The Winchendon Courier - Local Happenings

Serving the community since 1878 ~ A By Light Unseen Media publication

Week of February 24 to March 3, 2022

Fly Through February with Some Fun Films at the Beals Memorial Library

Kick back and relax through the winter chill with some fun movies this February at the Beals Memorial Library in Winchendon. Each month, the library invites patrons to stop by for a few indoor movie events, fit for varying ages. Here's what's playing this month:

On Wednesday, February 9, at 6:00 p.m., the library will start off the month with the science fiction feature Dune (rated PG-13), based on the novel by Frank Herbert. Starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, and Rebecca Ferguson, the film follows young noble, Paul Atreides, as his family falls into conflict over a harsh, inhospitable planet that's the only source of "spice," the most valuable commodity throughout space.

Later in the month, on Wednesday, February 23 at 1:30 p.m., the library will be showing the classic 1967 crime drama Bonnie & Clyde (rated R) for this month's Classic Movie Matinee. Starring Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, and Michael J. Pollard, this film follows the notorious crime duo, famed for their cross-country crime spree.

Rounding up the month, on Saturday, February 26 at 11:00 a.m., the library will be playing Clifford the Big Red Dog (rated PG) for their Family Matinee, starring Darby Camp, Jack Whitehall, and Izaac Wang. In this live-action adaptation of the beloved children's series, a young girl adopts a puppy who grows to gigantic size, attracting the unwanted attention of a greedy company looking to profit off of super-sized furry friends.

All movies at the Beals Memorial Library are free and open to the public. All movies are shown in the library's auditorium, and all guests must wear masks while inside the library. All movie-goers are welcome to bring their own snacks to the movies.

The Beals Memorial Library is located at 50 Pleasant Street in Winchendon. For more information, call the library at 978-297-0300 or visit their website at bealslibrary.org.

Parent/Professional Advocacy League Offers Support for Winchendon Families

In February 2021, PPAL launched a series of meetings designed to provide information and support for families in Winchendon and surrounding towns. These meetings, called the Winchendon Family Network Social, are being held virtually on alternate Tuesday afternoons. Parents whose children face behavioral health challenges discuss their experiences, share knowledge and tips and provide support. Groups are led by a trained facilitator.

Mental health concerns among children have grown during the shutdown due to the pandemic. Many parents report that they need help figuring out what to do and where to go. The Winchendon Family Network Social was designed to provide this help. For more information contact PPAL at parentsupportgroup@ppal.net

Lunch is served at the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon, at 11:30 a.m.
Call 978-297-3155 before noon the preceding day to RSVP. Suggested donation of $3 to help cover costs.

NFA Behavioral Health

Addiction and Mental Health Resources for Veterans

GROWING PLACES
LOCAL PRODUCE PICK-UP / DELIVERY PROGRAM

Do you receive SNAP?
If you do, you receive additional benefits every month that you cannot see on your SNAP fund balance to purchase local produce.
These benefits are called the Healthy Incentive Program (HIP).
This program is available only for MA residents.

About the Program
Begins the First Week of December 2020
Growing Places was just approved by the Department of Transitional Assistance to start a weekly produce delivery program for residents to use their HIP benefits. Download this form to sign up (PDF).
You can either mail the completed form to Growing Places, 325 Lindell Ave., Leominster, MA, 01453. OR, contact Growing Places by email (staff@growingplaces.org) or by phone (978-598-3723) and we will arrange a time to pick up your completed form. You can also contact us with questions about this program.

If you do not have SNAP you can still participate in this program.
Please call or email us and we will help you sign up via credit or debit.

Where does the Produce Come From?
Growing Places grows produce indoors during the winter hydroponically and purchases produce from our local farmers.

Current Produce Pick-Up/Delivery Schedule in Winchendon

Pick-up: Not Just Produced, 290 Central St., Friday between 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Home Delivery: Ipswich Drive Friday between 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Home Delivery: Hyde Park Drive Friday between 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Clyde's Corner

It's Happening Around the Winch!

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 25

School Vacation Program: Dr. Seuss Mobile Craft 11:00 a.m. Join us in making a fun Dr. Seuss themed mobile to decorate your room. Limited space, call 978-297-0300 or visit www.bealslibrary.org to register. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon. All visitors must wear masks inside the library building.

School Vacation Program: Legos, Games & More! 1:00-2:00 p.m. Children 5+ are invited to an afternoon of fun with board games, Legos and more. Limited space, call 978-297-0300 or visit www.bealslibrary.org to register. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon. All visitors must wear masks inside the library building.

Girl Scout Cookie Booth 4:00-7:00 p.m. Support Winchendon Girl Scouts and stock up on delicious cookies! Today out in front of 113 Central St. (across the street from Athol Savings Bank), Winchendon. May be cancelled due to snow storm!

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 26

Family Matinee at the Beals 11:00 a.m. Screening Clifford the Big Red Dog (rated PG), live-action adaptation of the beloved children's series about a gigantic dog. All movies are shown in the library’s auditorium, and all guests must wear masks while inside the library. All movie-goers are welcome to bring their own snacks to the movies. Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon, 978-297-0300.

SATURDAY-SUNDAY FEBRUARY 26-27

Girl Scout Cookie Booth 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. (both days) Support Winchendon Girl Scouts and stock up on delicious cookies! Today out in front of Ruschioni's Cruisin' 12 Diner, 241 School St. (Rte 12)., Winchendon.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 28

Fun & Games Club 3:30-4:30 p.m. Join in on the fun as the Library Auditorium becomes a kids' fun zone! There will be legos, games, puzzles, coloring, and more! Every other Monday at the Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon. 978-297-0300. All visitors must wear masks inside the library building.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 2

Beals FAM Club 3:30-5:00 p.m. Fandom, Anime and Manga Club for Teens. Make friends and enjoy fun discussions and activities centered on pop culture, entertainment, and all things geek! Every other Wednesday at the Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon. 978-297-0300. All visitors must wear masks inside the library building.

Adult Movie Night at the Beals 6:00 p.m. The library will screen Belfast. All movies are FREE and OPEN to the public. All movies are shown in the Library's Auditorium. Masks are required for all indoor library events. Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon.

THURSDAY MARCH 3

Preschool Playgroup 2:00-3:00 p.m. For families with children up to age 8. Join us for an afternoon of free play, a craft, story time, and music & movement. Masks required for anyone over 2 years old. Presented in collaboration with the Winchendon CFCE. For more information call the library at 978-297-0300 or email CFCE Coordinator Kristin Moran at kmoran@winchendonk12.org. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon.

Beals Book Club 3:30 p.m. Beals Book Club is a discussion group that allows avid readers to discuss the themes, plots, and characters of selected books. Come participate in the stimulating exchange of ideas, observations, and reactions to the current selections. The library provides the books each month. This month's book is The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. Copies available at the circulation desk. For more information, call 978-297-0300. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon.

Our Neighbor's Kitchen Dinner 5:30 p.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Served in the Parish Hall. This week the menu is pulled chicken with tomato and mozzarella salad and dessert. Free-will donation $2 per person, $5 per family; no one turned away. 52 Spruce Street, Winchendon.

Beals Poets Society 6:30-7:30 p.m. Poetry can be a powerful vehicle for expressing truth and beauty. Explore the world of poetry monthly at the Beals Library. Listen to what others have written, read your work or favorite poems. Discuss emerging topics, techniques, and more. This club explores the written word in a non-judgmental environment. Free program for teens and adults. First Thursdays of the month at the Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon. 978-297-0300. All visitors must wear masks inside the library building.

SATURDAY MARCH 5

Girl Scout Cookie Booth 5:00-7:00 p.m. Support Winchendon Girl Scouts and stock up on delicious cookies! Today out in front of 113 Central St. (across the street from Athol Savings Bank), Winchendon.

MONDAY MARCH 7

Game On! Tween Board Game Club 3:30-4:30 p.m. Children ages 8-11 welcome! Hang out at the Beals Library and play from a choice of fun games. Competitive, strategic, team-building, humorous and more! Every other Monday at the Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon. 978-297-0300. All visitors must wear masks inside the library building.

THURSDAY MARCH 10

Our Neighbor's Kitchen Drive-Through Dinner 5:30 p.m. at UU Church of Winchendon. Our Neighbor's Kitchen goes take-out! Pick up a hearty meal to go, while practicing safe social distancing. This week's menu will be sausage 'n noodle skillet dinner with cabbage and onions in a sour-creamy sauce. Drive or walk on through the front circle to pick up your meal. Free-will donation $2 per person, $5 per family; no one turned away. 126 Central Street.

SATURDAY MARCH 12

Girl Scout Cookie Booth 1:00-4:00 p.m. Support Winchendon Girl Scouts and stock up on delicious cookies! Today out in front of The Homestead Market, 59 Gardner Rd. (Rte 140), Winchendon.

Marriage Workshop At the Chapel Downtown 6:30-8:30 p.m. learn how to grow a healthier marriage, improve communication and love your spouse well. Date night prizes, dessert included. Limited space, RSVP required. Email CaringHearts@bbchapel.net by March 5 to RSVP. At The Chapel Downtown, 286 Central St., Winchendon.

AND COMING UP...

THURSDAY MARCH 17

Doc & Talk at the Beals 6:00 p.m. The library will screen the documentary Summer of Soul, followed by a discussion. All movies are FREE and OPEN to the public. All movies are shown in the Library's Auditorium. Masks are required for all indoor library events. Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon.

SATURDAY MARCH 19

Family Movie Matinee at the Beals 11:00 a.m. The library will screen the movie Encanto. All movies are FREE and OPEN to the public. All movies are shown in the Library's Auditorium. Masks are required for all indoor library events. Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon.

SATURDAY MARCH 23

Classic Movie Matinee at the Beals 1:30 p.m. The library will screen the movie musical Damn Yankees. All movies are FREE and OPEN to the public. All movies are shown in the Library's Auditorium. Masks are required for all indoor library events. Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon.

SUNDAY MAY 1

Celebration of Lives Lost, Winchendon Edition 2:00 p.m. Musician Bob Jordan, in co-operation with the Murdock Senior Center of Winchendon presents a musical memorial tribute to those who have passed away since February 2020 and whose families and loved ones have not been able to adequately commemorate their passing. Rain date: May 15. At G.A.R. Park, Spruce St., Winchendon.

SATURDAY JUNE 4

Beals Con 11:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. We want to bring Winchendon and the neighboring communities together and offer a family friendly space for our communities’ passion and love for geek culture through a mini comic convention. There will be guests, vendors, games, costumes, crafts, food, and fun for people of all ages. Join the Facebook Group for updates! At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon.

ONGOING

Regular ongoing activities will be added as they resume.

MONDAYS

Old Murdock Senior Center 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. A representative from Integrity Medicare Advisors will be at the Center to answer your insurance questions. Please call the Center at 978-297-3155 to make an appointment. 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon.

Old Murdock Senior Center 9:30 a.m. Chair Exercise/Yoga. Please call the Center at 978-297-3155 with any questions. 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon.

Old Murdock Senior Center 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Yoga with Sue. Indoors/Outdoors as weather permits. $3 per class. Please call the Center at 978-297-3155 with any questions. 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon.

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

WEDNESDAYS

Old Murdock Senior Center 9:30 a.m. Chair Exercise/Yoga. Please call the Center at 978-297-3155 with any questions. 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon.

Old Murdock Senior Center 9:30 a.m. Wii bowling, Pool/Card Games/Shuffleboard. Come join us for Wii bowling, or play a game of pool or shuffleboard upstairs. 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Old Murdock Senior Center 12:30-2:30 p.m. BINGO! $1.00 cover charge. Please bring your own snack and drink. 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Trivia Night at Zoe's 8:00 p.m. Ryan Murphy hosts Trivia Night at Zoe's Restaurant, 435 Spring St., Winchendon. No entry fee, gather your friends and create a team or come anyway and we'll match you up (some people challenge us all by themselves!).

THURSDAYS

Old Murdock Senior Center 12:15 p.m. Card games. Do you play cribbage? Spades? Bridge? Canasta? Pinochle? Pitch? Perhaps you know how but do not have someone to "play with." We are looking for more card players to join us on Thursday afternoon just after lunch in the dining room. 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

UPDATED: Youth and Family Changemakers Afterschool Program 2:45-4:30 p.m. A free program for kids and families grades K-5. Weekly games, crafts, teambuilding and community service projects. Parent/Caregiver & volunteers welcome. Registration required. Contact 978-616-7065 or admin@healwinchendon.org. Snacks and materials provided. At Toy Town Elementary School, 175 Grove St., Winchendon. Organized by HEAL Winchendon.

Celebrate Recovery: A Christ-Centered Recovery Program 6:30-8:30 p.m. Freedom from your hurts, hang-ups and habits. For more information contact Celebrate.Recovery@bbchapel.net or call 978-297-1493. At The Chapel Downtown, 286 Central St., Winchendon.

FRIDAYS

Old Murdock Senior Center 10:00 a.m. Senior Walking Group. Wear your comfy strolling shoes and take a walk with us! Please call the Center at 978-297-3155 with any questions. 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon.

Town Committee Monthly Meetings by Week

Most Board and Committee meetings are being held online via Zoom. See each Board or Committee's meeting agenda for details about meeting locations and instructions for joining a Zoom meeting by computer or telephone. Masks are mandatory for all in-person meetings.

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

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.

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

Employment

Department of Public Works Hiring Executive Assistant

The Town of Winchendon is seeking a highly qualified individual to fill the full time position of Executive Assistant to the Department of Public Works. The Executive Assistant is appointed by the Town Manager and provides administrative support to the Department of Public Works, is responsible for utility billing, issuance of street permits, and other department office functions, prepares bi-weekly payroll, processes accounts payable invoices, purchase orders and bi-weekly vendor warrants.

Prior experience with MUNIS software preferred. High school diploma or equivalent; Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in business or public administration or related field preferred; three (3) to five (5) years of administrative and/or secretarial experience in a medium to large office setting, preferably in a governmental agency.

This is a 40 hour per week position. The current salary range for this position is $20.10 - $25.73 per hour. Please submit a letter of interest and resume to Brian Croteau, Public Works Director, 109 Front Street, Dept. 4, Winchendon MA 01475 by Monday, February 28, 2022 at 12:00 noon.

See full job posting / job description here.

The Town of Winchendon is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

TOWN OF WINCHENDON
PARAMEDIC / FIREFIGHTER
FULL-TIME and PART TIME POSITIONS

The Fire Chief is seeking applications to fill one (1) Full-time Firefighter/Paramedic position along with numerous part time firefighter/paramedic positions. Qualified candidates should mail or hand deliver a letter of intent along with a resume to the Fire Chief. These positions will remain open until filled. Complete job descriptions are available at the fire station which is at 405 Central Street, Winchendon.

Full-time pay and benefits will be as outlined in the collective bargaining agreement between the Town of Winchendon and the International Association of Firefighters Local 4542. Part-time Firefighter/Paramedics will start at the current rate of $25.50 per hour.

Job Qualifications: In addition to the required qualifications outlined in the job description, the candidates must;
Have a minimum; high school diploma or equivalent;
two years of firefighting experience or Firefighter I/II training preferred;
Massachusetts EMT-P certification or in progress with completion within twelve months;
current CPR certification;
active Massachusetts Class D driver's license or higher.

Candidates must possess very good communication skills (both oral and written), computer knowledge, present a positive public image, have a good mechanical aptitude, relate well to children and senior citizens, work well with other employees while following department rules and guidelines.

** The Town of Winchendon is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer