MassDOT Closes Bridge over Millers River as Winter "Tropical Storm" Drenches Region
Tuesday morning commuters were startled by this detour at Tannery
Hill (River Road, Front Street and School Street) directing them to loop around on West Street to head south on 202.
Photo by Inanna Arthen
An unusual strong winter rainstorm dropped heavy rain on north Central Massachusetts from Sunday night, December 17 though Monday, December 18, along with gusting winds that brought down trees and caused some local power outages. According to meteorologists, the storm behaved more like a tropical storm than the kind of snowy Nor'easter we expect in the winter in New England. Stretching over the entire Eastern seaboard, the weather system drew moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and dumped rain at an intense rate more typically seen in brief cloudbursts and squall lines.
The local area didn't experience as much rainfall nor as severe wind as parts of the state close to the coast and to the south. According to the National Weather Service, west Ashburnham recorded 2.15 inches of rainfall in 24 hours, while Rindge recorded 1.97 inches (Winchendon has no official observer to make reports). But the amount of rain that fell within short periods of time flooded basements and raised rivers and streams to rampaging heights. The water level in Lake Momononac, which was at its lowest with its annual winter "draw down," went up several feet to engulf exposed banks and beaches. Locally, the wind gusts reached 37mph on Monday. The Monday Winchendon police log listed at least seven calls about trees or wires down and five calls reporting flooded streets and roads. A stream of water was reported running across the UU church property to Central Street. One resident reported raw sewage flowing from overwhelmed older drains unable to handle the volume of rainfall.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) came out to check bridges on state-owned highways over the Millers River and were alarmed. On Tuesday morning, MassDOT closed the bridge over the Millers River on River Street between Tannery Hill and Waterville Plaza. Director of Public Works Brian Croteau told the Courier on Wednesday afternoon, "We were only given limited information on this that they were shutting down the bridge. The bridge was shut down by Mass DOT District 2 bridge team as the water levels had risen to the height of the warning level on the side of the bridge. I am not sure of the duration of time it will be out. This is dependent on the water dropping low enough below the marking."
There was no announcement or explanation of the road closure made on the town website or on social media that the Courier could find.
Fortunately, MassDOT cleared the bridge to open on Wednesday afternoon. The storm departed rapidly on Monday night, after a beautiful rainbow arced over the town during a break in the precipitation, captured in a photo by Ricci Ruschioni. The coming week is forecast to be seasonally cold but clear and dry.
BOS Adopts Formal Policy for Flags Allowed on Town Flag Poles
At their meeting on Tuesday, December 12 (after the three-hour public hearing ended), the Board of Selectmen adopted a formal policy for flags allowed on town-owned flag poles, something Winchendon did not previously have in place.
Town Manager Bill McKinney explained that his office had been approached by a private "pro-life organization," which he did not identify, asking to fly a "pro-life flag" from the town flag poles. "We have no specific policy. So I was hoping that we could adopt a policy," he said.
The Board agreed that only flags of "governmental entities" be allowed to fly from the town poles. There was some discussion as to whether Winchendon has an official town flag. Board member Barbara Anderson said that there is a Winchendon flag displayed in the hall of flags at the Massachusetts State House, where each city and town in the state has a flag (it's on the third level, she said).
Board Vice Chair Rick Ward made a motion that "the official flag of the United States of America, the official flag of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I guess, the official flag of the Town of Winchendon, if there is such a thing, the official flags of the various branches of military services of the United States of America, and/or the official MIA/POW flag. Those flags would be the only ones allowed on town flag poles."
The motion was approved unanimously. The policy will be part of the Board of Selectmen's Policies and Procedures.
Town Manager Explains Delay in Certifying Free Cash
Voters at Winchendon's Fall Special Town Meeting, held on Monday, December 11, were surprised to hear that all Warrant articles related to Free Cash would be passed over because Free Cash had not yet been certified for the coming fiscal year. Special Town Meeting had originally been scheduled for Monday, November 13 and was postponed for a month specifically so that Free Cash could be certified in time. At stake were payments of past year's bills, regular deposits to the town Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB), Separation Liability and Stabilization Fund accounts, and four articles for the Fire Department.
Acting on a motion to amend made by Finance Committee member Maureen Ward, the past year's bills were changed to be paid from the Stabilization Fund. But all the rest will need to wait until the 2024 Annual Town Meeting in May.
The Courier reached out to Town Manager Bill McKinney for an explanation.
Mr. McKinney responded, "With a new finance team that hadn't been through the fiscal year end closing before, there is a lot that needs to be done. We have been working with an outside consultant and the Department of Revenue (DOR). When it became clear that we would not have Free Cash certified prior to the December Town Meeting, DOR told us to instead focus on getting the tax rate certified so we can get the tax bills out before the end of December. Once that is done, DOR will work with us in January to finish getting Free Cash certified."
Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust and Mass Audubon Celebrate Historic Vote to Protect 1,365 Acres of Forest in Winchendon
LINCOLN (December 15, 2023)--The Winchendon Board of Selectmen faced a choice Tuesday night: allow 1,365 acres of forested land to be sold to a solar developer with up to 400 acres of trees being clearcut or listen to the impassioned pleas of dozens of residents asking for the land to be protected forever. They unanimously chose the latter, thanks in part to a collaborative grassroots campaign led by Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust and Mass Audubon.
The vote to protect this woodland was loudly applauded by the standing-room-only crowd of residents who chose protection of nature over profit, as the solar project would have generated new revenue for the town. Mass Audubon, bolstered by a recent $25M donation that will serve as the foundation of an even larger $75M land conservation fund, will purchase the property--which will greatly expand a regionally significant forest corridor--and then eventually turn it over to the state. This new fund is intended to leverage more land protection opportunities of this sort across the state and will help meet the Commonwealth's goal of protecting 30 percent of Massachusetts land by 2030, to solve for the twin crises of climate change and loss of biodiversity.
"This was clearly an issue that brought the people of Winchendon together to advocate to protect this piece of our town's natural environment that is important for so many different reasons," said resident Jane LaPointe. "Protecting this land is a powerful statement about who we are and a legacy that we have all helped to make possible."
The land runs north-south mostly along the border between Winchendon and Ashburnham. At the Ashburnham Board of Selectmen meeting on Monday, an equally packed auditorium was also resoundingly in support of protecting the land. That Board will make its final decision on December 19.
Streams that are part of the headwaters of the Millers River flow down from the high ground in these forests, where the tree cover and wetlands help maintain water quality in the river and nearby Sunset Lake. The land is directly connected to another 1,500 acres that are already protected, creating a contiguous forest corridor that reaches past Lake Monomonac to connect with protected lands in New Hampshire.
This connectivity is what makes the forest so important for conservation. Climate change is degrading many habitats and negatively impacting biodiversity, but large interconnected sites with diverse topography are more likely to support a wide array of native plants and animals. As a result, the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program considers two-thirds of these woods to be among the most critical land in Massachusetts for sustaining wildlife and biodiversity.
"We are ecstatic to be an organization uniquely positioned to come to the table quickly with the funding to take advantage of this once-in-a-generation conservation opportunity to battle climate change and protect the rich biodiversity of our region," said David O'Neill, President of Mass Audubon. "Seeing so many people actively speak up to protect the outdoors was incredibly moving and courageous, and I'm so proud of and thankful for our team, Mount Grace, and the people of Winchendon for their passion and forethought."
The land was enrolled in the state's Chapter 61 program, which means it cannot be sold for development without giving the Town the option to either match the sale price or assign that option to a conservation group. The Town only had 120 days to make that decision.
While Winchendon was not in a position to match the $6 million purchase price, Mass Audubon stepped in with the capital to save the property from development while Mount Grace worked as a vital community partner leading up to the vote. "The community's incredible work and moving testimony in support of this project really showed the deep relationships the people of Winchendon and Ashburnham have to this place," said Mount Grace Project Manager Aaron Nelson. "Mount Grace is honored by the chance to help protect not just the land, but people's connections to it, by making sure it will always be open for hiking, hunting, and fishing."
Citizens noted that Winchendon already has more solar projects than its neighbors, with eight fields operating and another slated to come online, totaling 130 acres of installations.
Likewise, both Mount Grace and Mass Audubon strongly support the rapid deployment of solar to meet Massachusetts' net-zero targets. Growing Solar, Protecting Nature, a recent report from Mass Audubon and Harvard Forest, shows Massachusetts does not need to sacrifice large, un-fragmented forests like this one to meet climate goals if developers focus less on large-scale, ground-mount projects in favor of smaller arrays on roofs, parking lots, and other existing infrastructure and on already degraded parcels. Protecting natural and working lands, and the carbon sequestration they provide, is vital to meeting our climate goals.
Winchendon's decision to support protecting the land was summed up by Winchendon resident Gina Galat Skey, who said "This is a wonderful gift Winchendon has given to itself and to the earth. There were so many people who came out to support this today, and I really believe the people of this town just pushed this over the goal line."
Buying Local! Makers and Vendors Make the Holiday Bright at UU Church of Winchendon Holiday Bazaar on December 16
Toy proprietor Tony Giangregorio shows off his stocking stuffers at the UUCW Holiday Bazaar
Photo courtesy of Jill Sackett
Artist Mathilde Duffy looks on as shoppers admire her handmade cards and magnets at the UUCW Holiday Bazaar
Photo courtesy of Jill Sackett
The UU Church of Winchendon (UUCW) sold over 70 dozen cookies at their annual Holiday Cookie Sale
Photo courtesy of Jill Sackett
A shopper examines Dawn Higgins' metal-crafted jewelry at the UUCW Holiday Bazaar
Photo courtesy of Jill Sackett
Wyndonshire Renaissance Faire
Upcoming Open Casting Calls
Saturday, January 6, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, January 10, 6:30-7:45 p.m.
Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant Street
We are in search of additional characters to perform with us at Winchendon's Wyndonshire Renaissance Faire, April 27 and 28. No experience is necessary, just the desire to join our incredible team, and have a magical adventure with us.
Many people have indicated an interest in getting involved with our Faire. If you would like to assume a scripted, or unscripted, character role, or perform as a musician, singer or dancer, we would like to meet you, We also need individuals who would like to dress in garb, and help us with operational support during the faire.
If you ever wanted to play a Viking, a Pirate, a Fairy, a Mermaid, a Woodland Troll, an Elf, or any other renaissance faire character, NOW is your chance to make that happen.
Please plan to attend one of our open Casting Calls!
For more information, please feel free to send an email to Dawn Higgins, Wyndonshire Renaissance Faire Coordinator at laubehigg@gmail.com
See the Faire Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/317984730678635/
Mid-Winter Celebration at UU Church of Winchendon
Hand-made in Winchendon!
Photo courtesy of Jill Sackett
On Sunday, December 24 at 7:00 pm the Unitarian Universalist Church of Winchendon (UUCW) will expand its traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight Service to touch on a variety of themes related to mid-winter. The entire community is invited to share in this lay-led service titled "Towards the Light."
As we find ourselves in the heart of winter UUCW will look at how light plays a central role in Christmas as well as other holidays and ceremonies. A collection of Yule Logs will be lit and on display--all the products of the community Yule Log-making workshop held at the church two weeks earlier.
Doc Lindberg will be at the pipe organ and lead us in music and song. We'll examine how we can make this darkest time of the winter a time of great positivity: a time of repose, reflection, caring and hope. The service will conclude with the passing of candlelight throughout the congregation.
The service is open to all, especially those seeking some variation on the traditional themes presented on December 24.
Winchendon PD Assist in Nabbing Dope Dealer
According to a press release issued by the Winchendon Police Department on December 15, "On Thursday December 14, 2023 members of the Winchendon Police Department, North Worcester County Drug Task Force, and Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit executed a search warrant at 296 Maple St. Upon execution of the search warrant, law enforcement located and seized a quantity of suspected crack cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, $1982.00 cash, and materials consistent with drug distribution.
"Brian Lafrennie (36 yrs. Old) was arrested and charged with: Possession with intent to Distribute a Class A substance, Possession with intent to Distribute a Class B substance, and Failure to register as a sex offender.
"Paul Laprise Sr. (58 yrs. Old) was arrested and charged with: Possession of a Class A substance and Possession of a Class B substance."
Mr. Lafrennie has a long history with Winchendon Police and area law enforcement, going back to 2005 when he was 18. He is a resident of Winchendon.
Wreaths Across America Visits Massachusetts Veterans' Memorial Cemetery in Winchendon
Photo copyright Friends of Veterans' Memorial Cemetery of Winchendon MA
Photo copyright Friends of Veterans' Memorial Cemetery of Winchendon MA3,475 wreaths were placed at the Massachusetts Veterans' Memorial Cemetery in Winchendon on Friday, December 15, by Wreaths Across America.
Wreaths Across America visits the cemetery on Glenallen Street each year, with sponsorship from the Friends of Veterans' Memorial Cemetery of Winchendon MA. Donations to the Winchendon Wreath Fund are always gratefully accepted. Mail checks to Bridget Marinelli, 14 Winter Place, Winchendon, MA, 01475. The next Wreaths Across America day is December 14, 2024.
Murdock Senior Colin Rowe Receives Superintendent's Academic Achievement Award
At the December 7 School Committee meeting, Murdock High School senior Colin Rowe was given the Superintendent's Academic Achievement Award by Interim Superintendent Ruthann Goguen. Colin had just finished giving the Committee his update as stand-in Student Representative, filling in for the regular Representative who couldn't make it that night.
The Award is sponsored by the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents and is given annually, Supt. Goguen said, "to seniors across the state who have demonstrated distinguished academic performance and personal contributions to their high school communities. Colin's name was selected out of all the seniors at our school."
Supt. Goguen went on to say that Colin is ranked third in his class with a GPA of 4.388. He is a member of the Select Choir and plays drums in the Jazz Band. He has participated in the MMHS musical and the Morton E. Converse Tournament of Plays all four years that he has been a student at Murdock. If you've missed Colin on stage, you can see him in the student-produced videocast Blue Devil Weekly where he is the Events Anchor this year. (Link on the Schools page)
Colin has auditioned for the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts and "is patiently waiting to hear on his acceptance," Supt. Goguen said.
After Supt. Goguen spoke, Colin was presented with an official certificate.
The Courier congratulates Colin Rowe on being recognized for his talent and achievements!
