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2 SPENCER NEW LEADER • Friday, November 27, 2009 Gaudette to become interim manager BY ELISA KROCHMALNYCKYJ NEW LEADER CORRESPONDENT SPENCER — If all goes as expected, Town Administrator Paul Guida will leave his post on the last day of February — and on the first day of March, Town Planner Adam Gaudette will become interim administrator. Although members of the Board of Selectmen refused to say anything about what came of their closed-door meeting with Guida before Monday’s regular meeting, they did authorize Chairman Donald Berthaiume Jr. to talk with Gaudette about stepping in when Guida leaves. The board Monday also set a five-item warrant for a Thursday, Dec. 10 Special Town Meeting — including two items related to the administrator change, and another item increasing the amount needed for Water Department work from $6.6 million to about $8 million. Officials said they are hoping that the added amount will be paid for with federal stimulus money. Gaudette said he is excited to be considered as interim town administrator, but was uncomfortable talking about it until the Board of Selectmen come to a final agreement with Guida. “I’m ready for whatever date they negotiate,” he said. Gaudette said he hasn’t thought far enough ahead to consider whether he’d apply for the position of permanent town administrator. “I don’t know yet,” he said. “I haven’t even Visit with Santa in our Antique Sleigh Dec. 5 & 6 HOW TO USE TO PLACE A RETAIL AD: ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE AMY DAIGLE (508) 909-4062 newleaderads@ stonebridgepress.com TO PRINT AN OBITUARY: E-MAIL: ddore@stonebridgepress.com SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES: CIRCULATION REPRESENTATIVE GEORGIA LEAMING (508) 909-4115 georgia@stonebridgepress.com FIVE-ARTICLE TOWN MEETING WARRANT OK’D INSPENCER Thursday Dec. 3 Magical! Sparkling! Holiday Fun! Opening Day • 12 PM–5 PM Live Entertainment Daily www.sparklingtrees.com Special Event! Choral premier 7-8PM The 12 th Annual Notre Dame Church $5.00 (includes admission to Festival of Trees) Friday Dec. 4 10AM-5PM Senior Citizen Day! Festival Seniors admitted FREE Special Event! Winter Starlight Gala 7 -11 PM of Advanced tickets sales only: (Giving) Trees (508)347-3591 *All proceeds fight BREAST CANCER Now at Southbridge Comm. Center & support cancer research Refreshments available for purchase by Fins & Tales TO SUBMIT CALENDAR OR OUR TOWNS ITEMS: E-MAIL: ddore@stonebridgepress.com TO SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR OR SOUND OFF: E-MAIL: ddore@stonebridgepress.com TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD: CLASSIFIED REPRESENTATIVE NATHAN SEMONIK (800) 536-5836 TO FAX US: (508) 764-8015 GOT A NEWS TIP, AND IT’S AFTER 5 P.M. OR A WEEKEND? CALL A REPORTER’S LINE, OR SIMPLY DIAL (800) 367-9898 AND LEAVE A MESSAGE. tried it yet, but I like working with the people in Spencer — it’s what I do now, and it’s what I’ll be doing then.” Gaudette said that prior to becoming Spencer’s town planner in August 2008, he was a town planner in Northbridge, then worked for several years in the private sector as a planner and chief operating officer. SPECIAL TOWN MEETING Article 1: The first item to be voted on at the Special Town Meeting will be whether to raise the amount for a two-zone pressure system for the Water Department from the $6.6 million approved at the spring Town Meeting to about $8 million, the amount it is now estimated to cost. The town agreed to complete the project as part of the Administrative Consent Order with the state Department of Environmental Protection after the April 2007 water emergency, when 34 gallons of lye were accidentally released into the town’s water system. Federal stimulus money is expected to pay for at least 14 percent of the total project, though no official numbers will be available until the end of January, said Utilities and Facilities Superintendent Robert McNeil III. Both the Water Commission and Bond Commission have approved the request, McNeil said. Only the 1,775 residences and businesses that use town water will be responsible for paying for those repairs, officials said. Article 2: Residents will be asked to vote to allow the town to use a $28,000 check from the town’s insurance company to buy a new $33,000 Highway Department Truck to replace the truck destroyed during an accident a couple of months ago. Although only $5,000 of town funds will be used, the item still needs Town Meeting approval, officials said. Articles 3 and 4: Voters will be asked to allow officials to transfer funds to enable the town to transfer Gaudette from the town planner’s office to the town administrator’s office, then hire a part-time consultant to help cover Gaudette’s absence in the Regular Daily Admission: $3 Children under 12 are Free LaSalle Reception Center at Notre Dame, 444 Main St., Southbridge Saturday Dec. 5 - Children’s Day 10 AM–5 PM Pumpernickle Puppets 1-2pm Santa Claus 11 AM-2 PM Sunday Dec. 6 Final Day 10 AM–3 PM Winners Announced After 3 PM EDITOR DAVID DORE (508) 909-4140 ddore@stonebridgepress.com COMMUNITY NEWS EDITOR P l a n n i n g Department. “Adam can still look in from time to time, but when it comes to doing the nitty-gritty the town planner has to do, we need a consultant,” Berthaiume said, then cautioned, “This is obviously all contingent on us coming to an agreement before the A STONEBRIDGE PRESS PUBLICATION STAFF DIRECTORY ANN TREMBLAY (508) 909-4137 atremblay@stonebridgepress.com ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE AMY DAIGLE (508) 909-4062 newleaderads@stonebridgepress.com ADVERTISING ASSISTANT JEANETTE DURANT (508) 909-4113 SPORTS DEPARTMENT (508) 909-4133 sports@stonebridgepress.com Town Meeting.” Article 5: Town officials are being faced with medical bills from a volunteer who was bitten by a rabid skunk. Although voters will be asked to approve the full amount of $6,200, officials said they are confident the town’s insurance will pay for all but the $1,000 deductible. STROLLS AND ALCOHOL In other business at Monday’s meeting, the board: • Announced that the Christmas Stroll will be held Saturday, Dec. 5 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Anyone who picks up a passport and has it stamped by the four churches and 15 businesses participating will be eligible for prizes. Prize winners’ names will be drawn during the Dec. 7 “Talk of the Town” cable show. • Set a 2 a.m. New Year’s Eve closing time for places serving alcohol. • Said it will now require all businesses applying for liquor licenses to provide proof that their servers are “TIPS” certified, meaning they have been trained in how to assess and deal with people who are becoming intoxicated. That would, among other benefits, decrease the number of calls police get about problem patrons, officials said. “Some establishments are being visited by police too frequently, and that means that the servers are not doing their job,” said Selectman Anthony Bove Jr. Spencer readies for Christmas light parade SPENCER — Downtown Spencer will be sparkling Dec. 20 during the first-ever Christmas-light parade. Fire Chief Robert Parsons has invited all local fire departments to join Spencer in decorating fire trucks with lights, wreaths and ornaments then drive through town. Local businesses and organizations are also welcome to enter their own lightedup float or truck, officials said. The event will start at 6 p.m. with judging at David Prouty High School, continue with the parade, then end with the lighting of the town Christmas tree. The best-decorated truck or float will win a trophy — and bragging rights — for a year, until the second annual parade, officials said. Anyone interested can call the Fire Department at (508) 885-3555 or the Board of Selectmen at (508) 885-7500. A NameYouCanTrust IP TOP ROOFING SIDING & WINDOWS $ 250 OFF any roofing or siding job over $2500 FULLY LICENSED & INSURED • FREE ESTIMATES STAFF DIRECTORY PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER FRANK G. CHILINSKI (508) 909-4101 fchilinski@stonebridgepress.com CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER RON TREMBLAY (508) 909-4102 rtremblay@stonebridgepress.com OPERATIONS DIRECTOR JIM DINICOLA (508) 909-4092 ADVERTISING MANAGER JEAN ASHTON (508) 909-4104 jashton@stonebridgepress.com COMPOSITION MANAGER JULIE CLARKE (508) 909-4105 julie@villagernewspapers.com WEEKLY NEWSPAPER EDITOR AT-LARGE WALTER BIRD JR. (508) 909-4107 wbird@stonebridgepress.com The Spencer New Leader (USPS#024- 927) is published weekly by Stonebridge Press, Inc., 25 Elm St., Southbridge, MA 01550. Periodical Postage paid at Southbridge, MA 01550. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Spencer New Leader, P.O. Box 90, Southbridge, MA 01550 ALMANAC QUOTATION OF THE WEEK “I would just love to have one law that says use your blankety heads. If you’re an idiot while driving, you should be written up.” — LEICESTER SELECTMAN DOUGLAS BELANGER, DISCUSSING A NEW POLICY THAT RESTRICTS TOWN EMPLOYEES’ USE OF CELLULAR PHONES WHILE DRIVING, AND WHILE “ON THE CLOCK.” THE STATS MEDIAN HOUSEHOLDER INCOME, BY AGE, 25-34 ($ IN PREVIOUS YEAR) Auburn .........................................55,000 Brimfield ..................................... 57,917 Brookfield.................................... 47,083 Charlton....................................... 61,007 Douglas ........................................ 62,155 Dudley...........................................55,063 Holland ....................................... 53,958 Leicester ...................................... 57,250 Northbridge .................................50,337 Oxford ...........................................56,469 Southbridge..................................35,625 Spencer .........................................46,667 Sturbridge ...................................67,279 Uxbridge .......................................69,896 Wales........................................... 50,536 Webster ........................................ 42,716 * Information as of 2000 U.S. Census SUNRISE/SUNSET Saturday, Nov. 28 ........6:54 a.m.......4:18 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29...........6:55 a.m.......4:18 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30..........6:56 a.m.......4:18 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1 ...........6:57 a.m...... 4:17 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2 ......6:58 a.m..... 4:17 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3.........6:59 a.m.......4:17 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4 ..............7:00 a.m. — 4:17 p.m. REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS BROOKFIELD $159,000, 77 Webber Road, Glenn S. Tracy and Leslie A. Tracy to John W. Keith and Jennifer A. Law. $100, 131 Town Farm Road, Melody E. Miller to Johnny A. Miller and Melody E. Miller. EAST BROOKFIELD $170,000, 107 South St., Carol A. Mulrain, Sandra L. Kady, Doris K. Johnson, Estate of Shirley I. Kularski, Joseph A. Kularski Jr., Deborah M. Bissonnette, Stanley M. Kularski, William P. Kularski and Christopher J. Kularski to Joseph A. Kularski Jr. and Doris K. Johnson. $140,000, 379 East Main St., Andre J. Lazure Jr. to Aaron D. Valley and Justin J. Valley. LEICESTER $100, Auburn Street, Fox Hill Builders Inc. to LRE Estates LLC. $235,000, 6 Gleason Way, Paul J. Strand and Diane M. Strand to John C. Courtney and Meredith A. O’Connor. $1, 6 Park Lane, Sandra J. Seymour to Sandra J. Seymour and Raymond P. Seymour. $167,250, 200 Pleasant St., Mason G. Axford and Victoria L. Axford to Heather J. Nelson. $100, 61 Lakeview Drive, Jerry S. Smart to Cheryl M. Smart and Kathleen M. Ramsey. $132,900, 12 Lexington Ave., Timothy M. Smith and Susan R. Smith to Matthew J. Smith. $121,200, 10 Locust St., Rosemary LeFrancois and Charles LeFrancois to Thomas C. Daly Jr. and Ashley Leith. NORTH BROOKFIELD $166,000, 87 Summer St., Marcel F. Schneeberger and Malena C. Schneeberger to Claire T. Peterson. $97,690, 6 Conroy Ave., Patricia Alexander to Raymond Baillargeon. $85,000, 19 North Common St., North Brookfield Savings Bank to Nathan D. Orne and Elizabeth Orne. $236,500, 1 Ashley Road, Dale K. Grant and Nancy R. Grant to Justin K. Miner and Kerry L. Miner. SPENCER $130,900, 18 Briarcliff Lane, Leonard A. Roy and Estate of Adrien M. Roy to Patricia DeCaro. $235,000, 133 East Charlton Road, Deborah A. Rodgers McTigue and Michael L. Sinclair to Joseph Padden and Brianne Padden. $100, 5 Cooney Road, Joanne M. Leveillee to Leveillee Realty Trust (Joanne M. Leveillee, Trustee). $85,000, 162 and 166 Northwest Road, Spencer Development LLC to Norman D. Bassett and Lori J. Bassett. WARREN $258,000, 144 Town Farm Road, Fountain & Sons Fuel Company Inc. to Elisa A. Stokowski. WEST BROOKFIELD $1, 44 Front St., Glen D. Moreau and Nancy E. Ugrinow to Nancy E. Ugrinow. FRONT PAGE QUOTE This week’s front page quote is attributed to Joseph Brodsky.
Friday, November 27, 2009 • SPENCER NEW LEADER 3 ‘Walking school bus’ goes weekly S PROGRAM COULD HELP AS QUABOAG FACES STATE AID CUT BY ELISA KROCHMALNYCKYJ NEW LEADER CORRESPONDENT WEST BROOKFIELD — More and more kids will be walking or bicycling to school, thanks to a program being started at West Brookfield Elementary School. “They’re taking the ‘walking school bus,’” said parent Laura MacLachlan said at the Nov. 16 Quaboag Regional School Committee meeting. The “Safe Routes to School” program encourages children to walk or bicycle to school. The program is already under way on Tuesdays — and this week, the “celebrity walker” was none other than Superintendent of Schools Brett Kustigian. “Tomorrow at 8:15, I will be there and walking to school,” Kustigian said Monday, Nov. 23. “I think it’s wonderful. I think that anything we can do as a school district, or as a community, to promote wellness is what we want to do.” While Kustigian’s praise of the program focused on the physical benefits to the students, the program is certainly coming at a good time for the district. The district is wrestling with how to deal with a $108,989 cut in state funding for transportation, and talking about consolidating bus routes for the rest of the 2009-10 school year. District Business Manager Joseph Scanlon, who spoke later at the Nov. 16 meeting, said the district is going to start looking Note: Public meetings are subject to change. Check with local Town Halls to see if a meeting will still be held. BROOKFIELD Tuesday, Dec. 1 Board of Selectmen, 7 p.m., Brookfield Elementary School Wednesday, Dec. 2 Council on Aging, 4 p.m., Town Hall Cultural Council, 4 p.m., Town Hall Planning Board, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall Thursday, Dec. 3 Housing Authority, 10 a.m., Town Hall Advisory Committee, 7 p.m., Brookfield Elementary School EAST BROOKFIELD Monday, Nov. 30 Board of Selectmen, 7 p.m., Memorial Town Complex LEICESTER Monday, Nov. 30 Board of Selectmen, 6 p.m., Town Hall Tuesday, Dec. 1 Planning Board, 7 p.m., Town Hall Wednesday, Dec. 2 Conservation Commission, 7 p.m., Town Hall Thursday, Dec. 3 Elections and Registrations, 1 p.m., town clerk’s office NORTH BROOKFIELD Tuesday, Dec. 1 Emergency Management Agency, 6 p.m., North Brookfield Elementary School basement Board of Selectmen, 6:45 p.m., Senior Center Cemetery Commission, 7 p.m., 215 North Main St. Wednesday, Dec. 2 Safety Committee, 6:30 p.m., Senior Center Library Board of Trustees, 7 p.m., Haston Free Public Library Thursday, Dec. 3 Playground and Recreation Committee, 7 p.m., Senior Center Friday, Dec. 4 Community Development Block Grant Committee, 2 p.m., Water Treatment Plant, 14 Bell Road SPENCER Shawn Kelley photo Some buses in the Quaboag Regional School District could stop running for the rest of the school year, based on an expected cut of more than $100,000 in regional transportation aid from the state. PUBLIC MEETINGS Monday, Nov. 30 Board of Assessors, 6 p.m., Memorial Town Hall Teachers’ Collective Bargaining Subcommittee, 6:15 p.m., 306 Main St. Tuesday, Dec. 1 Board of Assessors, 6 p.m., Memorial Town Hall Planning Board, 7 p.m., Memorial Town Hall at busing costs to see where cuts can be made. “We’ve identified six bus routes we think can be eliminated,” he said. Those cuts would come on buses that are not filled, he said, adding that more study will be done before any final plan is made. “This is not something we would enter into lightly,” Scanlon said. Having more students walking to school would help Scanlon’s attempts to consolidate bus routes. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School program aims to make walking and bicycling to school a safe and appealing form of transportation. In 1969, about half of all students walked or bicycled to school. Today, however, fewer than 15 percent of all school trips are made by walking or bicycling, according to the DOT. MacLachlan, a mother of three, said that decrease in children’s exercise is frightening. “Our children are the first generation that may not outlive their parents,” she said. Kustigian said he thinks the walking-bus program is a step in the right direction. “With all the problems with obesity in children, the more we encourage wellness, the better off our children will be,” he said. “Anything we can do to encourage physical activity is a no-brainer.” WEST BROOKFIELD Tuesday, Dec. 1 Board of Registrars, 10 a.m., Town Hall Board of Selectmen, 6:15 p.m., Town Hall Zoning Board of Appeals, 7:30 p.m., Town Hall Wednesday, Dec. 2 Board of Assessors, 9 a.m., Town Hall Stormwater Authority, 9 a.m., Town Hall Conservation Commission, 7 p.m., Town Hall Historical Commission, 7 p.m., Town Hall Thursday, Dec. 3 Water Department, 6 p.m., Town Hall BOUQUET OF THE WEEK Free Estimates 508-347-2305 Closets Home Offices Garages Coach Sarah Montigny and the Leicester High School cheerleaders, for reaching the state cheerleading tournament last weekend for the first time (see story on Page A1). The Spencer New Leader thanks the Spencer Flower Shoppe, Main Street, Spencer, for supplying the flowers. ACCURACY WATCH The Spencer New Leader is committed to accuracy in all its news reports. Although numerous safeguards are in place to ensure accurate reporting, mistakes can occur. Confirmed fact errors will be corrected at the top right hand corner of page 3 in a timely manner. If you find a mistake, call (508) 909- 4140 during normal business hours. During non-business hours, leave a message in the editor’s voice mailbox. The editor will return your phone call. HOLE IN THE WALL FASHIONS Clothing for all seasons Expanded Showroom All Major Brands • Flat Screen TV’s Oreck Vacuums Full Used Line • Scratch & Dents Knowledgeable Staff Rebuilt Portable Dishwasher $250.00 Cerran Top Range $300.00 Maytag Stack Front Load Washer/Dryer $699 www.davesapp.com 42 W. Main St. Brookfield, MA 508.867.3122 $ 6 .00 Select Tees Visit our online store at www.holeinthewallfashions.com Brand Name Jeans Starting at $15 CONSTANT CHANGE OF INVENTORY! NEW SHIPMENTS ARRIVNG DAILY! Christmas Layaway Pickup By Dec. 15, 2009 Layaway Available Brand Name Clothing at Small Town Prices! SHOPPING FOR THE “HOLE” FAMILY 117 Main Street • Spencer, MA ph: 1.774-745-8200 • f: 1.774-745-8201 Rockin’ Holiday Hop to help local toy groups SPENCER — Charity Case is back with the 2009 Rockin’ Holiday Hop to spread rock and joy to all the good little local boys and girls in need. Come out for a night of entertainment and fun to benefit two local toy drives, from 8 p.m. to midnight Dec. 4 at the Hogshead Tavern at the Spencer Country Inn. Toys For Joy and Toys for Tots are nonprofit groups that, through many year-round events, spread joy and happiness to less fortunate children and families during the holiday season. Their main mission is to put a smile on a child’s face one toy at a time. The local chapters work with much effort to bring joy to the families in need in the area each and every year at this time. These selfless contributions make our little neck of the woods the special place that it is: a place where community comes together to help those in need by extending a loving hand. The 2009 Rockin’ Holiday Hop will be a night of fundraising and holiday festivities, including entertainment by local charity group Charity Case, a 50/50 raffle, a Bruins tickets raffle, a table top Christmas tree raffle (designed by local artists), food and snacks, a visit from Santa, an Ugly Holiday Sweater Contest for cash prizes and more surprises. Tickets are on sale in advance for $10 plus an unwrapped toy, and 100 percent of the evening’s proceeds will go back to the community. To order, contact Ray at (617) 851-7542 or kidcruise2003@ yahoo.com, or Lori at (617) 201-8642 or muirlori@gmail.com. Organizers are also looking for creative people to decorate NEWS BRIEFS mini Christmas trees to raffle off. Trees will be available at Apple Blossoms in Spencer the week before. Please contact Ray to sign up. Knights to host its Christmas Stroll Fair SPENCER — The Knights of Columbus Christmas Stroll Fair will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 at the Knights of Columbus hall on Meadow Road. Admission is free. The vendor list includes stocking stuffers, homemade crafts, Pampered Chef, David Prouty High School Band, Tupperware, At Home America, Silpada, Liasophia, Usborne Books, Mary Kay, the Mary, Queen of the Rosary Junior Youth Group, pocket books, Spencer Animal Shelter (bring in a bag of animal food) or old blankets for warmth, Vintage Pearl, magnets with cute sayings on them, Illuminated Glass, Snowman, homemade confection and Tastefully Simple. The kitchen will be open for coffee, hot cocoa and food. Raffle Table tickets are $1 each or six for $5. All proceeds benefit the Knights of Columbus. Anyone who wants to be part of the Knights of Columbus Fair should call Donna at (508) 885-3561. CATHY’S FAMILY SALON 19 Greenville St., Spencer, MA KIDS HAIRCUTS $5.00 Complete (Under 12) PERMS & COLOR $35.00 - HAIRCUTS $10.00 Price includes finest quality haircare products & complete styling 508-885-9852
Page 1: Mailed free to requesting homes in
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Page 17 and 18: Guida: Audit was better barometer o
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Page 25 and 26: ★★★★★★★★★★★
Page 27 and 28: NOVEMBER 25, 2009 ☎ TOWN-TO-TOWN

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