Senior Center Looking to the Future with New Director Miranda Jennings

by Inanna Arthen
Lots of listening, lots of learning, lots of meetings--that's how Miranda Jennings, new Director of the Winchendon Council on Aging at the Old Murdock Senior Center, could summarize her first three weeks on the job, since she started work on Monday, January 8. This Wednesday, Ms. Jennings finally was able to sit down with the Courier (between a budget meeting at Town Hall and a Winchendon CAC Board meeting) to talk about her new role. As the successor to retired CoA Director Sheila Bettro, Ms. Jennings has some big shoes to fill, but she's launching into the work at full power.

Ms. Jennings will continue to serve as the Executive Director of the Winchendon Community Action Committee (CAC), which is a part-time position, and has been working part-time with the HEAL Collaborative, which is expanding to encompass Gardner and will be hiring a new Project Coordinator. The Courier asked Ms. Jennings what inspired her to apply for the CoA Director position.

"Every year I seem to get more and more involved in Winchendon, in different ways," Ms. Jennings said. "The Senior Center has always been an organization we have collaborated with. And I think the Senior Center has so much potential for seniors and for the whole community. It just seemed like a really great opportunity professionally for me, personally, to work with a town. And it just falls in line with what I love to do, which is do community work."

Some of what the Senior Center and CAC do overlap in terms of services and programs. Ms. Jennings said that with the great team she has working at the CAC, she can focus on the Executive Director responsibilities, including vision, strategy, and writing grants. The day-to-day operations are fully covered by volunteers and staff. Many Winchendon seniors are served by the CAC as well as by the Senior Center.

In her first days on the job at the Senior Center, "It was really eye opening to see, first of all, the staff that's already there, even though some of them are new...there's a couple of new drivers," Ms. Jennings said. Cindy had been there for 12 years, Jen "has been working there forever," Don and Rita and Art Amenta are all seasoned volunteers. "So everybody kind of had a rhythm and knew what they were doing. So I just got to observe and watch and see what was happening. So it's been really good because I have been able to see what we're doing."

Ms. Jennings said especially, "there's a lot of meal delivery happening, there's 60 plus meals a day going out to people. So that's in their homes every day, plus medical rides, plus picking up people for lunches plus the grocery store trip. So I've just been kind of observing and learning. For the first month or two, I really just want to observe and learn."

Ms. Jennings said that the Senior Center is focusing a lot of energy on driving people because transportation is such a huge need in Winchendon. "I want to continue that and build out our driving program because that seems to be a need, to extend maybe the hours that we're able to give people rides," she said. "So I just applied for a grant through the Mass Department of Transportation to extend hours so we can have weekend driving. We can have more grocery store trips, maybe two or three grocery store trips a week, including on Saturday. We can do more medical rides. I'd like to do community events, where we pick people up at their house and take them to the amphitheater or to voting or to a town meeting or to bowling, whatever people want to do."

Ms. Jennings went on, "I've been hearing from everybody that the Old Murdock itself is such a gem. That's why I love the job too, because Murdock, it's such an amazing resource." Fewer seniors are coming in to use the building's programs in person since COVID--habits changed and the in-person numbers are down from before 2020.

"Younger people will be seniors one day, and the Senior Center hours are 9:00 to 2:00," Ms. Jennings said. "But you know, what could happen after 2:00? What could happen on the weekends? There are so many senior centers around us that do serve different programs throughout the whole day, evening and weekend. So I'm at this point of learning and listening to the community to see what they want to see happen in that building. And then we'll make it happen."

Ms. Jennings said right now, there is "a pretty loyal lunch crowd" of about 10 to 15 people who come in each day. This figure is dwarfed by the number of in-home lunch deliveries, which is more than 60 meals a day and over 500 every week. On Wednesdays, Bingo brings in some 15 to 20 people each week and about two to six people come in to play pickleball in the upstairs auditorium. Lunch, Bingo and medical rides are the highest in demand of the Senior Center's offerings, Ms. Jennings said. The Center also partners with the CAC to deliver food pantry groceries each week to residents without transportation.

Asked what her top priorities are going forward, Ms. Jennings said that immediately, she is hoping to get a lot of responses to the new survey just released. All members of the community are invited to fill out the survey giving their "feedback and ideas for programs, classes and best uses of the Old Murdock Senior Center building." The survey is available as a paper form or an electronic online form, and includes contact information for anyone who has more feedback or questions. The survey is completely anonymous. (See links at the end of this article.)

More broadly, Ms. Jennings says her priorities are "diversifying and expanding the programs, getting people in the building." The survey will help provide some guidance for doing this. Line dancing classes, music, and yoga are all popular, and Marylee Harrington will be coming in to teach line dancing on Wednesdays. A teacher named Jean does crocheting classes "but we've never marketed her program," Ms. Jennings said. Jean will be returning on Tuesdays and she will be marketed. The annual cake auction will be coming up in May.

SHINE consultations for people with questions about health insurance and Medicare will be resuming on the third Wednesday of the month, starting on February 21. (See https://www.facebook.com/events/344182835068354/344263595060278/ for more information or to make an appointment, or call the Senior Center at 978-297-3155.)

Ms. Jennings spoke of a possible computer lab, with a volunteer who is an MBA coming in and giving classes on computer technology. The third floor conference room does not currently have Internet access, but yoga classes can meet there, and Ms. Jennings said they'd like to extend the Internet access throughout the building. Even the basement has potential as a space.

Old Murdock and Toy Town Elementary only a block away are both former Winchendon high schools. Ms. Jennings said, "We are going to have a United Way Youth Venture after-school program on Wednesdays, for Toy Town students, because it's right across the street, so they can walk across the street or be escorted. And we're gonna have a local high school student help lead that along with United Way staff. We hope to have cooking classes for seniors, but also after school for youth."

Full circle--the Old Murdock can bring generations together, in a building that some seniors in town remember graduating from.

All residents of Winchendon are urged to fill out the Winchendon Senior Center Input Survey at https://portraitofagrad.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2nqYPoYyx2fM3Vc. You can download a printable PDF survey at Senior Center Survey or pick up a paper copy at the Senior Center (52 Murdock Avenue) or other locations in town including the Winchendon CAC (5 Summer Drive), Winchendon Town Hall (109 Front Street), or Not Just Produced (290 Central Street).

If you'd like to contact the Senior Center directly, call 978-297-3155, email winchendoncoa@gmail.com, or visit in person Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Senior Center Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/oldmurdock.

Winchendon Residents Bring Pyrrhotite Foundation Hazard Before BOS

by Inanna Arthen
At the Board of Selectmen meeting on Monday, January 22, Winchendon residents Brian and Karin Forgues appeared before the Board to raise awareness of the problem of pyrrhotite, a mineral which contaminates concrete in large areas of Massachusetts and which causes home foundations to lose their structural integrity and crumble.

Mr. Forgues began by saying, "We're here tonight in the hopes of just bringing some awareness that there are some homes in Winchendon that have been affected by pyrrhotite. I don't know if all of you on the Board are familiar with what's going on with the crumbling foundations in Connecticut and on our southern border in Massachusetts. There are even homes as far north as Winchendon that have been impacted by this."

Mr. Forgues explained that pyrrhotite is a natural mineral compound of iron and sulfur. When exposed to water and air, it causes concrete containing it to crumble. The US Geological Survey (https://www.usgs.gov/news/national-news-release/new-usgs-map-helps-identify-where-pyrrhotite-mineral-can-cause-concrete) explains that "Pyrrhotite becomes an issue in concrete manufacturing if pyrrhotite-bearing stone is crushed up and used as filler for the concrete...Pyrrhotite is related to the more common and well-known mineral pyrite, also known as Fool's Gold. Pyrrhotite differs from pyrite because it has less sulfur and is far more reactive to water than most pyrite."

"Much of the news has been giving the impression that the homes that are affected are just on our southern border and that the aggregate came from the Connecticut fields," Mr. Forgues said. "It's actually believed now that there are some concrete that's actually manufactured here in Massachusetts, that have also supplied to the foundations." He displayed some charts showing that veins of pyrrhotite have been identified thoughout the center of Massachusetts, possibly as far as the North Shore.

"It could take 10 to 30 years before any evidence of it impacts your foundation," Mr. Forgues went on. "So it's not known to the builders. It's not known to the people pouring the foundations and it's something that takes years or decades before it's actually seen within the foundation. The only remedy at this point is to actually lift a house up in the air, demolish the old foundation and pour a new one. And that can cost residents or the owners of these properties anywhere from $150,000 to $300,000 in expenses."

There is currently no funding available to assist with foundation replacement, and insurance does not cover these repairs. Homeowners must cover all costs out of pocket, which can include an engineering study, removing all utilities from the basement, raising the entire house five to seven feet, removing the old foundation and pouring a new one, lowering the house, pouring new concrete floors and replacing the utilities.

There are no Massachusetts regulations for testing quarries for pyrrhotite or restricting its use in aggregates for concrete manufacturing.

"There were two bills the group that we're with, Mass Residents Against Crumbling Foundations...have been pushing now for six years with the Mass legislators to try to get some support to get funding to repair these homes just as they did in Connecticut," Mr. Forgues said. "In Connecticut, it only took them about four and a half years by the time the first evidence came to light. So the first house being repaired took about four and a half years. Our group's actually been working with the Mass legislation for about six years now. I'm at least happy to say that this second bill that we're pushing for, S.495 (https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S495) actually just got passed this past week. So it's now going to the Ways and Means Committee. So so at least it's progressing."

Mr. Forgues stated that a bill already passed and slated to go into effect on July 1 mandates concrete companies to test for pyrrhotite in their material before it is sent out to construction sites. The new bill, which will become S.2559 ("An Act Relative to Crumbling Concrete Foundations" https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S2559), is seeking funding to help homeowners repair their homes.

Mr. Forgues told the Board, "We're just asking this committee that when that comes, we're asking for your support to call the legislators at that point, and voice your support for this bill and it'll definitely help the homeowners, the residents of this town as well as across the state. It is believed that your voice has greater impact than just the citizen. The other thing I was hoping is, is there any suggestions this committee can make to help spread awareness in the town? There is a lot of fear of coming forward. A lot of people don't want to talk about it. It's easier just to stick your head in the sand and hope for the best. Is there anything this committee can recommend to try to get people to come forward if they have this issue?"

Board Chair Audrey LaBrie said that the Board could post on the town website, the Winchendon TV channel and social media, with links to more information. She asked if there were more than the two homes in Winchendon known to be affected. Mr. Forgues said that he was hoping to get more responses from local homeowners. Massachusetts has a reimbursement program for 75 percent of the cost of drilling a core sample and having it tested.

Board Vice Chair Rick Ward said, "I can understand why there would be difficulty getting folks to admit that they have this, because if you're looking down the road and you want to sell your house, the last thing you want people to know is that there may be a $300,000 investment in the house. But I think what we can do with minimum is encourage people who are about to buy a house to have it tested for this pyrrhotite in the foundation, and at least cut down on future expenses."

Banks won't finance a home that has been found to have pyrrhotite in the foundation, Mr. Forgues said. Mrs. Forgues added that the state has not yet disclosed what quarries in Massachusetts have pyrrhotite.

Ms. LaBrie suggested that the Board could sign a letter in support of the bill.

Mrs. Forgues said that currently, replacing a foundation "is strictly out of pocket. We have friends that had to cash in all their savings, their IRA, any money. We have two friends that actually did have to go through this, lifted their house, they were set to retire. They cannot retire. It was over $280,000." She continued, "sometimes you can file for an abatement through your town which affects your taxes, which obviously affects the revenue of the town. So that's why it's really imperative that we get this passed. We do know the people that are experienced in this right now. And like you said, there comes a [stigma] to it, like something I'd rather not know. But then if they saw that, try to sell their house and they're passing this on to somebody else. And this could be your daughter, your son, your parents, could be anybody in your circle that has to go through this and it's devastating. Let's look at the American dream. You buy your house, you raise your family, only to find out, fast forward, 20-30 years later, your house is just about worthless because you can't sell it. You can't get a loan on it. You're stuck. And what do you do? You work hard your whole life. And then you're left with nothing. It's very devastating."

Ms. LaBrie said, "I can't imagine needing to put that much money back into your house, just to be able to live there." Town Manager's Executive Assistant Mary Calandrella said that she could coordinate with the group to put information online.

The Massachusetts Residents Against Crumbling Concrete Group is on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2077551785602887/ and has up to the minute updates about bills in the Legislature, local meetings and other activity. Massachusetts Residents Against Crumbling Concrete may be found online at https://www.massracf.com/. Their flyer may be read online at https://www.townofwinchendon.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif8401/f/news/brochure_state_house_3.28.2023.pdf

Local Cultural Grants Awarded for Winchendon

by Jill Sackett
State Representative Jonathan Zlotnik and Jill Nicholson Sackett, Chair of the Winchendon Cultural Council (WCC), have announced the award of 22 grants totaling $14,129 for cultural programs in Winchendon. WCC was able to partially or fully fund a wide range of recipients and programs including:

Beals Memorial Library - multiple programs
Community Action Committee (CAC) - youth nights at the Hub
HEAL Winchendon - Taste of Winchendon
Senior Center - vocal concert
UU Church of Winchendon - children's craft workshop
Winchendon Music Festival - salon concert series
Winchendon Recreation Commission - multiple GAR park and amphitheater programs
Winchendon Winds Concert Band - summer series
Wyndonshire Renaissance Fair - theatre training, entertainment

The Winchendon Cultural Council is part of a network of 329 Local Cultural Councils (LCCs) 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. Statewide, more than $7 million will be distributed by local cultural councils in 2024.

Decisions about which activities to support are made at the community level by a board of municipally appointed volunteers. The members of the Winchendon Cultural Council are: Alexis Chanthachack, Linda Dellasanta, Joanna Draugsvold, Coral Grout, Miranda Jennings, Quinne Richards, Jill Nicholson Sackett, Molly Velasco and Greg Vine.

"It is always wonderful to see the many grants that were awarded by the Winchendon Cultural Council this year," said Representative Zlotnik. "These grant awards demonstrate investment in a variety of different programs and are crucial to both supporting and sustaining the work of local cultural initiatives in the Town of Winchendon."

The Winchendon Cultural Council will receive applications again in the fall. For guidelines and complete information on the Winchendon Cultural Council, contact Jill Sackett at jill@sackett.com or visit the Town website at: www.townofwinchendon.com/cultural-council. Applications and more information about the Local Cultural Council Program are available online at www.mass-culture.org.

Warrant for Annual Town Meeting Open Until April 8

The 2024 Annual Town Meeting has been officially scheduled for Monday, May 20, 2024 at 7:00 p.m., to be held at the Murdock Middle High School Auditorium at 3 Memorial Dr, Winchendon.

As of Tuesday, January 23, the Warrant is open. The Town Manager's office will be accepting warrant articles through Monday, April 8, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. when the warrant will officially close.

Please feel free to contact the Town Manager's office with any questions you may have concerning this Annual Town Meeting, or about placing articles on the Warrant. 978-297-0085 ext. 5.

Winchendon Teen Survives One-Car Accident in Rindge

by Inanna Arthen
On Sunday night, January 21, a 17-year-old Winchendon driver was traveling south on Robbins Road when his 2008 Honda Civic left the road and crashed into one or more trees. Rindge Police, Rindge Fire Department and Rescue, the Town of Winchendon Police Department, and the Jaffrey-Rindge Memorial Ambulance were summoned to the scene (identified as being near 249 Robbins Road in the Winchendon police logs, 350 Robbins Road in the Rindge Police Department statement) at 8:46 p.m. At 9:02 p.m. Rindge Police asked Winchendon Police to close Robbins Road on the Winchendon side while rescue efforts were underway. The road was closed for about an hour.

The car was completely demolished. The driver was trapped inside the vehicle and had to be extricated with mechanical jaws. He was described as "conscious and alert" throughout, and was transported to Heywood Hospital in Gardner "with injuries that were deemed non-life-threatening" according to a report in the Newport Dispatch. The driver's name was not released due to his age.

Investigators did not find immediate evidence of driver impairment, but it did appear likely that the car was traveling at a much higher rate of speed than posted limits and the weather conditions indicated.

Any witnesses or persons with further information about the circumstances are encouraged to contact Officer Eric Glover at the Rindge Police Department at (603) 899-5009 ext. 32.

---

Click Here for Community Directory

Winchendon Businesses, Organizations, Services, and Government

---