Bike Path in Fighting Trim, Thanks to "An Army of One"
With the permission of Department of Public Works Director Brian Croteau, Board of Health member Keith Kent freely volunteered hours of time over two consecutive days, some personal funds, and several buckets of sweat to improving the Bike Path for all Winchendon residents to enjoy with greater comfort and safety.
On Sunday, July 25, using a manual bypass lopper, Mr. Kent trimmed and pruned over 300 thick evergreen branches from trees along the Bike Path from the track behind Clark Memorial YMCA to the Black Bridge. The branches had grown to extend over about half the path, blocking an entire lane and restricting walkers who wished to socially distance. The Path is now fully clear for walkers and bikers, tall and small. The trimmed debris made a pile ten feet deep, fifteen feet long and six feet high.
On Monday, July 26, Mr. Kent purchased supplies, borrowed orange cones from the DPW and repainted the graffiti-covered yellow dividers at Black Bridge. It required five coats of paint to completely cover the spray-painted grafitti.
Mr. Kent reported that walkers, bike riders and joggers thanked him as they passed by on the path. "I'm still trying to scrub all the paint off my hands," he joked. One older jogger helped Mr. Kent move the piles of branches he trimmed on July 25. "I was very thankful for his kindness," Mr. Kent said.
Mr. Kent explained to the Courier, "As the path was the work of many great dedicated people since its inception, there never really was a maintenance component created, short of placing on the back of the Winchendon DPW if volunteers wouldn't step up.
"The DPW has done a marvelous job of keeping that first section plowed for winter walking, and also mows the grass there, along with removal of any fallen trees. Recently they have been, section by section, to their credit, replacing missing boards along multiple sections of railings and/or fencing. So the DPW has made a strong effort under Superintendent Brian Croteau."
Mr. Kent stated that he has personally removed many bags of trash from the bike trail year round, including "beer cans, soda bottles, whisky nips, fast food wrappers, you name it." He has also cleaned up dog waste left by dog owners, who could be fined for not picking up after their pets but seldom are.
"I was brought up on the idea of, 'If you're going to complain about something, instead of using all that energy to just complain, channel it to become part of the solution!'" Mr. Kent said. "So I just figured I would go purchase a few supplies and continue where I left off with the trees. It seemed a natural way to just give back to my community, and like an old saying goes, 'Did you leave something better than you found it?'
"Many people do all kinds of volunteer work all over town. We are lucky to be in a town where people care. I haven't done or continue to do anything many others haven't already done or continue to do on other topics, I just did it in a place where lots of people walk." Mr. Kent added, "We are truly blessed to have this scenic bike and walking path in our town, and I hope some day more people decide to not just walk it, but take ownership in its cleanliness. I believe it's God's will, and I wouldn't give it up for anything."
All photos by Keith Kent
Mystical Magical Market Place Offers Spiritual Healing and Insight on Central Street
Happy owner Bonnie Page of Mystical Magical Market Place, which opened in October of 2020 during the pandemic, sells a wide variety of products. She invested significant time and money remodeling the building's interior to provide the atmosphere her clientele seeks for inner peace and tranquility.
Photo by Keith Kent
This reading room is key to providing Psychic Bonnie Page and her customers privacy in a calm setting for ideal communication.
Photo by Keith Kent
It was late October of 2020. There was no grand opening, there was no ribbon cutting. Stores were open at limited capacity if at all. That didn't stop Psychic Intuitive Medium Bonnie Page from taking a deep financial and emotional plunge into seeing her own future and dreams come true, by bringing her business back to the town of Winchendon, a community near and dear to her heart. She aimed to try to help others understand their past, present, and future through peace and understanding, in clarity of mind and soul.
Born at the Winchendon Hospital and having grown up in Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, Page felt a tie to the area. As Page's lease was up at her former Leominster location, she felt that the time was perfect to make the move back to Winchendon even during the national and global pandemic.
While she had been practicing her gifts since 2004, her full time business of ten years, Messages from Heaven and Healing Center, would fill yet another vital role. With the support of her family and lots of hard work, Page created "Mystical Magical Market Place and Messages from Heaven," adding a colorful and attractive business to what was once just another empty downtown Winchendon storefront. Not just known as a psychic intuitive medium locally, Page's business and talents as a medium are famous all over the world. Her ability to meet with clients over the Internet extends her reach far beyond the borders of Toy Town.
In what for most businesses was a rare occurrence, Page explained that the global pandemic actually helped her gain an international reputation and clients. Having to host live events on the Internet, including free events such as "Who are you actually missing in Heaven," greatly expanded her following. Page said, "Some of them would get as many as 5,000 views very quickly, so it allowed me a much bigger reach as well." From European Countries to India and even Australia, Page added, "I was wondering if I was even going to be able to understand them all well, but even though their people in Heaven might not have spoken English, I could understand everything they wanted to convey. What was fun about getting to know so many people in so many different countries is that it's all about the heart, and everybody is the same soul."
Both a Psychic Intuitive Medium and Demonstrating Medium, Page explained how her gifts make her the 4th generation female "Natural Born Medium" in the family--going back to her great-grandmother--to be blessed with what she calls a very special gift. She explained that her own mother had to teach her how to reach deep inside her inner self, which from that day forward not only changed her life, as Page will tell you, but many others' lives over the years.
Page elaborated, "By the time I was just four years old, I would be walking around my own house, but seeing people outside of my head objectively versus inside which is subjectively, but my mom could tune in and tell me which relative I was seeing. My gift didn't get shoved down, my gift was nurtured. My mother always said, you have to be afraid of the living, not the dead. My communication is through Jesus, God, and the Angels. Five years ago I heard God communicate with me, and he told me, 'Bonnie, I need you to do more of this.' I asked 'why?' God told me, 'the world is becoming a darker and darker place and I need more light.' I can tell you right now, it's when you are doing things that are mindless and you head is clear, that is when a spirit can get a thought to you."
A Reiki Master, Page practices the administering of "Laying on of hands" known as Reiki, which reduces stress and promotes healing by transferring life force energy from Bonnie to the client. Page offers her classes on metaphysical modalities and New Age thought at her studio, as well as at schools and colleges all over the Northeast, as listed on her website. She is internationally known both as a Medium and for her teachings and abilities. Recently, according to Page, she became a best selling author on Amazon for her book, Ask the Psychic Medium, and she has written other books including Ask the Medium Next Door. Additionally, Page explained, she is a columnist for the Lowell Sun, Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise, and most recently, The Nashoba Valley Voice, which publish her weekly column, "Ask the Psychic." She has created a CD. Page has also taught at multiple metaphysical colleges and schools in New England.
When asked to describe her biggest following, Page said, "My largest area of clients are women ages 35 to 70. However, men have also been some of my best clients, and when I start telling them all kinds of information, they just weep because they are so thankful you are showing them something that they originally thought they were not going to get. Many men don't like to open up about their feelings, and when you share something important, it can really touch their soul. What is important to me is to make healing more mainstream as a modality, that is very important to me. While some psychics reach into your aura, I still ask for guidance from the divine. Everything I do is healing work."
Page was asked, "What are some of the predominant reasons people should give it a try?" Page replied passionately, "I know I keep saying it, but it's so healing! So healing to get a message from someone you thought was always going to be gone. There is no time in Heaven, they are not gone. Whatever you love to do, you are creating your version of heaven right now."
Coming up soon, Page will be teaching at the well known and prestigious Lily Dale Assembly, in the exclusive psychic community of Lily Dale, New York, a well-known center for mediumship and spiritual healing since 1870.
Page's store offers an extensive variety of items. Sound singing bowls, crystals, decks of cards Page designed called "Your Soul Knows," sage and sprays to clear energy, hand made sun catchers, homemade affirmation candles which come with a stone, celebration candles with cute sayings, lotions, silver jewelry, energy beads, pendulums and much more are available.
Regarding her psychic intuitive philosophy, Page said, "I want everybody to know, think of me as that middle aged lady who lives next door who you want to have a cup of tea with. I want it to be comforting. I love it when people tell me they are coming in for their very first time to have a reading, and it's with me, because I know how to be soft and comforting, and still be straight on the money with information for them to help. I understand sympathy and compassion. It works best if people just come with an open heart and an open mind. If you give it a chance, there is always information for everybody so you really should give it a try."
Mystical Magical Market Place and Messages from Heaven is located at 48 Central Street, Winchendon, MA. It can be reached by phone at 978-297-9790, viewed on the Internet at www.bonniepagemedium.com and Page can be emailed at bonniepage@verizon.net. Page can also be seen on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mediumbonniepage and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/mediumbonniepage.
Cailte Kelly of Winchendon and fellow performer Corey Knapp of Orange, MA provide a solid musical performance at Winchendon's G.A.R. Park as part of the town Summer Concert Series on Friday, July 23. With Knapp on guitar, Kelly's mastery of the keyboard and both providing a strong vocal performances, there was no shortage of applause from the crowd.
Photo by Keith Kent
Seen in this photo are some of the 72 people of all ages in attendance at the G.A.R. Park for the Friday, June 23 Winchendon Summer Concert Series enjoying a strong performance by Cailte Kelly and Corey Knapp along with comfortable temperatures in the low 70s.
Photo by Keith Kent
