Town Election Monday, May 2
Beals Memorial Library to Host School Committee Candidate Forum
Tuesday, April 26, 2022 6:00 pm
The Beals Memorial Library in Winchendon will be hosting a Q&A Forum for confirmed School Committee candidates on Tuesday, April 26 at 6:00 p.m. Interested residents are invited to attend the forum in person at the library or watch the event livestreamed via the Beals Memorial Library's YouTube channel.
Voters are encouraged to submit questions for the candidates to the library, either in person or by email at bealsmemoriallibrary@gmail.com by Friday, April 22. Please type "Forum Question" in the email header. Questions will be compiled, and the final list will be provided to participating candidates by Sunday, April 24.
At the forum, each candidate will have a 10-minute opening statement. Moderator, Inanna Arthen, editor of The Winchendon Courier, will then present each question, with each candidate having the same amount of time to answer. Candidates may also choose to submit written answers if they wish.
The Annual Town Election is being held May 2, 2022 at Old Murdock Senior Center, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Gregory S. Vine is running for a 3-year term in an uncontested race. A two-year term sees a contested race between: Michael Barbaro (incumbent); Alicia E. Jordan; and Kevin M. Nelson.
School Committee Candidate Questionnaires
As we have done in previous years, the Courier invited all the candidates in the upcoming Town Election to contribute their responses to a few questions about their candidacy. The School Committee candidates' responses appear this week so that Winchendon voters can read them in time to consider their own questions to submit for the Beals Memorial Library's Candidates' Forum. The candidates for Board of Health, Board of Selectmen and Town Moderator will be published next week.
Kevin M. Nelson
School Committee, Two Year Unexpired Seat
How long have you lived in Winchendon?
My family and I moved to Winchendon about 8 months ago, in August of 2021.
What inspired you to run for a seat on the Winchendon School Committee?
With two young children in WPS, and one starting in the fall, I decided I could no longer sit on the sidelines and simply "hope for the best" in regards to their education.
After a since resolved concern regarding age inappropriate books, and the backlash from those who could not properly distinguish the difference between "banning" books, and simply preventing sexually explicit books from being accessible to young eyes, it was obvious to me that having a voice at the table would be an asset to likeminded concerned parents, unwilling to take an apathetic approach to appropriate content. While I respect the difficult job of our educators, the concern over what is appropriate, especially for younger children, is in the spotlight all across our country, and parents need to be vigilant and involved in this regard.
What unique skills and experience will you bring to the School Committee?
Unlike many who seek a seat on the School Committee, I have no experience in teaching or school administration. I believe my greatest asset to the committee is a fresh set of eyes, and experience as a parent of four; One who has since graduated and was President of the her high school's NHS, two high-functioning children on the autism spectrum, and a little ball of energy who will start Kindergarten in the fall. I have a strong attention to detail, and I am both creative and analytical, which should be very helpful in finding new and creative solutions to the challenges of the future, and maybe even having some fun as a community along the way.
What do you see as the Winchendon Public School District's greatest strengths to build on?
Communication. There is currently a very exceptional effort to keep parents informed about special dates and upcoming events. I feel this could expand further to include more transparency with parents about current classes, content, and texts being used.
What do you see as the areas most in need of improvement?
According to usnews school rankings, it would appear that college readiness, and math and reading proficiency need to improve if our children are going to graduate, ready to compete in the workforce. This is why I hope as a community, we can continue to keep a sharp focus on academics and how to improve the results.
What do you see as the greatest challenges faced by the School Committee in the next two years?
I believe that the greatest challenges we will face will involve continuing to build and maintain mutual trust and understanding between administrators, teachers, and families through transparency of the classroom experience, in light of recent national concerns, and, learning to properly balance any State DEI requirements with the values of all people in the Winchendon community, without unnecessarily undermining anyone's faith or traditional values in order to reach the common and necessary goal of treating all students and families equally, and with the respect and kindness that all are entitled to.
How will you help the School Committee deal with them?
In both areas, I believe it starts with attentively listening to community feedback, and coming up with realistic goals and solutions so that all feel as though the educational experience of each student is both equal and productive in the areas schools were created to focus on.
What else would you like the voters of Winchendon to know?
Most anything one could wish to know about me, and then some, is in the four-part pinned post on my ‘Kevin M Nelson for Winchendon School Committee' Facebook page.
I would simply add that we all approach things through a certain lens. Some have said that my faith and politics are irrelevant, while simultaneously making assumptions and judgments about me based on these things. My lens is that of a conservative Christian father. I don't apologize for that, or try to hide it. None of that disqualifies me from serving my community fairly and conscientiously.
Michael Barbaro
School Committee, Two Year Unexpired Seat
(Incumbent)
How long have you lived in Winchendon?
I've lived here for 20 years.
What inspired you to run for a seat on the Winchendon School Committee?
I have always been passionate about the schools and education of the students in our community. I feel that I have a lot to contribute and can be an asset to the Winchendon Public Schools.
What unique skills and experience will you bring to the School Committee?
I previously served on the School Committee and other boards in town, which gives me a unique perspective. I am very familiar with the funding formulas and budget process for the school budget and its impact on the town budget. During my time as the School Committee chairperson, the Committee was recognized as one of the highest functioning School Committees in the state. Along with the superintendent at that time, Brooke Clenchy, I was invited to speak at the state Superintendent Mentoring
I am proactive in seeking funding for the school department. I helped to obtain funding from a state program for new boilers at Toy Town Elementary. More recently, I reached out to State Senator Anne Gobi to obtain funds for the ventilation system that was needed to reopen Toy Town Elementary during the pandemic, resulting in a state contribution of $250,000.
What do you see as the Winchendon Public School District's greatest strengths? What do you see as the areas most in need of improvement?
I see the greatest strength of our school district to be the resiliency of the people involved in it, from staff to students, as well as the families and volunteers who take their time to get involved.
An area that I would like to see improvement in would be finding alternative funding sources, such as grants and state programs, which would allow us to accomplish goals, while decreasing the burden to taxpayers. Our infrastructure is aging and will need upkeep in the future.
I would also like to see the return of our after school program, which was previously recognized by the state as an exemplary program. Restoring this would increase options for many families in our community.
What do you see as the greatest challenges faced by the School Committee in the next two years? How will you help the School Committee deal with them?
The greatest challenges will be sustaining funding for the programs and people we are able to finance now. I will continue to reach out and try to find alternative funding sources while serving on the Committee.
Another challenge is recovering what we have lost in the last two years, academically, emotionally and socially. Students will need to have their social and emotional needs met, as well as to catch up on skills not mastered during the pandemic. I will be a strong advocate for social emotional programs for students.
What else would you like the voters of Winchendon to know?
Since moving to Winchendon, I have been a strong advocate for the Winchendon Public Schools. I raised two children who graduated from Murdock High School. Throughout my years here, regardless of what role I took on, I have always had the best interest of our school department in mind and have worked hard for our schools. I would like to continue to do so and ask for your vote for School Committee.
Alicia E. Jordan
School Committee, Two Year Unexpired Seat
How long have you lived in Winchendon?
I have lived here for ten years.
What inspired you to run for a seat on the Winchendon School Committee?
I come from a public school background. I had a wonderful experience and education at my public school in Canton, NY. After college, I had the privilege and opportunity to teach social studies for ten years at a small public school in rural Northern New York.
What unique skills and experience will you bring to the School Committee?
I think my experience as a public and private school teacher has developed my leadership and philosophy on education. I believe education is ever-changing, and we need to meet the needs of our teachers and students during this transformational time. Adapting and learning a myriad of education systems will help me be a formidable member of the School Committee.
What do you see as the Winchendon Public School District's greatest strengths? What do you see as the areas most in need of improvement?
Winchendon Public School's greatest strength is understanding and seeing how to meet the needs of a changing society and educational system. Resources and support are the best way to help Winchendon Public Schools reach their potential. Teachers and administrators are taking steps through DEI initiatives that are beneficial to all stakeholders. Supporting the whole student is key to providing a sound education to the next generation. Understanding where people are coming from, all walks of life, is an example of how we can support students. Students having a safe, educational environment is key to learning at school, and that comes from understanding people, not judging. Through my time at TWS, I have taken courses in diversity and inclusion through Cornell and earned a certification in that discipline to help and provide concrete ideas and initiatives. Additionally, I have created and implemented a curriculum to support DEI work. Not only are core classes and social-emotional curriculum vital, but I think exploring a skills-based/trade-centered program offers multiple pathways for students to find their passion.
What do you see as the most significant challenges faced by the School Committee in the next two years? How will you help the School Committee deal with them?
Funding. Advocating state legislatures about allocating resources to rural and economically deprived areas will help provide to our teachers and students.
What else would you like the voters of Winchendon to know?
I support teachers, administrators, and students to be better citizens of the community and society within the school systems and beyond. Overall, I am dedicated to being a lifelong learner. I do not shy away from difficult conversations.
Gregory S. Vine
School Committee, Three Year Seat
(Incumbent)
How long have you lived in Winchendon?
A total of 19 years. 1996-2002, 2009-present.
As an incumbent, what inspired you to run for another term on the Winchendon School Committee?
I enjoy serving on the committee and feel I still have much to contribute to our district and our community.
What unique skills and experience will you bring to the School Committee?
The experience of having served on the committee for a total of ten years, first from 1999 to 2002, and from 2015 to the present. It was not so much experience that first motivated me to run but the desire to see to it my children and grandchildren received the best education possible. During my first term on the committee, I had two daughters attending Winchendon public schools. Presently, I have five grandchildren at various grade levels--from kindergarten to 8th grade.
What are you most proud of, or satisfied with, in your past service on the School Committee?
I am proud of the fact that every vote I have cast has been cast in what I believe to be the best interest of the students. I am very proud of having led the search committee that ultimately brought Superintendent Landers to the district and of having supported the hiring of Superintendent King from the moment Ms. Landers tendered her resignation. As a result, we have given the district the kind of consistency in administration it has sorely needed for many years. The superintendent's office has ceased being a revolving door.
Speaking generally, I am proud of the fact that every vote I have cast as a member of the committee I have cast is what I believed to be the best interest of our students and of our taxpayers. I also take pride in having done what I thought best, not only for grandchildren, but for every student and staff member in response to the public health emergency we were forced to deal with beginning in March 2020.
What do you see as the Winchendon Public School District's greatest strengths? What do you see as the areas most in need of improvement?
I believe we have an effective administrative team, a faculty dedicated to providing the best education possible to our students, and a support staff second to none. In addition, our curriculum has been strengthened and improved in recent years; it is a curriculum providing the kind of rigor required to challenge our students--to ensure they move from one grade level to another based on hard work and comprehension. The dual enrollment program with Worcester State University has been, I believe, of enormous benefit to our high school students.
And while there is always room for improvement, I see our staff doing its best to facilitate social/emotional education and to promote acceptance of all students by staff and classmates.
One area that certainly needs improvement is the effort to educate the community and the taxpayers regarding the work being done each day to provide our students with what they need to succeed as they move from one grade level to the next and, eventually, as they move on into the workforce or the world of higher education. More needs to be done to encourage greater parent and community involvement in district activities and to make it as easy and affordable as possible for parents to allow their children to participate in sports and other extracurricular activities.
Unfortunately, more always needs to be done to stamp out bullying and intimidation amongst the student population, but I believe our staff strives to do its best address this ongoing problem.
What do you see as the greatest challenges faced by the School Committee in the next two years? How will you help the School Committee deal with them?
Despite an influx of budgetary support coming to the district via the federal response to the COVID pandemic, the challenge remains for us to fiscally responsible. The funds funneled to the district via the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) run out in two years. Superintendent King and his administrative team have done an excellent job in ensuring those funds have been spent wisely. Instead of using those monies to hire staff--staff which likely would need to be cut in two years--it has been applied to making improvements to the district's physical plant, for the purchase of equipment, and for other purposes.
In a district which receives a relatively small amount from the community over and above that which is required by the state, maintaining a level of educational excellence can be a challenge. I believe our school committee, in its various iterations in recent years, has done its best to see that funds are spent as wisely as possible. I am committed to doing my best to see that we continue to provide the best education to Winchendon's children with the monies available to us.
What else would you like the voters of Winchendon to know?
Each time I have run, I have run not to be a "conservative voice" or a "liberal voice" on the committee but simply to be a voice for the students, the taxpayers, and the community as a whole. I believe I have accomplished that simple goal. Every vote I have cast has been cast with that thought in mind. That will not change. The committee has been, and should continue to be, apolitical in nature. We see what political divisions and ideologically driven agendas have done to sour our national political dialogue. That is the last thing we need on any board or committee in a small town like Winchendon. Working together, disagreeing respectfully, and accepting individual defeats maturely is the only way to ensure all of us serving on those boards and committees are doing "the people's business."
Finally, I have--and will--make mistakes. But I will always endeavor to do my best for my community.
Recreation Committee Hosts Town-Wide Easter Egg Hunt in Winchendon Community Park
Pre-Egg Hunt Gathering
Just some of the over 200 parents, guardians, and children who gathered at the Winchendon Community Park for the Recreation Committee's Easter Egg Hunt and festivities on Saturday, April 16.
Photo by Keith Kent
Quality Easter Bunny time
These two young children were just a few of many who were able to have their pictures taken with always welcome and famous Easter Bunny!
Photo by Keith Kent
After being rained out on April 9 and keeping fingers crossed for a week, the Winchendon Recreation Commission hosted a well-attended Easter Egg Hunt and activities for children at the Winchendon Community Park on the morning of Saturday, April 16, with over 200 people participating. Children got to enjoy some much needed outdoor activity, a feeling of normalcy, and some quality time with the Easter Bunny while searching for chocolate, finding lollipops in the lollipop woods, and playing games.
As the forecast was for rain and wind moving in from the west, there was no time to be wasted getting the events off to a timely start. With plenty of parking on the field and lots of vehicles pulling in, attendance was looking good as members of the Recreation Committee had already been hard at work skillfully depositing 1,700 plastic eggs with candy eggs placed inside along the parks fields and trails. Recreation Committee member and event organizer Tiffany Newton, RC member Debra Bradley, Emily Bradley as Student Representative, volunteer Tina Santos helping direct traffic and parking, and other event volunteers such as Dawn Higgins and her husband, and Gina Barrett, all worked diligently to make sure there was plenty to do and provide for the many hands attending.
Age groups for the Easter Egg Hunts were divided into three categories. First children up to 3 years of age, followed by those ages 4 to 7, and then children ages 8 to 12. Along with the 1,700 plastic eggs were special "Prize Eggs" individually numbered 1 through 28, which when found could be turned in at the events official prize table, to redeem a prize of the winner's choice.
In addition to the main event, children of all ages were treated to that always welcome and highly coveted official visitation by the Easter Bunny! Pictures of children with the Easter Bunny, to be emailed to parents, were offered free of charge at the event by professional photographer Alyssa White of Winchendon. With this kind act, White wanted to add something special to the day for families so they could to have something to remember their children's egg hunt.
Making a run for it!
It was a mad dash at the start as parents had to work to keep up with their children once the green light was given, as can be seen by these children making a run for it trying to quickly gather some of the 1,700 Easter Eggs carefully laid out all over the Winchendon Community Park.
Photo by Keith Kent
Prize Table
Prizes seen on this table at the Recreation Committee's Easter Egg Hunt could be won by any participating child who found an egg numbered 1 though 28.
Photo by Keith Kent
Shortly after the entire event was over, the fields and paths picked clean of eggs, and the cleanup nearly finished, the rain which thankfully held off just long enough finally began. Nature's free pass ran out, but not before Recreation Committee members had a chance to load up their last belongings knowing they had completed a job well done for their community, and discussing things they may or may not do differently next year, with plans already underway.
As the last one off the park property, Recreation Committee event coordinator Tiffany Newton summed up the event to the Courier simply as, "I am really excited at how big this event is today. I was so shocked, we actually had people showing up as early as 9:30 a.m. this morning long before the event even started, and even out in the street and lining up in the road, and I thought to my self, 'Wow this is going to be so much bigger than I thought!' This is really awesome, and I am glad that everybody here with the families and their children were really excited, this is great."
Collection basket
A very young boy places his newly found eggs in his Easter Bucket with a little help as he continues his search!
Photo by Keith Kent
Choosing your prizes
Young Zayden Newton of Gardner happily collects two prizes as he was lucky enough to find not 1, but 2 of 28 numbered eggs!
Photo by Keith Kent
Central Street Reconstruction Project Progressing on Schedule
On Wednesday, April 20, Baltazar Contracting moves a large industrial cement trench form as a heavy front loader drops clean dirt down into the area around the new sewer lines.
Photo by Keith Kent
The Central Street Reconstruction Project, which broke ground in late March of this year, is not only progressing very well, but is slightly ahead of schedule, even with the many rainy days and cool weather during the month of April, according to Department of Public Works Superintendent Brian Croteau.
Starting at the intersection of Central Street and Front Street by Cumberland Farms, sewer lines and mains have been being replaced during normal business hours Mondays though Fridays, up to Not Just Produced at 290 Central Street across from CVS, where the project was quickly approaching on Wednesday, April 20. While all business have remained open, there have been "Business Open" signs placed along areas where digging has been in progress to help alleviate any potential confusion. Water lines were temporarily dug up and rerouted along Central Street sidewalks, both above ground and channeling under roads and driveway cuts as needed.
Once the the sewer lines and mains are fully replaced (ending at Not Just Produced), the replacement of all water lines along with all proper connections will commence, for the length of Central Street to the junction with Front Street, Croteau told the Courier. Previously, Croteau informed the Board of Selectmen that the pipes under Central Street were as much as and in some cases over 100 years old, which had resulted in multiple blown water pipe situations in the downtown business district over the last several years.
Croteau explained, "The project is really going well at this point in time, and yes we are actually slightly ahead of things. We have found a few areas of ledge rock, but things like that are to be expected. Overall, we really can't complain right now. Traffic will continue as needed at times to be rerouted one way up Central Street and back down Pleasant Street. Please be patient, as this project will truly benefit our town for many years to come."
For background on the Central Street Reconstruction Project, see:
February 28, 2019 Presentation on Central Street Project (PowerPoint)
Central Street Reconstruction Design Plans Presented to the Board of Selectmen November 1, 2017, with link to PowerPoint presentation.
Beech Street Properties Legally Signed Over to Town, Town Manager Confirms
Seen from the sidewalk, the former 4 C's Garage on Beech Street was legally signed over to the Town of Winchendon by its former owner on Wednesday, April 20. The person who still occupies the building will soon need to vacate the premises, and has yet to remove many items even though they have been given multiple documented good faith advisories of the pending change since early 2021.
Photo by Keith Kent
Town Manager Justin Sultzbach confirmed to the Courier that as of Wednesday afternoon, April 20, the properties at both 3 Beech Street, the former 4 C's Garage, and 11 Beech Street, a two family home, had been officially legally signed over by Bonnie Therrien of Waterboro, ME to the Town of Winchendon via their attorneys.
Sultzbach stated that once final legal fees have been paid for processing the papers and transfer of the properties from Therrien, the process of emptying the garage and site for future demolition, along with removal of all hazardous materials, can commence. A small family-friendly waterfront park is slated to be developed on the site.
The duplex, which will become property of the Winchendon Redevelopment Authority, will be completely rehabilitated from the ground up and sold at full market value, to aid the town in recouping the entire cost of the project. Both properties, the duplex and the garage, are the only two situated along Beech Street that have true waterfront frontage, with no right of way separating abutting property from the water, unlike the other properties to the north of them along Beech Street. Those properties are separated from the water by parcel 146 and Winchendon Hydroelectric LLC, as can seen on the town assessor's database maps. This should increase the market value of the duplex.
Current town estimates on the duplex range around $300K, as it potentially offers rental income, is waterfront property, and would allow for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing if desired by tenants or the owner right outside their back door. Additionally, with Bull Spit Brewing heavily underway rehabilitating its nearby Summer Drive location just up the street, with an outdoor concert venue for summer and fall, owners or residents of the duplex could enjoy the concerts on the pond section of the Millers River from watercraft or their back yard, another value boost.
At this time the former garage property and building are still jam-packed with various objects both inside and out. The person who has occupied the property for years has been given numerous notices since early 2021, by the Town Manager, that the time was approaching when the premises would need to be vacated, giving the individual nearly a year to make reasonable accommodations.
Sultzbach said, "This was a big step forward for the town regarding the project. Once the town pays the legal fees for the paperwork, and we soon take possession of the properties, we are going to change the locks on the garage. The person currently occupying the building is going to need to work with us on when he can remove his belongings in a supervised capacity to get as much out as he can. We want to get this project moving for the good of the town, and as I have said before, it will greatly improve the appearance of our entrance to our downtown central business showcase, which is currently seeking major renovations and improvements at this time."
BOS Approve Permits for a Full Slate of Upcoming Town Events
At their meeting on April 11, the Board of Selectmen approved entertainment and food permits for a number of upcoming events in town, including the Earth Day cleanup, concerts, a road race and the Solstice Celebration Fair.
The town-wide Earth Day cleanup celebration will take place on Monday, May 7, during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. A large dumpster for refuse collected will be located on Pleasant Street, across the street from the Town Hall. Earth Day is marked officially on April 22, but the town's cleanup date was moved to May by the Board of Health in hopes of warmer weather and a higher turnout than the previous year. BOS Chair Audrey LaBrie said, "We ask if anybody could take a little bit of time to help out around town, that would be terrific." Gloves and bags will be provided.
The Winchendon Senior Center applied for an Entertainment permit for a "Musical Celebration of Lives Lost During the COVID Period" on Sunday, May 1, at G.A.R. Park. Bob Jordan, representing the Senior Center, said, "We are attempting to bring the community together to have a memorial to have a remembrance of everybody who has passed away the last two years. We've chosen May 1st, Sunday afternoon, hoping spring will fully be here, and we just hope it will be a chance for everybody to get some closure from this ordeal we all have been through." Funding for the event has been provided by the Winchendon, Royalston, Ashburnham, and Templeton Cultural Councils. Selectman Rick Ward noted that the rain date is May 15.
Click map for larger view
The Clark told the Courier that registration for the 5K Race is now open. The first 50 people who preregister get a free shirt for the race. If you preregister, the cost is $5.00 up to June 15, $10.00 after June 15.
Following the Road Race on Saturday, June 18, the Clark will host its annual Summer Solstice Festival during the hours of 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A Clark representative present stated nearly all the vendors, food concessions, bouncy house and other activities will be located in the lower field due to the Central Street Reconstruction project. There will be no parade due to the road work, but the parade is expected to return at future Solstice Festivals after the Central Street project is completed.
A "Family Appreciation Brunch" is scheduled to take place at the Winchendon Community Park, on May 7, at 10:00 a.m., as Mothers Day is Sunday, May 8. In case of rain, the event will be relocated to the Clark gymnasium. Food will be provided by the Winchendon Community Heart and Soul project. Food, games, and music will be provided at the event.
Tiffany Newton of the Winchendon Recreation Commission came before the Board for several event permits. A "Food Truck Festival / Battle of the Bands" was proposed at the G.A.R. Park in Winchendon, on Friday, June 24, with the Food Truck Festival and the Battle of the Bands events taking place during from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Newton said, "We opted to make this the kickoff for a lot of our summer recreation, with the Battle of the Bands as the general kickoff to our Summer Concert Series. The event will be partnering with Woo-Trucks for the food trucks, and the winner of the bands will win a regular spot in the regular summer concert series." Newton said there will also be craft vendors, and lawn games available, with portable rest rooms in the far back corner of the field. Bull Spit Brewing Company will serve adult beverages.
Newton announced that the Summer Concert Series has applied for the following dates at G.A.R. Park: Fridays, July 8, 15, 22, and 29. While the season has been shortened slightly, it added the June 24 date with the Battle of the Bands.
The Board thanked Newton for her assistance to the Recreation Commission.
Area COVID Average Positivity Rate Stabilizing, Slight Rise from 3.67 to 4.00 Percent
After more than doubling from a very low COVID-19 viral positivity testing average of just 1.23 percent on April 7, to 2.74 percent on April 14, Winchendon COVID rate seems to have stabilized, as the Thursday, April 21, Massachusetts Department of Public Health Report lists Winchendon only increasing slightly to a still very manageable 3.01 percent positivity.
Overall, the surrounding ten town area saw a slight rise, increasing from 3.67 to 4.00 percent, even though sven of the ten towns reported an increase of the Omicron BA.2 sub-variant dominant strain. Other towns increasing were Ashburnham at 3.99 percent, Gardner at 3.19 percent, Templeton at 4.02 percent, Phillipston at 4.17 percent, Royalston at 3.85 percent, and Hubbardston at 4.39 percent. Both Templeton and Hubbardston realized the largest area increases, nearly doubling on their 14 day reporting average, versus the prior 7 day report. Those decreasing were Ashby, dropping from a very high 9.32 to a still higher than desirable 7.04, Westminster going down just slightly to 4.23 percent positivity, and Athol, reporting a very comfortable low 2.02 percent positivity.
In the nearby North Quabbin Region, while Orange went down from 5.60 to 3.64 percent, Warwick increased from 6.45 to 8.33 percent, New Salem increased from 5.00 to 6.06 percent, and Erving along the Route 2 corridor very rapidly shot up to 8.65 percent.
Overall, the Massachusetts 14 day testing average now registers at 3.72 percent positivity even with the new variant, which, while the dominant strain, is not linked to the much larger hospitalization rates of its variant predecessors.
Keith Kent
Chair
Board of Health
Town of Winchendon
Montachusett Public Health Network Covid-19 Vaccination Clinic
at the Clark Memorial YMCA on April 29, 2022 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
The Montachusett Public Health Network is hosting a Covid-19 Vaccination Clinic at the Clark Memorial YMCA, 155 Central Street, Winchendon, on Friday, April 29, 2022 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Registration encouraged but walk-ins welcome!
Vaccines available: Pfizer, Moderna and J&J
Doses: All doses available
Ages: 5+
To register, call the Montachusett Public Health Network COVID-19 Response Team at 978-602-2356, Monday-Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Pleaase bring vaccine card and health insurance card if you have them.
$25 grocery gift cards available on a first come, first serve basis (eligibility criteria apply).
