The Winchendon Courier
Serving the community since 1878 ~ A By Light Unseen Media publication
Week of September 7 to September 14, 2023
What makes Winchendon what it is...How we're making Winchendon even better

Cooling Center Open at Clark Memorial YMCA

On Friday, September 8, the Clark Memorial YMCA will have a cooling center available from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. for residents who need to escape the heat.

East Momonomac Road in Rindge will be Closed Next Week

The town of Rindge will be performing maintenance on a culvert running under East Monomonac Road on the New Hampshire side on Tuesday-Wednesday, September 12-13. As this road is used frequently by residents traveling to and from Rte 119, be aware and take another route. For more information contact the Rindge DPW at 603-899-2105.



Gardner City Council Withdraws Proposal to Re-Zone Properties on Winchendon Town Line for Racetrack


As a follow-up to previous coverage ("Gardner in Uproar Over Proposed Horse Racing Facility on Rte 140" in the August 24-31, 2023 edition of the Winchendon Courier), the proposal to change the zoning on two Gardner parcels from Residential to Commercial has been withdrawn by City Council member Dana Heath. Mr. Heath withdrew his proposal at the City Council meeting of September 5.

City Solicitor John Flick had determined that the parcels in question do fall under the purview of Article 97 of the state constitution, saying, "The evidence in favor of Article 97 protection of the Parcels is unequivocal." It's also very complicated, but is based on the facts that the acreage has been largely untouched for some 100 years, and has been identified as conservation land in the City's Open Space Plan for over 40 years. In 1937 the City Council stated intent to keep the property protected in order to protect Gardner's drinking water supply. It was at this time--July 30, 1937 according to the Winchendon Assessor's database--that 52.4 acres in Winchendon which extends one of the parcels in question was acquired by the City of Gardner specifically to protect the City water supply.

What Baystate Racing LLC's next steps are remain unknown. The Courier reached out to them via their brand new website (http://www.baystateracingllc.com/) but did not receive a reply by press time. Spokesperson Mary Kate Feeney said in an emailed statement, "We have stated from the beginning that we want to be good neighbors and our proposal is in the very early stages. We respect the decision of the Solicitor. We look forward to continuing our discussion with community leaders on how we can partner with the City of Gardner in the future."

Whether the City of Gardner will offer alternatives to Baystate Racing LLC with an aim to bring the racetrack to some other location in the city also remains to be seen. Concerned citizens continue to discuss pushing for permanent protection to be placed upon the parcels on Rte 140 so they will not be threatened in the future.



Friends of Veterans' Memorial Cemetery Goes Beyond the Basics--and They Want to Do More

Bench in the Veterans' Memorial Cemetery
One of the benches in the Winchendon Veterans' Memorial Cemetary
photo courtesy of the FMCW
Logo for the Veterans' Memorial Cemetery
The Friends' new logo
photo courtesy of the FMCW


"The best kept secret in Winchendon," as Board member Lorenzo Sordoni half-jokingly called the Friends of the Veterans' Memorial Cemetery of Winchendon, wants to make citizens more aware of what they do, as well as increase their membership and financial support and expand their activities. The Friends were formed to fund and implement projects to enhance the cemetery and make it more welcoming and comfortable for visiting families, which the state doesn't appropriate for in its budget. Several of the Board members--Mr. Sordoni, his father and founding Board member Larry Sordoni, and Robert DeFeo--joined the Courier in a chat via Zoom on Friday, September 1 to talk about what they do.

The Veterans' Memorial Cemetery of Winchendon broke ground in July of 2004 and officially opened on November 30, 2004 when it accepted its first military burial. The Friends incorporated as a 501c3 non-profit in 2009, younger Mr. Sordoni explained. "Their sole purpose was to organize to provide supplemental activities and operations and provide appropriate memorials and funding to the Veterans Cemetery for things that the state would not appropriate for the site," he continued. "So the state wouldn't handle the memorial pathway. So the Friends of the Winchendon Veterans Cemetery is the one that takes the donations in, we get the bricks created and ordered and we get them to the Veterans Cemeteries for the memorial pathway...They handle all the donations for people that want to donate the benches that they have out there, those nice green benches that they have specific sites right now, for plots where we can actually put the benches."

The Friends also provide funding for bales of hay to place over grave sites in the winter to keep them from freezing, so that burials can take place over the winter. At Christmas when a ceremony is held with an honor guard and firing squad, the Friends organize a get-together and meal for the squad. In the fall, when professional arborists volunteer their services to come in and prune trees around the site, the Friends pay for them to get hot coffee and some food.

The Friends handle taking in donations because the state isn't allowed to do that. "There's a whole bit of bureaucratic politics behind the scenes where the state won't help," Mr. Sordoni said, so the Friends manage collecting funds and making sure they get applied to the programs and projects.

The Winchendon Veterans Memorial Cemetery is one of two operated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Veterans' Services. The other is in Agawam. (There are also military cemeteries maintained by the federal government, the largest being the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne near Otis Air Force Base, and another the Fort Devens Post Cemetery at Devens.) The Winchendon Friends organized when they found that the cemetery in Agawam had a similar group. Larry Sordoni said they first started out in a trailer that had been on the site while it was being constructed.

Future members of the Friends were influential in bringing the second Veterans' Cemetery in Massachusetts to Winchendon, Larry Sordoni explained. "My own boss when when I was an active duty member...one of the company commanders was the number two man at the VA for cemeteries. And he came up to give a briefing about Agawam. They were looking at putting one in at Westover. So I went to the briefing, we had lunch together. And I saw the demographics that they had. They had one in on Cape Cod. They had another one scheduled from Westover. Again, east and south. Up in the north area of the state there was nothing, and a lot of people in the northeast part. Along Lawrence, those cities over in that area, nothing close. So I asked my old boss, John, and I explained that to him, and I said we've got a lot of land out in Winchendon. And he said, if you've got the land, I've got the money."

Larry was Chair of the Winchendon Board of Selectmen at that time. He said that he spoke to people in town and a committee was formed. Committee members included Hank Doody and Pat Doyle. Charlie Grout, the Veterans Service Officer at that time, also was involved. They made a motion to go after bringing the cemetery to Winchendon--and they succeeded.

Larry said that his major job on the Board was to acknowledge donations for memorial bricks and follow up with the donors once the bricks had been put in place. He also took the meeting minutes.

Mr. Sordoni said that while the Friends primarily raise funds to pay for work to be done, they do assemble the benches. "When the benches get delivered, John Walker, who was the past treasurer, he's one of the advisors on the Board now. John's an older gentleman, he'll go down and he will assemble the benches on site by himself. And he actually just taught Rick Marinelli from town and myself how to do that, so when the benches come in, the workers don't assemble them themselves at the cemetery, we go down, we actually assemble the benches for them, put them wherever they need to be. And then once they have the concrete slab poured, then the anchoring system, they'll bring it out to the site and put it out there."

Mr. DeFeo put in, "The Friends pay for the concrete, we pay for the slab to be poured. The state doesn't fund that at all. It's all funded through us. And anything that's done on the grounds is done by the workers at the cemetery themselves. So we will provide them with all the materials they need, but they will do all the work."

High on the Friends' "wish list" is a carillon, which the Agawam cemetery has. "They had a concrete slab poured, they had all the wiring done and dug up. And they had gone to some different organizations for donations. And for some reason or another, the donations fell through. So they have a beautiful spot to place this but they don't have the funds for it," Mr. Sordoni said. The Friends want to follow up on this and find a way to fund the carillon for Winchendon's cemetery.

The Friends also want to expand their current services. They'd like to give the arborists more than coffee and doughnuts for working all day--a full breakfast and perhaps lunch as well.

Mr. DeFeo said that each VFW around the area has a day that they are assigned to Winchendon's Veterans' Memorial Cemetery as an honor guard for ceremonies. These are volunteers who receive no compensation and some travel a fair distance, spending the entire day in dress uniform. The Friends would like to offer them more than one meal a year to show appreciation for what they do.

"I've talked to some people who are veterans in town, and they said, they assume the state paid for everything up there," Mr. DeFeo said. "And I think it's just going to be now for us to get the word out through social media. And as Lorenzo said, we're gonna look into a website, and build up our Facebook page and just trying to get the word out that, yes, the state funds taking care of the grounds" but the Friends are funding much more. Along with the benches and memorial pathway, the Friends funded the lectern, sound system and bier for the casket inside the cemetery chapel. They paid for some of the display cases for military memorabilia in the chapel lobby. The Friends also contribute to Wreaths Across America, which is entirely supported by donations. They would like to be able to contribute more and help promote that group.

Fundraising isn't always easy. The Agawam Friends tried selling coffee mugs and were told by the state they couldn't do that. The Winchendon Friends were told they could not put flyers out in local funeral homes. Much of the Winchendon Friends' budget comes from the balance left after purchasing bricks and benches with donations. Information has been largely word of mouth and a few flyers. Through Operation Winchendon Cares, the Friends were able to raffle off some donated sports memoribilia a few years ago.

Part of the problem is the small amount of person-power available. Fundraising can be labor-intensive. The Board is now down to three members since Richard Ladeau passed away earlier this year. The Board has tended to be older, and some of the members live out of state. The Friends would love to hear from new local folks interested in becoming part of their team.

"There's definitely things that we can look to in the future as we kind of get going and get comfortable in the new positions that we're in, and move forward," Mr. Sordoni said. "So we're definitely open to seeing what's out there that we can do to, again, make the cemetery a little bit better place. We do have a lot of people that are up there all the time," visiting their loved ones' graves. Some families travel a long way and spend a whole day at the cemetery.

Mr. DeFeo added that the need will be increasing. The state may be expanding the cemetery in the near future, and enlarging the chapel. It is currently very busy; services begin at 8:00 a.m. and continue one after the other until 3:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon.

If you'd like to send a donation to the Friends of the Veterans' Memorial Cemetery of Winchendon, you can mail it to P.O. Box 264, Winchendon, MA, 01475. You can contact the Friends at that address, or by email at memorialpathway@gmail.com, or through their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095352157637



Natural Disaster Recovery Program for Agriculture is Open for Applications

The application for the Natural Disaster Recovery (NDR) Program for Agriculture is now open. The program will provide financial assistance to farmers who suffered crop losses as a result of any of three 2023 natural disasters in Massachusetts:

  • February 3-5, 2023 Deep freeze that impacted a large amount of peach and stone fruit production.
  • May 17-18, 2023 Frost that impacted a large amount of apple production and vineyards.
  • July 9-16, 2023 Rainfall and flooding that impacted a large amount of vegetable crop, field crops, and hay & forage crops.
Farmers may apply through the form at https://www.mass.gov/how-to/natural-disaster-recovery-ndr-program-for-agriculture, and must provide information concerning the extent of their losses. An informational webinar will be held for interested applicants at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, September 8, 2023. Registration for the webinar is available here: Natural Disaster Recovery Program Information Session. Applications close on September 29.

Thank you to the legislature for working with the administration to make the funds available for this program, less than two months after the historic floods. These resources will help sustain Massachusetts farms so they may continue their important roles as contributors to the Commonwealth's food security, local economy, and efforts to combat climate change.

Winton Pitcoff
Deputy Commissioner / Legislative and Policy Director
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
(857) 262-2096



Winchendon residents to participate in Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai

Brenda Heard and Daniel Wolski will join thousands in the iconic fundraising walk for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to support all forms of cancer research and care

Winchendon, Mass. - Two residents from Winchendon will participate in the Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai on Sunday, October 1.

Brenda Heard and Daniel Wolski, along with thousands of other walkers, will participate in the iconic annual event that will unite the community to raise funds to support all forms of adult and pediatric care and cancer research at the nation's premier cancer center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The Jimmy Fund Walk has raised more than $167 million for Dana-Farber Cancer in its 34-year history, raising a record-breaking more than $8.8 million in 2022.

"Throughout the past 34 years, the Jimmy Fund Walk has continuously supported life-saving research and cancer care at Dana-Farber. The 2023 Walk will be held during the Jimmy Fund's 75th anniversary year and will aim to raise $9 million in the effort to prevent, treat, and defy cancer," said Zack Blackburn, Director of the Jimmy Fund Walk. "This year also marks the 35th annual Jimmy Fund Walk. We are eager to get out on the course and see all our outstanding walkers and teams come together to support this great cause."

The Jimmy Fund Walk is the only organized walk permitted on the famed Boston Marathon® course, and participants have the flexibility to choose from four distance options: 5K walk (from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's Longwood Medical Campus), 10K walk (from Newton), Half Marathon walk (from Wellesley), and Marathon walk (from Hopkinton).

Whatever route walkers choose, participants will be treated to 10 refueling stations as well as poster-sized photographs of patients - Jimmy Fund Walk Heroes - displayed at each mile and half-mile marker as inspiration. All four routes of the Jimmy Fund Walk will culminate at the Jimmy Fund Walk Finish Line Powered by Schneider Electric. Due to construction in Copley Square, the Jimmy Fund Walk Finish Line location has been moved to the Fenway neighborhood for 2023. Walkers should know that distances may be slightly shorter as we finish the walk in front of Fenway Park. The finish line will include a celebration complete with food, music, and a speaking program.

If walkers wish to participate a bit closer to home, the Jimmy Fund Walk has flexible opportunities. Participants can also join the event virtually by "walking their way" from wherever they are most comfortable--in their neighborhood, on a favorite hiking trail, or on a treadmill at home. Materials to support Virtual Walkers are available.

To register to walk or volunteer (#JimmyFundWalk) or to support a walker, visit www.JimmyFundWalk.org or call (866) 531-9255. Registrants can enter the promo code NEWS for $5 off the registration fee. All registered walkers will receive a bib, medal, and a Jimmy Fund Walk T-shirt.

About the Jimmy Fund
The Jimmy Fund, celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2023, is comprised of community-based fundraising events and other programs that, solely and directly, benefit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's lifesaving mission to provide compassionate patient care and groundbreaking cancer research for children and adults. The Jimmy Fund is an official charity of the Boston Red Sox, the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, the Pan-Mass Challenge, and the Variety Children's Charity of New England. Since 1948, the generosity of millions of people has helped the Jimmy Fund save countless lives and reduce the burden of cancer for patients and families worldwide. Follow the Jimmy Fund on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @TheJimmyFund.

Town Seeks Audit Committee Member

The Audit Committee is seeking a "member at large". You will need to be a registered voter and a financial background is preferred. Please send in your letter of interest to serve on this committee to Mary Calandrella, mcalandrella@winchendon-ma.gov by 4:00 p.m. on September 14, 2023. Please consider serving your community on this important committee. For a detailed description of the committee, see https://www.townofwinchendon.com/audit-committee

Subway November 2022 Catering deals

Troy Laundromat

Be sure to check out our Classified and Employment Ads on the Events Page!

Sign Up for Fall Dek Hockey!

Fall league sign up for Dek Hockey begins Wednesday, September 13 at 6:00 p.m. at Mylec National Dek Hockey Center, 37 Commercial Drive, Winchendon (off Rte 140 across from Irving gas station). For more information, call 978-297-0088 or email contact@mylec.com.

Central Mass Tree

Stone Ladeau Funeral Home


Click Here for Community Directory

Winchendon Businesses, Organizations, Services, and Government


Volunteer to Scare People at the Haunted Park!

If you'd like to sign up as an actor to scare your neighbors silly at the Community Park's "Haunted Park" Day on Saturday, October 14, here's your chance! Please make sure to email our Rec Coordinator (TNewton@winchendon-ma.gov) to discuss what you will be. Participants must provide their own costume but we are working on getting a make-up artist to do make-up. Currently looking for goblins, witches & warlocks, werewolves, ghosts and skeletons. If you have something else in mind let us know. Fill out this form to volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0944aaaf2cabfdc34-community

Would you love to see a Ren Faire in Toy Town?

Winchendon Parks & Recreation is looking for individuals interested in bringing a Renaissance Faire to the Winchendon Community Park in 2024! The Fair is scheduled for April 27-28. The Committee is already hard at work and looking for donated props and help building a Viking Longboat, along with "players" and volunteers. Any and all persons who'd like to participate should send a letter of interest to Tnewton@winchendon-ma.gov or Ren Faire coordinator Dawn Higgins, Laubehigg@gmail.com.

Ingleside Woods Disc Golf Course Now Open!

The Ingleside Woods Disc Golf Course at the Winchendon Community Park (86 Ingleside Drive) is now open to the public. This friendly 3-hole course, which is situated in the woods of the Winchendon Community Park, is meant to be fun and challenging for players of all types. The entrance to the course can be found across from the parking lot, and is marked with a sign. We hope you and everyone that you bring enjoy.

Without this small community of people, this volunteer project would not have made it to this point. With that, this is just the beginning of our disc golf adventure, as we are working to finalize a design for 18 holes. The hope being we will have another half dozen completed by the end of the year. Additionally, we will be working with the Beals Memorial Library and Disc Golf 978 to establish a "disc rental" program so new players can try the sport without having to buy discs. More info to come in the coming weeks.

As you enjoy this course and the property as a whole, remember the general rules of disc golf: respect each other, respect the environment, teach one another and above all else, have fun!

Residents Invited to Serve on "Destination Winchendon" Project Committee

The Town is seeking residents to serve on a new committee/project - "Destination Winchendon." You can see a presentation on the vast possibilities that will be discussed at https://www.townofwinchendon.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif8401/f/news/7.1_winchendon_destination_town_project.pdf (PDF). We are seeking forward thinkers to envision what Winchendon can be in the next five, ten and twenty years from now. Considerations include Encouraging Community Involvement and Ownership, Preserving & Enhancing Downtown Character, Ensuring Economic Vitality, Promoting Downtown Assets, Getting Into and Around Downtown, Living Downtown and Keeping Downtown Safe.

If you'd like to serve on the committee, please send in a letter of interest to Mary Calandrella - mcalandrella@winchendon-ma.gov.

Winchendon Farmer's Market is Open for the Season!

Undaunted by looming rain showers, the Winchendon Farmer's Market opened on schedule last Saturday, May 20. It will be open every Thursday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and every Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., barring truly dismal weather. The Market sets up at the corner of Pleasant Street and Front Street, right across from the Winchendon Town Hall.

Vendors this year include 7 Acre Farm, Haley Farm, High Springs Farm, Rosehawk Farm, Shelly's She Shed (jams, preserved food and baked goods), Spinning Ginny (hand knitted goods and hand-spun yarn), and Olde Soul Jewelry. Right now, the Market is selling plants customers can set out in their own gardens, including all kinds of vegetables and some herbs. There are some unusual varieties available to try your hand at growing.

Co-managed by Sherry Haley and Janet Lee, the Market has been running for 14 years. It will be open until the end of October or as late as weather allows. SNAP and HIP payments are accepted. For more details, see https://www.winchendonfarmersmarket.org/

Parks & Rec Department Needs Volunteers!

Sign-ups are now open for volunteer opportunities with Parks & Recreation. Stop by the office in Town Hall, email, or call if you are interesting in helping out with events. Jobs include ticket taking, entry attendant, parking attendant, table help, set up, clean up, general help and others (depending on the event). Volunteer for an amphitheater concert and get free admission to that concert! Call 978-297-5410, email Tnewton@winchendon-ma.gov or visit Town Hall, 109 Front Street, Winchendon (in the Planning office).

Need a Ride to a Medical Appointment, but You're Not a Senior? The CAC Can Help!

In partnership with the Winchendon Senior Center the Winchendon CAC will provide Winchendon Residents under 55 medical rides! Rides will be available Monday - Thursday between 8:30am and 4:00pm. We need you to provide us with a minimum of a one week notice in order for us to facilitate this ride! Appointments need to be located in the North Central Mass area. Reminder, you will be responsible to provide a car or booster seat for any babies or toddlers required to use them. Use this form to request a ride:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqvh7knwlY1V-LyU5dTwYNajwHiKoLaLpXqEJV48QO8pbnMQ/viewform

FY 23 Senior Tax Work-Off Applications Now Available!

Once again this year, we are pleased to announce the Senior Work-Off program was approved at our Annual Town Meeting. The Senior Work-Off Abatement Program is a program allowing the Town of Winchendon the opportunity to utilize the knowledge and skills of its senior residents in exchange for credit toward the resident's property tax bill. The purpose of this program is:

  • To employ qualified senior citizens who will apply their earnings toward payment of a portion of their property taxes;
  • To increase senior citizen involvement in local government; and
  • To enhance municipal service by using the skills of resident senior citizens.
Qualified and income-eligible residents will accrue the Commonwealth's minimum wage per hour ($13.50/hr) toward a maximum credit of $1,100.00 per household during the fiscal year. The criteria for this program is:
  • You must be 60 years old or older
  • Homeowner in Winchendon and occupy property
  • Annual income below $40,150 if single; or below $45,900 if married.
Applications for the program are now available in the Town Manager's office or on the town website, and will be accepted until the eight slots are filled. There are different types of positions that are available depending on the preference and qualifications of the resident and the needs of each department. Types of past and current positions have been: Custodial services, clerical help for both School & Town, library aides, Senior Center aides, cable station operator, Bike Path clean up, painting, light outdoor work and classroom volunteers. Click here for more information and a downloadable application.

Winchendon Parks & Recreation Seeking Volunteers and Sponsors


Winchendon Parks & Recreation is seeking volunteers to help out with upcoming events at the Winchendon Community Park, including:

Saturday, September 9, 7:00 p.m.: Reminiscents Concert (ticketed concert)

Volunteer tasks may include working the gate to check tickets, helping with parking, helping with games and refreshments, setting up tables, signs, and equipment and taking them down at closing, and more.

To learn more and volunteer, email Recreation Coordinator Tiffany Newton at Tnewton@winchendon-ma.gov

Meanwhile, the 2024 Sponsorship Packet is ready with all of the offerings for 2024. If you or your business would like to sponsor at any level, please review this packet and fill out the Sponsorship form at the end to send in with your generous sponsorship. Giving back to our community is a worthwhile cause but, on top of that there are so many ways to get your business noticed by sponsoring with Winchendon Parks and Recreation, just take a peek.

The 18-page Sponsorship Packet includes detailed information about levels of sponsorship, 2023 events, how events are promoted, a tentative schedule of events for 2024 and an application form. You can download the packet here:

2024-Season-Sponsorship-Packet.pdf (PDF)



Fresh Box is Here!

Healthy Meal Kits for Local Families

The Winchendon and Gardner CACs are both recipients of the biggest coordinated local produce distribution effort our region has ever seen thanks to Growing Places. With a Local Food Purchase Assistance USDA grant administered by the MA Department of Agricultural Resources, Growing Places (GP) and regional partners have launched a year-long program distributing free boxes of produce ($40 and $50 value) weekly. GP will pack and distribute 212 boxes weekly, with 80 going to Gardner and Winchendon CACs! This equates to about 2,000 pounds of local produce JUST to Winchendon and Gardner every week! Farmers are receiving retail prices for their produce, making this a huge win for our region's food economy and our residents. To sustain this boost in the local food system, HEAL partners will work to transition box recipients to GP's SNAP/HIP-eligible home-delivered produce program. All box recipients will receive a sheet on the benefits of buying local, a recipe, SNAP/HIP information, and a CSA enrollment form.

Toy Town FYIs

Transfer Station Summer Hours

The Transfer Station has begun extended summer hours:
Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Saturday 8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m.

653 River Street
978-297-0395
Sticker price: $70
Pay-As-You-Throw bags required
2023-2024 Transfer Station sticker now on sale in Town Hall and at the Transfer Station.

2023 Street Lists Available

The 2023 Town of Winchendon Street List of Residents is now available at the Town Clerk's office in Town Hall, 109 Front Street. Cost is $11.00 each, $8.00 for seniors.

2023 Dog Licenses Now Available

2023 Dog licenses are now available on-line, in person, mail, or dropbox. Spayed and Neutered are $10, Non-spayed and Non-Neutered are $20. Please provide a valid rabies certificate with payment. If purchasing on-line, please email rabies certificate to wstevens@townofwinchendon.com
After May 1, a $20 late fee will be assessed.
After June 1, an additional $50 failure to license fee will be assessed.

Sign up for Code Red Emergency Alerts
Sign up for our emergency notification program today! Receive up-to-date information before, during and after an emergency in your neighborhood. You can choose to be notified via voice, text and email notifications of emergency and inclement weather alerts. Click the link below for information and sign-up.
www.townofwinchendon.com/home/news/sign-code-red-emergency-alerts

Is Your House Number Clearly Visible from the Street?
The Winchendon Fire Department reminds all residents to make sure their house number is clearly visible for first responders who may need to find you. Numbers should be at least four inches high and facing the street, with lighting if possible. Put numbers on a contrasting background so they will stand out. If your driveway is long, put the number on a mailbox or pole on the street or at the end of driveway, facing in both directions. (Reflective numbers are helpful.) Check your house numbers to make sure foliage has not grown up in front of them without your being aware of it.

Report a Pothole to the DPW

You can report potholes directly to the DPW using this form on the town website:

www.townofwinchendon.com/public-works/webforms/report-pothole

Winchendon Town Hall & Transfer Station Now Accepting Credit/Debit Payments

We are excited to announce that the DPW, Treasurer/Collector's Office and the Transfer Station can all now accept in-person credit and debit card payments. This means next time you need to purchase or pay for:

Trash bags
Transfer station stickers
Excise bills
Tax bills
Water & Sewer bills
And more

You can pay with a credit or debit card! (subject to a convenience fee).

If You Call for Emergency Services...

...the Winchendon Fire Department asks that you let the dispatcher know if you have flu-like symptoms, are quarantined or are under self-quarantine. This will allow the first responders to take all necessary precautions to avoiding spreading COVID-19 and to protect themselves and you.

Senior Center Seeking Food Donations

We've been so successful we need your help. We love helping our seniors, so now our Food Pantry is running low. If you can do it, we'd love your help replenishing it with such commodities as: Hormel 'Compleats' meals; Chef Boyardee ravioli, spaghetti & meatballs, etc; applesauce; canned vegetables; juice boxes; Ensure; spaghetti sauce; Cookies; Crackers; small (individual) packages of cereal, etc. And anything you think would help. Thank you very much! Bring donations to the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon.

Town Committee Vacancies
as of July 3, 2023


If you'd like to be an active participant in decision-making and management for your community, consider joining a town committee or board. There are a number of vacancies currently open.

Communications Committee - 3 vacancies
Cultural Council - 13 vacancies
Fence Viewer and Field Driver - 1 vacancy
Historical District Commission - 1 vacancy
Library Board of Trustees - 1 vacancy
Parks & Recreation Commission - 3 vacancies
Zoning Board of Appeals - 3 alternate member vacancies

If you'd like more information about any of these positions or are interested in being considered for an appointment, contact the Town Manager's office at 978-297-0085, or send a letter to Town Manager, 109 Front Street Dept. 1, Winchendon MA 01475.

Complete description of each committee's responsibilities, updated for May 10, 2021 (PDF).

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Send an email to editor@winchendoncourier.net and you'll be added to the email list!

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