The Winchendon Courier
Serving the community since 1878 ~ A By Light Unseen Media publication
Week of February 6 to February 13, 2020
What makes Winchendon what it is...How we're making Winchendon even better

Senate Saturday with Senator Anne Gobi

Senator Anne Gobi

Senator Anne Gobi invites all interested persons to join her for coffee and conversation on Saturday, February 15 at the Palmer Public Library from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The library is located at 1455 North Main St. in Palmer.

For more information, contact Lucas McDiarmid, 413-324-3082, or lucas.mcdiarmid@MAsenate.gov.

Early Voting for Presidential Primary Scheduled in Winchendon

The Massachusetts Presidential Primary election will be held on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. Early voting for Winchendon residents who wish to participate will be conducted at the Winchendon Town Hall, 109 Front Street, 4th floor conference room at the following times:

Monday, February 24 - 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, February 25 - 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, February 26 - 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 27 - 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Stone Ladeau Funeral Home

Murdock Middle & High Schools Present "The Addams Family" Musical this weekend

Addams Family Musical poster

It's spooky, it's ooky and it's a ton of fun! Don't miss the Murdock Middle & High Schools' production of "The Addams Family," a musical based on the deliciously dark-humored cartoons of Charles Addams and the popular TV show and movies spun off from them.

Performances are Friday, February 7 at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, February 8 at 7:00 p.m., at the Murdock Middle & High School Auditorium, 3 Memorial Drive, Winchendon. Tickets are $7.00 for kids, $10.00 for adults, seniors free (donations gratefully accepted). Presented by the Murdock Middle & High Schools and the Winchendon Friends of Music. Don't miss it!

Winchendon's own Smith's Country Cheese debuts new storefront in Worcester


Winchendon dairy farm and creamery Smith's Country Cheese will join some two dozen vendors in the new Worcester Public Market in Worcester this Thursday. The 20,000 square foot "European style" marketplace opens at 220 Harding Street and 152 Green Street in the Canal District.

The new Smith's Country Cheese shop will feature its own signature products: fresh farmer's cheeses, Gouda (both block and spreadable) in various original flavors, cheddar and Havarti. The shop will also sell local cheeses made by other producers in the Massachusetts Cheese Guild, including mozzarella and bleu cheese. The Worcester shop will be open 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, and will be staffed by a rotation of Smith's Country Cheese's four owners, Winchendon store staff and new part time hires.

The Winchendon store will stay open, offering cheese, candles, gifts, ice cream, local wine, honey, and more. Smith's Country Cheese also has an online store.

Smith's Country cheese was founded by David Smith in 1985. In 2016, the family-owned 43-acre farm and business was taken over by Jake Catlin, his wife Allie, his brother Mike and sister-in-law Leah. The farm has 200 Holsteins. All cheeses are made on-site from raw cow's milk, free of antibiotics and hormones. Smith's Country Cheese products have won gold, silver and bronze medals at the Big E and the LA International Dairy Competitions.

Toy Town FYIs

Be sure to complete, sign, and return your Town Census form in the enclosed envelope to the Town Clerk's office as soon as possible. Keeping your census up-to-date ensures your voter status remains active. If you don't receive a census form, you may request a form from the Town Clerk's office, located in Town Hall at 109 Front St.

Outdoor burning season begins on January 15 and runs until May 1. A permit for outdoor burning is required; you can purchase your permit online following the instructions in the link below:
2020 Burn Permit Application Made Easy (Google Doc)

Town of Winchendon
Office of the Town Clerk
Nomination Papers for Annual Town Election
May 4, 2020

Nomination papers will be available Monday, January 13 2020 at 8:00 a.m.
Nomination papers must be obtained and turned in on or before Monday, March 16, 2020 by 6:00 p.m.
Available terms:
ONE 3-year term for the Board of Selectmen
TWO 3-year terms for the School Committee
ONE 2-year unexpired term for the School Committee
TWO 2-year terms for the Board of Health.


2020 dog licenses are now available in the Town Clerk's office (in Town Hall, 109 Front Street), online (click here), or by mail. You must provide a valid, up-to-date rabies certificate.

WINTER PARKING BAN
Effective December 1

Winter Parking Ban
Town of Winchendon Bylaw
SECTION 7.18; WINTER BAN Parking is prohibited on all public ways between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., annually from December 1st through April 15th. In addition, any vehicle, other than one acting in an emergency, parked, day or night, on any street in the Town, so as to interfere with the work of removing or plowing snow, removing ice, or sanding the street may be removed or towed away under the authority, discretion and direction of the Chief of Police or the Chief’s designee. The registered owner of a motor vehicle which is removed pursuant to this bylaw shall be fully responsible for all charges and expenses incurred for the removal and storage of said motor vehicle.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION!

As of Thursday, December 5, the Winchendon Fire Department will no longer be performing inspections at residences with excessive amounts of snow preventing access to the property. If a residence is found to be inaccessible the inspection will not be performed and an additional re-inspection fee will be charged.

The Winchendon Fire Department urges residents to take all safety precautions with candles and generators.

  • Generators should always be used outside, never in your home, garage or basement. Carbon monoxide is odorless and invisible and can reach lethal levels even if you don't smell exhaust or fumes. If you have a permanent emergency generator professionally installed, make sure its ventilation is clear of snow or other obstructions.
  • Candles should never be left unattended, and must always be at least a foot away from anything else flammable--including other candles.

village school open house

CENSUS 2020 is coming, we need your participation!

CENSUS 2020 is coming! Your participation is important because your answers make a vital difference. When you respond to a survey or census, you are helping your community and the nation. Your answers, combined with others, become the statistics that businesses, governments and people like you use to make informed decisions about education, emergency preparedness, employment, international trade, health, housing, and other important topics.

More information can be found at: https://www.census.gov/

The US Census Bureau is hiring thousands of people for the 2020 Survey. For more information go to: https://2020census.gov/en/jobs.html

Narcan Training at the Winchendon CAC

Beginning in January, the first Tuesday of the month the Winchendon CAC will be offering Narcan Training in affiliation with the Worcester Aids Project. You will learn to administer Narcan and receive a Narcan dispenser. Class space is limited--pre-registration is required. Please come into the office or call 978-297-1667 to register. The first class will be held on Tuesday, January 7. The Winchendon CAC is located at 273 Central St., Winchendon.

Clear Those Fire Hydrants!

If there's a fire hydrant near your house...it's the fire hydrant the Fire Department will need if your house is on fire. With that in mind, help keep hydrants clear of snow and accessible this winter, for everyone's safety!

Hydrants should be completely clear of snow and ice, with an open area of three feet on all sides and clear open access from the street. It's a little extra work, but if the hydrant is needed, every second counts!

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