Murdock Middle/High School Presents "Little Shop of Horrors"
Show Goes On for Two Performances Friday and Saturday, Feb 18 and 19
The cast and crew of the upcoming MMHS production of Little Shop of Horrors take a brief moment to provide a well earned group photo in between rehearsing acts for their upcoming musical performance.
Photo by Keith Kent
Cast members display their acting, singing, and dancing skills for their upcoming weekend performances!
Photo by Keith Kent
After nearly three action-packed months striving for local musical greatness, the talented and dedicated students of Murdock Middle High School are scheduled to host two flourishing performances of the 1982 musical hit, Little Shop of Horrors, on Friday and Saturday, February 17 and 18, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the MMHS Auditorium, providing theatrical acting, singing, comedy, and more for all to thoroughly enjoy.
Originally premiering Off-Off Broadway in 1982, later moving to the Orpheum Theater Off-Broadway, and followed by a Broadway production, the horror-comedy rock musical has been experienced by viewers around the world. Now both legendary and globally recognized, the musical originally directed by playwright Howard Ashman is being directed locally by Kristi Iannacone, who wants everybody to know you're truly in for an artistic entertainment treat.
With a cast and supporting crew over 55 strong, and no shortage of local businesses and sponsors donating to aid the worthy artistic cause, Iannacone made it clear that after months of practicing and planning, both she and the cast and crew of Little Shop of Horrors are ready to hit the stage running for their two two-act performances. Iannacone also said both she and the students would love to see a strong show of support by patrons, as it has been a long time coming to get back to allowing quality performing arts inside the school.
Iannacone is in her tenth year directing as she started in 2012. She said her son was a senior here when she started, and now her youngest is a senior at the school. With a smile and laughter, Iannacone said, "I have always always wanted to do Little Shop of Horrors and I am so excited we get to do it this year, it's been my dream show to be honest! I can't believe it." She went on, "The school provided a 'Quick little variety show' at the beginning of the academic year, and we then started right back up again after that during COVID-19, and the we started going to work on this. We have over twenty students in the cast alone, and we have kids working the lights backstage and helping with other items as volunteers. One here who came back to help is an alumnae, and her sister is also an alumnae who came back to help also previously, and we are thankful to get a lot of them who come back to help. They love to bring their notes, and tell the kids their opinion," Iannacone said with a chuckle.
Members of the cast of Little Shop of Horrors diligently work on their choreography packing the state with energy and zeal.
Photo by Keith Kent
Now with COVID numbers rapidly beginning to trend downward just in the nick of time, the production has gotten an official green light, and over 1,000 collective hours of work by Winchendon's dedicated young students from both the middle and high school is about to hit the stage for all to enjoy with what is truly set to be a local performing arts two night extravaganza. Iannacone added, "We are here most days from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and others we are here until 7, 8, and 9:00 p.m. until we finish. These kids have really put the hours in. This is Middle through High School, and we even have a couple 6th grade and 7th grade students in this production. These kids are also really awesome mentors, and they love taking the younger kids and help show them the ropes and teach them about the stage. It's such a great group."
An energized Iannacone also emphasized, "We want everybody who can to come out and support us. I truly feel the performing arts do not get as much credit as some other activities which are going on in the community. To have a small cast in a small district to be able to pull off a show like the Little Shop of Horrors is an amazing feat and these are extremely talented kids, and I feel if you even watch ten minutes of it you are going to be like wow, they are so talented!" These students have worked really really hard, and I think the community should absolutely come out and see how talented their students are. A nice big full audience will be amazing for them to see that kind of community support there is for them!"
In closing, Iannacone said, "I am excited and nervous at the same time. Everybody is dying to see live theater again, and I think we are going to have a really great turnout. Please come out and support these great kids and students, who have worked so hard to make this come true."
Tickets are available at the door at the school auditorium. Admission is $10 for adults, children are $7 each, and Senior Citizens are welcome free of charge, however a donation is welcome at the door if any senior would like to donate any amount.
Performers look interestedly upon a young "Audrey II" before it grows into a man eating plant!
Photo by Keith Kent
The now-famous "Mushnik's Flower Shop" discusses business as participating high school actors execute their lines with clarity.
Photo by Keith Kent
Bud Barn Grand Opening a Small Business Grand Slam
Cutting the ribbon!
Seen center photo cutting the official Grand Opening ribbon are owners Beth Nichols and Marla Lagrassa sharing the giant grand opening scissors during the Grand Opening of Bud Barn on Saturday, February 12. Seen in front row of photo from left to right are Winchendon Planning & Land Use Coordinator Nicole Roberts, Winchendon BOS members Chair Audrey LaBrie and Vice Chair Rick Ward, Owners Beth Nichols and Marla Lagrassa, and Winchendon Redevelopment Authority members Ken LaBrack and Leston Goodrich. Back row left to right, owner Anthony Parrinello, Bud Barn General Manager Stephen Bombard, Jack Daly, Waler Lagrassa, and Winchendon Planning Board member Burton Gould Jr.
Photo by Keith Kent
Citation received. A ribbon cutting is great, and so is receiving that all Official Massachusetts State Legislature Citation of Recognition for your business Grand Opening! Seen in this photo left to right during the Saturday, February 12 Grand Opening are WInchendon BOS Vice Chair Rick Ward, State Representative Jon Zlotnik, owner Beth Nichols, owner Marla Lagrassa, State Representative Susannah Whipps, Winchendon Redevelopment Authority members Ken LaBrack and Leston Goodrich. Back row left to right, Bud Barn General Manager Stephen Bombard, Jack Daly, owner Walter Lagrassa, and Winchendon Planning Board member Burton Gould Jr. Not seen in photo, BOS Chair Audrey LaBrie.
Photo by Keith Kent
Great weather and 50 degree temperatures helped out a Grand Opening with over thirty people in attendance, as Bud Barn of Winchendon celebrated its official Grand Opening Saturday, February 12, Superbowl weekend, with vehicles pulling in to go shopping one after another.
With smiles plentiful and positivity abundant, State Representatives Jon Zlotnik (D-Gardner) and Susannah Whipps (I-Athol) joined members of the Town of Winchendon Board of Selectmen, Planning Board, Redevelopment Authority, and Land Use Clerk's offfice, in a jubilant celebration of more than two years of hard work finally coming to fruition.
Any entrepreneur who was "seeking greener pastures in the potential budding business" will be the first to say that it's seemed like an uphill battle since Massachusetts voters passed Ballot Question 4 over five years ago in 2016 to legalize the sale of recreational marijuana in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The ballot question was passed, with delays, to the State Legislature on December 28, 2016. On July 19, 2017 both the House and Senate then passed bill H. 3818, increasing the excise tax on marijuana sales from 3.75 percent to 10.75 percent. Added to the state's 6.25 percent sales tax, H. 3818 made the total state tax on marijuana sales 17 percent. The bill also increased the percentage that municipalities are allowed to tax marijuana sales from 2 percent to 3 percent.
These issues and more, followed by what many in the business world have regarded as a beyond slow rollout of licensing by the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) compared to other states (such as Colorado which went from citizens voting at the polls to products on shelves in just six months), highlight some of the many reasons why Bud Barn's Grand Opening in the Town of Winchendon was truly a major business accomplishment for both its some dozen investors and the town.
The ceremony began with Ken LaBrack reading the following town declaration: "The Town of Winchendon and the Redevelopment Authority are excited in welcoming this newest business, in its first ever, recreational cannabis dispensary, the Bud Barn. We wish them many years of prosperity and success within our community!" LaBrack then jokingly added, "Some residents are here to celebrate this momentous occasion, while others were hoping for free samples. Sorry, there are none."
Zlotnik followed with, "You might have noticed by now the state has brought in some reinforcements for me, and I now joined by Susannah Whipps, who now also represents the Town of Winchendon with me. We are here today with a citation from the House of Representatives congratulating you on your new business venture, an wishing you all here the best of luck."
Winchendon Board of Selectmen Chair Audrey LaBrie spoke about the town's work and Bud Barn adding, "I can't remember how long ago we first looked at and approved this first business venture, about four years, to bring this cannabis business into town, a lot of work went into it. Planning and Development did a lot of work on this, Zoning worked on it, the townspeople supported it. On behalf of the Town of Winchendon and the Board of Selectman, we wish you all the best of luck." One of Bud Barn's business co-owners, Anthony Parrinello, responded, "We are so appreciative of the town and its support over the last four years, and it was very progressive in its local ordinances to allow this space this use. Everybody was just wonderful and we appreciate your support and we look forward to being an anchor member of the community for years to come, so we all just thank you."
Bud Barn co-owners Marla Lagrassa and her husband Walter Lagrassa, who at one point lived in the structure that is now Bud Barn before its remodeling, had their daughters and grandchildren on hand for the special occasion. Lovingly with bright smiles, their two grandsons asked their grandmother if they could please go inside the house and play like before, to their grandparents' laughter. While they were politely told they could no longer go inside as their grandparents didn't live there any more, it was clearly a joyous occasion all around for their family.
The Lagrassa family has been in business in Winchendon for nearly three decades. Marla Lagrassa was asked what it meant to her to see the certification from the State Legislature handed to all the business owners and co-owners signifying the true Grand Opening. Lagrassa replied, "It was a long time coming, and I am proud of everybody we worked with. We got a lot of support from the town, the selectman, all the town officials, and of course our group of investors, we all worked so hard to get to this point today. We are very proud to find a way to give back to the community, and it's going to be a great venture for everyone." Marla's husband Walter Lagrassa followed, "It's overwhelming. It's just overwhelming to see all these people here, it feels really good. I can't say enough about the town and how much it helped us all out, and we have now made a lot of friends with these people we are in business with. it means a lot to my family, and it also means a lot to all of us." Walter Lagrassa confirmed that since the store's "soft opening," business has been great. Marla added, "I am so proud to be part of this community, it's like a family. Being in business where for twenty-eight years it's a family, and it begins with family and the community you live in."
After the ceremony ended, LaBrie and BOS Vice Chair Rick Ward were asked what it meant to them, after all the town's years of hard work, to finally see it all in motion. Ward said, "It's no secret that I voted against marijuana shops coming to Winchendon. It's something that I am just not into and don't believe in, but because it did pass, I support the town's will as they voted to accept this. Among the most enjoyable things I get to do as a selectman is attend ribbon cuttings to show that business is coming to town. So I support this business 100 percent even though I voted against it in the beginning, but it's now legal so lets go forward."
LaBrie in closing said, "I don't know where we stand with other towns on these kinds of businesses, if we are ahead of the process or behind in the process, but there has been a lot of work completed by many town departments, and then don't forget all the Town Meetings where we had to keep bringing it forward. But like Anthony Parrinello said, people like Tracy Murphy, Director of Planning and Development, were very proactive. She and the town had A, B, and C together before you needed it down the road. I know it's a controversial subject, and I respect people who feel this is not the right way to go, but it's a fact of life, it's legal, and it's a source of income for the town, and I am just glad to see we finally have something to show for all the years of work we put in to this."
Mantis Expanding Juniper Street Cannabis Operation into Neighboring Walgreens Building
The Board of Selectman held a Community Outreach Meeting on Monday, February 14, regarding a proposed Host Community Agreement (HCA) revision for the Marijuana Cultivation and Manufacturing Facility proposed by Mantis Management Group LLC to be expanded from the currently planned new construction at 2 Juniper Street to 250 Central Street, presently occupied by Walgreens Pharmacy and directly abutting the Juniper Street site.
Town Manager Justin Sultzbach summarized that the town currently has a HCA in place with Mantis, which owns the property located at 2 Juniper Street. Mantis is seeking to amend the HCA, as the old Walgreens building will be vacated due to Walgreens now having full legal permission to construct its new store at 270 Central Street.
Sultzbach elaborated, "The folks at Mantis Management are looking to continue with their plans at 2 Juniper Street, but would like to utilize the building currently occupied by Walgreens as part of their operations, and that is basically the extent of the HCA that they are looking to make. We are looking for the BOS to authorize my office to hash out the details of the HCA Agreement, just to include that additional parcel."
BOS Chair Audrey LaBrie inquired if this would affect the current Juniper Street site plan. Sultzbach informed the board that there were no modifications to that site at this time, and any future changes would have to go through the Planning Board. Sultzbach also said the current building located at 2 Juniper Street is slated to be removed and a new structure to be constructed in its place at a later date yet to be determined. Selectman Barbara Anderson asked if the company in effect was doubling the scope of their plans, and Sultzbach agreed that would be accurate, with a yes vote, which would only authorize Mantis to move forward with the ability to go through the Planning Board, Zoning Board, and other legal requirements to obtain approvals.
Anderson express concerns with any potential anticipated additional costs such as more trucks causing aging on the roads, if more police would been needed, or others, before approving anything. Sultzback explained that the Cannabis Control Commission places limits on how much a municipality can claw back potential community impact fees, and the CCC limits that figure to 3 percent which is in the original HCA and would continue to be in the HCA. Sultzbach also said the other figure to know was that the CCC requires the municipality in exactly one year, to provide an itemized list of all expenses realized by the town such as police calls, staffing time spent by the town, etc, in order for the business to be open and operating. LaBrie expressed she was not so concerned with the expanded project as long as it was within the guidelines which both the state and Planning Board would set.
Mantis Management Group CEO Wendell Orphe addressed the Board, saying their intent had not changed to knock down the present 2 Juniper Street building and construct a new facility on that site. They're looking at a 46-week lead time to get the building before they can begin construction, with up to 18 months longer for final inspections. With these delays, Orphe said this opportunity came up a couple of months ago, when they were negotiating the easement with the property owners of 250 Central Street, who offered to lease them the space. Mantis is asking to transfer their license agreement to the new location.
When asked by Anderson about building size, Orphe explained that their cultivation license would remain a Tier 1 license, which allows for a 5,000 square foot canopy. The future business will still be a small operation, with 10 to 11 employees. Production will be limited to a "solvent-less extraction" process and would not have a negative effect on either area or town traffic. Orphe also stated that if they were able to sell 85 percent of their product, they would then be able to apply to move up to a potential future Tier 2 license, which would be capped at a 10,000 square foot canopy. The new building slated to be constructed on Juniper Street is 8,000 square feet, with a 5,000 square foot canopy.
With the public hearing closed, a motion was then made and seconded to allow the Town Manager to negotiate an alteration to the HCA currently in place for 2 Juniper Street, Winchendon, and to come back to the Board for a final approval. The motion passed 3-0, with Selectmen Audrey LaBrie, Rick Ward, and Barbara Anderson all in agreement. Town Manager Justin Sultzbach will bring the developments on a future HCA Agreement to the Board for approval.
To visit the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission online, visit masscannabiscontrol.com.
To view the previous application by Mantis Management provided to the Massachusetts Cannibis Control Commission online go to
masscannabiscontrol.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/PL-XS-MANTIS-MANAGEMENT-MCN281390-MPN281550-v.3.pdf (PDF)
Bids for Community Park Amphitheater Project Come in Unexpectedly High
Bids for the Winchendon Community Park Amphitheater Project were opened on February 3. The lowest bid came in some $700,000 above the cost initially estimated for the construction portion of the project by the Robinson Broadhurst Foundation in fall of 2019, to the dismay of Robinson Broadhurst and the town.
Town Manager Justin Sultzbach told the Courier that he met with Robinson Broadhurst representatives on Tuesday, February 15 to discuss options. There were two possible paths forward. The first would be to reject all bids and and send the entire project back for redesign, scaling back the materials and scope of the project to reduce cost estimates, then putting out a call for bids on the new specifications. However, this would require additional expense in paying the architects for the redesign, and further delays in breaking ground. Each year of delay would increase the final costs by approximately 4 percent, Mr. Sultzbach said, explaining that the primary reason for the cost inflation is the two years of COVID pandemic which has caused and continues to exacerbate critical shortages and skyrocketing costs for labor and building materials throughout the construction industry.
The second option would be to accept the low bid, increase the funding for the current project and move ahead as soon as practicable. Mr. Sultzbach stated that after discussion with Robinson Broadhurst, the committee has increased the funding for the amphitheater project to $3.8 million, up from the original amount of $3,250,000 in 2019.
Amounts already expended or encumbered from the funding amount, per figures provided to the Courier by Mr. Sultzbach, are:
$340,000, Owners Project Manager
$410,000, Architect and Engineering Fees
$285,000, Project Contingency funds
$1,035,000 Total committed to project so far
The lowest bid amount totals $2,882,306 for site work, paving, grading and utilities, making the projected total cost of the amphitheater project now $3,917,306. The bidder is City Enterprise, Inc. of Springfield, MA.
For complete Courier coverage of the amphitheater project since its inception, see the following:
February 6, 2020: Focus Group Offers Feedback on Plans for Amphitheatre in Winchendon Community Park
November 19, 2020: Robinson Broadhurst Foundation and Abacus Architects Present Plans and Timeline for Performing Arts Center in Winchendon Community Park
June 24, 2021: ConComm Hearing for Community Park Amphitheatre Project Raises Questions, Concerns
July 29, 2021: Water Runoff and Wetland Questions Bog Down Winchendon Community Park Amphitheater Project
August 5, 2021: ZBA Does Site Visit for Winchendon Community Park Amphitheater Project
August 26, 2021: Winchendon Community Park Amphitheater Gets Go-Ahead with Approvals by ConComm, Planning Board and ZBA
October 14, 2021: Ingleside Drive Duplex Becomes Fire Training Exercise as No Funds Available to Save the Structure
MA Appellate Court Quashes Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Town
On Monday, February 14, a three-judge panel of the Massachusetts Appeals Court affirmed a summary judgement ruling for the Town of Winchendon in a wrongful death and negligence lawsuit brought against the town by New Hampshire resident Sharon Roy in 2018. The panel agreed with Worcester County Superior Court Judge Shannon Frison who ruled in March, 2021 that Winchendon is not liable under the Massachusetts Torts Claim Act.
According to the Appellate Court Decision (which may be read here),
on the evening of January 9, 2017, Ms. Roy's mother, Sharon Dick, age 63, was one of two passengers in a car investigated by Winchendon police on a report of erratic driving. The car was found parked, facing the wrong direction. The driver passed a field sobriety test, but due to the driver's "erratic behavior," the car was impounded by police. The second passenger left the scene on foot, and another Winchendon police officer transported the driver and Ms. Dick to their homes in a cruiser.
Ms. Dick asked to be taken to her house in Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire. The officer reported that he shone the cruiser's headlights on the steps and driveway of the house, opened the cruiser door for Ms. Dick and offered to assist her in getting into the house. Ms. Dick declined assistance, walked up some steps and disappeared around the back corner of the house. The officer departed without seeing any lights inside the house.
Ms. Dick was later found deceased outside the house, having succumbed to "environmental hypothermia." It was found that the car's driver had Ms. Dick's house keys. The autopsy found that Ms. Dick had a blood alcohol content of 0.258 and may have fallen outside the back door.
In her complaint, Ms. Roy had contended "that once the officers impounded the car in the exercise of their community caretaking function, they assumed a duty of care with respect to the occupants of the car, which they failed to exercise with proper diligence."
The Appellate Court ruled that the Ms. Dick's death resulted from natural causes which were not created by the town (e.g. the cold temperatures) and that the complaint faulted the officer for a failure to act (e.g. not accompanying Ms. Dick to the door), not an affirmative action which placed Ms. Dick at risk. Police are required by state law to remove intoxicated drivers from the roadways and legally have no discretion in this decision. The summary judgement that the Town of Winchendon is not legally liable for Ms. Dick's death was therefore upheld.
Second Week of Substantial Drop in COVID Numbers for Winchendon
School Committee Votes to End Student Mask Mandate on February 28
For the second consecutive week, Winchendon has seen a much needed large percentage reduction of COVID-19 positivity rates, dropping to under 10 percent for the first time in several months, registering at 8.79 percent positivity. It also marked the fourth consecutive week of a positivity drop, since the previous Massachusetts Department of Public Health documented town record of 21.47 percent on January 20.
Since then, Winchendon has trended downward from 20.79 percent on January 28, to 18.64 percent on February 3, to 13.63 percent on February 11, to the newest Thursday, February 17, report of 8.79 percent percent testing positivity, down 36 percent in just one week, a 53 percent drop in just two weeks, and a 58 percent drop in three weeks. The rapidly spreading Omicron variant which replaced the much more deadly Delta variant has been steadily dropping off nearly as fast as it previously spread upward.
Our ten town area, like all sectors of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, has also seen a very positive move of cases trending downward. Locally with Winchendon at 8.79 percent, neighboring Royalston dropped all the way from 11.39 to 5.80 percent. Ashburnham dropped from 17.47 to 12.99 percent, and Westminster dropped from 12.12 to 9.89 percent. Ashby two towns to the east, once at 26 percent on January 13, is now down to 7.43 percent. Gardner, which during the height of the Omicron surge registered a record high of 26.73 percent on January 28, in the last week has dropped from 16.64 to 8.89 percent. Templeton dropped over 3 percentage points to 10.01 percent positivity, and fellow school district member Phillipston realized a large downward move of 18.35 to 12.9 percent. Athol, which previously achieved a record high of 25.18 percent positivity on January 13, in the last week dropped from 18.86 to 11.23 percent. Hubbardston also dropped significantly from 11.02 to 5.98 percent.
Based on the available data difference between the February 11 report and the report of February 17, the ten town area surrounding Winchendon has in one week dropped from 14.42 percent testing positivity, to 10.86 percent. It should be noted that all numbers above do not include any store bought, or town or state supplied home COVID testing kits, as none come with any reporting mandates.
Town vaccination percentages to date documented by the Massachusetts DPH improved slightly, moving up from 55 to 56 percent now fully vaccinated, at 5,976 of 10,756 residents. Among youth age groups in Winchendon, the 5 to 11 year old bracket is now documented at 21 percent fully vaccinated, and 24 percent partially vaccinated. Among 12 to 15 year olds, the town is listed at 41 percent fully vaccinated, and 45 percent partially vaccinated. Among 16 to 19 year old teenagers, 45 percent are fully vaccinated, with 52 percent being partially vaccinated.
At its meeting on Monday, February 14, the Board of Health voted 4-0 in favor of discontinuing the mandated wearing of masks in all town owned-public buildings after February 28, following the lead of the Commonwealth and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), which are dropping their masking mandates for students, leaving it to each municipality. This vote of the BOH also left the decision up to the Town Manager for all town-owned buildings and departments, rather than individual department heads.
At its meeting on Thursday, February 17, the Winchendon School Committee, after much thoughtful discussion by committee members and members of the public in attendance, voted 3-2 in favor of following the guidance recommendation of Governor Charles Baker and Massachusetts Commissioner of Education Jeff Riley to drop the school masking / facial covering mandate, effective February 28. The School Committee reserves the right to revisit the masking issue at any time, should the potential need arise depending on future COVID positivity levels. Additionally, due to a current United States Center for Disease Control public order, masking is still Federally mandated on all public school buses. Individual school districts have no say or control over the matter. Masks must be worn on all public school buses until the CDC order is dropped.
In closing, while the COVID positivity percentages are dropping nearly as quickly as they previously moved upward, please know Winchendon Board of Health still recommends becoming vaccinated if you are not yet vaccinated, if you are healthy enough to do so. If you have any questions, please consult your primary medical physician, or assisting medical office staff. Please do not pay any attention to the nearly countless false medical claims circulating on social media, by people with no medical training whatsoever, who often do zero research on what they are posting or sharing. Please, have that conversation with a qualified medical physician.
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.
