UUCW Lawn Fair Jump-Starts Summer
As the State emerges from pandemic confinement, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Winchendon (UUCW) ushered in the season with their annual Summer Solstice Lawn Fair. On Saturday, June 19, over 30 vendors and groups assembled on the church's front lawns, displaying a wide array of crafts, retail items, tag sale treasures and foods. The sultry day served up plentiful sunshine and a nice breeze.
Over half of the vendors hailed from Winchendon, with the remainder from nearby towns, giving a much-needed boost to our cottage industries. Shoppers perused hand-made clothing, jewelry, custom wreaths and floral art, wood crafts, crochet and knit items, original novels, collectible vinyl albums and more. Popular line products such as Paparazzi, Scentsy, DotDotSmile and Color Street were also present. Friends of the Beals Library offered a large selection of gently used books and DVDs. The Winchendon Garden Club cleared an impressive collection of outdoor plants and conducted their popular themed basket raffle. HEAL Winchendon set up an information table with sign-up sheets for Family Play Days, Youth Changemakers, and workshops. Vendors from the biweekly Toy Town Outdoor Market also joined in.
UUCW's food stand sold out of hot dogs, baked potatoes and chili con carne with choose-your-own toppings. Dessert options were amply covered by the delicious baked treats offered by Teenie's Sweet Shop and Slutty Muffins.
DJ Kayden Gordon kept toes tapping with live-streamed country music favorites from the church front steps. He was joined midday by local artist Fred Ellsworth who performed live at the mike.
UUCW's lawn fairs are a long-standing tradition. The church has been running such fairs since the 1860s, when their first lawn fair was held to finance the construction of their historic granite building. The proceeds of this year's lawn fair were dedicated to UUCW's Set in Stone Capital Campaign to repair the building's masonry. The work performed on the church tower this past Spring was Phase 2 of a multi-year, multi-phase project to preserve the building for generations to come. For more information, visit www.set-in-stone.org.
Shoppers Pore Over Beals Library Books and DVDs
Photo by Joe Sackett
Crooner Fred Ellsworth Performs with DJ Kayden Gordon's Country Music Show
Photo by Joe Sackett
Winchendon Garden Club Draws a Crowd to its Plant Sale and Basket Raffle
Photo by Joe Sackett
Winchendon DPW Benefits from Large Robinson Broadhurst Donation
The Town of Winchendon Department of Public Works accepted delivery of a new CAT Skid Steer and a Salsco Sidewalk Paver, courtesy of the Robinson Broadhurst Foundation, on Thursday, June 24. According to Superintendent Brian Croteau, the new equipment will provide the town with significant cost savings over the next ten years.
The CAT Skid Steer model 246D3 arrived complete with buckets and a Cold Planer valued at a combined $70,000, while the Sidewalk Paver is valued at over $40,000, according to Croteau. Both were funded primarily with a grant from the Robinson Broadhurst Foundation. Croteau said the Town of Winchendon DPW budget covered roughly $4,500 of the $116,000 total equipment purchase cost.
With job bidding costs, both labor and materials, increasing almost daily since the nation began reopening from the global pandemic, Croteau looked for cost-saving alternatives for the DPW's needs which could provide equal or better results. Croteau presented the Robinson Broadhurst Foundation board with an estimate of potential job contract bids for sidewalk paving compared to the cost of the town doing the same work, if equipped properly.
Croteau explained, "The sidewalk paver is designed to pave a width from seven feet down to four feet, and will save the town significant project costs. The unit is both adjustable in paving width and is track driven, and it's going to rejuvenate a lot of sidewalks for the town."
Croteau added, "The CAT Skid Steer is what is going to feed this paver, and will also help with the preparation of the sidewalks for both old materials removal and new materials installation, as it comes set up for mill heading with a cold planer, so we can tie back in to the asphalt the correct way, and skid steer can be used with various other attachments so it can be used for many other types of jobs other than just sidewalk paving in the town."
Discussing total costs, Croteau said, "This project of procurement has been in the works for about six weeks now. Once we examined the costs of what we could do it for vs what other companies would charge to do the same work, we found out we could do it for a fraction of the price if we had the necessary equipment in-house. Currently in contracts the cost to pave sidewalks is about $100 per foot, and with this new equipment using our own DPW staff, we can do the same jobs and work for under $20 a foot, saving Winchendon over four-fifths of the total price at a significant cost savings.
"The original Foundation donation was for us to hire a contractor to do the work, however after speaking with the board and their members, they had come to a decision that this combined purchase would be a better route more suited for the town, and we could get more done in a better time period providing better quality sidewalks for the residents," Croteau said.
These cost savings will soon be providing huge dividends to the town. Croteau said, "In one upcoming particular project, replacing sidewalks along Central Street from Maple Street to the Broadview Assisted Living Center, it was going to cost about $300,000 and now with this equipment the DPW can do the same job for about just $20,000 in materials."
In closing Croteau said, "We would really like to thank Robinson Broadhurst for their donation allowing us to make this change, and now any future money which can be put towards the sidewalks is greatly appreciated, and this equipment the foundation funded will truly help Winchendon out for years to come."
Parked side by side at the DPW, the both new 2021 Salsco sidewalk paver and CAT skid steer just delivered will soon be put to work funded almost entirely by the Robinson Broadhurst Foundation.
Photo by Keith Kent
DPW Superintendent Brian Croteau puts the new sidewalk paver through its very first motions making sure the equipment operates properly.
Photo by Keith Kent
This new CAT skid steer model 246D3 will see plenty of work helping save Winchendon residents walk on safer sidewalks and much more over the years to come.
Photo by Keith Kent
A new Cold Planer which attaches to the skid steer will allow the DPW to get to the bottom of the old sidewalks, and make sure new sidewalks have a solid foundation with an even transition from one surface to another.
Photo by Keith Kent
Fire Department to Continue Multiple Controlled Burn Trainings
Acres of land purposefully set on fire is renewed with more fertile soils and the elimination of invasive plants and many forms of natural occurring debris.
Photo credit: Winchendon Fire Department
The Winchendon Fire Department has participated in two prescribed Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) controlled burns in the Birch Hill Wildlife Management area. According to Chief Thomas Smith, there are more to come.
A multipurpose 27-acre training exercise on Friday, May 28 followed a similar event on Thursday, April 8 in which the WFD executed a regulated controlled burn. The May 28 training exercise was witnessed in live action by Massachusetts Governor Charles Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and other officials.
Through the process of eliminating dead leaves, trees, branches, and other debris from a forest, prescribed burns aid in preventing future destructive wildfires. Other benefits are the removal of unwanted insect populations and the destruction of many types of invasive plants.
According to Chief Smith, the exercises "have been conducted jointly with the Mass Department of Fish and Game, Department of Conservation and Recreation, and D.C.R. District 8 members." Representing the WFD and taking part in the May 28 exercise were Lt. Andrew Harding and Firefighter Jim Watkins Jr. They gained experience which will be critical should a naturally occurring, accidental, or purposeful event take place.
According to Mass DFG and DCR, the 27 acres affected by the prescribed burn will greatly improve the wildlife habitat and ecological structure of the area.
Lt. Andrew Harding and FF Jim Watkins Jr. spent the day training with crews on various prescribed burn techniques using a drip-torch and other tools.
The department's new eight-wheel ARGO, an amphibious extreme terrain vehicle, was used throughout the day for a multitude of tasks, transporting both people and goods, and ensuring the day's event was a success.
Chief Smith also said, "I want to say thank you to all involved in this incredible process. I would like to offer a special thanks to the Robinson Broadhurst Foundation for the grant to provide our department with the ARGO forestry unit that functioned perfectly. It's a great piece of equipment to have available for many tasks and we are very grateful for it."
In closing Chief Smith said, "We have been notified that our department will be involved at the same site for continued training this year. We don't have a date for the next live practice exercise, as we often don't find out until the very day of or day before it's about to happen, as temperature, humidity, rainfall, and especially wind are all contributing factors."
WFD Fire Fighter / Paramedic Andrew Harding uses a drip-torch, which allows a steady stream of flaming fuel to be directed and aimed at specific areas on the ground as needed.
Photo credit: Winchendon Fire Department
An eight-wheel ARGO extreme amphibious all-terrain vehicle provided both humans and event item-specific goods safe transportation around the site for the event's duration to help ensure success.
Photo credit: Winchendon Fire Department
Warning signage is placed so if any people hiking or driving nearby see smoke and fire, they will know not to call and report the event.
Photo credit: Winchendon Fire Department
BoH Member Keith Kent Discusses Illegal Dumping, Recommends Gating Off Lincoln Avenue Extension
At the Board of Selectmen's meeting on Monday, June 14, Board of Health member Keith Kent described the problems with illegal dumping and littering throughout the town of Winchendon, stating that it is a huge problem, with certain areas being particular "hot spots" for dumping and trash.
"Our past Earth Day was both productive and very disturbing," Mr. Kent said. "We filled forty cubic yards of rubbish...we could have filled forty more. Lincoln Ave Extension has become an extreme problem in town, past, I would say, the last existing junkyard-slash-garage, from that border to the solar field...just on that stretch of road, we removed two couches, a day bed, two televisions, fifteen tires, six of them on steel rims. Just from Lincoln Ave Extension. Couple of propane tanks, paint cans." Paint cans have been found dumped in several places in town, Mr. Kent stated.
The stretch of Glenallen Street/Rte 202, and Elmwood Road leading to it, is lined with litter and trash. In 2019, working with a crew from the Worcester County House of Corrections supplied through a volunteer charity progam, the Board of Health removed "thirty-five thirty-gallon rubbish bags," Mr. Kent said. "It was 'interesting' what was found. People coming to and from the state line, both sides of the road going to and from New Hampshire, are just tossing things right out the windows." He added, "the road was full again in two months."
Mr. Kent emphasized that this stretch of 202 leads to the Veterans Memorial Cemetery (one of only two such cemeteries in Massachusetts) and the state of the road presents a poor image for visitors going to pay their respects or attend a service. Trash on Rte 202 also negatively impacts the Millers River watershed and its wildlife.
Mr. Kent explained that during the pandemic, 95 percent of the low-risk offenders were released early from the WCHC, so the cleanup crews are no longer available from that program.
"Go halfway down Hale Street, you'll see some new construction, rubbish down both sides of the road. You get to the wetlands, where that side road I alluded to intersects with Hale heading towards Alger, I can't tell you how many times I've picked up two and three cases of beer cans, partying late at night," Mr. Kent said. "Our bike path, soon as the snow melted, I removed, from just the three-quarter mile section from the stanchion at the track to Glenallen Street...I removed three 13-gallon bags of rubbish."
Mr. Kent praised the volunteer efforts of Scout Troop 193 and the Girl Scouts during the Earth Day cleanup. He emphasized the importance of early education and setting a good example, pointing out that the kids were picking up trash the adults threw away, and a lot of that trash comprised recyclables such as cans and plastic. Mr. Kent expressed disappointment that in a town of 10,700 residents only 35 people volunteered for the Earth Day cleanup.
"You've got Lincoln Ave Extension, that's cleaned up for the time being. I advised the Town Manager that I think it would be good to look into the possibility of putting up gates," Mr. Kent said. "Nobody needs to get through that section to Robbins Road of Lincoln Ave Extension. I know it's ATV heaven, I get the enthusiasts, I'm not trying to harm nobody, dirt bikes or what not. But that section to Robbins Road is Illegal Dumping Central. If we were to put gates on that section of road, Robbins Road to Lincoln Avenue Extension, to where the solar field is...the cost savings down the road are going to be far more than the cost of putting up these structures, to block, one, as the police well know, 'interesting' evening traffic. Activities out there after dark; the illegal dumping."
Mr. Kent continued, "I know the cost of putting in a gate, it's not that bad versus what we're spending. You could give a key to police, fire, DPW. They'll have keys. There's your EMS covered for fire. They could get in any time they need to, they could get in if they had a lock to the gate, just like DCR has had to do on many roads at Lake Dennison due to all the furniture and televisions, rugs, couches, carpets, chairs, refrigerators, that's why they gated off all those roads."
Town Manager Justin Sultzbach said, "Pricing out a gate on Lincoln Ave Extension is an easy fix and that's something we're going to look into, and we can certainly actually just leave a key up on site with a code for public safety to access. Then we're also going to look into other low-cost opportunities to address blight throughout town, in terms of increasing patrols, posting signage, and even using trail cams in certain hotspot areas, just to further deter people and let people know that in some capacity in certain areas, we're keeping an eye out and watching...it's kind of a larger piece of working on the image townwide."
Selectman Barbara Anderson commented, "Even when it's not Earth Day, I see people, especially on Forristall Road, and I've seen West Street, people out picking up their own neighborhoods...It's always appreciated, and we know littering is a problem. Illegal dumping is a problem. But a lot of people do it, they don't get thanks, they don't formally sign up for Earth Day, but they're doing it."
Board of Selectmen Chair Audrey LaBrie added, "This is going to be an ongoing topic of discussion."
(See "Winchendon Earth Day Celebration Yields 40 Cubic Yards of Waste!" in the May 20-27 2021 edition of The Winchendon Courier.)
Winchendon Lions Club Installs New Officers
Governor Denise Andrews installing Joni LaPlante as President of the Winchendon Lions Club for 2021/2022.
Photo by Vicki LaBrack
Governor Denise Andrews installing Linda Tenney as Secretary
Photo by Vicki LaBrack
Past President Mark Desmarais handing off the mallet to incoming President Joni LaPlante.
Photo by Vicki LaBrack
Installed Board of Directors: Past Presidents Ken LaBrack, Dee Holt, Bruce LaPointe, Mark Desmarais, Governor Denise Andrews, new President Joni LaPlante, and Curt Fitzmaurice.
Photo by Vicki LaBrack
At their last meeting, The Winchendon Lions Club installed the new board of Officers for 2021-2022. The officers installed were: President Joni LaPlante, Vice-President Mark Desmarais, Secretary Linda Tenney, Treasurer David Walsh, chaplain Curt Fitzmaurice, Tail Twister Bob Betourney, Lion Tamer Tracy Monette and Membership Chair Amanda Phillips.
The club meets once a month, the 3rd Tuesday of the month from September to June at the American Legion. Anyone interested please give any Lion a call, they would love to have you! Or you can call 978-297-2753, please leave a message!
Earl McQueston Honored with Boston Post Cane Citation
As announced at the 2021 Annual Town Meeting on May 17, and at the Board of Selectmen's meeting on Monday, June 14, Earl McQueston, age 99, has been honored with the 2021 Boston Post Cane as the oldest resident of Winchendon.
On Thursday, June 17, members of the Board of Selectmen visited Mr. McQueston at his home to present him with the official citation and a plate of whoopee pies in a private ceremony.
Taylor Tower, Administrative Assistant to the Town Manager's Office, provided the Courier with this account of the Boston Post Cane's history:
In August 1909, Mr. Edwin A. Grozier, Publisher of the Boston Post, a newspaper, forwarded to the Board of Selectmen in 700 towns (no cities included) in New England a gold-headed ebony cane with the request that it be presented with the compliments of the Boston Post to the oldest male citizen of the town, to be used by him as long as he lives (or moves from the town), and at his death handed down to the next oldest citizen of the town. The cane would belong to the town and not the man who received it.
The canes were all made by J.F. Fradley and Co., a New York manufacturer, from ebony shipped in seven-foot lengths from the Congo in Africa. They were cut into cane lengths, seasoned for six months, turned on lathes to the right thickness, coated and polished. They had a 14-carat gold head two inches long, decorated by hand, and a ferruled tip. The head was engraved with the inscription, --- presented by the Boston Post to the oldest citizen of (name of town) --- "To Be Transmitted". The Board of Selectmen were to be the trustees of the cane and keep it always in the hands of the oldest citizen. Apparently no Connecticut towns were included, and only two towns in Vermont are known to have canes.
In 1924, Mr. Grozier died, and the Boston Post was taken over by his son, Richard, who failed to continue his father's success and eventually died in a mental hospital. At one time, the Boston Post was considered the nation's leading standard-sized newspaper in circulation. Competition from other newspapers, radio and television contributed to the Post's decline and it went out of business in 1957.
The custom of the Boston Post Cane took hold in those towns lucky enough to have canes. As years went by, some of the canes were lost, stolen, taken out of town and not returned to the Selectmen or destroyed by accident.
In 1930, after considerable controversy, eligibility for the cane was opened to women as well.
Read Mr. McQueston's Full Citation here (PDF)
Earl McQueston displays the gold-headed cane and his citation from the Board of Selectmen.
Photo by Skip McQueston
From the left, Audrey LaBrie, Chair of the Selectboard, Shawn Vallaincourt, granddaughter of Earl, Earl McQueston himself, and Rick Ward, Selectman.
Photo credit: Rick Ward
