Whites Mills Property Placed on the Market, Asking Price $3.5 Million
The Whites Mills complex on August 31, 2023
Photo by Inanna Arthen
In the newest twist in the very long and convoluted history of the Whites Mill complex at Glenallen Street and Mill Circle, the complex and its 9.06 acre parcel have been placed on the market by Rubric Commercial realtors of Worcester. The realty flyer for the property states, "For Sale & Lease." The property, which is assessed by the town for $802,500, is listed for sale at $3,500,000 and for lease as "negotiable."
The complex is currently listed as owned by Mill Farm Initiative Inc., an entity controlled by John and Amelia Giovanoni of Royalston, MA.
Mill Farm Initiative, Inc., while still technically in existence (it has not been dissolved), has not filed its annual report with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or any other paperwork, since filing its 2018 annual report on May 21, 2019, according to the Secretary of the Commonwealth Corporate Records Division. It had been a 501c3 "public charity" corporation, but its tax-exempt status was revoked by the IRS as of March 15, 2020, due to a failure to file its Form 990-N for three consecutive years, according to Guidestar.org.
The Winchendon Town Collector's Office told the Courier that Mill Farm Initiative Inc. is delinquent on its property tax payments for the mill property, owing taxes for Fiscal Years 2022, 2023 and 2024 in the total amount of $22,460.48 as of August 31, 2023.
According to the quitclaim deed filed with the Worcester County Registry of Deeds, on April 2, 2015, Brandywine Farms Inc., an entity formed by John Giovanoni on March 9, 2015, acquired the property from Richard LeClerc, DBA Mill-Win Inc., for $200,000. Brandywine Farms Inc. was dissolved on June 28, 2019. The Giovanonis transferred the property to Mill Farm Initiative Inc. for a recorded sum of $100 on October 30, 2020.
Prior to being acquired by Brandywine Farms Inc. in 2015, the mill complex had stood empty since 2011, when Ray Plastics/Mylec moved to its current facility on Gardner Road. Built in 1860, the mills manufactured cotton, then wool fabrics for more than a hundred years, before Ray Plastics converted it to toy manufacturing around 1963. The complex included an annex with the Winchendon Springs branch post office. In 2013 a proposal to convert the mills to a medical marijuana growing facility did not pan out.
After acquiring the Whites Mills, the Giovanonis came before the town with several very ambitious proposals to convert the complex, comprising over 99,000 square feet, into mixed use space including low income housing, a full service grocery store, hydroponic indoor farming, offices, community space, camping space, a 50,000 square foot year-round greenhouse and an emergency water supply for the town. In the summer of 2020, Mill Farm Initiative Inc. operated a farmer's market outside the mills for a few weeks, selling produce brought in from Lynn, MA.
A major obstacle to developing the property was a state mandate to either repair, or breach and remove, the dam directly behind the mill, which formed the Whites Mill Pond and had once provided power to the cotton and woolen mills. The state deemed it a high-hazard dam. In the fall of 2020, Brandywine Farms Inc. told the town that they were going to breach the dam that fall, but did not proceed in doing so. In the fall of 2022, the Town of Winchendon received a $740,000 grant to fund the dam breach. The dam was "decommissioned" and mostly removed in stages in the early winter of 2022-23, allowing the Whites Mill Pond to gradually return to its natural condition--a meandering stream which loops around the complex as the Millers River North Branch and joins the Millers River. Still in place north of the complex is a very large beaver dam holding some water back.
The mill buildings have steadily deteriorated since 2011. One of the buildings has a partially collapsed roof.
Since 2020, Mill Farm Initiative Inc. has not communicated any further plans for the mill complex to the town. In the last two months, the evolving Destination Winchendon group expressed interest in the mill complex as a potential development, and reached out to the Giovanonis, but were rebuffed and denied access to the building interiors.
Anyone interested in buying or leasing the Whites Mills complex should contact Rubric Commercial, 617-249-3987.
For recent Courier coverage, see:
"Town Manager Updates BOS on Movement Forward With Whites Mills / Winchendon receives a $740K Grant to Remove High-Risk Whites Mill Dam" in the November 24-December 1, 2022 edition of The Winchendon Courier
"Town Manager Updates BOS on White's Mill Dam and Mill Site" in the January 6-February 2, 2023 edition of The Winchendon Courier (scroll down to article)
Winchendon Schools Launch New School Year with New Interim Superintendent, New Staff, and New School Committee
Poised on the brink of the new academic year for students, The Winchendon School Committee met on Tuesday, August 29 with interim Superintendant Dr. Ruthann Petruno-Goguen, who introduced some of the many newly hired staff that were also in attendance. In her closing comments, School Committee Chair Karen Kast-McBride said, "I want to thank the staff of Winchendon Public Schools for standing by and helping us through what can only be described as the Winchendon Public Schools Tornado of 2023." With two new members on the School Committee and one more empty seat to be filled, the district is welcoming a new interim Superindent of Schools, three new interim Principals and two new interim Deans, 11 new teachers, 3 new para-educators and three new nurses. Some of these staff already worked in the district in different positions and were hired in-house. But more positions are still being filled. All this as the district begins working with a new food service company, Fresh Picks, and a new arrangement for supervising district-wide Facilities maintenance.
With the floor opened for her first Superintendent's Report to the School Committee, Dr. Goguen (as she prefers) said, "I just want to start by saying that I am pleased to be here as your interim Superintendent until June 2024. I have been here 12 days...I can't tell you how wonderful your community and schools are. I'm really happy to be here. It's been a very, very, very busy last few weeks and I'm excited about what the year is going to bring. I want to thank everyone for the warm welcomes. I want to help the district move forward."
Directly responding to concerns brought up by parents in the public comments period, Dr. Goguen said, "I certainly understand that there's been some traumatic experiences in this district. In my district opening with the staff, my job here is to help turn the page without pushing things under the rug. We are going to tackle problems in a transparent manner and make things better. And one thing that I ask is that we have that two-way communication in a respectful manner. Sometimes there are issues that we don't know about and we can't solve them unless we sit down together. Parents are a crucial part of your child's education and our new team is going to be able to demonstrate to you that they have a listening ear. No one should be hanging up on parents when they call schools. We don't want you leaving the office until all the buses are clear. We will be setting some very clear strong safety protocols across the district."
Dr. Goguen then introduced the new administrative staff, beginning with Mrs. Charlotte King, Interim Director of Pupil Services. "Many of you know Mrs. King--she was the Dean at Toy Town. She has 30 years of experience with early childhood. She worked as an integrated preschool teacher, kindergarten teacher, team chair and principal. She brings a wealth of experience and a great listening ear for parents."
Interim Assistant Director of Pupil Services is Kelsey Garcia "who came to us from being a special education teacher in a community based transition program and has a background as a special education teacher," Dr. Goguen said.
Craig Murdock has been hired as Interim Principal of Murdock Middle School. "Mr. Murdock has 17 years of experience as an educator and six years as a vice principal. He is very excited to join the Murdock middle school," Dr. Goguen said, evoking laughter as she kidded, "he even changed his name to come here, and he's excited to be here."
Heidi Bevacqua is Interim Dean of Murdock Middle School. "Many of you know her," Dr. Goguen said. "She was running the Murdock Academy of Success. She's been working in Winchendon since 1997 in a variety of roles. Most recently she was the coordinator of Murdock Academy. She is a proud Murdock High School graduate, and she is excited to provide support to students as the Interim Dean of Murdock Middle School."
Dr. Goguen continued, "I'm very pleased to introduce Bobbi French as our Interim Principal of the Memorial Elementary school. Mrs. French has over 28 years of experience. She is passionate about creating schools where all students feel a sense of belonging that allows them to excel despite any learning challenges. Mrs. French believes school should be a place where all are welcome, and they can see themselves reflected in a classroom and they're encouraged to be the best versions of themselves."
Interim Dean at Toy Town Elementary School is Laura Lambert. "Mrs. Lambert worked with children and families for the last 25 years in a variety of roles as a social worker," Dr. Goguen said. "She was previously the social school adjustment counselor at Memorial Elementary School and decided to take on the role of Dean at Toy Town."
Dr. Goguen continued, "Last but not least, our most recent hire. I am pleased to introduce Mr. David Fredette (LinkedIn) as our Interim High School Principal of Murdock High School. Mr. Fredette has been hired, he has an educational background, Master's in middle school administration from Fitchburg State College, and a CAGS in School Administration from American International College. He spent 14 years teaching middle school ELA in both Worcester and Holden. He was also an assistant principal in Sterling and Ware and a principal in Gardner for six years. His educational philosophy is, 'firmly rooted in the power of positive relationships. I'm convinced building strong meaningful positive relationships with students and staff and families is key to everyone's success.' Mr. Fredette is very excited to lead Murdock High School and become part of the Winchendon school community."
Dr. Goguen also acknowledged several returning staff persons who were attending the meeting: Anne Diaz, Principal of Toy Town Elementary, Bill Clinton, the district's Director of Technology, and Jonathan Landman, Director of Curriculum and Instruction. A special shout-out--and a round of applause from the room--went to a blushing Amanda Babinski, Director of Finance & Operations, who shouldered multiple responsibilities during the turmoil of the past weeks and through the ongoing transition.
Dr. Goguen said she was excited to develop a strong team, and promised that the School Committee would be hearing a lot from the Principals. "When I say turn the page, I don't mean forget the past. But I mean, let's turn the page together as a team united with the mission of making sure that our students' needs are met and that they're safe at school and the parents' voices are heard. So we're here to turn the page together."
Dr. Goguen went through a list of new hires in all four schools. (A complete list may be seen on the Schools Page.) She admitted there are more openings but assured the Committee that substitutes are ready to step in make sure everything is covered. The administrators have been doing "non-stop interviewing" in the previous 12 days. "These positions are listed as interim--it is our goal that they become long term members of this community," Dr. Goguen said. Policies and procedures are being established to deal rapidly with any issues and keep parents informed. Principals will be sending out weekly updates each Friday.
"We have issues in Special Education," Dr. Goguen said. "I'm just putting that out there. We are working on resolving them and you're going to see some changes. We have issues with some processes and procedures across the district. They need to be consistent." School Councils are being reinstituted and parents will be encouraged to join them. There will be trainings and district monthly safety meetings with Principals.
Another agenda item at the meeting was approval of the student and staff handbooks for each school. Dr. Goguen said she had never seen building-specific staff handbooks, and recommended that they eventually be combined.
The Tuesday meeting was an unusual one for the School Committee, which normally meets on Thursday. This meeting had been postponed from August 24. When the Committee, new staff and community members arrived at Town Hall, everything was locked. Department of Public Works Director Brian Croteau quickly arrived with a key, but then returned to operate the video camera to record the meeting, which started 25 minutes late--a brand new SD card had to be found for the camera. The entire meeting can be seen on the Town Hall YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZIaz-g4Kaw&t=4302s -- thank you, Mr. Croteau!
Worcester Jazz Orchestra and August Ice Cream Sunday Make a Great Combo at the WCP Amphitheater
Orchestra members, from left: Trumpets: Daniel Fleury, Adam Mejaour, Jeff Hoyt, Brian Lewis; Bass: Genevieve Rose; Trombones: Eric French, Robert Holfelder, Wayne Branco, Eric Schedin; Drums: Mark Holovnia; Guitar: Peter Depasquale; Piano: John Arcaro; Sax: David Dacquil, Jay Samiagio, Bob Bowlby, Noah Mejaour, Ed Harlow.
Photo courtesy of Michelle French, WJO
More than 70 audience members attended the free concert by the Worcester Jazz Orchestra, part of the series organized by the Winchendon Music Festival, on Sunday, August 27 at the Robinson Broadhurst Performing Arts Amphitheater in the Winchendon Community Park. Despite scattered showers around the area, the weather in Winchendon stayed sunny and pleasant. Families gathered in the park to enjoy the music, play games, and participate in the final day of August Ice Cream Sundays sponsored by the Winchendon Parks and Recreation Department.
The concert featured some of the hippest swing-band, "Big Band" sound around, with sax solos, trumpet solos, and a drum solo by Mark Holovnia that just wouldn't quit. Trumpeter Adam Mejaour hit notes higher than the sky, and the orchestra has the most chillin' bass player in New England in Genevieve Rose. The audience was thoroughly entertained by the orchestra's classics from Glenn Miller, Buddy Rich and other band leaders from Big Band's Golden Age, only budging from their seats to indulge in ice cream being dished up by Parks and Recreation staff. Some audience members brought their own picnic lunches to enjoy.
The Worcester Jazz Orchestra is managed by Eric French, who also plays trombone, with Music Director Brian Lewis (also on trumpet).
Partially sponsored by the Winchendon Cultural Council, the Winchendon Music Festival Series is worth hearing. This was their last concert for the 2023 series, but they're sure to be back. The Winchendon Music Festival is managed by Andrew Arceci.
Just some of the audience members enjoying the Worcester Jazz Orchestra's "big band" sound.
Photo by Inanna Arthen
Winchendon Parks and Recreation Director Tiffany Newton (with the cute hat) scoops up ice cream for enthusiastic attendees.
Photo by Inanna Arthen
Sidewalk chalk was available for attendees of any age to express their appreciation in color--and they did!
Photo by Inanna Arthen
Ed Harlow stands for a lengthy solo on tenor sax, only one of many solos by players that wowed the audience.
Photo courtesy of Michelle French, WJO
Applications Opening for Winchendon Cultural Council Grants
Are you interested in enriching our town through the arts, sciences or humanities? Online applications are being accepted now through October 17 for grants administered by the Winchendon Cultural Council (WCC). The WCC is part of a network of 329 Local Cultural Councils (LCC) serving all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth. The LCC Program is the largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation, supporting thousands of community-based projects in the arts, sciences, and humanities every year. The state legislature provides an annual appropriation to the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, which then allocates funds to each community. This year, WCC will be allocating over $12,000 to cultural programs in town.
Past awards here in Winchendon have ranged from $100 - $2000 and include Beals Library programs; Recreation Commission programs at GAR Park and the new Winchendon Community Park Amphitheater; the Winchendon Music Festival; Winchendon Winds Concert Band; the Taste of Winchendon Festival; senior center entertainment; and school field trips.
This year the Winchendon Cultural Council will give priority to:
- Applicants that have secured a venue for live performances within Winchendon
- Projects that serve youth or the elderly
- Projects that align with Winchendon's Master Plan: https://www.townofwinchendon.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif8401/f/uploads/mp_final.pptx.pdf (PDF), particularly those that utilize historic buildings and churches
- Applications from LGBTQ+ organizations and organizations that center BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) individuals and communities
Applications and more information about the Local Cultural Council Program are available online at https://massculturalcouncil.org/communities/local-cultural-council-program/. The Mass Cultural Council is holding a special online Information Session on September 12 at 6 pm: https://massculturalcouncil.org/event/how-to-apply-for-a-local-cultural-council-grant/. First-time applicants are especially encouraged to attend.
See Beyond the Spectrum: Upcoming Autism Accessibility Programs & Services at the Winchendon Library
Join the Beals Memorial Library's Walking Beside You support group for parents, grandparents, and caregivers of individuals who are neurodivergent, on the autism spectrum, or have other special needs at their first meeting on Monday, September 18th.
Photo courtesy of Beals Memorial Library
This fall, as part of their ongoing See Beyond the Spectrum Initiative, the Beals Memorial Library will be offering some sensory friendly programs, services, and support for children and families on the autism spectrum, neurodivergent individuals, and individuals with other special needs. Here's what's coming:
Available September 11, the Library of Things collection of useful and specialty items will include Sensory To-Go Bags! Sensory To-Go Bags contain over-ear headphones, sunglasses, fidget toys, communication cards, and more to meet patrons' sensory needs. They are designed for individuals with autism, sensory processing, or other special needs. These bags are perfect for school field trips, family outings, doctor appointments, and more. To be able to use one of these bags, all you need is a CWMARS library card in good standing.
On Monday, September 18, at 6:30 p.m., the library is inviting people to join their caregiver support group, Walking Beside You! Parents, grandparents, and caregivers raising individuals who are neurodivergent, on the autism spectrum, or have other special needs are invited to take part. Walking Beside You aims to create a safe space to come together, support each other, and share the joys and challenges of raising individuals with unique needs. This group will also be a space to gain information, get advice, and hear about valuable community resources. Future meetings will be held on the third Monday of each month from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Finally, beginning on Saturday, September 23, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., the library will be extending this summer's Sensory Friendly Saturdays into the fall and winter with their Sensory Friendly Browsing Hour. On the third Saturday of each month, enjoy a special library hour designed to provide a safe and friendly environment for individuals who are neurodivergent, on the autism spectrum, or have other special needs, and their families. Friendly library staff will assist in navigating the library and its various services: using computers, locating library materials, and more. Sensory toys and accessories will be available to help encourage positive play/interaction and minimize stress and anxiety. During Sensory Friendly Browsing Hours, the library will not be open to the general public. Upcoming dates include: September 23, October 21, November 18, and December 16.
All of these programs and services are part of the Beals Memorial Library's See Beyond the Spectrum Initiative, which aims to help create a more accepting and accessible library for people on the autism spectrum and their families by offering a variety of services for the community that will focus on sensory-friendly programming and activities, educating library staff and the community, and expanding the library's collection.
All programs, events, training, and more in affiliation with the See Beyond the Spectrum Initiative are funded by the Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities Grant, an initiative of the American Library Association (ALA) in collaboration with the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL).
The Beals Memorial Library is located at 50 Pleasant Street in Winchendon. For more information, contact library staff member, Alexis Chanthachack, at 978-297-0300 or by email at bealsmemoriallibrary@gmail.com or achanthachack@winchendon-ma.gov, or visit the library's website at bealslibrary.org.
Junior Girl Scouts Pinned with Bronze Awards for Community Service
Photo courtesy of Kelci Schultz
Photo courtesy of Kelci Schultz
Members of Winchendon Junior Troop #65061 led by Kristen Cormier, Wendy Hurst and Kelci Schulz were pinned with their Bronze award on Thursday, August 24, 2023 at the Winchendon-Westminster-Ashburnham Girl Scout service unit annual end of year awards and bridging ceremony that was held at the Winchendon Community Park amphitheater.
The Bronze Award starts as the girls complete a journey and includes a minimum of 25hrs dedicated to working on the project. They explore their community, discover a need or issue they care about, and work together to address it. It's a chance to create a plan and make an impact on the community they live in. After identifying a plan they then create their team, carry out their project and spread the word.
The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior can achieve and
all of the requirements for the Girl Scout Bronze Award must be completed before bridging to a Girl Scout Cadette.
The "Heart Dance and Awareness Project" our Junior troop had chosen was particularly close to the girls as Ava's brother, Benson and Evianna's brother, Gavin were both born with a CHD that have required surgical intervention and stays at BCH.
They met with Caitlin DiFava with The Heart Warrior Foundation and she spoke to them about the importance of spreading awareness, educated and supported the girls through question/answer discussion, various aspects of what a heart family may endure, and how the foundation has been supportive to CHD families.
The Winchendon Girl Scout Juniors researched various CHD's to make posters and flyers for a heart dance that the held for members of our local Girl Scout service unit, WWAGS, to raise awareness for Congenital Heart Defects. All proceeds went to donating teddy bears and plush heart hugs to the Hale Heart Center at Boston Children's Hospital. They were able to purchase 100 heart bears and 100 plush heart hugs. The final step was a visit to Boston Children's Hospital where they got to meet with Child Life Services and learn about how their bears will help littlier children. They also provided copies of the brochures they made about CHD for older children.
CONGRATULATIONS Ava Malcolm, Amelia Carmichael, Evianna Schulz, Mandy Doyle, Marguerite Rathier, Nora Guitare, Piper Herget, Rielle Diamond, and Sarah Mason.
We are all very proud of the work and growing you have done through this process.
Bridge of Flowers, Travel Destination to Close Long Term for Repairs
The historic "Bridge of Flowers" in the Village of Shelburne Falls, MA as seen in this photo, will close this October most likely for all of 2024 for designated infrastructure repairs.
Photo by Keith Kent
Spectacular Floral Views! Facing northerly over the Deerfield River, every single inch of the Bridge of Flowers is brilliantly covered in a colorfully designed canopy sure to catch the eyes of even the most demanding gardening professionals.
Photo by Keith Kent
Well known near bye Western Massachusetts travel destination and local day trip favorite for many, the "Bridge of Flowers" in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts is experiencing its final weeks for tourism before it is closed long term for host of necessary structural repairs, as the sight of floral heaven and nirvana for many will close this upcoming October and for all of 2024 to the sadness of many not reopening until 2025.
The bridge which according to a 2020 Tighe & Bond study, has received no significant structural repairs since 1983 suffers from deficiencies such as stress cracks and more. Add to this the bridge also houses the only water main providing drinking water to residents of the Town of Buckland, and the importance of the bridge it self moves beyond just providing much needed tourism dollars to the locally based economy.
The project has the full support from the Shelburn Fire District, which legally owns the bridge, and the "Bridge of Flowers Committee" which has oversight over the bridge garden itself. A previous Tighe & Bond bridge project assessment summary can be viewed on line at https://www.tighebond.com/project/bridge-of-flowers-structural-assessment/
A further update study was conducted by Tighe & Bond last year in 2022, justifying expanding the repair and update project. Based on this, a MassWorks grant was awarded to the Shelburne Falls Fire District as owner of the bridge to pay for the repairs, supplying just under $2.3 M for the project at $2,298,000. This grant is listed under the Town of Buckland on line at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/fy23-community-one-stop-for-growth-awards
Bridge Garden members donate countless hours of their time maintaining the bridge. It was additionally recently stated by multiple members who attend and answer questions for those visiting the bridge especially on weekends, the many spiraling Wisteria trees and other trees which grow out of the bridge, up along and through the railing fencing and some posts will unfortunately, be all cut down and removed as they sadly can not be saved due to the nature of the project. These trees took many years to grow to current form, and cannot just be replaced, and will be missed by many. Get your photos for posterity and memories while you can, because in 2025, it will just not quite look the same.
The Bridge of Flowers attracts many tens of thousands annually including people from foreign nations as it is internationally known. Joining the Bridge of Flowers in that tourism effort only several hundred feet away, is historic Salmon Falls and the "Glacial Potholes" which many also take time to observe adjacent to the local hydroelectric dam also along the Deerfield River. The village area is also known for its many specialty shops and artisan based stores.
While the Bridge of Flowers closure and structural repair project which will most likely include the water main being addressed along with many other facets of the bridge, it has been noted that the bridge itself is not in any serious danger yet at this time, and the project is of a proactive nature rather than a reactive one down the road.
If you want to visit the Bridge of Flowers which is currently in full bloom at this time, you have both this upcoming holiday weekend, and the month of September remaining to enjoy it. Beginning some time yet to be determined this upcoming October, the bridge closes both for the season and the beginning of the preparation of the 2024 shutdownafter which the bridge may not be open again to enjoy in all its floral beauty until 2025.
To read more and view the Bridge of Flower website, please visit https://www.bridgeofflowersmass.org/news
Iron Bridge adds to the view. Facing southerly on the Bridge of Flowers, the old "Iron Bridge" which allows for both automobile and pedestrian traffic a like over the Deerfield River can be seen in the near bye background, where onlookers also take photos of the Bridge of Flowers from a distance.
Photo by Keith Kent
Bustling Crowds enjoy Full Bloom Beauty - Seen here, is but just one section of the many crowds of those who love all things flowers celebrating everything "Bridge of Flowers" before the looming "October Shutdown" which will proceed most likely though out all 2024 for infrastructure repairs.
Photo by Keith Kent
