The Winchendon Courier

Serving the community since 1878 ~ A By Light Unseen Media publication

Week of March 13 to March 20, 2025

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This Week's Winchendon News

Town Manager Gives BOS and Fincom the Lowdown on FY26 Level-funded Budget

Winchendon can't afford a library, senior center or recreation department on anticipated revenue for next year

by Inanna Arthen
At a joint meeting of the Finance Committee and Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, March 11, Town Manager Bill McKinney presented the proposed town budget for FY26 (which begins on July 1, 2025), based on the anticipated regular revenue from property taxes, state aid and other sources, with no Proposition 2-1/2 override to mitigate the budget shortfall. In order to reach a balanced budget without compromising public safety, or breaking contractual obligations (which would be illegal), the entire budget lines (a combined total of $507,960) for the Beals Memorial Library, Old Murdock Senior Center and Recreation Department will be zeroed out. All staff will be let go and the buildings will be closed. Most other areas will be level-funded, with cuts in services, because a level-funded budget will not meet the increase in operating costs. The schools will be level-funded and will need to make cuts.

Mr. McKinney said, "We will, however, try to plan for programs that are not supported by the budget. Meals on Wheels is very important to people in town that depend on that. Also, we do have that transportation grant that's still ongoing. That, again, it's grant funded so it does not come from the budget." The Recreation Commission could do some limited programs with volunteers and Robinson Broadhurst funding.

Police, Fire and DPW will be level-funded, probably leading to thinner shift coverage, longer wait times, less snow plowing and less work done around town. The CAC and YMCA will not receive any town funding.

"Without additional revenue, [there will be] serious, serious budget impacts to the town," Mr. McKinney said. "This was a difficult budget to put together, because to take into account the core services that affect the most people in town. The library and Senior Center are very important, they don't impact as many people as the others, while they still offer--what makes a town a town. So there are no good choices in this."

Mr. McKinney went through some of the other areas. Besides the biggest hits, a few have small increases that are unavoidable.

Town Manager/Board of Selectmen/Fincom expenses will be cut by $31,960. Building and Health departments will be reduced $6,110. Monty Tech (Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School) will be reduced by $29,230. Tuition for other out-of-district placement will be reduced by $48,270.

The smaller increases include $32,400 for Legal services. "We use outside counsel as sparingly as possible, but we still do have to use them. They're raising their rates also," Mr. McKinney said. An increase of $14,300 for the IT/Town Clerk's office covers increased IT expenses, not salaries. The Historical Commission is increasing by $100. Property and Liability insurance will increase by $21,000.

But the really big increases, as Mr. McKinney had talked about in previous presentations, are School Transportation (increases by $129,780 or 8 percent), Debt Service (increases by $327,400 or 38.2 percent), Retirement/Pension (increases by $141,700 or 6.1 percent), Unemployment insurance (increases by $50,000 or 50 percent), and Health/Life Insurance (increases by $444,700 or 16.5 percent).

"As you can see, everything at the top is a lot of fixed costs," Mr. McKinney said. "We just don't have any control here. We do have another broker that we're looking at for health insurance. We'll see if we might be able to have some savings there. We don't know yet."

The final total for the proposed budget is an increase of $515,440 (1.4 percent) from the current year's (FY25) budget.

There was some discussion about the School Transportation costs, which include regular bus routes, Special Education transportation which takes some students outside the district, homeless transportation and school crossing guards. Mr. McKinney said he is talking with Winchendon Public Schools Superintendent Marc Gosselin about how bus routes might be changed or eliminated.

"One big benefit of regionalizing schools is that the state then reimburses about two thirds of the cost of bus transportation," Mr. McKinney said. "So that would be a huge thing. I know regionalization takes a couple of years, but I just wanted to throw that out there. That could be a potential benefit."

Mr. McKinney moved on to the other side of the budget equation, anticipated revenues. 89 percent of Winchendon's revenue comes from two sources: Chapter 70/Local Aid for the schools (46 percent), and property tax (43 percent). Local aid from the state increases by $400,639, or slightly less than 2.5 percent. Property taxes increase by $603,987, or 4 percent. This is more than 2.5 percent, but Mr. McKinney explained, "one of the debt issues was for the fire station design, which was voted as a debt exclusion. So when I went back through, I saw there was a debt exclusion so that it actually would get added to the property tax bill for fiscal 26. So that's why there's an increase of about $600,000." There is also an allowed increase beyond 2.5 percent for new growth, which is $80,000 for FY26.

All other anticipated revenues are budgeted to stay exactly the same as FY25, except one: the state is reducing its additional aid, by $106,762. When all the revenue sources are added up, they show an increase of $897,864 (2.5 percent) from the current year's budget.

Some of the smaller revenue sources have the potential to be higher than expected, but altogether they comprise only 11 percent of the total budget. Some of them are at risk from changes happening at the federal level--for example, as of today, March 13, the SPED Medicaid reimbursements at the schools, budgeted for $60,600, may be cut entirely.

Mr. McKinney showed some charts illustrating how the annual increase in Chapter 70 state aid dropped sharply as of FY25, and that the annual increase in the town's property tax levy has been almost the same amount year to year, with past overrides and new growth having a minimal benefit.

The bottom lines of this severe budget come out with expenses of $36,357,841 and revenues of $35,975,158, a deficit of $382,683. To pull up revenues enough to balance the budget, Mr. McKinney estimates an increase of $100,000 in ambulance fees, $100,000 in cannabis retail excise tax, $122,683 in interest income (created by changing investments to more favorable terms), and reducing a buffer for excess snow and ice removal by $60,000. These balance the budget at $36,297,841.

Mr. McKinney showed charts for each of the enterprise funds--Transfer Station, Water, Wastewater, and PEG (cable TV)--illustrating that while each is a revenue source, their income is so close to their expenses that none of them have a surplus that would make much difference. The highest is Wastewater with a FY26 surplus of $4,027.

Mr. McKinney also discussed the relationship between the school and town budgets. The school budget is mandated by the state. The town must spend a minimum amount, called Net School Spending ($21,245,551 for FY26). If the town falls below 95 percent of that minimum, the state can penalize the town by withholding Chapter 70 Local Aid. But shared expenses between the school district and the town, for human resources costs, administrative, insurance, retirement and so on, make up "indirect" school spending. Altogether, about two thirds of the town's budget is related to education and one third covers everything else.

Reviewing the heavy impact that this budget will have on the town and its residents, Mr. McKinney said, "It's very, very difficult, and that's why we are going to need [a Proposition 2-1/2 override]. The override is something that impacts a lot of towns around all of the state, because they're all dealing with the same thing. They're seeing health insurance costs grow by double digits. They're seeing other costs grow significantly, and because half of our budget comes from the state we can't even raise that to two and a half percent. Other towns might have 75 percent of their budget driven by their tax levy. Ours is less than 50 percent. We can't control what the state gives us....We can raise some of the fees and everything which we've been doing. But the only thing that really moves the needle for us would be an override."

When Mr. McKinney concluded, Selectman Audrey LaBrie said, "Thank you very much, Mr. McKinney. We knew it was going to be ugly. Now we have a sense of what ugly looks like."

FinCom Chair Tom Kane asked, "How much would you be recommending an override raise, and what would be your priorities in terms of what that override would support?"

Mr. McKinney explained that the number would be coming out in the next week or so. It's based on the original "level service" budgets prepared by the school district and the town, in which services would stay exactly the same, with expenses skinned down as far as possible, but covering inflexible increases such as health insurance. That budget came out at a deficit of close to $4 million. "Obviously, that is something that would be way too much for the town to be asking the residents to be able to come up with," Mr. McKinney said. If the override asked for about half of that, under $2 million, it seems more reasonable. This would be about a 13 percent increase, and would add less than $600 to the annual tax bill for a $340,000 home.

The town will be doing information meetings with residents to explain how this all works, and will have an online calculator so taxpayers can see exactly how the override will affect them individually based on the actual assessed value of their home. (The assessed value appears on every tax bill and can also be looked up in the Assessor's Database on the town website.)

Fincom member Maureen Ward questioned whether the school district had made equivalent cuts as the town. Mr. McKinney explained that the schools had reworked their lowest budget, which originally had an increase of about $1.2 million, and now is proposing a budget with an increase of 3.25 percent, or about $600,000.

As the Boards discussed the situation, Mr. McKinney said, "You talk with different department heads or the employees themselves, and you can see how much they care about the town and how much effort they put into it. And once you start losing good employees, that's going to affect everybody else. Then the workload increases for those that are left, they're going to get burnt out. And it just becomes a spiral that will really hurt the community.

"If we continue to do the good things that we have and can attract some more businesses into the town, you know that will be good for the town. But the new growth number that gets added to the tax levy is a function of the additions that come in. So let's say we got a $25 million business. They build a $25 million facility, that would add just under $300,000 to new growth. That'd be helpful. But that's not enough to solve all the problems. We would need many $25 million facilities to be built in the community. So long term, hopefully we can keep working towards that. But in the meantime, if we don't get the override, we'll never get to that point."

Department Heads Describe Benefits the Town could Lose

by Inanna Arthen
At a joint meeting of the Finance Committee and Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, March 11, the Directors of several town departments which are facing cuts or complete closure should a Prop 2-1/2 override not pass rose to speak about what their departments do.

Manuel King, Director of the Beals Memorial Library, was called up first by FinCom member Maureen Ward. Mr. King began, "Over the past, say, three years, the library has brought in $30,000 in grants, one LSTA grant, which is a federally funded grant to run programs at the library that we would normally never be able to bring to the community. The past two years, we've had an LTC grant, which is from the American Library Association, which has funded our autism inclusion program See Beyond The Spectrum, and so we've been able to bring two years of programming to that underserved community." He added that since 2016 the Robinson Broadhurst Foundation has funded some $400,000 toward improvements in the library building, including the elevator, new bathrooms, the new accessible entryway, and a new infrastructure completed last year, with an upgraded fire suppression system and and repairs to the cracked plaster walls and ceilings.

"So together, the town, with Robinson Broadhurst and trust funds from the library that the town has, the library has invested over $2 million. That's a huge investment in the library. I'd really, really hate to see that all go to waste. The Town Manager mentioned the programs that will be lost if the override doesn't pass, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. What the community will lose is their ability to borrow books or other library items from any library in the state. So if you're a Winchendon resident and you want to go to another library, you'll be out of luck."

Following Mr. King, Winchendon Police Chief Dan Wolski rose to respond to a comment made earlier that the level-funded budget didn't show any cuts to the DPW, police or fire department. His concern, he explained was "recruitment and retention." Several officers will retire in the next three to five years, and there are younger officers who haven't been with the department long enough to have a strong investment. Some have other incentives besides pay scale to stay, such as commuting time. But, Chief Wolski said, "if these officers aren't getting raises, that might force somebody to retire to say, what's the point? I'm this close. I'm this close to 80 percent, I'm just going to retire. And if other young officers who weren't really that vested with the organization, they're going to leave and go somewhere where they have more competitive wages."

Chief Wolski pointed out that "As you know, the police have been under a lot of scrutiny nationwide for probably the last ten years, and not much of it's warranted, but it's made that there are much fewer people that are pursuing the profession of law enforcement...if we're not providing competitive wages or salaries, recruitment, retention is going to be very difficult."

The department used to have reserve officers, Chief Wolski said, but the 2020 police reform act eliminated them. The town of Ashburnham, with a population of 6,000, has 14 officers; Winchendon, with over 10,000 people, has 16 officers.

Chief Wolski cited a study done by the FBI that found "per capita for violent crimes, Winchendon was found to be 44 of 276 cities and towns in Massachusetts, and then per capita for property crime, Winchendon was found to be number 60 of 276 cities and towns. So to put it bluntly, we're a busy Police Department for a relatively small town."

Fire Chief Tom Smith rose several times to address questions raised by the FinCom about staffing for fire department shifts, which he explained at some length. Staff on a shift may not leave until their relief has come in, and this sometimes means a person has worked on a Christmas morning or for 48 hours. The per diem workers can't always fill in, and everyone working shifts must be fully trained.

Department of Public Works Director Brian Croteau came forward next, kidding, "Tom gave me some time to think because he was up here for a while." Mr. Croteau began, "When you think back 15 to 17 years ago, the DPW was 18 to 20 guys, and when I say DPW, I'm talking about the mechanics, the cemetery, and the highway department." The entire cemetery department is now "1.8 people"--a full-time foreman and two part-timers. There are two full-time mechanics servicing over 100 town vehicles--"everything from the school department to the Council on Aging to the DPW, the police, the fire, they have to deal with all those vehicles. So it's a heavy lift for two guys." The highway department is six people.

"We take pride in what we do," Mr. Croteau said. "You know, we have a beautiful downtown. We have a beautiful amphitheater. We have so much going on for us. We pull in quite a few grant dollars, which is very helpful to making the community better." Only once in ten years has the town paid for paving; all the paving money comes from the state. Price of materials has risen steeply while state funding has not. Mr. Croteau said he's talked with the Town Manager about increasing the snow and ice budget, but the money isn't there.

Replacing the Front Street bridge--currently closed with a hole in it--would cost around $6 million, Mr. Croteau said. "Now that we don't have that bridge, it could potentially take out another bridge that is another $6 million investment. Every time I turn it's investment after investment after investment. And the grant funds aren't there to fund all this, and we unfortunately have to look at the taxpayers for some of this. I've already gone to the state and tried to fight for a bridge, and the state said, 'Get in line, because there's about 500 bridges on that list, and they're not going very quick, because the price of bridges is through the roof.'"

Mr. Croteau echoed Chief Wolski's concerns about recruitment and retention of skilled personnel. "I probably get two to three salary surveys from area places monthly, because everybody's trying to either keep their employees or steal employees. It's just the way it is. It's the market, even the private companies are trying to come in and take guys at this point." Crew need CDL licenses and hydraulic licenses and specialty liceneses and training, and they're hard to find.

Last to come forward was Miranda Jennings, Director of the Senior Center. She began by praising her colleagues and fellow department heads. "We work very closely together, and they are always there...they're plowing us out, fixing our vehicles, saving our seniors' lives, literally, at the Center." She explained that they wrote "grant after grant," and had brought in a $500,000 grant for transportation, which has been given a $50,000 extension. She also hoped to get a $90,000 grant to install heat pumps into Old Murdock for heat. "That's the heart of Winchendon. That building is just a historical landmark."

Ms. Jennings said that the Senior Center manages the largest Meals on Wheels distribution area in the region, delivering from 60 to 85 meals per day to homes. The meals are packed and dropped off by MOC in Fitchburg, but Senior Center drivers deliver them. One driver works from 9:00 to 3:00 each day, and volunteer drivers help. This also provides a wellness check to people who may not see another person or eat another meal that day. On site, the Senior Center serves from 15 to 40 meals a day. The Center also helps with social services, Medicare advice, educational classes, recreation and pickleball. The building also serves as the town's polling place for elections.

The transportation program is one of the biggest programs, Ms. Jennings said, having expanded from 1,200 rides last year to 5,000 rides. "We were offering rides from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. last year, five days a week. We now offer it six days a week, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m." These are primarily medical appointments, but also include rides to shopping centers, rides to jobs, and recreation trips to places like the Park Theatre in Jaffrey or Groton Hill.

"If the override wouldn't pass, we would lose about 85 percent of our transportation capacity, as well as our social services and our meal delivery and serving capacity at the Center," Ms. Jennings said. She added that the Senior Center is already closing on Fridays to save on utility costs. The Seniors go to the HUB at the CAC for lunch and free bowling.

When Ms. Jennings concluded, Dr. Ward said, "Thank you. I'm exhausted just thinking about all you do."

Fincom Chair Tom Kane said, "I'd like to express my appreciation to each of the department heads that got up to speak this evening. What comes through loud and clear is the passion that you all have for your positions, passion you have for your programs, and your willingness to argue with anybody who questions that, and I'm not questioning your integrity at all. There's going to be difficult decisions to be made, and I felt that was important for us to have that discussion."

If a Proposition 2-1/2 override is not passed and the level-funded budget is adopted, the Beals Memorial Library, Senior Center and Recreation Department will all be defunded and the buildings closed.

A Courier Series: Winchendon and Proposition 2-1/2

Part 2: Investing in Your Biggest Asset: the Town You Own a Piece of

by Inanna Arthen
The last line in Part 1 of this series asked one question: "So what can we do?"

Winchendon seems to be trapped by circumstances beyond its control. It can only increase property taxes by a set percentage, but major expenses are skyrocketing at far higher rates. The town can't reduce those expenses easily, if at all. By contract and by law, they have to be paid. Students have to be educated--two thirds of the town's budget goes to the direct and indirect costs of schooling its young people. If the town doesn't pay for that, the state will step in and take over, at a far higher cost to Winchendon taxpayers. New growth and construction are far below the boom of the 1980s. The town's population has been fairly level for over a decade. More businesses have closed than opened, and no big employers have come to town--the school district is the town's largest employer. It may seem to residents that Winchendon is a town whose future is lost in the past.

But the residents of a town always have power to change that town. What's needed is motivation, inspiration, skill and leadership--and all the residents need to unite around their common goal. That goal is to live in a thriving community whose growth and prosperity directly benefit everyone who invests in that community by owning property, paying taxes, running businesses, and raising their families here.

Anyone with good financial sense understands that maintaining a trim and disciplined budget is important. Not wasting money (frugality), finding alternatives to buying the shiniest, newest products or services (economy), following that old New England adage of "use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without." Winchendon's DPW sets an especially good example of that last one. But good financial sense also warns that simply cutting and cutting spending reaches a point of self-sabotage.

When there's a budget crunch, there are exactly two things to do. Cut spending...or increase income. For individuals, no matter how good they are at tightening up the family budget, they ultimately have to get a better job, or a second job, or a side hustle (or all three). As we see in the dilemma faced by unhoused people, get below a certain threshold, and a person's ability to find employment, keep up their skills in their trade or profession, travel to a work place, and pull themselves up out of their financial hole becomes much, much less. That threshold is one no one wants to cross.

The same thing is true for towns and cities, but the solutions are much more complicated. That does not mean those solutions are impossible, or unrealistic. They do, however, take time. They also require the work and energy of lots of people. In the meantime, especially if a town has been coasting for quite a while, residents have to invest in keeping their municipality from crossing that "point of no return" threshold.

The key word here is "investment." Property taxes don't just fall into a black hole. A home is an asset, a form of wealth, and for most people, it's the biggest asset in their lives, a cushion for their old age and a legacy for their children. But the value of a house is determined by the community it's in. "Fair market value" means how much somebody else will pay for it. When the community goes downhill, so does the monetary worth of every piece of property in it.

Making sure that schools are funded, and that a town has a good library, services for senior citizens, recreation, well-maintained roads and infrastructure, and a healthy civic life--those mean real money for every homeowner. Paying for them isn't a sacrifice. It's protecting assets.

For a town, passing a Proposition 2-1/2 override is like getting that temp job or side hustle, or downsizing the SUV to a subcompact, just to get over the hump. But a Prop 2-1/2 override should always be something else. It's a call to action, a big one. It's a call to say, "okay, this once so we don't fall off the cliff, but let's make sure we don't have to do it again."

Winchendon needs to focus on growth, in a proactive way. The town needs to seek out businesses it wants to come here and engage them. It needs to follow up, aggressively, with projects and property owners who have made promises and not followed through (such as the four proposed cannabis businesses still doing nothing--where are they? One of them promised to be the town's biggest employer when up and running). The time is long past to accept COVID as an excuse. Unlike many cities, Winchendon doesn't have a higher commercial property tax rate. That's a selling point for businesses that might be thinking about moving to a big city.

Winchendon needs to learn what every freelancer knows--to be relentless, to chase opportunities, to pounce first and ask second, to not take "no" for an answer. Waiting for businesses to come and ask means that Winchendon might have to deal with the wrong kinds of business, as resident Theresa Langdon suggested at Monday's Board of Selectmen's meeting. Winchendon needs a task force dedicated to thinking outside the box and not scared of doing cold calls. (Anyone who would be interested in this, contact the Courier.)

But first, Winchendon needs to make sure it stays competitive, by maintaining the elements that make a town attractive to businesses and homebuyers. A freelancer has to invest in the right software and tools if they expect to get jobs. Winchendon has to invest in itself if it expects to grow and prosper. For every homeowner in town, that's wise fiscal policy and plain common sense.

(If you love graphs, charts and data, feel free to enjoy this 2018 paper by Bridgewater State University Honors Accounting and Finance major Rebecca Guerrier, The Impact of Proposition 2-1/2 Overrides: Does a Town's Approval or Rejection Impact Property Values?)

Coming up: how did Winchendon manage financial crunches before now? Some interesting town history!

Community Connector

Your One-Stop Guide to What's Happening in your Town!

FRIDAY MARCH 14

Trivia at the HUB 6:00-8:00 p.m. Join us for a fun evening of Trivia at The HUB! Whether you're looking for a night out with friends, family fun, or a chance to unwind, we've got you covered. Purchase Beer and Wine to help support the CAC while you bowl! Join us for a fantastic evening of bowling, drinks, and community fun! Brought to you by Winchendon Parks and Recreation! Tag your friends and let's make it a strike! 2nd and 4th Fridays January through April. At The HUB, 5 Summer Dr., Winchendon.

SUNDAY MARCH 16

March Crafternoon at the Senior Center 1:00 p.m. Get ready to welcome spring! This month, we're diving into nature-inspired crafting as we create Wood Slice Floral Coasters--a beautiful and functional addition to your home or the perfect handmade gift. $25.00 Pre-registration, $30.00 at the door includes Step-by-Step Instruction--Our instructor will guide you through designing and decorating wood slice coasters with a floral theme; All Supplies Provided--We'll provide wood slices, paints, brushes, and embellishments to help you create your perfect coaster set. Creative Freedom--Customize your coasters with your favorite flowers, colors, and designs--let your imagination bloom! Register at https://www.clover.com/pay-widgets/b289f036-4e76-4428-a75b-4dc71da13d77 Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation Commission in partnership with The Painted Goat. At Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon.

THURSDAY MARCH 20

Culinary Workshop for Teens 3:00-5:00 p.m. Cooking lessons with Growing Places for youth age 13-18. Every other Thursday, free of charge. Learn how to make cookies and soup! Products made will be sold at The HUB and served to seniors every other Friday! Participants will gain hands-on cooking experience and give back to the local senior center by cooking a delicious meal for them! Please fill out a separate RSVP form for each participant you are registering at https://www.the-hub.org/event-details/culinary-workshop. Workshop is held at The HUB, 5 Summer Dr., Winchendon.

FRIDAY MARCH 21

Tamar Russell Brown on Hanging Your Art 5:00-8:00 p.m. Want to learn how to hang your art for a show or home? Need help on how to price your work for shows and galleries? Tamar's lecture will provide insight! Social hour, light refreshments 5:00-6:00 p.m., lecture at 6:00 p.m. $15 for GALA members, $20 for non-members. Register at https://form.jotform.com/250067234539962. Sponsored by GALA. At Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon.

SATURDAY MARCH 22

Say Cheese Food Truck Day! 11:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. Our favorite grilled cheese food truck will be at the farm, slinging your favorite gourmet grilled cheeses! Say hi to the cows and grab a fresh pint of milk to wash down that amazing sandwich! At Smith's Country Cheese, 20 Otter River Rd, Winchendon.

Kiwanis Spring Fling Featuring New Release 7:00 p.m. Come celebrate year 100 with the Kiwanis Club of Winchendon. Dance to the tunes of the area's most fun band, NEW RELEASE with local opening act, Cailte Kelley! Door prizes, raffles, and all money raised goes back into the Kiwanis of Winchendon mission, serving the kids of Winchendon and the surrounding community. At Winchendon American Legion Post 193, 295 School St.

TUESDAY MARCH 25

Dementia Care Training at the Senior Center 5:30 p.m. This month, "Nourishing the Caregiver: Cultivating Calm in Chaos." Trainer: Olivia Companion, certified Dementia Practitioner and Montessori Dementia Care Professional. Fee: $25. Call the Senior Center at 978-297-3155 to register. At Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon.

THURSDAY MARCH 27

Our Neighbor's Kitchen Dinner 5:30 p.m. at UU Church of Winchendon. Dinner will be served in the Parish Hall; take-out available after indoor diners are served. This week's menu TBA. Free-will donation $2 per person, $5 per family; no one turned away. 126 Central Street.

BINGO at the HUB 7:00-9:00 p.m. Play 15 exciting games, just 50 cents per sheet of three squares! Last game is a COVERALL for $1 a sheet, with a GUARANTEED $75 pot! Bring your friends, grab your lucky charm, and get ready for a fun-filled evening of bingo and prizes! Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation Commission. At Winchendon Community HUB, 5 Summer Dr.

FRIDAY MARCH 28

Morton E. Converse Tournmament of Plays 7:00 p.m. Murdock's annual one-act play competition! At Murdock High School auditorium, 3 Memorial Dr, Winchendon.

SATURDAY MARCH 29

Art Critique with Care 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Are you looking for encouragement and support from other artists? Bring up to 2 pieces of your artwork (finished or unfinished) to share with your circle of artists' friends. Join us even if you don't have art to bring! Free to all GALA members. Please RSVP to Janet, Jandu516@gmail.com. Sponsored by GALA. At Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon.

Morton E. Converse Tournmament of Plays 7:00 p.m. Murdock's annual one-act play competition! Final night, with judging and presentation of awards. At Murdock High School auditorium, 3 Memorial Dr, Winchendon.

WEDNESDAY APRIL 2

Mount Wachusett Community College Outreach 11:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. Curious About College? Meet Michelle from MWCC! Michelle, a Recruitment Counselor from Mount Wachusett Community College, will be at the CAC for a meet-and-greet with inquisitive residents. Have questions about college? Wondering if "The Mount" is the right fit for you? Stop by! No appointment needed--just bring your curiosity and questions. We can't wait to see you there! At Winchendon CAC, 5 Summer Dr.

THURSDAY APRIL 3

Fitchburg Art Museum and Farmers Market Trip 2:00-5:00 p.m. Free admission to the Art Museum! Sponsored by Old Murdock Senior Center. Home pick up available upon request or meet at the Senior Center (52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon) at 1:30 to get a ride. RIDES MUST BE SCHEDULED TO CONFIRM YOUR SEAT ON THE BUS. You can sign up online at https://www.townofwinchendon.com/council-aging or call the Senior Center at 978-297-3155.

SATURDAY APRIL 5

Winchendon Farmers Winter Market 10:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. First Saturday of each month! At Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon.

Costume Jewelry Art: "Repurpose unwanted jewelry" 1:00-3:00 p.m. With instructor Kathryn Swantee. Let's create something unique out of unwanted jewelry. Use your imagination and creativity and rummage through our pile of junk jewelry. Bring your needle nose pliers and any junk jewelry you are willing to part with. $30. Limited seating. Register at https://form.jotform.com/250407756341960 or call Meghan at 603-313-3805. Sponsored by GALA. At Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon.

Mardi Gras Murder Mystery Dinner 6:00 p.m. Let us transport you to the heart of New Orleans for an unforgettable Mardi Gras Murder Mystery night filled with suspense, entertainment, and delicious cuisine! Will you be an active participant or a bystander in this thrilling mystery? Choose your fate when purchasing your ticket!
New Orleans Buffet-Style dinner & appetizers
Beer & wine available for purchase
Costumes encouraged! Get ready for a night of mystery, intrigue, and festive fun!
Secure your spot now--tickets won't last long!
Follow this link to purchase your tickets:
https://www.eventeny.com/.../mardigrasmurdermysterydinne.../ Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation. At the HUB, 5 Summer Dr, Winchendon.

TUESDAY APRIL 8

Dementia Caregiver Support Group 5:30 p.m. Meets second Tuesday of each month. Facilitator: Olivia Companion, certified Dementia Practitioner and Montessori Dementia Care Professional. Free of charge. Call the Senior Center at 978-297-3155 to register. At Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon.

THURSDAY APRIL 10

FRIDAY APRIL 11

SUNDAY APRIL 13

Pancake Breakfast with the Easter Bunny 8:00-11:00 a.m. Come and join Cub Scout Pack 193 for delicious pancakes and visit with the Easter Bunny! All proceeds will go to Cub Scout Pack 193. $10 per adult, $5 per child age 10 and under. At the Winchendon American Legion Post 193, 295 School St.

THURSDAY APRIL 17

THURSDAY APRIL 24

FRIDAY APRIL 25

SATURDAY APRIL 26

TUESDAY APRIL 29

Dementia Care Training at the Senior Center 5:30 p.m. This month, "Forms and Stages of Dementia: Exploring the Present and Anticipating the Future." Trainer: Olivia Companion, certified Dementia Practitioner and Montessori Dementia Care Professional. Fee: $25. Call the Senior Center at 978-297-3155 to register. At Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon.

THURSDAY MAY 1

MONDAY MAY 5

Town Election 8:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m. At Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon, 2nd floor auditorium.

WEDNESDAY MAY 7

THURSDAY MAY 8

TUESDAY MAY 13

THURSDAY MAY 15

MONDAY MAY 19

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING 7:00 p.m. At Murdock Middle High School Audtorium, 3 Memorial Dr, Winchendon.

TUESDAY MAY 27

Dementia Care Training at the Senior Center 5:30 p.m. This month, "Activities That Matter: Finding Joy and Purpose in Dementia Engagement." Trainer: Olivia Companion, certified Dementia Practitioner and Montessori Dementia Care Professional. Fee: $25. Call the Senior Center at 978-297-3155 to register. At Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon.

THURSDAY MAY 29

SATURDAY MAY 31

Operation Winchendon Cares "Military Apprecation Month" Drive 8:30-10:30 a.m. Drop off donations to fill packages for our Winchendon-associated military personnel, or stay and help stuff packages to send. At Winchendon American Legion Post 193, 295 School St.

WEDNESDAY JUNE 4

THURSDAY JUNE 5

SATURDAY JUNE 7

Founders Day 12:00-9:00 p.m. Join us for a fun-filled day of live music, delicious food, and family-friendly activities! Bring your family, friends, and lawn chairs for a full day of entertainment, local vendors, and community fun.
Live Music Schedule:
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM - Winchendon Winds
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM - Jared Moore
4:30 PM - 6:30 PM - BriezyJane and the Hurricane
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM - Anderson Daniels (Headliner)
Food Trucks & Local Vendors! Games & Activities for All Ages! Don't miss out on this amazing day of community celebration. See you there! At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

TUESDAY JUNE 10

THURSDAY JUNE 12

SATURDAY JUNE 14

Solstice Fair through the day, times TBA. Road race, parade, vendors, town organizations, food and live music. On Central Street and around the Clark Memorial YMCA, 155 Central St, Winchendon.

SUNDAY JUNE 15

Winchendon Winds Concert Band Performance 2:00 p.m. Free and open to all. At Unitarian Universalist Church of Winchendon, 126 Central St.

SUNDAY JUNE 22

Winchendon Winds Concert Band Performance 2:00 p.m. Free and open to all. At Unitarian Universalist Church of Winchendon, 126 Central St.

TUESDAY JUNE 24

Dementia Care Training at the Senior Center 5:30 p.m. This month, "Dementia Challenges: A Montessori Approach to Success." Trainer: Olivia Companion, certified Dementia Practitioner and Montessori Dementia Care Professional. Fee: $25. Call the Senior Center at 978-297-3155 to register. At Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon.

THURSDAY JUNE 26

SATURDAY JUNE 28

Food Truck Festival and Battle of the Bands 12:00-7:00 p.m. Get ready for a day of great food, live music, and local creativity at the Winchendon Food Truck Festival! Featuring over 15 incredible food trucks serving up a diverse selection of ethnic cuisine, this festival is a paradise for food lovers. Enjoy craft beer and wine, browse unique handmade goods from local crafters and artisans, and experience the energy of our Battle of the Bands, where talented musicians compete for the top spot. Don't miss this ultimate community celebration of food, music, and fun! Free admission! Sponsored by WooTrucks and Winchendon Parks & Recreation. At G.A.R. Park, Murdock Ave and Spruce St, Winchendon.

SUNDAY JUNE 29

Winchendon Winds Concert Band Performance 2:00 p.m. Free and open to all. At Unitarian Universalist Church of Winchendon, 126 Central St.

FRIDAY JULY 11

G.A.R. Park Concert Featuring The Ed Sullivans 5:00-7:00 p.m. The Ed Sullivans - Bringing Classic Rock to Life! Get ready for the best of the British Invasion & American Rock from the '60s & '70s! Band Members:
Donnie Sadowski - Drums & Vocals
Tom Yates - Guitar & Vocals
"Arizona" Doug Urquhart - Bass & Vocals
Follow us for updates, live performances, and classic rock nostalgia! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063503257588. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theedsullivansbandworceste8018. Free to all, bring your own lawn chairs or blankets. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation. At G.A.R. Park, Murdock Ave and Grove St, Winchendon.

FRIDAY AUGUST 8

G.A.R. Park Concert Featuring The Faceless Hobos 5:00-7:00 p.m. Meet The Faceless Hobos - a duo born out of pure passion for music! Pat Townsend and Dave Romanowski first started playing together in 2019 but, like many, were disrupted by the pandemic. However, their love for music kept them going, even jamming in a freezing garage with gloves on! Fast forward a few years, and they've made their way onto the local music scene, performing at open mics and small gigs--always with the goal of having fun and sharing the stage with fellow musicians. You might even catch Maggie Neff joining them for a jam! Their style leans toward Americana, influenced by legends like Guy Clark, John Prine, and Hayes Carll, with a few original tunes in the mix. Free to all, bring your own lawn chairs or blankets. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation. At G.A.R. Park, Murdock Ave and Grove St, Winchendon.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 11

Fall Fest 2025 10:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. On Central Street from CVS to Cumberland Farms--vendors, live music, demonstrations, food, local businesses, crafters and much more! https://www.townofwinchendon.com/9th-annual-winchendon-fall-festival for updates and information. 2025 application for vendors is available at https://www.townofwinchendon.com/9th-annual-winchendon-fall-festival/pages/2025-fall-festival-vendor-application

ONGOING

SUNDAYS

Bowling 12:00-5:00 p.m. $25 for a lane per hour for up to 5 people. At The HUB (Winchendon CAC), 5 Summer Dr.

MONDAYS

Pickleball 9:30 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Chair Yoga with Paula 11:00 a.m. $5 suggested donation per class. This class is suitable for all abilities. At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Friends Book Sale 1:00-3:00 p.m. The Friends of the Library Book Sale is back! Browse a wide selection of used books, DVDs, puzzles, music and more that the whole family will love. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon. We are also happy to share that we are now accepting DONATIONS! Item acceptance is at the discretion of the Friends. All items not accepted WILL be returned to the donor. Donations will ONLY be accepted during book sale hours. Donations should not be deposited in the Library's book drop-off box.
We will NOT accept the following:
* Textbooks of any kind
* Encyclopedias
* Dictionaries
* Any item that contains obsolete information (i.e. medical books)
* Any item in poor condition (scratched or damaged)
* VHS or Cassette Tapes

AA Meeting 7:30 p.m. Open meeting, all are welcome. UU Church of Winchendon, 126 Central Street.

Lego Club for Kids at the Beals 4:00-5:00 p.m. Join us for fun-filled afternoons building Lego creations straight from your imagination! For for information, contact the library at 978-297-0300. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon.

TUESDAYS

Pickleball 9:30 a.m. At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Family Friendly Story Hour at the Chapel 10:00-11:00 a.m. For preschool age children. Parents must stay with their children for the story time. At the Chapel Downtown, 286 Central St, Winchendon.

Strength Training and Fitness Classes with Mary Lee 9:15-10:15 a.m. through Nov 7. Beginner class at 9:15 a.m., Intermediate at 9:45 a.m. Get fit with these fun exercise classes that are customized for all abilities. $5 suggested donation. Sign up online at www.townofwinchendon.com/council-aging or call the Senior Center. Rides available upon request. At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Line Dancing! with Mary Lee 10:30-11:30 a.m. from Sept 5 through Nov 14. $5 Suggested Donation. No one will be turned away if unable to pay. Register at www.townofwinchendon.com/council-aging. At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Yoga Classes with Paula Lashua-Brisbois 4:30-5:30 p.m. All skill levels welcome, mats and blocks available if needed. Open to adults and teens. $10 per class. For more info, contact 978-297-0300, bealsmemoriallibrary@gmail.com or visit https://www.bealslibrary.org. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon.

WEDNESDAYS

Pickleball 9:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Ukelele Ground 10:00 a.m. At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Zumbini 11:00 a.m. At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Bingo! 12:30 p.m. At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Meet-Up With the Kiwanis 6:30 p.m. 2ND AND 4TH WEDNESDAYS EACH MONTH. All are welcome! Come join in community projects, make new friends, make your community better, have some fun! Younger folks welcome. For more information, call Cailte Kelly, 978-413-9930. Hosted by Kiwanis of Winchendon MA. At the Clark Memorial YMCA Community Room (in new gymnastics building down by the bike path), 155 Central St., Winchendon.

THURSDAYS

Pickleball 9:30 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

CFCE Preschool Playgroup at the Beals 1:00-2:00 p.m. Join us for an afternoon of free play, a craft, story time and music & movement. This program is in partnership with the Winchendon CFCE. Contact the library at 978-297-0300 for more information. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon.

Friends Book Sale 5:00-7:00 p.m. The Friends of the Library Book Sale is back! Browse a wide selection of used books, DVDs, puzzles, music and more that the whole family will love. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon. We are also happy to share that we are now accepting DONATIONS! Item acceptance is at the discretion of the Friends. All items not accepted WILL be returned to the donor. Donations will ONLY be accepted during book sale hours. Donations should not be deposited in the Library's book drop-off box.
We will NOT accept the following:
* Textbooks of any kind
* Encyclopedias
* Dictionaries
* Any item that contains obsolete information (i.e. medical books)
* Any item in poor condition (scratched or damaged)
* VHS or Cassette Tapes

FRIDAYS

Pickleball 9:30 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Story Time at the Beals 10:00 a.m. Join us for a fun half hour of stories with Ms. Kristin and Ms. Melissa. This program is in partnership with the Winchendon Community Playgroups & CFCE. Contact the library at 978-297-0300 for more information. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon. Starting Feb 16

Bowling at the HUB 5:00-9:00 p.m. $25 Lane/Hour/Up to 5 People, and shoes included! Sunshine cafe selling snack and beverages Beer and wine for sale. 100% proceeds go to fundraise for the CAC programs and services. At The HUB (Winchendon CAC), 5 Summer Dr.

SATURDAYS

Shopping Transportation to Rindge for Seniors 9:15 a.m. Leaves from the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. Must reserve your ride one week in advance. Call 978-297-3155.

Shopping Transportation to Athol for Seniors 2:00 p.m. Leaves from the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. Must reserve your ride one week in advance. Call 978-297-3155.

Friends Book Sale 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. The Friends of the Library Book Sale is back! Browse a wide selection of used books, DVDs, puzzles, music and more that the whole family will love. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St., Winchendon. We are also happy to share that we are now accepting DONATIONS! Item acceptance is at the discretion of the Friends. All items not accepted WILL be returned to the donor. Donations will ONLY be accepted during book sale hours. Donations should not be deposited in the Library's book drop-off box.
We will NOT accept the following:
* Textbooks of any kind
* Encyclopedias
* Dictionaries
* Any item that contains obsolete information (i.e. medical books)
* Any item in poor condition (scratched or damaged)
* VHS or Cassette Tapes

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