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

Dear editor at Winchendon Courier, Donald Trump is offering a massive public lands giveaway to the fossil fuel industry.

He's ordered the U.S. to "drill baby drill" on public lands, and he's fast-tracked new oil and gas projects, bypassing environmental and public review. His allies in Congress are even pushing to open Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling.

If they get their way, the fossil fuel industry will wreck our national landmarks for profit and pump millions more tons of planet-warming pollution into the atmosphere in the process.

So if we don't want to see drilling rigs the next time we head outdoors, we need to send a clear message: Don't sell off our public lands to Big Oil!

Sincerely,
Dr. Tammy King
Gardner, 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

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

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!

The Farm Stand is hiring 18+ staff for weekend shifts. Email Jody Mendoza at info@farmingislife.org if interested. The Farm Stand is a new retail business located at 244 School Street, Winchendon, MA, selling fresh local produce, groceries and baked goods, and select wine.

THURSDAY MAY 15
12:21 a.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Community Park, Ingleside Drive), checked/secure;
12:26 a.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Community Park, Ingleside Drive), checked/secure;
12:32 a.m.: extra patrols (Pine Street), checked/secure;
12:32-3:21 a.m.: building checks, all secure;
12:33 a.m.: extra patrols (Irving Gas Station, Gardner Road), checked/secure;
12:36 a.m.: extra patrols (Mathieu Ford Dealership, Spring Street), checked/secure;
12:54 a.m.: suspicious vehicle (School Street), checked/secure;
1:02 a.m.: suspicious vehicle (Spring Street), checked/secure;
1:08 a.m.: extra patrols (Railroad Street @ Pleasant Street), checked/secure;
1:09 a.m.: suspicious vehicle (Central Street), checked/secure;
1:55 a.m.: suspicious person (Linden Street), spoken to;
3:19 a.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Plaza, Central Street), checked/secure;
5:19 a.m.: fire carbon monoxide incident (Toy Town Lane), services rendered;
6:24 a.m.: assist other agency (Baldwinville State Road), spoken to;
8:50 a.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Spring Street), removed to hospital;
9:29 a.m.: motor vehicle violations (Brown Street), report taken;
9:44 a.m.: motor vehicle violations (Brown Street), report taken;
9:55 a.m.: suspicious person (Alger Street), false alarm;
10:30 a.m.: investigation (Washington Avenue), report taken;
11:05 a.m.: vandalism (Otter River Road), spoken to;
11:14 a.m.: registration check (Baldwinville State Road), info given;
11:15 a.m.: MV stop (River Street), spoken to;
12:03 p.m.: unwanted party (Front Street), assisted;
12:56 p.m.: 911, MV operating erratically (Spring Street), unable to locate;
12:58 p.m.: traffic hazard (Old Gardner Road), info taken;
2:19 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Eagle Road), removed to hospital;
3:12 p.m.: property found (Ash Street), info taken;
4:18 p.m.: traffic hazard (West Monomonac Road), spoken to;
5:48 p.m.: fire alarm (Ready Drive), false alarm;
6:21 p.m.: MV stop (Central Street @ Grove Street), verbal warning;
6:26 p.m.: patrol initiated (Central Street), checked/secure;
7:14 p.m.: officer requested (other town, Route 12), spoken to;
7:58 p.m.: MV stop (Central Street), verbal warning;
8:02 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Pearl Drive), removed to hospital;
8:14 p.m.: assist other agency (Brown Street), spoken to;
8:52 p.m.: MV stop (Central Street), verbal warning;

FRIDAY MAY 16
12:16-1:33 a.m.: building checks, all secure;
12:21 a.m.: officer requested (Spruce Street), report taken;
1:19 a.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Community Park, Ingleside Drive), checked/secure;
1:26 a.m.: extra patrols (Railroad Street), checked/secure;
1:26 a.m.: extra patrols (Lake Dennison), checked/secure;
1:58 a.m.: MV stop (Spring Street), verbal warning;
7:32 a.m.: 911, fire/auto (Front Street @ Lincoln Avenue), services rendered;
9:44 a.m.: extra patrols (Otter River Road), checked/secure;
10:41 a.m.: suspicious (other) (Lakeshore Drive), spoken to;
12:47 p.m.: animal complaint (Central Street), referred to ACO;
1:05 p.m.: registration check (South Royalston Road), spoken to;
1:28 p.m.: suspicious vehicle (Joslin Road), report taken;
1:55 p.m.: officer requested (North Royalston Road), report taken;
2:34 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Pearl Drive), removed to hospital;
3:15 p.m.: hazardous materials spill (Glenallen Street), services rendered;
3:21 p.m.: 911, 911 hang-up (Pleasant Street), no police service necessary;
3:24 p.m.: accident (Juniper Street @ Jackson Avenue), spoken to;
3:52 p.m.: MV stop (School Street @ Court Street), verbal warning;
3:59 p.n.: fire alarm (Ash Street), accidental/defective alarm;
4:45 p.m.: MV stop (Central Street), written warning;
5:07 p.m.: officer requested (School Street), spoken to;
5:55 p.m.: officer requested (Jackson Avenue), report taken;
6:08 p.m.: 911, fire/auto (Spring Street), services rendered;
7:16 p.m.: 911, 911 call non-emergency (High Street), 911 non-emergency call;
8:05 p.m.: investigation (School Street), spoken to;
8:09 p.m.: suicide attempts (Central Street), unable to locate;
11:03 p.m.: neighbor dispute (Lincoln Avenue), spoken to;
11:30 p.m.: assist other police department (Central Street), assisted;

SATURDAY MAY 17
12:17 a.m.: 911, officer requested (LeBreton Circle), spoken to;
12:31- a.m.: building checks, all secure;
1:33 a.m.: extra patrols (Railroad Street), checked/secure;
1:37 a.m.: suspicious vehicle (Central Street), services rendered;
1:40 a.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Community Park, Ingleside Drive), checked/secure;
1:56 a.m.: extra patrols (The Winchendon School, Ash Street), checked/secure;
3:45 a.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Plaza, Central Street), checked/secure;
3:55 a.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Madison Avenue), removed to hospital;
4:03 a.m.: 911, 911 call non-emergency (School Street), spoken to;
8:28 a.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Sibley Road), removed to hospital;
10:06 a.m.: 911, 911 hang-up (Pleasant Street), 911 non-emergency call;
10:09 a.m.: MV operating erratically (School Street), no cause for complaint;
10:18 a.m.: 911, 911 hang-up (Sibley Road), advised officer;
11:29 a.m.: accident (Spring Street), spoken to;
12:04 p.m.: summons service (Linden Street), unable to serve;
12:46 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Front Street), removed to hospital;
1:52 p.m.: officer requested (Park Street), property seized;
1:57 p.m.: officer requested (Central Street), report taken;
2:55 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Hale Street), call cancelled;
5:04 p.m.: 911, officer requested (Pleasant Street), report taken;
6:17 p.m.: MV operating erratically (Central Street), advised officer;
6:41 p.m.: officer requested (Hapgood Road), spoken to;
6:51 p.m.: MV stop (Spring Street@ Lake Street), written warning;
6:53 p.n.: MV stop (Spring Street), verbal warning;
7:02 p.m.: extra patrols (Central Street), checked/secure;
7:09 p.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Community Park, Ingleside Drive), checked/secure;
7:18 p.m.: 911, CO detector activation (Baldwinville Road), false alarm;
7:56 p.m.: MV stop (Spring Street), arrest;
8:01 p.m.: MV operating erratically (School Street), unable to locate;
10:23 p.m.: 911, 911 call non-emergency (Spruce Street), 911 non-emergency call;
11:03 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Spruce Street), removed to hospital;
11:35 p.m.: 911, accident (Central Street), call cancelled;
11:53 p.m.: MV stop (Spring Street), verbal warning;

Arrests:
Sarah Wilson, age 34, 36 River Apt #225, Waltham, MA, charged with: operate MV with license revoked as HTO (criminal); crosswalk violation.

SUNDAY MAY 18
12:04 a.m.: transport (Bayberry Circle), transport;
12:17 a.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Holly Drive), removed to hospital;
2:25-3:29 a.m.: building checks, all secure;
3:42 a.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Peggi Lane), removed to hospital;
7:39 a.m.: animal complaint (Bemis Road), referred to ACO
10:04 a.m.: assist citizen (Front Street), no cause for complaint;
10:20 a.m.: civil complaint (Main Street), advised civil action;

10:48 a.m.: officer requested (Hyde Park Drive), report taken;
12:02 p.m.: 911, unattended death (Ipswich Drive), report taken;
12:13 p.m.: animal complaint (Elm Street), referred to ACO;
12:29 p.m.: 911, 911 hang-up (Highland Street), 911 non-emergency call;
2:45 p.m.: sex offender registration (Walnut Street), info taken;
4:59 p.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road), verbal warning;
5:16 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Brown Street), removed to hospital;
7:02 p.m.: extra patrols (Baldwinville Road @ Town Farm Road), checked/secure;
7:26 p.m.: accident (Pearl Street @ School Street), report taken;
7:48 p.m.: 911, Fire Department call/general (River Street), no fire service necessary;
7:54 p.m.: assault (Brown Street), report taken;
9:10 p.m.: investigation (Mill Circle), spoken to;
9:28 p.m.: MV operating erratically (Gardner Road), unable to locate;
9:28 p.m.: property found (Central Street), property returned to owner;
9:58 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Toy Town Lane), removed to hospital;

MONDAY MAY 19
1:30 a.m.: extra patrols (Railroad Street), checked/secure;
1:34 a.m.: suspicious vehicle (Central Street), services rendered;
1:41-3:17 a.m.: building checks, all secure;
2:13 a.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Housing Authority, Pearl Drive), checked/secure;
3:00 a.m.: burglar alarm (Gardner Road), checked/secure;
3:24 a.m.: suspicious vehicle (Central Street), transport;
5:15 a.m.: structure fire (River Street), no fire service necessary;
7:00 a.m.: animal complaint (Maynard Street), referred to ACO;
7:00 a.m.: Department of Public Works call/general (Pearl Street @ School Street), referred to state DPW;
8:48 a.m.: fraud (Mill Circle), referred to other P.D.;
10:32 a.m.: investigation (Main Street), report taken;
11:07 a.m.: property damage (Railroad Street @ Central Street), report taken;
11:45 a.m.: investigation (Elm Street), services rendered;
11:50 a.m.: assist citizen (Pearl Drive), assisted;
12:10 p.m.: trespassing (Central Street), services rendered;
2:22 p.m.: 911, neighbor dispute (Lakeshore Drive), spoken to;
4:31 p.m.: MV operating erratically (Gardner Road), gone on arrival;
4:46 p.m.: animal complaint (Maynard Street), referred to ACO;
5:24 p.m.: 911, 911 call non-emergency (Ash Street @ Water Street), advised officer;
6:45 p.m.: extra patrols (Memorial Drive), services rendered;
7:16 p.m.: officer requested (Park Street), propert seized;
8:29 p.m.: 911, Fire Department call/general (Krantz Road), assisted;

TUESDAY MAY 20
12:16 a.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Community Park, Ingleside Drive), checked/secure;
12:26 a.m.: MV stop (Glenallen Street), verbal warning;
12:38 a.m.: patrol initiated (Citgo Lube and Repair, Water Street), checked/secure;
1:18 a.m.: extra patrols (Railroad Street), checked/secure;
1:19 a.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Community Park, Ingleside Drive), checked/secure;
1:23-2:07 a.m.: building checks, all secure;
1:57 a.m.: extra patrols (Summer Drive), checked/secure;
6:30 a.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Cottage Street), removed to hospital;
7:30 a.m.: investigation (Memorial Drive), report taken;
7:42 a.m.: 911, assist citizen (Park Street @ School Street), report taken;
7:45 a.m.: mental health issue (address not published), removed to hospital;
8:23 a.m.: sex offender registration (Walnut Street), assisted;
10:27 a.m.: mental health issue (address not published), removed to hospital;
10:30 a.m.: investigation (Memorial Drive), removed to hospital;
11:17 a.m.: summons service (Linden Street), unable to serve;
12:41 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Woodlawn Street), removed from hospital;
12:54 p.m.: 911, officer requested (North Royalston Road), no police service necessary;
1:37 p.m.: registration check (Main Street), info taken;
3:11 p.m.: animal complaint (Ash Street), referred to ACO;
4:03 p.m.: MV stop (Old Gardner Road), verbal warning;
5:08 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (other town, Laurel Lake Road), removed to hospital;
5:43 p.m.: disturbance (Pine Street), services rendered;
6:31 p.m.: suspicious vehicle (Pine Street), info taken;
6:32 p.m.: officer requested (Central Street), info taken;
6:33 p.m.: disturbance/fight (Black Bridge), spoken to;
6:44 p.m.: disabled vehicle (Glenallen Street), assisted;
8:08 p.m.: MV stop (Central Street), verbal warning;
8:24 p.m.: 911, abandoned 911 call (Ash Street), 911 non-emergency call;
8:30 p.m.: MV stop (Hall Road), verbal warning;
8:42 p.m.: trespassing (Central Street), summons;
8:48 p.m.: 911, 911 hang-up (Front Street), accidental/defective alarm;
8:53 p.m.: building check (Winchendon Community Park, Ingleside Drive), checked/secure;
9:13 p.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road @ Old Gardner Road), written warning;
10:52 p.m.: MV stop (Central Street), written warning;
11:09-11:58 p.m.: building checks, all secure;
11:23 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Central Street), removed to hospital;

Summons:
Zachary Edwin Ramos, age 34, 123 Spruce St, Winchendon, MA, charged with: trespass.

WEDNESDAY MAY 21
12:04 a.m.: extra patrols (The Winchendon Schoopl, Ash Street), checked/secure;
12:13-2:58 a.m.: building checks, all secure;
12:29 a.m.: registration check (Memorial Drive), checked/secure;
1:15 a.m.: suspicious vehicle (School Square), checked/secure;
6:00 a.m.: animal complaint (Goodrich Street), referred to ACO;
7:00 a.m.: info/general (Athol, School Street), referred to ACO;
10:22 a.m.: harassment (West Street), report taken;
10:50 a.m.: sex offender registration (Central Street), assisted;
12:12 a.m.: 911, CO detector activation (Spring Street), removed to hospital;
3:14 p.m.: officer requested (School Street), report taken;
3:44 p.m.: MV stop (Baldwinville State Road), verbal warning;
4:09 p.m.: 911, MV accident with injuries (Spring Street), removed to hospital;
4:15 p.m.: MV accident, no injuries (Spring Street), report taken;
5:32 p.m.: 911, 911 call non-emergency (Spring Street), advised officer;
5:42 p.m.: animal complaint (Hill Street), assisted;
6:21 p.m.: 911, officer requested (Murdock Avenue), spoken to;
6:29 p.m.: ATV complaint (Hale Street), gone on arrival;
7:51 p.m.: assault (Grove Street @ School Street), report taken;
8:23 p.m.: repossession of a vehicle (School Street), info taken;
8:48 p.m.: threats (Juniper Street), report taken;
9:56 p.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Community Park, Ingleside Drive), checked/secure;
10:29 p.m.: MV stop (Central Street), verbal warning;

Summons:
Kateryn Surett, age 27, 111 Franklin St, Winchendon, MA, charged with: negligent operation of motor vehicle; marked lanes violation.