Town Purchased COVID-19 Home Test Kits to be Handed Out to Residents
The Town of Winchendon will distribute town-purchased COVID-19 home test kits free to residents of Winchendon only on two days this weekend and next week. The tests are part of an inter-municipal large bulk purchase which allowed municipalities to obtain nearly 30,000 test kits to aid their residents in ongoing efforts to better identify and treat continuing high infection rates in the area.
Gardner Mayoral Staff Executive Aid Colin Smith told the Courier that the large bulk purchase primarily was made by Gardner, Athol, Westminster, Winchendon and Templeton. According to Smith, the largest purchase of 15,000 test kits was made by Gardner. Westminster purchased 7,500, while Athol purchased 5,000. Winchendon and Templeton purchased 1,000 test kits each. Hubbardston also participated at a lower level with just 50 test kits. Smith confirmed that Gardner had already delivered test kits to Heywood Commons, where there is a larger elder community in assisted living units.
Previously, Winchendon received 2,250 COVID-19 home test kits provided by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which were made a first round distribution priority by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for municipalities hardest-hit based on various criteria. Town Manager Justin Sultzbach had confirmed that the town of Winchendon had ordered more tests to supplement a current lack of market availability to Winchendon residents, at a cost to the town of $10.00 per kit, or $5.00 per test as there are two tests per box. The large block purchases allowed all municipalities to buy in at a savings of 58 percent off online and brick-and-mortar store prices. Recent checks of both the Walgreens and CVS websites find each retailer selling tests such as BinaxNow, QuickVue, and other single box kits of two tests at $23.99 each.
Winchendon has placed roughly 90 kits of the 1,000 purchased aside for municipal workers including employees from Town Hall, Department of Public Works, Fire Department, and Police Department in an effort to continually provide all municipal services on an uninterrupted basis. The intention is to assist employees who feel they may be infected, help those employees find out if they need medical attention, and better protect their coworkers so as to avoid any office or departmental shut down of services.
The bulk purchases also aimed to help local hospitals, such as Heywood Hospital, lower its patient burden by allowing local residents to test at home, rather than seeking a test at an Emergency Room. Heywood Hospital has been near or at full capacity for months, with a major uptick in COVID cases since the week after the November, 2021 Thanksgiving holiday. Town Manager Justin Sultzbach stated that the office of State Representative Jon Zlotnik (D-Gardner) had been and continues to be heavily involved in the bulk purchase process and delivery coordination.
Winchendon will distribute the free COVID-19 home test kits to Winchendon residents only on Saturday, February 5, during the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm., and Monday, February 7, during the hours of 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the former police station building located at 15 Pleasant Street next to Town Hall. (NOT the current police station on Central Street.) Verification of current address (such as a current driver's license or utility bill) will be required at the time of distribution to receive the free tests. All tests will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis to Winchendon residents only. There is a limit of three kits per household, with each kit providing two tests each. Residents may also apply for four test kits per household though the federal government or the United States Postal Service website.
Sultzbach wanted residents to know, "COVID-19 has created some unique challenges for our community and has placed a significant strain on front-line municipal operations. While the Federal Government is working to make test kits more affordable and accessible over the coming months, it is our hope that this one time distribution will help relieve some of the stress and burden that Winchendon families are feeling as we fight together to navigate the complications created by this pandemic."
To apply for federally provided household COVID-19 test kits online please visit www.covidtests.gov/
or go to the United States Postal Service website, https://special.usps.com/testkits.
Town Considers Funding Wastewater Treatment Plant infrastructure by Accepting Septic Waste for Processing
This churning machine in the center which is one of two one-million-gallon wastewater tanks, according DPW Director Brian Croteau, has constant issues with large debris such as flush approved disposable wipes nd more causing clogging problems in the system.
Photo by Keith Kent
These two large heavy duty industrial Sludge Pumps have seen more than their fair share of materials over two decades.
Photo by Keith Kent
Winchendon Department of Public Works Superintendent Brian Croteau informed the Board of Selectmen at their meeting on Monday, January 24 that the current Wastewater Treatment Plant is only working at half of its original design capacity, and has the ability to treat waste from other towns, allowing Winchendon to collect fees and increase revenue.
The town of Winchendon currently has some 5,600 town water users, but only some 1,300 wastewater or septic customers, utilizing only one half of the plant's capacity, Croteau said. This leaves room for financial opportunities as more homes in Winchendon run on home based septic systems than not. Croteau said, "Our plant was completed 21 years ago. and it was not completed to its capacity because the town ran out of money."
Croteau stated that the existing equipment is taking a beating from all the "disposable" flushable wipes that are flushed into the wastewater system, and a lot of other facilities have placed safeguards to catch the wipes before they get to the plant because they cause so many issues. "Because our plant is twenty-one years old, we have begun to have some issues with breakdowns, not because of operator error, but because of the age of the equipment. What I am looking to do is put in a process that stops the wipes and grit debris, but also be able to take in outside sewage." Outside sewage is also known as Hauler Septage Disposal pumped from private septic systems.
Croteau mentioned Templeton as being able to take in septic waste pumped from Templeton residential septic systems, and how the Templeton wastewater treatment plant can accept it at a reduced price for residents, and still take in outside waste to be processed at a higher price. He mentioned that Winchendon's plant, which is only running at half capacity, is fully dependent financially on the town sewer ratepayers. "We have to get creative about how we fund the plant, because if we don't you will end up with more increased charges on the users, because there are only just so many grants out there," Croteau added.
A fesability study is needed to see if the plant is still capable of doing the extra work, what would it take to stop the debris from coming into the plant, and what the town could profit by getting this done. "If we could as example have the project paid for in three years, then it would make sense. We don't want to have to come back to the BOS, or the rate users and say 'We have to do $10 million in upgrades in the next five years' because I want to be able to get creative with this, and a feasibility study with ARPA Funding would allow us to get creative and find a way to make the town revenue, and I think it's a smart investment to spend $25,000 for a feasibility study, and then be able to confidently tell the town with this then specific plan of action, what we can do."
Town Manager Justin Sultzbach stated that he felt Director Croteau was doing an excellent job and he supported the concept of looking into possibilities to find ways to making the plant more money, and due to that being able to increase revenue and also fund necessary plant equipment. Sultzbach said he would look forward to an ROI (Return on Investment) projection, and that potentially spending $25K in ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act of 2021) funds would be an expenditure well worth it to get answers and possibilities. "I am kind of scratching my head as to why the town hasn't done this yet, and it would be a great way to use these funds to make money and also fund large capital expenditures coming down the road that we at this time don't have a way to fund yet," Sultzbach said.
Selectman Danielle LaPointe asked Sultzbach if the plant was already, by her understanding, 80 to 90 percent of the way there to what the plant would need? Sultzbach confirmed, "The plant in terms of what we would need is about 90 percent there, and the investment in terms of what we would need to do to take this additional septic would be part of the study, and at that point we would come back to the board to see if there is an appetite for perusing that. We would have firm numbers at that point, and be able to say it's going to cost 'X', we will pay it off in 'Y', and here are the numbers we would be generating year after year after that."
Selectman Amy Salter said, "I think it's great you're looking at things like this and have ideas like this, but it makes me wonder why we pay a fee for a company to run that plant, yet it hasn't come up with something like this for us when the plant keeps running the way it is and our fees keep going up when nobody from that private company seems to be addressing these issues?" Croteau replied, "I went to Veolia and they said to me, this is absolutely possible but you're going to have to make some investment. So it's not just me, they are working with me on this."
Croteau also informed the board that Fitchburg and Templeton are the only two treatment plants in the area that are accepting this kind of waste, and that if Winchendon offered this kind of service for processing the waste closer to home with less travel, he couldn't imagine why the three main contractors in the area wouldn't want to dump out in town even at the same price due to location.
In closing Croteau said, "It's not just about price, it's also about convenience. So if they could pump out an extra two tanks a day because we are already here in town, it kind of makes sense. There is not a ton of plants out there that do this, and I don't know why this plant is set up the way it is or why they built it the way back then like they did, but it may turn out to be good for us in the end."
On a January 26 site visit with the Winchendon Courier, Croteau confirmed wastewater treatment plant repair expenses are budgeted for $50,000 annually. The plant, which is 21 years old, and reached final completion around 2004, was never totally finished back in the construction phase to its full potential as the town ran out of funds during that time period. The plant to this day has seen over 184,000 hours of operation.
This Circulation Center room at the Winchendon Wastewater Treatment Plant, depending on the weather, handles anywhere from 500,000 gallons, to one million gallons of flow per day.
Photo by Keith Kent
This separation holding tank, one of two, holds up to one million gallons of waste water and is some 30 feet deep.
Photo by Keith Kent
Selling Cookies that Please on Snowmageddon Eve, Annual GSCWM Cookie Fundraiser in High Gear
Selling Cookies in the cold for a great cause!
Seen in this photo selling cookies on a cold New England winter night, from left to right are Kelci Schulz, Evianna Schulz, Julie Lafrennie, and Ava Malcolm.
Photo by Keith Kent
Girl Scout Cookie Menu
The advertisement provided by the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Mass, displays eight potential cookie choices depending on local availability.
Cookie Advertisement by GSUSA
Members of local Girl Scout Brownies and Junior Troop 64744 diligently worked a Central Street cookie sales booth in front of Edwards Jones Investments, with temperatures in the teens on Friday, January 29, making the most of their time just before the arrival of Saturday's Nor'easter snowstorm. The storm slammed the coast and many towns inland with both snow and high winds. The young ladies led by Kelci Schulz of the Winchendon Girl Scouts served all takers of every variety of cookie on the cold evening with a warm welcome and even warmer smiles. The cookie sales booth fundraising will continue through March 12.
A new "Adventurefuls" lineup may or may not have all items available at the time of sale due product availability. Please support Troop 64744 and enjoy eating their delicious cookies, or giving them away as welcome gifts! Local Brownies and Juniors can be found selling cookies on the following dates (weather permitting) at the following Winchendon locations.
Feb 11: 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Feb 23: 4:00-7:00 p.m.
Feb 25: 4:00-7:00 p.m.
March 5: 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Cumberland Farms, 32 Central Street
Feb 4 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Feb 16 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Feb 21 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Feb 22 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Feb 24 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Feb 19 and 20 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Feb 26 and 27 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
The Homestead Market, 59 Gardner Road (Rte. 140)
March 12 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Beals Receives $2000 Grant from DA's Office for All-Town Read Program
Left to right, Winchendon Chief of Police David Walsh, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr., Beals Memorial Library staff member Patti Stanko, Beals Memorial Library Director Manuel King and Beals Memorial Library Trustee Jane LaPointe, beaming behind their masks as DA Early presents the $2,000 grant check to Trustee LaPointe.
Photo by Inanna Arthen
Best-selling author/illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka grew up in Worcester and created this graphic novel about his experiences with addiction as a youth.
Photo by Inanna Arthen
On Thursday, February 3, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. and deputy Director of the DA Office's Communications Department Casey Shea visited the Beals Memorial Library to personally present a grant check in the amount of $2,000 to support the All-Town Read program being developed by the library. The grant comes from a special fund the DA's office has established for programs addressing substance abuse and addiction issues in Worcester County communities.
The book planned for the All-Town Read is Hey, Kiddo, a graphic novel memoir by New York Times-bestselling author/illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka. Mr. Krosoczka has created more than forty books for young readers, including the popular Lunch Lady graphic novels, select volumes of the Star WarsTM: Jedi Academy series, and Hey, Kiddo, which was a National Book Award Finalist. The book's description says, "Hey, Kiddo is a profoundly important memoir about growing up in a family grappling with addiction, and finding the art that helps you survive."
A native of Worcester, Mr. Krosoczka still lives in Western Massachusetts with his family. Beals staff member Patti Stanko was teaching in Gardner when she heard Mr. Krosoczka speaking on the radio and was inspired to bring him to speak in Winchendon. Mr. Krosoczka visited the Gardner High School about two years ago, Ms. Stanko said.
The library is working to raise funds for purchase of books, Mr. Krosoczka's speaking fees and other elements of the program, which the library hopes to launch later in 2022, possibly in the fall. They have also received funding from the Winchendon Cultural Council. Dates and details will be announced as they are finalized.
Local COVID Numbers Down Slightly, Lag Far Behind Commonwealth Progress
The town of Winchendon after several consecutive weeks just below or above 20 percent viral positivity, has for the first time in almost one month dipped below the 20 percent mark, registering 18.4 percent positivity, not including all store/online purchased and state provided home health testing kits.
The ten-town area surrounding Winchendon dropped from an average of 22.5 to 19.5 percent, a full 3 percent drop, again not including all store/online or state provided home health testing kits. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health lists the Commonwealth at a 14-day average of 10.06 percent positivity, per the most recent Mass DPH update as of 5:00 pm, Thursday, February 3.
While still far behind the rest of the Commonwealth, many towns began to realize decreases in our local ten-town area. Ashburnham dropped from 23.08 to 20.47 percent. Ashby dropped from 23.29 to 19.47 percent. Westminster dropped from 22.91 to 16.53 percent, a strong decline. Gardner dropped from 26.73 to 22.71 percent. Templeton dropped from 19.74 to 16.98 percent. Phillipston also decreased from 22.46 to 20.65 percent. Athol was the only area town to go up, increasing from 23.08 to 24.11 percent. Royalston dropped from 20.66 to 18.28 percent. Hubbardston also dropped, from 21.86 to 16.93 percent. Again, these numbers do not include any positive results from home test kits which are not mandated to be reported to Mass DPH. It is reasonable to add at least 5 percent or more for home test kits to any municipality's individual positivity level.
At the Winchendon Public Schools, student vaccination rates are still lower than much of the Commonwealth. In the district, ages 5-11 are 15 percent fully vaccinated, and 23 percent partially vaccinated. Ages 12-15 are 39 percent fully vaccinated, and 43 percent partially vaccinated. Ages 16-19 are listed by Mass DPH as 44 percent vaccinated and 51 percent partially vaccinated.
The town of Winchendon as a whole is currently listed by Mass DPH as increasing by only 1 percent from the prior week's report, to 55 percent fully vaccinated (up from 54 percent), and 62 percent partially vaccinated.
In closing, our town can't take its foot off the public health gas, as we are far from hitting the brakes on any comfortable level of municipal vaccination. The longer people remain un-vaccinated, the longer each serves as a potential living biological host for more viral mutations to come. This is scientifically proven. If you are not yet vaccinated, please talk to your primary health care physician, and please get vaccinated if you are healthy enough to do so.
Keith Kent
Chair
Board of Health
Town of Winchendon
Free at-home COVID-19 rapid tests are available for order and shipment through the United States Postal Service®. Each order will contain 4 tests. There is a limit of 1 order per residential address. Additional tests cannot be ordered regardless of the size of the household.
This effort is part of a federal program to provide free at-home COVID-19 tests with free shipping to every residential address and residential PO Box in the United States. Orders cannot be shipped outside of the United States, but we do ship to APO/FPO/DPO addresses and U.S. territories and possessions. Tests cannot be ordered for business addresses or business PO Boxes. Orders will ship free starting in late January. Tests will usually ship within 7-12 days. Click link below to order.
COVID Home Tests | USPS
To schedule a free COVID-19 vaccination, including a booster, at any time, go to www.mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine.
