The Winchendon Courier
Serving the community since 1878 ~ A By Light Unseen Media publication
Week of October 8 to October 15, 2020

Because of Governor Baker's orders to control the spread of COVID-19, assume that all events, programs, and activities are cancelled or postponed until further notice unless specifically noted below. Exceptions may include the Mobile Market for food or events and activities that can move online or be held outdoors. If you have questions, contact the organizers or check their Facebook pages or websites. Stay home and stay healthy!

Winchendon’s Draft Master Plan – A Deeper Dive (Part 3)


This is the third in a series of articles the Courier is publishing on the town’s draft Master Plan, which is currently open for public comment through October 15. Two weeks ago we introduced the Vision and Key Challenges of the Plan. Goals and strategies to effect change are categorized into a total of nine chapters. Last week we reviewed the Land Use and Open Space chapters. This week we will review the very substantial Economic Development chapter.

Looking at our many shuttered storefronts, it is obvious that Winchendon, like many rural towns, faces declines in manufacturing and local employment, compounded by competition in nearby tax-free New Hampshire. We are wealthy, however, in terms of our natural, historic and cultural resources, and our location in Central New England. Recreation and tourism can act as catalysts for commercial, economic, and community development. In addition, Winchendon’s position as a right-to-farm community creates an avenue for a food-based economy that can be an expansion of agriculture: added-value products, local food-based restaurants and agritourism.

The Economic Development chapter contains five major goals. Goal ED 1 focuses on communication with current and prospective businesses. It establishes an Economic Development Committee and local business association to solicit and better understand local business needs; improves website support services; provides clear guidance on permitting processes; and adopts Massachusetts Chapter 43D expedited permitting processes.

Goal ED2 rebuilds and rebrands downtown Winchendon as a vital New England small town. This goal addresses traffic safety signage and circulation, blighted downtown and gateway properties, high rents, and design guidelines for development. It also drives to better understand local business demands, increase business diversity and continue/develop downtown events to attract residents and visitors.

Goal ED 3 uses recreation and agriculture as new industries and catalysts for economic development. It includes building on initiatives such as HEAL (Healthy Eating Active Living) Winchendon to build a sustainable food system, benchmarking with other communities on food-based economies, and expanding the role of the Agricultural Commission.

Goal ED 4 focuses on our people – aligning education, vocational training and support services with employment opportunities, with special emphasis on artisans and craftspeople.

Goal ED 5 addresses our infrastructure: repurposed underutilized sites, brownfield remediation, and green development. It will explore regionalization of services and pursue installation of town-wide high-speed internet. It will also pursue funding for road and infrastructure improvements.

The Economic Development chapter is ambitious and broad-sweeping. It calls upon a wide variety of town boards and committees to be realized, and will likely call for the greatest amount of community support. Please direct your comments, questions and offers for assistance at any level to Tracy Murphy, Director of Planning and Development via email at tmurphy@townofwinchendon.com or 978-297-3537.

The entire draft Master Plan is posted on the town’s website at: www.townofwinchendon.com/home/news/now-soliciting-public-input-proposed-master-plan

Beals Memorial Library Announces 2020 Toy Town Tree Festival

The Beals Memorial Library Board of Trustees is proud to present the Toy Town Tree Festival 2020: A Holiday Visit Through Toy Town. This year is an entirely virtual event that will feature photos of Holiday Trees, Decorated Houses, and Holiday Displays from families, businesses, and organizations throughout Toy Town!

Families, businesses, and organizations are invited to submit up to two (2) photos November 9 - December 4. Photos submitted can be from this year, or from years past, so long as they are were taken in Winchendon!

A video compilation of all entries will be released on December 14 at Noon, and will be set to Holiday music. The video will also feature music by local groups and families.

Viewers will be able to vote on their favorite tree, and the winner of the viewer’s choice favorite will be announced on December 24. Prize TBD!

Participation and viewing of the event are FREE!

Please visit the Beals Memorial Library Board of Trustees Facebook page, or bealslibrary.org for more information. You may also email toytowntreefestival@gmail.com.

We hope this will be an opportunity for our community to connect during these uncertain times, and to spend some Holiday time together with one another. We hope you will join us in celebrating this Holidays here in Toy Town this year!

NFA Behavioral Health

Addiction and Mental Health Resources for Veterans

House of Peace and Education in Gardner has some great programs for children and women available to local residents.

HOPE for Kids has three afterschool programs. The Afterschool program, a professionally directed mentoring and tutoring, serves children in grades 3 and 4. The Pals Mentoring program is a professionally directed mentoring program that provides young children with opportunities for fun, peer interaction, creative skills development, positive social behaviors, building friendships and exploring expressions of feelings. Teen HOPE is a professionally directed program that offers youth in grades 5-7 academic, cultural and social skill building support.

HOPE Job Readiness & Training Program is an 8 week individualized program of computer and job-skills training for adults who wish to learn new skills in order to enter or re-enter the workforce, to get better jobs or to improve the quality of life for themselves and their families.

For information on these programs call HOPE at 978-630-4752 ext 6.

SAVE THE DATE

October 22, 2020
6:00 - 7:30 p.m. EST
LIVE EVENT ONLINE

Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center
presents
Second Annual
Jesse H. Stallings, Jr. Memorial Speaker Series

-- Guest Speaker --
Medal of Honor Recipient
New York Times Best-Selling Author of Into the Fire
Sergeant Dakota Meyer
United States Marine Corps

"Accountability and Achievement"

Beals Bundles Begin at the Beals Memorial Library

Are you missing the ability to browse the shelves at the library to find a great book or movie that’s right up your alley? Do you want something new to try out, but don’t want the bother of endlessly searching the library’s online catalogue for something that interests you? Then let the staff at the Beals Memorial Library do the work for you through their new Beals Bundles program, starting Monday, October 5.

A Beals Bundle is an easy way for patrons and their families to access the wide variety of books, movies, and audiobooks in the library’s collection. By filling out a short online form based around format, topic, and genre, the staff at the library can expertly curate a pick-up order of three to five items that patrons are sure to enjoy. The Beals Bundles form can be found on the front page of the library’s website, www.bealslibrary.org, by selecting the icon titled ‘Beals Bundles’.

Please allow up to two days for requests to be fulfilled. When a bundle is ready, patrons will be notified by either email or telephone and will have one week from the time of notification to make an appointment for pickup. Additionally, when a Beals Bundle is checked out, each item is being borrowed individually, so patrons can return items separately at any time on or before their respective due date.

The Beals Memorial Library is located at 50 Pleasant Street in Winchendon. To request a Beals Bundle, visit the library’s website, www.bealslibrary.org, or call the library at 978-297-0300.

Clyde’s Corner

It's Happening Around the Winch!

FRIDAY OCTOBER 9

Winchendon Mobile Market 12:30-2:30 p.m. Growing Places of Leominster will bring the Mobile Market to Not Just Produced, 290 Central Street (outside weather permitting). Fresh local produce can be purchased with cash, credit/debit card or SNAP cards. All produce is eligible for HIP (Healthy Incentives Program) which doubles SNAP credits for healthy food. For more information, contact Growing Places at 978-598-3723. All shoppers are asked to follow social distancing and safety guidelines; only ten (10) people may be inside the store at any time.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 10

Toy Town Outdoor Market 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Garden plants, crafts, farm products. On the front lawn of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Winchendon, 126 Central St.

Italian Night Take Out 5:00 p.m. Tickets must be purchased in advance to allow for meal planning. $12 per person, sold after Mass, at the rectory during office hours, or contact Dee Holt. Spaghetti and meatballs, Chicken Francese, bread, salad and dessert. Pick up at Immaculate Heart of Mary church, 52 Spruce St., Winchendon.

MONDAY OCTOBER 12

AA Meeting 7:45 p.m. Open meeting, all are welcome. UU Church of Winchendon, 126 Central Street.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 15

Toy Town Outdoor Market 4:00-7:00 p.m. Garden plants, crafts, farm products. On the front lawn of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Winchendon, 126 Central St.

Backpack Program 5:00-6:00 p.m. For students aged Pre-K through High School, no one turned away. In the parking lot of Immaculate Heart of Mary church, 52 Spruce St., Winchendon.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 16

Winchendon Mobile Market 12:30-2:30 p.m. Growing Places of Leominster will bring the Mobile Market to Not Just Produced, 290 Central Street (outside weather permitting). Fresh local produce can be purchased with cash, credit/debit card or SNAP cards. All produce is eligible for HIP (Healthy Incentives Program) which doubles SNAP credits for healthy food. For more information, contact Growing Places at 978-598-3723. All shoppers are asked to follow social distancing and safety guidelines; only ten (10) people may be inside the store at any time.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 17

Toy Town Outdoor Market 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Garden plants, crafts, farm products. On the front lawn of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Winchendon, 126 Central St.

Old Centre Cemetery Tour 2:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.. To benefit the Winchendon History and Cultural Center. At Old Centre Church, Winchendon. Guided tour of Old Centre Cemetery, as we share some history, superstitions, interesting lives and deaths. Tickets are $5 per person for 2:30 p.m. tour, $10 per person for 8:00 p.m. tour. Click here to register (required).

MONDAY OCTOBER 19

AA Meeting 7:45 p.m. Open meeting, all are welcome. UU Church of Winchendon, 126 Central Street.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 22

Toy Town Outdoor Market 4:00-7:00 p.m. Garden plants, crafts, farm products. On the front lawn of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Winchendon, 126 Central St.

Backpack Program 5:00-6:00 p.m. For students aged Pre-K through High School, no one turned away. In the parking lot of Immaculate Heart of Mary church, 52 Spruce St., Winchendon.

Our Neighbor's Kitchen Drive-Through Dinner 5:30 p.m. Our Neighbor's Kitchen goes take-out! Pick up a hearty meal to go, while practicing safe social distancing. This week Dave Faucher will cook his annual fall feast of Roast Pork with Apples and Onions, sides and dessert. Free-will donation $2 per person, $5 per family; no one turned away. UU Church of Winchendon, 126 Central Street.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 23

Winchendon Mobile Market 12:30-2:30 p.m. Growing Places of Leominster will bring the Mobile Market to Not Just Produced, 290 Central Street (outside weather permitting). Fresh local produce can be purchased with cash, credit/debit card or SNAP cards. All produce is eligible for HIP (Healthy Incentives Program) which doubles SNAP credits for healthy food. For more information, contact Growing Places at 978-598-3723. All shoppers are asked to follow social distancing and safety guidelines; only ten (10) people may be inside the store at any time.

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 28

Flu Shot Clinic 9:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. at Old Murdock Senior Center. Call them at 978-297-3155 for an appointment to get a flu shot. You will need a mask and your insurance card. 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 31

Winchendon Trick or Treating 5:00-7:00 p.m. Townwide. See Board of Selectmen's recommended guidelines for a safe Halloween celebration in the age of COVID.

Town Committee Monthly Meetings by Week
All Meetings in Town Hall

Town Committee and Board Meetings are postponed or being held online until further notice. See each Board or Committee's webpage for details about meetings. Some meetings are being held online in Zoom and are open to members of the public. See the agenda for each meeting for instructions for joining the meeting by computer or telephone.

week MON TUE WED THUR
1st Toy Town Community Partnership
5:00pm
Board of Health
7:00pm
Planning Board
6:30pm *
Zoning Board of Appeals
7:00pm
School Committee
6:00pm
2nd Winchendon Redevelopment Authority
5:00pm
Board of Selectmen
6:30pm
Finance Committee
7:00pm
Agricultural Commission
7:00pm
Conservation Commission
as posted
3rd Planning Board
6:30pm *
Zoning Board of Appeals
7:00pm
School Committee
6:00pm
4th Board of Selectmen
6:30pm

* Planning Board often begins with public hearings, check their webpage.

Calendar of Re-broadcasts of meetings on Local Access Channel 8

Agendas, minutes and meeting recordings are now available on the Town website: Agendas, Minutes & Past Meetings

Town committee meetings are now streamed live on the town website. Go to www.townofwinchendon.com/ and click on the button for "Watch Meetings Live."

To view recordings of past meetings, contact Taylor Tower at 978-297-0085, or email her at ttower@townofwinchendon.com If you wish to keep a copy of the recording, there is a $5 fee per recorded file.

Times, locations, agendas and related documents for meetings are listed on the page for each individual committee on the Town of Winchendon website.

The E.M. Connor Post 193 of the American Legion and the Town of Winchendon Invite You to Honor a Winchendon Veteran by purchasing an Engraved Brick

All active duty military and veterans who at one time resided in the town of Winchendon are eligible to have a brick engraved with their name. Bricks will become a permanent part of the veterans roll call pathway connecting the monuments within the Legion Park.

sample brick

3 lines of 20 spaces, no logo, for $50.00
3 lines of 15 spaces with a logo, for $75.00

Order forms are available at the Winchendon American Legion Post 193, 295 School St., the Town Hall Tax Office or Not Just Produced, 290 Central St., Winchendon.

Order and pay online at polarengraving.com/americanlegionparkproject
memorial path

Ad Rates and Local Listing Policy

Event listings in Clyde's Corner are free of charge for non-profit, community and town organizations and groups, and for charitable or benefit events.

Short text articles about forthcoming local events are free of charge.

Display ads are published for a fee only

Rates for Display Ads

Display ads must run for a minimum of one week. Payment is required at the time ads are submitted. Graphics should be high resolution and ads must be readable on a cell phone screen. Do not submit an all-graphic ad containing a lot of small print; it will be unreadable on smaller screens. Email the Editor for exact details on the best format for ads.

Business card size:
$25 per week, $100 per month

Double business card size (square):
$40 per week, $150 per month

Full-width banner:
$40 per week, $150 per month

Full width banner at top of front page:
$100 per week, $400 per month

Display ads are posted in full color and will include active links to your website, Facebook page, or email unless you opt out.

Classified ads are $10 per week for up to 100 words, $0.05 per additional word.

The Editor reserves the right to reject any ad for any reason.

Ad design services are available for reasonable rates. Contact Inanna at editor@winchendoncourier.net

Submit ads, Clyde's Corner listings and announcements to Editor@winchendoncourier.net

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Employment

(In accordance with ARTICLE XXVII of the agreement between the Town of Winchendon and AFSCME Council 93, Local 1887, Department of Public Works)

DPW MECHANIC

38.5 HOURS PER WEEK/OVERTIME REQUIRED
RATE OF PAY $20.59 PER HOUR*

REQUIREMENTS:
MA CDL CLASS B
MA 2B HOISTING ENGINEER LICENSE

THE TOWN OF WINCHENDON IS AN AA/EOE EMPLOYER

JOB DESCRIPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE DPW OFFICE, WINCHENDON TOWN HALL, 109 FRONT STREET, WINCHENDON, MA 01475

Salary can be adjusted dependent upon experience.*
Application Deadline:
Interested applicants must apply in writing to the Town Manager by October 21, 2020. Positions are open until filled.

Job Opportunity
Department of Public Works

The Town of Winchendon seeks qualified applicants for the position of Director of Public Works. The Director of Public Works oversees all aspects of the Winchendon Department of Public Works including highway maintenance and construction, sanitary and storm sewer maintenance and construction, solid waste disposal, traffic and parking control, parks and recreation maintenance, water supply and distribution, and snow removal.

The Director of Public Works is expected to work with other department heads as well as local and state officials to plan for and seek funding of the maintenance and capital needs of the Public Works Department.

The Director of Public Works position is a full time, 40 hour per week salaried position with excellent benefits. The current wage range is $83,595 to $107,016. A Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or another related engineering discipline preferred; completion of one (1) to two (2) years of graduate study in public administration or management preferred; a minimum of five (5) years of related construction and engineering experience, including at least two (2) years in a management/supervisory capacity; or any equivalent combination of related experience and education with additional years of experience substituting for years of education. Required to have a valid motor vehicle driver’s license. For complete job description visit https://www.townofwinchendon.com/home/pages/job-opportunities.

Please mail a cover letter and resume to Keith Hickey, Town Manager, 109 Front Street, Dept. 1, Winchendon, MA 01475 or email to khickey@townofwinchendon.com. The deadline is noon, Thursday, October 15, 2020; however, the position will remain open until filled.

Winchendon is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

The Immaculate Heart of Mary church is looking for a Facilities and Grounds Manager. Duties include taking care of the church, rectory, grounds and cemetery. General maintenance of buildings, lawn mowing, pruning, mulching and snow removal. Working with vendors for larger jobs related to the facilities. Coordination of burials at the cemetery, working with excavation contractors and stone vendors. Maintaining the cemetery landscaping, mowing, trimming and pruning. Please submit resumes to IHM Church, 52 Spruce St. Winchendon, MA, 01475 or by email to renee@heartofmary.net

The Clark Memorial YMCA is hiring the following:

Health Screening/Cleaning staff
Multiple positions, flexibility essential

Member Service Rep
Various shifts available, flexibility essential

School Age Child Care Staff
Multiple positions available, now hiring for mid/late August start

Custodian
Female, Mon-Fri, 11:30am-2:30pm

Bring a completed application to the front desk of the YMCA, 155 Central St., Winchendon, or email to k.scrivines@clarkymca.org

JOB POSTING
(In accordance with ARTICLE XXVII of the agreement between the Town of Winchendon and AFSCME Council 93, Local 1887, Department of Public Works)
OPERATOR 3, Step 1 –DPW/HWY/CEMETERY
38.5 HOURS PER WEEK/OVERTIME REQUIRED
RATE OF PAY $20.10 PER HOUR
REQUIREMENTS:
MA CDL CLASS B
MA 2B HOISTING ENGINEER LICENSE
THE TOWN OF WINCHENDON IS AN AA/EOE EMPLOYER
JOB DESCRIPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE DPW OFFICE, WINCHENDON TOWN HALL, 109 FRONT STREET, WINCHENDON, MA 01475
Application Deadline: Open until filled
Interested applicants must apply in writing to the Town Manager.
Positions are open until filled.

Zoe's Restaurant and Pizzeria is seeking motivated enthusiastic individuals to assist in food preparation, pizza making and general daily kitchen tasks. Apply in person at 435 Spring St., Winchendon.

Christo's Place in Winchendon is hiring delivery drivers and counter help. Apply in person at 51 Central Street, Winchendon.