Presentation on Millers River Highlights Its Importance to Winchendon and Surrounding Towns
Anna Wilkins, Executive Director of North County Land Trust
Photo by Inanna Arthen
Ivan Ussach, Executive Director for the Millers River Watershed Council (MRWC)
Photo by Inanna Arthen
On Sunday, September 17, representatives from numerous Winchendon town boards and organizations, and interested members of the public, attended a presentation on the Millers River watershed given by Anna Wilkins, Executive Director of North County Land Trust (NCLT), and Ivan Ussach, Executive Director for the Millers River Watershed Council (MRWC). The presentation, titled "Winchendon: Keeper of the Millers River," ran for about an hour and twenty minutes and included much information about Winchendon's historic and present relationship with this fourth-longest tributary of the Connecticut River. It was hosted by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Winchendon (UUCW).
After a brief introduction by Jill Sackett of UUCW, Ms. Wilkins began by explaining that the river was called Papacontuckquash, or "Split Banks River" by the Indigenous Nipmuc peoples who lived in its watershed (and still do). A "watershed," Ms. Wilkins explained, is a geographical area defined by the fact that all the water which falls as precipitation or rises from springs within its boundaries flows into a single central river or stream. The Millers River watershed covers 392 square miles and includes parts of Richmond, Troy, Fitzwilliam, Jaffrey, Rindge and New Ipswich in New Hampshire, and Ashburnham, Westminster, Gardner, Templeton, Philipston, Athol, New Salem, Orange, Warwick, Erving, Wendell, Millers Falls and Montague in Massachusetts, and it completely encompasses the towns of Winchendon and Royalston, which are 100 percent within the Millers River watershed.
The Millers River watershed (outlined in red)
Image courtesy of NCLT
Ms. Wilkins described the ecological hierarchy of life which is dependent on the Millers River headwaters, much of it so small it's beneath most humans' notice. Single celled organisms and fungi feed invertibrates like larval insects, worms, shellfish and crabs, which are eaten by frogs, fish and other small carnivores. These in turn support larger birds and animals such as otters, beavers, mink, game fish, ducks and herons. At one time, the Millers River was stocked with brown trout and rainbow trout by Mass Wildlife and was known as "the best trout stream in Massachusetts."
Mr. Ussach then took over to talk about the many challenges and threats faced by the Millers River, including deforestation, mining (in this area, sand and gravel mining which releases sediments and impacts the water table), unrestricted livestock grazing, dams and culverts which interrupt water flow, block the migration of fish and other water creatures, and trap sediment, which concentrates pollutants, including so-called "forever chemicals" like PCPs. Development in a watershed causes many problems, including increased runoff of pesticides, fertilizers, waste products, and pollutants into the water.
It's important to protect our watersheds, Mr. Ussach said, and important to remember that all of the towns in a watershed are affected by what happens anywhere in it. There is currently a campaign to prevent the expansion of a sludge landfill in Gardner which would directly impact the water supply for the town of Templeton. There have been success stories, too. Many older people remember when the Millers River ran opaque pink and yellow in Erving by the paper mill, during the 1970s. The paper mill cleaned up its act and now the river in Erving runs sparkling clear.
The Lake Monomonac Preservation project
Image courtesy of NCLT
Ms. Wilkins spoke about the campaign to purchase and conserve a long parcel of land by Lake Monomonac in order to protect the headwaters of the Millers River North Branch, which flows out of the lake on either side of the parcel. NCLT and Mount Grace Conservation Land Trust are working to raise $150,000 to complete purchase of the land. For information about the project and how to donate, see https://savemonomonac.wordpress.com/.
Following the presentation, Ms. Wilkins and Mr. Ussach took questions from the audience. There were informational handouts available, and UUCW provided light refreshments.
Winchendon Man Involved in Mass Pike Crash, Charged with OUI
Traffic on the Mass Pike (I-90) was backed up for miles in both directions into the afternoon of Tuesday, September 19, following a morning accident at Mile Marker 82 in Charlton involving a Winchendon resident.
Masssachusetts State Police responded to a call at 9:13 a.m. reporting that a 2017 Dodge 1500 pickup truck had collided with a 2016 M2106 box truck. The box truck, driven by a 34-year-old man from Everett, had flipped on its side, trapping the driver. The driver was extracted from the vehicle and transported to a hospital by medical helicopter with serious injuries.
Nathan A. Miranda, 37, of Winchendon, was arrested on charges of operating under the influence of drugs, operating under the influence of drugs causing serious injury, drug possession and other motor vehicle offenses.
The box truck, which carried a load of chicken, was completely demolished with its cargo spilling all across the highway median. While it was sitting in the median strip of the highway and the steel median barrier had been knocked down, it is unclear which directions the two vehicles were traveling in and how they collided.
At 3:00 p.m., the left lanes on both sides of the Pike were still closed for clean-up with delays expected to last through the evening commute.
Town Issues Update On Broadcast System for Meetings
Those who have been missing the broadcast of Winchendon town Board and Committee meetings (and the Courier definitely has!) will be interested in the latest update, posted to the town website on September 19, 2023:
Additional equipment (cameras, battery backups, cables, etc.) have had to be purchased as we were not able to use the current cameras with them being outdated and no longer supported by the company. We had connectivity issues using old with the new. The cameras have been installed and the first practice run of the new broadcast system on Channel 8 happened at the Board of Selectmen meeting on September 11, 2023. Click here to watch it from the new system: Board of Selectmen Meeting 9-11-2023 (cablecast.tv). During this meeting, system and meeting configurations were established; this will be an ongoing process as we use the new system.The recordings on the new platform are much better quality than the YouTube versions. There did seem to be some echoing issues with the September 11 BOS meeting broadcast on Channel 8, but the recording has no sign of this. The audio on the new videos is much better than the acoustics for attendees in person in the auditorium. All of us who follow the town Board and Committee meetings will be enjoying the new system!
The next step is training. It's a whole new system so a lot to learn. There are a multitude of training videos and guides to review for the broadcast personnel which will culminate with in-house hands-on training. Training resources have been dispersed and staff reviewing this week.
We do have a link to the new system and have placed some video meetings there already. Please check it out:
Winchendon TV (cablecast.tv)
Thank you all for your patience!
Wall of Words and Worries Installed at the Beals Library
Library Director, Manuel King, ponders what he might write on the "Wall of Words and Worries" recently installed at the Beals Memorial Library in Winchendon.
Photo courtesy of Beals Memorial Library
The Beals Memorial Library in Winchendon has recently installed a "Wall of Words and Worries" inside the ground floor entrance of the library. The Wall is a large 4 x 7 foot chalkboard where library patrons and community members of all ages are encouraged to anonymously answer monthly questions posed by Beals Memorial Library Staff about timely topics that go to the heart of many issues our community, state, and country face. The purpose of the board is not to court controversy, but to check the pulse of the community in a free exchange of ideas.
The question for the month of October is, "How do you feel about Banning Books?" This issue is a hot one for libraries nationwide, and the Beals Library staff would like to know your take on the matter.
As the Wall fills up with comments, the staff will erase the board to make room for more, but not before recording, and later uploading them to the Library website at bealslibrary.org where there will also be a digital Wall of Words & Worries if patrons would like to comment, but can't make it to the library. No comment will be removed unless it includes swear words, is a personal attack, or contains slurs.
For more information, or if you have a question you would like us to consider for inclusion on the Wall, please contact the library at 978-297-0300. The Beals Memorial Library is located at 50 Pleasant Street, Winchendon, MA.
The Wall of Words and Worries is brought to you with federal funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.
Banned Book Week Events at the Beals Memorial Library
Join Winchendon library director, Manuel King, for a fun evening highlighting banned and challenged books at Banned Book Bingo on Wednesday, October 4!
Photo courtesy of Beals Memorial Library.
The Beals Memorial Library is shining a light on censorship and highlighting the freedom to read with activities and events from September 30 through October 7 in honor of Banned Books Week. During that week, children are invited to take part in a special Banned Book Storywalk outside on the library lawn, while teens and adults are invited to a fun and informative evening playing Banned Book Bingo! Join the library and learn more about censorship, intellectual freedom, and the most recent news on book challenges during this annual event as well as enjoy special book displays featuring some of the most frequently challenged books.
On Saturday, September 30, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., head over to the Beals Memorial Library and and join the Winchendon Coordinated Family and Community Engagement Grant (CFCE) on a reading adventure with their Banned Book Storywalk! This year's banned book will be Little Red Riding Hood, adapted by Mara Alperin. Little Red Riding Hood is a classic fairytale about a little girl's encounter with a wicked wolf on her way to visit her sick grandmother. The Brothers Grimm version of Little Red Riding Hood has been banned or challenged in the past, not due to violence from the wolf, but for the fact that Little Red delivers her grandmother a bottle of wine. This program is free to attend, and the Winchendon CFCE will be handing out free copies of this year's banned book pick while supplies last.
On Wednesday, October 4, at 6:30 p.m., teens and adults are invited to play a few rounds of Banned Book Bingo! Enoy a fun twist on bingo that celebrates the most frequently challenged books of the last decade. Learn some interesting trivia about the books that have made the list and enjoy a topical book discussion while playing. The winner of each round will be awarded a banned book as a prize!
The Beals Memorial Library is located at 50 Pleasant Street in Winchendon. For more information, contact the library at 978-297-0300, email at bealsmemoriallibrary@gmail.com, or visit their website at bealslibrary.org.
Poetry and Prose Workshop for Teens at the Beals Memorial Library
Jill Cote, an English teacher at the Winchendon School, will be facilitating two workshops focusing on poetry and prose writing from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 25, and Wednesday, September 27. The sessions will be held at the Beals Memorial Library in Winchendon
Photo courtesy of Beals Memorial Library.
The Beals Memorial Library in Winchendon will be holding two workshops for teens in grades 9 through 12, who either live or go to school in Winchendon. The first session, on Monday, September 25, will cover poetry; and the second, on Wednesday, September 27, will focus on prose writing (written language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure). Both classes run from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., and will be facilitated by Jill Cote, an English teacher at the Winchendon School. The workshops are in conjunction with the Beals Prize for Young Writers, a competition that embraces both poetry and prose. It encourages young people to explore new ways of creative communication through the written word, in whatever form they feel most comfortable. The contest will honor ten finalists with cash prizes of $150.00 for first, $75.00 for second, and $50.00 for third. The remaining seven finalists will receive $10.00. The submission deadline is Saturday, September 30, and all entries should be emailed to bealspoetryprize@gmail.com.
The awards ceremony will be held at the library on Wednesday, October 18 at 6:30 p.m.
Poetry Workshop:
Poetry is the expression of an emotion, and this is not an easy thing to do. In this workshop, participants will learn the basics of the poetic form and rhyme. They will experiment with several poetic forms, and write numerous examples as they perfect their submissions for the Beals Prize for Young Writers.
Prose Workshop:
Prose writing is a form that comes relatively easy to some, and can be incredibly challenging to others. Prose allows the writer to deeply explore a topic, in this case the various journeys which we take during our lifetimes. This workshop will begin with journaling and then expand to a short story about a journey. Participants can expect personal feedback, and encouragement through peer review. Participants are encouraged to submit their writing to the contest as well.
The Facilitator:
Jill Cote is a resident of Winchendon and a former teacher at Narragansett Regional High School and Murdock High School. She is currently teaching at the Winchendon School. Mrs. Cote is a published poet, an avid reader, and a lover of the written word. She has her Master's in English from Worcester State University and plans on pursuing her doctorate in Mythological and Occult studies. She has been an educator for twenty-five years, and she plans on continuing to teach until she can't stand up on her own anymore! The workshops she is running at Beals are a continuation of her lifelong desire to learn, to experience, and to share those experiences with others through written expression.
Winchendon's Bob Jordan Performing in Winchester, NH
Winchendon's Bob Jordan will present the last of three programs on Sept 27, 2023, part of his series "It's All About The Songs--The Poetry of Rock," at the Conant Library in Winchester, NH on Wednesday, September 27 at 6:00 p.m., in the gazebo. See www.conantlibrary.org for info and directions.
A program of great songs will identify the songwriters and the singers from the rock'n'roll music of the 50s, 60s and 70s.
We will talk about what makes the songs tick - the poetry inside the lyrics; the stories, the rhythm, tempo, and the cadences which support the lyrics; and the role of the singer, the instruments, and the music.
While these sessions will be of particular interest to musicians developing their repertoires, they will also appeal to anyone who is interested in the History of popular music; or in understanding how music works and how it is interpreted and enjoyed, promoting a deeper appreciation of musical performance and the SONGS themselves.
Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, Lennon-McCartney, Leonard Cohen and others will be among the poets of Song to be featured.
The event is free to the public.
For more info, contact Bob Jordan, 508-873-1767.
