The Winchendon Courier - Local Happenings

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

Week of February 27 to March 5, 2020

The 2nd Annual Beals Prize for Poetry is Calling for Entries

Do you love writing poems? Have you been looking for an opportunity to share them? Well, here’s your chance! The Beals Memorial Library in Winchendon is partnering with the Gardner Area League of Artists and looking for entries for the Beals Prize for Poetry, their second annual poetry contest.

The Beals Memorial Library will be accepting submissions for the competition until Tuesday, March 31st. Ten finalists will be selected by a panel of award-winning poets to compete on Friday, April 24th, for the chance to win up to $100 in prize money! Submissions are limited to one per contestant and only unpublished poems will be considered. Entries can be mailed, hand-delivered, or emailed to: bealspoetryprize@gmail.com.

If mailing an entry, please submit on white, letter-sized paper, typed in an easy to read font. Place no personal information on the side where your poem appears. On the reverse side, affix your name, address, telephone number, and email address. Notification of receipt of entry will be via email or telephone. Poems will not be returned after submission. Entries can be mailed to: The Beals Prize for Poetry / Beals Memorial Library / 50 Pleasant Street / Winchendon, Massachusetts, 01475.

This event is funded in part by the Friends of the Beals Memorial Library and by a grant from the Winchendon Cultural Council.

The Beals Memorial Library is located at 50 Pleasant Street in Winchendon. For more information, please call the library at 978-297-0300.

Manuel King, director of the Beals Memorial Library, invites all poets to submit their work for the Beals Prize for Poetry.

March Movie Madness Begins at Beals Memorial Library

If you’re a fan of comedy-dramas and murder mysteries, then go to the Beals Memorial Library on Thursday, March 5th, at 6 PM, for the first film in their March Movie Madness lineup. The library will be kicking off their monthly movie events with a screening of the delightfully wild whodunit, Knives Out (rated PG 13).

Featuring an all-star ensemble, including Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, and Ana de Armas, Knives Out is a fresh, modern take on the murder mystery genre. A private detective, played by Daniel Craig, is called in to investigate the death of a renowned crime novelist, Harlan Thrombey. Met with both the author’s eccentric, dysfunctional family and his loyal staff, the detective must find the true culprit amidst numerous misdirecting and self-serving suspects.

The Beals Memorial Library is located at 50 Pleasant Street in Winchendon. For more information, please contact the library at 978-297-0300. All movie screenings at the library are free and open to the public.

Beals Library Movie Schedule

Thurs, Mar 5 at 6:00 p.m. Beals Movie Night
Knives Out

Thurs, Mar 19 at 1:30 p.m. Classic Movie Matinee
The Quiet Man

Thurs Mar 19 at 6:00 p.m. Beals Teen Movie Night
JoJo Rabbit

Sat Mar 28 at 10:30 a.m. Family Movie Matinee
Frozen 2

All movies are free to the public and shown on our huge 188" screen. The Beals Library is located at 50 Pleasant Street in Winchendon. For more information, call 978-297-0300.

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

Menu for week of March 2-6:

Monday: Philly steak with peppers and onions on a sub roll; home fries; pineapple
Tuesday: Grilled chicken marsala; cavatappi pasta; italian blend vegetables; diced pears
Wednesday: Turkey corn stew; carrots; whole wheat bread; fresh orange
Thursday: Autumn Harvest Soup; Roast pork with herb gravy; stuffing; multigrain bread; pineapple cake
Friday: Lasagna roll with marinara sauce and cheese; tossed salad; italian bread; fruit yogurt

Our Neighbor's Kitchen Menus

Thursday, March 12, 5:30 p.m.
at UU Church of Winchendon, 126 Central St.
Meatloaf, sides, dessert

March Book Club at Beals Memorial Library

If you’re an avid reader and enjoy discussing your thoughts and reactions to a book with others, then come join the Beals Memorial Library’s Book Club. The Beals Book Club gets together on the second Friday of every month to exchange ideas regarding a book’s characters, plot, or themes. New members are always welcome!

The club’s next meeting will be on Friday, March 13 at 1:00 p.m. Copies of selected books are set aside for checkout by club members at the library circulation desk.

For March, the club has chosen Winter Garden, by Kristin Hannah. The novel follows two sisters with very different lifestyles who are reunited with their beloved, ailing father and cold, distant mother whose only connection with them was through a Russian fairy tale she used to tell them as children. On his deathbed, their father’s one request is to hear the story one last time. Through this tale, the sisters begin to learn the truth of their mother’s past in war-torn Leningrad, and a secret that may change their family forever.

The Beals Memorial Library is located at 50 Pleasant Street in Winchendon. For more information, please contact the library at 978-297-0300.

House of Peace and Education in Gardner has some great programs for children and women available to local residents.

HOPE for Kids has three afterschool programs. The Afterschool program, a professionally directed mentoring and tutoring, serves children in grades 3 and 4. The Pals Mentoring program is a professionally directed mentoring program that provides young children with opportunities for fun, peer interaction, creative skills development, positive social behaviors, building friendships and exploring expressions of feelings. Teen HOPE is a professionally directed program that offers youth in grades 5-7 academic, cultural and social skill building support.

HOPE Job Readiness & Training Program is an 8 week individualized program of computer and job-skills training for adults who wish to learn new skills in order to enter or re-enter the workforce, to get better jobs or to improve the quality of life for themselves and their families.

For information on these programs call HOPE at 978-630-4752 ext 6.

Winchendon Babe Ruth Softball
Spring Season 2020 Sign Ups!
Beginning Saturday, January 18 and running through February.
Sign Ups and Open Gym every Saturday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Murdock Gym.
Please bring a copy of player's birth certificate.
Cash or checks payable to Winchendon Youth Softball.
10U - $70
12U - $85
14U - $85
16U - $85
www.facebook.com/pg/winchendonyouthsoftball

Winchendon Fall Festival Will Be Held on October 10, 2020

Fall Festival will take place on October 10, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. this year.

If you are a local vendor and interested in setting up a table, please follow the link below:

Vendor Application (PDF)

Any questions can please be directed to Nicole roberts at 978-297-3537

We look forward to seeing you there!

The Winchendon Firefighters Relief Association is proud to anounce its 6th Annual Golf Tournament. This event is Saturday, May 16th at the Templewood Golf Course, Templeton, MA.

As a major infrastructure in town, we hope The Winchendon Firefighters Relief Association can rely on you to back this worthy event. A show of your support will greatly strengthen this fundraiser and potentially increase the sponsorship of other local entities as well. Our goal is to maximize our field of golfers and raise more money than ever before. To do this, we truly need your help!

Monies raised will further our ability to help those in need, educate the community in fire safety (with special focus on children and senior citizens), award scholarships to graduating seniors, and provide for those less fortunate during the holiday season.

We invite you to help however you can--whether it be as a sponsor, vendor, golfer, raffle item donor, or any combination thereof! With your commitment to aid in our fundraising goal, this year's tournament will allow us to help the community more than ever before!

Please call me at the Winchendon Fire Department, 978-297-2324, or via email at WFDrelief@gmail.com. Thank you for considering this special request and I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Andrew Harding
President
Winchendon Firefighters Relief Association

Clyde’s Corner

It's Happening Around the Winch!

TUESDAY MARCH 3

ELECTION DAY - MASSACHUSETTS PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Get out and VOTE for the candidates of your choice!! Vote at Old Murdock Senior Center, third floor, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon. The Senior Center will be holding a bake sale for hungry voters from 9:00 a.m. until supplies run out.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 4

Ahimsa Haven Paint Night 7:00 p.m. Paint a beautiful kitty and flowers scene using a step-by-step method. $30 per person includes all supplies. To register, go to ahimsahaven.org, click on the "Donate" button and put "paint night" in the memo field. All proceeds go to help the animals. At South Side Grille, 242 W. Broadway, Gardner, MA.

TUESDAY MARCH 10

SHINE Appointments at Senior Center starting at 9:00 a.m. The SHINE (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone) Program provides free health insurance information and counseling to all Massachusetts residents with Medicare and their caregivers. People who have Medicare or who are about to become eligible for Medicare, can meet with Gail to learn about benefits and options available as well as review programs that help people with limited income to pay health care costs. Appointments are made by calling the Center at 978-297-3155. At Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon.

THURSDAY MARCH 12

Doc & Talk 6:00-9:00 p.m. See the documentary Anthropocene: The Human Epoch and discuss it with other viewers. Free and open to all. At the Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon. Call 978-297-0300 for more information.

FRIDAY MARCH 13

Beals Book Club 1:00 p.m. This month's book is Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah. Copies are available to borrow at the Circulation Desk. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon. Call 978-297-0300 or visit the library for more information.

SATURDAY MARCH 14

Green and Blue Benefit Concert for Ivy Fitzmaurice 7:00-11:00 p.m. The BIG RanDom will play a benefit concert to help cover expenses for the Fitzmaurice family, whose daughter Ivy needs surgery for a rare medical condition. Local acoustic musician Brian Dickens will open. $10 donation per person. All proceeds will go to the Fitzmaurice family. At Winchendon American Legion Post 193, 295 School St.

SUNDAY, MARCH 15

"Spring Has Sprung" Potluck Social 11:30 a.m. All are welcome at this friendly community get-together in Winchendon's historic stone church. At UU Church of Winchendon, 126 Central St.

SATURDAY MARCH 28

Spaghetti for Summer Camp Dinner 5:00-7:00 p.m. Our annual Spaghetti For Summer Camp Dinner to help our Scouts pay for an entire week at beautiful Camp Wanocksett! Hosted by Scouts BSA Troop 193 and 7193. At Winchendon American Legion Post 193, 295 School St.

SATURDAY APRIL 4

Murdock Music Festival 4:00 p.m. The Murdock Music Department, Friends of Music and Winchendon Winds Concert Band present a concert of choral and instrumental performances. Free admission. At Murdock Middle/High School Auditorium, 3 Memorial Dr., Winchendon.

ONGOING

MONDAYS

Old Murdock Senior Center 9:30 a.m. Chair Exercise - exercise to your skill level. 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Old Murdock Senior Center 10:30 a.m. YOGA with Susan. Even if you’re a beginner, you’ll be gently stretching in no time. Please bring your own mat. Open to everyone aged 50 and up. 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Beals Memorial Library 1:00-8:00 p.m. Friends of the Library Book Donation Day every Monday. No textbooks, encyclopedias, dictionaries, obsolete non-fiction, books in poor condition or books more than five years old. 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon.

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

TUESDAYS

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

Old Murdock Senior Center 11:30 a.m. Silver Sneakers exercise program. Join Stephanie for a 45-minute Silver Sneakers format class with a fun cardio warm up, some light toning exercises and a dynamic cool down with yoga stretches. All you need is yourself (and a bottle of water!) A $3.00 donation is welcome. 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Beals Memorial Library 3:30-4:30 p.m. Lego Club. For Children of all ages. Join in on the fun as the Library Auditorium becomes a Lego construction zone! Come and create, build and express your LEGO creativity! For more information about this and other programs by call 978-297-0300 or visit www.bealslibrary.org. 50 Pleasant Street, Winchendon.

Beals Memorial Library 5:30-6:30 p.m. Yoga with Paula Lashua-Brisbois For Adults and Teens. $7.00 Per Class. Yoga mats are available. Please bring your own block. All skill levels welcomed. For more information about this and other programs call 978-297-0300 or visit www.bealslibrary.org. 50 Pleasant Street, Winchendon.

WEDNESDAYS

Old Murdock Senior Center 9:30 a.m. Chair Exercise at Old Murdock - exercise to your skill level. 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Old Murdock Senior Center 12:30 p.m. Even more BINGO! 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Beals Memorial Library 3:30-5:00 p.m. Teen Dungeons & Dragons for Grades 6-12. Have you ever wanted to try a role-playing game? Join us every Wednesday for Dungeons and Dragons! In this classic role-playing game, you create your character, choose how they interact with the story, and use dice to decide the outcomes of your actions. The Beals Library will provide the materials, or bring your own! All skill levels welcomed. Snacks will be provided. For more information about this and other programs by call 978-297-0300 or visit www.bealslibrary.org. 50 Pleasant Street, Winchendon.

BINGO! at Hyde Park 6:00 p.m. Hyde Park residents hold bingo in the community hall every Wednesday night. It's inexpensive, just two cards for 5 cents, and the community is invited! Anyone over the age of 50 is welcome to join in. We'd love to have more players.

Scouts BSA Troop 193 for Boys and Girls 6:30-8:00 p.m. Scouts BSA Troop 193 offers something for everyone! We welcome all boys and girls ages 11-17 to come check us out. For more information, email smtroop193@gmail.com for boys and susmanj99@gmail.com for girls. At American Legion Post 193, 295 School St., Winchendon.

Dinner With The Kiwanis 6:30 p.m. The Kiwanis of Winchendon meet the second and fourth Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Carriage House Restaurant. Come be part of the service club that concentrates on helping local children with the Backpack Program at the public elementary schools, Breakfast with Santa and yes, the Family Fun Day with the Massachusetts state level chili cook off every summer. We need your help. Stop in any Wednesday, we’d love to meet you! 660 Spring St., Winchendon.

Scouts BSA Troop 6 for Girls 7:00-8:30 p.m. The Troop offers monthly camp outs, hikes, paddling, peddling, and rock climbing depending on the interests of the youth. Troop 6 for Girls provides rank advancement opportunities, including Eagle Scout, in conjunction with resources from Scouts BSA Troop 6 for Boys, Heart of New England Council, and all National BSA programs. For further information email Troop6.Girls@gmail.com, or stop by a meeting. Sponsored by Gardner American Legion Post 129, 22 Elm St., Gardner, in the lower hall.

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

THURSDAYS

Old Murdock Senior Center 12:15 p.m. Card games. 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Our Neighbor's Kitchen Community Dinner 5:30 p.m. First and third Thursdays of the month at Immaculate Heart of Mary church, 52 Spruce Street, Winchendon. Second and fourth Thursdays of the month at UU Church of Winchendon, 126 Central Street, Winchendon. Suggested donation, $2 per person, $5 per family. No one turned away.

Cub Scout Pack 193 (Boys and Girls gr. K-5) 6:30 p.m. Cub Scouting is a family program for all youth in grades K-5. For more information, visit cubscoutpack193.com or contact us at cmpack193@gmail.com. At Toy Town Elementary School, 175 Grove St., Winchendon MA. (Last Thursday of the month at American Legion Post 193, 295 School St., Winchendon.)

FRIDAYS

Beals Memorial Library 10:30-11:30 a.m. Toddler Time For Children 3 & Under. Toddler Time is a drop-in program for children ages 3 years and under accompanied by a parent or other adult. This program features stories, songs, rhymes, crafts and play. This is an interactive program that is designed for toddlers and their caregivers. Toddler Time lasts approximately 30-40 minutes with 15-20 minutes following the session for parent/child social interaction and play. Parents are required to participate with their child, and are asked to limit personal conversations and cell phone use until the 15 minute social period. Siblings are welcome to attend the toddler session; however, siblings cannot be left unattended in the library while a parent is in Toddler Time. For more information about this and other programs by call 978-297-0300 or visit www.bealslibrary.org. 50 Pleasant Street, Winchendon.

SATURDAYS

Beals Memorial Library is now open on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Town Committee Monthly Meetings by Week
All Meetings in Town Hall

week	MON	TUE	WED	THUR
1st	Toy Town Community Partnership 5:00pm Board of Health 7:00pm	Planning Board 6:30pm *	Zoning Board of Appeals 7:00pm	School Committee 6:00pm
2nd	Winchendon Redevelopment Authority 5:00pm Board of Selectmen 6:30pm	Finance Committee 7:00pm	Agricultural Commission 7:00pm	Conservation Commission as posted
3rd		Planning Board 6:30pm *	Zoning Board of Appeals 7:00pm	School Committee 6:00pm
4th	Board of Selectmen 6:30pm

* Planning Board often begins with public hearings that begin earlier, check their webpage.

Calendar of Re-broadcasts of meetings on Local Access Channel 8

Town committee meetings are now streamed live on the town website. Go to www.townofwinchendon.com/ and click on the button for "Watch Meetings Live."

To view recordings of past meetings, contact Lindsay at 978-297-0085, or email her at lkuchta@townofwinchendon.com If you wish to keep a copy of the recording, there is a $5 fee per recorded file.

Times, locations, agendas and related documents for meetings are listed on the page for each individual committee on the Town of Winchendon website.

Vacancy on Audit Committee

The Audit Committee is seeking someone who enjoys working with financial numbers and budgets to fill a vacancy on the committee. The Audit Committee meets five to six times per year. If you're interested, send a letter or email to:

Town Manager's Office
109 Front Street Dept. 1
Winchendon, MA 01475
or:
Khickey@townofwinchendon.com
or contact the Chair of the Audit Committee, Maureen Ward, at meats@townofwinchendon.com

Conservation Commission Members Needed

TOWN OF WINCHENDON:

The Conservation Commission is charged to protect the resource areas and associated values currently being regulated under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (Massachusetts General Law Ch. 131, Sec.40; the Act) to a greater degree, to protect additional resource areas beyond the Act recognized by the Town as significant. To protect the wetlands, related water resources, and certain adjoining land areas in the Town by providing for prior review and control of activities deemed to have a significant or cumulative adverse effect upon wetland values.

The Conservation Commission consists of five members and the Town has only three currently. We need your help! Don’t be afraid to step forward if you have any interest in serving your Town in this way. Lots of help and guidance can be provided.

Please send a letter to the Town Manager’s Office, 109 Front St., Dept. 1, Winchendon, MA 01475, if this interesting position piques your interest or if you would like more information, please contact the Conservation Agent, David Koonce, at 978-297-5402. If you prefer, you may email your interest or questions to Linda Daigle, Executive Assistant, at ldaigle@townofwinchendon.com.

T H A N K Y O U!

The E.M. Connor Post 193 of the American Legion and the Town of Winchendon Invite You to Honor a Winchendon Veteran by purchasing an Engraved Brick

All active duty military and veterans who at one time resided in the town of Winchendon are eligible to have a brick engraved with their name. Bricks will become a permanent part of the veterans roll call pathway connecting the monuments within the Legion Park.

sample brick

3 lines of 20 spaces, no logo, for $50.00
3 lines of 15 spaces with a logo, for $75.00

Order forms are available at the Winchendon American Legion Post 193, 295 School St., the Town Hall Tax Office or Not Just Produced, 290 Central St., Winchendon.

Order and pay online at polarengraving.com/americanlegionparkproject
memorial path

Employment

JOB POSTING

(In accordance with Article XXVII of the agreement between the Town of Winchendon and AFSCME Council 93, Local 1887, Department of Public Works)

Highway Department Working Foreman

Rate of Pay $22.56 per hour
38.5 hours per week / overtime required

Requirements:
MA CDL Class B
MA 2B Hoisting Engineer License
Must have one year minimum experience in a highway department

Application and job description available on the Town's website at www.townofwinchendon.com or at the DPW office, Winchendon Town Hall, 109 Front Street, Winchendon, MA, 01475

Interested applicants must apply in writing to the Town Manager, Keith Hickey, 109 Front St., Winchendon, MA 01475. Application deadline is February 25, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.; however, the position will remain open until filled. The Town of Winchendon is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

The Arc of Opportunity is Hiring!
Jobs in Hubbardston, MA
Full Time & Part Time Openings
Direct Care Support
Apply online at:
arcofopportunity.org/hiring-in-hubbardston
Questions? Email our recruiter @
applications@arcofopportunity.org

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