Winchendon's Community Choice Electricity Program Update
Clean Energy Law Revision Requires Nominal Price Change
December 22, 2022 - The rate increase is due to a change in law that's the result of revisions to the MA Clean Energy Standard which were finalized in October 2022 by the MA DEP. These changes increase the amount of clean energy that utilities and suppliers need to purchase and also increase certain compliance payments that suppliers are required to make to the state. The Town's current aggregation rate will increase by $0.00086 per kWh effective with the February 2023 meter reads, which represents an increase of $0.52 per month given average usage of 600 kWh per month.
Below are links to a Press Release from your Town Manager as well as a Rate Increase Notification sheet with helpful information. After reading the material, if you have any questions, you can reach Colonial Power at 866-485-5858 x1 or visit www.colonialpowergroup.com/winchendon. Colonial Power group is the Town's aggregation consultant. Also, feel free to reach out to the Town Manager's office at 978-297-0085 x5.
Press Release from Town Manager Justin Sultzbach
Rate Increase Notification Sheet
DPW's Brittany Ellis Wins 2nd Annual Town Hall Holiday Door Decorating Contest
Talented photographer Keith Kent caught these snaps of the winning entry in the 2nd Annual Town Hall Holiday Door Decorating Contest this week. Department of Public Works Administrative Assistant Brittany Ellis scored a win against stiff competition including cotton snow and real candy taped to doors.
Ms. Ellis told Mr. Kent, "I was excited when they told me I won! But we want people to know we did these things after work hours. We don't have the time to work on things like this during the day, so we obviously had to work on this on our own time. It took at least a couple hours...I don't want to name my sources who gave me the photos of employee faces just in case I need them again for next year! But yes, for the elves and Santa, we used photos of DPW employees and then blended them with the characters for that extra touch."
Brittany Ellis, Executive Assistant of the Winchendon Department of Public Works, was chosen the winner of the 2nd Annual Winchendon Town Hall Holiday Office Door Judging Contest! Ellis, posing by the winning DPW office door, got creative with images of equipment, Santa Claus, and a DPW spin on the "Twelve Days of Christmas."
Photo by Keith Kent
The 12 Months of DPW Gifts to Winchendon
Ellis got it right with this DPW style spin on the classic holiday song. Both before the public and behind the scenes, the DPW provided everything for the town from working water pipes to plowed roads day and night, and nearly countless items in between.
Photo by Keith Kent
From elves to big trucks, letting her creativity flow, Ellis blended the holiday theme with heavy duty construction equipment, adding as one of Santa's helpers an employee face you might recognize if you happen to visit the office.
Photo by Keith Kent
It's Croteau-Claus!
Dio you recognize this "DPW Santa?" Take a closer look: it's none other than DPW Director and Superintendent, Brian Croteau. The question is, "Did the Director see this one coming?" Only the office knows!
Photo by Keith Kent
The Beals Memorial Library to Hold a Series of Social Issues Panels
As a part of the Beals Memorial Library's One Book One Community: Winchendon's Town-Wide Read program, the library is organizing a series of discussion panels centered on social issues that affect our community and that are present in the chosen book for the program, Hey, Kiddo, by best-selling author Jarrett J. Krosoczka. One Book One Community's goal is to connect Winchendon residents through a shared reading experience, discussion, and community collaboration. The discussion panels will be held once per month, beginning in January.
On Saturday, January 14th, from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., at the Bud Fletcher Community Room at the Clark Memorial YMCA, the library will present their Domestic Violence Social Issue Panel Discussion, the first of the panels leading up to the Town-Wide Read's main event. The purpose of this Social Issues Community Discussion is to shine a light on the difficult topic of domestic violence, and to give voice to the many residents who have not typically been heard, including youth, and those who are experiencing, or have experienced, the trauma of this pervasive problem. This panel will be moderated by Dr. Mary King, Director of Policy & Advocacy at Montague Catholic Social Ministries. Panelists will include: Bernice Richard, Gardner Domestic Violence Task Force Coordinator & Voice of Truth Founder, Danielle Drew, Supervisor for North Central MA Community Based Services at the Leominster office for the YWCA, Bethany Greene, Community Based Services Advocate at the YWCA, and Tamara Castro from the Spanish American Center.
Later Social Issues Discussion Panels will center on the topics of trauma informed care on February 11th, mental health on March 11th, and substance abuse on April 15th.
Translation services for Spanish and ASL are available for all of the Social Issues Discussion Events with pre-registration, provided by the Health Equity Partnership of North Central Mass (CHNA9).
Child Care is available with pre-registration through the Winchendon Coordinated Family and Community Engage Grant (CFCE) during the panels.
There will also be light refreshments available, funded by The Health Equity Partnership of North Central Massachusetts.
The Social Issues Discussion Series is brought to you with federal funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.
Winchendon's One Book, One Community Town-Wide Read is a collaborative program brought to you by: the Winchendon Cultural Council, the Office of District Attorney Early, and through a Library Science Technology Act (LSTA) grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. Funding is also provided by the Beals Memorial Library, the Winchendon Public Schools and the Friends of the Beals Memorial Library. Collaborators include The Beals Memorial Library Board of Trustees, HEAL Winchendon, Youth ChangeMakers, Winchendon Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE), the Town of Winchendon, the Winchendon Police Department, and the Winchendon Community Action Committee (CAC).
The Bud Fletcher Community Room at the Clark Memorial YMCA is located at 5 Summer Street in Winchendon, MA 01475. For more information or to pre-register for translation or Child Care services during this panel, visit the library's website at bealslibrary.org or call the library at 978-297-0300.
One Book, One Community Reading Challenge at the Beals Memorial Library
Take the 2023 One Book, One Community Reading Challenge to earn entries for a chance to meet best-selling author, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, and to receive a signed hardcover copy of his graphic memoir, Hey, Kiddo.
Photo courtesy of Beals Memorial Library
Take part in One Book, One Community: Winchendon's Town-Wide Read program by taking the 2023 One Book, One Community Reading Challenge! Read this year's book, Hey, Kiddo by best-selling author, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, and books with related themes, while earning entries into a drawing to meet Jarrett and receive a signed, hardcover copy of Hey, Kiddo.
From January 3rd to April 3rd, the Beals Memorial Library is encouraging Winchendon teens and adults to take part in the reading challenge, centered around the program's chosen book, Hey, Kiddo, a powerful graphic memoir about growing up with a drug-addicted mother, a missing father, and two unforgettably opinionated grandparents, written and illustrated by Jarrett J. Krosocka. In this challenge, you'll immerse yourself in books that go with the themes from this year's One Book, One Community. Some of these themes include substance abuse, domestic violence, mental health, non-traditional families, and more. The challenge comes with a selection of suggested reads that feature those themes, such as You'd Be Home Now by Kathleen Glasgow, American Cartel by Scott Highman, Lighter Than My Shadow by Katie Green, and more.
This challenge is geared for teens and adults due to the mature themes in the book. You can fill out your reading log at bealslibrary.beanstack.org or visit the library for the paper version and to check out a copy of Hey, Kiddo. As you read, you will earn tickets toward our grand prize. By reading up to ten books from our suggested reading list, you are entered for a chance to meet author Jarrett J. Krosoczka on Friday, April 28th at 6:00 p.m. You will also win a signed hardcover copy of Hey, Kiddo. There will be one winner per age group.
The Beals Memorial Library is located at 50 Pleasant Street in Winchendon. For more information visit: bealslibrary.org/townwideread or contact the library at 978-297-0300.
This reading challenge is part of One Book One Community: Winchendon's Town-Wide Read, a collaborative program brought to you by: the Winchendon Cultural Council, the Office of District Attorney Early, and a Library Science Technology Act (LSTA) grant provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. Funding is also provided by the Beals Memorial Library, the Winchendon Public Schools and the Friends of the Beals Memorial Library. Collaborators include The Beals Memorial Library Board of Trustees, HEAL Winchendon, Youth ChangeMakers, Winchendon Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE), the Town of Winchendon, the Winchendon Police Department, and the Winchendon Community Action Committee (CAC).
Town Hall Gets Visited by "First Amendment Auditor"
Winchendon joined the ranks of the numerous municipalities to be visited by a "First Amendment Auditor" on Monday, December 19. Wearing a "gaiter" pulled up over their lower face and nose, and a cap or hood pulled down over their forehead, an individual of unknown name and indeterminate gender or nationality strolled around the offices in Town Hall for about 20 to 30 minutes, according to Acting Director of Planning and Development Nicole Roberts. The "auditor" carried a cell phone on a selfie stick and videorecorded everywhere they went.
Ms. Roberts and Town Manager's Executive Assistant Mary Calandrella reported that the "auditor" was pleasant and polite, asking for business cards for each staff person. They asked to talk to Town Manager Justin Sultzbach, but Mr. Sultzbach was not in his office at the time. They seemed to have a sweet tooth, taking a piece of complimentary candy from the bowl on the counter in several offices. Before or after visiting Town Hall, the "auditor" reportedly visited the police station and videorecorded in the lobby.
"We knew what he was" when they saw the "auditor," Ms. Roberts said, adding that all the offices were immediately notified that the "auditor" was on the premises.
Citizens have a legal right "to record anything in plain view, subject to time, place and manner restrictions" in any public place where they are legally allowed to be. "First amendment audits" purportedly test this right, and have been common for some fifteen years. In practice, as reported by the Washington Post in 2019, auditing "has morphed into a YouTube subculture, with self-styled 'auditors' in many major U.S. cities roaming into suburbs and small towns to see how police react to a camera lens."
When "auditors" get a hostile reaction (or any reaction) from their video subjects, they post the video to YouTube channels which are monetized and often have thousands of followers. "Auditing" can be a highly lucrative hobby. Some "auditors" are basically Internet trolls in real life, hoping only to provoke a reaction that they can then ridicule on YouTube. This can create extremely unpleasant situations for town officials (Google "first amendment audits Massachusetts" to see some of these videos). The Massachusetts Municipal Association is hosting a free webinar for appointed and elected officials on "1st Amendment audit protocols" on January 10. (Click here for details)
Mr. Sultzbach praised Town Hall staff for handling the situation with grace. "It's a fairly common occurrence. If the staff are well-trained, nothing comes of it. But I have heard of horror stories in other communities," he said via text message. "Proud of our people, as always."
Toy Town THC Grand Opening Draws a Crowd
Toy Town THC was SRO for its Grand Opening celebration on Sunday morning, December 18. Representatives from the Planning and Development office, Winchendon Redevelopment Authority, Toy Town Community Partnership, Planning Board, Board of Selectmen and Winchendon Garden Club joined store staff, owners Mark and Melissa Hagemeyer, and excited customers for a formal ribbon cutting and presentation of a certificate. State Representative Jon Zlotnik was on hand to present the certificate as Melissa Hagemeyer wielded the giant scissors. Linda Dellasanta from the Winchendon Garden Club presented the Hagemeyers with a fluffy red poinsettia plant to decorate the store, which is already glittering with holiday cheer.
Inside, visitors and customers read information, asked questions and enjoyed music played by acoustic musician Andy Kuchta.
Toy Town THC is located at 456 Maple Street, next door to The Harbour restaurant (also owned by the Hagemeyers), and is open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. seven days a week. Customers can explore the product line, learn more and pre-order product to pick up at the store at Toy Town THC's website, www.toytownthc.com/. To keep up with special events, and ongoing information and education about cannabis, follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ToyTownTHC
from left, Linda Dellasanta and Tina Santos from the Winchendon Garden Club, Chair of the Winchendon Redevelopment Authority Ken LaBrack, former Master Plan Committee member Jane LaPointe, Vice Chair of the Board of Selectmen Rick Ward and Chair of the Planning Board Guy Corbosiero.
Photo by Inanna Arthen
Cutting the ribbon!
from left, Linda Dellasanta from the Winchendon Garden Club, Acting Director of Planning and Development Nicole Roberts, Vice Chair of the Board of Selectmen Rick Ward, former Master Plan Committee member Jane LaPoint, Chair of the Winchendon Redevelopment Authority Ken LaBrack, State Representative Jon Zlotnik, Toy Town THC owners Melissa and Mark Hagemeyer, Chair of the Planning Board Guy Corbosiero, Toy Town THC General Manager Eric Ducharme, Toy Town Community Partnership member Dave Romanowski, Toy Town THC assistant manager Jessica Radley.
Photo by Inanna Arthen
Local acoustic musician Andy Kuchta.
Photo by Inanna Arthen
Toy Town THC owner Mark Hagemeyer (left) with his "buddy" Eric Sabolevski showing the spirit of the day!
Photo by Inanna Arthen
Winchendon Music Festival Returns to Toy Town With Winter Concert Series
The Winchendon Music Festival, managed by Andrew Arceci, returns to Winchendon this holiday season with a series of four concerts at the Winchendon History and Cultural Center on 151 Front Street. Concerts are free to the public, but registration is required due to the limited space of the venue.
On December 18, William Simms performed on the lute and theorbo for about 20 audience members. Between a selection of pieces by Francesco da Milano (1497-1543), John Dowland (1563-1626), Alessandro Piccinini (1566-1638), and Robert de Visée (c.1655-1732/1733), Simms chatted with the audience, providing information about the instruments and the composers he was showcasing. The intrigued audience learned that a theorbo has lower pitched strings than a lute and is often used to accompany singers. It's also tricky to get on a plane--Simms said he can only fly Southwest Airlines because only they have large enough compartments in bulkhead storage.
Still in royal array from the Holiday House Tour, the WHCC was beautifully decorated and made a perfect backdrop to the elegant instuments and music.
Future concerts in the series are:
December 27
Asako Takeuchi, baroque violin.
Click here to register
As a solo, chamber, and orchestral player, baroque violinist Asako Takeuchi has performed with ensembles such as the Wallfisch Band (UK), Collegium Musicum Den Haag (Netherlands), Den Haag Piano Quintet (Netherlands), The Bach Choir & Orchestra of the Netherlands, Arion Baroque Orchestra (Canada), Handel & Haydn Society (USA), Boston Baroque (USA), and folk ensemble Floyds Row. She has performed at festivals including Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht (Netherlands), Deutsches Mozartfest and Innsbruck Festival (Germany), Festival de Música Antigua de Barcelona (Spain), MUPA International Arts Festival (Thailand), and Abbaye aux Dames (France), and Aston Magna Festival (USA). Discography includes recordings with The Wallfisch Band, Arion Baroque Orchestra, and The Bach Choir & Orchestra of the Netherlands. She has given workshops at Burapha University (Thailand) and holds degrees from the Royal Conservatory in The Hague (Netherlands), University of Southern California, and Berklee College of Music.
December 28
Philipp A. Stäudlin, saxophone & Yoko Hagino, piano
Click here to register
Stäudlin is an award-winning virtuoso saxophonist who has performed hundreds of concerts throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. His characteristic tonal qualities, deep sense of phrasing, and superb technical skills make him one of the most unique voices in today's classical saxophone world. A native of Friedrichshafen, Germany, Stäudlin has appeared as a soloist with the Sinfonieorchester Basel, Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP), Sound Icon ensemble, White Rabbit Ensemble (former ensemble-in-residence at Harvard University), Niederrheinische Sinfoniker, Callithumpian Consort, Bielefelder Philharmoniker, Harvard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum, Tufts University Orchestra, Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, and the Providence Singers. He has also performed with the Harvard Group for New Music, EQ ensemble, ECCE ensemble, Talea Ensemble, Steamboat Switzerland, Dinosaur Annex, Ensemble White Rabbit, Ludovico Ensemble, IGNM Basel, Alea III, Back Bay Chorale, and many others. A graduate of Musikhochschule Basel, Stäudlin received a Soloist Diploma, having studied with Marcus Weiss and Iwan Roth. He was awarded a full scholarship two years in a row from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) to study with Kenneth Radnofsky at the Longy School of Music of Bard College, where he received an Artist Diploma as well as the Victor Rosenbaum Medal. Stäudlin currently has 15 CD recordings available on the New World, Tzadik, Albany, Innova, Suspicious Motives, New Focus, Navona, and Newport Classics, Enja, and Ars Musici labels. He is a member of the Sound Icon, Callithumpian Consort, and EQ ensembles. Stäudlin has premiered more than 100 works.
Yoko Hagino, born and raised in Japan, has appeared as a soloist with the Kyoto City Symphony, the Czech Symphony, Osaka Century Orchestra, U-Mass Boston Chamber Orchestra, Key West Symphony Orchestra, White Rabbit Symphonietta, and she has performed various piano recitals ranging from the music of Bach to contemporary repertoire. Yoko is a prize winner of the Steinway Society Piano Competition, the First International Chamber Music Competition, the All-Japan Selective Competition of the International Mozart Competition and Chamber Music Competition of Japan. She received her Bachelor's and her Master's degrees with honors from Tokyo National University, where she won its concerto competition. She earned an Artist Diploma from the Longy School of Music, where she studied with Victor Rosenbaum and won the school's concerto competition. Yoko completed a Performance Diploma at Boston Conservatory, where she was a student of Michael Lewin and received the Churchill Scholarship. As a devoted chamber musician, she is the Co-Director of "Die Musiker Witz" and has given many concerts in various locations in Japan. In addition to teaching at CCM, she has been a staff pianist at the Boston Conservatory and has led workshops at Morgan State University, Longy School of Music and Berklee College of Music.
January 7
John Arcaro & Band
Click here to register
A professor at the Berklee College of Music, John Arcaro has performed with Boston Musica Viva, Nick Brignola, Richie Cole, Hal Crook, Alan Dawson, Paquito D'Rivera, Jon Faddis, Fred Lipsius, Bob Mintzer, Bob Moses, Jimmy Mosher, Rebecca Parris, Gray Sargent, Carol Sloane, Ed Thigpen, Bill Watrous, Phil Wilson, and others. He's recorded with Garrison Fewell, George Garzone, Jamey Haddad, Skip Hadden, John Lockwood, Jimmy Madison, Michael Moore, Jack Pezanelli, Bill Pierce, and Mark White on the Brownstone, BCM, and TBA labels. Arcaro is a member of numerous jazz ensembles and big bands, including the Worcester Jazz Orchestra.
All concerts are at 7:00 p.m. at the Winchendon History and Cultural Center on 151 Front Street.
William Simms playing the lute.
Photo by Patrick Wu
William Simms holding his theorbo.
Photo by Patrick Wu
