Old Murdock Senior Center Repair Work Underway
Photos by Keith Kent
As seen in these photos taken on Thursday, July 13, long overdue and much needed structural repair work has finally begun on the Town of Winchendon Senior Center, known and loved by many as "Old Murdock High School" which is also the town's central voting polling station, vaccination center, and much more as needed.
The historically protected building which must be maintained by law has had the clock tower section of the building for the least two years wrapped in a special plastic to protect the cracks in the mortar from suffering any further water and ice damage at a considerable cost to the town preventing additional damage at an initial cost of just over $80,000 approved by the Finance Committee several years ago to assist with the project. Since then, town residents have voted on funds necessary to continue the repairs, which in total now come to or even exceed with inflation, $5 Million to save the entire vital and protected building for the town of Winchendon and its residents.
In the first photo, we see the building in its frontal entirety as viewed from adjacent GAR Park with the project's necessary scaffolding and protective netting now in place. In the second photo, we begin to see the scale of the project's setup depth just to be able to address the outer super structure. Moving closer in the third photo as viewed, you can see multiple levels, stairways, and how project workers can circle the entire tower of the building.
Lastly in the 4th and final closeup, even with the protective netting in place, the scale of rot is easily visible as items such as old window frames showing dried wood, no paint, missing primer, and cracking, just like many of the bricks around them which in the last few years started falling to the ground endangering walkers passing the building.
BIG RanDom Plays at the Big Park!
Photo by Keith Kent
Photo by Keith Kent
Local popular music group and high energy classic rock and roll cover band, the "BIG RanDom" rocked the park at Winchendon's GAR Park on Friday, July 7, as part of the scheduled Winchendon Park's and Recreation Commission summer concert series.
As part of their programs musical presentation, the BIG RanDom added songs previewing their upcoming "Tribute to Southern Rock" at the Bull Spit Pop Up Yard on July 22, and also some Woodstock 69 tunes for their upcoming "Groovy Show" at "WINCHENSTOCK" on August 12. Seen in the background photo enjoying both warm weather and a great summer time performance, are just some of the over 100 people who were in attendance for BIG RanDom's showing.
The next performance will take place at GAR Park on Friday, July 14, with music by Mr. Strickland, and food at the event made available by Atrévete a Probar who attended the recent Winchendon Food Truck Festival, and and also the Fidelity Ice Cream Truck.
If you would like to visit the Winchendon Park and Recreation Commission summer concert schedule online and much more, please visit https://www.townofwinchendon.com/parks-and-recreation
Heavy Rains Impact Region, Damage Farm Crops
The ceaseless rainy weather pattern which has been drenching central Massachusetts and most of New England with downpours of sometimes very heavy rain almost daily became devastating this past week, with flooded homes and businesses, landslides, and washed-out roads in Vermont and New Hampshire, and inundated fields in the fertile farmland of the Massachusetts Connecticut River valley. Not since Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 have central and western Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire seen such serious and destructive flooding. In central Vermont, some places logged up to 10 inches of rainfall in the space of two days.
Winchendon's elevation has spared it from the worst of the impact, but local lakes and rivers are high above their normal levels. In Lake Monomonac, docks, beaches and boathouses have been underwater for days, with pieces of docks, loose boats and debris floating away to create a hazard for boaters or accumulate on shorelines. An annual boat parade was cancelled because of floating debris everywhere in the lake.
In Lake Dennison State Park, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has closed the Lake Dennison recreation area in anticipation of flooding expected to occur due to high water levels at the Birch Hill Dam, owned and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The closure includes the picnic area, public beach and campground, and is expected to last at least two weeks, depending on conditions. (See full DCR announcement below)
But the damage is far worse in Franklin County, where the Connecticut River, carrying flood runoff from Vermont, was three feet above flood stage on Tuesday, July 11. Some small farms have lost their entire season's worth of crops due to flooded fields. Massachusetts towns along the north I-91 corridor received from 4.6 to 3 inches of rainfall in 48 hours.
On Wednesday, July 12, Senator Jo Comerford toured farms in Franklin County, surveying flooded fields and flood damage and speaking to farmers and agricultural groups. Along with Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Commissioner Ashley Randle and MDAR Deputy Commissioner Winton Pitcoff, Sen. Comerford visited Grow Food Northampton and spoke to farmers associated with them, Teddy Smiarowski Farm and other farmers in Hatfield, the Czajokowski brothers and other farmers in Hadley and Jay Savage of Savage Farms and other farmers around Deerfield. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey also met with farmers in Northampton.
Stone Soup Farm in Hadley said in an email that 8 acres of their total 10 cultivated acres were under water and would be a complete loss; some areas of the farm were only accessible by boat, according to the Boston Globe.
MDAR is asking farmers to share damage reports from impacted farms to help the Department evaluate the extent of the situation. Farmers should contact MDAR Deputy Commissioner and Chief of Staff Alisha Bouchard at alisha.bouchard@mass.gov and Director of Produce Safety Michael Botelho at michael.botelho@mass.gov. Farmers are also encouraged to contact Sue Scheufele at UMass Extension at sscheufele@umass.edu or by calling 508-397-3361.
South Deerfield based Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) will be opening its Emergency Farm Fund, offering farms zero-interest loans up to $25,000 to meet expenses. A 501c3 non-profit, CISA welcomes donations.
Few small farmers have crop insurance and options for financial assistance are limited.
Many local farmers in central Massachusetts and the Monadnock region were already hit hard by the severe cold spell in February and the freak hard freeze we experienced in May, which destroyed apple and blueberry crops and many early plantings. All of this means not only hardship for farmers, but higher food prices locally, as Massachusetts consumers enjoy the benefits of a great deal of locally grown food.
More potentially heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecast Thursday night and through the weekend.
Community Heart & Soul Project Seeking Residents' Feedback
Winchendon Community Heart & Soul Logo designed by Vyrdolak
© 2022 By Light Unseen Media
The Community Heart & Soul team is at a new stage in the development of Winchendon's Heart & Soul statement, and they're asking residents for their feedback on the current five statements. These statements have been condensed from resident surveys, both written and in-person interviews, of more than 400 people living in Winchendon, with representatives of every age group, gender identity, race and ethnic group in town, and participants ranging from generational life-long Toy Towners to brand new homebuyers. Altogether there were 1,177 lines of data that team members sorted into common themes, collated and arranged in spreadsheets. The team then met together for two days to find the "heart and soul" of all these responses and build them into five concise statements.
Over the next few weeks, you will see appeals to share your feedback on the five Community Heart & Soul statements all around town and on social media. There will be posters and cards with a QR code leading to a quick Google form where you can click on your opinion of each statement. The team hopes to complete this phase within about four weeks.
The text of the statements is as follows:
These statements are our first draft, summarizing the hundreds of comments made by community members when asked to share their hopes, dreams, and aspirations for Winchendon.You can fill out the Google form right now at this link:
Local Matters
Winchendon residents work towards a vibrant local economy that supports small businesses, provides employment, meets residents' essential needs, and contributes to the town's tax base.
People Matter
We value the potential for a small-town feel where all residents can know, connect, and treat one another with kindness. We embrace our different backgrounds, identities, and perspectives, and work together through our local traditions, events, and time-honored institutions to ensure that Winchendon is a viable and good home for all.
YOUth Matters
We strive to provide safe, healthy environments throughout Winchendon where our youth feel welcomed, heard, and valued for who they are.
We work together to ensure our youth have access to activities, a quality and responsive education, integrated civic engagement, and leadership opportunities.
Town Pride Matters
Winchendon residents value living in and contributing to a town that is well cared for. We are striving to provide safe, well-maintained roads, bike paths, parks, community spaces, neighborhoods, continued beautification of the downtown area, and the preservation of historic places.
People appreciate the many town-wide events and support working towards providing an effective local communication system.
Nature Matters
We cherish the quiet beauty of Winchendon's natural environment and all that it contributes to our lives, our health, and our sense of peace and well-being.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2UM2MvVU6jOV_szMgF2FIqFdzFPFOCGlTKohPq366cp2DQQ/viewform
For more information about Community Heart & Soul, see this presentation given to the Board of Selectmen: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1E0Jh-3bPM835pOD1JSpFeY2gPGFsUDJjeZx03IrHWeE/edit?usp=drive_link
If you have questions you can contact CH&S team member Paul Hackett at hackettpaul41@gmail.com
Improv Workshop and Other Events at the Beals Memorial Library
Join the Winchendon Library for a number of fun programs the week of July 17 to July 21, including a hilarious improv comedy workshop for teens with the Phantom Sheep Players!
Photo courtesy of Beals Memorial Library
Head over to the Winchendon library for some laugh-out-loud fun! Each week, as part of their ongoing Summer Reading Club, the library is holding programs based on the theme "Find Your Voice" that are sure to be fun for the whole family, including the main event of the upcoming week, on Wednesday, July 19: Laughcrafters Improv Workshop! Here's everything happening the week of July 17 - July 21:
On Tuesday, July 18, from 10:00 p.m. to 12:00 noon, take a walk with a story for the second of four Storywalks of the summer. Join the Beals Memorial Library and the Winchendon Coordinated Family and Community Engagement Grant (CFCE) for a fun, interactive outdoor reading adventure by following the path of poster boards set up throughout the library lawn. The second story of the month will be Too Loud Lily, by Sofie Laguna. Lily the hippo is too loud, but when a new teacher comes to her school to teach music and drama, Lily learns that her level of loudness is perfect for performing! Each child who participates in this program will receive a book while supplies last!
On Wednesday, July 19, at 6:30 p.m., teens ages 13 to 18 are invited to unleash their inner talent and imagination at the Laughcrafters Improv Workshop with the Phantom Sheep Players! Take part in fun and hilarious theater games that teach you how to create comedy on the spot! No experience necessary to take part. The Phantom Sheep Players are the longest running professional comedy troupe in western Massachusetts. The troupe has produced over 200 scripted sketches and countless improvised scenes and they'll be bringing that experience and creativity to this workshop. Space is limited, sign up today to reserve your spot! This program is funded in part by the Winchendon Cultural Council and the Friends of the Beals Memorial Library.
Finally, on Friday, July 21, at 2:00 p.m., join in and sing along to all your favorite Disney songs at the library's family-friendly Disney Sing-Along! Sing your heart out to some of the latest hit songs from the House of Mouse. Participants are welcome to come in costume.
The Beals Memorial Library is located at 50 Pleasant Street in Winchendon. All programs at the library are free to attend! For more information or to sign up for programs, call the library at 978-297-0300, email at bealsmemoriallibrary@gmail.com or visit their website at bealslibrary.org.
DCR Issues Recreational Advisory for Lake Dennison for Flooding
Beginning on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, and continuing for approximately two weeks, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will be closing the Lake Dennison recreation area in the Town of Winchendon in anticipation of flooding expected to occur due to high water levels at the Birch Hill Dam, owned and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Areas affected by the closure include the day use picnic area, beach, and the campground. The day use area is expected to reopen after two weeks, however, this timeline could change based on the USACE operations at the dam, as well as any assessments and repairs of damage caused by the flooding.
Live Theater Opportunities Abound Around Toy Town
Whatever your age, whether you're an actor or aspiring actor, dedicated stage hand, or just someone who loves to watch the craft and enthusiasm that go into a live performance, there are opportunities in and around Winchendon to fulfill your dreams--more than you may have realized! With the opening of the Robinson Broadhurst Performing Arts Amphitheater in the Winchendon Community Park, Winchendon now has a professional outdoor stage that can host "summer stock" shows from youth groups to professional troupes. All we need now is the talent--and we know Winchendon has it. It's time for Toy Towners to get stage-struck!
Beals Memorial Library is offering a four-day theater workshop for young people age 11 to 14 as part of their 2023 Summer Reading Club, whose theme is "Find Your Voice!" The "Theater Squad" workshop will run from Monday to Thursday July 24-27 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon. Participants will learn the basics of theater and stage presence as they create their own play from scratch. The play will be performed for caregivers at the end of the workshop. The workshop is free of charge, but registration is required due to limited space. To register, or for more information, visit the library, call 978-207-0300 or email bealsmemoriallibrary@gmail.com. This workshop is sponsored by the Winchendon Cultural Council, the Friends of the Beals Memorial Library and By Light Unseen Media.
Beals Memorial Library and the Winchendon Parks & Recreation Department are co-sponsoring "Winchendon's Got Talent!" on Saturday, August 5, at 1:00 p.m. on the Robinson Broadhurst Performing Arts Amphitheater stage in the Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Drive. Participants should prepare a five-minute (or less) act (family-friendly!). "Winchendon's Got Talent!" is part of the "Lazy Days of Summer Community Day" at the Winchendon Community Park. To enter, contact the library at 978-207-0300 or email bealsmemoriallibrary@gmail.com, or the Parks & Recreation Department at 978-297-5410 or email tnewton@winchendon-ma.gov.
Just a short drive away, Theatre on the Mount at Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner (444 Green Street) presents half a dozen full productions every year, both children's shows and general-audience favorites. Productions have open casting, and there are many opportunities available for backstage and support assistance as well, from costuming and sets to providing musical accompaniment or helping with promotion and stage management.
Upcoming on stage is the Mount's production of the blockbuster musical Hello, Dolly! Performances will be Fridays and Saturdays, August 11, 12, 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee on Sunday, August 20 at 2:00 p.m. You can order tickets online at https://mwcc.universitytickets.com/w/default.aspx?cid=179.
Upcoming are auditions for the November-December production ELF, the Musical, based on the popular movie starring Will Farrell. Director Kate Sheridan, Music Director Katrina Baer and Choreographer Kim Soel are looking for a large adult/teen cast and a small ensemble of children.
ELF, the Musical follows the story of Buddy, an orphaned infant who accidentally crawls into Santa's sleigh one Christmas Eve and is transported back to the North Pole, where he is adopted by Santa's elves. Buddy grows up thinking himself to be an elf until his enormous size and less than extraordinary toy-making abilities make him realize he is human. Resolving to find his true identity, Buddy makes his way to New York City and winds up helping its cynical inhabitants discover the true meaning of Christmas. Embrace your inner ELF!
Adults/Teens auditions will be held on Tuesday, August 15 and Wednesday, August 16 at 7 p.m.; Children's auditions will be held on Tuesday, August 15 at 5:30 p.m.
All auditions are by appointment only. Theatre at the Mount auditions and roles are open to ALL. Persons of all races, ethnicities, national origins, genders, sexual orientations, ages and ability statuses are given fair consideration for any and all roles.
Adults/Teens - Please prepare a short vocal selection that best shows your abilities and range (bring sheet music if selection is not from the show). Wear appropriate footwear for dance audition and expect cold-readings from the script for key roles.
Kids - we will teach you a song and a short dance piece at the audition.
To schedule an audition appointment, call 978 630-9388 or email your request to box-office@mwcc.mass.edu For more information, including character descriptions, see https://mwcc.edu/campus-life/tam/auditions/
This fall Theater on the Mount will be offering several classes, including swing dancing, beginner and advanced beginner tap dancing, and "Ham-ography!" for Hamilton fans aged 12 and up. "For the first portion of class, we will go through some of the basic movements and sequences that are used within the choreography. We will then link those together into an entire routine. By the end of this class, you will know a full Hamilton number!" For full information about the classes, see https://mwcc.edu/campus-life/tam/classes-and-workshops/
MWCC offers an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences with a concentration in Theater Arts. For more information, see https://mwcc.edu/academics/track/theatre-arts/
During the school year, check out Murdock High School's annual spring musical and the Morton E. Converse Tournament of Plays, the longest-running high school one-act play competition in Massachusetts. Recent musical productions have included Matilda: the Musical and Little Shop of Horrors, with professional puppets leased for the show. Recent MHS graduate and seasoned veteran of the Murdock stage Domenic Iannacone is now majoring in Film and Media Arts at the University of Tampa, where he was just named to the Dean's List for the Spring 2023 semester.
The more Toy Towners support all these endeavors, the more there will be to support. There's never a lack of entertainment in North Central Mass!
