(978) 297-0050 • www.winchendoncourier.com Newsstand: 75 cents Friday, OctOber 3, 2014

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LOCALRotary

welcomes membersPAGE 2

SPORTSSoccer

teams in the hunt for a win

PAGE 8

WEEKLY QUOTE“Victory belongs to the

most persevering.”Napoleon Bonaparte

BY JERRY CARTONCOURIER CORRESPONDENT

WINCHENDON — A month into the academ-ic year, iPads have been distributed through-out Murdock High School and on Wednesday, benefactors from Robinson-Broadhurst and the Murdock Trust got a close up view of how their grant money is being spent.

“This is changing the way we do school,” asserted Principal Josh Romano, who narrat-ed a slide show before sending the group into individual classrooms, escorted by student vol-unteer guides, to see just how dramatically the

iPads have altered the educational experience.Students are interacting with teachers and

each other differently now. A push of a button, for example, can project the information from an individual iPad to a screen in the front of the classroom to be seen and read by the entire class.

Because students are taking the iPads with them at day’s end, homework assignments are easily accessible as well.

In one music class, guitar students were read-ing and revising chords individually. In a sci-

BY JERRY CARTONCOURIER CORRESPONDENT

WINCHENDON — When you look for the next crop of rising stars at Murdock Middle School, it doesn’t take long to find a whole slew of talented youngsters and among them are sixth grader Noah Johnson, already a stage veteran, and seventh grader Summer Turner, who’s not new to sing-ing.

Noah likes “everything” — drama, music, band, soccer — you name it. When he was all of 10 years old a few years back, he was already performing at Mount Wachusett Community College and snared the lead in Aristocats and also was in Pinocchio at the Mount.

“You get to be all kinds of dif-ferent personalities” on stage, Noah said, adding he’s been working on his skills at home, largely for the benefit of his younger brother.

“Noah has awesome come-dic timing,” said teacher Aly Galipeau, adding, “he’s a natu-ral. He’s so enthusiastic.”

But it’s more than just act-ing for Noah when it comes to the arts. Baritone, tuba, sou-saphone — he can play all of those, too. Noah said of the transition to middle school (“it’s different here, the class changes and everything counts now,”) appears to have come pretty easily for a youngster

BY TRACY GAMBILLCOURIER CORRESPONDENT

Where are the problem areas of downtown Winchendon? What are the transition areas (sites that have potential but are not there yet)? What about positive places that are assets to the town? What are the three top priorities?

These were questions asked at the Central Street Revitalization Workshop held at Murdock Senior Center earlier this week. Interested residents joined represen-tatives from the Toy Town Partnership, Master Planning Committee, Historical Commission, Planning Board, School Committee, Historical Society, and Select Board to identify these main areas of downtown.

The workshop was led by regional planning graduate students from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning at UMass Amherst.

First, participants split into groups of five or six at a table with a map of downtown. Armed with small dot stickers of different colors, each per-son was asked to place them on the map in response to the

questions above.It sparked lively discussions

at each table and similar com-ments were heard around the room. Problem areas includ-ed empty storefronts, unat-tractive buildings that are eyesores, and the dangerous intersections at Blair Square and at Spring/Ash/Water Streets. Some of the transition areas were particular empty buildings, waterfront areas, and Ingleside. People point-ed out that Winchendon has many positive things in the Central Street corridor such as the Clark YMCA, bike path, post office, banks, library, IGA, and CVS.

Jane LaPointe offered some-thing else to consider when she asked, “What’s the expe-rience we want those who live here to have and those who visit to have?”

Maybe it is the same experi-ence for both and maybe not. She emphasized that the town has “a cohesiveness to it, a liveliness, a resilience.”

As the evening came to a close, planning agent Tracy Murphy reminded, “This is just the first of many conver-sations that will take place through the Master Planning Committee.”

BY JERRY CARTONCOURIER CORRESPONDENT

WINCHENDON — Saying he wants to “reframe the dialogue” surrounding the town’s financial crisis, Winchendon Town Manager James Kreidler told a Monday press conference, “there are three simple and fundamental truths that need to be heard and understood there is no money missing, the town accountant does not work for the town manager, and I am developing an operational plan to move us forward.”

“The deficit,” the exact amount of which has yet to be determined, with numbers floating between $2.5 mil-lion and possibly as high as $5 million, is, said Kreidler, “the result of legitimate bills having been paid by the town accountant without enough money in the account to cover them.”

He cited large hikes in med-ical bills submitted by town

employees as the primary culprit, with 13 claims that reached the maximum $70,000 individual liability cap hav-ing been turned in over the last year and a half, adding he was unaware of the increas-ing deficit.

“There is a legal separation of duties between the man-ager and the accountant...the Board of Selectmen...appoint, supervise, and are responsi-ble for the chief administra-tive officer (town manager) and the chief financial officer (town accountant). The town manager does not and cannot pay bills,” Kreidler noted.

Kreidler said he didn’t learn about the deficit until this summer.

“Had I known, I would have wrestled it to the ground. It would have been painful, but that’s what I do,” he insisted.

Charlotte Gallant,the for-mer town’s accountant, how-ever, told the BOS in an email

BY TRACY GAMBILLCOURIER CORRESPONDENT

WINCHENDON — The open house and Fall Festival at Ingleside was a beautiful success and yet another example of what a small group of volunteers can do. The Winchendon Enhancement Collaborative organized the event, in part, so the commu-nity could visualize the possibilities that this 43-acre property holds for the town.

WEC members have met almost weekly over the past year and include David Romanowski (Chair), Linda Daigle (Secretary), Don O’Neil, Pastor J. Lillie, Jane LaPointe, Colleen Laperriere, Ken LaBrack, Steve Haddad, John Deline, and Myranda Bishop.

LaPointe explained that about 120 people from a cross section of committees and boards in town attended a community forum host-ed by the Robinson-Broadhurst Foundation in September 2013 where participants were asked to think about five main questions:

Why do you live here? What are the town’s needs? What are the challenges in meeting those needs? What is needed to overcome the challenges? What could your organization do to help?

From the meeting, a group of 10 people formed the WEC steering group and have since joined the Toy Town Partnership whose “responsibilities include initiating and devel-oping projects that enhance the quality of life and the economic vitality of Winchendon by providing citizen support to the Town Hall.”

The property at 86 Ingleside Drive, off Maple Street, is currently owned by the Winchendon School, which is offering to sell it to the town at a reduced price. The Robinson-Broadhurst Foundation has funded a master plan for the

Turn To FESTIVAL page A12 Turn To KREIDLER page A9

Turn To STUDENTS page A9

Turn To EXPERIMENT page A9

Kreidler attempts to explain the

steps to solving dilemma

Festival points out possibilities at Ingleside property

Photos by Tracy Gambill, David Romanowski and Tammy St. Pierre

If it tastes as good as it looks, this pie is a definite winner. More photos on page 12.

Greg Lewis photos

Community members and students from UMass joined roundtable discus-sions about the future of the downtown area.

Planning meeting takes on Winchendon’s

downtown area

Rising stars starting young

Courtesy photo

Noah Johnson and Summer Turner are just two of the Murdock Middle School students already making their mark.

iPad experiment flourishing at schools

BY KEITH KENTSPECIAL TO THE COURIER

GARDNER — Recently adding two additional gold medals to their vast collection of artisan and product rec-ognition, Smith’s Country Cheese of Winchendon hosted an informative presentation Sept. 25 at the Gardner Museum. The evening included a pre-sentation filled with information, a short company movie, and question and answer session all the while being served samples of no less than five arti-san cheeses to add both vibrant color and delectable flavor to the experience.

Smith’s Country Cheese and its own-ers David and Carol Smith are now knocking on the door of a 30th anniver-sary in the cheese business, first open-ing for production in 1985. Head cheese maker Ryan Randell of Smith’s was introduced by president of the Gardner Museum Scott Huntoon to a crowd of more than 30.

Following up their success at last year’s L.A. International Dairy Competition where S.C.C. won two gold, two silver, and a bronze medal in 2013, Randell was eager to describe his pas-sion for the art of cheese making. Only working for the Smith family just shy of three years, Randell has attended a vast assortment of classes and seminars all over New England to help perfect his cheese making skills on behalf of the

Smith family.Opening up with his presentation

with a joke Randell pointed out, “I am the head cheese maker, and the only full time cheese maker at Smith’s Country Cheese, which is why I am the head cheese maker!” Explaining that the product is a farmstead cheese, it means all the milk used to make the cheese comes from the onsite dairy herd of 200 Holsteins at Otter River Farm, a part of

the SCC complex.“Cheese is milk’s leap at immortali-

ty, as this is a close as milk can get to staying on the shelf as long as possible.” Speaking of cheese historically, Randell went on to add, “We create Havarti, Cheddar, and Gouda. Gouda is proba-bly one of the oldest recorded cheese since the year 1184 A.D. when a record was made about its production, while Havarti is a newer and Danish cheese invented about 1920, and Cheddar is an English cheese that was first created about 1170 A.D.

“It is believed cheese was first discov-ered by people holding milk in a calf bladder which people drank out of, and it fermented the cheese. Some of the first recorded documents are dairy herd births and deaths going as far back as Egyptian times.”

“The cheese we craft today in pretty much the same fashion they did hun-dreds and hundreds of year ago except we do it with plastic instead of baskets, and we have mechanical starters for consistency and try to keep as close to the tradition method of cheese making as we possibly can by regulation, you won’t see anybody turning a big wood-en paddle,” Randell jokingly exclaimed.

Describing the characteristics of cheese, Randell detailed, “In the realm of cheese, you get more flavors out of the cheese because it more represents the land where the cows get all their feed from. Gouda cheese from any farm will taste different, and if you gave 20 different cheese makers the same recipe you will get 20 slightly different tasting cheeses. We constantly adjust the cheese to obtain the notes we are looking for in taste.”Randell added fac-tors of what kind of grass the cows eat, complete their diet, and other factors all have a final determination on what the cheese will taste like as the milk is a direct product of the cows diet.

The Holsteins at Otter River Farm, which the Smith family opened for busi-ness in 1969, are milked around the clock, seven days a week.

“The girls are always working, and the girls are always there,” proclaimed a jovial Randell.

From this Randell informed the crowd that it takes 12,000 pounds of milk to make 1,200 pounds of cheese meaning it takes 10 pounds of milk to make one pound of cheese only providing a ten percent yield, which then allows us to make on average about 120 ten pound wheels of cheese per day. One must take the 120 wheels and put them in a press, take them out, flip them and press them again. The cheese is then placed in a brine for about 24 hours where they also have to be flipped, and then they

are aged about four months for young Gouda, and up to at least a year for aged Gouda.

Creating the cheese is extreme-ly labor intensive and very hands on. When discuss-ing cheddar as an example Randell stated the cheese is cut in to big slabs, and they have to turn the cheese every 15 minutes for about three hours. Have no doubt about it, cre-

ating cheese is a lot of work and very time consuming. Randell went on to add that some specialty cheddar is aged up to five years, while some aged Gouda is aged up to four years, all kept in storage for the duration of time on the shelves.

Randell was pleased when asked by a member of the audience if they ever try new ideas on flavors. “Oh yes! David Smith and I have also enjoyed exper-imenting with new possible products to add to the line, and we are actually working out the idea of creating a lav-ender cheese!”

It should also be noted that Smith’s Country Cheese has even experimented with a chocolate cheese spread in the past, which may some day come to pro-duction.

Randell was proud to inform the audi-ence that Smith’s Country Cheese has a very detailed “green commitment plan.”

“First off, all the whey that is a byproduct of making cheese is fed back to the cows, and they love it. All of the manure which is the output created by the cows is used to make compost for gardening, which many customers buy at the farm. Smith’s Country Cheese has a roof covered in photovoltaic solar panels that produces up to 20 kilowatts of electricity, and has also worked with National Grid to install more energy efficient motors and fixtures.”

The Smith commitment to going green has not been cheap and shows just how serious the family takes the cause, as the large solar conversion alone cost a total of $250,000 to bring to fruition. Randell was happy to add, “We have a dedicated policy of commitment to be as good to our land as it has been to our cows and our cheese, and to treat the environment as good as possible while recycling as much from our farm and store as we possibly can.” From going solar to using all the manure for compost, feeding the whey back to the cows in the dairy herd, and things as simple as having a recycling dump-ster on the premises, Smith’s Country Cheese is making every effort to lead by example in both “Keeping it local, and keeping it green.”

After the presentation was over, a 20 minute question and answer ses-sion was held. Questions were asked ranging from “How do you make your spreadable Gouda’s, how good is cheese for us, what is the best way to store cheese, how do you choose you cows for milk production, and what methods of being able to purchase compost are available?”

Randell enjoyed the fact the audience was very interested in all aspects of the business as questions ran the gamut. In his closing statements Randell added Smith’s Country Cheese is a member of the Massachusetts Cheese Guild, which is composed of 22 Massachusetts Cheese Makers. “There are some very good cheeses made in our state, and we are proud to be one of them!”

When contacted after the presenta-tion David Smith was pleased to be informed of event’s success and the learning experience the audience obtained by adding, “An informed and educated consumer is a better consum-er, and I am very pleased that Ryan and our company were able to work with the Gardner Museum to provide this program for the public. We enjoy what we do, and it is a true love of the art of cheese making that allows us to be com-petitive in a specialty market.”

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Courtesy photo

ROTARY WELCOMES MEMBERS On Sept. 18 Joseph Guerico, Gardner Rotary Club pres-ident in the center, swore in two new members. The new members are Donna Libby, senior sales manager at Great Wolf Lodge New England at left, and Carol Fluet, senior business development representative at Unitil Service Corp.

Who makes the cheese? Smith’s presents program at Gardner

Keith Kent photos

Smith’s Country Cheese head cheesemaker Ryan Randell, hosting a presentation by Smith’s Country Cheese at the Gardner Museum. Randell provided a very enthusiastic and infor-mative program in which many aspects of cheese making is facilitated, all they way down to its most very basic beginnings with the dairy heard at the farm.

Answering questions during the end of what was a very informative evening about the art of making cheese, Ryan Randell at the front of the room on the right takes questions from the audience during the closing portion of the program.

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4FARMERS MARKET: The Toy

Town Farmers’ Market will set up on the front lawn at 126 Central St. which is the Unitarian Universalist Church across from the Clark Memorial/YMCA. Market hours are Thursdays 4-7 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m.-1 p.m. through the end of October. Available items include produce, eggs, baked goods and crafts from local craftsmen and artists. Market Money coupons make great gifts, and can be redeemed at any Toy Town Farmers’ Market vendor.

POT LUCK: The VFW Ladies Auxiliary 2158 hosts a pot luck supper at the Hyde Park Community Center beginning at 5:30 p.m. Adults $6; chil-dren younger than 10: $3. For more information or if you would like to contribute to the meal call (978) 632-5607.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5MURDOCK-WHITNEY HOUSE

MUSEUM is open for tours at 1 and 2:30 p.m. at 151 Front St. Free to Winchendon Historical Society mem-bers, $5 for others.

VETERANS: The Eugene M. Connor Unit #193 American Legion Auxiliary here in Winchendon is sponsoring a “Walk, Run, and Roll for Winchendon’s Veterans” on Sunday Oct. 5. We will walk, run, ride a bike, push a wheel-chair, or push a baby carriage from the Clark YMCA, along the bike path to the Massachusetts Veterans Cemetery and back. All funds will go to Winchendon’s veterans and their families. We need people to partici-pate, as well as people to donate. Any donation will be most appreciated. Registration materials are available at the Clark Memorial YMCA.

SECOND ANNUAL: chicken BBQ and car/bike show at Immaculate

Heart of Mary Church, 52 Spruce St. Live music by Deacon Express. Car show begins at 1 p.m., BBQ at 3 p.m. tickets are $5 each. Huge heating oil raffle too! Vehicles can be entered (at $5 per entry) from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. with judging from 2-3 p.m. Prizes for best hot rod, best antique, and best late model.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8KIWANIS: meet at the Carriage

House restaurant at 6:30 p.m. Want to make a difference but don’t want to commit to a political position? Come see what helping the not-for-profit Kiwanis is all about. Open to all with an interest in helping Winchendon and its children especially.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9FARMERS MARKET: The Toy

Town Farmers’ Market will set up on the front lawn at 126 Central St. which is the Unitarian Universalist Church across from the Clark Memorial/YMCA. Market hours are Thursdays 4-7 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m.-1 p.m. through the end of October. Available items include produce, eggs, baked goods and crafts from local craftsmen and artists. Market Money coupons make great gifts, and can be redeemed at any Toy Town Farmers’ Market vendor.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22SENIOR WELLNESS DAY: Senior

Wellness Day at the Old Murdock Senior Center is planned this year for Wednesday, Oct. 22 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Among those planning to have booths are health screenings, dental screenings, glaucoma screenings, Fire & Police departments, Housing Authority, mini massages, and Beals Memorial Library. Refreshments will be available. And much, much more! If you have an idea for a booth, please contact the Senior Center at (978) 297-3155 for more information. RSVP if you will be attending, how many peo-ple will attend, if you will need power and whether or not you will be bring-ing your own table (we have some tables available on a first come first served basis).

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24ART SHOW: On Friday night, Oct. 24,

6-9 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 25 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Cornerstone Christian Artist Day Apart will be holding it fourth annual Fall Art Show at Cornerstone Church located at 122 Gardner Road, Winchendon. This show will include various forms of visual arts, short stories, poetry and music. There is no entry fee for submissions and no

admission charge. Refreshments will be available. For further information, call us at (978) 297 3125, email us at artistdayapart@gmail.com or visit our website at www.artistdayapart.com.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25PLAN AHEAD: A Night of Spirits

presented by New England Paranormal Society at the Winchendon Historical Society Murdock Whitney Mansion, Saturday Oct. 25, right before Halloween. Limited space available, 6 p.m. to midnight. Meet and Greet at 6 p.m., buffet dinner served at 7 p.m. Historical lecture at 8 p.m. Tour and investigation 9-midnight: $50 per person, portions of the fee are being donated to the Winchendon Historical Society. email us at wickedscaryne@gmail.com for tickets and information.

ZOMBIE RUNThe Clark Memorial YMCA is

going to the...zombies in October. On Saturday, Oct. 25, two events are scheduled to keep the ath-letes and the not-so-athletic in the running. Kicking things off will be the Zombie 5k run. Run through the streets of W i n c h e n d o n , and just when you thought it was safe, you must make it through a .8 mile finishing leg filled with Zombies out to get you. Come dressed in your Halloween cos-tume. And there-fore: Be a part of the first inaugu-ral Zombie Run. We are looking for individuals to get dressed up in your Zombie best and par-ticipate in the last leg of our Zombie Run. P a r t i c i p a n t s

Winchendon courier 3 Friday, October 3, 2014

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The Winchendon Courier is commit-ted to accuracy in all its news reports. Although numerous safeguards are in place to ensure accurate reporting, mis-takes can occur. Confirmed fact errors will be corrected at the top right hand corner of page three in a timely manner. If you find a mistake, call (978) 297-0050 during normal business hours. During non-business hours, leave a message in the editor’s voice mailbox. The editor will return your phone call. Or contact the editor at the following email: ruth@stonebridgepress.com.

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9/29/14

Kitty KornerMy name is Whisper and I was

originally rescued by a kind family that saw my picture on Craigslist. I thought I had finally found a new for-ever home, but unfortunately it didn’t work out. A member of my new fam-ily became allergic to me and that is how I ended up at A Better Tomorrow shelter.

The volunteers are great, I am safe and well cared for, but I really, really want to find a home of my own. I have a charming personality, love rubbing up against you and will come to the front of my cage for your attention. I have to admit that I am a little ner-vous at the shelter. I know I would make the best impression if I were given a chance to show you my affec-tionate side while relaxed inside your home. The shelter is open to offering a home trial with me before fully committing to adoption. Will you give me that chance? I would prefer a quiet home without young children, but most likely wouldn’t mind other pets in the family as long as they are nice to me.

The shelter is open on Saturdays from noon-3 p.m. and Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m. If you are interested in adopting me just visit our website at www.shelterforcats.org for an online application or call (774) 641-1271 for more information. Thank you!”

School Committee talks town budget woesGREG VINE

The town’s financial prob-lems are having a spill-over effect on the school depart-ment’s budget, according to Superintendent Dr. Salah Khelfaoui.

Khelfaoui told the School Committee at its meeting on Thursday, Sept. 25, that three revolving funds main-tained by the district are some $300,000 short of expect-ed levels. Funds set aside for the purchase of iPads also appears to be missing.

The superintendent’s news comes on the heels of disclo-sures that accounting errors that occurred over the cou-ple of years have resulted in a municipal deficit of at least $2.3 million. About $1.8 million of that shortfall is the result of a $1.8 million deficit in the town’s health insurance trust fund. While

school employees account for 77 percent of Winchendon insurance costs, Khelfaoui told the committee the dis-trict won’t be making any cuts in its budget to help erase the red ink.

“The only thing we can do is offer the town some sympathy,” said Khelfaoui. “We are absolutely no way responsible for the $1.8 mil-lion, neither morally nor fis-cally. We’re being told a year and a-half after the fact about this shortfall. We can’t use the FY15 to pay past expens-es.”

Khelfaoui also said the schools had been asked to give up to $250,000 back to the town to help pay down the deficit.

“Only a town meeting can cut our budget,” he added. “We could only give $300,000 back this year. If we gave more than that we’d drop

below the net school spend-ing level set by the state.”

Winchendon voters this summer approved a Proposition 2-1/2 override which gave the school dis-trict $300,000 in excess of the state minimum. Giving that back, said Khelfaoui, would result in substantial cuts.

“Override monies must be spent on what they were raised for,” he said.

The superintendent did say if cuts were to be forced on the district due to the town’s difficulties, “no sala-ries will be cut; we’ll have to cut non-teaching positions.”

“To really help decrease the deficit,” Khelfaoui con-tinued, “we’d decimate about a quarter of our people; but it would be legal, anyway.”

Jack Blair, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, who said he was attending the committee meeting as a town

citizen, not as a represen-tative of the board, said the town’s deficit could balloon to between $3 million and $5 million once the state Dept. of Revenue has reviewed the numbers.

Obviously upset that cuts in the school budget is with-in the realm of possibilities, the committee voted without dissent to urge selectmen to again seek Town Manager James Kreidler’s resigna-tion.

Selectmen at their meet-ing on Sept. 22 voted 3-2 to ask Kreidler to step down. However, a super-majority of four out of five members must vote to in favor of a motion to oust a sitting town manager.

The School Committee also voted to have the dis-trict’s lawyer examine how the town has handled the shools’ books.

www.TheHeartOfMassachusetts.com

Turn To CALENDAR page A10

Winchendon courier 4 Friday, October 3, 2014

A treasure I hope you don’t missI was sad to learn this week

of the passing of actress Polly Bergen. She was nominated twice for Tony awards, had a number of really good roles in Hollywood and on televi-sion series but I knew her as a fellow board member of the Martha Graham Center for Contemporary Dance, an orga-nization she later served as president.

Ms. Graham was a “god” to her previous students and some of the more famous of them served on her board or regu-larly attended the fund raising events, including Betty Ford, the wife of the president, and Lisa Minnelli, the daughter of Judy Garland. There were many more.

I was often a bit star struck at board meetings and events but I will always remember Ms. Bergen for bringing me a plate of homemade cookies on my birthday.

I made it a point to catch up on her movies and television shows. She was a good actress but more importantly I got to see her as a good person as well.

It was an introduction to the fact that many of the people who succeed greatly are, when

in small groups, just normal folks wanting to be involved and wanting to learn about you, too.

The Boston Symphony Orchestra opened the new sea-son on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2014 at Symphony Hall. This may seem like a non-event but the symphony has been without a director since the famous James Levine was felled by var-ious illnesses and accidents and withdrew as director.

Before the end of the Levine era at the BSO he selected a young Brazilian conductor named Marcelo Lehninger to join the BSO as assistant con-ductor with a three year con-tract. I had occasion to watch this young man develop not only his conducting skills but also his rapport with one of the world’s best orchestras.

Last year, without anyone named yet to succeed Levine, Lehninger enjoyed opportuni-ties to further craft relation-ships with his players while the BSO relied on a succession of “guest conductors” as they con-tinued their worldwide search for a new Maestro.

Once the search committee named Andris Nelsons as the

new conductor of the BSO, even though he was not available for another year due to other com-mitments, they gave Marcelo Lehninger a new two year con-tract, but this time as associate director.

Maestro Lehninger opened the new season with a balanced program that featured some of the orchestra’s best solo play-ers, introduced a young new soprano who sang surrounded by eight cellists, and concluded with Beethoven’s famous and beloved Fifth Symphony.

Symphony Hall was full. The audience was hopeful.

I had the good fortune of attending the concert with a “Maestro” friend, a man with considerable experience con-ducting orchestras, opera com-panies and who is an accom-plished bassist.

Young Lehninger had the audience from the first move-ment of his baton. But more importantly, the orchestra played better than we have ever heard them play.

After intermission they turned to the Beethoven. My friend commented that the orchestra had probably played this beloved piece so often that they could do it in their sleep. He reminded me that we had heard all the Beethoven sym-phonies last year and that the Fifth had been conducted by one of the world’s best-known conductors.

So we knew we would enjoy it.

We did not know we would love it.

Neither of us ever heard this famous piece played better. The old hands in the orchestra related to the young conductor in ways we hadn’t seen before. My friend commented: they are playing their hearts out for him.

When the final note was sounded the audience was on its feet. There were numerous curtain calls. Everyone was thrilled, and I suspect, as sur-prised as we to hear such a piece played in such a wonder-

ful and exciting way.Those of us who love clas-

sical music and who went to Symphony Hall to enjoy Osawa and Levine and other world famous conductors did not expect to see and hear such an exceptionally presented pro-gram from a young, relatively unknown Maestro.

If you want to see and hear what a young man who will one day lead one of the best orches-tras in America is accomplish-ing in the early stages of what will be an outstanding career, get yourself to Symphony Hall while he is still here.

I came to Boston from Pennsylvania to watch a young conductor named Seiji Ozawa open the BSO on what was to be the first night of a long and historic career. I was impressed with the small man wearing a white turtleneck leading one of the more formal and sophisti-cated orchestras in the world. I look back often on that night.

Treat yourself to the same kind of memory by attending a concert directed by Maestro Marcelo Lehninger.

If you would care to read my BLOG, access it at blair-notes.blogspot.com

This isn’t your usual Uncle...Sam...Let me tell you

the story of a man named Sam. Sam, who lived out in the heartlands, where all the good and true people live, (as they’ll be the first to assure you), was an ear-nest young fellow. He was personable and handsome and inevitably his friends decided Sam, who, being quite ambitious needed no urging, would be a good per-son to represent them in that evil far-away place on the Potomac River. Sam would go there and do a lot of speechify-ing and lecturing and, in short, he would educate the folks in that evil place about the folly of spending money.

And to be sure, Sam was good, very good, at speechifying and lecturing, But Sam hated, yes, hated,(he’d eagerly be the first to confirm this) those pointy-headed bureaucrats who spent their lives in the evil city recklessly spending other peo-ple’s money, and no matter how good Sam was at speechifying and lecturing, money kept getting spent and all too often, even some of Sam’s like-minded colleagues joined in the fun.

So Sam decided it was time to go home and make sure no one’s money got spent.

His friends back home, who basically agreed with his sad recognition that he wasn’t changing the evil ways of the evil city, were overjoyed to have him around again, so happy in fact, they chose him to be their leader and not spend any-one’s money. A happy-af-ter-ever was assured for

all, right?Not so much. I write, of course, of

Sam Brownback, former US Senator and now governor of Kansas, whose tax and spending-cutting policies have been so draconian the bond houses noticed, did they ever, and cut Kansas’ ratings — sharply. The schools in Kansas are broke; social service programs have been slashed to the point where the state is in chaos and now 100 Republican legislators and activists have joined the campaign of Sam’s Democratic opponent, Paul Davis. Yes, Republican office-holders support-ing a Democrat. In Kansas.

When first elected four years ago, Brownback pledged his policies would become a model experiment for other states to follow and learn from. They’ve been instructive, all right, and they’re living proof, real-life, everyday proof, that huge tax cuts coupled with huge

spending cuts do not, not, not pave the way to economic growth, to say nothing of sunshine and happiness for all. Folks, do you think it’s a coincidence the high-est standard of living in this country exists in blue states? Think it’s an acci-dent the best schools and the healthiest people, those with the fewest medical issues are, on balance, in blue states?

Those who are out there clamoring insistently and relentlessly for more across-the-board spending cuts — and that includes just about every Republican in Washington — and certainly one in Topeka, (and more than one other cap-ital) — you know what they never talk about? They never talk about the real-life impact of those cuts. They never talk, for example, about what would happen to the seniors who rely on Meals on Wheels if that program was eliminated or even scaled way back. They disdainfully spew venom about “food stamps”, reflexively concluding that everyone who uses them has somehow “failed.” Cut school spend-ing, and I mean massive reductions? You bet — and never mind what happens to, say, art and music programs.

All these things have happened in Kansas over the last four years and the impact has been nothing short of cata-strophic. Responsible spending cuts are one thing — but indiscriminately chop-ping one program after another? All you

have to look is look at Kansas to see the real-life result of such mindless policy. It’s easy to advocate cutting spending when you don’t bother to envision the ripple effect. I am forever asking, and for-ever getting no coherent replies — what comes next after you cut, cut, cut? What about those seniors? I’m still waiting.

And yet and yet — there are some sta-tistical models that suggest Republicans might actually gain House seats next month, in addition to either taking con-trol of the Senate or coming pretty close to doing so. I’ve often written here that Congress is almost certain to be para-lyzed regardless of what happens Nov. 4, and whatever goofball legislation gets passed by a Republican majority will get vetoed, so to me the larger issue revolves around how we treat one another.

Even leaving aside the gerrymander-ing and the money that pollutes politics and helps narrow the electoral playing field, I wonder why so many people are so blind, or worse, callous, to the legiti-mate sufferings of their fellow citizens and vote for like-minded candidates. How have we gotten to this “I’ve got mine and the hell with you,” place? I have no answer. All I know is that it’s scary and more than a little dishearten-ing to watch. We can do better than that, can’t we?

VIEWSOpinion and commentary from Winchendon and beyond

Editorial lEttErs to thE Editor

He said, then he said, then he said...

WinchEndon couriErPresident/Publisher: Frank Chilinski

editor: ruth deamiCis

To the Editor:We know that understanding the

financial issue that is being spoken of in Winchendon can be difficult. The every-day person needs it broken down into a language we speak. Here is our attempt.

Most of us pay taxes. We take our paperwork to the accountant, tax-man, H & R Block etc. We trust they are doing what’s in our best interest. He then comes to us with the number we have to work with…pay more taxes, break even or get a return. We mail them in assum-ing all is well. We spend that return on much needed expenses.

Two years later we get a letter from the IRS stating we filed our tax return wrong. This is how much you now owe us. Shock, anger and frustration!

Well, we hired someone that we trust and that has the education and experi-ence to do our taxes. That person made errors. Now we have to pay the IRS what we owe because we trusted this person gave us accurate information. Lesson learned. Next time, we use a different tax filer or we implement a dif-

ferent strategy to make sure it doesn’t happen again. We fix the problem but we were not the cause of the problem. How could we have known this person would make errors on our return or file them incorrectly? It wasn’t our job…we trusted them.

So, Mr. James M. Kreidler is now repairing what was done incorrectly by the old accountant. He trusted that she knew what she was doing. He was not authorized to watch over or review her numbers. Then he worked around the numbers he rightly assumed were accurate.

Our main concern is that he be given the room the repair our problem. Stop with the hate campaigns and personal attacking. That will surely not repair this deficit. The work needs to be done now and we believe he will do it. We are doing our part in supporting our town by supporting our Town Manager!

Gary and debra lusCoWinChendon

Luscos: attempting explanation

Young: support for KreidlerTo the Editor:I support my town manager! It is that

simple. He is educated, experienced and follows the straight and narrow road. That is a difficult path to walk with the gossip mill and people out there that try to discredit him at every opportunity. He is a fair man and that doesn’t sit well with others who prefer cutting corners and speaking half truths. This deficit is a hard pill to swallow for all!

As I see it, Mr. Kreidler is the only

person with a plan and the only person willing to stand up and face the music. What would asking him to resign accomplish for Winchendon? Make a small group happy? That is not a risk I am willing to take. We would be in such trouble without his steadfast leader-ship. Mr. Kreidler has more than prov-en his worth!

mary a. younGWinChendon

At this point it’s time to stop trying to fix blame for the myriad of problems. Everyone is at fault and no one is fault. Even us.

We have often wanted to do more “in depth” investigative reporting, especially on money matters in Winchendon. There is always something that could be done better and excuses of short staffs and time don’t mean much when we miss some-thing we should have seen.

This is one of them.Examining fiscal budgets and deciphering them is a little like watching paint

dry. If you don’t have some accounting background (luckily, we do) it is also a strange wonderland of debits, credits, invoices, accountability and resources. Hardest of all is making sure the right funds come from the right resources.

Grant funds are specifically targeted for certain expenditures, often spelled out explicitly in the grant itself. But accounting offices have to be on their toes to be certain the right routing number is placed on items to be paid so the funds come out of the right revenues. Transposing a number could mean the difference between a grant fully expended and grant effed up.

So we must now trust the expertise of outsiders to come in and examine the books. Something we should have been doing, BOS should have been doing, Finance Committee should have been doing; a lot of people not just the one or two in the front offices.

Because ultimately we are the checks and balances. Us. The ones whose jobs it is to watchdog; or oversee, or hire people to audit and to ask questions.

Lots and lots of questions.We have a problem in one area with this, in that the current town manager, in

an effort to keep tight tabs on his reign, has often, and adamantly stated all ques-tions must filter through him.

Understandable when explained it saves time for his workforce, as he can often field the question himself.

Not so good when it means the watchdogs get stymied when they can’t move to see what needs to be seen for themselves.

Is this a policy or is it charter? Either way, it is obvious there needs to be more freedom by FinCom, BOS mem-

bers and others to examine for themselves when they have a query or a feeling about what is going on.

Some may not like it, and be uncomfortable with it.And those asking must, absolutely must, not intimidate.But it needs to change so those who should be asking these questions, and should

have been all along, can do so without having their hands tied.

On a final note: when the questions were asked, town hall investigated for them-selves the state of the finances for the school purchase of iPads. The funding was in place, not missing, not absconded; but the invoice had not yet been paid. When alerted to the situation; those in places of power did that right thing and imme-diately sent the check (from the correct accounts, to the correct vendors) and the issue is no longer valid.

JACK BLAIR

notEs of concErn

JERRY CARTON

JournEy of thE hEart

Winchendon courier 5 Friday, October 3, 2014

To the Editor:The Winchendon Enhancement

Committee wishes to express our great-est appreciation to everyone who helped make the Toy Town Fall Festival and open house at Ingleside such a success this past weekend.

Our goal, in addition to a day of fun and community, was to showcase the property we are looking to purchase that will provide the residents of Winchendon a unique space on which to build a com-munity-operated recreation area and workspaces where we all can meet, socialize and/or collaborate. Based on our estimated 2000+ visitors and the pos-itive feedback we’ve received, we believe we have achieved that goal!

Thank you to the Robinson-Broadhurst Foundation for bringing us together, pro-viding direction as well as funds for planning.

Thank you to the Winchendon School for allowing us to use the site and believ-ing in our project.

Thank you to each of the volunteers

and vendors for providing those who came a great day of games, food, arts and crafts, contests and music.

A special thanks to each of the people that came out to participate and share with us our vision of what will someday be a jewel for our town. A place that will allow us all to share in a variety of active and passive recreational uses, community gardens, arts, educational and environmental purposes, and public event spaces.

I would also like to give each of the Winchendon Enhancement Committee members a heartfelt thank you. Each of you has put in countless hours over the past few months to make Saturday a suc-cess. It mirrors the efforts that you have each volunteered over the past year in bringing this project forward to our town and ensuring that we will be successful.

DaviD Romanowski, ChaiRmanwinChenDon enhanCement

Committee

To the Editor:On Saturday, my husband and I

enjoyed the fall festival and open house at the Ingleside property. We went because we wanted to see how much of an asset this property could be to Winchendon. The possibilities for cultural and social events were obviously a positive asset.

We have such a lovely town and enjoy all the amenities of much larger cities. One only has to look at our beautiful his-toric center, our library (need updating, true), but is so genuine in its structure. We have a health clinic, pharmacies, and many small businesses that meet the daily needs of our residents. My point is, we as a town are along we from being a backwoods-do-nothing-have-nothing community. When we moved here nine years ago, several people referred to our town as “Winchentucky.” Personally, I am not a fan of that term because the word itself (albeit said in fun) makes us appear to be from such a town and populated by uneducated hicks who will fall for and believe anything presented to them. NOT TRUE. We as residents and taxpayers in Winchendon are so far away from that stereotype. We defi-nitely deserve better than we are get-ting from our town management right now and certainly are underserving of the adverse publicity their actions (most likely inaction) have created.

Are we a wealthy town? Certainly not. However we have collectively done our best to vote in upgrades and improve-ments to the best of our financial abil-ity. Our new fire truck and the new police station are only two examples. The purchase of the property from the Winchendon School would only add to our appeal as a town. But now, with this deficit hanging over us, how could we afford it?

We have placed our trust in our elect-ed officials and town management to do their jobs without some, all or many of those responsible sleeping at the switch. Being a town with officials responsible for such a gargantuan budget deficit is at the least insulting to us as taxpayers. I for one am appalled at the “he said, she said” game that is going on...that game in management circles serves only to muddy the waters and deflect attention from the truth.

Oh, I know there is a plan. The plan should be to never need a plan to cover incompetence.

I know paying bills that segue into the next fiscal year can be a bear, but what really bothers me is it allegedly has gone on for years. How can ignoring such a practice year after year be considered competent? And yet every year we vote to balance the budget...seriously?

If I read like an insulted, angry tax-payer, who just voted yes to money for the school then I say yes I am. There is money missing from a grant designated for iPads? (Editor’s Note: this has already been corrected and the invoices paid). Why? Years of unnoticed accounting errors...why? Ostensibly, several people knew about the alleged ‘poor accounting practices’ yet none spoke up? Why not? I congratulate Ms. Allard for speaking up.

So what now? Are we the taxpayers facing cuts in service, less police cover-age, street lights turned off, taxes raised? What? These are all unacceptable solu-tions that we don’t deserve. All my years in management taught me never criti-cize an action without offering problem solving ideas. I offer the following:

We as taxpayers should demand an outside government audit of all the books going back as far as this alleged “poor accounting” began. Surely a deficit of this magnitude is sufficient for the AG or the IRS to step in.

As part of an in depth investigation, all the players should be sworn in and under oath state what they know or knew. I advocate this because I feel there is no way we got to this point without someone noting something and yet not speaking up. Why not?

We have special town meetings every time town management is looking for additional funds. I think we need a town hall meeting with out town management ready to man-up and answer the tough questions we as taxpayers have the right to ask. The blame game serves no pur-pose and remember when you point your finger at someone else, there are three other fingers pointing back at you!

Revisit our town management struc-ture and vote in realistic changes we can afford.

And lest I forget, having a $150,000 plus yearly salary (plus all the perks) may make $63 so insignificant as to not be “noticed” but to some people it is all they have to divide between groceries, medi-cations, or gas every week. These being the same people from whose taxes fund the 150K plus salaries. The bottom line in “salary speak” is integrity and honesty have been, and always will be, priceless.

As one of many taxpayers who knows we deserve better, I remind everyone Winchendon is indeed a town surround-ed by bodies of water and it is unfortu-nate none of them is a Boston type har-bor because I would be there dumping in as much TEA as I could lay my hands on! How about you?

BeveRly CouRnoyeRwinChenDon

To the Editor:I am writing this letter concerning the

abysmal fiscal situation in the town of Winchendon.

I was on the Board of Selectman when Mr. James Kreidler was originally hired. We had just removed the previous town manager and were being fined by the Department of Environmental Protection for non-compliance and failure to pro-vide the DEP with certain documents. Mr. Kreidler resolved these issues and we did not have to pay the fine.

At one of the first Board of Selectman meetings it was discussed that though the town accountant did not report to the TM but we expected that there would be constant coordination between the two offices. How else can you develop and present a balanced budget? We expected that both parties would report to us if there was even the slightest problem.

Over the last five to 10 years we have been told that the town is in excellent fiscal shape and that our bond rating has improved dramatically, thanks to the wise fiscal wisdom of Mr. Kreidler. Within the past week I have been bom-barded with numerous newspaper arti-cles saying that the town is $2,300,000 or $3,000,000 to $5,000,000 in debt depending on who you listen to, Mr. Kreidler or the Department of Revenue. I am just shocked that this came out of the blue.

Why did the TM not surface any prob-lems to the BOS in 2012 (Fiscal Year 2013) when problems first started to appear? So now we come to 2014 (FY 2015) and the BOS was not told about the millions of dollars shortfall until about two weeks ago. An audit report was sent to the selectman in late July but it was not given to them by the town manager. Why? What is he trying to hide?

It is sad when the School Committee receives the report before the Selectman. Also, the chairman of the Board of Selectman was blind-sided when a high ranking official of the Department of Revenue called and told him of the short-age. Why didn’t the town manager tell him as soon as he was informed of the shortage?

At the BOS meeting on September 22, the problem was discussed and Mr. Robert O’Keefe said that he was ‘out-raged” that this could happen without any prior knowledge by board members. Ms Beth Hunt expressed her disgust and made a motion that the BOS ask Mr. Kreidler for his resignation. Ms Hunt, Mr. Berndt and Mr. Blair voted for the motion. Mr. O’Keefe and Mr. Barrows voted against the motion. Both Mr. O’Keefe and Mr. Barrows stated that they had not read the audit report. One would think that before you voted on such an

important motion you would inform yourself with all the facts? A wiser vote would have been to abstain. Mr. Kreidler did not offer his resignation.

Now the question arises why Mr. O’Keefe and Mr. Barrows were so eager to support Mr. Kreidler when they did not have all the information?

In the spring of 2010 the Board of Selectmen under Mr. Barrows gave Mr. Kreidler the protection of a five year contract (legality is to be determined). Realizing that the voters of Winchendon would probably elect two anti-Kreidler candidates, Mr. Jackson Blair and Mr. Robert Zbikowski, and by protecting the town manager with a five year guaran-tee, Mr. Barrows and Mr O’Shea dis-enfranchised the voters who chose Mr. Blair and Mr. Zbikowski, With the new contract Mr. Kreidler would continue in his position and neither Mr. Blair nor Mr. Zbikowski would have a chance to vote on a future contract. At this time both Mr. Barrows and Mr. Shea were up for re-election. Mr. Barrows saw the writing on the wall and did not run. Mr. Shea did run and was soundly defeated.

On December 11, 2010 a contentious recall election was held and Mr. Barrows along with Mr. Robert O’Keefe were elected. Within 9 days of the election, on December 20, 2010, Mr. Barrows and Mr. O’Keefe signed the first of two adden-dums to Mr. Kreidler’s contract allowing him to “engage in consulting services relating to solar energy and its bene-fits for Massachusetts municipalities.” The town’s financial problems started just after these addendums. Maybe Mr. Kreidler should have been paying more attention to the town’s business rather than his own outside employment. I do not understand Mr. Barrows’ 14 year support, or Mr. O’Keefe’s endorsement of Mr. Kreidler, who is the fifth highest paid town manager in the Commonwealth running one of the smallest towns with the least amount of money in its stabili-zation fund.

I do not know why, but it makes me wonder why they are more loyal to Mr. Kreidler than they are to the town. The truth will eventually come out.

For public servants to put the wel-fare of the town manager over the town is unforgivable. It shows that they are unreliable and display poor judgment. Such people should not serve in such an important position. Therefore I am in the process of collecting signatures to recall both Mr. O’Keefe and Mr. Barrows and hope that the taxpayers of Winchendon will support me in this formidable task.

loRenzo “laRRy” soRDoniwinChenDon

Sordoni: my take on it WEC: thanks for great day

Cournoyer: where do we go

Zbikowski: contract declassifiedTo the Editor:The town manager currently has a 5

year contract that ends on June 30, 2015. He will automatically get another 5 year contract unless 4 selectmen vote not to continue it by January 1, 2015. On non-re-newed the town manager would get a severance package around $250,000. His severance package grows larger the lon-ger he’s here. By the way, the severance would be waived if the town manager gets a new job paying him 90 percent of his current cash and benefits, approxi-mately $180,000, by the time his contract with Winchendon ends.

In the first three years of the town man-ager’s contract, it states he will receive no increase in his base salary, but wait; the selectmen increased his education incentive from 10 percent to 12 percent, over $2,500 each year. In the last two years of the 5 year contract, his base sal-ary is increased by 3 percent each year, $3,791.13 in FY14 and $3,904.86 in FY15. His education incentive and base salary increases amounted to over $20,000.

His contract states, “the TOWN MANAGER must devote time outside of his normal working hours to the business of the town...and because of the profes-sional nature of the TOWN MANAGER’S position, it is understood that his hours of work shall not be specified. Working hours that were in previous contracts were deleted.

Each year the town manager receives 13 ½ paid holidays and 7 weeks paid vacation. I believe it’s his practice to sell five of his vacation weeks back to the town each year for approximately $12,000. He also gets 3 paid personal days each year.

The town covers the town manager for up to 180 days, per occurrence for illness and disability at FULL PAY, and is “not to be deducted from the MANAGER’S accrued time.” He currently has 75 days. His contract states this “shall be self-in-sured.” Does that mean the town is insur-ing him and there’s no policy?

His long-term illness and disability insurance states, “days more than 180, per occurrence, shall be covered by a long-term disability insurance policy which the TOWN MANAGER shall be paid a minimum of 50 percent of the MANAGER’S salary. The premiums for said long term disability policy shall be

borne by the TOWN.”“In each fiscal year, the TOWN shall

pay an amount of money equal to sixty (60%) percent of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Master Medical Family Plan to the TOWN MANAGER, and the TOWN MANAGER may use said funds to pay the premiums for and related cost for his selected health and dental plans.”

The town provides the town manager with a $2 million dollar life insurance policy, and a vehicle that he may use for personal use. His contract states the “exact vehicle shall be chosen by the TOWN MANAGER at his sole discre-tion.” All maintenance, insurance, and repairs are paid by the town. He also gets $2,080 for gasoline each year, as well as, a family membership to a local health facility.

Who were the selectmen that gave the town manager such an iron-clad and extremely lucrative 5 year contract? Only three selectmen voted for this con-tract. They were Keith Barrows, Beth Hunt, and Mark Shea. Barrows and Hunt are currently on the Board. These three are responsible for this outlandish con-tract. Many people believe the change from a 3 to 5 year contract, and requiring 4 rather than 3 selectmen to remove the town manager was put in to make any newly elected selectmen powerless. Selectwoman Hunt appeared to have sec-ond thoughts regarding the town man-ager when she asked for his resignation. Of course he refused, why wouldn’t he? Why give up the golden goose? Selectmen Barrows voted against the town manager resigning.

When this inexcusable contract was finalized, selectman Barrows stated in the Fitchburg Sentinel, “I am delighted to have reached an agreement on a con-tract extension with the town manager until 2015. I believe the contract cre-ates significant value for the residents of Winchendon and provides for con-tinuation of the disciplined fiscal man-agement that has navigated us safely through otherwise financially unpredict-able waters.” With the town millions in debt, does Selectman Barrows still feel that way? For the town’s sake, I hope not.

BoB zBikowskiwinChenDon

“Every Town Deserves a Good Local Newspaper”

TheHeartOfMassachusetts.com

Across

1. Single-mast sailing vessels

9. Similar to butterflies14. Burn treatment (2

wds)15. Computer whiz16. Secured with wood

strips17. Acting by turns18. Go through19. Let20. Having a will23. Simple tools utiliz-

ing a fulcrum24. It has points in

Arizona25. Approval (hyphen-

ated)27. Less inept28. Carve in stone29. Nipper32. Flat highland34. Endocrine gland

secretion37. Undertake, with

“out”38. Advocate40. Red fluorescent dye41. Mel Gibson, e.g.43. Aimless44. Hitchcock classic47. Galore49. Polar cover50. Clip51. Spuds52. Person to whom a

promise is made57. Emotionally

attached58. Knowledgeable

about books59. Dispatch60. Put off

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2 wds)3. “Sesame Street”

watcher4. “Wanna ___?”

5. Instrumental intro-duction in an opera

6. Lover of Dido, in myth

7. Milk-Bone biscuit, e.g.

8. Most unhappy9. Donnybrooks10. Printed sheet of

paper folded three times

11. This (pl.)12. Personnel director13. Mails15. Fox hunt cry (hy-

phenated)20. Put off, as a motion21. Ceremonial splen-

dor22. “Let it stand”24. Beanies26. Advil target28. 100 cents in Bel-

gium

29. Place30. Ally31. Confined, with

“up”33. Postmortem35. One who buys back

promissory notes36. “September ___”

(Neil Diamond hit)39. Wrestle41. Highlight42. Battlefield shout

43. “Jo’s Boys” author44. Spiel45. La ___, Italian

opera house46. Abominable snow-

men48. Romeo’s rival53. Bank offering, for

short54. Gabriel, for one55. .0000001 joule56. Vision organ

Weekly CrosswordOctober 3, 2014

Winchendon courier 6 Friday, October 3, 2014

Winchendon Police DepartmentEditor’s Note: The information con-

tained in this police log was obtained through public documents kept by the police department, and is considered to be the account of the police. All subjects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2212:24-2:50 a.m.: 11 building checks,

secure; 4:26 a.m.: ambulance (Congress Road) transferred; 5:35 a.m.: warrant check (Central Street) info given; 5:48 a.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road) traffic citation; 5:59 a.m.: MV stop (School Street) spoken to; 6:11 a.m.: MV stop (Ash Street) traffic citation; 6:22 a.m.: MV stop (Baldwinville Road) written warning; 8:40 a.m.: ambulance (Central Street) transferred; 9:11 a.m.: ambu-lance (Ipswich Drive) transferred; 9:46 a.m.: general info (Central Street) info taken; 10:36 a.m.: MV stop (Hospital Drive) traffic citation; 10:41 a.m.:am-bulance (Monadnock Avenue) trans-ferred; 10:47 a.m.: suspicious MV (Brown Street) gone on arrival; 10:51 a.m.: suspicious MV (Lakeview Drive) no PD service required; 10:54 a.m.: offi-cer wanted (West Street) spoken to; 11:27 a.m.: license plate missing (Monadnock Avenue) report taken; 11:32 a.m.: sum-mons service (Lakeshore Drive) served; 1:34 p.m.: summons service (Linden Street) served; 1:39 p.m.: summons ser-vice (School Street) served; 1:40 p.m.: summons service (North Street) served; 1:41 p.m.: summons service (Metcalf Street) unable to serve; 1:44 p.m.: sum-mons service (River Street) unable to serve; 2:06 p.m.: ambulance (Front Place) transferred; 2:22 p.m.: summons service (Maple Street) served; 2:53 p.m.: animal complaint (Laurel Street) refer to ACO; 3 p.m.: officer wanted (Pine Street) spoken to; 3:08 p.m.: officer wanted (River Street) referred to court; 3:44 p.m.: MV stop (Central Street) sum-mons: Michael L. DiForte, age 22 of 17 Pine St., Winchendon: number plate violation to conceal ID and no inspec-tion; 4:27 p.m.: larceny (Central Street) spoken to; 4:39 p.m.: abandoned 911 call (Lakeshore Drive) report taken; 5:20 p.m.: burglar alarm (Island Road) checked, secure; 6:03 p.m.: neighbor dispute (Lakeshore Drive) spoken to; 6:08 p.m.: neighbor dispute (Lakeshore Drive) advised officer; 6:12 p.m.: suspi-cious MV (Mill Glen Pond North Road) checked, secure; 6:30 p.m.: animal complaint (First Street) refer to ACO; 6:35 p.m.: disturbance (Spring Street) arrest: Sheila E. Hosnander, age 47 of 151 Spring St., Winchendon: A&B on family or household member; 8:03 p.m.:

assist other PD (Mill Glen Road) info given; 9:33 p.m.: MV stop (Baldwinville State Road) verbal warning; 9:59 p.m.: MV stop (Lincoln Avenue) verbal warn-ing; 11:58 p.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road) traffic citation.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 231:14-4:04 a.m.: 10 building checks,

secure; 2:15 a.m.: suspicious person (Spring Street) transport; 5:23 a.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road) spoken to; 5:31 p.m.: disabled MV (Gardner Road) spo-ken to; 6 a.m.: MV stop (Spring Street) traffic citation; 8:10 a.m.: ambulance (Ash Street) transferred; 8:56 a.m.: sum-mons service (River Street) unable to serve; 8:57 a.m.: animal complaint (Hyde Park Street) refer to ACO; 9:03 a.m.: burglar alarm (Central Street) secured building; 9:24 a.m.: larceny (Mellen Road) report taken; 9:38 a.m.: summons service (Cummings Road) served; 9:39 a.m.: summons service (Mill Glen Road) unable to serve; 9:40 a.m.: summons ser-vice (Pine Street) served; 9:59 a.m.: ani-mal complaint (Mill Glen Pond Road) info taken; 10:07 a.m.: officer wanted (walk in) spoken to; 10:20 a.m.: distur-bance (Elm Street) arrest: Christopher Richard Snow, age 20, of 104 Elm St., Winchendon: A&B on family or house-hold member; 12:49 p.m.: FD call (Mill Street) services rendered; 2:11 p.m.: MV operating erratically (Spring Street) unable to locate; 2:13 p.m.: MV operat-ing erratically (Gardner Road) advised officer; 5:19 p.m.: general info (Benjamin Street) assisted; 5:58 p.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road) traffic citation; 6 p.m.: assist other PD (Main Street) call can-celed; 6:11 p.m.: threats (Spring Street) assisted; 7:49 p.m.: MV stop (Glenallan Street) spoken to; 7:58 p.m.: traffic haz-ard (School Street) unable to locate; 8:44 p.m.: extra patrols (Mechanic Street) info taken; 9:30 p.m.: general info (walk in) report taken; 11:47-11:53 p.m.: two building checks, secure; 11:52 p.m.: MV stop (School Street) traffic citation.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2412:19-4:05 a.m.: 14 building checks,

secure; 4:52 a.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road) traffic citation; 6:11 a.m.: MV stop (Ash Street) spoken to; 6:16 a.m.: MV stop (Ash Street) traffic citation; 7:09 a.m.: sex offender registration (walk in) assisted; 9:06 a.m.: drug, narcotic viola-tion (Otter River Road) info taken; 9:28 a.m.: summons service (Spruce Street) unable to serve; 9:35 a.m.: harassment (Webster Street) spoken to; 9:44 a.m.: summons service (Cummings Road) served; 10:10 a.m.: larceny (Town Farm Road) report taken; 10:21 a.m.: harass-ment (Front Street) info taken; 10:25 a.m.: assist citizen (Walnut Street)

assisted; 10:33 a.m.: investigation (Front Street) spoken to; 10:51 a.m.: investi-gation (Mill Glen Road) report taken; 11:01 a.m.: ambulance (Monomonac Road East) transferred; 11:11 a.m.: summons service (Memorial Drive) served; 11:17 a.m.: disabled MV (Grove Street) assisted; 11:28 a.m.: animal com-plaint (Royalston Road South) property returned to owner; 11:56 a.m.: animal complaint (School Street) refer to ACO; 1:17 p.m.: welfare check (address not printed) spoken to; 2:24 p.m.: neighbor dispute (Mechanic Street) spoken to; 2:52 p.m.: assist citizen (Crosby Road) assisted; 3:28 p.m.: general info (Webster Street) info taken; 4:30 p.m.: MV stop (Glenallan Street) verbal warning; 4:36 p..m.: MV stop (Glenallan Street) writ-ten warning; 5:28 p.m.: threats (Whitney Street) assisted; 5:40 p.m.: welfare check (address not printed) checked, secure; 6:10 p.m.: officer wanted (Mechanic Street) MV towed; 6:47 p.m.: summons service (Pine Street) served; 6:54 p.m.: animal complaint (School Street) refer to ACO; 6:59 p.m.: general info (Pine Street) info taken; 7:51 p.m.: ambu-lance (Pleasant Street) transferred; 9:04 p.m.: noise complaint (Summer Street) spoken to; 10:11 p.m.: officer wanted (Lincoln Avenue Extension) arrest: Mark J. Bogosian, age 33 of 55 Redfield St., Cherry Valley: OUI-liquor; 11:03 p.m.: animal complaint (Front Street) refer to ACO; 11:33 p.m.: repossession of MV (Central Street) MV towed.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 251:38-2:38 a.m.: two building checks,

secure; 4:10 a.m.: ambulance (Central Street) transferred; 7:02 a.m.: fire mutu-al aid (Country Meadow Bride) removed to hospital; 7:54 a.m.: ambulance (Park Street) transferred; 8:36 a.m.: ambu-lance (Cabot Road) transferred; 9:08 a.m.: summons service (Mill Glen Road) served; 9:13 a.m.: MV stop (Baldwinville State Road) verbal warning; 9:31 a.m.: larceny (Lincoln Avenue) report taken; 9:55 a.m.: ambulance (Grove Street) transferred; 9:59 a.m.: investigation (Central Street) unfounded; 10:10 a.m.: investigation (Main Street) info taken; 11:35 a.m.: larceny (Royalston Road North) report taken; 11:38 a.m.: larce-ny (Whitney Street) report taken; 11:40 a.m.: investigation (walk in) spoken to; 12:40 p.m.: investigation (Benjamin Street) spoken to; 12:45 p.m.: investiga-tion (Main Street) spoken to; 12:50 p.m.: investigation (Central Street) spoken to; 12:57 p.m.: FD call (Central Street) fire extinguished; 1:12 p.m.: vandalism (Mill Street) report taken; 1:50 p.m.: investigation (Central Street) spoken to; 1:57 p.m.: investigation (Central Street) info taken; 2:01 p.m.: investi-

gation (Main Street) info taken; 2:08 p.m.: investigation (Mill Street) info taken; 3 p.m.: general info (Otter River Road) advised officer; 3:10 p.m.: trespass notice (Lakeshore Drive) info taken; 3:11 p.m.: trespass notice (Lakeshore Drive) info taken; 3:43 p.m.: warrant arrest (Linden Street) Paul J. LaPrise, age 49 of 296 Maple St., Winchendon: arrest based on warrant; 3:44 p.m.: ambulance (Franklin Street) transferred; 4:44 p.m.: officer wanted (Brown Street) report taken; 5:46 p.m.: animal complaint (Mill Street) refer to ACO; 6:58 p.m.: burglar alarm (River Street) call canceled; 7:09 p.m.: summons service (Alger Street) served; 7:50 p.m.: general info (walk in) info taken; 8:22 p.m.: animal complaint (East Street) refer to ACO; 10:36 p.m.: building check, secure; 10:37 p.m.: sto-len MV (Goodrich Drive) summons: Tracy J. Ashline, age 37 of 35 Goodrich Drive, Winchendon: use MV without authority; 11:35 p.m.: animal complaint (Water Street) refer to ACO.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2612:45 a.m.: vandalism (Main Street)

summons: Jase K. Murphy, age 23 of 94 Main St., Winchendon: vandalize property; 8:10 a.m.: fraud (Hale Street) spoken to; 8:44 a.m.: welfare check (address not printed) gone on arrival; 10:01 a.m.: officer wanted (Mill Street) report taken; 10:15 a.m.: ambulance (Walnut Street) transferred; 10:33 a.m.: general info (walk in) spoken to; 11:53 a.m.: MV stop (Central Street) sum-mons: Justin D. Phillips, age 27 of 206 Lincoln Ave., Winchendon: operating MV with license suspended; 12:18 p.m.: disturbance (Mill Street) spoken to; 12:25 p.m.: fire unknown type (Front Street) fire extinguished; 1:24 p.m.: officer wanted (phone) spoken to; 2:24 p.m.: property found (Central Street) returned to owner; 2:39 p.m.: animal complaint (Spring Street) refer to other agency; 3:56 p.m.: fraud (Hale Street) spoken to; 4:31 p.m.: accident (School Street) report taken; 5:24 p.m.: investi-gation (Benjamin Street) no PD service required; 5:30 p.m.: investigation (Main Street) no PD service required; 5:49 p.m.: assist other PD (Balsam Road) assisted; 6 p.m.: fire mutual aid (Wilker Road) assisted; 6:09 p.m.: custody dispute (Mill Glen Road) spoken to; 6:32 p.m.: burglar alarm (Spring Street) secured building; 7:47 p.m.: animal complaint (Walnut Street) spoken to; 8:35 p.m.: officer wanted (Walnut Street) unable to locate; 8:45 p.m.: MV stop (Front Street) traffic citation; 8:48 p.m.: animal complaint (Spring Street) unfounded; 10:56 p.m.: harassment (Brown Street) report taken.

POLICE LOG

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Courier CapsulesSUPPER!First Church of Templeton, located

on Templeton Common, will hold a Swedish Meatball Supper on Saturday, Oct. 11. Open seating will be available from 4:30 to 6 p.m. The family-style supper includes a menu of freshly made Swedish meatballs, roll/bread, vegeta-ble, dessert, beverage, and community fellowship. Tickets are $10 per adult, $5 per child ages 6-17, with children under 5 free. All are welcome! For more infor-mation, please contact First Church at (978) 939-8688.

SEEKING ARTISTSOn Friday night, Oct. 24, 6-9 p.m.

and Saturday, Oct. 25 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Cornerstone Christian Artist Day Apart will be holding it fourth annual Fall Art Show at Cornerstone Church located at 122 Gardner Road, Winchendon. This show will include various forms of visu-al arts, short stories, poetry and music. There is no entry fee for submissions and no admission charge. Refreshments will be available. For further informa-tion, call us at (978) 297 3125, email us at artistdayapart@gmail.com or visit our website at www.artistdayapart.com.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTLOWELL — Local residents were

named to the dean’s list at UMass Lowell for the Spring 2014 semester.

Among those recognized for achieving academic distinction at UMass Lowell are: Kyle Blouin of Winchendon, major-ing in exercise physiology; Alexander Buda of Templeton, majoring in elec-trical engineering; Kristopher Clayton of Winchendon, majoring in electrical engineering; and Stephen Ganoe of Rindge, majoring in mechanical engi-neering.

To qualify for the dean’s list at UMass Lowell, a student must have completed no fewer than 12 graded credits for the semester and earned at least a 3.25 grade point average with no grade lower than C and without any incompletes.

IN THE SERVICE Air Force Master Sgt. Sean J. Murphy

has retired from the U.S. Air Force after serving honorably for 20 years.

Murphy was last serving as command precision measurement equipment laborato-ry functional manag-er with Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

Murphy is the son of Candace M. and James Murphy of Jaffrey and

is a 1992 graduate of Keene High School.PETERBOROUGH PLANNINGPETERBOROUGH, NH — It’s a ban-

ner year in Peterborough in more ways than one. A weeklong celebration to mark the 275th anniversary of the town starts on Friday, Oct. 10 with commu-nity and family oriented activities that culminate with the annual Peak Into Peterborough event on Saturday, Oct. 18.

Hosted by the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, Peak Into Peterborough is held downtown around Grove Street and Depot Square. Each year a Farmers’ Market, hayrides, special merchant offerings and non-profit displays combine with music, unique shops, flavorful restaurants, eclectic galleries and museums to make Peterborough the destination for a day full of surprises and entertainment. Added features this year will be staged at Putnam Park with child-centered displays and activities including pony rides.

Call (603) 924-7234 or email staff@peterboroughchamber.com today! More information about events can be found at www.peakintopeterborough.com.

Work begins on water main breakBY JERRY CARTON

COURIER CORRESPONDENT

WINCHENDON — An excavation was scheduled to begin yesterday morning on a water main break near Mill Circle, and Public Works director John Deline was cautiously taking a wait-and-see approach as the project got underway.

The problem was discovered late Sunday night or early Monday morning and water had to eventually be shut off to eight homes in the neighborhood with a tem-porary line installed in order for those families to access water.

“We usually get complaints about dirty water,” as the first sign of where a prob-lem exists, said Deline, but because that wasn’t the case this time, DPW crews had to check easements and river crossings throughout town before isolating the defect.

“We’re going to have to go pretty deep,” under the river bed, acknowledged Deline. “We hope we can get it fixed...(yesterday) but depending on what we find, we might have to wind up contracting it out,” which could cost anywhere between $50,000 and $100,000.

“It’s old,” he added, “and how old and how bad the damage is — we’ll see.”Meanwhile, town residents are urged to be careful with water use.

Master Sgt. Sean Murphy

BOSTON — Five candi-dates for statewide office who did not agree to campaign expenditure limits under the Commonwealth’s public financing program and whos