UUCW's Annual Spirit of Christmas Toy Drive on "Black Friday" November 24

Every year the Unitarian Universalist Church of Winchendon helps the Winchendon Fire Department annual toy drive with a collection run on the Friday following Thanksgiving. This year our "elves" will be standing out front on November 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Look for the brightly colored hats and holiday music provided by DJ Kayden Gordon. Shoppers can drive right through our front circle and deposit new (or like-new) gifts, cash and gift cards into their waiting hands. Your contribution will make someone's Christmas a little brighter! At 126 Central Street, Winchendon.

Parks & Recreation Running "12 Days of Christmas Scavenger Hunt"

Sign up for all 12 days for just $5. Each day you will be sent a clue at 9:00 a.m. Go out and search for the prize at your leisure and if you find it you win!! If that prize isn't found it will remain out there until found and additional clues may be sent.

Make sure to take a picture with your prize and send it to Tnewton@winchendon-ma.gov so we know what prizes were found and can share them with everyone!

Scavenger hunt starts on Monday, December 4. Email Tnewton@winchendon-ma.gov or stop into the Parks and Recreation Office in Town Hall (109 Front Street) to sign up!

The Zoning Board of Appeals Needs You!

...and so do your neighbors. Without a quorum on the ZBA, projects requiring approval can't go forward. The ZBA currently needs two members and one alternate member.

The Zoning Board of Appeals meets once per month, on the third Wednesday of the month, contingent on there being business for them to consider. Board members are appointed by the Select Board and the term is three years.

For a description see Town of Winchendon Board and Commissions at https://www.townofwinchendon.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif8401/f/uploads/july_town_boards_and_commissions.pdf (the ZBA is the very last one). Send a letter of interest to Nicole Roberts in the Planning & Development Office, nroberts@winchendon-ma.gov

Winchendon Energy Program Announces New Reduced Rate

The Town of Winchendon has signed a twenty-four month contract with its current supplier, Constellation NewEnergy. Beginning with the December 2023 meter reads, the Winchendon Community Choice Power Supply Program will have a new rate of $0.14965 per kWh. For complete details and information on how to switch your electric provider, see https://www.townofwinchendon.com/home/news/winchendon-energy-program-announces-new-reduced-rate

Winchendon Community Hub and the United Way Team Up for Fall Food Drive

The Winchendon Community Hub is teaming up with The United Way of North Central Massachusetts for the Fall Food Drive, "Gathering to Give: Harvesting for a Cause," from October 1 to December 12, 2023, and we need your help! Goods will be distributed December 12 and 13. You can help feed those in need by donating packaged stuffing mix, cranberry sauce, gravy, vegetable oil or rice.

Winchendon donation boxes have been set up at:

Winchendon Town Hall, 109 Front Street
Fidelity Bank, 1 School Square (by Clyde the Rocking Horse)
Cornerstone Church, 122 Gardner Road (Rte 140)
Clark Memorial YMCA, 155 Central Street
The Winchendon School, 172 Ash Street
Not Just Produced, 290 Central Street

A big shoutout to our incredible partners who are making this possible!

Let's make a difference together as we continue the drive until December 12. Remember, all your generous donations will stay right here in our community and directly benefit the Community Hub.

Murdock Middle School Cheerleading fundraiser

If anyone is interested in supporting MMS cheerleading and purchasing some candles in time for the holiday season, we are fundraising all through the month of November. Thank you for the support. Candles will be in mid December and will be available to be picked up at the school or through a cheerleader.

https://app.launchfundraising.com/productFundraiserHome/fundraiser/F6QRFN

Youth Voices Free After School Program

Open to all 5th Grade Students
Thursdays 3:15-4:30 p.m. October 12 through December 14
At Winchendon Works Community Hub, 5 Summer Drive
Registration Required
Not a School Sponsored Event

Valuing Our Insights for Civic Engagement Curriculum (VOICES) is designed to bolster local youth leadership development. This curriculum specifically offers participants the opportunity to explore their identities, their communities and their ability to make changes as leaders. Facilitators will establish a group atmosphere so that participants' beliefs and privacy will be respected. Snacks and Gift Cards for all participants!

For more information email: info@thehealcollaborative.org or call 978-297-1667. To register go to: https://forms.gle/FKxHrQZy2pqxe7L3A

Winchendon Lions are Starting a New Year!

Our first meeting will be on Tuesday, September 19 at the Winchendon American Legion Post 193, 295 School St., downstairs hall, 7:00 p.m.

Meetings are on the third Tuesday of each month, September - June. Dues are used for all Administrative cost, which is why we can say "All money received through fund raisers go back to the community, eye research, or other natural disasters around the world!"

Feel free to join us and try it out. We would love to see you! If you have any questions feel free to call Joni 978-297-2753. Please leave message if no answer!

"WHERE THERE'S A NEED, THERE IS A LION"

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!

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.

• 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.

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 October 23, 2023

by Inanna Arthen
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 - 9 vacancies
Fence Viewer and Field Driver - 1 vacancy
Historical District Commission - 3 vacancies
Library Board of Trustees - 1 vacancy
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.

For a description of each board or committee, see: https://www.townofwinchendon.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif8401/f/uploads/july_town_boards_and_commissions.pdf (PDF).

Send a Letter to Santa via Parks & Recreation

Parks & Recreation is hosting a Letters to Santa fundraiser!

We will be selling Letter to Santa kits for just $5. They include stationery, a Christmas pencil, a mug, hot cocoa mix and a candy cane. We hope you enjoy these treats while you sit down to write your letter to Santa. We will also have special mailboxes around town that get picked up to be delivered directly to the North Pole! Kits can be purchased in the Recreation Office (Town Hall first floor, 109 Front Street) starting November 20, or during any of our events of the Festival of Lights on December 2!

Please make sure your return address is legible so you can be sure that Santa can send you a letter back!

Town Seeks Board of Health Member

The Board of Health is seeking a member to serve on the Board of Health until the next Town Election in 2024. Must be a registered voter. Please send your letter of interest to Mary Calandrella at mcalandrella@winchendon-ma.gov by 4:00 p.m. on November 27, 2023.

Holiday Decoration Sponsorships Open

We heard you when you said you wanted more holiday decorations around town! With Central Street completely redone we want to really jazz it up for the holidays. We are looking for sponsors to help gussy up Central Street for 2024. $250 gets a new holiday banner with your business name on it! This is an investment for years to come as these will be reused year after year until they can no longer stand up to our New England weather. Contact Parks & Recreation, tnewton@winchendon-ma.gov for more information.

Vendor Spaces Open for Holiday Craft Fair Dec 2

Parks & Recreation is still accepting applications for the Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, December 2 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon. Contact tnewton@winchendon-ma.gov for an application, or go to https://bit.ly/471AfFZ to download the application form.

Businesses Wanted to Participate in "Cookie Crawl"

Winchendon Parks and Recreation is seeking local businesses to participate in their first ever "Cookie Crawl" on Saturday, December 2 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Businesses would provide a homemade (or baker-bought is fine also) holiday cookie free to anyone with a ticket. You can also offer other refreshments such as cocoa or cider if you wish. This event will bring people into your business and build community partnerships while spreading holiday cheer.

If you would like to participate in this event and be put on our map, please email TNewton@winchendon-ma.gov.

Participant Tickets can be picked up at the Holiday Craft Fair from Parks & Recreation.

WPD Offering RAD Self-Defense Class for Women

The Winchendon Police Department will be offering a R.A.D (rape aggression defense) class starting in November 2023. Free to all women.

No prior experience is needed as we will teach basic skills that can be applied by everyone. Class size is limited to 20 so sign up early with a dispatcher at the Winchendon Police Department.

Dates: November 27-29, December 4 and 6

Attendance to all four classes is required for successful completion. Age requirement is 14 years old accompanied by an adult/guardian with a signed permission slip.

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Location: The first class will be held at the Winchendon Police Department in the training room. The remaining classes will be held at the Memorial School in the gym.

Any questions can be directed to:
Officer Tracy Flagg Tflagg@townofwinchendon.com
or
Officer Jim Wironen Jwironen@townofwinchendon.com
978-297-1212

Do You Want a Fresh Financial Start?

Up to $500 of match funding towards a specific goal upon course completion!

For more details go to our website at https://www.winchendon-cac.org/freshstart

If you are interested in being considered for this program please fill out the interest form and someone will get back to you. https://forms.gle/hyuyBcjdBzmEXpnC8

Informational meeting on Wednesday, November 1 from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. at the Winchendon CAC, 5 Summer Dr.

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.

Enjoying the Winchendon Courier Online? We love doing it, but it's a lot of work! Please consider supporting us with a small donation. We'd so appreciate it. Thanks!

Make a secure donation through PayPal
(no PayPal account required)

Make a secure donation with your credit card using Square!

You can send a check payable to:
By Light Unseen Media, LLC
325 Lakeview Dr.
Winchendon, MA 01475

If you'd like to make a donation with Venmo, send an email to editor@winchendoncourier.net and we'll send you the information.