Mailed free to requesting homes in East Brookfield, West Brookfield, North Brookfield, Brookfield, Leicester and Spencer Vol. XXXV, No. 24 PROUD MEDIA SPONSOR OF RELAY FOR LIFE OF THE GREATER SOUTHBRIDGE AREA! Complimentary to homes by request ONLINE: WWW.SPENCERNEWLEADER.COM Friday, June 24, 2011 Fournier replaces Cirba on School Committee STRESSES PARENT INVOLOVEMNT IN STUDENTS’ ACADEMICS BY DAVID DORE over two people who previously Fournier, giving him five to NEW LEADER STAFF WRITER served on the school board, Jeffrey Berthiaume’s three. SPENCER — The second time Berthiaume and A. Marie Fournier will serve until next was the charm for Paul Fournier. McDevitt. Turn To SCHOOL page A10 Six weeks after he lost in his first It took two votes for the decision attempt to join the Spencer-East to be made. The first time Fournier Brookfield Regional School got four votes, Berthiaume three David Dore photo Committee, he got another chance and McDevitt one. But, because of when Robert Cirba resigned last confusion over whether the district A. Marie McDevitt, left, and Jeffrey Berthiaume listen as Paul Fournier, right, month and he decided to apply. agreement calls for the new mem- speaks at the June 14 Spencer-East At a June 20 joint meeting of ber to be picked by a majority of Brookfield Regional School Committee Spencer selectmen and three the group, a second vote was taken. meeting. All three hoped to join the school Spencer School Committee repre- The person who picked McDevitt board, but Fournier was chosen Monday, sentatives, Fournier was chosen the first time switched his vote to June 20 to fill a vacancy. Legislature to reimburse towns for district race SOUTHBRIDGE BOASTS LARGEST COST FOR SPECIAL ELECTIONS BY GUS STEEVES Clerk Jean STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER Mulhall said. The five 6th Worcester District “And hopefully towns will be getting checks from it’s enough to the state to cover the costs of the cover a good recent special election, after the amount of our Legislature approved an amend- costs.” Peter Durant ment to last week’s supplemental “I’m elated. budget allowing that. That’s very, very, According to new State Rep. Peter very good. We’ll take the money,” Durant, the plan provides about said Southbridge Town Clerk $40,000 — $25,000 of it specially des- Madaline Daoust. “… It’d be great if ignated for this use and the remain- it comes in before fiscal 2012 der redirected from funds the begins” on July 1. Secretary of State’s office had As the district’s biggest town, remaining from paying for its Southbridge had the largest cost for aspects of the election. The bill the April 12 and May 10 elections — passed the House on Wednesday, $15,323, all of it unfunded. That June 15 and Senate on Thursday, sum is more than twice what the June 16. second-place town — Spencer — “If we get any reimbursement I Joy Richard photos will be thrilled,” Spencer Town Turn To ELECTION page A14 Wales resident and Relay for Life participant Dianne Piazzo sits with one of the many cancer survivors during dinner at the Relay. Libraries sponsoring summer Walking for hope reading programs RELAY FOR LIFE RAISES $218K, AND COUNTING Libraries across These special fea- Massachusetts are get- tures are supported by BY JOY RICHARD be heard as rain poured down on there are still two more months to ting ready to launch Spencer Savings Bank STONEBRIDGE PRESS STAFF WRITER McMahon Field at Southbridge raise money for the cause, and their summer reading and a grant from the SOUTHBRIDGE — Don’t think High School, Friday, as the Relay any other donations will go to the programs. The theme Spencer Cultural for one minute that rainstorms marched on into the night and American Cancer Society to help will be “One World, Council, a local agency Friday, June 17, dampened the into Saturday, June 18. fund future cancer research. Many Stories.” The supported by the sprits of participants in the Relay The two-day event drew more Ravenelle said during an inter- Summer Reading Massachusetts for Life of the Greater than 50 teams and raised $218,009 view Friday night that he was Program is sponsored Cultural Council, a Southbridge Area. as of press time for cancer thrilled and grateful to see so by local libraries, the state agency. In fact, it seemed the opposite. research. According to Relay for Massachusetts The 2011 Summer Cheers and even bagpipes could Life Co-Chairman Ron Ravenelle, Turn To RELAY page A18 Regional Library Reading Program in System, the Boston the children’s room is Bruins and the Massachusetts open to young people from 18 Board of Library Commissioners. months to sixth-graders. There are entertaining programs for teens Request for additional school funds rejected RICHARD SUGDEN LIBRARY and adults in the library as well. Children will explore places from Along with six weeks of programs, BY DAVID DORE night, voters rejected a request by programs for students. India to Mexico through stories, July 11 to Aug. 17, there will be mul- NEW LEADER STAFF WRITER School Committee Chairman Brent Hildick asked for the $150,000 to crafts, music, games and other ticultural games and fun sheets available in the library throughout NORTH BROOKFIELD — About Hildick to spend an additional come from the town’s $800,000 rainy activities. Special features include the summer. a month ago, the Board of $150,000 to restore some funding for day fund, also known as stabiliza- programs from Creature Teachers, Children aged 3-5 will meet from Selectmen rejected the School the district’s art, music and sports tion. an Indian program with Sangita 2:30-3:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Kids enter- Committee’s request to present a programs. Interim Superintendent of Desai, a multicultural music and ing kindergarten and Grade 1 will $460,000 override question at the The 97-90 vote followed nearly 90 Schools Gordon Noseworthy said movement program with Deb June 17 Special Town Meeting. minutes of discussion and an accu- the money would give students Hutchins and a closing celebration meet from 1-2 p.m. Tuesdays (except At the adjourned session of the sation the money would actually be “some experience” with art and with renowned storyteller Eshu for Aug. 2, which will move to Aug. used to fund raises for teachers, not Turn To FUNDS A14 Bumpus. Annual Town Meeting last Friday page Turn To READING page A15 SaveSave moneymoney whenwhen youyou DoDo ItIt Yourself!Yourself! 00.00 $ 75.00 25.00 $ 5 4 $ 4 EQUIPMENT 3 DAY RENTAL 3 DAY RENTAL 3 DAY RENTAL 508-363-1464508-363-1464 4th4th ofof JulyJuly Specials!Specials! Equipment www.curtisequipment.net Rentals 1085 Millbury St. • Worcester Conveniently located at the Jct. of Rt. 146 and Mass Pike 2 SPENCER NEW LEADER • Friday, June 24, 2011 July hearing eyed for Spencer junk bylaw BY DAVID DORE The primary focus, according to month: keeping items for at least a date and time of the purchase. items and determine if they were NEW LEADER STAFF WRITER Darrin, is “the one-on-one month before offering them for sale • Holding jewelry, coins and elec- stolen, but he admitted it is harder SPENCER — A public hearing is exchange” — people coming into a would adversely affect them. tronics with a resale value of $100 to do. being planned for next month on a store and offering to sell something “Holding it 30 days can be devas- or more for two weeks. Antiques St. Peter and Harris said the controversial junk dealer bylaw on the spot. tating,” said Joel Harris of J&M and collectibles with a resale value value of items such as trading that passed at the Annual Town The new rules state items cannot Collectibles. of at least $150, Kent said, could be cards and gold changes so quickly Meeting but has not yet gone into be bought or sold within 30 days of Added James St. Peter Jr. from held for two weeks if they were that it’s better to sell them right effect. purchase. All second-hand items The Gathering Place, “30 days bought over the counter. away. Some owners of businesses in must be tracked in a book along would kill me.” • Having the town design a web- Some owners have put in their Spencer specializing in the sale of with identification information, The owners also said most of site to list stolen items, their own restrictions for buying items. used items are confused and upset the purchase price, the date and their business is not done over the descriptions and the date they were Harris said sellers have to be at at the new rules, which Police Chief time of the transaction, and the counter, which would be regulated taken. According to Darrin, a web- least 18 years old, and electronic David Darrin said are designed to name and residence of the person by the new bylaw. site would not be practical — which items with a rechargeable battery discourage people from selling selling the items. The police chief, Mike Kent of Wally’s Bargains is part of the reason he supports must have the charger with them. stolen goods and give victims a way or someone the chief designates, presented selectmen with a list of the 30-day retention period. Kent has the same age limit and to get their items back. has the right to look at the book at suggestions for ways to improve the The police chief also said that keeps track of any item worth more At a Spencer selectmen’s work- any time.