Mailed free to requesting homes in East Brookfield, West Brookfield, North Brookfield, Brookfield, Leicester and Spencer Vol. XXXVIII, No. #43 COMPLIMENTARY HOME DELIVERY ONLINE: WWW.STONEBRIDGEPRESS.COM Friday, October 27, 2017 Bringing popular park back requires ingenuity BY KEVIN FLANDERS renovations and additions. Interim Town Administrator NEWS STAFF WRITER The park needs a refur- William Ross was directed to SPENCER – Committed to bished lifeguard stand, new further research the park’s reopening Luther Hill Park docks, repairs to the snack needs and vet potential fund- next summer, officials are shop and other buildings, ing options. One of the best Kevin Flanders photo. searching for the best funding and renovated bathrooms. routes, selectmen said, would Leicester’s Jason Gemme poses with a replica Super Bowl Lombardi tro- option amidst challenging fis- Selectmen recognize that fund- be to utilize town funds based phy earlier this month. Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit the food cal conditions. ing all of these needs by next on possible new growth finan- pantry. The Parks and Recreation summer will be a challenge, cial opportunities. Another Committee recently updated and they want to take the time option is a potential override selectmen on what it will take to fully evaluate each option request for voters to decide on to reopen the once popular and prioritize items. at next month’s town meeting, lakeside park, which has been “We all support bringing the although that would require closed for four years following park back, but we need to find officials to quickly compose a Celebration budget cuts. Approximately the best way to fund it,” said warrant article. $39,000 is required annually to Selectman Tony Pepe. “This A third option is bringing cover the costs of lifeguards, is something everyone wants the park back in a limited swimming lesson programs, to move forward quickly. I capacity this summer, then and personnel needed to main- wish we could bring it back slowly returning programs raises funds tain the park, among other tomorrow, but it’s a matter of and addressing renovation basic operational costs. But coming up with a comprehen- that doesn’t include the addi- sive plan and then going from Please Read PARK, page A10 tional costs of long overdue there.” for food pantry BY KEVIN FLANDERS and company during their NEWS STAFF WRITER dynastic run. Others have only HOLIDAY LEICESTER – Tom Brady been alive to witness the latest and Bill Belichick weren’t in two titles, but they are already attendance last Sunday, but Pats super-fans. For Leicester’s FAIR FUN that didn’t spoil the Super Bowl Jason Gemme, passion for the celebration for residents from Pats goes back more than three throughout the area. decades, spanning every heart- Patriots fans converged on break and triumph along the St. Joseph-St. Pius Church on way. Kevin Flanders photo Oct. 15 to check out the Super “The Pats are number one. Alex Demarski represents Bowl hardware while sup- I started watching them when his Scout Troop based in porting the food pantry. For a they played the Bears in the Paxton at the East Brookfield small donation, fans were able 1986 Super Bowl,” Gemme holiday fair. The variety of pos- to have their pictures taken said. “I’ve been a huge fan ever sible purchases ran the gamut with a replica 2017 Lombardi since.” from spooky Halloween table Trophy, which is awarded each The ’86 Super Bowl didn’t go decorations to Christmas orna- February to the NFL champion. so well for the Pats, who fell to ments. More photos Page 10. Fans young and old took the Bears by a 46-10 score, but advantage of the unique oppor- Brady and Belichick have dra- tunity. For some fans, they have matically changed the narra- savored all five championships secured by Brady, Belichick Please Read FOOD PANTRY, page A10 New equipment put into service with a day BY KEVIN FLANDERS the gear’s arrival. The items NEWS STAFF WRITER include cutters, spreaders, EAST BROOKFIELD – and a ram designed to cut Fire officials wasted no time open vehicles and extricate in implementing new life- trapped motorists. saving equipment, pressing And the equipment was the town-funded jaws of life required immediately, as the gear into service just one fire department responded day after receiving it. to a wreck on Route 49 less The town previously than 24 hours after receiv- approved $30,000 for the ing the tools. Previously, the equipment at a town meet- town’s emergency respond- ing, and the EBFD staff took ers would have needed to Kevin Flanders photo part in extensive training wait for fire officials from exercises in anticipation of East Brookfield firefighters display recently received jaws of life equipment, which was funded by the town. Please Read EQUIPMENT, page A7 Safety and accessibility focus of grant program BY KEVIN FLANDERS as officials learned that their of Transportation Highway In many towns like Spencer, award. The money will be used NEWS STAFF WRITER Complete Streets project will Administrator Jonathan the Complete Streets program for projects on Main Street and SPENCER – With a contin- receive additional state fund- Gulliver, members of the state has not only allowed existing School Street in the coming ued emphasis on improving ing. On Sept. 29, Spencer legislature, and local officials sidewalks to be repaired, but it year to improve pedestrian infrastructure, officials are on officials joined municipal were all in attendance at the has also paved the way for new accessibility and safety. the road to creating signifi- leaders from throughout the event. The monies represent sidewalk sections to be added “The town of Spencer is very cantly safer and more conve- state at a press conference in the third round of grant awards in some of the town’s busiest excited to be recipients of the nient travel through town. Chelmsford announcing a total for the statewide Complete corridors. recently awarded MassDOT Spencer’s long-awaited of $7.8 million awarded to 22 Streets Funding Program, Spencer’s Highway Complete Streets grant,” Tyler quest to repair and modern- communities. which has helped communities Superintendent Steven Tyler said. “This grant will allow ize its roadways gained even Lieutenant Governor with badly needed roadway attended the Sept. 29 event to more momentum last month, Karyn Polito, Department and sidewalk repairs. accept Spencer’s $218,791 grant Please Read GRANT, page A7 2 SPENCER NEW LEADER • Friday, October 27, 2017 SPENCER CAPSULES THE SUN WILL COME OUT… STRAWBERRY HILL FAIR “Annie” a musical, presented by The The First Congregational Church of Theatre Guild of North Brookfield. Nov Leicester at 1 Washburn Square (across 10 & 11 at 7:30pm and Nov 12 at 2pm at from Town Common) will hold its annu- the N. Brookfield Elem. School Aud. al STRAWBERRY HILL FAIR on Nov. 11 Tickets are $15 for Adults and $10 for from 9 a.m. till 2 p.m. The Fair will fea- Seniors (62+) and Children under 12. ture Holiday Decorations, Homemade Call Joe at 508-331-9031 for more info. Knitted Items, Second Hand Treasures, Tickets available at the door. Gift Baskets, Raffles, Country Store, TURKEY RAFFLE Toys and Games, Baked Goods, Cafe’, The North Brookfield VFW Post 3439 Crafts and More. Please come and enjoy will be having our annual Turkey Raffle a few hours at our Fair. www.leicester- on Veteran’s Day 11-11-2017 at 2 p.m. fcc.org Refreshments will be served. The VFW INFO MEETING FOR SENIORS will also have a 50/50 raffle. There will be a Regional SHINE infor- HOLIDAY VENDOR & CRAFT SALE: mational session on Monday, November Charity raffle to support Toys for Tots, 13th at 1 PM at the Spencer Senior FACILITY FACELIFT REOPENED WITH Nov. 4 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at Knights of Center 68 Maple St. Spencer Columbus,10 Meadow Road, Spencer. FANFARE Free admission. Courtesy photo The Overlook President and CEO Tameryn Campbell, proudly opened the ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand re-opening of the Acacia Dining Room and Rose Garden Courtyard held Thursday, October 19. Residents, employees, and many local dignitaries, and past Grand Masters www.StonebridgePress.com were present. Pictured from left President of The Overlook Resident Council Dick Ziegler; Executive Director Michael Quirk; and Campbell. Car Buying Tips Customers ask place: Should I still be a problem for a customer’s budget. 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