Saturday, October 18 ~ 4:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Haunted Happenings
Join us for a spooktacular night of family fun as Haunted Happenings returns--bigger and better than ever!
Costumes, candy, creepy fun... we've got it all!
Here's what you can look forward to:
Trunk or Treat with the YMCA 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Live Band & Halloween Games
Haunted Trails after dark (enter if you dare!)
Unicorn Rides by Hyridge Farm
Food Trucks & Local Vendors
Hayrides from Murdock Farm
Petting Zoo by Animal Craze
We're thrilled to welcome Tattoo - Acoustic Dance Band to the Haunted Fair at Winchendon Community Park!
Get ready for an unforgettable performance featuring:
Walden Whitham--vocals, saxophone, clarinet, flute, rubboard (Winchendon's beloved former music teacher)
Costumes encouraged. Fun guaranteed.
Tag your boo crew and we'll see you there!
This Week's Winchendon News
Perfect Weather and Plenty of Visitors for 9th Annual Winchendon Fall Fest
The 9th Annual Winchendon Fall Festival took over Central Street on Saturday, October 11 from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., with close to 200 vendors and booths lining both sides of the street from CVS on corner of Maple Street, to Cumberland Farms at Blair Square. Along with the pop-up tents and tables, Central Street businesses were open, some with special attractions like a pop-up vintage vinyl record sale at the newly opened Sleepy Hauler Antique Center. With perfect weather--temperatures in the 60s and a partial overcast to keep the sun from being too oppressive--visitors poured in. From 10:30 a.m until around 3:00 p.m., the roadway was consistently so crowded, the rolling mini-train making ciruits up and down the street had some challenges getting through.
The parking lot by the Clark YMCA served as a center for the event. The equipment for the live bands was arranged there, although this year there was no stage or platform elevating the players above the pavement. A large party tent with seating underneath sheltered visitors as they ate food or listened to the musicians. Bands included Maggie Neff, TWO for the ROAD, Down Daizy and Winchendon's own hometown favorite, The BIG RanDom, which has been taking some time off this year and has been missed.
Around the big tent clustered some of the food concessions, including The Glen Caffe and Not Just Produced, The CAC/Kiwanis food tent, and The Farm Stand. The Parks & Recreation booth faced the street, with the pie baking and pie eating contests, a corn hole set up and a pumpkin painting station for the kids.
But there were far more food offerings than would fit in the lot. Eateries along the street were open for business, with some, such as C & S Pizza, bringing a stand out to the curbside. Gabby's Pizza, Christos Pizza, Friends Garden, and Subway were all welcoming customers. The UU Church of Winchendon was selling its annual homemade chili and hot dogs. Those seeking dessert could try Uncle Joey's Cannolis, Maddy's Ice Cream or Pops Sweet Harts--not to mention the vendors selling pastry, fudge and cookies, and the trick or treat candies many booths set out to tempt customers.
Besides vendors, numerous non-profit organizations had booths, with information and handouts. There were many fundraisers and raffle baskets, and some booths had activities and freebies. Murdock sports and Ahimsa Haven Animal Rescue had costumed "mascots" greeting attendees--you could have your picture taken with the "Murdock Blue Devil", who was a very animated fellow.
There were numerous activities for children to enjoy. Animal Craze brought its petting zoo, with chickens, ducks, bunnies, baby pigs, and baby goats in fenced enclosures where the kids could get up close and personal with the animals. Hyridge Farms was operating pony rides almost non-stop, circling around the Clark's lawn with three very patient ponies of different sizes. The pie-eating contest had three sections: for tweens, teens and adults. New this year was an exciting attraction from Rock'n'Roll Racing, where kids could try their hand operating remote-controlled miniature cars on a track with steering wheels mounted on the side of the track. The result was more bumper cars than racing, but a great time was obviously had by all.
Among the more energetic activities was a kids' "obstacle course" run by the Winchendon Fire Department. FD Lt. Garrett Wante explained to the Courier that the "obstacle course" was made up of the procedures that firefighters might find at an actual fire. Each "runner" was timed as they went through a series of actions in order: bringing out the ladder and setting it in place, bringing out the folded hose, breaking down a door (safely on the ground) with a fire axe, carrying a "victim" (a life-size teddy bear) to safety, and finally unrolling an actual water-loaded hose and knocking down a "fire"--plastic "flames" in the windows of a mocked-up building facade. The Fire Department has done other demos at past events. Lt. Wante said that they want to create different activities and not always do the same things. The "obstacle course" was very popular, with a continuous stream of participants taking the simulated fire call challenge. In the video below, you can watch one young person finish the whole series in just 38 seconds! Lt. Wante took some kidding about the fact that the Fire Department is currently hiring, and this being a perfect aptitude test for aspiring future members of the team.
Festival organizer Nicole Roberts told the Courier she estimated about 5,000 visitors attended the event through the afternoon. By 3:00 p.m. the foot traffic in the street was thinning out, but Fall Fest was still busy. The closing time was extended to 7:00 p.m. partly so that vendors could enjoy some of the music and food after they closed up their tables.
Many thanks go to the Winchendon Police Department, Fire Department and Department of Public Works for all their help in putting on the event, along with all the hard-working volunteers, the vendors and presenters, and the businesses on Central Street and beyond.
Ms. Roberts posted on Facebook, "Thank You for a Wonderful Fallfest! I want to sincerely thank everyone for the kind and thoughtful compliments I received about Fallfest. It means so much to know that the event was enjoyed by so many. I take great pride in organizing Fallfest, but it truly wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of our community and dedicated vendors. Your enthusiasm, participation, and collaboration are what make this event so special year after year. Thank you all for being a part of it!"
We're all waiting eagerly for next year: Number Ten! If you'd like to be part of making it special, talk to Ms. Roberts and let her know your thoughts.
A tiny sampling of Fall Fest--including two video clips!--appear below. For lots and lots more photos, see the Fall Fest Facebook page at www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063717066458. And for even more, check out WinchendonTV at https://winchendon.cablecast.tv/CablecastPublicSite/?site=1 -- they were filming at the event and will be posting their video feature very soon.
The pumpkin-painting station run by Winchendon Parks & Rec was always busy
Photo by Inanna Arthen
The Parks & Rec pie-eating contests took some bravery, as a few pesky bees wanted that pie, too!
Photo by Inanna Arthen
It wasn't easy for the train to get up and down Central Street through all the visitors
Photo by Inanna Arthen
The always-popular pony rides from Hyridge Farm never waited long for their next rider
Photo by Inanna Arthen
Winchendon's own The BIG RanDom returns after a hiatus to play to a large appreciative audience
Photo by Inanna Arthen
Halloween-themed merchandise like these decorations from To Each His Own Design were offered by many vendors
Photo by Inanna Arthen
video by Inanna Arthen
video by Inanna Arthen
Sleepy Hauler Antique Center Wakes Up Lower Central Street As Thriving Business Moves to Toy Town
Sleepy Hauler Antique Center, Winchendon's newest business, is far from new. It's been operating in two previous towns for some forty years, and has now re-settled in Toy Town, in the former home of Dick's Furniture at 67 Central Street. Sleepy Hauler officially opened with a ribbon cutting on Saturday, October 4, attended by Winchendon Garden Club President Linda Dellasanta, Board of Selectmen Chair Andrew Beauvais, Board of Selectmen member Audrey LaBrie, State Representative Jon Zlotnik, Planning Board Chair Guy Corbosiero and Winchendon Redevelopment Authority member Les Goodrich. Its sign, made by local business Patriot Designs, had been displayed on the building facade for several weeks, tantalizing residents who wondered what this somewhat dramatic image--the headless horseman from the famous Washington Irving story, "Legend of Sleepy Hollow"--might portend.
During Fall Fest, the store was open and visited by a continuous stream of curious people, who quickly learned that the items inside aren't at all spooky. Beautiful, unique, intriguing, amazing and irresistable all come much closer to the mark. The Courier stopped by this week when it was a little quieter to talk to proprietor Jeff Simpson and learn more about the store.
"We've been doing the antiques for well over 40 years," Mr. Simpson said. "We've had stores in Charlton and Barre, and now we moved here, and we love it here. We do a lot of higher end antiques, hard to find antiques. We do some lower end stuff. So there's something for everybody. We love people. We just have a good time--we're here to have a good time."
His parents did antiques, Mr. Simpson said, and he grew up in the business. "They included me with everything that they ever did, which made me love it just as much as them," he said. "They didn't try to do it when I was in school and get it done before I got home, so they could have their peace and quiet. They brought me along with them to make sure I enjoyed it also."
Sleepy Hauler had to move because its space in Barre became unavailable, Mr. Simpson said. "This building came up for sale, and it's in our range of area that we were looking at. I came up and looked at it, and it was every single thing we wanted. It's one level, giant size, a lot of space for people, and we could do every single aspect that we wanted to do. We run auctions. We run special pop up sales. We have special vendors coming in. We spread it out."
Space is critical because Sleepy Hauler Antique Center has an unusual business model. It's a "group shop," Mr. Simpson explained. "There's 17 different dealers, that way we can accommodate every type of antique. I specialize in clocks and mechanical items. You might do artwork and glass. The other person might do mid-century. The other person might do bronzes and things like that." Each dealer essentially rents a space in the center. The center handles all sales and sales tax, deducts the rent and pays the dealers every month. At least 85 percent of a dealers' stock must be antiques. There are a few reproductions among the offerings. To be a true antique, Mr. Simpson explained, an item must be at least 100 years old.
The store also hosts pop-up sales of items it normally wouldn't carry on an ongoing basis. One example would be the pop-up sale of vinyl records during Fall Fest. There are also online auctions with pick-up of goods handled by the store, which also brings potential customers in to see what's available.
Mr. Simpson said that he isn't licensed to do formal appraisals--this requires insurance--but he'll be happy to look at a piece and give his educated assessment of its worth. He buys pieces from the public as well as sells them. He will buy gold and silver pieces, which are a very hot market right now, he said.
Asked what some of his favorite types of antiques are, Mr. Simpson listed phonographs, jukeboxes, slot machines, bronze cash registers, and "really old" furniture--Victorian, Empire, Federal and so on. But his real passion is clocks. The store already has dozens of them, but Mr. Simpson is still working on a room which will be entirely filled with clocks--more than 500 of them. They're still reinforcing the walls to support them all, he said.
The name "Sleepy Hauler" just came to him, Mr. Simpson said. He liked the play on words, and he could use the headless horseman as a motif. Most of the business promotion is done on Facebook.
Asked what he'd like the people in Winchendon to know, Mr. Simpson said, "I'm here because I love people. And so far, the town has been great to us. They've been open arms. They've done a ribbon cutting ceremony when we opened, they helped me through every every issue that I have that I asked them about. I'd like people to know that we're going to be fair with people. We're going to give them a fair price when we buy stuff, and we're going to give them a fair price when we sell stuff. And we stand behind it 100 percent."
You can follow Sleepy Hauler Antique Center on Facebook at www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063450409867. The store is located at 67 Central Street, Winchendon. It is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, and open from Thursday through Monday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or by appointment. Phone number: 978-602-6932.
Below is a sampling of what you might find when you visit!
Photo by Inanna Arthen
Photo by Inanna Arthen
Photo by Inanna Arthen
Photo by Inanna Arthen
Photo by Inanna Arthen
Photo by Inanna Arthen
Massachusetts member elected national American Legion Auxiliary 2025-2026 vice president
Dr. Coral May Grout
Photo courtesy of the American Legion Auxiliary
September 30, 2025 - INDIANAPOLIS - Dr. Coral May Grout was elected national vice president of the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) during the organization's 104th National Convention in Tampa, Fla.
Grout is a member of Massachusetts' Eugene M. Connor Unit 193. She is eligible for membership through her father, Charles E. Grout, who served in the U.S. Air Force in the Philippines and Australia during World War II. She also adds the military service of her grandfather, Stanislas Laplante, who served in the U.S. Army during WWI. She is the first national vice president from Massachusetts in 85 years.
Before being elected to this role, Grout held numerous leadership positions in the organization at the unit, district, department (state), and national levels. She was the district Education Committee chair for 25 years and department president three times.
At the national level, Grout served as chair of several committees, including Children & Youth, Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation, Education (twice), Americanism, Constitution & Bylaws, Public Relations, Legislative, Leadership, Community Service, and Junior Activities. She also served on the National Executive Committee (the ALA's national governing board), and as national secretary and national historian.After receiving a bachelor's degree from Mount Holyoke College, Grout earned a Master of Education degree from Boston College and then took her love for learning to the next level by graduating with a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Massachusetts.
Grout is a retired superintendent of schools, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, middle school administrator, and middle school teacher. She is an adjunct faculty at Franklin Pierce University and Worcester State University. For the last 14 years, Grout has been a Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education consultant for underperforming school districts and RETELL. She is a national presenter on grantwriting and leadership topics, and on the board of directors for Trusted Financial Life Insurance Corporation in Milwaukee. Grout is treasurer for the Mount Holyoke College Class of 1975 and is a leader and eucharistic minister for the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. She is also a town moderator for Winchendon, Mass.
Grout lives in Massachusetts and Florida with her cat, Chloe. Her favorite pastimes include traveling, playing golf, exercising, and gardening.
For more information, visit www.ALAforVeterans.org.
