This Week's Winchendon News
BOS Continues Discussion About Future of Communications Committee
At table, from left, Communications Committee members Inanna Arthen and Shaina Cunningham
Photo copyright Town of Winchendon
At their meeting on Monday, August 10, the Board of Selectmen continued a discussion initiated at their July 13 meeting about the future of the town Communications Committee. Current Committee members Inanna Arthen and Shaina Cunningham were present and came forward to share their comments. Board Chair Andrew Beauvais asked for their feedback, saying, "what's been going well? What hasn't been working? How can we support you?"
Ms. Arthen began by saying that the Committee had run into problems getting a quorum of four people for meetings, and "a certain amount of logistical snags with meeting on the first Monday of the month. We kept running into Monday holidays, and there was one month that we ended up meeting over in the Beals conference room because we got bumped out of the Town Hall entirely. I got in touch with the library, and they were very, very accommodating, and so we met over there."
Ms. Arthen added, "I think that one thing we had difficulty with was figuring out what our mission was, because when we started up we had some folks that were from the Committee in the days when it was all about Comcast, and they were sort of left over from that, and they weren't quite sure that the Committee had any purpose beyond that, and we were trying to find out what kind of work the Committee could and should be doing, and I think we ended up churning about that a lot and not really finding a resolution. And I think one reason for that is because we were discussing it in isolation, which is ironic for a Communications Committee."
Ms. Cunningham said, "I think one thing that everybody in this room can agree on is how essential and necessary communication is, and that there is so much room for growth...our numbers had dissipated initially in joining the Committee. There was that group whose primary focus was the Comcast initiative, and then it had kind of disbanded. And then when Inanna became Chair, everybody came to the table again, and Inanna had done a wonderful job in recruiting a couple individuals, one of them being myself, to the table. When we initially began meeting again, our primary focus at that moment in time was the website, and really kind of making sure that all of the departments and committees and boards and commissions were as actively engaged and involved in that, looking at that being a way to unify communication throughout the town, and then internally there was some discussion amongst us as what our role should be.
"So I think you touching on the mission statement is essential. Because a lot of our members were feeling like our primary focus would be to support or find a tool such as they had Comcast and the website to be able to support effective communication across the town, and then other members were feeling like, okay, is there some more of an active role that we could play, so I think internally we could use the promotion of the Board of Selectmen and this platform to rebuild our numbers, and then as a town determine how we could most effectively add value to this community." She added that it seemed the Committee rose and fell with various goals.
Board member Erika Eitland said that according to the town's current description, the Communications Committee was a seven-member appointed committee, and "the charge of the committee is to assist in expanding local access programming and communications with the residents of the community. And that's it." That limited definition might be constraining the Committee in finding a sense of direction, she suggested.
Mr. Beauvais agreed, saying he thought it was time to reevaluate the mission statement together and come up with something broader. "You mentioned the website as well," he said. "I'll just speak for myself when I say navigation of the town website isn't what it used to be. The user experience needs a little bit of work, to say the least. That's just my perspective, and I wonder if that's something that the communications committee would be interested in exploring and try to figure out a way to make that more user-friendly...I'd be curious what your thoughts are and if you've given any thought to what your new mission or your purpose might sound like."
Ms. Cunningham said, "I think Inanna and I could really go on forever and have a really long, engaging conversation about communication in town. Especially where there is that townwide calendar initiative where we're both a part of it as well. And in addition to that, Inanna every week is plugging away at the next Courier edition. What I would like to see is some focus groups held with the community, and really start engaging residents that way and collect some of their feedback before we individually defined a new mission statement."
Ms. Arthen said, "When I think about communications, and of course we're thinking about it constantly because almost every time there's a Board of Selectmen meeting, or in many other committees, communications comes up as either an issue, a concern, or an important need. So looking at the Communications Committee, you're thinking, should it be like the Master Plan Implementation Committee, where they're going around and interacting with all the other committees to see how they can be best working in cohesion and harmony with the Master Plan. I know that the Master Plan Implementation Committee did do that. My sister was on it. She went and did presentations to three or four different groups that I actually was at, seeing her do these presentations, and they worked really hard on it."
Ms. Arthen mentioned the recent report from the organizers of the Community Conversations series, in which participants agreed that it takes personalized one-on-one outreach to really connect with residents of the town, and not just various mass messages. "I thought, wow, it's great to hear them say that because I have been saying that for years, been going to like the HEAL meetings, for example, and saying, look, it is like hand to hand...It's face to face. It's personalized. People need to feel that you really care about their input because communications doesn't start with what you want to say. It starts with what you're listening to, and people feeling that they're listened to.
"And so the idea of having focus groups, I'm having to stop myself from buttonholing people in stores, and just saying, 'Can I ask you three questions? What's the first news you get in the day that's from outside of your house? Where do you get your news, and what platform is it on?' You know, is it television? Is it a podcast? Is it the headlines on your phone when you pick your phone up for the first time, is it someone's text? Is it personal? Because we really don't know. I don't really know where people are getting their news these days.
"You get up in the morning. What's the first piece of information that comes to you from outside your house? And I'm willing to bet a lot of the times it's national news. It's the little headlines on their Facebook, on their computer or on their phone feed, these headlines, and so that's the first thing that they see. Well, Winchendon doesn't get on there. You hardly ever see Winchendon news in those kinds of news. But most people, that's where they're getting all their news. So they're not getting their local news. And how do we make them really care about that?"
Ms. Arthen said that people may see constant messages from the town and feel like they're just being asked to volunteer, or come to events or do something. "No. We want you to feel like you belong here, and that matters to us. And that's where you open the door for communications. And so Shaina is right, you have to start by talking to people, and somehow not the people that you talk to most of the time. You've got to find out how to talk to the people you've never talked to before."
WinchendonTV is a wonderful resource, Ms. Arthen said, but many people don't realize they can watch it on the town website and don't need Comcast cable service to see it. Mr. Beauvais pointed out that there is a phone app for WinchendonTV, as well.
Ms. Eitland said that as with several other committees, it might be valuable for other key committees have seats on the Communications Committee--for example, a representative from the Youth Commission. One need that she saw was breaking down long meetings and discussions (like this one) into easily digestible shorter chunks. She gets her main news on Instagram, and it is all national news, she agreed.
"I also want to propose from this Board, is this actually the Communications and Community Engagement Committee?" she went on. "Because the truth of the matter is, is it a two-way resource for this town? Is it something where they go out and they tell us, 'this is the news on the street. People don't know when the town election is.' That would be helpful to know in advance. So in my mind, that is the Communication Committee getting to do some of this community engagement work, where you also have a pulse on the street and come and say to the BOS or whoever, 'Listen. This is what we're hearing. You need to be paying attention to this, and vice versa. Are we able to say here's our big initiative with economic development, with the firehouse, with the School Committee, whatever? Help us get the word out. Who on the street needs to know this?'...I do think that there's a need to revisit this mission, I think we need to revisit the name. I think we need to revisit who is required to be on that board. Is there a student vacancy on that board?"
There was some discussion about the current membership of the Committee. Ms. Arthen, who was the last elected Chair, will reach out to the members individually and see if a meeting can be scheduled. There are at least two open seats according to the Town Manager's records.
The question arose as to whether the Communications Committee should simply be dissolved and started up as something completely new. Ms. Arthen said the main concern would be whether, if it was dissolved, a new committee would actually get started. The Communications Committee has a long history, having been originally created in the 1970s. Mr. Beauvais said there seemed to be value in keeping the Committee as is, and the next steps were to confirm the current membership and fill the vacant seats. Ms. Cunningham and Ms. Arthen agreed and said they can notify Mr. Beauvais when they're ready to come before the Board again.
Winchendon Town Carnival Returning October 1-4
The Winchendon Town Carnival will return to town from Thursday, October 1 through Sunday, October 4, at the big field behind the Clark Memorial YMCA, 155 Central Street. Times will vary day to day and will be announced as more details are finalized. The Carnival will be run by Fanelli Amusements.
John Fanelli appeared before the Board of Selectmen at their meeting on Monday, August 10 to obtain the entertainment permit for the Carnival. While the Carnival plans to include fireworks on Saturday night, that permit must be issued by the Fire Department and was not part of the entertainment permit application, Mr. Fanelli explained.
Board Chair Andrew Beauvais invited Mr. Fanelli to "market" his event by describing what it's all about. Mr. Fanelli said, "This is the third year of the Carnival. We proposed it to the YMCA a couple years ago. I know there was a lot of interest about bringing the Carnival back to the community. We used to do the Carnival here back in the 80s. There was a big brouhaha, and nothing happened for a long time...I felt that things changed. Way back when my grandfather was operating the company, he always said Winchendon was a "carnival town."
"After myself and my brother took over the company earlier in the 2020s, it was sort of a passion project of mine to bring the Carnival back to Winchendon, and it's been successful ever since. The first couple of years, both years, unfortunately, we got rained out the first day, but the rest of the weekend has been pretty good, and we're hoping for a full weekend this year, Thursday through Sunday. The event's going to be a little bit later than it has been in the past couple years, just because of the way the calendar fell. So it's going to be the first weekend of October this year. And same thing: carnival rides, games, food, and excitement, and fireworks on Saturday night. We'll be contacting a fireworks provider soon. We're working with the YMCA and Mike Quinn. I talked to him a while back...about hopefully getting some community involvement and sponsorship funds for the fireworks. Not sure where we're at with that, but regardless, we're still going to have a display on Saturday night."
After quickly reviewing the requirements for police details on each day of the Carnival, Mr. Beauvais asked Mr. Fanelli what was meant by, "Winchendon is a carnival town."
"Just sort of like the community comes out for it," Mr. Fanelli said. "We'll go to some communities and maybe they aren't as responsive. Whereas, I don't know if it's just this area of North Central Mass, but we normally start our year in Athol for a River Rat Race weekend, and I remember years ago hearing stories from my grandfather and my dad and uncles about having carnivals in Gardner as well, and we used to do the St. Brian's Carnival in Fitchburg. We actually just had one at Monty Tech High School a few weeks ago. so you know this area has always been pretty responsive to carnivals. Like I said, it was sort of a passion project for me to bring it back to Winchendon after there was a long drought."
Mr. Beauvais said that Fanelli might consider doing something in Winchendon for the 4th of July, which used to have a much bigger community celebration many years ago.
The Board approved the entertainment permit for the Carnival.
BOS Approve Resolution to Accept Matching Grant Money for a Fitness Court in Winchendon
One of NFC's fitness courts
Photo copyright National Fitness Campaign
At the Board of Selectmen's meeting on Monday, August 10, the Board voted on a resolution to accept a $50,000 matching grant from the National Fitness Campaign to install a fitness court in Winchendon. The grant was awarded to the town thanks to the hard work of Parks & Recreation Coordinator Shaina Cunningham.
Board Chair Andrew Beauvais explained, "This is a nationwide endeavor for health and wellness, and what's before us this evening is an exciting opportunity. One, because it provides us the opportunity to install something that would be free of charge to all residents and non-residents, anyone visiting the town. It's an outdoor fitness court, and if Winchendon was to join the list, we would be one of about 750 to 1000, I don't remember the exact number, but somewhere around there nationwide that are participating or would be participating in this. Our neighbors over in Gardner have one established at their high school. Fitchburg has one in [Coolidge Park]. It's essentially an outdoor community space for exercise, and the town has been awarded a $50,000 grant, and they shared with us it's the highest award that any municipality in the state of Massachusetts has received. $60,000 is the highest, and we received $50K. There are some matching funds.
"So the goal here for the additional funds that you see in the resolution would be raised through outreach to community supporters, businesses, etc. to try to close the funding gap, so that it's not really on the town necessarily to raise those funds, but $50,000 there, and then there was some settlement funds in the opioid account from the opioid settlement fund, which they said is an allowable use of those funds. It's very restrictive what they can be spent on. So, the initial funds we have is about $93,000 that had gone to GAMMHA as per an agreement, but we've continued to collect funds and they've just been sitting in the account."
Mr. Beauvais went on to say that there are three approved sites in town where the fitness court might go. All are connected to the bike path or rail trail. The top preferred spot would be Grout Park, due to its accessability and visibility. The second option is the Winchendon Community Park, and the third would be G.A.R. Park.
The resolution before the Board is non-binding, Mr. Beauvais said--if the town can't raise the matching funds it can just walk away from the deal.
He added, "I will also state, Ms. Cunningham did a phenomenal job submitting the grant application, and it was because of her efforts...based on the feedback they provided us, the grant committee, that she did one of the best jobs they've ever seen."
The resolution reads,
Whereas the town of Winchendon has submitted a grant application to National Fitness Campaign (NFC) for participation in the 2026 initiative to install and activate outdoor fitness courts in over 1,000 municipalities and schools across the country, andThe Board voted to approve the Resolution. For information about the NFC fitness courts, see https://www.nationalfitnesscampaign.com/fitness-court.
Whereas the town of Winchendon will accept a $50,000 national grant from the NFC Grant Committee and statewide partners, and endeavors to provide a local funding confirmation in the amount of $154,050, in compliance with the attached grant program requirements to promote and implement a free to the public outdoor fitness court, and
Whereas the town of Winchendon understands the scope of this project includes the installation of a concrete pad, as well as the assembly of the fitness court, both to be completed by separate vendors external to the National Fitness Campaign. Additional funding requirements for the concrete installation and fitness court assembly can be found on the attached grant program requirement documentation document provided by the National Fitness Campaign and
Whereas the Winchendon Board of Selectmen believes joining the National Fitness Campaign is an important step in building a healthier community, commits to fundraising to participate in NFC's 2026 campaign, and will earn local and regional recognition as a leader in providing accessible health and wellness infrastructure and programs.
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Winchendon Board of Selectmen will collaborate with NFC to join the National Fitness Campaign, implement the Outdoor Fitness Corps program, and make fitness free for community residents and visitors.
Green Day Recycle and IHM Church Holding Electronics Recycling Event on Saturday, August 22
On Saturday, August 22, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church is sponsoring an Electronics and Appliance Recycling Day by Green Day Recycle. The Event will be held outside the church at 52 Spruce Street, Winchendon, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The event is rain or shine. Cash or check payments will be accepted.
The following items will be accepted for the fee listed:
- $5 each: Small electronics items: Computer towers, Scanners, VCR, Printers, Copiers, DVD, Stereo Equipment, Computer Tower, Lighting, Vacuum, Answering Machine, Fax, Speakers, Compact discs, Circuit Boards, Radios, Record Players, Modems, Word Processor, Fans, Video equipment, Game Console, Xbox, etc., Tape Players, Typewriters (Anything with a plug and more).
- Appliances:
$25 each, Dishwasher, Dryer, or Stove.
$15 each, small microwave, $20 each, large microwave.
$25 each, lawn mower.
$40 each, snow blower. - TVs and Monitors/Flat panel monitors:
18" - 26", $25.00 ea
27"- 35", $30.00 ea
Over 35" / Projection TV, $45.00 ea - $25 each, air conditioners
$20 each, Dehumidifiers - $20 each, dorm refrigerators
$40 to $50 each, large refrigerator - $25 each, grills.
$15, Empty propane tank - $20-$40, Exercise equipment
$10, weight sets
NOT ACCEPTED: paint or chemicals, light bulbs, household batteries or smoke detectors.
Also: This will be a Bicycle Recycle Day, no fee.
Bring your unwanted old or new bicycle and drop it off, it will be reused again. Mountain, Road, BMX, Cruiser, (Old to current)/ New, Kids, etc.
We also take working or non-working minibikes and mopeds. Our aim is to keep bikes from being thrown out when they can be reused. (We can pick up bicycles if you cannot get them there).
