This Week's Winchendon News

Candidates Answer Questions and Explain Their Views at Winchendon Candidates' Night Forum

by Inanna Arthen
On Tuesday, April 28, Beals Memorial Library sponsored a Candidates' Night forum for the candidates running for town offices in Winchendon's Town Election. All candidates were invited to participate, but some had conflicts or chose not to take part. The forum, which took place in the Winchendon Town Hall 2nd floor auditorum, was livecast and recorded by WinchendonTV and the full video is available to view on WinchendonTV. (https://winchendon.cablecast.tv/internetchannel/show/379?site=1)

The forum was moderated by Paul Hackett of Cornerstone Church and the HEAL Collaborative. Dr. Maureen Ward served as "timekeeper" for the candidates' answers. About 25 residents attended in person as audience members. Mr. Hackett had a prepared list of questions to ask. When all those questions had been answered, audience members were invited to come forward and ask questions, for as long as time allowed.

Participating candidates were: Karen Kast (School Committee), Alyssa Campbell (School Committee), Michael Gaynor (School Committee), Yvonne Senecal (School Committee), Barbara Zisk (Board of Selectmen and Board of Health), and Monique Connor (Board of Health).

The candidates were first invited to introduce themselves and give an opening statement, with Karen Kast beginning.

Ms. Kast said, "I have sat on the Winchendon School Committee for six years now, but prior to that I have overall forty years of experience in education. I started advocating for students at the age of 15 as a student, and throughout the forty years, I have held multiple positions where I have been both a parent on the other side of the table, advocating for both my students and multiple students throughout multiple districts. I am a trained special education advocate and certified through the Federation for Children with Special Needs. I am also a certified trainer for the Federation for Children with Special Needs." The district has made improvements, but there are still more it could make, and she wants to continue her work with the Committee.

Ms. Campbell said, "I am a lifelong resident of Winchendon with a brief little stay away when my husband was in the military and I worked in DC. I have been teaching for about ten years. I subbed here in Winchendon for about five or six years. My children were here in the district, and now I teach high school in Fitchburg. I teach some of the most challenging students in our district, and it's my absolute privilege to teach them every day. And I believe that the students are the priority in any organization, specifically the School Committee, and that is why I'm running."

Mr. Gaynor said, "My education background is I have a bachelor's degree in political science from Boston University, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and my master's in education, with a secondary concentration in history, is from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. I've been a teacher now for approximately 18 years. I've taught pretty much every subject and most grade levels--elementary, first and second grade, as well as middle school, sixth, seventh and eighth, and then secondary history, nine through 12. I've taught every subject that you can think of, subjects as diverse as psychology to biology to math, seventh grade math, and then also algebra and geometry at the high school level. I've also taught science. I've also taught social studies and history, world history and US history. So I have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the different curriculums. Currently, I'm a special education teacher like Alyssa. I also teach in the Fitchburg public schools." He added, "I moved to this town about five years ago, and I really believe that we can do great things in the Winchendon Public Schools, but we need to invest in our schools. I really feel like I have a lot of experience and education that I can bring to the table."

Ms. Senecal said, "I have lived here for forty-plus years. I am a retired registered nurse with a 50 year career in pretty much every phase of healthcare, most of it has acute health care. I'm running for School Committee because I think our kids deserve better. We need to dramatically improve educational outcomes while staying fiercely responsible with taxpayer dollars. I don't see that happening. I see our schools struggling, students struggling, and I see money being frivolously spent, and that really concerns me as a resident and a taxpayer and a parent. I would like to see the dollars stay with the students in the classroom and not go to other things...it's important that our students grow up and be lifelong learners and productive adults."

Ms. Zisk said, "I'm a lifelong resident of Winchendon. I care about our community. I've spent time paying attention, attending meetings, listen to residents and seeing people feel unheard. I want to be a voice for the residents. I've attended many meetings. I make my voice heard. I ask questions. I'm not afraid to ask the hard questions. I like to bring forward more transparency, and work hard to help move Winchendon forward. I am a small business owner. I have family here. What is the future of Winchendon for our children, our grandchildren? That's what I'm focused on...It's about you, the taxpayers, and being transparent, honest and having that open communication."

Ms. Connor said, "I am a lifelong resident, and I was an EMT for the town of Winchendon many years. I also worked at Heywood hospital. I worked at the Winchendon Health Center, so a lot of people I know from there, and I'm just going to continue making sure that the health of our community is at the forefront. There are some things that we want to change, but people also have to understand that there's laws that we have to follow as well."

The next question was addressed to all the candidates, Mr. Hackett said: "What are your top two or three priorities if elected? And how would you balance those priorities with the financial realities currently facing the town and its residents?"

Ms. Campbell answered first, saying, "I think the most important thing is that the money that we are spending on our schools is going to the right place, that it is being being thought fully and carefully distributed, and that we are doing the best for our future and our future students...Everyone feels the financial constraints in their household...Unfortunately, things still need to be paid for, our students still need to get an education. Our buildings still need to be updated. If we own our own homes, we have to do that upkeep ourselves. We don't let our roof go, we don't let our windows go, we have to update them, and that goes to the buildings and the curriculum and all the things that go with the school." Money comes first, after the students and faculty, she said. "If you don't address the buildings and the brand, then you are unsuccessful."

Mr. Gaynor spoke about the financial constraints. "We need to move forward as a community and vote to pass this funding for the MSBA reimbursement, which is 78 percent," he said. Otherwise, the buildings will deteriorate more. "Instead of pressing for an underride and just focusing on cutting taxes, let's invest in our schools." He added, "We need to recruit and retain the most best qualified faculty and staff that we can. We want people to make a career here in Winchendon. We don't want to see so much turnover with our teachers and also with our administrators." Federal funding is being cut, and the community needs to step up and invest in our children, because they're our future leaders.

Ms. Senecal said she believed in consolidating the schools and regionalizing. "Every single dollar must go to the classroom, period, our students, our teachers, are working hard, it's time to give them the support to work smarter." She said that money has been wasted, and her second priority is to "fight over those dollars and cents so that we can spend judiciously and wisely."

Ms. Zisk said, "I'd like to look at lowering taxes and improving finances. We need to start there. I think that needs to be looked at hard and long. Start with responsible budgeting, control and unnecessary spending, planning ahead, looking for efficiencies, pursuing grants, encouraging smart economic development that broadens the tax base. Make sure the ta

xpayers dollars are being used wisely, long term financial stability, not short short term fixes." Ms. Connor said that with Board of Health, "the finances are at a bare minimum." The only salaried employee is the health agent. On the town side, she said, "I feel a lot more structure should be done with the budget, with the schools. Why are these buildings in disrepair? Why weren't they taken care of?"

Ms. Kast wrapped up, saying, "My first priority is, has been, and always will be, students, period." This is the mandate for school committees is Mass General Law, she stated. "The second priority is to make sure that our budget is always balanced, and that we make sure that we spend every dollar wisely. And I know that it's hard when we look at the amount of money that is spent on the school budget, but what a lot of people don't understand is that we get about 85 percent of our school dollars from the state, and...only $3 million actually comes from the town of Winchendon for our budget in Winchendon Public Schools. All the rest come from the state, federal and grants, so we want to spend that money as wisely as possible."

Mr. Hackett's next question was for Board of Health candidates. "Following the recent fire at the former Alaska Freezer factory, there's a renewed interest in the number of abandoned factories in town, as well as the contaminants which may exist on those properties. How would you approach this issue as a Board of Selectmen or Board of Health member?

Ms. Zisk said, "As for the abandoned buildings, we need to take a hard look and we need to figure out how we can regenerate those buildings. What can we use them for? The fire that had happened, that's a tough subject, because we have buildings that as long as the property owners own them and they're up kept on their taxes, there's not a whole lot that the town can do." She said that the community needs to see what it can do to clean up situations. She wants to work with the boards and the Town Manager on the issue.

Ms. Connor said that this issue was also an issue everywhere else. Buildings "past their prime" need to be looked at. Solutions, even clean-ups, can be very expensive for the town. But resolving the issues would be good for the town financially.

Mr. Hackett's next question was for School Committee candidates. "As you know, school enrollment has declined by more than 450 students over the past several years, from about 1,280 to a little over 1,100 today. How would you address challenges like regionalization, school building consolidation and student overflow, and what do you see as the root causes?

Mike Gaynor began by saying he was open minded and willing to talk about regionalization. However, he said, regionalizing can take away the independence and autonomy of a school district. "We need to look at ways to solve the problems that we're having here internally, and invest in our schools," he said. Consolidation of buildings runs into the issue that there are legal requirements for space in classrooms, especially for Special Education students. It's important for students to feel safe in their classrooms and schools, and not have to worry about the roofs and windows. "I believe that if you truly love a district and believe in that district, you don't school choice your kids, you keep them in your local school district," he said.

Ms. Senecal said there are a lot of reasons families choice out--better education, perceived "negative influences," but an underperforming district is paramount. She is in favor of regionalization, she said, and of consolidating students into Memorial and Murdock. With regionalization, costs such as maintenance and administration are shared. "I think there's benefits that have not been explored," she said.

Ms. Kast said that the regionalization question has been going on for a long time, and enrollment has been declining everywhere since the 1960s. Winchendon is not a "failing" district, she stated--the district's report card on the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) website shows that. A major program is that the district doesn't have the money for art programs or AP programs that help students become D1 prospects.

Ms. Campbell wrapped up, explaining that she school-choiced her children for personal family reasons and not because she had issues with Winchendon. She works full time for another district, and it made sense for them. As far as Winchendon, she said, they could look at building up some of the programs Ms. Kast mentioned, and bringing in more programs for the trades. Not every student who wants to go to Monty Tech can get in. "I don't think there is a magic solution here, and I think regionalization comes with costs that we are looking at that we don't realize, and it's not an easy fix. Also, we lose our identity. The Murdock Devils and the community here is really important."

The next question was also for the School Committee candidates. "You guys have discussed a lot of plans to improve academic achievement and address some learning gaps. So give me some specifics, more details around how you would do that. How would you measure that the approach that you're suggesting is actually working?"

Ms. Senecal began, saying, "If you expect kids to only do the minimum, they're going to do the minimum. And I think it's important to expect high standards, to have high standards for our children, and I think then you get more of what you expect." She sees the state MCAS testing as the best way to measure the students' progress. "I would disagree that we are still in remediation with the state, and we are still an underperformance district," she said, saying that the upper grades are not improving in MCAS scores. "I think that working with the teaching staff and finding out from them what they think works, and letting teachers teach and letting parents parent," is best, she said, and schools should be "parenting" kids.

Ms. Kast sais that the School Committee has limited powers to decide how curriculums are taught and there are laws and regulations affecting how assessments are made, so the question as asked isn't really relevant.

Ms. Campbell said, "I would be a millionaire if I could figure that out." She said that she sets high expectations in her classrooms, but students are different now, they can just sit in class and not do anything they're directed to to--just do nothing. "The students we have in front of us are not the students that these curriculums were made for five and 10 years ago. And we have to address the social, emotional learning of the students, and we have to address the world that the kids are living in right now and the new normal that they live in in order to be able to reach them, because these kids are not buying in. And teachers are exhausted," she said. She didn't know an easy fix except to keep on trying new things.

Mr. Gaynor disagreed with Ms. Senecal, saying that Winchendon schools are not in remediation and are not underperforming in comparison with the entire state. "Our dual enrollment program is number one in the state, where students continue classes at Mount Wachusett Community College and earn college credits while they're in high school," he said, and 5th grade MCAS scores show "significant improvement." He feels that early literacy programs are "vitally important", mentioned several programs by name. He also said that social emotional learning programs are "critically important." He added, "We need to understand how best to support our students in their needs, folks, the most important thing we do is keep our students safe. Without safety, they can't be teaching and learning."

Mr. Hackett asked Ms. Zisk, "Can you explain how what you believe is a difference between the Board of Selectmen' role and the Town Manager's role?" Ms. Zisk's concise reply was, "The Board of Selectmen oversees the town. The Town Manager is in charge of day to day activities."

Mr. Hackett then asked the Board of Health candidates the same question, but for the Board of Health versus the health agent.

Ms. Connor said that the health inspector does the leg work , going out with the building inspector to look at properties, while the Board of Health handles permits for things such as food trucks, buildings, restaurants, tobacco and so on. "Ultimately we will decide whether they get their permit or their Title V so that's kind of the difference between them," she said.

Ms. Zisk spoke at length about personally going out with the health agent on Title V inspections and how the Board and the health agent work "side by side". "I think that's something that has changed within the last year or so, because we really are working together and positively, and I don't feel like it's a fight when I come to a meeting and I really enjoy it, and I really enjoy working with Jim, who is our health agent, and learning about what goes on with the inspections, with the Title V, and I've talked a lot with the building inspector."

Mr. Hackett then asked the School Committee candidates, "Can you give me your understanding between the School Committee's role versus a Superintendent's role?"

Ms. Kast began, saying, "The School Committee's role is to set policy and procedure, to oversee the budget and set the budget, to hire the Superintendent. We actually have final say on hiring of a few other positions. In addition to that, we work with the Superintendent, and...we also oversee the curriculum. We approve each of our school's handbooks, and we actually are responsible for knowing all of the laws and regulations and multiple other things." She added that the Superintendent is responsible for the day-to-day work. She turned policies into procedures. She oversees hiring principals but not teachers. "She sets some of the goals for the schools in general, and comes back to us. She starts the budget process every year and brings it to us as a proposal," Ms Kast concluded.

Ms. Campbell said that Ms. Kast had answered very well, adding, "the most important thing is that both the Superintendent and the School Committee can cohesively work together, that they're both strong in each of their own roles, so that the town can get the best out of both. And then if they're both working at capacity and working together, if the School Committee is working with each other, effectively, and with the Superintendent then things go smoothly."

Mr. Gaynor agreed with the previous answers but added that the School Committee needs to collaborate actively with everyone, and be involved. The Committee should visit the schools, know the faculty and administrators, see the classes in action, understand what the business manager is doing. Committee members should also have skills in things like strategic planning. They are the "governing body" for the schools. They need to choose a Superintendent that will stay with the district and not have a lot of administration turnover.

Ms. Senecal agree with the previous speakers but added that the School Committee and Superintendent shouldn't be too cozy, and shouldn't be unwilling to challenge each other when appropriate. "You're sometimes coming from different places, and sometimes that positional challenge can be very productive," she said.

Mr. Hackett's last prepared question, for all the candidates, was about the upcoming debt exclusion vote for the three MSBA school projects. "I want you to tell me what factors you would consider when you have to evaluate large capital projects, like the school roof replacements, and how would you approach a decision like this that affects the taxpayers as well as things that need to be done in the town?"

Ms. Zisk began, saying, "We want to look at not placing an unnecessary burden on the taxpayers. Large projects require careful planning, accurate cost estimates and transparency from the start. I think that's where we've had a little bit of a problem with some large projects that have gone on in our town, is you've been faced with, you have a project in front of you, you get told it's going to cost this much amount, and then in the end, it goes above and beyond, and that ends up on the backs of the taxpayers. When residents see additional costs, it raises concerns and underscores the need for stronger oversight."

Ms. Connor agreed, but said, "unfortunately, every town is going to have--it's just like your home, so you don't have the money, you don't do the project you want to do, or you find another way to do it." She added, "we need to prioritize, and we also need to think of the future" and when something like a Proposition 2-1/2 override comes up, the townspeople need to be making the decision together.

Ms. Kast emphasized that the school roofs were at or beyond their normal forecast lifespan, so it wasn't a question of their not having been maintained. "They were well-maintained," she said. She went on, "When we are looking at any kind of maintenance project, I don't care if it's for $100 or a high cost project, I first, my first question is, is it necessary? Like, do we need to do it right now, and is it something that puts safety at risk for whether it's for our students or for the people of this town?...in regard to the ballot questions, we have safety issues and we have dripping roofs and other issues. So the ballot questions are a safety issue for our students. And so then come the finances and how we can pay for them."

Ms. Campbell said spending money was always a hard question because everyone brought their own background and way of life to the decisions. She agreed that they have to look at safety. "I've gone to a couple meetings, and I've listened to the projects, and I've looked at the cost, but from what I understand, I would much rather make a decision not today. Thank god, I don't have to do that right now. But I'd like to be informed fully, and I'd like to look at the costs to our town, if we choose it. What happens if we wait and then we don't have that reimbursement or or that safety net, and we have to incur all of that cost with a closed building, or, God forbid someone gets hurt. So I think it's really important to check all of the boxes and to look at all of the scenarios. Money is scary, and nobody wants to be the one up here saying, Yes, we should spend more money. And that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying we have to look at all of the scenarios and do what's best for our town."

Mr. Gaynor said, "The problem with government is that it's not proactive and preventive, but it's rather reactive and responsive, and that's at all levels, the municipal level, your cities and towns and counties, at the state level and at the federal level. Why do we have to wait for a roof to collapse and, God forbid, injure or even kill one of our children. We need to invest in our schools. We need to repair these roofs. You can say, it's going to increase my taxes. But in five years, or 10 years, the roofs are going to have to be repaired anyhow. And you have, right now, 78 percent of $20 million, $13 million, is going to be reimbursed from this from the state. The other $7 million, is that really going to come from the taxpayers? They're going to do municipal bonds financing, right? I myself am voting on all three of the ballot questions because I believe in repairing the schools and making the schools last. So I believe in capital improvement programs and projects I and I think that is fiscal responsibility, transparency and accountability, and ultimately our fiduciary responsibility as a school committee, and as voters in this town."

Ms. Senecal said it's a tough question, and it's hard to put on the backs of voters on top of the $1.9 million override last year. "I am not for this whole project. I think I see certainly merit in doing the Murdock building. I see merit in doing the Memorial School. I do not see the merit in using any money to improve Toy Town. I think that school has passed its life span, and I think that consolidation is the response to that." She added, "We are a poor community, and we have a high percentage of people on fixed income, and so now you're looking at another tax increase on top of the one we already had, and you have a lot of people who are going to say, well, do I take my heart medication today or do I have lunch?" But, she concluded, "It's a tough call, and I think in the ballot box we're each going to have to make that decision for ourselves."

(Audience questions in following article, below!)

Audience Members Question Candidates for Town Board at Candidates' Night Forum

by Inanna Arthen
(Continued from article above) Following the prepared questions read by moderator Paul Hackett at Tuesday's Candidates' Night forum in the Winchendon Town Hall 2nd floor auditorum, audience members were invited to come forward to pose their questions directly to the panel of candidates. Audience members were asked to keep their questions brief and be sure to say who the questions were for, if not intended for all of the candidates.

(Participating candidates were: Karen Kast (School Committee), Alyssa Campbell (School Committee), Michael Gaynor (School Committee), Yvonne Senecal (School Committee), Barbara Zisk (Board of Selectmen and Board of Health), and Monique Connor (Board of Health). The forum was livecast and recorded by WinchendonTV and the full video is available to view on WinchendonTV. (https://winchendon.cablecast.tv/internetchannel/show/379?site=1)

The first audience member to come forward was Tina Santos, who asked Barbara Zisk why she was running for two different boards, after running for School Committee in the past. Also, if she was elected to both of the boards she is running for now, which one would she choose to serve on?

Ms. Zisk stated that she had never run for a board before, she was a write-in candidate for School Committee last year, and a mid-term appointee to fill a vacancy on the Board of Health. If she is elected to both seats this year, she will step down from the Board of Health and serve on the Board of Selectmen, she said. Audience member Renee Eldredge came forward to ask candidates for School Committee if they had taken the required training from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, and if all current members of the School Committee had taken the training.

Ms. Kast said that the training only needed to be taken once, and did not need to be renewed after that. The Town Clerk keeps a record of all required trainings for town Board members.

Mr. Gaynor said that he had taken the training "proactively" to make sure he knew the duties, roles and responsibilities of School Committee members. He felt that it was important for candidates to take the training before they were elected so they would understand what the position entails.

Ms. Campbell and Ms. Senecal had not taken the training yet but intended to at the soonest opportunity.

Audience member Darlene Rossi came forward to ask the School Committee candidates about the COVID policies that were put in place during the pandemic (March 2020-early 2021) and if they would have done things differently, in hindsight, or would do things differently in a similar future situation.

Ms. Kast said that she had moved to Winchendon in February of 2020 and was elected to the School Committee via a write-in campaign that year. "So I cut my teeth in the Winchendon School Committee during that whole thing," she said. "But all of that was pretty by the State Department of Education, so we didn't have a lot of say in that. There were a few things we had to vote on, masks in the schools. That's really the only thing that we got to make a decision on." She herself was home with COVID during the votes. How each School Committee member voted would be a matter of public record and can be looked up in the minutes, Ms. Kast told Ms. Rossi. Ms. Campbell said that since she hadn't been on the Committee at that time, she really couldn't give an opinion.

Mr. Gaynor said, "COVID really did have a significant impact on our students. We're seeing the educational gaps now. For example, I teach a reading development phonics class with sixth grade students, 11, 12, years old, and they were the students that were impacted by COVID. They were home right when they should have been in first grade, second grade learning how to read, so I can see the gaps. Now I have students that are borderline illiterate that cannot read at at that age, and it's a travesty. Nonetheless, COVID is real, folks. You can be a COVID denier if you want, but it was just as bad as the 1917 flu pandemic. 3 million Americans died of COVID. 7 million people worldwide died. I myself received eight vaccinations because I have co-morbidities.

"But there had to have been a better way to deal with the COVID pandemic. And I don't think the state or the federal government, for that matter, were really prepared for this. And one thing we did learn from all of this is...our kids need to be in school. They can't be home schooled with a robot or an Android, a computer "Plato" as their educator. They need to be with their peers. They need to be in schools. That's why the social-emotional learning piece is so important. We saw that when students weren't socializing with their peers and learning with their peers, they failed."

Ms. Senecal said, "As a registered nurse, I was working in the emergency room through the height of COVID and I got to tell you, I saw no benefits to masking. The masks that people were forced to wear were ineffective at best and damaging at worst, especially when you're trying to mask children or psychotic patients. And I think there was a whole lot of misinformation and and scaremondering and awful things that went down during COVID, and people did die, but usually they died from the treatment, not necessarily from COVID. I am not a COVID denier. I think that it was a legitimate issue, but...if we had another pandemic, I would look at things differently, because I think that common sense just took a vacation. The six feet was random, the masks were random. None of that was effective by any kind of scientific method...I think that the service that was done to our children during COVID for no good reason is is unmanageable. I can't even express how frustrating that makes me." She would definitely do things differently, she said.

Audience member Tara Teixeira came forward to ask all candidates, "In a perfect world, if you could fix one pressing issue off the bat, what would it be?"

Mr. Gaynor began with, saying that first, they would be able to repair the school roofs, because if we don't do it now when we have a reimbursement for 78 percent of costs, eventually the roofs will cost us even more in taxes when they fail in the near future. "We have to invest in our children. It's so important," he said. Regionalization takes years, and right now we don't have any school district with a slightest interest in regionalizing with Winchendon. "So the pressing issue right now is the schools, to make sure that these buildings are fixed so our kids are safe," he said.

Ms. Senecal said, "In a perfect world, I would want every child to have a loving, supportive family and support...and I think that would solve a lot of out problems in our school system and the world."

Ms Zisk said that in a perfect world, communications would be a lot better--among residents, between residents and the town, people could come to meetings and voice their concerns and have discussions. Also, finances would be handled better, with long-term planning and not dipping into Free Cash and borrowing from Peter to pay Paul.

Ms. Connor said that there would be a better process and procedures in health matters.

Ms. Kast said, "If we were in a perfect world, there would be no perfect thing issues, so there'd be nothing to fix."

Ms. Campbell said a perfect world would fix the educational system to "look at the students and what they are going to encounter in the future, and give them what they need, the tools that they need, meet them where they're at and develop them and then work from there. But basically give the students what they actually need, and not what we think they need."

Audience member Theresa Langdon came forward to ask School Committee candidates about the amounts paid to two different outgoing Superintendents (Thad King and Dr. Gosselin), and how voters showed their lack of trust when they rejected the entire school budget in 2024. "How do you propose to change the dysfunctional way of doing business? What criteria should be used to negotiate future contracts?"

Ms. Senecal said, "I think transparency, again, is, is the key to any kind of effective communication between a system and the people that are paying our way in the town. And I think having things come out of the blue where, well, it happened between closed doors, or this was an executive session. I do understand that that needs to happen, but I think what I'm seeing in the past is people have their contracts and then are let go and then they're going to sue you, because then it would cost the town more money to pay out than it would to just pay the money. It doesn't make a lot of sense." She said that you have to be smart when negotiating contracts and know how to ask the right questions.

Ms. Kast said, "There's a document on our website that explained in detail the $180,000 that was paid out, it's been explained ad nauseum and sent to Theresa. The $60,000, I was not the chair that's up to the chair to explain. I've asked for it to be explained countless times. I believe, I would have to go back and check, but anybody at any time can ask for a copy of any of our administrator's contracts. Those are public documents, but there should always be in any administrators contract, just as there is for teacher contracts, a clause that when they leave, if they are let go for whatever reason, whether it's that they did their contract or did something that was not proper, or if they choose to leave for whatever reason, that they may be bought out for whatever reason, or they may not be bought out, so depending on how the contract is negotiated. Unfortunately, administrators, unlike bargaining units, are actually each individually negotiated, so they have to be through our lawyers and everything else before they come back and are signed." She said that she agreed the second situation "was a travesty."

Ms. Campbell said she wasn't on the board at that time and so can't comment, but she would agree that transparency is important. "I also think making sure that the right people are at the table during those conversations, that the town is covered, that people that know contracts, that those types of people are there at the table with the best interest of the town going forward."

Mr. Gaynor said that $240,000 was a Superintendent's salary, in the middle-range. "If I were on the school committee at that time, I would not have voted to allow Mr. King a $180,000 golden parachute balloon payout. Nor would have I voted to allow Dr. Gosselin the $40,000 payout as well for the $240,000. I would have voted both of those down because to me, and we talk about waste, fraud and abuse, I think that's money that's wasted. So we need to ensure, as Karen said, that our counsel reviews these contracts for administration and does not allow them to have a provision where they can receive a buyout. And furthermore, other administrators, like principals, should not be allowed to run a school to underperforming status, and then what we're stuck with them for three years, because if we do pay them out two years of their salary as well." To conclude the forum, which by now had run more than 90 minutes, Mr. Hackett asked all the candidates to make a closing statement.

Ms. Kast said, "In 1826 the state legislature created school committees. And since that time, we're responsible for following state laws and federal laws, and you know we're responsible for the students, we're responsible to families and the community. And we have to do all of this within budget constraints and so much more, and we want to do all of that, so we're being pulled in 1000 directions at any given time. And I love what I do for the School Committee. I thrive on it. And I think that you have to love doing it. I put 40 to 60 hours a week into my work on the School Committee. If you're not willing to put that time in and continue your education every single day and keep up with the legislative work, you need to rethink it. It's a passion project for me, and I think you need to love it and remember that the students always come first."

Ms. Campbell said that anyone listening to reach out to her for clarification on anything she had said this evening. "I'm very passionate about Winchendon. I am passionate about the schools and our students and our faculty, and I want to bring my expertise, my school knowledge, to the School Committee, and to help in any way that I can. But I'm never going to answer a question unless I am fully prepared to do so. I'm going to only answer with facts. I'm passionate, but it's got me in trouble before. So it's not because I'm trying to skirt it's because I'm trying to get my ducks in a row and make sure I'm giving a thoughtful and honest answer. So if anybody has questions or is questioning any of my motives, please reach out and ask, because I'm very transparent and probably an over-sharer."

Mr. Gaynor said, "I just want to put out there that there's no incentive or personal interest for me to run for the School Committee. I do this for the residents and for your children, for our children. I myself have a passion for education. I have all my life. I've always felt that my role was to serve the public. I served my country honorably for eight years in the US Army Reserves as a combat medic, but I feel like there has been some mixed messages out there on social media, although social media is an important platform. And for anyone that does have further questions, for me, you can reach out at mikegaynor4wsc@gmail.com. So I feel like I have a lot to offer, a breadth of experience, a wealth of education. And I feel like I can make a tremendous difference in our students' lives. I consider myself a visionary, a leader and a change agent, not just a day to day manager."

Ms. Senecal said, "I mainly want the kids to get the quality education that they deserve. I am concerned about where we've been. I'm concerned about where we're going, and I just want to make sure that we leave no stone unturned in giving their kids a quality education. I think their future is so important...I think that we need to see some improvement, and I am also a change maker, and also from the outside, which I think gives a different perspective."

Ms. Zisk said, "I care about Winchendon. I care about the community. I care about the people. I care about the future that we are headed and what we are building together. I have many people, several times a week, reach out to me and ask me questions. I attend many meetings as they know and they reach out. And some people are not comfortable attending meetings and presenting their questions, so oftentimes they'll reach out to me. Could you bring this question forward for me? I'm a voice for Winchendon. I'm a voice for the community. I'm a voice for you, all of you, the taxpayers, every single one of you, and that's important. Communication is important, and I think transparency is important. And I firmly believe that if anybody has any questions, any thoughts, any suggestions, any ideas, feel free to I'd love to have discussions. If I don't have an answer, I will find the answer. I will reach out to the people that have the answers to help you."

Ms. Connor said, "So with the Board of Health, although we have many state laws and regulations that we have to abide by, I want to be able to have that and be able to make things better. Are there things, as far as healthwise go, that we should be taking care of? Maybe, but we're working on it. Sometimes we're restricted to laws and regulations. So how do we make things better? Communication is another thing. I want communication out there. More more communication. We do have a Facebook page. (https://www.facebook.com/winchendonboh) So I want to be able to post health issues, things that concern us on there to get the word out."

All of the candidates thanked everyone who had attended during their remarks. Mr. Hackett also thanked the candidates and the audience for their participation.

DPW Director Updates BOS on Mabardy Landfill and Ongoing Project

by Inanna Arthen
At the Board of Selectmen's meeting on Monday, April 27, Department of Public Works Director Patrick Wood gave the Board a number of updates about various projects around the town, some of which residents had recently been asking about.

"Activities at the Mabardy landfill have picked up again," Mr. Wood said, beginning with a topic that several residents had expressed concern about. "You'll remember that last year, I would say September-ish was when they stopped having full time trucks coming in to bring the COMM-97 materials in. It petered out until probably mid-October, and they shut down for the winter. It's good timing, because winter came in kind of early anyway, and then just recently, within the last couple weeks, they started up operations. I was out there about two weeks ago and took a look at the site to see what it looked like after all the snow was melted. Typical erosion control issues. They're already on top of it. They're installing new silt fence all around the perimeter next week, I think it is.

"I've asked [W.L. French] for an updated schedule, and I can just kind of read off of what I've gotten from an email and paraphrase it a little bit, they are expecting another 10,000 tons of COMM-97 to be imported, and that's going to be used to get their final grades for the landfill. The exact quantity is unknown, and they won't know that until they're able to--they're going to have to dig an anchor trench that ties the capping system into the existing grades, so it won't change too much, but they don't have an exact number because of that yet. He does expect that the trucking to be a little bit more sporadic than it was last year, and definitely lower in traffic volume than in previous years."

W.L. French also will be importing around 200 tons of clean sand as part of the capping system, they told Mr. Wood. "Recently, there was a permit modification request to DEP. The modification addressed some technical specifications to the sand drainage layer under the cap and the final coverage systems that's going to be installed, and also to mitigate the ponding that was near the Allens' property that we saw in previous years. Once that permit modification is approved--and it's with DEP, they've reviewed it and they've issued some technical questions back together, and they'll be working on that--they can begin installing the cap, and their goal is to get the cap installed and finished this fall."

Mr. Wood went on to discuss road paving for this year. "We're going to be doing reclamation and paving on Independence Drive and Welch Road. That should be coming up in mid-May, and then later on, the fall of this year, we'll be paving Baldwinville Road from Hale Street to Town Farm Road reclaimed and paved as well. Later the same fall, we'd like to have them come back and do a mill and fill on Central Street, where we already have those trenches dug for the water main. And then next year, in the fall of 2027, we'll be looking at Baldwinville Road from Town Farm Road to Mill Glen and Alger Road from Route 2 to Hitchcock."

Addressing the question of how the department chooses which roads to pave, Mr. Wood said, "There's a lot of factors that go into it. Road condition, obviously, is the primary driver. We assess the road conditions. We look for cracking, potholes, base failure, drainage issues, and just the overall ride quality of the road. Roads that are deteriorating to a point where maintenance is no longer cost effective, it jumps to the top of the list, but that's so many roads in town, obviously we can't have everything just jump to the top of the list. So the other things that we have to look at is some preventative maintenance. Those that haven't reached that point where they just totally gone, what you can do is you save a lot of money in the future by doing preventative maintenance now. So for instance, Central Street, where I just mentioned doing mill and fill, that road is not horrible, but there's been so much trenching, so much patchwork that in five years, that road may have to be reclaimed, and it will cost us as much money to reclaim that than it will if we just do a mill and fill this year.

"So spending the money up front on a major road like that and increasing the comfortability of the drive is well worth it. There's also traffic and usage. Higher volume roads or roads that have key connections and emergency routes, public facilities are prioritized. Obviously, we do coordinate these projects with other utility projects. We coordinate water, sewer and drainage work. So if we know a road is scheduled for some utility work, we obviously are going to delay the paving until that work is done and we allow the trench to settle. And then finally, of course, budget constraints. So we have, unfortunately, just a number of roads that want to be paved every year, but we have to prioritize them because of our funding. All of the funding that we have for the roads come primarily and solely from Chapter 90 money, and that money, luckily, has been more significant in the past couple years, but we can't rely on that every year."

Mr. Wood said he could talk about the EV charging stations at Grout Park, because those had come up in a previous discussion. "It took a little while to nail down the history behind that, because they did get installed, I want to say 2019 I think is when they got installed. Obviously, most of us weren't in this capacity when they were installed, but I did contact Charge Point Charging Stations, the manufacturers, in the operation of maintenance, and they had said that in 2024 both the charging stations became deactivated. There was no notes about why. I would assume that the warranty and the subscription probably lapsed at that point, and they had only one contact in their system, which was the previous Town Manager. So they probably had reached out a number of times without any success, but since calling them now, I've updated them with my contact. I've also added Bill to the contact...and they will get us an idea of how much it's going to cost to reactivate them and fix one of them, because one of them is kind of damaged and smashed a little bit you've probably noticed."

Board member Audrey Labrie expressed some annoyance that the company couldn't be bothered to look up Winchendon and find the current contact to let the town know about the issues. She also asked if there was information about how much the charging stations were used before they were deactivated. She asked if the public or the town paid for the electricity, and whether stations were even needed when people who bought EVs charged them at home.

Board member Erika Eitland said, "Having EV chargers that are not residential is, I think, a part of an economic development sort of piece, if we want people to come here, do they have a charge to get back home? They may not come here if they don't see any charger within an X amount of radius. But wouldn't it be nice if, hey, we've got this great bike trail, leave your car charging and then come to that point. So I think the numbers definitely matter here. But I also would say that just because we're not serving residents, we have to also think about who are we trying to bring into this community."

After some discussion about the chargers and whether they were practical for the town, and who the company should have contacted, Mr. Wood continued.

"The final update that I have prepared is for Blair Square," he said. "We have been working on this Blair Square design since 2021 and we've been contracted through TEC, the engineering company. Since then, they've gotten us through the 25 percent design, the public hearing, and we are currently under contract with them to get us up through 75 percent design and environmental permitting. The next step that actually would probably even be wrapped up this summer, would be to go forward with the 100 percent design and a P, S and E slash pre-construction bid set. So that's the whole package right there that would probably get us right up through Fiscal Year 2028.

"So we were originally slated for construction in 2029, A few years ago. It's a TIP [Transportation Improvement Program] project and a lot of towns go through it. In our regional planning organization, MRPC [Montachusett Regional Planning Commission], they help organize when these projects are going to go out to bid, when they're going to have the funding for them, they're seeing such a high increase in construction costs that actually all the projects are getting pushed out a year. So they just let us know that we're most likely looking at Fiscal Year 2030 to do the construction. I don't want to slow down the design efforts, because I know historically that there have been a lot of towns that when it's their turn for the construction, they're not 100 percent ready for one reason or another. And if we can stay on top of it, we could probably get slid into 2029. There's no urgency to get this done. But we've been working on it for a while. I think we'd all like to see this one cross the finish line."

Mr. Wood confirmed that the planned design is not a rotary. Ms. LaBrie asked if the designs took into account the change in traffic flow from Front Street being blocked to through traffic by School Square. "They are aware of that," Mr. Wood said. "I don't know when the traffic data was collected that they used to generate the 25 percent design. I'd suspect that whenever that was done, I don't think there would be a significant change in traffic patterns or volume since then, otherwise, engineers probably would have wanted to come back out to do it again and MassDOT does a full review of all the plans. They would have picked up on that and requested that."

Winchendon Candidates Set for 2026 Town Election

Candidates have been confirmed for the 2026 Town Election, which will take place on Monday, May 4. The following Winchendon citizens have stepped up to run for seats on elected town boards:

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Your One-Stop Guide to What's Happening in your Town!

FRIDAY MAY 1

DARTS 7:00 p.m. This is not a league but open to anyone who wants to play. Club opens at 6:15 p.m. Random teams are picked and darts fly at 7:00 p.m. $5 to join & winning team takes home the prize money. Cash bar available. No outside drinks allowed. Come join the fun! At The Snowbound Club, 130 Baldwinville Rd, Winchendon.

SATURDAY MAY 2

Town Wide Community Clean-Up 8:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. All residents are invited to get out and help clean up our town! You can pick up litter on your own street, or come to Town Hall and join a team. There will be a dumpster at Town Hall to deposit trash. Location: town wide! Town Hall, 109 Front St.

Toy Town Bridge Artist Circle 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. Come and join the Bridge Artistic Network for a time of encouragement, to engage and empower each other to keep creating and become who we were created to be. Bring your art supplies! This is a free event and Lunch is provided. At Cornerstone Church, 122 Gardner Rd, Winchendon.

Family Movie Matinee at the Beals 11:00 a.m. Screening today: The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St, Winchendon.

Tony's Toxic Trivia Night 6:00-9:00 p.m. Custom team based/pub style trivia games w/ hosting and interactive media/music. Custom games tailored to occasion and or interests. Bring your family and friends. Test your knowledge and win prizes!!! At The HUB, 5 Summer Dr, Winchendon.

MONDAY MAY 4

Music with Bob Jordan 10:30-11:30 a.m. At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon.

Annual Town Elections 8:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m. At Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon.

TUESDAY MAY 5

Social Art Circle with GALA 1:00-3:00 p.m. Explore a variety of art in a supportive social environment—a group with different skill levels who wish to learn, explore, laugh, share, connect, and be inspired in a safe, low key, non-intimidating space. Bring your portable works in progress or try and pick from the shared community art supplies we have on hand. This is a self-led group, but there will be classroom monitors who will assist you. No cost, but registration required, at https://form.jotform.com/253415023143949. At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon.

Teen Dungeons & Dragons Club 3:30-5:00 p.m. A tabletop roleplaying club for teens! Membership is limited, contact the library at 978-297-0300 to sign up. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St, Winchendon.

WEDNESDAY MAY 6

Wandering Wednesdays Walking Group 9:30-11:30 a.m. Join us Each Wednesday for a Relaxed Social walk as we explore local spots and learn more about the history of our community! This week: Riverside Cemetery. Led by Lynn Murray. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation.

Integrity Medicare Appointments 10:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Have questions about insurance? Call the Senior Center at 978-297-3155 and make an appointment with Margaret from Integrity Medicare! At Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon.

Teen Gender & Sexuality Alliance at the Beals 3:30-4:30 p.m. A safe space for teens to meet, exchange information, receive support, socialize, build a community, and talk about issues and concerns related to sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St, Winchendon.

Craft & Chat 6:30-8:00 p.m. Craft and Chat is a space for adults of all ages to come and spend time relaxing while crocheting and chatting. Bring your crochet supplies and whether you want to learn or work on ongoing projects, we would love for you to join us! At Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon.

THURSDAY MAY 7

Bill O'Connor Life Care BINGO! 10:300-11:30 a.m. Come in to learn and have fun at the same time! At Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon.

Our Neighbor's Kitchen Dinner 5:15 p.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Served in the Parish Hall. This week the menu is Chef's Choice and dessert. Free-will donation $2 per person, $5 per family; no one turned away. 52 Spruce Street, Winchendon.

Adult Craft Night - Book Vase 6:30-8:30 p.m. Unleash your creativity by transforming a book into a decorative vase. This hands on workshop offers you a unique and creative way to add a touch of literary charm to your home decor. Limited Space, Registration Required. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library. For more information contact the library at 978-297-0300 or bealsmemoriallibrary@gmail.com. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St, Winchendon.

FRIDAY MAY 8

Sound Bites Community Jam 6:30-9:45 p.m. Open Mic! Sign up list is available at The HUB at 30 minutes before the music starts. Music starts at 6:30. For more information contact Sound Bites Events, www.soundbitesevents.com. At The HUB, 5 Summer Dr, Winchendon.

Lanes After Dark: Movie Night 7:00-9:00 p.m. Movie chosen by popular vote, will be announced on May 6. Vote at www.facebook.com/events/1607055117190978. Get ready for a great night of music, community, and a movie under the sky. Bring a chair, bring some friends, and let's make it a night. At The HUB, 5 Summer Dr, Winchendon.

SATURDAY MAY 9

Child Loss Support Group 10:00-11:00 a.m. For parents, grandparents and siblings of a child that has died. This is a non-professional support group not affiliated with any religion. If you are in need of support or know others who would benefit from this group, please invite them to come. If you have any questions, please contact Carla Wood 978 297-2217 or Phyllis Cochran 978 297-1193. At United Parish, 39 Front St, Winchendon.

Taste of Winchendon 11:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. Vendors, food, dance, live music. Celebrate all the diverse cultures and flavors of Winchendon! At The HUB, 5 Summer Dr, Winchendon.

TUESDAY MAY 12

Ukelele Group 10:30-11:30 a.m. Come and join our Ukulele group at the Senior Center! At Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon.

From Sitches to Smiles with Quilter and Storyteller Linda Ramra 6:00-7:30 p.m. We all have moments that change the way we see the world. For Linda, it happened on a red velvet couch. In From Stiches to Smiles, she shares how that single experience shaped 20 years of creativity, connection, and joy. Through stories and quilts, Linda invites you to reflect on your own "red velvet couch" moment and discover how everyday experiences can spark unexpected inspiration. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St, Winchendon.

WEDNESDAY MAY 13

Wandering Wednesdays Walking Group 9:30-11:30 a.m. Join us Each Wednesday for a Relaxed Social walk as we explore local spots and learn more about the history of our community! This week: Winchendon Community Park. Led by Lynn Murray. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation.

Classic Movie Matinee at the Beals 3:00 p.m. Screening today: American Graffiti. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St, Winchendon.

Arts Fest 5:30 p.m. A celebration of students' art and music at Murdock Middle High School--come see artwork on display and enjoy the choruses and bands in concert! At Murdock Middle High School, 3 Memorial Dr, Winchendon.

THURSDAY MAY 14

Winchendon Health Fair 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Vendors and information about local services and resources for health and wellness. If you would like to be a vendor, reserve a spot at https://forms.gle/xzr91y8ogKm8ffBE7 At Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon.

Denis Cormier Concert 10:45 a.m.- 12:15 p.m. At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon.

Beals Book Club 3:00 p.m. Join a discussion group that allows avid readers to discuss the themes, plots, and characters of selected books. The library provides the book each month! Contact the library for this month's title. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St, Winchendon.

Teen Cooking Class 4:00-6:00 p.m. These hands-on classes help teens (age 13-18) build real-life cooking skills, confidence, and independence in the kitchen--all in a fun, supportive environment. Limited to 5, register at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfxPCfHsdf9-C0K-cVQeNrBMm-ee4biel-7ajliPq4Lv0_idQ/viewform. Sponsored by United Way. At The HUB, 5 Summer Dr, Winchendon.

American Legion Spaghetti Dinner 5:00-6:30 p.m. Come enjoy a delicious spaghetti dinner and support our local Auxiliary! Hosted by Winchendon American Legion Auxiliary Unit 193. At Winchendon American Legion Post #193, 295 School St.

Our Neighbor's Kitchen Dinner 5:30 p.m. at UU Church of Winchendon. Dinner will be served in the Parish Hall; take-out available after indoor diners are served. This week's menu TBA. Free-will donation $2 per person, $5 per family; no one turned away. 126 Central Street.

Stratton Players Present: "The Cliffnotes of Insanity" 6:00-8:00 p.m. A live-action, interactive performance directed by Chelsey Patriss. Join us for a night full of adventure, romance, and unforgettable fun, with this high-energy homage to The Princess Bride. Tickets $30, includes a buffet dinner. Get your tickets now at square.link/u/j6MR2xun. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation. Visionary Sponsor: GFA Federal Credit Union; Unity Sponsor: Oppure Oil, LLC. At The HUB, 5 Summer Dr, Winchendon.

FRIDAY MAY 15

Line Dancing Lessons with Marylee 7:00-8:30 p.m. This is open to anyone who wants to join. No need to sign up in advance. $10 per person to join. This is an all genres music class. Club opens at 6 p.m. Bar opens at 6:30 p.m. Wear comfortable clothing and come join the fun. At the Snowbound Club, 130 Baldwinville Rd, Winchendon.

SATURDAY MAY 16

Sensory Friendly Browsing Hour at the Beals 9:00-10:00 a.m. Enjoy a special library hour designed to provide a safe and friendly environment for individuals who are neurodivergent, on the autism spectrum, or have other special needs, and their families. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St, Winchendon.

Operation Winchendon Cares 9:00-10:30 a.m. Come help fill "care packages" for our actively serving military, or bring items to donate! Theme this month is "Honoring Our Best on Armed Forces Day." At Winchendon American Legion Post #193, 295 School Street (downstairs).

Bridging Ideas and Building Futures: Community Conversations 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Topic: What are we prepared to do to become the community we want to be? The future of our community isn't built by chance, but by choice. The crucial question facing each of us today is this: What are we prepared to do to become the community we want to be? Are we ready to move beyond conversation and commit to collective action, turning our shared aspirations into tangible reality? The answer lies in the steps we take together, starting now. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St, Winchendon.

MONDAY MAY 18

Walking Beside You: Caregiver Support Group 6:00-7:30 p.m. We invite all parents, grandparents, and caregivers raising individuals who are neurodivergent, on the autism spectrum, or have other special needs. We aim to create a safe space to come together, support each other, and share the joys and challenges of raising individuals with unique needs. 3rd Monday of each month. For more information visit the library or see bealslibrary.org. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St, Winchendon.

Annual Town Meeting 7:00 p.m. At Murdock Middle High School, 3 Memorial Dr, Winchendon.

TUESDAY MAY 19

Growing Places Farmers Market 10:30-11:30 a.m. Fresh local vegetables available for purchase using cash, debit/credit or SNAP/HIP benefits! At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon.

Teen Dungeons & Dragons Club 3:30-5:00 p.m. A tabletop roleplaying club for teens! Membership is limited, contact the library at 978-297-0300 to sign up. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St, Winchendon.

Book Talk with Local Author Catherine Zebrowski 6:00-7:30 p.m. Join us as local author Catherine Zebrowski discusses her new memoir, Me Fran and the Shadow Man. Get a peek into process of writing a memoir as Catherine shares her inspiration, creative journey, and the emotions behind writing this personal story. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St, Winchendon.

WEDNESDAY MAY 20

Wandering Wednesdays Walking Group 9:30-11:30 a.m. Join us Each Wednesday for a Relaxed Social walk as we explore local spots and learn more about the history of our community! This week: Lake Dennison Recreation Area. Led by Lynn Murray. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation.

Integrity Medicare Appointments 10:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Have questions about insurance? Call the Senior Center at 978-297-3155 and make an appointment with Margaret from Integrity Medicare! At Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon.

Craft & Chat 6:30-8:00 p.m. Craft and Chat is a space for adults of all ages to come and spend time relaxing while crocheting and chatting. Bring your crochet supplies and whether you want to learn or work on ongoing projects, we would love for you to join us! At Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon.

THURSDAY MAY 21

Merrily's Free Card Making Class 10_30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. This is a free class offered by GALA. Make your own greeting card using found objects and your creativity! Merrily will guide you to make a one-of-a-kind creation. Held in the Community room.A t Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon.

Our Neighbor's Kitchen Dinner 5:15 p.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Served in the Parish Hall. This week the menu is warm ham & cheese sandwiches on buns with a yummy sauce, spinach salad, chips and dessert. Free-will donation $2 per person, $5 per family; no one turned away. 52 Spruce Street, Winchendon.

Movie Night at the Beals 6:00 p.m. Screening today: Hamnet (2026). At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St, Winchendon.

Las Vegas Night at Whispered Spirits Speakeasy 7:00-11:00 p.m. Come join us and enjoy live music by Danny Boy! Drink specials available & light refreshments served. At the Snowbound Club, 130 Baldwinville Rd, Winchendon.

SATURDAY MAY 23

The Ed Sullivans 2:00-4:00 p.m. FREE concert! The Ed Sullivans are bringing the unforgettable hits of the 60s & 70s back to life--rocking the classics with songs you know, love, and can't help but sing along to. Grab your lawn chairs or blankets, gather your friends and family, and enjoy an afternoon of great music in a beautiful outdoor setting. Get tickets and info at www.eventeny.com/events/the-ed-sullivans-2026-27895/. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation and the Mass Cultural Council. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

Neil Byrne in Concert - It's an Irish Thing 7:00-9:00 p.m. Tickets $35 for general admission, $70 for concert and VIP Meet & Greet photo opportunity with Neil Byrne. Tickets available at www.neilbyrnemusic.com/tour. At Winchendon History & Cultural Center, Murdock-Whitney House, 151 Front St.

SATURDAY MAY 23

Memorial Day Decoration of Veterans' Graves 10:00 a.m. Volunteers assemble at Calvary Cemetery on Glenallen St, then go to Riverside Cemetery and then Old Centre, placing decorations on veterans' graves.

SUNDAY MAY 24

Memorial Day Service 10:00-11:30 a.m. Please come join us for worship service as we honor and remember with the members of our local Scouts and with the members of the Winchendon American Legion, those who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we may be free. At United Parish, 39 Front St, Winchendon.

MONDAY MAY 25

Winchendon Memorial Day Ceremonies 10:00 a.m. Parade assembles at the Fire Station at 9:45 a.m. and marches down Central St at 10:00 a.m. Stops at Legion Park and VFW Park, then ends at G.A.R. Park for full ceremonies. If weather is bad, ceremonies will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the Winchendon American Legion Post #193, 295 School St.

WEDNESDAY MAY 27

Wandering Wednesdays Walking Group 9:30-11:30 a.m. Join us Each Wednesday for a Relaxed Social walk as we explore local spots and learn more about the history of our community! This week: Old Murdock Senior Center. Led by Lynn Murray. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation.

Thriller & Mystery Book Club 4:00 p.m. If you love the thrills and chills of a good thriller, then join the Beals Mystery Book Club! Participants can share their favorites and enjoy some new ones with other fans of the genre! The library provides suggested books each month. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St, Winchendon.

THURSDAY MAY 28

Teen Cooking Class 4:00-6:00 p.m. These hands-on classes help teens (age 13-18) build real-life cooking skills, confidence, and independence in the kitchen--all in a fun, supportive environment. Limited to 5, register at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfxPCfHsdf9-C0K-cVQeNrBMm-ee4biel-7ajliPq4Lv0_idQ/viewform. Sponsored by United Way. At The HUB, 5 Summer Dr, Winchendon.

Our Neighbor's Kitchen Dinner 5:30 p.m. at UU Church of Winchendon. Dinner will be served in the Parish Hall; take-out available after indoor diners are served. This week's menu is chicken teriyaki. Free-will donation $2 per person, $5 per family; no one turned away. 126 Central Street.

Documentary Night at the Beals 6:00 p.m. Screening today: Mr. Nobody Against Putin (2026). A Russian teacher secretly documents his small town school's transformation into a war recruitment center during the Ukraine invasion, revealing the ethical dilemmas educators face amid propaganda and militarization. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St, Winchendon.

Bingo at The HUB 7:00-9:00 p.m. Join the Winchendon Parks and Recreation for Bingo at the HUB! At The HUB, 5 Summer Dr, Winchendon.

SATURDAY MAY 30

Art Critique with GALA 10:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Are you looking for encouragement and support from other artists? Bring up to 2 pieces of your artwork (finished or unfinished) to share with your circle of artist friends. The first 15 minutes will be social time, then we will go into sharing our artwork. You may bring snacks to share with the group. Free to all GALA members. New artists, first 2 classes are free. Janet Dupuis will help guide us during our time together. Email Janet to let her know that you will be joining us at Jandu516@gmail.com. For more info about GALA see www.galagardner.org. In the Community Room of the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon.

Montapalooza! 12:00-9:00 p.m. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the gate. An outdoor, community-focused music festival celebrating artists from the North-Central Massachusetts region, the state and all over New England. Two stages, vendor area and food trucks. The overall experience is designed to be relaxed and inclusive. A place where people can enjoy live music, shop local vendors, and spend a day connecting with the community. Get tickets at www.eventeny.com/events/montapalooza-27237. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

SATURDAY JUNE 6

Founders Day 2:00-9:00 p.m. Join us for a full day of fun, music, and community as we celebrate the 4th year of the Robinson Broadhurst Foundation Performing Arts Amphitheater! Entertainment, food, vendors, games, live music by The Quarry, New Release and Whiskey Johnson. BONUS: Winchendon's FIRST drone show! Accepting Vendor Applications: www.eventeny.com/events/founders-day-2026-27227. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

SUNDAY JUNE 7

Winchendon Winds Concert 2:00 p.m. This 40-piece professional wind ensemble under the direction of Dr. Lindsay Bronnenkant (UMass Music Faculty) presents "Happy 250th Birthday, America!" Concert selections will include patriotic favorites and special appearance of a uniformed, revolutionary war-era wind band. Free admission, refreshments sold. At UU Church of Winchendon, 126 Central St.

THURSDAY JUNE 11

Our Neighbor's Kitchen Dinner 5:30 p.m. at UU Church of Winchendon. Dinner will be served in the Parish Hall; take-out available after indoor diners are served. This week's menu TBA. Free-will donation $2 per person, $5 per family; no one turned away. 126 Central Street.

FRIDAY JUNE 12

Adam Ezra Group Rock Band 7:00-9:00 p.m. Tickets $25. Blending Americana, folk, and roots music with a powerful sense of purpose, Adam Ezra Group has built one of the most loyal fan communities in modern independent music. Known for their deeply personal performances and grassroots approach, the band has been selling out theaters across the Northeast--without ever losing sight of where they came from. Get tickets at www.eventeny.com/events/adam-ezra-group-27912. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

SATURDAY JUNE 13

Sunset Social: Salsa & Sangria 6:00-10:00 p.m. Tickets $5. Kids under 12 free. Join us for a vibrant summer evening of music, dancing, and community. Whether you're an experienced dancer or just want to soak in the atmosphere, this is a relaxed, welcoming night out for all ages. Salsa dance lesson, live performance, DJ music and dancing, farm-fresh food & snacks, Sangria & tropical cocktails. Get tickets at www.eventeny.com/events/sunset-socials-salsa-sangria-2026-27897/. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

SUNDAY JUNE 14

Winchendon Winds Concert 2:00 p.m. This 40-piece professional wind ensemble under the direction of Dr. Lindsay Bronnenkant (UMass Music Faculty) presents "Over the Hills and Through the Woods." Concert selections will include marches and songs of journey. Free admission, refreshments sold. At UU Church of Winchendon, 126 Central St.

SATURDAY JUNE 20

Summer Lawn Fair 9:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. An annual tradition since 1867. Stroll our church grounds full of crafts, retail and yard sale items, concessions, raffles and even a free cycle table! Rain (indoors) or shine. At UU Church of Winchendon, 126 Central St.

Bands, BBQ & Brews 1:00-7:00 p.m. Gates open @ 1pm. Music by Nick Staples 1-3pm & New Release 3-7pm. Brew Tastings: $20 with portion of the proceeds to benefit local animal shelter. Louie's famous chicken bbq $15. Tickets available in advance for both. (BBQ tickets only available in advance) Great Music, Food & BBQ...Come join the fun! At The Snowbound Club, 130 Baldwinville Rd, Winchendon.

SUNDAY JUNE 21

Winchendon Winds Concert 2:00 p.m. This 40-piece professional wind ensemble under the direction of Dr. Lindsay Bronnenkant (UMass Music Faculty) presents "Ahoy!" Concert selections will take us to the "high seas." Free admission, refreshments sold. At UU Church of Winchendon, 126 Central St.

THURSDAY JUNE 25

Our Neighbor's Kitchen Dinner 5:30 p.m. at UU Church of Winchendon. Dinner will be served in the Parish Hall; take-out available after indoor diners are served. This week's menu is country ribs. Free-will donation $2 per person, $5 per family; no one turned away. 126 Central Street.

FRIDAY JUNE 26

Community Open Mic & Picnic in the Park 2:00-8:00 p.m. FREE! This all-ages community event invites neighbors, friends, and families to gather outdoors for an evening of live local talent, including music, comedy, storytelling, and more. Whether you're stepping up to the mic or enjoying the performances from the lawn, this is a great chance to connect, unwind, and celebrate community creativity. Bring a picnic, blanket, or lawn chair and enjoy the beautiful park setting while supporting local performers. Performers of all experience levels are welcome--sign-ups will be available on site. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

SATURDAY JUNE 27

Food Truck Festival and Battle of the Bands 2026 12:00-7:00 p.m. Free! Spend the day eating your way through the trucks, then cheer on your favorite band as they compete for the win! Huge lineup of food trucks, local bands competing, sweet treats, cold drinks, local vendors. For vendor applications or to sign up as a volunteer, go to www.eventeny.com/events/food-truck-festival-and-battle-of-the-bands-2026-26975/. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Rec. At G.A.R. Park, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon.

SUNDAY JUNE 28

Winchendon Winds Concert 2:00 p.m. This 40-piece professional wind ensemble under the direction of Dr. Lindsay Bronnenkant (UMass Music Faculty) presents "Characters"--their final concert of the season. Concert selections will depict different characters, some well-known, some not. Free admission, refreshments sold. At UU Church of Winchendon, 126 Central St.

SATURDAY JULY 11

Sunset Social: Island Vibes 6:00-10:00 p.m. Tickets $5. Kids under 12 free. Island Vibes is part of the Sunset Socials series and brings tropical energy, great music, and relaxed summer fun to the amphitheater. Whether you're dancing, lounging with friends, or just soaking in the atmosphere, Island Vibes is all about enjoying summer together in a beautiful outdoor setting. Get tickets at www.eventeny.com/events/sunset-socials-island-vibes-2026-27902. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

Damian McGinty Acoustic Tour 2026 6:00 p.m. Join Damian McGinty, the charismatic star of Celtic Thunder and Glee, for an unforgettable evening of music, charm, and pure magic! On this special summer night, Damian's heartwarming ballads, upbeat tunes, and captivating stories are set to come to life on stage. Known for his powerful voice and charismatic stage presence, Damian brings an authentic blend of folk and pop. Damian's soulful voice weaves through a tapestry of songs, including hits from his latest releases and his repertoire of solo originals, fan favorites, and a few beloved Celtic Thunder classics. With a mix of personal anecdotes from his life on the road and incredible musicianship, this tour is designed to connect deeply with every audience member. Tickets available at damianmcginty.com/tours. At Winchendon History & Cultural Center, Murdock-Whitney House, 151 Front St.

Into the Floyd Concert 7:00-9:00 p.m. Tickets $20. Based in Central Massachusetts, Into The Floyd brings the music of Pink Floyd vividly to life, performing an authentic and expansive catalog spanning the band's entire career--from their earliest psychedelic works of the 1960s through their final studio recordings. Get tickets at www.eventeny.com/events/into-the-floyd-2026-27905. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

FRIDAY JULY 24

Community Open Mic & Picnic in the Park 2:00-8:00 p.m. FREE! This all-ages community event invites neighbors, friends, and families to gather outdoors for an evening of live local talent, including music, comedy, storytelling, and more. Whether you're stepping up to the mic or enjoying the performances from the lawn, this is a great chance to connect, unwind, and celebrate community creativity. Bring a picnic, blanket, or lawn chair and enjoy the beautiful park setting while supporting local performers. Performers of all experience levels are welcome--sign-ups will be available on site. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

SATURDAY JULY 25

The Reminisants Concert 4:00-8:00 p.m. Tickets $10. Known for keeping crowds entertained and the dance floor moving, The Reminisants deliver a high-energy mix of classic hits and crowd favorites spanning multiple decades. Their interactive style and wide-ranging song list make them a perfect fit for a relaxed, family-friendly outdoor concert. Bring your friends, your lawn chairs, and your dancing shoes, and enjoy a laid-back summer concert in the park that's all about fun, familiarity, and community connection. Get tickets at www.eventeny.com/events/reminiscents-27913. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

SATURDAY AUGUST 8

4EverFab Concert 7:00-9:00 p.m. Tickets $5. Celebrating 14 seasons together, 4EverFab is New England's premier Beatles tribute band, featuring the original four founding members who have performed together for more than a decade. With over 325 shows under their belt, they've mastered the sound, spirit, and excitement that made The Beatles a global phenomenon--and they deliver it with infectious energy and total authenticity. From early favorites like "She Loves You," "I Want to Hold Your Hand," and "Twist and Shout," to later anthems like "Come Together," "Hey Jude," and "Let It Be," this show is a nonstop sing-along packed with timeless hits that span generations. Whether you're a lifelong Beatles fan or just love a great summer concert, you'll find yourself clapping, dancing, and singing every word. So all together now--bring your friends, grab a lawn chair or blanket, and get ready for a night of classic songs, big harmonies, and pure joy under the summer sky. This is one Beatles experience you won't want to let it be without you there! Get tickets at www.eventeny.com/events/4everfab-concert-27914. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

SATURDAY AUGUST 15

Italian Street Fest 12:00 p.m. Tickets $5. Join us for a lively afternoon celebrating Italian culture, music, food, and community! Stroll through the park and enjoy delicious Italian eats, specialty vendors, and festive fun for the whole family. Music by Italo DeMasi, Sounds Like Frank and Ambrosini. Food vendors and local crafters/vendors. Get tickets at www.eventeny.com/events/italian-street-fest-28905/. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

FRIDAY AUGUST 28

Community Open Mic & Picnic in the Park 2:00-8:00 p.m. FREE! This all-ages community event invites neighbors, friends, and families to gather outdoors for an evening of live local talent, including music, comedy, storytelling, and more. Whether you're stepping up to the mic or enjoying the performances from the lawn, this is a great chance to connect, unwind, and celebrate community creativity. Bring a picnic, blanket, or lawn chair and enjoy the beautiful park setting while supporting local performers. Performers of all experience levels are welcome--sign-ups will be available on site. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

SATURDAY AUGUST 29

Blues, Brew & BBQ 3:00-9:00 p.m. Tickets $15. Bring your appetite and enjoy BBQ favorites, local craft beer, and great company in a laid-back outdoor setting. Whether you're a blues lover or just looking for a fantastic Saturday night, Blues, Brew & BBQ has something for everyone. Be sure to bring a lawn chair or blanket, gather your friends, and settle in for a night filled with music, food, and community.
3:00 PM - Memphis Kelly
5:00 PM - Ottomatic Slim & The Deadly Sins
7:00 PM - Wildcat O'Halloran Band
Get tickets at www.eventeny.com/events/blues-brew-bbq-2026-27915. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12

Sunset Social: Harvest Social 6:00-10:00 p.m. Tickets $5. Kids under 12 free. This community-focused event is all about enjoying the best parts of autumn: crisp air, harvest vibes, and time together in a beautiful outdoor setting. Whether you're coming to socialize, relax, or simply soak in the fall atmosphere, the Farm Harvest Social offers a warm and welcoming way to celebrate the season. Expect an evening filled with seasonal ambiance, community spirit, and fall-inspired fun at the park. Bring friends, meet neighbors, and enjoy a relaxed night designed to celebrate harvest time in Winchendon. Get tickets at www.eventeny.com/events/sunset-socials-harvest-social-27903. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 19

Cowboys & Hippies Concert 7:00-9:00 p.m. Tickets $25. From early afternoon through sunset and into the evening, the stage will be alive with powerhouse performances from regional favorites and crowd-loving jam bands. Expect soaring guitar solos, tight grooves, soulful vocals, and plenty of moments that make you want to dance, sway, and sing along. Featuring Whiskey6, The Whole Loaf and Bearly Dead. Get tickets at www.eventeny.com/events/cowboys-hippies-concert-27916. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 25

Community Open Mic & Picnic in the Park 2:00-8:00 p.m. FREE! This all-ages community event invites neighbors, friends, and families to gather outdoors for an evening of live local talent, including music, comedy, storytelling, and more. Whether you're stepping up to the mic or enjoying the performances from the lawn, this is a great chance to connect, unwind, and celebrate community creativity. Bring a picnic, blanket, or lawn chair and enjoy the beautiful park setting while supporting local performers. Performers of all experience levels are welcome--sign-ups will be available on site. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 26

Central Mass Irish Festival 2026 12:00-8:00 p.m. Tickets $20 (early bird rate). Three of New England's premiere Irish bands, dancers, harps, pipes and drums, Irish food and drink, Irish vendors, and an open trad seisun come together for an all day celebration of all things Irish in the heart of New England. Get tickets at www.eventeny.com/events/central-mass-irish-festival-2026-28127. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 3

Winchendon Honky-Tonk 4:00-8:00 p.m. Tickets $15. Featuring Live Performances By: Whitney Doucet Band and AK Cody & The Northmen. Live country music at our beautiful outdoor Amphitheater, plenty of dancing space, lawn seating (bring your chairs and blankets), beer and beverage service (21+ with valid ID). Family-friendly. Tickets are limited--Advance purchase is strongly recommended. Get tickets (and vendor applications) at www.eventeny.com/events/winchendon-honky-tonk-28546/. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 17

Haunted Happenings 1:00-9:00 p.m. FREE! Join us for a spooktacular night of Free 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
Music & Halloween Games
Haunted Trails after dark (enter if you dare!)
Food Trucks & Local Vendors
Costumes encouraged. Fun guaranteed. Tag your boo crew and we'll see you there! Vendor applications at www.eventeny.com/events/haunted-happenings-2026-28036. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 24

Sunset Social: Mega Monster Mash 6:00-10:00 p.m. Tickets $5. Kids under 12 free. Enjoy a lively Halloween atmosphere featuring live music, costume contests for kids and adults, and plenty of seasonal fun. Dress up in your best costume, bring friends and family, and celebrate Halloween together under the lights at the park. Food and drinks will be available for purchase, including local beer and wine, farm-fresh food, handmade boba tea, and pumpkin spice drinks. Get tickets at www.eventeny.com/events/sunset-socials-mega-monster-mash-27904. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

ONGOING

SUNDAYS

Prayer at TWR House of Prayer 5:00 p.m. TWR House of Prayer is open to the public and all are welcome to come and participate. While in the prayer room, feel free to worship, read and study the Bible and engage in prayer. Every prayer meeting is lead by live continuous worship music and each hour has a specific prayer topic that all are encouraged to pray for. For more details and information check out our website at twrhouseofprayer.org. At TWR House of Prayer, 10 Pond St, Winchendon.

ESL Classes 6:00-8:00 p.m. Through May 31. At The HUB, 5 Summer Dr, Winchendon.

MONDAYS

Pickleball - Open Courts 9:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. Drop in and play pickleball! At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Gentle Yoga with Paula 10:00 a.m. Chair yoga tailored to the older generations to increase flexibility, balance, and breathwork to lower stress levels. At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Friends Used Book and Media Sale 1:00-3:00 p.m. Browse a wide selection of used books, DVDs, puzzles, music and more that the whole family will love. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon. We are also happy to share that we are now accepting DONATIONS! Item acceptance is at the discretion of the Friends. All items not accepted WILL be returned to the donor. Donations will ONLY be accepted during book sale hours. Donations should not be deposited in the Library's book drop-off box.
We will NOT accept the following:
* Textbooks of any kind
* Encyclopedias
* Dictionaries
* Any item that contains obsolete information (i.e. medical books)
* Any item in poor condition (scratched or damaged)
* VHS or Cassette Tapes

Lego Club for Kids at the Beals 4:00-5:00 p.m. Join us for fun-filled afternoons building Lego creations straight from your imagination! For for information, contact the library at 978-297-0300. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon.

Yoga With Chantal from Shadow Academy Wellness 4:30-5:30 p.m. Unwind, relax, and celebrate the beauty of yoga. All skill levels welcomed! Mats and Blocks are available, if needed. Open to adults and teens. For more info, contact 978-297-0300, bealsmemoriallibrary@gmail.com or visit www.bealslibrary.org. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon.

Prayer at TWR House of Prayer 5:00 p.m. TWR House of Prayer is open to the public and all are welcome to come and participate. While in the prayer room, feel free to worship, read and study the Bible and engage in prayer. Every prayer meeting is lead by live continuous worship music and each hour has a specific prayer topic that all are encouraged to pray for. For more details and information check out our website at twrhouseofprayer.org. At TWR House of Prayer, 10 Pond St, Winchendon.

AA Meeting 7:30 p.m. Open meeting, all are welcome. UU Church of Winchendon, 126 Central Street.

TUESDAYS

Strength Training with Mary Lee 8:30-9:15 a.m. Work at your own pace, with guidance from Marylee, to build and retain muscle utilizing handweights. You may bring your own or use the weights on hand! At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Pickleball - Open Courts 9:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. Drop in and play pickleball! At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Line Dancing with Mary Lee 9:15-10:15 a.m. At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Family Friendly Story Hour at the Chapel 10:00-11:00 a.m. For preschool age children. Parents must stay with their children for the story time. At the Chapel Downtown, 286 Central St, Winchendon.

Taste of Home Lunch 11:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Enjoy a homecooked lunch made by volunteers! Call 928-297-3155 to reserve a spot. At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Game Day Tuesdays 12:00-3:00 p.m. Tables will be set up with a variety of games, including cribbage, Scrabble, checkers, chess and cards. All experience levels welcome to drop in and play. Transportation available via the Community Connector. Contact the Senior Center at 978-297-3155 or winchendoncoa@gmail.com with any questions. At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon.

Sons of the American Legion Tuesday Dinner 5:00-7:00 p.m. Come and join us in the downstairs hall and lounge for a wonderful time of food and fellowship at the Winchendon American Legion. Please see our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554947800863) where we will post the menu and prices each week. At Winchendon American Legion Post #193, 295 School St.

Prayer at TWR House of Prayer 5:00 p.m. TWR House of Prayer is open to the public and all are welcome to come and participate. While in the prayer room, feel free to worship, read and study the Bible and engage in prayer. Every prayer meeting is lead by live continuous worship music and each hour has a specific prayer topic that all are encouraged to pray for. For more details and information check out our website at twrhouseofprayer.org. At TWR House of Prayer, 10 Pond St, Winchendon.

WEDNESDAYS

Ukelele Class with Julie 9:00-10:00 a.m. At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Pickleball - Open Courts 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Drop in and play pickleball! At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Gentle Yoga with Paula 10:00-11:00 a.m. This class is suitable for all abilities. At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Bingo! 12:30-2:30 p.m. At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Prayer at TWR House of Prayer 5:00 p.m. TWR House of Prayer is open to the public and all are welcome to come and participate. While in the prayer room, feel free to worship, read and study the Bible and engage in prayer. Every prayer meeting is lead by live continuous worship music and each hour has a specific prayer topic that all are encouraged to pray for. For more details and information check out our website at twrhouseofprayer.org. At TWR House of Prayer, 10 Pond St, Winchendon.

ESL Classes 6:00-8:00 p.m. At The HUB, 5 Summer Dr, Winchendon.

Meet-Up With the Kiwanis 6:30 p.m. 2ND AND 4TH WEDNESDAYS EACH MONTH. All are welcome! Come join in community projects, make new friends, make your community better, have some fun! Younger folks welcome. For more information, call Cailte Kelly, 978-413-9930. Hosted by Kiwanis of Winchendon MA. At the Clark Memorial YMCA Community Room (in new gymnastics building down by the bike path), 155 Central St., Winchendon.

THURSDAYS

Pickleball 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Drop in and play pickleball! At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

CFCE Preschool Playgroup at the Beals 1:00-2:00 p.m. Join us for an afternoon of free play, a craft, story time and music & movement. This program is in partnership with the Winchendon CFCE. Contact the library at 978-297-0300 for more information. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon.

Prayer at TWR House of Prayer 5:00 p.m. TWR House of Prayer is open to the public and all are welcome to come and participate. While in the prayer room, feel free to worship, read and study the Bible and engage in prayer. Every prayer meeting is lead by live continuous worship music and each hour has a specific prayer topic that all are encouraged to pray for. For more details and information check out our website at twrhouseofprayer.org. At TWR House of Prayer, 10 Pond St, Winchendon.

Friends Used Book and Media Sale 5:00-7:00 p.m. Browse a wide selection of used books, DVDs, puzzles, music and more that the whole family will love. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon. We are also happy to share that we are now accepting DONATIONS! Item acceptance is at the discretion of the Friends. All items not accepted WILL be returned to the donor. Donations will ONLY be accepted during book sale hours. Donations should not be deposited in the Library's book drop-off box.
We will NOT accept the following:
* Textbooks of any kind
* Encyclopedias
* Dictionaries
* Any item that contains obsolete information (i.e. medical books)
* Any item in poor condition (scratched or damaged)
* VHS or Cassette Tapes

Cub Scout Meetings 6:30-7:45 p.m. For more information, please contact ccpack193@gmail.com.

FRIDAYS

Pickleball - Open Courts 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Drop in and play pickleball! At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Story Time at the Beals 10:00 a.m. Join us for a fun half hour of stories with Ms. Kristin and Ms. Melissa. This program is in partnership with the Winchendon Community Playgroups & CFCE. Contact the library at 978-297-0300 for more information. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon. Starting Feb 16

Open Bowling for the Public 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. FOR DETAILS and TO RSVP VISIT: https://www.the-hub.org/community-bowling. At The HUB, 5 Summer Dr, Winchendon

Senior Lunch and Free Bowling 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Come in and enjoy lunch, free bowling, and fellowship! Please call 978-297-3155 at least 24 hours in advance to reserve a lunch. Bowling is free for all seniors 55+ from 10:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Suggested donation, $5. At the The HUB, 5 Summer Dr, Winchendon

Zumbini with MaryLee 11:15 a.m.- 12:15 a.m. At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Teen Drop-in at The HUB 4:00-6:00 p.m. Looking for a safe, welcoming place to hang out after school? Teen Drop-In at The HUB is your space to relax, connect, and have fun--completely free. In partnership with The Sunshine Café, we're offering free bowling plus a rotating lineup of activities designed just for teens. Whether you're competitive, creative, or just want to chill with friends, there's something for you every week. 1st Friday, Gaming Night; 2nd Friday, Paint & Sip; 3rd Friday, Movie Night; 4th Friday, Surprise event. At The HUB, 5 Summer Dr, Winchendon.

Prayer at TWR House of Prayer 5:00 p.m. TWR House of Prayer is open to the public and all are welcome to come and participate. While in the prayer room, feel free to worship, read and study the Bible and engage in prayer. Every prayer meeting is lead by live continuous worship music and each hour has a specific prayer topic that all are encouraged to pray for. For more details and information check out our website at twrhouseofprayer.org. At TWR House of Prayer, 10 Pond St, Winchendon.

SATURDAYS

Toy Town Trolley 8:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m. Scheduled rides, call or use the Community Connector app to reserve a ride. Sponsored by the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon, call 978-297-3155 for more info.

Brunch & Bowl at The HUB 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Come on over to The Hub and grab brunch and enjoy bowling! Fun for the whole family. PAJAMAS welcome! Continental breakfast, unlimited coffee, 1 hour of bowling (shoes included), beverages available to purchase. At The HUB, 5 Summer Dr, Winchendon.

Open Bowling for the Public 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. FOR DETAILS and TO RSVP VISIT: https://www.the-hub.org/community-bowling. At The HUB, 5 Summer Dr, Winchendon.

Friends Used Book and Media Sale 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Browse a wide selection of used books, DVDs, puzzles, music and more that the whole family will love. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon. We are also happy to share that we are now accepting DONATIONS! Item acceptance is at the discretion of the Friends. All items not accepted WILL be returned to the donor. Donations will ONLY be accepted during book sale hours. Donations should not be deposited in the Library's book drop-off box.
We will NOT accept the following:
* Textbooks of any kind
* Encyclopedias
* Dictionaries
* Any item that contains obsolete information (i.e. medical books)
* Any item in poor condition (scratched or damaged)
* VHS or Cassette Tapes

Winchendon Farmers Market 10:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. STARTS MAY 16. Crafts, fresh farm produce, baked goods. At G.A.R. Park, Murdock Ave and Grove St, Winchendon. Rain or shine! In inclement weather, the Market will move into the Old Murdock Senior Center, right next to the park.

Shopping Transportation to Rindge for Seniors 3:30-4:30 p.m. Leaves from the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. Must reserve your ride one week in advance. Call 978-297-3155.

Prayer at TWR House of Prayer 5:00 p.m. TWR House of Prayer is open to the public and all are welcome to come and participate. While in the prayer room, feel free to worship, read and study the Bible and engage in prayer. Every prayer meeting is lead by live continuous worship music and each hour has a specific prayer topic that all are encouraged to pray for. For more details and information check out our website at twrhouseofprayer.org. At TWR House of Prayer, 10 Pond St, Winchendon.

North Central Collective Greenhouse 5:30-7:00 p.m. Join us for a meal, message and worship. NCC is a collective of likeminded churches who purpose to establish a Gospel presence that leads to Gospel proclamation in our region. At The Chapel Downtown, 286 Central St, Winchendon.