"Egg My Yard!" April 4 and 9

Let Us Egg Your Yard! Bring the Easter magic straight to your home! Imagine waking up to a yard full of hidden treasures—ready for a fun and festive egg hunt! 20 eggs for $15. Pick a date and we will give you the time slot that we'll be at your home to hide the eggs. Spaces are limited to 20, so don’t miss out! Click here to book your egg-citing experience: https://link.clover.com/urlshortener/h5c4Rj. For more details or to sign up, contact: Shaina at (978) 297-3155 or scunningham@winchendon-ma.gov Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation.

Candidates for Town Election, May 5, 2025

The following citizens pulled nomination papers and returned them by the deadline for the town election.

Board of Selectmen (2 seats)
Christine Haslam-Giovannucci
Audrey LaBrie
Tiffany Newton
Yvonne Senecal

School Committee, 3-year term (2 seats)
None

School Committee, 1-year unexpired term (1 seat)
Tara Teixeira

Board of Health (1 seat)
Glenn LaRochelle

Town Moderator (1 seat)
Glenn LaRochelle

Take the TOY TOWN TROLLEY On Saturdays Beginning January 11! FREE!

Beginning on Saturday, January 11, the Toy Town Trolley will be making three circuits around Winchendon and up to the Rindge shopping areas every Saturday. Rides are FREE to all residents! This service is funded by a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and sponsored by the Town of Winchendon, the Winchendon CAC, the Winchendon Council on Aging and the Winchendon CCAP Task Force.

NOTE: ORIGINAL SCHEDULE HAS CHANGED. Each circuit will start at Hyde Park and stop at the end of Pearl Drive, the Town Hall bus shelter, Dollar Tree Plaza, the YMCA/GFA bus shelter, CVS, the fire station bus shelter, Ipswich Drive, the end of Ready Drive, the end of Goodrich Drive and the Winchendon Community Park. From there the trolley will head up 202 (so you don't have to!) and stop to let off shoppers at Tractor Supply, Market Basket/Marshalls, Walmart and Hannaford. It then returns to Not Just Produced and Sippin' Serendipity and immediately starts its next circuit with Hyde Park. Shoppers who were let off on the first through fourth circuits can reboard the trolley for home when it returns.

The first circuit starts at Hyde Park at 9:15 a.m. and the last circuit leaves Hannaford at 2:51 p.m.

For a grid of the complete updated schedule with times, see https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1E0NiGrFeB_wtjV61TCosVYm0p5g4dKQ6vExvOrI9288/htmlview. For a map of the route, see bit.ly/3W9gGYG. Printed copies are available at the Senior Center (52 Murdock Ave), Winchendon CAC/The Hub (5 Summer Dr), the Clark YMCA (155 Central St) and Not Just Produced (290 Central St).

If you have questions, concerns or suggestions, contact winchendonccap@gmail.com or call 978-297-3155.

Questions or Concerns? Email the Town Manager!

A one-click email form has been added to the town website for all residents who would like to contact the Town Manager with concerns and questions about things happening in the community. The button is at the top of the left column of buttons under "Citizen Action Center" on the left side of the website's front page. The direct link is: https://www.townofwinchendon.com/home/webforms/contact-us

Applications Open for Crafts Vendors at 4th Annual Food Truck Festival

Winchendon Parks & Recreation is looking for craft vendors for our 2025 food truck festival and Battle of the Bands event. The event will be at the G.A.R. Park, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon on Saturday, June 28 from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. If interested, please fill out a vendor application here: https://www.eventeny.com/events/foodtruckfestivalandbattleofthebands-17886/

Applications Open for Vendor Spaces at the 2025 Fall Festival

The 9th Annual Winchendon Fall Festival, to be held on Saturday, October 11, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., is now accepting applications for vendor spaces on Central Street. Contact Nicole Roberts at nroberts@winchendon-ma.gov or 978-297-3537 with any questions or if you wish to volunteer on the day of the event. (We always need more help!) Again, we wish to express our gratitude to everyone for their continued support of this great event.

Access the application information here:

fall_festival_application_tow_2025.pdf

Winchendon Lions Want to Welcome You!

The Winchendon Lions meet 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 through June. Dues are used for all Administrative cost, which is why we can say "All money received through fundraisers 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 a message if no answer!

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

Town Committee Vacancies
as of January 27, 2025

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.

Cultural Council - 12 vacancies
Fence Viewer and Field Driver - 1 vacancy
Finance Committee - 1 vacancy
Historical District Commission - 2 vacancies
Planning Board - 1 alternate vacancy
Winchendon Youth Ad Hoc Committee - 1 vacancy
Zoning Board of Appeals - 1 alternate vacancy

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 of interest to ddennis@winchendon-ma.gov or 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).

Town Committee Monthly Meetings by Week

Agendas, minutes and meeting recordings available on the Town website at Agendas, Minutes & Past Meetings, as well as on the pages for each Board or Committee.

Boards may cancel or change times for meetings, or add extra meetings, based on specific business at hand. Check the Town Meetings Calendar tab at https://www.townofwinchendon.com/

week	MON	TUE	WED	THUR
1st	Communications Committee 4:30pm Board of Health 6:00pm	Planning Board 6:00pm		School Committee 6:00pm
2nd	Board of Selectmen 6:30pm	Finance Committee 7:00pm	Agricultural Commission 7:00pm	Conservation Commission 6:00pm
3rd		Planning Board 6:00pm	Winchendon Redevelopment Authority 5:00pm Zoning Board of Appeals 7:00pm	School Committee 6:00pm
4th	Board of Selectmen 6:30pm

Recordings of town meetings may be viewed on the new "Winchendon TV" website. Most meeting videos are posted within a day or two of the meeting.
https://winchendon.cablecast.tv/CablecastPublicSite/?site=1%C2%A0%C2%A0

FY2026 Budget Process

The Winchendon Public Schools Proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Budget has been posted on the school and town websites for the public to review. You can read it at https://www.townofwinchendon.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif8401/f/pages/fy26_proposed_school_budget.pdf

The Town Manager's presentations and budget workbook for the FY26 town budget are now available on the town website. Direct links are:

2026 General Fund Budget Workbook (with line items)
https://www.townofwinchendon.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif8401/f/news/fy26_budget_workbook_final_for_march_24.pdf

2026 Level-Funded (No Override) Budget Presentation
https://www.townofwinchendon.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif8401/f/news/fiscal_yr_2026_no_override.pdf

2026 Level Service (With Override) Budget Presentation
https://www.townofwinchendon.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif8401/f/news/2026_budget_presentation_brad_final_with_override_20250324.pdf

Fire Department Offering Free COVID-19 Test Kits to Residents

To all Winchendon residents, the Winchendon Fire Department has been able to secure multiple boxes of COVID-19 home test kits at no cost through a program with MA State DPH. Feel free to stop by the station and pick up what you need for you and your family. Here at WFD we will continue to search for ways to bring any additional care possible to our residents. The Fire Department is located at 405 Central St, Winchendon, and the business phone number is 978-297-2324.

Opening on the Finance Committee as of July 1

The Finance Committee will have a vacancy effective July 1, 2025. The duty of the Committee is to investigate the financial affairs of the town, including receipts of and expenditures by the different departments, or any Town Officer; the methods in which the town business is conducted; the general conduct of the town affairs; and all the articles in town warrants for town meetings referred to it; and, in the discharge of its duties, shall have free access to all books of accounts, books of record and all accounts, bills, and vouchers on which money has been or may be paid from the town treasury. If interested in serving on the Finance Committee, send letters of interest with your experience to ddennis@winchendon-ma.gov or mail to Town of Winchendon Attn: Debra Dennis 109 Front Street Winchendon MA 01475

Winchendon Garden Club Scholarship Applications Open

The members of the Winchendon Garden Club have appropriated $2,000 which can be awarded for scholarships in 2025. These will be awarded to residents of Winchendon who are engaged in agricultural or environmental studies (see application for details). Applications must be postmarked no later than April 30, 2025.

Complete details and an application form are at WGC-2025-scholarships.pdf.

Shop Small, Shop Local in 2025!

Click to see larger image

Click here to download a printable PDF of the Small Business Saturday Winchendon shopping map!

Need a Ride?

Check out these transportation services and resources available through the Winchendon Community Connection and Access Project

• Rides available as far as Worcester for medical appointments, shopping, recreation, employment and more!
• All residents can get a ride. Priority is given to Senior Citizens and residents with disabilities.
• Most rides are FREE through MART or at a low suggested donation to the Winchendon Senior Center.
• Wheelchair accessible vehicles available.

Request a ride over the phone by calling 978-297-3155, Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturdays 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Request a ride online at www.winchendon-cac.org

Request a ride in person at the Winchendon Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave, Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., or the Winchendon CAC, 5 Summer Dr, Wednesday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

If you have questions, reach out to winchendonccap@gmail.com or call 978-297-3155.

Let us help you get where you need to go!

Employment

New Listings!

THURDAY MARCH 20
12:58 a.m.: suspicious vehicle (Memorial Drive), checked/secure;
1:05-3:14 a.m.: building checks, all secure;
1:16 a.m.: traffic enforcement (Gardner Road), no police service necessary;
1:52 a.m.: investigation (Pine Street), info taken;
5:06 a.m.: ambulance needed (Ipswich Drive), accidental/defective alarm;
9:58 a.m.: fire/automatic box alarm (Hyde Park Drive), services rendered;
1:22 p.m.: sex offender registration (School Street), assisted;
2:31 p.m.: runaway (Hospital Road), services rendered;
3:19 p.m.: welfare check/elderly (address not published), spoken to;
3:32 p.m.: runaway (Hospital Road), removed to hospital;
3:52 p.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road), traffic citation issued;
4:54 p.m.: lock-out vehicle (Juniper Street), service rendered;
5:14 p.m.: officer requested (Pearl Drive), report taken;
5:28 p.m.: 911, fire/structure (South Royalston Road), services rendered;
8:51 p.m.: extra patrols (Pine Street), area search;
8:59 p.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Community Park, Ingleside Drive), checked/secure;
9:17 p.m.: extra patrols (Lock'd Up Storage), checked/secure;
9:24 p.m.: extra patrols (North Ashburnham Road), area search;
9:30 p.m.: MV stop (Glenallen Street), verbal warning;

FRIDAY MARCH 21
12:32 p.m.: MV stop (Baldwinville State Road), written warning;
12:42 p.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Community Park, Ingleside Drive), checked/secure;
12:44 a.m.: extra patrols (One Stop Plaza, Main Street), checked/secure;(Winchendon Community Park, Ingleside Drive), checked/secure;
12:53-1:15 a.m.: building checks, all secure;
1:10 a.m.: suspicious vehicle (Gardner Road), services rendered;
1:13 a.m.: suspicious vehicle (Pine Street), spoken to;
1:34 a.m.: extra patrols (Lake Dennison Beach Area, Main Street), checked/secure;
2:15 a.m.: fire alarm, (South Royalston Road), services rendered;
2:21 a.m.: suspicious vehicle (Central Street), spoken to;
8:49 a.m.: Fire Department call/general (Spruce Street), referred to other agency;
12:01 p.m.: sex offender registration (Spring Street), assisted;
12:36 p.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road), verbal warning;
1:38 p.m.: 911, MV operating erratically (Gardner Road), area search negative;
1:45 p.m.: sex offender registration (Main Street), assisted;
2:25 p.m.: 911, 911 hang-up (Maple Street), 911 non-emergency call;
3:28 p.m.: officer requested (Maple Street), property returned to owner;
5:49 p.m.: officer requested (Vaine Street), report taken;
6:11 p.m.: animal complaint (Gardner Road @ Teel Road), services rendered;
6:18 p.m.: officer requested (Gardner Road @ Old Gardner Road), services rendered;
6:26 p.m.: 911, 911 call non-emergency (Ash Street), services rendered;
6:55 p.m.: burglar alarm (Highland Street), secured building;
7:10 p.m.: 911, lift assist (Maple Street), removed to hospital;
9:25 p.m.: registration check (Ash Street), no police service necessary;

SATURDAY MARCH 22
12:11-1:22 a.m.: building checks, all secure;
12:19 a.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Community Park, Ingleside Drive), checked/secure;
12:31 a.m." extra patrols (Citgo Lube and Repair, Water Street), checked/secure;
12:33 a.m.: exra patrols (North Ashburnham Road), checked/secure;
12:38 a.m.: investigation (Pine Street), info taken;
1:05 a.m.: suspicious vehicle (Main Street), spoken to;
1:23 a.m.: extra patrols (Summer Drive), checked/secure;
1:44 a.m.: suspicious vehicle (School Street), checked/secure;
1:49 a.m.: extra patrols (Saloom Furniture Mfg, Murdock Avenue), checked/secure;
2:10 a.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Plaza, Central Street), checked/secure;
9:24 a.m.: fire/automatic box alarm (Gardner Road), services rendered;
9:35 a.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road @ Spring Street), verbal warning;
10:35 a.m.: MV stop (Spring Street @ Ash Street), spoken to;
10:36 a.m.: smoke (Harvard Street), no cause for complaint;
10:42 a.m.: 911, Section 12 (address not published), assisted;
10:51 a.m.: vandalism (Ash Street), report taken;
11:03 a.m.: MV stop (Baldwinville Road @ Mill Glen Road), traffic citation issued;
11:38 a.m.: ambulance needed (East Street), removed to hospital;
11:54 a.m.: ambulance needed (Front Street), removed to hospital;
1:38 p.m.: ambulance needed (School Street), removed to hospital;
1:47 p.m.: animal complaint (Baldwinville Road), referred to ACO;
2:51 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (other town, Graves Avenue), referred to other PD;
3:11 p.m.: MV accident, no injuries (Main Street), MV towed/result of private tow;
4:41 p.m.: lock-out vehicle (School Street), services rendered;
5:23 p.m.: officer requested (other town, Winchendon Road), spoken to;
5:23 p.m.: officer requested (Tolman Road), spoken to;
6:42 p.m.: officer requested (Oak Street), spoken to;
7:20 p.m.: officer requested (Lakeshore Drive), spoken to;
7:31 p.m.: officer requested (Webster Street), unable to locate;
7:38 p.m.: 911, MV operating erratically (other town, 140), referred to other PD;
7:40 p.m.: 911, disabled vehicle (other town, Pearl Street), referred to other PD;
8:24 p.m.: MV stop (Central Street), traffic citation issued;
8:52 p.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road @ Spring Street), verbal warning;
8:58 p.m.: suspicious (other) (Glenallen Street), spoken to;
9:01 p.m.: officer requested (Spring Street), protective custody;
9:55 p.m.: officer requested (Oak Street), spoken to;
11:23 p.m.: 911, officer requested (Brown Street), spoken to;
11:52-11:59 p.m.: building checks, all secure;

Summons:
Armas K Pelto, age 61, 16 South Royalston Rd, Winchendon, MA, charged with: negligent operation of motor vehicle; marked lanes violation.

Protective Custody:
Derek Michael Cappucci, age 43, 15 Christmas Tree Dr Bldg H0, Ashburnham, MA, protective custody.

SUNDAY MARCH 23
1:17 a.m.: officer requested (Spruce Street), services rendered;
1:38-3:16 a.m.: building checks, all secure;
1:40 a.m.: suspicious (other) (Spring Street), checked/secure;
1:41 a.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Dry Cleaners, East Grove Street), checked/secure;
2:57 a.m.: suspicious vehicle (Central Street), checked/secure;
2:59 a.m.: extra patrols (Citgo Lube and Repair, Water Street), checked/secure;
3:08 a.m.: extra patrols (Bowling Alley), checked/secure;
3:12 a.m.: extra patrols (Doody Burial Vaults, Summer Drive), checked/secure;
3:13 a.m.: extra patrols (The Winchendon School, Ash Street), checked/secure;
3:19 a.m.: traffic hazard (Murdock Avenue), services rendered;
3:22 a.m.: extra patrols (Webster Street), checked/secure;
9:08 a.m.: extra patrols (North Ashburnham Road), checked/secure;
10:20 a.m.: burglar alarm (Spring Street), no police service necessary;
10:51 a.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Mill Street), removed to hospital;
11:44 a.m.: officer requested (other town, Garage Street), spoken to;
12:10 p.m.: 911, 911 hang-up (Hitchcock Road), accidental/defective alarm;
12:13 p.m.: 911, MV operating erratically (Spring Street), spoken to;
12:30 p.m.: 911, burglar alarm (School Square), checked/secure;
1:31 p.m.: 911, officer requested (Spruce Street), info given;
2:16 p.m.: officer requested (Central Street), spoken to;
6:04 p.m.: officer requested (Main Street), spoken to;
6:22 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Pleasant Street), removed to hospital;
7:04 p.m.: property lost (Eagle Road), info taken;
7:55 p.m.: ambulance needed (Phyllis Road), removed to hospital;
8:16 p.m.: 911, 911 hang-up (other town, Woods Crossing Road), referred to other PD;
9:13 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Crescent Road), removed to hospital;
11:58 p.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Community Park, Ingleside Drive), checked/secure;

TUESDAY MARCH 25
12:05-2:45 a.m.: building checks, all secure;
12:11 a.m.: MV stop (Spring Street), verbal warning;
12:52 a.m.: MV stop (Baldwinville State Road), traffic citation issued;
5:33 a.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Central Street), removed to hospital;
5:38 a.m.: 911, fire/carbon monoxide incident (School Street), services rendered;
6:41 a.m.: assist other police department (Front Street), services rendered;
7:56 a.m.: ambulance needed (Ash Street), removed to hospital;
10:17 a.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road), verbal warning;
10:22 a.m.: Keep The Peace (Cummings Road), unable to locate;
10:25 a.m.: property found (Gardner Road), property returned to owner;
11:22 a.m.: sex offender registration (Walnut Street), info taken;
12:55 p.m.: 911, intoxicated person (Pleasant Street @ Oak Street), removed to hospital;
1:01 p.m.: ambulance needed (Pleasant Street), removed to hospital;
1:20 p.m.: investigation (Town Farm Road), spoken to;
1:22 p.m.: Fire Department call/general (Spring Street), services rendered;
1:54 p.m.: MV stop (Main Street), verbal warning;
2:45 p.m.: registration check (Spring Street), verbal warning;
4:21 p.m.: officer requested (Main Street), spoken to;
4:32 p.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road), verbal warning;
4:38 p.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road), verbal warning;
4:50 p.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road), traffic citation issued;
4:53 p.m.: assist citizen (Central Street), assisted;
5:01 p.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road), verbal warning;
5:13 p.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road), verbal warning;
5:22 p.m.: MV stop (Spring Street), summonsl;
6:23 p.m. ambulance needed (Central Street), removed to hospital;
6:27 p.m.: MV stop (Central Street), traffic citation issued;
7:00 p.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road), verbal warning;
7:04 p.m.: MV stop (Baldwinville State Road), verbal warning;
7:08 p.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road), verbal warning;
7:14 p.m.: MV stop (Main Street), verbal warning;
7:20 p.m.: MV stop (Front Street @ Lincoln Avenue), verbal warning;
7:27 p.m.: MV stop (Spring Street), traffic citation issued;
7:49 p.m.: MV stop (Central Street), traffic citation issued;
9:16 p.m.: MV stop (North Street), verbal warning;
9:44 p.m.: smoke (Eagle Road), no cause for complaint;

Summons: Joseph Calvert Robichaud, age 44, 12 School Sq Apt #2F, Winchendon, MA, charged with: uninsured motor vehicle.

WEDNESDAY MARCH 26
1:27-3:02 a.m.: building checks, all secure;
8:54 a.m.: warrant of apprehension (Main Street), arrest;
8:59 a.m.: animal complaint (School Street @ West Street), no police service necessary;
9:14 a.m.: mental health issue (address not published), services rendered;
9:30 a.m.: animal complaint (Highland Street), referred to ACO;
10:30 a.m.: MV stop (Roberts Way), traffic citation issued;
10:37 a.m.: mental health issue (address not published), spoken to;
11:15 a.m.: animal complaint (Brown Street), referred to ACO'
11:58 a.m.: Keep The Peace (Cummings Road), spoken to;
2:04 p.m.: ambulance needed (Ipswich Drive), removed to hospital;
3:27 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Beaman Court), removed tio hospital;
3:34 p.m.: officer requested (other town, Worcester Road), info taken;
3:46 p.m.: investigation (River Street), unable to locate;
3:55 p.m.: officer requested (School Square), property returned;
5:07 p.m.: animal complaint (Ash Street), referred to ACO;
5:49 p.m.: 911, officer requested (Cross Street), report taken;
7:18 p.m.: investigation (River Street), services rendered;
7:42 p.m.: lock-out vehicle (Spring Street), services rendered;
8:00 p.m.: officer requested (Cross Street), services rendered;
10:21 p.m.: 911, officer requested (Brown Street), removed to hospital;

Summons
Kyle Arnoldo Silva, age 34, 336 Meridian St Apt #3, East Boston, MA, charged with: uninsured motor vehicle; operating MV with suspended registration; no inspection sticker.