WRITER Comtois’ 5,672. the areas he plans to ing cheaper energy to dis- focus on, Alicea said. For the second consecutive elec- Comtois failed to carry a single trict residents — through tion, Spencer Democrat Anne Gobi town in the district, as he did the In a decisive victory, all methods. Alicea was re-elected defeated Brookfield Republican last time he faced Gobi, in the 2006 Stephen Comtois II for the 5th Tuesday, Nov. 4 to the Ryan Grannan-Doll photo state election. State House over his chal- Worcester District state representa- Turn To ALICEA, page 9 Newly re-elected state Rep. Geraldo Alicea explains his agen- tive seat. da for his second term during an interview last week. Gobi scooped up 71 percent of Turn To GOBI, page 17 INSIDE THE NEW LEADER ON PAGE A2 ON PAGE A3 Calendar......................B5 Police Logs ................A13 Classroom Corner.......A6-7 Public Meetings ...........A3 Locals help Senior lunch Obituaries ....................B2 Sports...................A10-12 Our Towns....................B4 Viewpoint .....................A8 Spencer veteran program launched 2 SPENCER NEW LEADER • Friday, November 14, 2008 A few shingles, a big show of support NEW LEADER ALMANAC QUOTATION OF THE WEEK LOCALS COME TOGETHER TO HELP SPENCER VETERAN “We love her, and we want the best for her. BY ALANA MELANSON phone interview. “These fellows not been leaking. We’re glad she’s OK. ... NEW LEADER STAFF WRITER came along and put new [shingles] Steiger, originally from Monteagle, It’s a miracle she’s here.” SPENCER — When Donald Steiger on, and it’s looking sharp. I couldn’t Tenn., joined the Navy Air Force dur- — Country Corner manager Jenny Hobby, speaking of longtime employee Dorothy Kelton, was in need, members of the commu- do it with just one arm. They sure ing World War II, working as an air- who was injured by a fall earlier this year. nity rallied to help the World War II saved me. I don’t know what I’d have plane mechanic on PV-1 and PV-2 veteran and give him a new roof for done without them. I couldn’t afford bomber planes out of Florida. After his house. to put in a new roof. They sure fixed an honorable discharge following HE TATS Peter Rock, veterans agent for both me up.” just over two years in the military, T S Spencer and East Brookfield, knew of Steiger also said Howe Lumber of Steiger moved to California, met his BIRTHPLACE Steiger’s leaky roof and approached East Brookfield donated the shingles, first wife and had three children. Spencer Town Administrator Paul and Berthiaume said Rock was able While he was there, he put up the Town Born in Same State (%) Guida at the beginning of October to to get some of the other costs reim- first telephone line in tiny Cantua Auburn 84.2 ask what could be done. Guida sug- bursed via unnamed resources for Creek, and met movie star Alan Ladd Brimfield 75.3 gested Rock inform Spencer veterans. when he drove a truck in a scene of Brookfield 82.8 Selectman Donald Berthiaume Jr., a “Some people think volunteerism the 1947 movie “Wild Harvest.” Charlton 79.5 contractor known locally for his acts is dead, but I think that the food drive He gained custody of his children Douglas 73.4 of kindness, of Steiger’s problem. and volunteer days at the high school after divorcing his first wife, and Dudley 77.2 Berthiaume asked two other local prove that it isn’t,” Berthiaume said. later moved out to Greenfield to take Holland 67.1 contractors he’d worked with previ- “Hearts For Heat is also doing won- care of his ailing mother. He met his Leicester 83.0 ously, Tom Woodward of North derful things. I’d encourage more second wife and left his carpentry job Northbridge 78.2 Brookfield and Kerry Brenner of people to help out as many people in Vermont to move to Worcester and Oxford 83.9 Brookfield, to join him in the project who are in need as they could, combine their families (she also had Southbridge 70.8 and they agreed. According to because someday they might need three children previously) much in Spencer 85.7 Berthiaume, the three were able to assistance. I know people want to the same way as “The Brady Bunch.” Sturbridge 71.6 complete 80 percent of the job in 12 help, but sometimes they’re afraid, When Steiger divorced his second Uxbridge 73.0 hours on one day during Columbus and hesitant. And it’s really too bad, wife, he moved to the family’s sum- Wales 66.9 Day weekend.