The Winchendon Courier

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Week of May 8 to May 15, 2025

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Annual Town Meeting - Monday, May 19, 2025

7:00 p.m., Murdock High School Gymnasium, 3 Memorial Dr

Final Town Meeting Warrant
www.townofwinchendon.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif8401/f/news/atm_warrant_5.19.2025.pdf

Official Town Election Results
www.townofwinchendon.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif8401/f/news/official_results_5.5.2025.pdf

This Week's Winchendon News

$1.9M Prop 2-1/2 Override Passes by a Squeak--12 Votes Made the Difference in Town Election

by Inanna Arthen
Winchendon voters proved that every vote counts in the Town Elections held on Monday, May 5. 1,794 voters flocked to the polls to cast ballots for a hotly contested Board of Selectmen race, multiple write-in candidates for School Committee and Town Moderator, and two Proposition 2-1/2 override choices: a $1.9 million override to support a tight "level service" town budget, and a $2.9 million override that would allow $1 million for additional flexibility for both the school district and the town.

The polls at Old Murdock Senior Center were bustling at 11:00 a.m., and parking was a challenge. Alternating "Vote Yes" and "Vote No" signs lined the curb along Murdock Avenue in front of the building, along with candidates' signs. Several candidates were outside holding signs and talking to voters.

Outside the second floor auditorium where the polling stations were set up, a long bake sale table with informational brochures and handouts about the Beals Memorial Library, Senior Center and Recreation Department events and schedules was staffed by volunteers and employees. Town Manager Bill McKinney was standing in the hallway to greet voters and answer any questions that anyone might have.

Suspense levels were burying the needle in Winchendon that evening, with numerous queries on social media about when the results would be posted and whether anyone had seen them yet. The unofficial tallies were posted to the town website at 10:59 p.m.

Question 1, the $1.9 million override, passed with 896 votes in favor, 884 opposed. 14 voters left the question blank. Question 2, the $2.9 million override, was trounced, with 645 votes in favor, 1,105 opposed.

The race for two Board of Selectmen seats was something of an upset. Incumbent Audrey LaBrie received 716 votes, and Tiffany Newton received 625. Yvonne Senecal received 590 votes, and Christine Haslam-Giovannucci received 521 votes. Ms. Senecal and Ms. Haslam-Giovannucci coordinated their campaigns, with automatic calls going out to residents from The Committee to Elect Yvonne Senecal and Christine Haslam-Giovannucci, and they stood out in front of Dollar Tree together on Saturday greeting the public and boosting their visibility.

The race for the three-year School Committee seat had no candidates on the ballot--all the candidates were write-ins, with Barbara Zisk throwing her hat into the ring quite late in the game. 1,471 voters left this space blank. Greg Vine received 121 votes and claimed the seat. Ms. Zisk received 70 votes. Michael Gaynor, who was actually running for the one-year unexpired term, received 63 votes for this seat.

Only one person filed nomination papers for the one-year unexpired School Committee term, Tara Teixeira, and she won handily with 983 votes. Write-in candidate Mr. Gaynor received 101 votes. Mr. Vine received 7 write-in votes and Ms. Zisk received 11.

Glenn LaRochelle won the Town Moderator's seat with 926 votes, while write-in candidate Rick Ward, who will be retiring from the Board of Selectmen, received 379.

Mr. LaRochelle also ran for Board of Health as an incumbent, and won handily with 1,108 votes. Since candidates who win two seats must pick one, it appears that write-in candidate Ms. Zisk, with 49 votes, will take the seat. Ms. Zisk has been very involved with situations in town related to health and the environment, especially the W.L. French landfill capping project.

It has been an exciting election season in Winchendon. On Saturday, May 3, residents supporting the override and the three town departments slated to be closed down if it failed held a "stand-out" in Blair Square from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., holding signs and waving at drivers who passed. A few people opposed to the override also came out with signs, and engaged passers-by, but the two factions stayed away from each other and did not engage in any conflicts or unpleasantness (unlike a memorable morning in Blair Square before the Presidential election last fall). Just around the corner, several candidates stood all together, including Ms. Senecal, Ms. Haslam-Giovannucci and Mr. Ward.

With 8,262 registered voters in Winchendon (as of February 1, 2025, according to the Secretary of the Commonwealth election information website), turnout was 21.7 percent, which isn't bad for a town election, but seems low for an election with $1.9 million at stake.

Voter registration has been increasing steadily in Winchendon even though the population has stayed about the same. Since 2019, the total number of voters in Winchendon has gone up by about 300 per year. In 2025, for the first time, registered Republicans outnumber registered Democrats. But the largest, and rapidly increasing, majority of voters are "unenrolled"--not affiliated with any political party. As of February 1, 2025, Winchendon had 1,037 Democrats (12.5 percent), 1,052 Republicans (12.7 percent) and 6,049 "unenrolled" (73.2 percent).

Town officials anticipate a heavy attendance at Annual Town Meeting on Monday, May 19. Town Meeting will be held in the Murdock High School gymnasium, which allows people to access seating, and get up to speak, more easily than the theater row seating in the auditorium. Town Meeting is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m., but voters may want to arrive earlier than usual. Murdock High School is at 3 Memorial Drive.

Any resident with questions about Town Meeting can contact the Town Clerk's office.

FinCom Public Hearing on Annual Town Meeting Warrant Includes Long Debates on Schools, Capital Spending

by Inanna Arthen
On Tuesday, April 29, the Finance Committee held a public hearing on the 2025 Annual Town Meeting Warrant, which the Board of Selectmen had voted to finalize in their meeting on Monday, April 28. Both the FinCom and the BOS attended the hearing.

Before the hearing formally began, BOS member Audrey LaBrie made a motion to amend the warrant as approved the previous night, by removing Article 19, which asked voters to approve a level-funded Winchendon Public Schools budget in the event that no override passed. Town Manager Bill McKinney had entered a dollar amount based on FY25's budget without increases, but as he explained, only a number that had been voted on and submitted by the School Committee could appear in a warrant article. The BOS voted to remove Article 19.

FinCom Chair Tom Kane then opened the hearing, explaining to attendees present that with a hearing, the public could comment and ask questions. Mr. Kane asked that the Town Manager and Board members be allowed to comment first, and then he would open the floor to the public. "Our goal tonight is to respond to questions in a way that it clears up your understanding as to what the article is all about. There are, let's say, some unusual articles" in this warrant, Mr. Kane acknowledged.

Article 1, to hear and act upon the report of the Finance Committee and any other reports there might be, is the first article in every Town Meeting.

Article 2, to transfer from Free Cash the sum of $24,418.92 to pay outstanding bills from Walgreens for April, May and June of 2024. These are related to veterans' benefits. Mr. McKinney explained that it was easier for the veterans to just get their medications and have Walgreens bill the town directly, but these bills were submitted after the payment period ended. It requires a 4/5 majority vote because only a Special Town Meeting requires a 9/10 majority vote for paying prior year bills. Resident Jane LaPointe asked if the town is reimbursed for these expenses, and Mr. McKinney said yes, 75 percent is reimbursed.

Article 3, to transfer from Free Cash the sum of $293,987 to cover the deficit in the FY25 Snow and Ice Account. This came in slightly lower than Department of Public Works Director Brian Croteau's earlier estimate of between $300K-$350K. Free Cash is not yet certified, Mr. McKinney said, so the town doesn't know for sure whether it has that much in Free Cash. He assured the the Boards that Free Cash will be certified by Town Meeting.

Mr. Kane asked what happens to articles specifying Free Cash if there isn't enough. Mr. McKinney said that Snow and Ice can roll over to next year--it'a allowed to be in deficit because it's always unpredictable. Other articles would need to find another funding source. Ms. LaBrie suggested that the Boards take no action to recommend or not recommend articles involving Free Cash, because the dollar amount was uncertain.

Article 4, to transfer from Free Cash an unknown sum to fund other operating costs of FY25. This article has an amount of $0.00 because Free Cash is unknown and the costs are unknown. Mr. McKinney said this was a "placeholder" in case accounts that had gone over, such as unemployment or legal services, needed to be covered. If those items could be funded from other sources, they would be. Extra money in the budget goes into Free Cash at the end of the year anyway. "it's just a way to be able to have some flexibility," he said.

Article 5, to appropriate $50,000 from the Water Enterprise Fund Retained Earnings to cover additional expenses for FY25. (Enterprise Funds are independent from the town budget and entirely funded by fees from ratepayers and for services like hook-ups and inspections. Retained earnings are the amount left over after paying budgeted expenses. Ideally, this is not a large amount; the fund should be close to balancing.)

Mr. Croteau came forward to address this and the next two articles. He explained that the balance in the Enterprise Fund is also being certified and isn't known yet, but last year it was about $50,000. It was needed because of the rising costs of materials and the number of water line breaks needing repair. He said, "I'll be honest, I have an open position right now that I'm not filling till July, because I know what dire straits we're in, and I'm trying to save as much money as possible by not filling that position."

Article 6, to appropriate $75,000 from the Wastewater [sewer] Enterprise Fund Retained Earnings to cover additional expenses. Mr. Croteau explained that the wastewater plant utilizes solar power, which is reduced in snowy winters, and costs for chemicals may go up because the the tariffs. Any unspent amount would go back to Retained Earnings.

Article 7, to appropriate $100,000 from the Transfer Station Enterprise Fund Retained Earnings to cover additional expenses. Mr. Croteau explained that the transfer station is getting more use, and the price of demolition disposal has gone up.

Article 8, to set the maximum amount that can be spent for town revolving accounts. This is approved each year and the amounts don't generally change.

Article 9, to appropriate the sum of $7,700 for the Senior Tax Work-off Program. This is the same amount as last year. The Senior Tax Work-off Program allows senior citizens to work in odd jobs for the town in exchange for an offset on their property taxes.

Article 10, General Government [i.e. the town budget] with $2.9 million override, $19,684,155 for FY26. Mr. McKinney explained that this higher override amount would give a $1M buffer that would be applied as follows: "$200,000 were proposed to go into stabilization accounts, including stabilization separation benefits, and then the rest will be split between the schools and the town. So the schools will get an additional $400,000. The town's $400,000 we divided $200,000 for road paving, $50,000 for police department expenses, $50,000 for fire department expenses, $25,000 for Senior Center expenses, $25,000 for library expenses, and then $50,000 for legal fees, so we can go after some of the blighted properties in town."

Because the $2.9M override failed at the ballot vote on Monday, May 5, this article will be passed over.

FinCom member Mike Giovannucci asked about what pay increases were in the three budgets, and who would be getting an increase if there was no override. Mr. McKinney said that if the override didn't pass, no one was getting an increase except the Fire Chief. If the override doesn't pass, Mr. McKinney will not take an increase, he said.

Resident Mike Barbaro came forward to say that the unemployment numbers were not pulled out in the budget. Mr. McKinney said that number was $150,000. Mr. Barbaro said that the number is inaccurate since if the override fails and people are laid off, it will go up, at least another $50,000. "You all can sit here and count the number of employees that we're going to lose, and do the math, 60 percent of their salary is on unemployment. Times 12 to 15 people, you're going to burn through that unemployment by the end of the summer," he said.

Article 11, General Government with $1.9 million override, $19,284,155. This would restore funding for the library, Senior Center and Recreation, plus the funds the town gives to the Clark YMCA and Winchendon CAC, and include a reserve account for union contract negotiations.

Article 12, General Government with no override, level-funded, $18,221,055. Mr. McKnney explained, "We'd be closing the library and the Senior Center, although we would try to maintain Meals on Wheels, we would be losing Recreation, although we would try to, at least through the Robinson Broadhurst, be able to at least have the concerts and activities at the amphitheater, and then it would level fund the police, the fire, the schools, although they have a different number I know that's coming up later in DPW, so it would mean less shift coverage, potentially for police and fire, the roads not being cleared as well during the winter. As you can see, we're already over by $300,000 this year. We wouldn't be able to afford to go over so we'd have to cut back on that. And then obviously, there'll be no raises for almost anybody" on the town side.

Mr. McKinney explained that the detailed line-item "Budget Book" on the town website shows side-by-side comparisons of the different budgets.

Article 13, to appropriate the sum of $1,363,000 for direct costs, and $255,154 for indirect costs, from the Water Enterprise Fund for FY26. (Although Enterprise Funds are self-supporting, their budget needs to be approved by Town Meeting. Indirect costs are costs the Water Department shares with the town as a whole, such as insurance, but the Water Department pays for their share.) The Water Department budget will be balanced with the rate increases just approved by the BOS, Mr. Croteau said.

Article 14, to appropriate the sum of $1,293,483 from Wastewater receipts and betterment revenues, for direct costs, and $146,443 for indirect costs, from the Wastewater Enterprise Fund for FY26. Mr. Croteau said that as with Water, the increased usage rates balance this budget.

Article 15, to appropriate the sum of $307,000 from Transfer Station receipts, for direct costs, and $26,802 for indirect costs, of the Transfer Station Enterprise Fund. Mr. Croteau explained that the budget has gone up because transfer station usage is increasing.

Article 16, to appropriate $125,674 to operate the Public, Educational, and Governmental (PEG) Access Media Enterprise Fund, and indirect costs of $5,326, funded by PEG Access receipts. Mr. McKinney explained that these funds come from the cable company, Comcast. "I think there's a fee on everyone's cable bill that ends up coming to the town to cover being able to broadcast these meetings," he said.

Article 17, School Department Budget with $2.9 million override, $18,451,070. Because the $2.9M override failed at the ballot vote on Monday, May 5, this article will be passed over.

Article 18, School Department Budget with $1.9 m`illion override, $18,051,070. This was the budget the School Committee did a public hearing on, and which they had proposed--it's a level-service budget.

Article 19, removed.

Article 20, to appropriate $633,000 for the town's assessment for Montachusetts Regional Vocational Technical School.

Article 21, to appropriate $27,500 as a grant to the Winchendon Community Action Committee (CAC). Mr. McKinney explained that the amount the town gives the Clark YMCA is part of the budget, under Selectmen Expenses, and is not approved as a separate warrant article. If the override passes, it will be $10,000. The Clark is supported because its athletic field is the only place in town where medical helicopters can land when there is a serious medical emergency.

Article 22, to appropriate or borrow an unspecified amount "to be expended under the direction of the Winchendon Public Schools" for a feasibility and schematic design for the potential replacement of windows, roofs and doors at Toy Town Elementary and Memorial Elementary, and potential replacement of the roof at Murdock Middle High School. This article has been debated at considerable length since it first came up at School Committee budget discussions last February. The school district is seeking approval for funds to pay for a feasability study for work which would be largely funded by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) if approved. But the article as presented has no specific dollar amount, which concerns the FinCom.

Mr. McKinney explained, "The amount is in the motion, but this language for the article itself was what our bond Council and MSBA's council said that we had to use, so the motion also prepared by MSBA and our bond Council will have the $200,000 amount in there."

FinCom member Charles Cort said, "I guess my confusion is, do the motions that are read at town meetings get published somewhere? Because this document would be published, but it doesn't have an amount, you know what I mean? I understand that the motion is going to have the amount, but if this is the only document that gets published, and not the motions--" Dr. Ward picked up, "then historically you go back to look, and there's no dollar amount." [Courier note: the motions are recorded exactly as seconded and voted upon on Town Meeting floor in the Town Meeting minutes, and published in that year's Town Report.]

School Committee Chair Karen Kast came forward to say, "One thing that isn't as clear from this is that we will hopefully get the earmark from Senator Comerford that will cover this. But in addition to the grant that comes from the MSBA, that means that that money comes back to us. So even though we're borrowing this, this money comes back to the project." She said that the School Committee is also talking with Representatives Jon Zlotnik and Susannah Whipps, and that she knows Winchendon is behind on getting state earmarks. The budget negotiations are going on now in the State House.

Board of Selectmen member Erika Eitland said, "I think the important thing with MSBA, and I think to your point, Dr Ward, is just, if we're going to go for this, we've got to go all the way for this. And I think one thing that's really important for the town to note, and again, I don't think it will be in the motion, is that if we are to accept this money from MSBA, they will reimburse us up to 77.5 percent. The most that they can do is 80 percent, so we are getting the most we possibly can from the state on that project.

"I think one thing that you know we talked about as a board yesterday was the fact that to get a new school, if something happens to these existing schools, we don't have the budget for that one. To me, I think this $200,000 that we're talking about becomes an easier pill to swallow if the earmarks come through. The world is very uncertain. If that isn't the case, though, whatever reason, it is still a pretty good deal for this town in terms of, it's being more proactive than reactive, because we know what happened with the boiler in the past and the consequences of that. So the fact that roofs, windows, doors, those are things that help secure those buildings for a longer lifetime." If the town takes this step and doesn't move forward to the next one, the money spent on this will be wasted, she said.

Ms. Kast pointed out that the schematic designs take a good two years, so it's not like the town will immediately be asked for another big expenditure in a few months. The process of meeting with legislators and looking for more sources of funding could help the whole town, not just the schools. In two to three years the town may be in a better place.

FinCom member Mike Giovannucci asked how much could the town be stuck with if the reimbursement doesn't come through--could it be $300,000 or more? Mr. McKinney said the $200,000 figure came from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marc Gosselin. Ms. Kast came back to the mic to say that the bidders bid for each school, and are bound by their contract with MSBA to stay within certain parameters. She swore that if the reimbursement doesn't some through, she would personally go out looking for people who can help the town get reimbursed.

Later in the meeting, as the Boards discussed their recommendations for each article, Dr. Ward said, "I can't make a motion on this because I understand the need for roofs and doors and possibly on the High School and at least one of the other two schools, but I don't know that it's feasible to put new windows and doors on a building that we may not need. It bothers me that the school department did not do their due diligence." She said that the repairs will ultimately cost $10 million to $20 million, and if the town doesn't approve that, the money spent on designs will have been wasted.

After a discussion about whether the schools could be reorganized to use fewer buildings, Ms. LaBrie said, "It's an investment in our infrastructure as a whole. You know, should the school decide that there is some consolidation or reconfiguration of the school building needs, I can see other use of those buildings. Toy Town could be repurposed into a new community center, or something like that. It's important that we invest in those buildings and don't let them fall any further down the disrepair road."

Ms. Eitland said, "My whole PhD was focused on MSBA data...one thing that really struck me when I heard this had come through is I have never, ever seen a deal like this come through for a town our size and our administrative capacity. The fact that MSBA reached out to us and said, Hey, we're worried about your buildings, and we think we should give you money, because you should activate this resource, to me, it's something that we as a state already pay into. One cent of our sales tax goes to MSBA. We have not cashed in on that. I think it's something that MSBA, if we say no right now, they will not come back to us. Last year, they received 67 applications. They could only fund eleven." She added that if the school district was considering regionalization, maintaining the buildings showed that Winchendon would be a good partner, with buildings that other parents would want to send their kids to.

Article 23, to appropriate from Free Cash or borrowing $500,000 to pay for boiler improvements at Murdock Middle High School. Mr. Croteau explained that there was no bid for a more definite dollar amount because the department didn't have the funding to send out an RFQ. "The first step is securing the money to be able to do the design. There is no money right now to do the design. The design is part of the $500,000," he said. FinCom member Dr. Maureen Ward said it "seemed counterproductive" because appropriating this amount would tell prospective bidders that the town had that much money. Mr. Croteau explained, "When you look at how this goes out, it goes out and it goes out closed bid, competitively, and when the engineering firm designs it, they put an evaluation on the project. So if they come back and say that it's valued at $400,000 then we save $100,000. But as part of any project, the engineering firm that does the bid specs puts a value on it. We don't have the money to do the bid spec and the drawings, so it kind of puts us in bit of a quandary."

Mr. McKinney added that for "a quicker project like this" the town wouldn't borrow money to cover it until it was done. If money had to be borrowed or transfered, it would require a Town Meeting vote. Mr. Croteau said that of the two boilers at the High School, one is now "offline."

Article 24, approve $74,000 from the police 911 Grant for a new police cruiser. The 911 Grant comes from the state because Winchendon participates in a regional dispatch system, partnering with Royalston, as explained by Chief Dan Wolski in the last override information session on April 29. There was funding for two cruisers, a total of $148,000, but the Capital Planning Committee felt that these funds could be used for other department needs and the department didn't need to replace two cruisers. The Capital Planning Committee doesn't recommend the article although it's still on the warrant.

Mr. Croteau said, "I oversee all vehicle maintenance within the town. I don't agree with not replacing a cruiser. We're on a critical schedule with these vehicles, with the amount of use and the amount of wear and tear. They're in constantly, as everyone up here knows that vehicles aren't made the same as they used to, and they break a lot more, and now, with the newer cruisers being hybrids, it's even more challenging in costs to repair these. The road conditions aren't getting any better out there, so they see a lot more wear and tear. I don't think it's fiscally responsible of the town to not replace a cruiser in the rotation. I believe it's important for us to stay on track. I understand we're in financial hardships, but if our police department can't get somewhere because we don't have enough cruisers that are working or viable, it puts us in a real situation." He added, "If we keep pushing the cart down the road, we're going to get ourselves in bigger trouble. We've worked over the last five to seven years to get ourselves out of this with vehicles, and we don't want to put ourselves back there, because it's not going to get any better for us."

Ms. Eitland said she had communicated with Chief Wolski about the amount of grant money the department gets. Along with the $165,000 911 Support Incentive Grant, the department has received a 911 training grant for $19,700, a body camera grant for $15,000, and a software grant for $7,500.

Ms. LaBrie, who is on the Capital Planning Committee, said that the Committee considered a list of 12 to 15 items which mostly came from Free Cash, and narrowed the list down to the high school boiler, and the cruiser because it was grant-funded. "There were items that we just couldn't even consider due to the financial situation," she said.

In response to a comment that $74,000 seems "incredibly expensive," Mr. Croteau explained that "if you look at police cruisers, we have the cheaper option, police cruisers. When you start going to the pickup, so you start going to the bigger SUVs, you're talking $190,000, $200,000. You don't have a choice on the options, because you have to be able to do radar, you have to have your computers, you have to have your cage, and so on."

Article 25, transfer $200,000 to the Stabilization, OPEB and Separation Benefits Funds. Because the $2.9M override failed at the ballot vote on Monday, May 5, this article will be passed over.

Article 26, convey the property at 4 Summer Drive to the Winchendon Revelopment Authority. Mr. McKinney said, "This is the property that Bull Spit Brewing had been using. They did not fulfill their end of the process, so it goes back to the town, and then this article would transfer it to the Redevelopment Authority, so that it could be redeveloped for some other use."

Attendee Jim Roth came forward saying he represented Robert Grady who was on speakerphone to comment on this article. Mr. Grady, on the phone, stated that Bull Spit Brewing owned the property and he had bought Bull Spit Brewing. He had met with Mr. McKinney, Mr. Croteau and Land Use and Planning Coordinator Nicole Roberts a year ago and was told they wanted him to put a grocery store into the foundry at 4 Summer Drive. Mr. Grady stated that he had a "huge grocery store chain" that would put in a store if he built the building for it. He also owns the Goodspeed building and said he wanted to put 40 low-income apartments in it. He mentioned litigation if the building is taken away from Bull Spit Brewing.

Mr. McKinney said, "So our legal counsel sent a letter to the prior owner saying that they had not fulfilled their obligations, and that we were taking the property back, if you will, because it had never been signed over, so it's our property. Mr. Grady got in there, I think purchased it after the fact. I don't know why he made representations, that he would would have thought, but we told Keith Kopley, we sent an email with the letter from our attorney, saying, This is our property."

Article 27, amend the General Bylaws of the Town of Winchendon, section 62.1, service of warrant, to delete the line about sending a postcard to each voter's household. Notice of the warrant must be given by posting it in a public place at least seven days before Annual Town Meeting and at least 14 days before Special Town Meeting. The postcards do not seem to be cost-effective, as they're usually observed in the trash cans at the post office.

Article 28, Hero Act: to accept a new state law providing an additional tax exemption to Veterans, up to 100 percent of the exemption the town now gives them. Mr. McKinney explained, "So currently, veterans, depending on their disability, can get anywhere from $400 to $1,000 of an exemption off their property taxes. And the Hero Act that was passed would allow a town to increase that exemption by up to doubling it. You could go from 25 percent to a 50 percent increase, 75, even 100 percent. The state passes it to the towns so that if the towns wanted to do that for their veterans, they could do that as a local option. Right now, part of the exemptions that we have for veterans, we do get some reimbursement from the state. But this would be solely paid for by the town, basically be less tax revenue. So currently it's about $65,000 that we have for veterans' exemptions, so about $16,000 per quarter. So if we went up, say, 25 percent it would be $16,000 in annual [reduced] revenue."

Mr. McKinney said he was recommending 25 percent, as he didn't think the town could afford the full 100 percent increase. This could be revisited at future Town Meeings.

Article 29, 12-month moratorium on construction of any "advanced recycling" or high-heat waste facility within the town of Winchendon. Mr. McKinney said this is for one year, and the future would depend on what happened with state law, and what the state Attorney General says about it.

Article 30, addition to the Town Code an article prohibiting contaminated soils, such as COMM-97 soils, from being imported into, transported through or used in the town. Mr. McKinney said that a similar article was passed by citizen petition last year, and it made sense to encode it into a Bylaw that would be enforceable by the town going forward.

Article 31, amend the description of "multi-family" buildings to allow any number of units approved by the Board by Special Permit in the R10 and PD zones. Land Use and Planning Coordinator Nicole Roberts explained that the current bylaw "limited the number of units one person can have on their property. So this is going to allow, by special permit of the Planning Board, town engineer, Site Plan Review, Building Commissioner, the right for people to grow and expand on their property. Example I always use is you have a two-family, you have a garage you don't use, you want to convert that garage into another apartment, and as long as you have the criteria, the parking, the land, and everything looks good, according to our town engineer, this will allow for a special permit to be granted to bypass what is said [currently] about the land requirements needed in order for a homeowner to do that. So basically, it's just, we're in need of housing. This is a great way to grow in the town. And if somebody has an opportunity to go ahead and to add to their property and to make another unit they can do so within the Planning Board with a special permit, as long as it makes sense."

The PD (Planned Development) zone is "Central Street, and those streets surrounding the downtown," Ms. Roberts said. R10 (Neighborhood Residential) "is one layer out from that." It's smaller parcels of land closer to downtown, she explained. (The Zoning Map can be viewed on the town website as an overlay to the interactive Assessor's Map, for every parcel within Winchendon.)

This concluded the review of the Warrant. There was no public comment.

BOS Members Create Proposal for Town Economic Development Task Force

by Inanna Arthen
At the Board of Selectmen's meeting on Monday, April 28, Board members Dr. Erika Eitland and Andrew Beauvais presented a detailed proposal they have created for an Economic Development Task Force to promote business and commercial growth in the Town of Winchendon.

Mr. Beauvais began, saying, "The purpose of the proposed Economic Development Task Force would be established to identify, promote and facilitate opportunities for sustainable growth here in Winchendon. The primary focus will be on attracting new investment and encouraging responsible land development through proactive business engagement and the development of strategic incentives, while supporting the retention and expansion of existing businesses.

"So some of the key objectives would be to locate and engage with prospective businesses across a range of industries; encourage new investment in land development in town; develop a strategic economic development plan aligned with the town's long term goals; serve as an advisory group to the Board of Selectmen, providing policy and program recommendations to generate a list of properties and parcels of land for sale and/or ready for development; and engage with the developers who specialize in rural or small town projects."

He continued, "For scope of work, we thought it would be important to support downtown revitalization and commercial vacancy reduction; to collaborate with town staff, regional partners and private stakeholders; engage elected officials, including state senators and representatives, to identify available funding sources, grants and partner communities also working on economic development; determine infrastructure and zoning opportunities to facilitate development; expand upon the Winchendon Master Plan, economic development chapter; research and recommend business friendly benefits or incentive programs.

"Incentive strategy development might include some things like tax increment financing or TIFs or any other type of tax relief options that would entice some of these larger industries to invest in town; expedited permitting, permitting and zoning guidance, site readiness, marketing materials, grant matching or facade improvement programs, partnership with educational or workforce development entities."

He said that he and Dr. Eitland had considered that seven to nine members would be a good number, and that these would include one or two representatives from the BOS, the Town Manager or a designee as non-voting support, a representative from the Planning Board, representatives who are local business owners and commercial property owners, residents with relevant professional experience like marketing, business development, public private partnerships. We thought it would be important to also engage with nonprofit and community organization representatives and work development or educational partners. So we want a broad range of different perspectives and professional backgrounds to help support this initiative," he concluded. The task force would meet once per month.

Dr. Eitland said "there's some really good structure that we can build off of. We're not starting this from the ground up." She mentioned the earmarks that the schools were getting from state Senator Jo Comerford. Winchendon could ask our state legislators what kinds of things might be available. The economic development chapter of the Master Plan can also be used as a base. "We also obviously want to encourage new investment, new industry, to come into town. But I think it's also something that we see is that, open thriving storefronts bring more open thriving storefronts. And so wanting to make sure that we're helping retain the folks who are taking a risk already on Winchendon before this greater initiative," she said."

Mr. Beauvais said, "I think this is an exciting opportunity for us to really move forward. I wouldn't want to rule out any opportunity, and investment in our town is critical, especially at the crossroads we're at, so I want to think big and go after anybody who's willing to invest in our town, and I think it starts with us being willing to invest in ourselves. This task force is going to be critical, I think, in locating some of those opportunities and drawing them in."

Dr. Eitland said this was a chance to change the whole paradigm of seeing the town as in defeat, and in "triage mode" and bracing for another bad impact. We can start a proactive, energized discussion and change the tone we've picked up, and rewrite the trajectory for the town.

Board member Audrey LaBrie mentioned that the town used to have an Economic Development position but no longer did. She asked if the town belonged to a local Chamber of Commerce. Town Manager Bill McKinney said yes, the North Central Mass Chamber of Commerce. That would be another resource. "We've done this in the past sporadically with some residents' groups getting together and trying to do things. I think having a combination of residents and elected and appointed officials makes it that much more stronger, and with more boots on the ground, we can touch a lot more bases."

Board Chair Rick Ward said, "I'm impressed by all the hard work that went into this. I didn't expect it to come this fast, but it did." He suggested couple of things. One was to make sure everyone was collaborating in putting together materials for prospective businesses, especially big companies like Amazon. It was important that all the information was correct and consistent. He thought looking at earmarks from the state was a good idea.

Mr. Ward also questioned the size of the Board, saying that the larger it was, the larger the quorum for meetings would be. Also, some of the Boards in town are involved with approving and permitting businesses that come in, so having representatives from those Boards sitting on the Task Force might risk some conflict of interest. The same risk could attach to someone on the Task Force who owned commercial property and stood to profit from development opportunities. He suggsted that Nicole Roberts would be an excellent addition to the Task Force. "She's doing the planning for the town right now, and she she works with the businesses with regulatory requirements to bring their business into town. That's her job. So she would know all about what are the regulatory things to get into town," he said.

Dr. Eitland said, "We want companies that are also values-aligned with us to some extent, so that we're also not in a place where there's a business that's polluting our community or creating stress for our residents, and is that money worth that stress?"

Mr. Beauvais said, "I think the purpose of this draft was to have an open discussion and to take feedback on what would and wouldn't work based on the experience that some of the members on this board already have. So I appreciate that. We certainly do not want to even give the perception of a conflict of interest. That is what we're trying to steer clear of, be as transparent as possible. But at the same time, we want this to be a successful endeavor, to bring in new revenue for the town, and ultimately, if we can establish a commercial tax base that would alleviate some of the burden on the homeowners moving forward, that's the ultimate goal."

Ms. LaBrie mentioned that the consultant who worked on the last Town Manager search put together a whole prospectus packet about Winchendon for applicants to review. This would also be useful for potential businesses. She also mentioned bringing young people and college students to the table for their perspective. The town might even develop some of its properties into an educational center or campus.

There was some discussion about whether to vote on a motion or wait until after Town Meeting when the new members were seated and the Board was reorganized. Mr. Ward didn't want to feel that the Board was rushing into the decision. Mr. Beauvais said that he respected that, but he felt this should have started a long time ago. The Board agreed to put the formal proposal on the agenda for their next meeting on Monday, May 12, and before that Dr. Eitland and Mr. Beauvais would revise their proposal according to the feedback they'd just been given.

Beals Library Open House, Saturday, May 17!

The Friends of the Beals Memorial Library in Winchendon invite the entire community to an open house on Saturday, May 17 from noon to 2:00 p.m. The purpose of this free event is to let residents get to know their library. What's its history? What are the plans for the future? What programs and services do they provide, and what value does the institution hold for the town? Any questions that community members have will be answered.

The Friends of the Library would especially like to see folks who have never been in the library, or who haven't visited in years, to come experience and explore for themselves what the Library has to offer. If you're already a Library fan and a frequent visitor, the group would love to see you, too.

Also planned is a Library Scavenger Hunt and storytelling for the kids, tours of the building, and a slide show on the history of the Beals Library. Refreshments will be served, and all visitors will receive a coupon for a free book in the Friends Used Book Sale area. Pick up a coupon at the Circulation Desk during your open house visit.

The Beals Memorial Library is located at 50 Pleasant Street in Winchendon. For more information, call the library at 978-297-0300, email us at bealsmemoriallibrary@gmail.com, or visit the library website at bealslibrary.org.

A future trucker tries out the cab.
Photo by Inanna Arthen

A row of trucks to explore
Photo by Inanna Arthen

Rainstorms Hold Off for Most of Rescheduled Touch-a-Truck Event

by Inanna Arthen
The Beals Memorial Library's Sensory Friendly Touch-a-Truck Event, postponed at the last minute by an unseasonal April snowstorm, took place on Saturday, May 3, to the delight of kids and parents. Designed for individuals who are neurodivergent, on the autism spectrum, or have other special needs, and their families, regardless of age, and part of the Beals Library's "See Beyond the Spectrum" Initiative, the event allows individuals to get close to large trucks and equipment without any loud engines, horns, sirens, or overwhelming crowds and noise. This is the event's second successful year.

Hardworking utility vehicles including a school bus, fire truck, police cruiser, big-rig semi (without trailers), logging truck, digger, and large load dump truck parked around the Old Murdock Senior Center parking lot, and families could move among them freely, asking questions of the trucks' drivers and getting inside to see what it was like to sit at the wheel of a first responder vehicle or large truck. The school bus was especially interesting to small kids, who lined up for a change to climb up the steps and see the inside. They probably knew that a school bus, unlike most of the others, would soon be part of their everyday life.

Beals Memorial Library Assistant Librarian Alexis Chanchathack, who spearheaded the See Beyond the Spectrum Initiative for the library, told the Courier that last year, she was working with a senior at Monty Tech who had just been diagnosed with autism herself, and wanted to do something with the grant that the Beals was awarded for its Autism Inclusion Initiative.

"So after talking about it, they were like, You know what, let's do a touch-a-truck, because there's no sensory friendly touch-a-trucks around here," Ms. Chanchathack said. "So we put it together last year for their senior project, and then everyone who's here today actually contacted us, saying, Hey, can we do it again? So we were like, Okay, and so this is our second year, and we're going to keep on doing it every year, because they want to do it, and I'm fine with putting it together."

All the truck and vehicle drivers donate their time to the event.

"It's two hours, and they love it, Ms. Chanchathack said. "The kids love it, and it really gives, especially for emergency vehicles, and with the autism community, a good idea to say, oh, everything's okay. These people can help you, and give them that feeling without getting overwhelmed, like a school field trip or something like that."

Last year nearly 100 people attended the event. This year, because of the rescheduling, not all the vehicles originally signed up could make it. But around 50 kids and parents had come down so far, a half-hour in.

"This project has been one of the most rewarding professional things I've been able to do," Ms. Chanchathack said. "You know, my family is part of the autism community. Both my sons are autistic, so it's just really nice to provide stuff for my kids while providing for the community as well."

A fire engine, showing off
Photo by Inanna Arthen

Taking a break from the loads it's usually hauling
Photo by Inanna Arthen

The Winchendon Garden Club

"Where we sow seeds of inspiration!"
Annual Plant Sale
Saturday, May 10, 2025
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Located front lawn Senior Center & alongside Taste of Winchendon
Indoor and outdoor plants reasonably priced
Bring along the kids to join Deb for a fun time planting sunflowers

The funds raised from our fundraising events are used to

Plant & Maintain flowers at Town Civic Projects located at: Clyde's Gardens, GAR Park, VFW Park, Hospital Drive, Town of Winchendon Kiosk, Legion Park, Blair Square, Community Park
Up to $2,000 in Annual Scholarships
Donation-Veterans Cemetery Wreaths
Donation-Fire Dept./CAC Toy Drive
Donation-CAC
Cathedral of the Pines
Mt. Grace
Participate in the Welcome to Winchendon ribbon cutting for new business in Town by gifting a Plant
Collaborate with local organizations/clubs
Grand Opening Sponsorship of the Winchendon Community Park Performing Arts Amphitheater Bronze level.

The Garden Club members would like to thank the Community and surrounding townspeople who continue to support our Fundraising Events! And a very big thank you to the organizations, clubs and many local businesses who have been very generous with their support over the years. To name a few: The Lions Club, The American Legion, Ann's Perennial Patch, Bruno & Son Landscaping, Fidelity Bank, our Town's DPW...and the list goes on.

If you have any interest in joining the Winchendon Garden Club, call Linda Dellasanta, President @ 978-297-1051.

Town Manager Explains Why Free Cash is Late Being Certified

by Inanna Arthen
At the Finance Committee hearing on the Annual Town Meeting warrant on Tuesday, April 29, Town Manager Bill McKinney offered some insight into why Free Cash is late being certified this year, after being late last year.

At the meeting Finance Committee member Doug Delay said, "Last year, I think everyone knows the reasons why we were late getting Free Cash certified. This year, it's going to be later than last year. Hopefully we'll have it before Town Meeting, but I'm not sure there are any guarantees at this point. My question is, either do we have or can we have policies and procedures in place to prevent Free Cash from putting us in this position again next year where Free Cash is not certified, and we're having all these conversations with unknowns. We don't know whether we're going to be able to approve them, not approve them. It's not an efficient way to run this part of the community.

"I guess my question is, how do we prevent it from happening again, whether it's staffing, whether it's policy, whether it's--I'm not sure what other way that we could do it." FinCom Member Dr. Maureen Ward said, "Could we put that on our agenda for our discussion with Mr. McKinney after our next meeting?" She asked Mr. Bill McKinney, "May 13, you think we'll have a number for Free Cash?"

"I hope so," Mr. McKinney said. "One of the things that we are doing to try to address this is that I think I've mentioned before, we have two different software packages. We have one called QDS [Quality Data Service, https://www.qds.biz/], which was bought out by some other company that we had before, and that's where our motor vehicle and real estate taxes are kept, in that system. And we have our accounting software, which is MUNIS. And the problem is the bridge between the two has been broken many times, and there's a lot of data that has to get sent back and forth. And with that break, when the town a couple years ago had the opportunity to change software provider, I don't know why they didn't just go to MUNIS. But earlier this year, I reached out and submitted a grant application to the state for $83,000 so that we could get everything on MUNIS, because then we'll know the numbers right away. I mean, not right away, but at least we won't be reconciling two different sets of numbers and the problems of the numbers not coming across properly. So that's one of the ways that we're addressing it, is that the State Grant gave us a grant for $83,000 so that we can get all of our software on MUNIS."

Community Connector

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

SATURDAY MAY 10

Winchendon Garden Club Annual Plant Sale 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. Front lawn Senior Center & alongside Taste of Winchendon. Indoor and outdoor plants reasonably priced. Bring along the kids to join Deb for a fun time planting sunflowers. At Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon.

5th Annual Taste of Winchendon 11:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. Celebrate Winchendon's local businesses and many cultures and traditions. Fun for all ages! Local vendors and food, live music, free activities and crafts. Hosted by the Winchendon Youth Ad Hoc Committee. At G.A.R. Park, Grove St and Murdock Ave.

Old Murdock Open House 11:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. Come by and meet your local Senior Center! Free activities, food, yard sale, bake sale and fun for the whole family! Held in conjunction with Taste of Winchendon. At Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon.

TUESDAY MAY 13

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.

WEDNESDAY MAY 14

Integrity Medicare at the Senior Center 10:30 a.m. Come and get your Medicare questions answered! At Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon.

Murdock Middle High School 1st Annual Arts Fest 5:00 p.m. Enjoy displays of student artwork and performances by student musicians with special guests the Winchendon Winds.
5:00-6:00 p.m. HS Lobby: Mural exhibit and Community Art Activity with Lynda McCann Olson
____________HS 2nd Floor: ART SHOW
6:30 p.m. HS Auditorium: HS Band and Chorus CONCERT with 5th grade band and Winchendon Winds
Presented by the Unified Arts Department. Funding from Mass Cultural Council. At Murdock Middle High School, 3 Memorial Drive, Winchendon.

THURSDAY MAY 15

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.

Our Neighbor's Kitchen Dinner 5:15 p.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Served in the Parish Hall. This week the menu is TBA. Free-will donation $2 per person, $5 per family; no one turned away. 52 Spruce Street, Winchendon.

FRIDAY MAY 16

Singo 8:00-9:30 p.m. This is the musical version of regular bingo! Instead of listening to numbers, listen to your favorite songs! Feel free to sing along too! No cost to play and chances to win gift cards! Club opens at 6:00 p.m. We have pool tables and dart boards too! Cash bar available. At the Snowbound Club, 130 Baldwinville Rd, Winchendon.

SATURDAY MAY 17

Annual Town Wide Clean-up Day 8:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. There will be a large dumpster, trash bags and gloves for anyone who can help! Huge thank you in advance to those who come help!! Organized by the Winchendon Board of Health. Clean-up Central at Town Hall, 109 Front St, clean-up wherever you see the need!

Indoor/Outdoor Community Yard Sale 9:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. 67 Hyde Park Drive, Winchendon.

Bike Rodeo at Winchendon Community Park 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.A bike rodeo is a fun, hands-on event where kids learn bicycle safety and skills. They'll ride through obstacle courses, get their bikes checked, and learn the rules of the road. Bring your helmet for a proper fit--and decorate it with stickers! The MassBike Instructor will go over the rules of the road course with appropriate instruction. For Elementary aged students, primarily 3-5 graders. This event is hosted by Winchendon Parks and Recreation and Safe Routes to School, partnered with Winchendon Public Schools and Winchendon Police Department. At Winchendon Community Park, 85 Ingleside Dr.

Beals Memorial Library Open House 12:00-2:00 p.m. Get to know your library! What's its history? What are the plans for the future? What programs and services do they provide, and what value does the institution hold for the town? Any questions that community members have will be answered. If you've never been in the library, or haven't visited for years, come check it out. Library Scavenger Hunt and storytelling for kids, building tours, refreshments and coupons for a free used book in the book sale area. Sponsored by the Friends of the Beals Memorial Library. At Beals Memorial Library, 50 Pleasant St.

Spring Psychic/Mediumship Fair 12:00-4:00 p.m. Join us for a fantastic day of readings, a cacao ceremony, Chair Reiki, and sweet treats to eat or bring home. The bar is open and offers a unique "Heavenly Delight" drink. There is NO admittance fee. We accept CASH PLEASE. Bring a friend or two! At the Snowbound Club, 130 Baldwinville Rd, Winchendon.

Teen Night at the HUB 5:00-9:00 p.m. At the Winchendon Community HUB, 5 Summer Dr.

Winchendon Lions 2025 Cabin Fever Bash 8:00-11:59 p.m. Come join Whiskey Johnson for a night of Rock and Roll that will have you out on the dance floor. Help support The Winchendon Lions Club with this fund raising event. The Lions do great things for the community so come out for for a fun night to help support The Lions. 50/50 Raffles and more! At Winchendon American Legion Post #193, 295 School St.

SUNDAY MAY 18

Lobster Bingo at the Legion 2:00 p.m. Fun for all! 3 card bingo. $20 for 25 games of bingo. Bar will be open so grab some friends, grab some beverages and try your luck on winning some lobsters! At Winchendon American Legion Post #193, 295 School St.

MONDAY MAY 19

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

THURSDAY MAY 22

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 is Chicken Teriyaki with broccoli and rice. Free-will donation $2 per person, $5 per family; no one turned away. 126 Central Street.

Bingo at the HUB! 7:00 p.m. Join the Winchendon Parks and Recreation for Bingo at the HUB! 4th Thursday of each month. At the HUB (Winchendon CAC), 5 Summer Dr, Winchendon.

MONDAY MAY 26

Memorial Day Parade 10:00 a.m. Parade will begin at the Fire Station (405 Central St), continue to VFW Park and then G.A.R. Park (Grove St and Murdock Ave) where ceremonies will be held at the gazebo. In case of inclement weather, the parade will be cancelled and ceremonies will be held at the Winchendon American Legion Post #193 (295 School St).

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.

WEDNESDAY MAY 28

Integrity Medicare at the Senior Center 10:30 a.m. Come and get your Medicare questions answered! At Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon.

Taste of Home Lunch & Birthday Celebration 11:00 a.m. Share in a home-style lunch cooked in the Old Murdock kitchen, and celebrate May birthdays! At Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon.

THURSDAY MAY 29

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 is Mexican casserole and southwest corn & black bean salad. Free-will donation $2 per person, $5 per family; no one turned away. 126 Central Street.

FRIDAY MAY 30

4-Year Anniversary Prayer Conference 6:00-8:30 p.m. Guest speaker, Zac Acosta Pihop. Register at https://twrhouseofprayer.org/4years/. At TWR House of Prayer, 10 Pond St, Winchendon.

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.

4-Year Anniversary Prayer Conference 9:00-11:30 a.m. Guest speaker, Zac Acosta Pihop. Register at https://twrhouseofprayer.org/4years/. At TWR House of Prayer, 10 Pond St, Winchendon.

Winchendon Music Festival - Arpeggione Ensemble (classical) 7:00 p.m. Ludwig van Beethoven's Septet in E-flat Major, Op. 20, performed by Thomas Carroll (clarinet), Elisabeth Axtell (horn), Sally Merriman (bassoon), Rebecca Nelson (violin), Anna Griffis (viola), Cullen O'Neil (cello), and Andrew Arceci (bass). More information: https://www.arpeggione-ensemble.com. At the Murdock-Whitney House, 151 Front St. Winchendon.

SUNDAY JUNE 1

4-Year Anniversary Prayer Conference 6:00-8:30 p.m. All Town Prayer Meeting. Guest speaker, Zac Acosta Pihop. Register at https://twrhouseofprayer.org/4years/. At TWR House of Prayer, 10 Pond St, Winchendon.

MONDAY JUNE 2

Winchendon Music Festival - John Arcaro & Band (jazz) 7:00 p.m. Berklee College of Music professor, John Arcaro, leads a program of works from the "Great American Songbook", complemented by contemporary jazz compositions. At Murdock-Whitney House, 151 Front St. Winchendon.

TUESDAY JUNE 3

Winchendon Music Festival - Duo Sorolla: Ismar Gomes, cello & Wan-Chi Su, piano (classical) 7:00 p.m. Works by Reynaldo Hahn de Echenagucia (1874-1947), Constantino Vicente Gaito (1878-1945), Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959), Gaspar Cassadó i Moreu (1897-1966), and Astor Pantaleón Piazzolla (1921-1992). More information: https://www.duosorolla.com At Murdock-Whitney House, 151 Front St. Winchendon.

WEDNESDAY JUNE 4

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 JUNE 5

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 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:
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM - Winchendon Winds Professional Concert Band
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

Denis Cormier Concert 10:45 a.m. At Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon.

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.

SATURDAY JUNE 14

Annual Summer Lawn Fair 9:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. at UU Church of Winchendon. Crafts, retail items, raffle baskets, concessions, free cycle table and more! Fundraiser to support Set in Stone masonry restoration and operations. 126 Central Street.

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.

Salsa & Sangria Sunset Social 6:00-10:00 p.m. Get ready for a spicy summer night! Sunset Socials presents: Salsa & Sangria 2025. Join us for an unforgettable evening of dance, drinks, and delicious local fare! Farm fresh food and snacks, themed mocktails and cocktails, live music. Gate opens at 6:00, dance lesson at 7:00, live performance at 9:00. $10/$15 per person. Register at https://www.sunsetsocialsma.com/event/salsa-sangria-summer-kickoff-1/register. Brought to you by The Farm Stand Winchendon and Winchendon Parks & Recreation. Questions? Text or call 978-863-1010. Learn more: www.sunsetsocialsma.com. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

SUNDAY JUNE 15

Winchendon Winds Concert Band Performance 2:00 p.m. Conductor Lindsay Bronnenkant leads this professional wind ensemble in a program titled Heroes." Free and open to all. Refreshments sold before the concert. At Unitarian Universalist Church of Winchendon, 126 Central St.

SATURDAY JUNE 21

Snowbound Annual Brewfest 2025 2:00-8:00 p.m. Kick off summer with us! Tickets $30 per person for brew tasting. Positive ID required. Includes sampling glass. General admission with the no brew tasting $5. Entertainment by Two for the Road and The Willies. Portion of proceeds to benefit local animal rescue. There will be food trucks, raffles, and shopping from local artisans. This is a family and dog friendly event. At the Snowbound Club, 130 Baldwinville Rd, Winchendon.

Teen Night at the HUB 5:00-9:00 p.m. At the Winchendon Community HUB, 5 Summer Dr.

SUNDAY JUNE 22

Winchendon Winds Concert Band Performance 2:00 p.m. Conductor Lindsay Bronnenkant leads this professional wind ensemble in a program titled "Holiday." Free and open to all. Refreshments sold before the concert. 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

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 p.m. Join the Winchendon Parks and Recreation for Bingo at the HUB! 4th Thursday of each month. At the HUB (Winchendon CAC), 5 Summer Dr, Winchendon.

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. Conductor Lindsay Bronnenkant leads this professional wind ensemble in their final program for the season titled "Organ - The Pipes, the Pipes are Calling." Musical selections will feature the band with both grand piano and pipe organ! Free and open to all. Refreshments sold before the concert. At Unitarian Universalist Church of Winchendon, 126 Central St.

THURSDAY JULY 10

Denis Cormier Concert 10:45 a.m. At Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon.

Movie Night at the Park: Wicked Sing-Along 7:00 p.m. Free to all! Join us for a magical evening under the stars! Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and favorite snacks for a family-friendly sing-along screening of Wicked that everyone will enjoy! Gates open at 7:00 p.m., movie starts at dusk. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks and Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

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.

THURSDAY JULY 17

Movie Night at the Park - Inside Out 2 7:00 p.m. (movie starts at dusk) Join us for an unforgettable evening under the stars with Inside Out 2! Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and snacks for a fun-filled, family-friendly night as we dive back into the mind of Riley in this heartwarming and hilarious sequel! FREE admission – all are welcome! Sponsored by Winchendon Parks and Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

SATURDAY JULY 19

Blues Brew & BBQ at Winchendon Community Park 4:00-9:00 p.m. (ticketed) Join us for an unforgettable evening of Blues, Brew & BBQ! Get ready to kick back and enjoy the soulful sounds of Memphis Kelley featuring Cailte Kelley, followed by a powerhouse headlining performance from Grammy-nominated blues legend Anthony Geraci. Savor mouthwatering bites from top BBQ food trucks and sample a variety of brews that perfectly pair with the music and the mood. It's the perfect summer night out--great music, delicious food, and cold drinks under the open sky. Don't miss it! $15 per person. Tickets (and vendor applications) at https://www.eventeny.com/events/blues-brew-bbq-19513/. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks & Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

Teen Night at the HUB 5:00-9:00 p.m. At the Winchendon Community HUB, 5 Summer Dr.

THURSDAY JULY 24

Movie Night at the Park - Paul Blart Mall Cop 7:00 p.m. (movie starts at dusk) Get ready to laugh out loud with Paul Blart: Mall Cop under the stars! Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and snacks for a hilarious, family-friendly comedy that's perfect for all ages. FREE admission – all are welcome! Sponsored by Winchendon Parks and Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

Bingo at the HUB! 7:00 p.m. Join the Winchendon Parks and Recreation for Bingo at the HUB! 4th Thursday of each month. At the HUB (Winchendon CAC), 5 Summer Dr, Winchendon.

SATURDAY JULY 26

Open Mic Night at Winchendon Community Park 4:00-8:00 p.m. Join us for an unforgettable evening of music, poetry, and comedy under the stars at the Winchendon Community Park Amphitheater! Whether you're performing or just here to enjoy the vibes, it's a night you won't want to miss.
Open Mic Performers Welcome
Food Available On-Site
Beer & Wine Available
FREE Entry
Bring a blanket, some friends, and your love for local talent. Let's light up the night with creativity and community! Sponsored by Winchendon Parks and Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

THURSDAY JULY 31

Movie Night at the Park - Disney Pixar Cars 7:00 p.m. (movie starts at dusk) Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and little Lightning McQueens for a family-friendly evening full of laughs, heart, and high-speed adventure! FREE admission – all are welcome! Sponsored by Winchendon Parks and Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

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 AUGUST 16

Winchendon Comedy Fest: LOL Entertainment Night - a Summer Evening of Magic, Music and Comedy! 4:00-8:00 p.m. (ticketed) From 6:00 to 8:00, "Magic & Music"--strolling magician dazzles the crowd with up-close tricks and illusions, while DJ spins music from 60s to today. From 6:00 to 8:00, Get ready to laugh out loud with an outstanding lineup of professional comedians: Headliner: John Perrotta; Featuring: Annie Powell, Rockin Joe Hebert, & Ace Aceto. Humor is PG-13. Food trucks and beer & wine, too! $15 per person. Tickets (and vendor applications) at https://www.eventeny.com/events/comedy-night-at-the-park-2025-17201/. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks and Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

SATURDAY AUGUST 23

Classic Cars and Music at Winchendon Community Park 3:00-8:00 p.m. (ticketed) Step back in time and enjoy an evening filled with vintage vibes, featuring classic cars, live music, and great food and drinks. Groove to the timeless tunes of The Reminisants and the Fred Ellsworth Band as they bring back the hits you know and love. Bring your lawn chairs, your dancing shoes, and your love for all things retro. This is a celebration you won't want to miss! Food, beer and wine available. $15 per person. Tickets (and vendor applications) at https://www.eventeny.com/events/a-nostalgic-celebration-of-classic-cars-and-music-19583/. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks and Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20

Harvest Festival at Winchendon Community Park 4:00-9:00 p.m. Celebrate the season at Winchendon's annual Harvest Festival, a free evening of live music—including a special performance by headliner New Release and a performance by Local Musician Maggie Neff--plus mouthwatering food trucks, local vendors, and festive fall fun the whole community will enjoy! Sponsored by Winchendon Parks and Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 27

The 2025 Central Mass. Irish Festival at Winchendon Community Park 12:00 p.m. (ticketed) Irish roots in the heart of New England. This fall, the best in Irish entertainment comes to The Robinson Broadhurst Foundation Performing Arts Amphitheater for the first annual Central Mass. Irish Festival. Three of New England's premiere Irish bands, dancers, harps, pipes and drums, Irish food and drink, Irish vendors, and an open trad seisun come together for an all day celebration of all things Irish at a brand new lakeside amphitheatre. For more info, see https://www.centralmassirishfestival.com/. Early bird tickets $15 per person. Tickets (and vendor applications) at https://www.eventeny.com/events/central-mass-irish-festival-2025-19621/. Sponsored by Winchendon Parks and Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 3

Winchendon Music Festival - Chris Moyse, singer-songwriter & Floyds Row (folk/newgrass) 7:00 p.m. Chris Moyse, singer-songwriter: https://chrismoysemusic.com
Folk collective, Floyds Row, explores the connections among early, classical, folk, newgrass, and world genres--works arranged and/or composed by Hailey Fuqua (soprano), Asako Takeuchi (violin), Jacques Lee Wood (violoncello & banjo), Andrew Arceci (bass & mandolin), George Lykogiannis (accordion & piano), and Mike Williams (percussion). At The Flower Shop, 172 Central St. Winchendon.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 4

Winchendon Music Festival - Worcester Jazz Orchestra (jazz) 2:00 p.m. Ever popular, the big band plays works by Glenn Miller (1904-c.1944), Buddy Rich (1917-1987), and others. At Winchendon Amphitheater, 86 Ingleside Dr. 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

SATURDAY OCTOBER 18

Haunted Happenings at Winchendon Community Park 4:00-10:00 p.m. Join us for a spooktacular night of family fun as Haunted Happenings returns--bigger and better than ever! Costumes, candy, creepy fun... we've got it all! Trunk or Treat with the YMCA
Live DJ & Halloween Games
Haunted Trails after dark (enter if you dare!)
Unicorn Rides by Hyridge Farm
Food Trucks & Local Vendors
Hayrides from Murdock Farm
Petting Zoo by Animal Craze
Costumes encouraged. Fun guaranteed.
Tag your boo crew and we'll see you there!
Sponsored by Winchendon Parks and Recreation. At Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Dr.

ONGOING

SUNDAYS

Bowling 12:00-5:00 p.m. $25 for a lane per hour for up to 5 people. "Sober Sundays" (no alcoholic beverages). At The HUB (Winchendon CAC), 5 Summer Dr.

MONDAYS

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

Gentle 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.

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 - Workshop Series, Beginner Level 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.

Beginner Strength Training with Mary Lee 9:15-9:45 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.

Intermediate Strength Training with Mary Lee 9:45-10:15 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.

Pickleball - Workshop Series, Intermediate Level 11:30 a.m. 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 - Open Courts 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. At the Old Murdock Senior Center, 52 Murdock Ave., Winchendon. 978-297-3155.

Ukelele Class 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.

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

Lunch and Free Bowling for Seniors 10:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Please call at least 24 hours in advance to reserve a lunch. Bowling is free for all seniors 55+. At the Winchendon Community HUB, 5 Summer Dr, Winchendon

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 9:00 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.

Friends Used Book and Media Sale 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. 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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