Winchendon Woman, Passenger Die in Two-Car Accident in Garder

Jasmine Colon-Randolph
Photo copyright ©Tasha Alvarez

by Inanna Arthen
On Sunday, February 26, vehicle operator Jasmine Colon-Randolph, age 23, of Winchendon, and her passenger Nikolas Guzman, age 23, of Gardner were both killed in a head-on collision with another vehicle on Green Street in Gardner, near Mount Wachusett Community College. Both occupants of Ms. Colon-Randolph's vehicle had to be cut out of the car by emergency responders from the Gardner Fire Department and were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and sole occupant of the other vehicle involved was transported to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester with severe injuries.

According to police records, the accident occurred at about 5:50 a.m., 40 minutes before sunrise. A couple of inches of fresh snow had fallen the night before, and the temperature was approximately 17 degrees Fahrenheit. Sun glare would not have been a factor, but road conditions may have been slippery.

According to Ms. Colon-Randolph's Facebook page, she attended Murdock High School and was employed at a Wendy's restaurant. The Winchendon Courier listed her as graduating with the Murdock High School class of 2017. (Staff at Murdock High School did not respond to a request for comment.) She was the daughter of Jamie Girouard.

Speaking through a close family friend, Ms. Girouard told the Courier, "Jasmine loved to go on adventure walks with friends although she was a home body, she liked to play games, watch movies! Like The Emperor's New Groove, Grease, The Mummy, Howard the Duck, and Cry Baby. Her favorite TV shows were Supernatural, Vampire Diaries and Charmed. She loved listening to music. She loved to cuddle with her dog Tex who loved her so much that when you ask him where his human is he would go crazy and run to her room!

"Jasmine will always be remembered for having an amazing old soul--an amazing person who didn't judge anyone. Jasmine got along with everyone and would do anything she could to be there for them. Up to her recent passing Jasmine was working full time and spent the rest of her time doing things she enjoyed with her boyfriend Nik, and spending time with her family and his."

Friends and family of Ms. Colon-Randolph and Mr. Guzman have set up GoFundMe donation pages to help their families. By March 1, both pages had exceeded their goals.

The cause of the crash is being investigated by the Gardner Police Department, Massachusetts State Police and the Worcester District Attorney's Office.

GoFundMe page for Jasmine Colon

GoFundMe page for Nikolas Guzman

Amphitheater Schedule Raises Questions about Tickets, Alcohol at Concerts

by Inanna Arthen
Recreation Director Tiffany Newton appeared before the Board of Selectmen's meeting on February 27 to request an entertainment permit for the series of evening concerts scheduled at the new Performing Arts Amphitheater in the Winchendon Community Park, which is slated to hold its Grand Opening event on June 10.

The concerts will run on Saturday evenings, and one Friday, from mid-July through September. Featured performers include country and rock bands, a folk-rock singing group and a stand-up comedian. The events are ticketed, with ticket prices ranging from a high of $25 to $10 per person. The events will run from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.

The amphitheater provides informal seating for approximately 300 people.

Ms. Newton explained that the cost of tickets is based on the fees being paid to the performers. There will be a season ticket available for $120 which is $20 less than the total cost of all tickets purchased individually, and will be good for all performances. Board Chair Audrey LaBrie asked, "What about just free events for the town?"

"We have a few performances happening in conjunction with our free community days each month that we have going on there," Ms. Newton said. "And we're just working on also getting the Winchendon Music Festival to bring in an orchestra that they've been trying to bring to town but they didn't have the space anywhere else to bring that. The date hasn't quite been set, sometime in August they're looking to come in, and that will be free to the public. So we are working on getting other free performances at the amphitheater as well throughout the season." (The Winchendon Winds Concert Band will perform a free concert at the amphitheater on July 1.)

Ms. LaBrie said, "I think as great as it is to go to a concert there, to be able to attend a community event is just as important. So that's good to hear."

"Yes, we're trying to make it a nice mix of things that are paid and things that are also free to the community," Ms. Newton responded.

Ms. Labrie asked whether the sponsorships being received might become enough to offset the cost of bringing in performers and reduce the ticket price for the public. Ms. Newton replied, "Yes. So this season obviously all our sponsorships that we had solicited are specifically for the Grand Opening to make that event really great and stuff, but I am working on a sponsorship packet that gives more information that we can use season to season, with different tiers, that offer different things back to the sponsors for advertising purposes, but also helps us cover some of the costs of these, where maybe we can charge less and get even better bands." That might be implemented for the 2024 season and onward, Ms. Tiffany suggested.

Selectman Danielle LaPointe asked, "How do you control, like people have tickets, but if people are using the trails and coming in or a different section of the park, have we figured out logistically how that's going to be?"

"We're still working on exactly what that will look like," Ms. Newton said. "I think [Department of Public Works Director Brian Croteau] has been working about doing some sort of fencing around the specific amphitheater area that can open up when it's not being used for an event and also close up more when there isn't an event, which will help with some of that...We will have signage at the park. Hopefully our front sign has electronic scroll, hopefully the new sign that will advertise it there as well. I'm working with Don [O'Neil] to put a specific events calendar on the website as a tab next to that red journal calendar, that will post any events that the town is offering as well as ones that may have been permitted to the town. But specifically on there if the park is ever rented for private rental, it will be stated on there, that the park will be closed to the public during this time for this particular event." She stated that it would obviously be a "big learning curve as we go."

She added that they plan to give wrist bands to paid audience members, and will have volunteers who will serve as ushers directing attendees and making sure there are no problems. There will be a point-of-sale charge machine for at-the-gate tickets, accepting credit cards only with a $5.00 transaction fee over the price of advance purchase. "I really want to push for pre-sale tickets, though. It just makes everything much easier," she said.

Selectmen Barbara Anderson questioned the transaction fee for at-the-gate ticket sales, which also applies to credit card transactions at the transfer station. She compared the fee to point-of-sale apps vendors can use with their cell phone or tablet, plugging a portable card reader into their mobile device. There was some discussion about this, with the points being made that the town's financial services provider, Unibank, imposes those fees, and it's more strict for a municipality than for a private vendor. The point-of-sale apps all impose transaction fees, as well, whether buyers are aware of them or not.

Ms. Anderson asked who would be paying for the fencing, and for the police details for events. Ms. Newton said the fencing cost was built into the overall cost of the amphitheater, which is being funded by the Robinson Broadhurst Foundation as a gift to the town. Part of the ticket fees will go to pay for police details, additional DPW costs and so on. Ms. Anderson raised the possibility of a "community impact fee" for events that might get "rowdier," since alcohol will be sold at the concerts.

"I think a lot of this first year we're gonna be filling out a lot of things and we're gonna be taking a lot of feedback from the community," Town Manager Justin Sultzbach said. "I'm sure we'll be hearing from abutters. And we're trying to figure this out a little bit as we go along. So we can do our research, which we have been doing, we've been looking at what other communities do, but we do encourage the feedback from the community as always, so that we can create a better experience for the town. I think that's a big piece of it and when it comes down to the financial end of things I understand there's some frustration from some people...the other end of it is that there's a cost to operating this and we've made a commitment that the amphitheater would not cost the taxpayers directly through taxes. And so there needs to be a way to try to mitigate that cost. So when we start listing these things, at first glance, it may not seem like there's significant expenses, but the electricity, you start listing things like police detail, emptying the porta potties, emptying the trash, running the event, coordinating the event, there are expenses that are incurred by this, so just encouraging the community to be mindful."

"It's always great to see how it goes. And if we have to adjust and change as we go, that's great. But it's always better to be proactive and anticipate," Ms. Anderson said.

There was further discussion about the ticket prices impacting families. Ms. Newton said she had not planned on reduced sales or free admission for kids because there was limited seating and the ticket revenue was needed to cover costs. Suppose 100 of the seats were taken by children who had gotten in free, it would mean that event wouldn't cover its costs. The performers in this series are more expensive to bring in than the bands playing at the free concerts in G.A.R. Park. Ms. Newton also noted that the concerts start at 7:00 p.m. and would run very late for younger kids. The comedy act is rated for adults over 18.

Resident Rick Lucier, who lives across Maple Street from the park exit, rose to ask, "Are these all alcohol-free events?"

"No. So we have an RFP [request for proposals] out right now for an alcohol vendor. It will be the same one we use for the whole season," Ms. Newton responded. "So there will be alcohol served."

"So you have 'family friendly' events with alcohol?" Mr. Lucier asked.

Ms. Newton said yes, "But you know, there's plenty of places, just as Bull Spit downtown. They serve alcohol but they're very friendly, family friendly environment, and they have music."

"Because they're encapsulated," Mr. Lucier said. "I'm curious about the Winchendon Fest because Winchendon Fest has always been held at the Rod and Gun Club, and there's a reason for that. They're a rowdy bunch, and they all drink. So how are you going to control and contain that? You're asking people to come to donate to the CAC and at the same time, there's going to be alcohol consumption. The two don't go together." [Mr. Lucier apparently is referring to Winchenstock, a fundraiser for the Winchendon CAC which will be held at the Winchendon Community Park Amphitheater on August 12.]

Ms. Newton responded that the Winchenstock event was a private rental, not a town event, and would be responsible for its own logistics and security.

Mr. Lucier then raised the question of whether it was legal to drink in a public park in Massachusetts. "You don't see it at Dunn Park. You don't see it in Gardner at Memorial Park. You don't see it any other place. So how are you guys going to get around that?"

This led to a discussion of having an enclosed area where alcohol had to be consumed, and which alcohol could not be removed from, as Bull Spit did as its Bull Yard and the Food Truck Festival, and which also has been the case at past Fall Fests when businesses set up an area for serving alcoholic beverages.

"We'll have somebody to monitor to make sure nobody leaves that area with [alcohol] because then you have no idea who's gonna consume it," Mr. Lucier said, urging the Board to look into the legalities.

Mr. Sultzbach said, "I just want to stress that the reason we're going through the RFP process is that the town is not serving the alcohol. It has to be somebody that has their own alcohol license and their own insurance, certified and everything else."

He added, "The only reason we rope off an area like at G.A.R. Park, for example, is because there's just not an enclosed area. Or if it's like something at Fall Fast, same thing, you just start wandering out into Central Street. But if the entire amphitheater is enclosed that counts as an enclosed area, for the same reason if you've ever seen a concert at any outdoor venue that serves alcohol, you can roam about freely for that reason, within the barriers of the venue. But we'll bring something so it's not a 'trust us' thing, you can actually see it."

Board Vice Chair Rick Ward made a motion to approve the entertainment permit with the condition that the Board would be updated at least monthly on continuing plans, and answers to questions posed. The motion was approved unanimously.

High Water or Low, Whitney Pond Dam Repairs Will Cost

by Inanna Arthen
At the Special Town Meeting on Monday, March 13, voters will be asked to vote on a non-binding referendum to indicate what they want the town to do about the Whitney Pond dam. Two options are on the table: the first would be to restore the dam and raise the water level of Whitney Pond to its higher, historical levels. The second would do needed and necessary repairs to prevent the dam from failing but leave the water level as it is today.

A "yes" vote approving the referendum would be a preference to spend more money, restore the dam and raise the water levels.

A "no" vote rejecting the referendum would be a preference to do only the less expensive essential repairs and leave the water level where it is.

Neither option will be cheap.

In a discussion of the warrant articles at the February 27 Board of Selectmen's meeting, Board Vice Chair Rick Ward asked, "How much difference are we talking about between the highest level and low level with regards to cost? I know we can't get specific, but just ballpark, are we talking an extra million dollars?"

Town Manager Justin Sultzbach gave the question to Department of Public Works Director Brian Croteau, who explained, "So there's a vast difference in costs. So you're talking about $10 million to raise the water and you're talking probably about $6 million just to do the normal."

The Board appeared somewhat aghast at these figures. Selectman Danielle LaPointe asked, "What's the benefit of raising the water and what's the benefit of leaving it as is?"

Mr. Sultzbach said, "So there is a habitat benefit to the higher water levels, as people have talked about the herons that used to nest there. They're no longer there anymore. It does create a deeper pool of water so it's better for fish habitat. Because it keeps the water cooler, longer. Shallow water tends to get warmer faster, you get fish kills. It would cover the stumps so aesthetically, it's more pleasing. There's a couple different reasons, and to add another wrinkle, in the Redevelopment Authority meeting earlier this evening, one of the members, Mr. Connors, raised the question of whether or not hydro-electric is even something that's feasible there anymore." He suggested that Mr. Croteau check into that possibility. "It very well may not be, but I guarantee he's probably not the only person that's wondering. So we'll get a determination on that as well."

Board Chair Audrey LaBrie asked if they could get "an artist's rendering" showing what the higher levels would look like, how much more water there would be.

Mr. Sultzbach said, "We could get historic aerials that actually might be able to show you the more expanded...because there are areas, especially the more shallow areas, where a foot difference in depth could mean an additional five to 10 or 15 feet in terms of water coming out on the shore, in some areas. We can see if we can find something that will illustrate that a little bit."

Mr. Croteau put in, "You're talking three feet at the dam. Okay, so you got to figure three feet and then as that comes up and pushes out, it's going to push farther towards Ingleside and up towards...so when you're going to work on the Elm Street Bridge and you see the sand mounds that are there now on both sides. You won't see any of that, that would all be covered."

Ms. LaBrie pondered whether the pond could be stocked with fish and made into a recreational area. Mr. Sultzbach said, "That is one thing that's highlighted, I think in the downtown revitalization plan but also the Master Plan, that our bodies of water are one of our greatest, from an economic standpoint, one of our greatest existing assets is the bodies of water that this community has at its disposal. And the recreation opportunity, so that, including fishing, I think would fall within the same category."

In response to a question from Mr. Ward, Mr. Croteau emphasized that the referendum is just a statement of direction from voters, not an approval of spending any funds. "The only thing, Mr. Ward, that we're voting on is to allow the engineers to finish the design. So there's no extra cost in the design, whether we decide to go with the high level or the low level."

Designs are necessary for grant applications, the more complete and detailed, the better. Once the designs are in place the town can then explore funding sources. As Mr. Sultzbach explained in a previous meeting, the designs are already paid for through bond money from the state which Mr. Croteau was able to get released.

Engineering firm Tighe & Bond has prepared a presentation explaining the repairs needed and the estimated costs. Click here to view the presentation (PDF)

Memorial School Celebrates Community Reader Day

WPD Chief Dan Wolski reads a work of Dr. Suess to students the Grade 1 class of Mrs. Barrett at Memorial Elementary School on Thursday, March 2, as part of Community Reader Day, in honor of the celebration of the Birthday of the famous children's book author, Dr. Suess.
Photo by Keith Kent

Reading to the both the Grade 1 class of Katrina Flemming, and also the Grade 2 class of Yolanda Duprey at Memorial Elementary School, Retired Special Education Teacher, Mrs. Jane Czasnowski returns to the classroom for a double-take helping out on Community Reader Day, as students and children enjoy spending time with Czasnowski who for just a time, returned to the work she devoted years of her life to.
Photo by Keith Kent

by Keith Kent, Special to the Courier
Memorial School faculty and students celebrated community reader day on Thursday, March 2, with a host of Toy Town readers reading everything Dr. Suess, as part of a nation wide reading celebration which takes place annually on that very date in honor of Suess's Birthday as children of all grades got to take part in the event.

As the day began with a "Two hour delay" the schedule of invited guest readers necessitated some creative shuffling around due to guests own personal schedules. Superintendent of Schools, Thad King, who was scheduled for Thursday, March 2, had to be rescheduled for Friday, March 3, and others where applicable. However credit the Memorial Elementary School front office, along with teachers and staff, for working hard and making sure the event still went off without a hitch!

In a list of dedicated volunteers reading at the Community Reader Day event, were WPS District retired and current employees, members of the WPD representing law enforcement, the Winchendon Courier, and more. Those taking part as provided by the front office were as follows: Chief Dan Wolski and SRO Tracy Flagg, Superintendent of Schools, Thad King, Principal Chante Jillson, Principal Anne Diaz, Nicole Lamoureux, Maire Winchester, Patty Rudrick, Emma Keney, Lynn Murray, Inanna Arthen, Keith Kent, Joyce Hosnander, and Jane Czasnowski.

If a classroom could not find a community reader, then the teacher or a paraprofessional assisting that class, would supplement reading a Dr. Suess book to the class for the event.

As one would pass from class to class, and room to room, multiple teachers and staff members could be seen dressed up in all things "Suess" such as clothing, and many accessories. Even Principal Jillson got in on the act for students in good faith, while First Grade Teacher, Mrs Barrett, whose class was read to by WPD Chief Dan Wolski, later continued reading to her class while sporting a very large red and white striped Dr. Suess character style top hat and tie to her students excitement!

Walking the halls and listening to each classroom the school event read much like as Suess book it self. First floor, Second floor, around the corner, more more more! Green Eggs and Ham here, a Cat in The Hat there, Dr. Suess where, here, there, everywhere! Yes one after another, the close attention, followed by smiles and then laughter of today's youngest and tomorrow's future enjoying books by a person they would never meet who passed now some 32 years prior, born back on this very date of celebration, March 2, 1904.

Asking First Grade Teacher, Mrs. Barrett, what it meant to both her Grade 1 Class and herself regarding having Winchendon Police Chief Dan Wolski come in and read a book to her students, Barrett replied, "I think it's fantastic, because the students look up to police officers obviously, and especially having the Chief come in. They do look up to him, and it's somebody different that's reading to them than me all the time. So yes it's great to have somebody from the community come in and to show them that you don't have to be afraid of police officers and that he is there for them to, so we really appreciate him taking the time to come in and read today".

In closing at the end of the school day on Thursday, March 2, Memorial Elementary School Principal Chante Jillson was pleased to say, "We are so grateful for our community readers who share their joy of reading with us today. There is nothing better than the joy of a good book and children".

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