Candidates for Town Election, May 5, 2025

The following citizens will be on the ballot for the Town Election:

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

School Committee, 3-year term (1 seat)
Michael Gaynor (Write-in)
Greg Vine (Write-in)

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

Board of Health (1 seat)
Glenn LaRochelle

Town Moderator (1 seat)
Glenn LaRochelle
Rick Ward (Write-in)

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"

Letter to the Editor

TO THE EDITOR:

Winchendon is facing a Proposition 2-1/2 override. It's a challenge because nobody likes to pay more in taxes or for anything else. However, there is a gap between anticipated revenue and all the usual budget items plus fixed costs. How do we balance the budget? The town's administration proposed eliminating funding for the public library, the senior center, and our parks and recreation department. That will happen UNLESS the Proposition 2-1/2 override passes at the May 5th election. I am sure putting funding for these three departments on the chopping block, (along with more than $1M from other line items) wasn't easy, but the money simply isn't there under the existing tax levy limit. Perhaps the thought was that those three departments aren't strictly necessary to preserve life and limb. Please consider that those targeted departments provide services and resources essential to the QUALITY of life in Winchendon.

In 1909, Mr. Charles L. Beals gave the town $25,000 to build the Beals Memorial Library. In 1882, Ephraim Murdock, Jr. bequeathed the residue of his estate to build a high school in Winchendon. It is now known as Old Murdock and houses our Senior Center. When Wendell P. Clark died in 1919, he left money for what we now call the Clark YMCA. These benefactors invested in education and quality of life for the people of Winchendon. Without those donations, most residents wouldn't have had access to such resources and services. Similar investment continues today thanks to the Robinson-Broadhurst Foundation. Without that continuing largess, those three institutions (along with our schools, churches, public safety departments, etc.) wouldn't be serving residents as they do today.

In the letter Mr. Beals sent with his donation, he said he placed no responsibility for upkeep upon the town because he believed “the citizens of this town will always provide [for the library] with public spirit and enlightened generosity.” Needless to say, a vote of thanks was immediately conveyed to Mr. Beals.

Now is the time for voters who expect and want a QUALITY life in Winchendon to step up and vote YES on May 5th and at the Town Meeting on May 19.

Thank you,
Julia White Cardinal
Winchendon, MA

Town Committee Vacancies
as of April 14, 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 - 13 vacancies
Fence Viewer and Field Driver - 1 vacancy
Finance Committee - 1 vacancy
Historical District Commission - 2 alternate vacancies
Parks & Recreation - 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!

THURSDAY APRIL 17
12:19-1:50 a.m.: building checks, all secure;
12:34 a.m.: investigation (Pine Street), info taken;
12:41 a.m.: suspicious vehicle (Spring Street), checked/secure;
1:11 a.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Community Park, Ingleside Drive), checked/secure;
1:17 a.m.: MV accident, no injuries (Russell Farm Road), report taken;
1:44 a.m.: extra patrols (Citgo Lube and Repair, Water Street), checked/secure;
3:06 a.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Plaza, Central Street), checked/secure;
6:05 a.m.: traffic enforcement (Front Street), services rendered;
8:53 a.m.: dog bite (Maynard Street), report taken;
9:11 a.m,: sex offender registration (Walnut Street), assisted;
12:44 p.m.: trespassing (Mechanic Street), gone on arrival;
2:08 p.m.: mutual aid to scene (other town, Rte 12 @ Rte 119), no fire service necessary;
2:18 p.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road), verbal warning;
3:09 p.m.: animal complaint (Metcalf Street), spoken to;
5:05 p.m.: MV stop (Baldwinville State Road), verbal warning;
5:10 p.m.: 911, abandoned 911 call (Spring Street), 911 non-emergency call;
5:13 p.m.: welfare check/general (Mill Glen Road), spoken to;
5:57 p.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road), verbal warning;
6:06 p.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road), verbal warning;
6:43 p.m.: civil complaint (West Monomonac Road), assisted;
7:17 p.m.: ATV complaint (Bike Path), verbal warning;
7:36 p.m.: 911, road rage (Gardner Road), unable to locate;
7:56 p.m.: ATV complaint (Black Bridge), MV towed/result of private tow;
9:23 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Central Street), removed to hospital;
9:55 p.m.: MV stop (School Street), verbal warning;
10:44 p.m.: fire alarm (Ash Street), services rendered;
11:48 p.m.: burglar alarm (Maple Street), checked/secure;

FRIDAY APRIL 18
12:20 a.m.: MV accident, no injuries (North Central Street), MV towed/result of private tow;
12:34 a.m.: 911, abandoned 911 call (North Central Street), assisted;
12:53- a.m.: building checks, all secure;
4:53 a.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Pleasant Street), removed to hospital;
5:35 a.m.: officer requested (School Street), unable to locate;
6:16 a.m.: 911, 911 hang-up (Baldwinville State Road), no police service necessary;
9:00 a.m.: investigation (Central Street), report taken;
10:18 a.m.: animal complaint (Mechanic Street), referred to ACO;
10:48 a.m.: brush fire (Adams Avenue), services rendered;
12:24 p.m.: disabled vehicle (Main Street), no police service necessary;
12:39 p.m.: MV stop (Baldwinville State Road), verbal warning;
12:57 p.m.: Section 12 (Spruce Street), spoken to;
1:13 p.m.: animal complaint (Otter River Road), referred to other agency;
1:32 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Brown Street), removed to hospital;
2:21 p.m.: 911, brush fire (West Street), fire extinguished;
2:42 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Spruce Street), removed to hospital;
3:08 p.m.: ambulance needed (Central Street), removed to hospital;
3:53 p.m.: disabled vehicle (Gardner Road), spoken to;
4:10 p.m.: welfare check/elderly (Ipswich Drive), spoken to;
4:43 p.m.: officer requested (Ipswich Drive), report taken;
6:08 p.m.: MV operating erratically (Spring Street), unable to locate;
6:52 p.m.: suspicious vehicle (North Ashburnham Road), checked/secure;
7:00 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Central Street), removed to hospital;
7:05 p.m.: lift assist (Hyde Park Drive), removed to hospital;
9:04 p.m.: suspicious person (Gardner Road), removed to hospital;

SATURDAY APRIL 19
1:19-2:40 a.m.: building checks, all secure;
2:49 a.m.: 911, burglary / breaking & entering (Krantz Road), spoken to;
9:15 a.m.: sex offender registration (Walnut Street), assisted;
10:12 a.m.: assist citizens (Bayberry Circle), info taken;
12:08 p.m.: smoke (Elmwood Road), no fire service necessary;
1:07 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Central Street), removed to hospital;
1:45 p.m.: neighbor dispute (Doyle Avenue), report taken;
3:49 p.m.: disabled vehicle (River Street), gone on arrival;
5:17 p.m.: fire/unknown type (North Ashburnham Road), services rendered;
5:33 p.m.: assist citizens (other town, Clark Street), info given;
9:17 p.m.: MV stop (Spring Street @ Glenallen Street), written warning;
9:29 p.m.: dog bite (Jackson Avenue), report taken;
9:46 p.m.: officer requested (Phyllis Road), report taken;
10:35 p.m.: 911, 911 hang-up (Hyde Park Street), unfounded;
11:38 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Tolman Road), removed to hospital;

SUNDAY APRIL 20
12:52-3:45 a.m.: building checks, all secure;
12:54 a.m.: extra patrols (Spring Street), checked/secure;
1:18 a.m.: MV stop (Central Street), summons;
1:41 a.m.: extra patrols (Citgo Lube and Repair, Water Street), checked/secure;
1:58 a.m.: suspicious vehicle (Ingleside Drive), spoken to;
2:52 a.m.: extra patrols (Railroad Street), checked/secure;
5:28 a.m.: noise complaint (Old Centre), spoken to;
6:55 a.m.: 911, lift assist (River Street), assisted;
8:40 a.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Peggi Lane), removed to hospital;
10:05 a.m.: investigation (Monadnock Avenue), referred to ACO;
11:04 a.m.: MV operating erratically (Route 202), referred to other PD;
12:59 p.m.: officer requested (Juniper Street), report taken;
1:29 p.m.: officer requested (Summer Drive), unable to locate;
1:51 p.m.: 911, 911 hang-up (Ash Street), 911 non-emergency call;
1:58 p.m.: officer requested (Spruce Street), report taken;
2:34 p.m.: investigation (Central Street), spoken to;
3:49 p.m.: investigation (School Street), info taken;
5:11 p.m.: 911, MV accident, no injuries (Central Street), report taken;
5:51 p.m.: MV stop (Main Street @ Chase Lane), verbal warning;
5:56 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Woodlawn Street), removed to hospital;
6:09 p.m.: officer requested (Bayberry Circke), spoken to;
6:17 p.m.: officer requested (Main Street), services rendered;

8:18 p.m.: wires down (Glenallen Street), removed traffic hazard;
9:41 p.m.: assault (Court Street), report taken;
9:52 p.m.: MV stop (Spring Street), written warning;
10:24 p.m.: MV operating erratically (Glenallen Street), unable to locate;

Summons: Jose Rolando Torres, age 40, 81 Brigham Park, Fitchburg, MA, charged with: uninsured motor vehicle; operating MV with suspended registration; no inspection sticker.

MONDAY APRIL 21
12:06-3:02 a.m.: building checks, all secure;
12:26 a.m.: MV stop (Ash Street @ Water Street), verbal warning;
12:35 a.m.: suspicious vehicle (Maple Street), checked/secure;
2:43 a.m.: extra patrols (Citgo Lube and Repair, Water Street), checked/secure;
2:54 a.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Community Park, Ingleside Drive), checked/secure;
9:15 a.m.: investigation (Spruce Street), investigated/report taken;
10:13 a.m.: VIN inspection (Front Street), assisted;
10:44 a.m.: suspicious person (Converse Drive), report taken;
12:16 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Phyllis Road), removed to hospital;
12:36 p.m.: sex offender registration (Spring Street), assisted;
1:02 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Krantz Road), removed to hospital;
1:31 p.m.: suspicious (other) (Central Street), spoken to;
2:26 p.m.: ambulance needed (Winter Street), false alarm;
2:35 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (River Street), removed to hospital;
3:16 p.m.: suicide threats (Main Street), referred to other agency;
3:39 p.m.: assist citizen (Vaine Street), no fire service necessary;
4:21 p.m.: animal complaint (Maple Street), referred to ACO;
7:07 p.m.: officer requested (Pearl Drive), report taken;
7:33 p.m.: MV stop (Spring Street), verbal warning;
7:41 p.m.: suspicious person (Spring Street), spoken to;
10:13 p.m.: MV oeprating erratically (Main Street), verbal warning;
10:22 p.m.: fire/unknown type (Spring Street), no fire service necessary;

TUESDAY APRIL 22
12:04 a.m.: ambulance needed (Central Street), removed to hospital;
12:32 a.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Community Park, Ingleside Drive), checked/secure;
12:36 a.m.: extra patrols (Citgo Lube and Repair, Water Street), checked/secure;
1:22 a.m.: extra patrols (Central Street), checked/secure;
1:29-1:32 a.m.: building checks, all secure;
4:35 a.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Metcalf Street), removed to hospital;
5:44 a.m.: 911, MV accident, no injuries (Cedar Terrace), report taken;
7:00 a.m.: animal complaint (Joslin Road), referred to ACO;
9:19 a.m.: officer requested (Hale Street), spoken to;
10:02 a.m.: 911, fraud (Hyde Park Drive), spoken to;
10:21 a.m.: animal complaint (Ipswich Drive), assisted;
10:59 a.m.: suspicious person (Maple Street), arrest;
11:00 a.m.: animal complaint (Hyde Park Drive), referred to ACO;
11:36 a.m.: ambulance needed (Central Street), removed to hospital;
12:13 p.m.: neighbor dispute (Lakeshore Drive), spoken to;
12:55 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Maple Street), removed to hospital;
1:10 p.m.: animal complaint (Baldwinville State Road), referred to ACO;
3:49 p.m.: MV operating erratically (Spring Street), unable to locate;
4:05 p.m.: officer requested (Mill Street), spoken to;
4:08 p.m.: officer requested (other town, Clark Street), property returned to owner;
4:59 p.m.: officer requested (Hale Street), spoken to;
5:19 p.m.: accident (School Street), report taken;
5:45 p.m.: 911, 911 call non-emergency (Maynard Street), 911 non-emergency call;
6:59 p.m.: suspicious vehicle (Main Street), reckless operation;
7:21 p.m.: 911, accident (Brown Street), removed to hospital;
8:22 p.m.: MV stop (Mill Street), traffic citation issued;
8:54 p.m.: MV stop (Forristall Road), spoken to;
9:25 p.m.: 911, lift assist (Highland Street), services rendered;
11:51 p.m.: building check (Central Street), checked/secure;
11:56 p.m.: MV stop (Baldwinville State Road), verbal warning;

Arrests:
Tyler G Peterson, age 28, 285 Hale St, Winchendon, MA, charged with: arrest based on a warrant (2).

WEDNESDAY APRIL 23
12:08 a.m.: MV stop (Spring Street), verbal warning;
12:52- a.m.: building checks, all secure;
12:53 a.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Converse Drive), removed to hospital;
1:46 a.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Community Park, Ingleside Drive), checked/secure;
1:54 a.m.: extra patrols (Citgo Lube and Repair, Water Street), checked/secure;
2:24 a.m.: extra patrols (Central Street), checked/secure;
7:00 a.m.: animal complaint (Ipswich Drive), referred to ACO;
8:05 a.m.: 911, accident (Spring Street), unable to locate;
8:30 a.m.: info/general (Hale Street), advised officer;
9:37 a.m.: warrant of apprehension (Mill Glen Road), warrant arrest;
10:16 a.m.: traffic hazard (Holly Drive), spoken to;
11:44 a.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Woodlawn Street), removed to hospital;
12:10 p.m.: harassment (Ready Drive), report taken;
2:10 p.m.: 911, animal complaint (School Street), referred to ACO;
2:13 p.m.: animal complaint (Brown Street), referred to ACO;
3:08 p.m.: lock-out vehicle (Central Street), assisted;
3:29 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (East Monomonac Road), removed to hospital;
4:15 p.m.: disturbance (Wendell Drive), report taken;
4:51 p.m.: 911, runaway (Maple Street), report taken;
5:14 p.m.: harassment (Pine Street), report taken;
5:21 p.m.: 911, officer requested (Hyde Park Drive), assisted;
6:15 p.m.: repossession of a vehicle (Franklin Street), info taken;
9:39 p.m.: Fire Department call/general (other town, Main Street), services rendered;
10:28 p.m.: MV stop (Central Street), written warning;
11:27 p.m.: neighbor dispute (River Street), report taken;