Economic Development Task Force Members Needed

The Town of Winchendon is in search of five residents with relevant professional experience to serve on the Economic Development Task Force.

The Economic Development Task Force purpose is to identify, promote, and facilitate opportunities for sustainable economic growth 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.

Key Objectives:

Locate and engage with prospective businesses across a range of industries.
• Encourage new investment and 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.
• Generate a list of properties and parcels of land for sale and/or ready for development.
• Target developers who specialize in rural or small-town projects.

If interested sent letters of interest to ddennis@winchendon-ma.gov or mail to Town of Winchendon Attn: Debra Dennis 109 Front Street Winchendon MA 01475

EcoYouth Workshops Offered FREE for Young Adults Ages 18-24

Looking to build your environmental skills or explore green careers? Join us for EcoYouth, a FREE workshop series for young adults (ages 18-24), with priority given to youth who are at-risk or have experienced homelessness.

May 31 - Voices of Change: Advocating for Climate Justice (Worcester) 9:00 a.m.- noon. Hosted by Mass Audubon.
June 14 - Land Connections: Nature-based Mindfulness (Petersham) 6:00-9:00 p.m. and optional overnight camping. Hosted by Brother Northstar.
June 21 - Green Futures: Exploring Careers in Sustainability (Fitchburg) 9:00 a.m.- noon. Hosted by WCYAB.

Meals provided. Transportation available upon request.

Sign up or learn more at: https://tinyurl.com/y42ffr66

Questions? Email: yab@luk.org

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

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

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

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

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

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

Questions or Concerns? Email the Town Manager!

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

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

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

Applications Open for Vendor Spaces at the 2025 Fall Festival

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

Access the application information here:

fall_festival_application_tow_2025.pdf

Winchendon Lions Want to Welcome You!

The Winchendon Lions meet at the Winchendon American Legion Post 193, 295 School St., downstairs hall, 7:00 p.m.

Meetings are on the third Tuesday of each month, September through June. Dues are used for all Administrative cost, which is why we can say "All money received through fundraisers go back to the community, eye research, or other natural disasters around the world!"

Feel free to join us and try it out. We would love to see you!

If you have any questions feel free to call Joni 978-297-2753. Please leave a message if no answer!

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

Town Committee 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

FREE Meals for KIDS all summer long at Toy Town Elementary!

"Summer Eats" program run by Project Bread will run at Toy Town Elementary School, 175 Grove Street, Winchendon.

• All kids and teens up to age 18!
• Program runs June 23 through August 15, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. - Closed July 4
• Free lunch Monday through Thursday!
• NO ID or Registration required!
• Kids do not need to be residents of Winchendon or enrolled in Winchendon Public Schools
• Fun activities each day!
• No grab and go options available. Lunches will be served on site.

For more information, see https://projectbread.org/summer-eats-program

Planning Board Members Needed

The Planning Board has two open positions. If interested send letters of interest to nroberts@winchendon-ma.org and ddennis@wincendon-ma.org.

The Planning Board is responsible for land planning, reviews and recommends changes to the Zoning Bylaw and Zoning Map. It regulates land development according to the provisions of the Massachusetts General Laws, the Winchendon Zoning Bylaw, the Subdivision Rules and Regulations and the Site Plan Rules and Regulations. The Board makes recommendations on accepting or discontinuing public ways; and grants special permits for certain land uses.

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!

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.

Bylaw/Charter Review Committee - 2 vacancies
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).

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.

FRIDAY JUNE 20
12:30 a.m.: suspicious person (Ingleside Drive), spoken to;
12:47-2:14 a.m.: building checks, all secure;
1:02 a.m.: extra patrols (Railroad Street), checked/secure;
1:09 a.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road), verbal warning;
2:08 a.m.: extra patrols (Goodrich Drive), checked/secure;
2:20 a.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Housing Authority, Pearl Drive), checked/secure;
6:50 a.m.: larceny (River Street), report taken;
6:56 a.m.: animal complaint (Gardner Road), referred to ACO;
7:00 a.m.: animal complaint (Mason Street), returned to home or family;
7:00 a.m.: animal complaint (Mill Street), referred to ACO;
7:44 a.m.: investigation (Central Street), spoken to;
7:53 a.m.: MV violations (Pleasant Street), report taken;
7:56 a.m.: fire alarm (River Street), call cancelled;
8:10 a.m.: animal complaint (Harrisville Circle), referred to ACO;
8:28 a.m.: animal complaint (Benjamin Street), referred to ACO;
9:01 a.m.: investigation (Central Street), spoken to;
10:30 a.m.: officer requested (Pine Street), spoken to;
1:09 p.m.: suspicious person (Maple Street), spoken to;
1:25 p.m.: warrant arrest (Central Street), warrant arrest;
1:39 p.m.: unwanted party (Maple Street), assisted;
2:50 p.m.: 911, officer requested (School Street), checked/secure;
3:29 p.m.: property damage (Central Street), info taken;
3:54 p.m.: fire/mutual aid (other town, Great Road), fire extinguished;
7:03 p.m.: officer requested (West Street), info taken;
8:35 p.m.: officer requested (Spruce Street), info taken;
9:04 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Maple Street), assisted;
9:16 p.m.: CO detector activation (South Royalston Road), removed hazardous materials;
9:46 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Maple Street), removed to hospital;
10:15 p.m.: welfare check/general (Lincoln Avenue), spoken to;
10:46 p.m.: 911, 911 hang-up (Baldwinville State Road), accidental/defective alarm;
11:10 p.m.: disturbance/fight (Lincoln Avenue), report taken;

Arrests:
Gideon L Nadeau, Jr, age 48, 7 Sawyer Ln, Marlborough, MA, charged with: arrest based on a warrant.

SATURDAY JUNE 21
12:27-12:58 a.m.: building checks, all secure;
12:43 a.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Community Park, Ingleside Drive), checked/secure;
12:47 a.m.: suspicious vehicle (Spring Street), no police service necessary;
12:57 a.m.: extra patrols (Goodrich Drive), services rendered;
7:05 a.m.: suspicious person (Mill Glen Road), assisted;
7:31 a.m.: disabled vehicle (Mill Glen Road), spoken to;
7:48 a.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Bike Path, Teel Road), removed to hospital;
8:13 a.m.: animal complaint (Toy Town Lane), referred to ACO;
9:55 a.m.: sex offender registration (homeless), assisted;
12:56 p.m.: sex offender registration (Walnut Street), assisted;
1:50 p.m.: info/general (Maple Street), spoken to;
3:59 p.m.: extra patrols (Lincoln Avenue), info taken;
4:00 p.m.: drug/narcotic violations (North Royalston Road), summons;
4:01 p.m.: drug/narcotic violations (School Street), summons;
4:42 p.m.: animal complaint (Glenallen Street), referred to ACO;
5:05 p.m.: suspicious person (Main Street), unable to locate;
5:42 p.m.: 911, MV accident, no injuries (Bemis Road @ Teel Road), services rendered;
5:49 p.m.: gunshots heard (North Central Street), unable to locate;
7:14 p.m.: CO detector activation (Hale Street), false alarm;
7:19 p.m.: unwanted party (Front Street), report taken;
7:41 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Polly's Drive), removed to hospital;
7:52 p.m.: officer requested (Central Street), report taken;
8:40 p.m.: threats (Front Street), spoken to;
9:20 p.m.: suspicious vehicle (Spring Street @ Glenallen Street), unable to locate;
9:22 p.m.: ambulance needed (Spring Street), removed to hospital;
10:02 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Cottage Street), removed to hospital;

SUNDAY JUNE 22
1:59 a.m.: extra patrols (Railroad Street), checked/secure;
2:01 a.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Community Park, Ingleside Drive), checked/secure;
2:09 a.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Housing Authority, Pearl Drive), checked/secure;
2:18-2:34 a.m.: building checks, all secure;
2:29 a.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Plaza, Central Street), checked/secure;
2:58 a.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Spruce Street), report taken;
3:42 a.m.: fire alarm (Central Street), accidental/defective alarm;
4:56 a.m.: fire alarm (Central Street), accidental/defective alarm;
5:09 a.m.: burglar alarm (Murdock Avenue), checked/secure;
6:06 a.m.: fire alarm (Central Street), no fire service necessary;

7:51 a.m.: smoke (Woodlawn Avenue), laws/codes explained;
11:12 a.m.: 911, 911 hang-up (Mill Street), accidental/defective alarm;
11:14 a.m.: harassment order entry (Alger Street), report taken;
12:04 p.m.: animal complaint (Spruce Street), referred to ACO;
12:52 p.m.: 911, hazardous materials spill (Spring Street), assisted;
12:57 p.m.: 911, 911 call non-emergency (School Street), advised officer;
2:24 p.m.: alarm/type unknown (Hyde Park Drive), referred to FD;
5:16 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Spruce Street), removed to hospital;
5:49 p.m.: 911, suspicious person (Central Street), spoken to;
6:26 p.m.: 911, vehicle fire (Rice Road), fire extinguished;
8:02 p.m.: 911, abandoned 911 call (Teel Road), spoken to;
8:21 p.m.: harassment (River Street), report taken;
8:41 p.m.: animal complaint (Spring Street), info taken;
10:25 p.m.: 911, unwanted party (Linden Street), arrest;

Arrests:
Mark S Johnson Jr, age 36, 84 Linden St, Winchendon, MA, charged with: vandalize property c266 §126A.

MONDAY JUNE 23
12:35 a.m.: disturbance (Lakeshore Drive), spoken to;
2:43-3:12 a.m.: building checks, all secure;
7:59 a.m.: animal complaint (Lakeview Drive), referred to other agency;
10:59 a.m.: suspicious person (Ingleside Drive), spoken to;
11:07 a.m.: animal complaint (Lakeview Drive), referred to ACO;
12:02 p.m.: assist other police department (Maple Street), arrest;
12:06 p.m.: 911, brush fire (Main Street), fire extinguished;
1:16 p.m.: animal complaint (Joslin Road), referred to ACO;
3:51 p.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road), spoken to;
4:56 p.m.: officer requested (Bayberry Circle). spoken to;
7:15 p.m.: MV stop (Spring Street @ Ash Street), verbal warning;
7:19 p.m.: MV stop (Spring Street), verbal warning;
7:52 p.m.: loitering (Murdock Avenue), spoken to;
8:26 p.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road), verbal warning;
8:30 p.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road), verbal warning;
11:00 p.m.: officer requested (other town, NH Rte 12), unable to locate;
11:10 p.m.: harassment (Front Street), report taken;
11:17 p.m.: 911, MV operating erratically (Ash Street), arrest;

Arrests:
Carlos Anthony Torres, age 21, 451 Maple St, Winchendon, MA, charged with: assault on family/household member.
Nathan Richard Aho, age 24, 68 Carriage Way Dr, Fitchburg, MA, charged with: OUI-liquor over .08%; negligent operation of motor vehicle.

TUESDAY JUNE 24
2:58-3:26 a.m.: building checks, all secure;
6:04 a.m.: officer requested (Fairbanks Street), report taken;
7:58 a.m.: larceny (Central Street), services rendered;
8:08 a.m.: investigation (Park Street), services rendered;
8:59 a.m.: ambulance needed (Brown Avenue), removed to hospital;
10:51 a.m.: 911, accident (School Street), report taken;
4:01 p.m.: officer requested (Pearl Street), report taken;
6:57 p.m.: MV stop (Glenallen Street @ LeBreton Circle), written warning;
7:06 p.m.: MV stop (Maple Street), verbal warning;
7:11 p.m.: MV stop (Glenallen Street @ Tolman Road), verbal warning;
7:17 p.m.: officer requested (Hale Street), report taken;
8:04 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (Sibley Road), removed to hospital;
8:55 p.m.: 911, ambulance needed (High Street), removed to hospital;

WEDNESDAY JUNE 25
1:52 a.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Community Park, Ingleside Drive), checked/secure;
1:57- a.m.: building checks, all secure;
2:46 a.m.: extra patrols (Winchendon Housing Authority, Pearl Drive), checked/secure;
5:57 a.m.: animal complaint (Laurel Street), assisted;
6:35 a.m.: Department of Public Works call/general (Main Street @ Baldwinville State Road), referred to DPW;
7:24 a.m.: fire alarm (Ash Street), services rendered;
12:05 p.m.: Department of Public Works call/general (Water Street @ High Street), referred to DPW;
3:45 p.m.: investigation (High Street), services rendered;
4:49 p.m.: 911, MV accident with injuries (Glenallen Street @ Maple Street), removed to hospitak;
5:47 p.m.: officer requested (Lincoln Avenue), spoken to;
8:12 p.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road), report taken;
8:27 p.m.: officer requested (School Street), report taken;
8:59 p.m.: MV stop (Old Gardner Road @ Spring Street), verbal warning;
9:24 p.m.: investigation (Ingleside Drive), spoken to;
9:33 p.m.: 911, assault (Maple Street), report taken;
10:07 p.m.: 911, MV operating erratically (Glenallen Street), referred to other agency;
10:42 p.m.: 911, officer requested (Maple Street), removed to hospital;