10
6 56525 10431 2 (978) 297-0050 • www.winchendoncourier.com Newsstand: 75 cents Friday, January, 17, 2014 LOCAL American Chestnut PAGE 3 SPORTS St. Pierre leads Lady Devils PAGE 8 WEEKLY QUOTE “This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.” Ralph Waldo Emerson BY GREG VINE COURIER CORRESPONDENT WINCHENDON Members of the School Committee appear to still be smarting over the passage of two articles at the Dec. 30 special town meeting. One article increased the amount budgeted for indirect costs incurred by the school district during the current fiscal year by $109,000, essentially mean- ing the district is unable to spend that amount on other budget items. The money set aside for indirect costs is overseen by town government, rather than by the district. Another article authorized the use of $64,453.60 in unspent Medicaid reimbursement monies from FY13 to cover a deficit in the school transportation account, which is also overseen by the town. For a little over a decade, 20 percent of the amount the town receives in Medicaid reimbursements each fiscal year has been set aside for use by the school district. District officials thought unspent monies from the account rolled over into the next fiscal year and therefore they continued to have access to it. It was determined, however, that cash unused by the schools at the end of each fiscal year actually reverts to the town. In the wake of the town meeting, member Andrea Suchocki said at the committee’s last meeting on Jan. 8, “I feel like we’re being held hostage by the town manager. As a taxpayer, I felt the whole process was BY GREG VINE COURIER CORRESPONDENT GARDNER Former Winchendon police officer Marty Rose was sentenced Wednesday in Winchendon District Court in Gardner after he admitted to stealing from the Winchendon Police Association between July 2010 and August 2013. Appearing before Judge Arthur Haley Jr., Rose agreed to a plea bargain and was sentenced to one year of administrative probation, 250 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay restitution to the WPA in the amount of $6,359.36. Rose was serving as associa- tion president during the period in which the thefts took place. He resigned from the police depart- ment last August and an inves- tigation was launched a month later. Last fall, Rose told the media that he used the cash to pay household bills, such as heat and groceries, and to purchase clothes for his seven children. Police Chief Scott Livingston asked the state police to con- duct a probe after discrepancies were found in the association’s Rose gets probation, community service Turn To ROSE page A10 BY GREG VINE COURIER CORRESPONDENT WINCHENDON — Selectmen met Monday night and the first order of business was setting a date for the next special and annual town meetings. Upon the suggestion of Town Manager James Kreidler, the board decid- ed on May 12 at 7 p.m. at the Murdock High School audito- rium. The warrant, which was opened last night, will close at 6 p.m. on March 17. Citizens wish- ing to submit an article for inclu- sion on the annual town meeting warrant must collect the names of 10 registered voters. Citizen petitions for a special town meet- ing must contain the names of 100 voters. Selectmen also discussed Superintendent Dr. Salah Khelfaoui’s and School Committee Chairman Michael Niles’ decision not to sit on a committee proposed Kreidler. The sole purpose of the commit- tee would be to review the indi- rect costs agreement between the town and the school district. In an e-mail to Khelfaoui, Niles, members of the Board of Selectmen, and Finance Committee Chairman Ulysse WATCH IT GROW Greg Vine cutline A new thermometer is on site on Central Street to tick off the donations for bricks intended to replace the walkway in front of town hall on Front Street. The commemora- tive bricks will be replacing those already there and can be purchased with a form available at the Town Manager’s office. More than 100 are already ordered and benefit the 250 th Anniversary Committee as it plans all the celebratory events com- ing up during the year. BY GREG VINE COURIER CORRESPONDENT WINCHENDON — Upon the rec- ommendation of the Police Station Review Committee, the Board of Selectmen on Monday approved the choice of CDR Maguire as proj- ect manager for the new police sta- tion project. The architecture and engineering firm is headquartered in Providence, RI, with offices in Boston, Portsmout, NH, as well as in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The company will over- see the transformation of the for- mer Winchendon District Court building on Central Street into the new police station. CDR Maguire beat out Lexington-based Netco Construction Project Managers, Inc. Town Manager James Kreidler said the review committee solic- ited request for qualification doc- uments then interviewed the two top-scoring firms. The commit- tee’s recommendation that CDR Maguire be chosen for the project was unanimous. The four select- men present at Monday’s meeting were unanimous in endorsing the committee’s proposal. The review committee, said Kreidler, was impressed with CDR Maguire’s presentation, its depth of experience, and the fact it has overseen work on other public safety projects, including police. Kreidler said the contract with CDR Maguire should be finalized within two weeks. “They will help us with the RFQ for hiring a design firm,” said Kreidler. “Then we’ll seek requests for proposals from con- tractors interested in doing the actual work.” Selectmen also voted unani- mously to send a letter to the state Office of the Inspector General, responding to a critique of the police station project sent the board on Christmas Eve of last year. The opinion of the IG was sought by opponents of the plan to convert the courthouse into a police station. In its letter to selectmen, the IG’s office said the size of the parcel occupied by the courthouse is just over a half-acre, falling about 30 percent short of the three-quarters of an acre lot recommended by a needs assessment drawn up by a consultant on behalf of the town. In addition, the IG’s letter said the actual size of the building fell 440 square feet shy of the minimum requirement of the 10,410 square feet recommended by the consul- tant. Chairman Robert O’Keefe said it was apparent that the Inspector General’s office had failed to read the entire project proposal. He pointed out that the addition of a garage and sally port would increase the building size by some 2,000 square feet, thus exceeding the minimum requirement by more than 1,500 square feet, or about 23 percent. Turn To SCHOOL page A10 Turn To POLICE page A10 Turn To MEETING page A10 Police station project moves ahead, as does IG probe IT’S PILING UP! Ruth DeAmicis photo Now that all the holiday trees have been piled high, and so is anticipation, the bonfire scheduled for tomorrow night, Saturday, Jan. 18 beginning at 6 p.m. at the American Legion is ready to go. The kick-off for the 250 th Anniversary of Winchendon will be starting with a blaze and everyone is invited to attend. The pig roast, with three pigs a-roasting, is sold out, but the dance following can still be on your to-do list for just $5 a person (and wear that UGLY sweater to be part of the contest!) Annual town meeting already in process as current issues still simmer HARRIS HONORED Greg Vine photo During the meeting of the Winchendon School Committee on Jan. 8, Superintendent Dr. Salah Khelfaoui presented Murdock senior Justin Harris (second from left) with a scholarship from the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents. Pictured with Justin (l-r) are his father, Chris Harris; mother, Tammy Gagne; sister, Brooke Harris, and; grandmother, Harriett Ayers. Justin says plans on majoring in either mechanical engineering or robotics. He hopes to attend either Worcester Polytechnic Institute or Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. Town meeting action opens wound for school committee TM SEEKS TO ADDRESS INDIRECT COST AGREEMENT

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6 56525 10431 2

(978) 297-0050 • www.winchendoncourier.com Newsstand: 75 cents Friday, January, 17, 2014

LOCALAmerican Chestnut

PAGE 3

SPORTSSt. Pierre leads

Lady Devils

PAGE 8

WEEKLY QUOTE“This time, like all times, is

a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

BY GREG VINECOURIER CORRESPONDENT

WINCHENDON — Members of the School Committee appear to still be smarting over the passage of two articles at the Dec. 30 special town meeting.

One article increased the amount budgeted for indirect costs incurred by the school district during the current fiscal year by $109,000, essentially mean-ing the district is unable to spend that amount on other budget items. The money set aside for indirect costs is overseen by town government, rather than by the district.

Another article authorized the use of $64,453.60 in unspent Medicaid reimbursement monies from FY13 to cover a deficit in the school transportation

account, which is also overseen by the town. For a little over a decade, 20 percent of the amount the town receives in Medicaid reimbursements each fiscal year has been set aside for use by the school district. District officials thought unspent monies from the account rolled over into the next fiscal year and therefore they continued to have access to it. It was determined, however, that cash unused by the schools at the end of each fiscal year actually reverts to the town.

In the wake of the town meeting, member Andrea Suchocki said at the committee’s last meeting on Jan. 8, “I feel like we’re being held hostage by the town manager. As a taxpayer, I felt the whole process was

BY GREG VINECOURIER CORRESPONDENT

GARDNER — Former Winchendon police officer Marty Rose was sentenced Wednesday in Winchendon District Court in Gardner after he admitted to stealing from the Winchendon Police Association between July 2010 and August 2013. Appearing before Judge Arthur Haley Jr., Rose agreed to a plea bargain and was sentenced to one year of administrative probation, 250 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay restitution to the WPA in the amount of $6,359.36.

Rose was serving as associa-tion president during the period in which the thefts took place. He resigned from the police depart-ment last August and an inves-tigation was launched a month later.

Last fall, Rose told the media that he used the cash to pay household bills, such as heat and groceries, and to purchase clothes for his seven children.

Police Chief Scott Livingston asked the state police to con-duct a probe after discrepancies were found in the association’s

Rose gets probation, community service

Turn To ROSE page A10

BY GREG VINECOURIER CORRESPONDENT

WINCHENDON — Selectmen met Monday night and the first order of business was setting a date for the next special and annual town meetings. Upon the suggestion of Town Manager James Kreidler, the board decid-ed on May 12 at 7 p.m. at the Murdock High School audito-rium. The warrant, which was opened last night, will close at 6 p.m. on March 17. Citizens wish-ing to submit an article for inclu-sion on the annual town meeting warrant must collect the names of 10 registered voters. Citizen

petitions for a special town meet-ing must contain the names of 100 voters.

Selectmen also discussed Superintendent Dr. Salah Khelfaoui’s and School Committee Chairman Michael Niles’ decision not to sit on a committee proposed Kreidler. The sole purpose of the commit-tee would be to review the indi-rect costs agreement between the town and the school district.

In an e-mail to Khelfaoui, Niles, members of the Board of Selectmen, and Finance Committee Chairman Ulysse

WATCH IT GROWGreg Vine cutline

A new thermometer is on site on Central Street to tick off the donations for bricks intended to replace the walkway in front of town hall on Front Street. The commemora-tive bricks will be replacing those already there and can be purchased with a form available at the Town Manager’s office. More than 100 are already ordered and benefit the 250th Anniversary Committee as it plans all the celebratory events com-ing up during the year.

BY GREG VINECOURIER CORRESPONDENT

WINCHENDON — Upon the rec-ommendation of the Police Station Review Committee, the Board of Selectmen on Monday approved the choice of CDR Maguire as proj-ect manager for the new police sta-tion project. The architecture and engineering firm is headquartered in Providence, RI, with offices in Boston, Portsmout, NH, as well as in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The company will over-see the transformation of the for-mer Winchendon District Court

building on Central Street into the new police station. CDR Maguire beat out Lexington-based Netco Construction Project Managers, Inc.

Town Manager James Kreidler said the review committee solic-ited request for qualification doc-uments then interviewed the two top-scoring firms. The commit-tee’s recommendation that CDR Maguire be chosen for the project was unanimous. The four select-men present at Monday’s meeting were unanimous in endorsing the committee’s proposal.

The review committee, said

Kreidler, was impressed with CDR Maguire’s presentation, its depth of experience, and the fact it has overseen work on other public safety projects, including police.

Kreidler said the contract with CDR Maguire should be finalized within two weeks.

“They will help us with the RFQ for hiring a design firm,” said Kreidler. “Then we’ll seek requests for proposals from con-tractors interested in doing the actual work.”

Selectmen also voted unani-mously to send a letter to the state Office of the Inspector General,

responding to a critique of the police station project sent the board on Christmas Eve of last year. The opinion of the IG was sought by opponents of the plan to convert the courthouse into a police station.

In its letter to selectmen, the IG’s office said the size of the parcel occupied by the courthouse is just over a half-acre, falling about 30 percent short of the three-quarters of an acre lot recommended by a needs assessment drawn up by a consultant on behalf of the town. In addition, the IG’s letter said the actual size of the building fell 440

square feet shy of the minimum requirement of the 10,410 square feet recommended by the consul-tant.

Chairman Robert O’Keefe said it was apparent that the Inspector General’s office had failed to read the entire project proposal. He pointed out that the addition of a garage and sally port would increase the building size by some 2,000 square feet, thus exceeding the minimum requirement by more than 1,500 square feet, or about 23 percent.

Turn To SCHOOL page A10

Turn To POLICE page A10

Turn To MEETING page A10

Police station project moves ahead, as does IG probe

IT’S PILING UP!Ruth DeAmicis photo

Now that all the holiday trees have been piled high, and so is anticipation, the bonfire scheduled for tomorrow night, Saturday, Jan. 18 beginning at 6 p.m. at the American Legion is ready to go. The kick-off for the 250th Anniversary of Winchendon will be starting with a blaze and everyone is invited to attend. The pig roast, with three pigs a-roasting, is sold out, but the dance following can still be on your to-do list for just $5 a person (and wear that UGLY sweater to be part of the contest!)

Annual town meeting already in process as

current issues still simmer

HARRIS HONOREDGreg Vine photo

During the meeting of the Winchendon School Committee on Jan. 8, Superintendent Dr. Salah Khelfaoui presented Murdock senior Justin Harris (second from left) with a scholarship from the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents. Pictured with Justin (l-r) are his father, Chris Harris; mother, Tammy Gagne; sister, Brooke Harris, and; grandmother, Harriett Ayers. Justin says plans on majoring in either mechanical engineering or robotics. He hopes to attend either Worcester Polytechnic Institute or Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston.

Town meeting action opens wound for school committee

TM seeks To address indirecT cosT agreeMenT

FREE PROGRAM

WINCHENDON — On Sunday, Jan. 19 at 5 p.m. Octavia Taylor will present a program entitled The Road to Damascus: a person perspective on Peace and Conflict in Syria at the Winchendon Unitarian Universalist Church, 126 Central St. The program is free and open to the public. Child care is available for those who would like to take advantage of it.

COME FOR SUPPER

WINCHENDON — Our Neighbor’s Kitchen is serving turkey pot pie this month, Thursday, Jan. 30 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Winchendon Unitarian Universalist Church on Central Street. Come enjoy a meal with friends and family. Donations accepted.

CITIZENS’ SEMINAR

BOSTON — Senator Stephen M. Brewer (D-Barre) announced the 72nd Citizens’ Legislative Seminar will be held this spring on Tuesday, March 4 and Wednesday, March 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the State House.

This program is designed to familiarize citizens first-hand with the workings of the Massachusetts Legislature. The Citizens’ Legislative Seminar was established in 1976 through a joint effort of the Massachusetts State Senate and the University of Massachusetts. This two day accelerated program will allow participants to examine the legislative process and listen to presen-tations from legislators. Topics will include the history and process of the Legislature, the parliamentary role of the Clerk of the Senate, and the future of the Legislature.

“This is a great way for people to get a first-hand account of the legislative process,” said Brewer. “It is both an engaging and informative experi-ence and I strongly encourage any of my constituents to seize this opportunity.”

The seminar culminates with a simulated legislative hearing and Senate session where participants are invited to use what they have learned to participate as “Senators” in the Senate Chamber in order to have a first-hand experience of the legislative process.

Any residents in the Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex Senate District interested in attending the Citizens’ Legislative Seminar can contact Jonathan Thibault of Senator Brewer’s office by tele-phone at (617) 722-1540. Please be advised, participation is on a first come, first serve basis and space is limited. The deadline to register by is Jan 17.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

SMITHFIELD, RI — Dalton Hunt, a soph-omore in accounting from Winchendon was named to the fall semester Dean’s List at Bryant University.

Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I., is a leading private university offering an innovative and uniquely integrated busi-ness and liberal arts education. Founded in 1863, Bryant University has approximately 3,500 graduate and undergraduate students from 35 states and 85 countries. Bryant University is recognized as a leader in inter-national education and regularly receives top rankings from U.S. News and World Report, Bloomberg Businessweek, Forbes and Barron’s. Visit www.bryant.edu.

MUSIC CLASSES

FITCHBURG — The Fitchburg State University Foundation Music Lessons pro-gram is now accepting registration for pri-vate and group lessons for spring 2014.

The program offers talented artist-teach-ers available to teach private lessons on the Fitchburg State campus for the following: voice, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, strings, piano and drum set. Requests for other instruments may also be accommodat-ed. Also available are hour-long group les-sons including percussion and Celtic music.

Winchendon courier 2 Friday, January, 17, 2014

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hOW tO use:A Stonebridge PreSS PublicAtion

The Winchendon Courier (USPS 685-920) is published weekly for $45 per year (in county) by Stonebridge Press, 25 Elm St. St., Southbridge, MA 01550 Out of coun-ty rate is $56 per year. Periodicals postage paid at Winchendon. To sub-scribe call (800) 367-9898. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Winchendon Courier, 44 Central St., Winchendon, MA 01475.

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Apply for an ASB mortgage to purchase your new home, and pay just $399 in closing costs. That means the extra money you save can help make your “new home” dreams come true!

Discord at Monty Tech School Committee meeting

BY GREG VINECOURIER CORRESPONDENT

FITCHBURG — Last September’s arrest of Nicholas DeSimone, the principal of Montachusett Vocational Technical School, on drunk driving and other charges has led to some discord between members of the Monty Tech School Committee. DeSimone was arrested and charged follow-ing an accident in Milford, New Hampshire, Sept. 29. At the time of the he was driving a school-owned vehicle that had been refurbished by students at Monty Tech.

At its meeting of Jan. 8, Harvard representative Joann Sueltenfuss asked for an executive session to discuss allegations of “rogue action” on the part of some other members of the committee.

Sueltenfuss sent a letter to com-

mittee Chairman Eric Olson, of Phillipston, charging some mem-bers at the Dec. 4 meeting of the panel made “rude, disrespectful comments and gestures…direct-ed to other members of the com-mittee, to staff and to administra-tion.” She charged in her letter that such actions were “a direct violation of the code of ethics and legal protocol.” The representa-tive from Harvard added that the other members’ comments were so “egregious” as to warrant condem-nation by the full committee.

She said that allowing “this method of discourse to continue” would destroy the reputation of Monty Tech.

In response to Sueltenfuss’ cor-respondence, Olson sent a letter to members LeRoy Clark and Robert Campbell, of Fitchburg, and John

Mollica, of Princeton, alleging “potential misconduct.”

Clark asked for specifics regard-ing the allegations against him, and all three members insisted that any discussion about accusa-tions leveled against them should take place in a public forum.

During the Dec. 4 meeting refer-enced by Sueltenfuss, the commit-tee discussed DeSimone’s arrest and Superintendent-Director Steven Sharek’s response to the incident. At that meeting, Clark proposed the committee vote on whether or not to endorse Sharek’s actions. At that time, Clark’s pro-posal was tabled until the Jan. 8 meeting, where it was again tabled until its Feb. 5 meeting.

Sueltenfuss ultimately with-drew her request for an executive session after Winchendon repre-

sentative Burton Gould Jr. assert-ed several times that the leveling of charges of misconduct by indi-vidual members could result in lawsuits and lead to divisions in the committee.

The panel ultimately agreed to a proposal from Mary Barclay, of Royalston, that the committee discuss appropriate behavior by members — both inside and out-side the meeting room — at its next gathering.

While Clark’s motion is sched-uled for a vote at the next meeting, Gould said he’s still not satisfied an adequate explanation has been given to the committee regard-ing either the incident involving DeSimone or the superintendent’s response to it.

“Before I decide on how to vote on the motion I need to hear an

explanation of what exactly hap-pened. I think the committee is entitled to it,” Gould said. “The accident happened on Sept. 29 (2013) and I think enough time has gone by for an adequate explana-tion to be given.”

Clark said he doesn’t expect Sharek or DeSimone to answer questions about the incident at the February meeting.

“I simply want to give the com-mittee the opportunity to either endorse or not endorse the super-intendent’s actions,” he said. “I think residents in (the district) deserve to know that we’re paying attention to this matter.”

When asked how he intends to vote on his motion, Clark said he would make that known when the actual vote takes place.

MeMber accuses others of Misconduct

BY JULIA WHITE CARDINALBEALS MEMORIAL LIBRARY, WINCHENDON

The Library will be closed on Jan. 20, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Normal Winter Hours are Mondays through Thursdays from 1-8 p.m., Fridays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturdays 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

*****The Friends of the Library announce

the Book Sale Winter Clearance. Patrons are invited to fill a plastic grocery bag for $1, whenever the Library is open. Please let a staff member know you want to visit, and we’ll be sure that lights are turned on.

*****Snowy days, short days, cold days,

and cloudy days all go well with books. The library offers a wide variety in the Children’s Room, on a broad range of subjects, in a variety of formats for most ability groups. Why not check it out? Now is the time to sign up for the Winter Reading Program, and find treasures at the library. We are grateful for the sup-port of the Friends of the Library and

Subway of Winchendon. There are incen-tives to earn, and prizes participants just might win. Visit the library soon to sign up and get details on how to participate in this free program.

The Winter series of Infant/Toddler Playgroups, for children ages birth through 2, is held Wednesday mornings, beginning at 9:15 a.m. These free pro-grams are offered in collaboration with the Winchendon Pre-K/CFCE grant. Each program features fun, brain build-ing activities for children, and help parents and caregivers to find new and enriching ways to help their children grow. Please call the Winchendon Pre-K for more information, or to sign up, at (978) 297-3436.

The Preschoolers’ Story Hour, for chil-dren ages 3-5, is held Wednesday morn-ings beginning at 10 a.m. Themes for January include Mittens & Hats, Skating & Sledding, and Snowmen. In addition to stories, these free programs feature a craft project for child and adult to make together, and take home. These programs are designed for children ages 3-5. It is

expected that preschoolers will always be accompanied by a responsible adult while at the library.

*****Perhaps, this holiday season, there was

an E-reader with your name on it, be it Kindle, Nook, or Android device. If so, your public library, though it’s mem-bership in the C/W MARS bibliographic network, can lend you, free, a variety of e-books, including downloadable audio. If you have a card from any C/W MARS library, including Winchendon’s, you can access their collection of e-books. If you don’t happen to have your (free) library card yet, why not stop by and get one? While you are in the library, ask for the instructional pamphlet for your par-ticular device. You may also receive the pamphlet’s information by sending an e-mail request to Library Director Julia Cardinal at [email protected]. Please enter “e-reader pamphlet” on the subject line. Visit http://digitalcatalog.cwmars.org for available titles.

*****

The Library offers museum passes or discount coupons for the following: The New England Aquarium, The Museum of Science, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Ecotarium in Worcester, and Old Sturbridge Village. We are grateful to our funding sources for these programs with include the Friends of the Library, and the Massachusetts Cultural Council, as administered locally by the Winchendon Cultural Council. Please visit the Library for details, or call (978) 297-0300. Advance reservations are recommended.

*****Tax season is coming, and the Library

is again participating in tax form distri-bution programs. Massachusetts forms have arrived, for both full-year resi-dents and part-year residents. IRS Forms trickle in, with the basic forms expected between the end of January and the end of February. Please call the library to check availability. (978) 297-0300 Library staff members can help to locate forms, but are not trained to provide tax advice. Users may check www.irs.gov for federal forms and publications.

froM the Librarian’s book

Please Read CAPS, page A3

BOSTON — Secretary of Administration and Finance Glen Shor, Senator Stephen M. Brewer, chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means and Representative Brian S. Dempsey, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means announced consensus on the Fiscal Year 2015 tax reve-nue forecast.

The joint tax revenue number agreed to by Shor and the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means is $24.337 billion. Of this amount, $1.170 billion is assumed to be generated from taxes on capital gains. Approximately $122 million of that amount would be deposited into the stabilization fund and not be available for budgetary pur-poses pursuant to the certification released by the Department of Revenue on Dec. 31, 2013, that set an FY 2015 capital gains threshold of $1.048 billion. Pursuant to state finance law, five percent of the amount deposited to the stabilization fund will then be transferred to the State Retiree Benefits Trust Fund and five percent transferred to the Commonwealth’s Pension Liability Fund.

The figure was arrived at after the par-ties received testimony at the December consensus revenue hearing, at which the Department of Revenue, economists, budget watchdog groups and other par-ticipants provided information regarding Massachusetts’ economy and fiscal outlook. Following the hearing, the Secretary and Ways and Means chairs worked together to produce a reasonable and informed forecast for next fiscal year’s revenues.

The consensus tax revenue estimate for FY 2015 is in the middle of the range of tax revenue growth estimates projected by econ-omists and others at the December hearing. The $24.337 billion estimate reflects actual

growth of 4.90 percent above a revised tax revenue estimate of $23.200 billion for FY 2014 that Shor announced after consultation with the Ways and Means chairs.

“The tax revenue estimate being announced represents continued improve-ment in Massachusetts’ economic outlook,” said Shor. “This revenue growth will help support high priority investments to create jobs and opportunity while we continue to make government more efficient and ensure the Commonwealth is on sound fis-cal footing.”

“Each year, we work with the Senate and the Administration to reach an accurate estimate of our economic outlook for the coming year,” said Dempsey. “This year, as always, we anticipate the continued steady progression and growth our Commonwealth has made since the economic recession. We are also mindful of the many complex vari-ables that affect both our state and national economies, including the unique economic opportunities that exist in Massachusetts.”

“This figure reflects a modest growth in revenue and is consistent with the expert testimony we heard at the recent hearing,” said Brewer. “This revenue estimate, as well as the substantial increase to our pen-sion fund that is part of this agreement, demonstrates our continued commitment to creating a budget that maintains our fiscal stability and ensures future economic growth.”

The three branches also reached agree-ment on statutorily required off-budget transfers that are mandated by current law:

$811.3 million for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)

$771.5 million for the Massachusetts School Building Authority (SBA)

$22.2 million for the Workforce Training

Fund$1.793 billion for the pension fund trans-

fer, which represents full funding of the scheduled pension contribution for Fiscal Year 2015

The total amount of off-budget transfers is $3.398 billion. After also taking into account the $122 million of capital gains tax revenue that must be deposited in the stabilization fund, the Secretary and Committees agree that $20.817 billion will be the maximum amount of tax revenue available for the budget in FY 2015, and they will base their respective budget recommendations on that number.

The off-budget transfers include $ 1.793 billion to the pension fund. Under state law, the Secretary of Administration and Finance is required to adjust the pension funding schedule triennially to account for changes in assets and liabilities. A trienni-al update is required for FY 2015 and was submitted by Shor to the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means. The trans-fer to the pension fund agreed to by the House and Senate is based on that updat-ed funding schedule. The updated pension schedule accounts for the full impact of the investment losses realized by the pension fund in 2008 as well as revised actuarial assumptions, most notably the adoption of a more conservative investment return assumption of eight percent. After consulta-tion with PERAC and the House and Senate, Shor has established an updated funding schedule that requires a 10 percent increase in the FY 2015 pension contribution relative to 2014, with the new schedule specifying 10 percent increases also for 2016 and 2017 graduating down to seven percent annual increases until the unfunded pension liabil-ity is fully funded by 2036. This makes for a

$163 million pension funding increase from FY 2014. Fully funding pensions by 2036 reflects an acceleration of the 2040 timetable currently required by law as recommended by state officials and budget watchdogs at the consensus revenue hearing.

Shor also submitted a letter to the Governor, House and Senate Ways and Means and the Joint Revenue Committees revising the revenue estimate for FY 2014. The revised tax revenue estimate is $23.200 billion, a $403 million increase from the orig-inal estimate in light of updated projections for Fiscal Year 2014 presented at the consen-sus revenue hearing. FY 2014 is currently $281 million above the tax revenue bench-mark through the month of December.

Finally, Chapter 224 of the Acts of 2012 requires the Secretary and the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means to jointly develop a potential gross state product growth benchmark for the ensuing calendar year, which in this case is 2015. The PGSP growth benchmark is to be used by the Health Policy Commission to estab-lish the Commonwealth’s health care cost growth benchmark.

The Administration, Senate and House, with input on the topic from two of the orga-nizations that presented at the December hearing, and consulting with outside ven-dors and other experts in this field, have reached an agreement on a PGSP figure for calendar year 2015 of 3.6 percent, which is identical to the PGSP figure that was adopted for calendar year 2014. PGSP is a measure of the “full employment” output of the Commonwealth’s economy. The PGSP estimate reflects long-term trends in the economy rather than fluctuations due to the business cycle and, as a result, is likely to be fairly stable from year to year.

Winchendon courier 3 Friday, January, 17, 2014

DAY TOURS

OVERNIGHT TOURS all tours p/p-double occupancyMohegan Sun/ Foxwoods Overnight 2/19-2/20 $171.00Atlantic City, NJ- Resort Hotels 4/13-4/15 $223.00Atlantic City, NJ- Resort Hotels 5/12-5/14 $235.00Ocean City Maryland 5/12-5/15 $624.00Pennsylvania Dutch 6/2-6/6 $757.00Newport Flower Show - Providence, RI 6/27-6/29 $451.00Montreal/Quebec -Canada (passport required) 7/14-7/18 $843.00Boothbay Harbor Inn 7/28-7/30 $442.00Turning Stone Resort & Casino - Verona, NY 8/6 - 8/8 $324.001,000 Islands - Ontario, Canada (passport required) 8/12-8/15 $747.00Algonquin -St. Andrews by the Sea-NB, Canada (passport required) 8/24-27 $929.00Nantucket Inn, MA 9/2-9/4 $448.00

CASINO DAY TOURS

FOXWOODS 1/23 • 2/10, 2/26 $32.00MOHEGAN SUN 3/27, 5/17, 8/14, 10/18, 12/7 $32.00

SHOWS

RED SOX

Irish Celebration Feat. Ronan Tynan w/lunch 3/11 $89.00Dublin City Ramblers @ Fox Theatre 3/19 $70.00Blue Man Group & Living Room Restaurant 3/22 $108.00My Husband’s Wild Desires @ Newport Playhouse 4/2 $87.00Heartbeat of the Home @ Wang Theatre (form of Riverdance and more!) 4/5 $110.00Motown @ Fox Theatre 5/21 $67.00Weekend Comedy @ Newport Playhouse 6/3 $87.00Cirque du Soleil: Amaluna 6/8 $115.00

Salem Cross Fireplace Feast 2/23 $90.00Boston Flower Show 3/13 & 3/15 $52.00Wright’s Chicken Farm & Twin River Casino 4/3 $46.00Boston Duck Tour & Science Museum w/lunch 4/12 $103.00Culinary Tour - Providence RI 4/17 $107.00NYC Spring Shopping 4/26 $65.00

Boston Red Sox vs. Oakland Athletics (game: 1:35pm) 5/3 $101.00Boston Red Sox vs. Cleveland Indians (game: 4:05pm) 6/14 $101.00Boston Red Sox vs. Chicago White Sox (game: 7:10pm) 7/9 $101.00Boston Red Sox vs. Seattle Mariners (game: 7:10pm) 8/22 $101.00

203 Patriots Road ~ P.O. Box 415 ~ East Templeton, MA 01438 ~ Office ~ 800-253-5235 or 978-632-3894 ~ Fax 978-632-9005

FOR RESERVATIONS • CALL 978-632-3894 • WWW.WILSONBUS.COM

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Spice up the Party with Chorizo Sausage Poppers

Sharing Hometown Recipes, Cooking Tips and Coupons

Tired of your usual appetizers and looking to spice things up? Jamie Beecham’s Chorizo

Sausage Poppers are a perfect addition to any game-day party. The Chorizo and peppers pack a nice punch, while the cream cheese cools things down. These little appetizers are a self-contained ball of delight!

See step-by-step photos of Jamie’s recipe plus thousands more from home cooks nationwide at:

www.justapinch.com/poppersYou’ll also find a meal planner, coupons and

chances to win! Enjoy and remember, use “just a pinch”...

www.justapinch.com/poppers

What You Need1 4 oz. box of button mushrooms1 15 oz. package Chorizo sausage2 medium size jalapeno peppers1 8 oz. pack of cream cheese, room tempPinch of salt2 packs of crescent rollsOlive oil, extra virgin

Directions• Clean and finely chop

button mushrooms. • Drizzle a little olive oil in

a skillet.• Over medium heat, saute

the mushrooms and set aside in a bowl.

Chorizo Sausage Poppers

• Open the Chorizo sausage and remove from the casing.

• Place in a skillet over medium heat and cook about 7 minutes.

• Finely dice the jalapeno peppers.• In a mixing bowl place the cream

cheese.• Add in the mushrooms and peppers.• When sausage is ready drain off the

grease and add to the mixture and begin to mix by hand.

• Use a mini-muffin pan, pinch off crescent roll dough and flatten. Place in pan and add a spoonful of mixture, then pinch closed.

• Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 7 to 8 minutes.

• Remove from muffin tin as soon as they come out and place on a dish. Serve with sour cream, salsa or both.

“They have just a little

bite–so good!”

By Janet Tharpe

- Janet

Brought to you by American Hometown Media

Jamie BeechamNashville, NC(Pop. 5,352)

Submitted by: Jamie Beecham, Nashville, NC (Pop. 5,352)

“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire” begins a popular hol-iday song and brings to mind warm thoughts of days past when vendors sold the nuts from push-carts on the street. Did you ever wonder why roasting chestnuts became popular and if the ones we buy today are the same as those in the song?

On Tuesday, Jan. 21, at 6:30 p.m., the Westminster Agricultural Commission will begin its annual Backyard Growing series with a pre-sentation about the American chestnut tree. The series will take place the third Tuesday of the month and run through April at the Forbush Memorial Library on Main Street.

Once a common sight, reign-ing over 200 million acres of eastern woodlands from Maine to Florida, the American chest-nut tree disappeared from this area by the 1950s due to a dead-ly fungus known as the chest-nut blight. Today, any chest-nuts found in the eastern for-ests never grow much beyond a few feet tall and rarely flower.

In addition to being one of the best timber trees, growing up to 150 feet, the nuts of the tree were a major food source for a wide variety of wildlife and humans. Families roasted them to bring out their creamy sweetness, ground them to make flour and found many other ways to prepare them, benefiting from the fact they are packed with nutrients. The disappearance of this mighty tree was a huge loss for both animals and humans.

During the program Lois and Denis Melican will pres-

ent the some of the reasons to restore this noble spec-imen and explain the efforts underway to do so. As mem bers of the MA/RI chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation, they planted the first research orchard on state-owned land in Massachusetts at Moore State Park in Paxton. For 30 years the Foundation has been dreaming of a day when the giants of yore can withstand the blight and grow to maturity, and members

have been working toward that end. Many volunteers, like the Melicans, have pollinated trees and harvested the result-ing nuts to plant in regional breeding and seed orchards and have inoculated trees with a weak strain of the blight to test for resistance. The state chapters have developed breed-ing orchards that cross area surviving trees with those that are blight resistant hoping to develop trees better adapted for planting into local woodlands.

Come hear how the Melicans got involved with the Foundation, why so many peo-ple are working to restore the American chestnut, the status of the project, how you can help and the possibilities for creating a future cash crop. There will even be an oppor-tunity to taste something made from chestnuts. The presenta-tion is free and open to the general public.

File photo

The American chestnut is no longer the majestic tree it once was, but with help it is slowly making a comeback. Learn how to be part of the recovery process by attending this program.

American chestnut program to kick off Backyard Growing series

State officials announce consensus on revenue forecasts

All offerings are open to the community and all ages and skill levels are welcome. The deadline for spring registrations is Friday, Jan. 31.

For more information, an events calendar and regis-tration forms, please visit http://www.fitchburgstate.edu/music.

IN THE SERVICE

GOOSE CREEK, SC — Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Anthony M. Hoyt has graduated from the U.S. Navy’s Elnlisted Nuclear Power School at Naval Nuclear Power Training Command in Goose Creek, SC.

Nuclear Power School is a rigorous six-month course that trains officer and enlisted students in the science and engineering fundamental to the design, operation, and maintenance of naval nuclear propulsion plants. Graduates next undergo additional instruction at a prototype training unit before serving as an Electronics Technician, Machinist’s Mate, or Electrician’s Mate aboard a nuclear-powered submarine or surface war-fare ship.

Hoyt is the son of Douglas Hoyt of Peterborough and Cynthia Wheat of Anthem and is a 2012 graduate of ConVal Regional High School, Peterborough.

DOULA TRAINING

The LaChance Maternity Center at Heywood Hospital is seeking volunteers for the Doula Training Program. A Doula is a woman experienced in childbirth who is specially trained to provide various kinds of sup-

port for the mother before, during and after the birth. Our Doulas work alongside our maternity staff at the LaChance Maternity Center. Together with the nurses and physician they are an integral part of the team, offering exceptional attention to the needs of the mother during the birthing process.

Heywood Hospital is offering this special training to select individuals interested in becoming a Doula on April 4, 5 and 6.

If you are interested in taking this course to become a volunteer Doula, please contact Heywood Hospital’s Director of Maternal Child Health, Karen Beaton at (978) 630-6475.

EXTENDED DEADLINE

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has extended the deadline for new enrollments in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) for fiscal year 2014. Farmers and forest land owners interested in participating in the program can submit applications to NRCS through Feb. 7.

“Extending the enrollment deadline will make it possi-ble for more farmers and forest landowners to apply for this important Farm Bill conservation program,” said Barbara Miller, NRCS Acting State Conservationist for Massachusetts. “Through their conservation actions, these good stewards are ensuring that their operations are more productive and sustainable over the long run and CSP can help them take their operations to the next level of natural resource management.”

In CSP, farm and forest producers install conserva-

CAPScontinued from page A2

Please Read CAPS, page A5

Winchendon courier 4 Friday, January, 17, 2014

SOUND OFF POLICYIn addition to the Letters to the Editor section, the Winchendon Courier offers an anon-

ymous forum allowing callers to “Sound Off” about the hot-button issues and topics in their towns. The “Sound Off” line can be reached 24 hours a day, at 978-297-0050. Names may be omitted for “Sound Off” calls only, although you may leave a name or initials. All comments should be made clearly and concisely, to minimize the potential for mistakes. Please remember that libelous comments, personal attacks and material that cannot be verified will not be published. “Sound Offs” may be sent to [email protected], or The Winchendon Courier, 91 Central Street, Winchendon, MA 01475 with “Sound Off” in the subject line. All “Sound Off” submissions are due by noon onFridays. We look forward to hearing from you!

LETTERS POLICY Letters to the editor are always welcome, and may be sent to to ruth@stonebridge-

press.com, or The Winchendon Courier, 91 Central Street, Winchendon, MA 01475. Be sure to include a name and residence. Please refrain from sending letters via fax, and be sure to supply a home address and phone number to allow for confirmation. Allow at least 48 hours for a response. Letters must be submitted by noon Friday to ensure publication in the following week’s issue. Every effort will be made to accommodate late submissions, but inclusion can not be guaranteed. The rules of good taste and libel will, of course, apply to all submissions. Personal attacks will not be published. The editor retains the right to edit all letters.

VIEWSOpinion and commentary from Winchendon and beyond

Editorial lEttErs to thE Editor

Helping out

WinchEndon couriErPresident/Publisher: Frank Chilinski

editor: ruth deamiCis

To the Editor:An invitation to visit the Old Murdock

Senior CenterDuring these long and often boring winter

days “Come on Over” to the Old Murdock Senior Center and join in the fun and activ-ities Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to2:45 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A hot lunch is served every day. Please call our office at (978) 297-3155 one day prior to make a reservation (a $2.25 donation is suggested). The coffee pot is always on and there is good company and the opportunity to make new friends. “Seniors” of all ages are invited and we offer activities to suit many interests.

The Center offers an exercise room, line dance and yoga classes, craft classes, pool and shuffleboard games, large screen TV

with Wii games, computer classes, a Friday morning knitting group and more. We are always looking for program and activity ideas so share your thoughts, interests and talents with us.

Transportation is available to the Center for lunch, shopping trips, medical appoint-ments and local trips.

On a serious note, we offer information, referral and support to any elder or care-giver in need. Please do not hesitate to call our office for assistance or if you believe someone is at risk. All calls are kept strictly confidential.

We look forward to meeting you soon!

sheila bettro, direCtorold murdoCk senior Center

Bettro: please come visit

First and foremost we want to let peo-ple know an account has been set up to help the Cuercio family at Athol Savings Bank. If you want to contribute to help-ing the family you can submit checks made out to the Cuercio Family Fund to any Athol Savings Bank branch office.

They have had a lot of support and it is most certainly appreciated. Remember, there is a fundraising event for them scheduled at the American Legion on Feb. 22. If you would like to contribute something toward the raffles and fund-raising efforts, that too can be left with Athol Savings and it will get to the orga-nizers.

Then we must move on to some good news we just received from 250th Anniversary organizers on Wednesday as we are working on the newspaper itself. It seems the moving Vietnam Wall will be here in Winchendon in June as part of the festivities to honor all our vet-erans. A very nice tribute indeed. Janet Corbosiero said there are some logistics to be worked out; it is a large installation and just where it will be is still being coordinated.

Very nice indeed.Tomorrow is the first event of the year

for the anniversary. Please make every effort to attend and be part of it all. It should be a lot of fun.

Now for the politics and the stuff in town: the police station is slowly moving forward, though of course the naysayers continue to campaign and the IG has had to be given yet another multipage letter of information. The information is what it is; it isn’t going to change just because someone would prefer it be different. Eventually, the facts will support them-

selves and we can move forward. The people needed are falling into place, hir-ing of firms needed is moving forward. But we commend the BOS for moving cautiously and answering the questions as they arise; because it would not be a good thing to halt the process due to unanswered questions.

Finally, in a different vein, we do understand the frustration between the town and the school department as the funding for various shared expenses and resources becomes more and more entan-gled. How the money comes in, how it can be spent (there are so many rules from Higher Powers That Be) so many rules and regs on both sides; and even just the long standing dissatisfaction that has historically been part of the landscape.

What has to be remembered is this: it is all “us.” We are all one town, they are our children, it is our tax dollars whether it comes from local taxes or the state or fed-eral funds, the people who administer the funds are “Our” employees and elected officials. It’s all us. We aren’t us against them; some nebulous bunch of enemies with no faces. We aren’t on two sides of a high fence here that divides us into unknown territories.

Can we get some talking going? Yes, we have two budgets because that

is what is required by law, one for the schools and one for everything else. In some ways it is foolish because the same roads service all; we should be able to use the same trash services, get one price for electricity and fuel, order supplies together, use the same plows for clearing parking lots and streets etc. One town, shared costs. That whole working togeth-er thing? It could be real...

Stupidity and class warfareLet’s dispense with Chris

Christie this way. I’m a Democrat. I’m just a spec-tator. I have no voice or

vote in Republican presidential primaries. Those of you who do will have to make your own determinations and some of that will undoubtedly be based on whether there’s another prover-bial shoe out there waiting to drop.

I will say this: anyone who’s been a professional politician has had fantasies about royally screwing over opponents and I can write from experience that messing with traffic patterns is often a favorite scenario. But, but, but — you can’t do it. Not in real life. You can’t mess with voters that way. Doing so betrays the public trust and is sopho-moric and stupid besides. And for Christie to suggest he didn’t know the mayor of Ft. Lee strains any credibility. The GW Bridge is the gateway to New York and the governor doesn’t know the Mayor? Sure. Whatever. Let’s agree on this — the bloom is off the Christie rose for now, but it’s up to the Republicans to figure out what to do about it. Have fun.

It’s incredibly difficult to develop a national message during midterm election years. There are too many local factors that impact too many races for

a national message to resonate effectively. At least that’s what history tells us, but both sides are going to challenge that his-tory this year. The Republicans, of course are going to be going ObamaCare 24/7. That much we know.

The Democrats are evident-ly developing a message with echoes of class warfare — and justifiably so. The opposition to extending unemployment ben-efits isn’t a surprise, but it’s despicable. It’s the same mind-set which believes SNAP benefits are a bad thing. I have no idea what planet some of these peo-ple are on — they sing the same repetitive note over and over and over — being charitable , per-haps we can say they are blind to or unaware of the suffering out there, but we know that’s prob-ably not true. More likely, they don’t care. Certainly a whole lot of conservative candidates in a whole lot of heavily protected

districts fall into that second cat-egory.

Extending unemployment ben-efits would seem like a no-brain-er when it’s this money that lit-erally puts food on the table for a lot of folks, including a lot of kids. How can anyone with a conscience oppose this? To have to ask the question answers it.

But the impending class warfare debate in this society extends far beyond one mea-sure. Numerous states have raised the minimum wage and of course there’s been the predict-able outrage from well-off con-servatives about how this will destroy small businesses like, say, McDonalds. Seriously, that’s what some of them insist. I’ve heard the screeches, but what I haven’t heard, and neither have you, are any of these self appointed economists and mor-alists offering to live themselves on $7 bucks or so an hour. If there’s no need or reason to raise the minimum wage to an actual living wage, why haven’t they eschewed their wealth in order to prove how right they are? It’s so easy to carp and whine, isn’t it?

The list goes on and on. The ACA is a terrible thing and never mind that several million peo-ple who had no health insurance before do now. It creates competi-tion in the marketplace, you say?

That’s only a good idea if one side gets the credit.

It’s fine to cut budgets and spending and if that means short-er library hours and maybe a couple fewer cops or firefighters or teachers or para-professionals in schools, so what? Austerity reigns supreme, especially in the hearts and minds of soulless con-servatives who are immune to the fragility and reality of life’s daily struggles.

Last week, the nation marked the 50th anniversary of LBJ’s “War on Poverty” launch. There was the predictable debate about whether the effort has succeed-ed and it says here that before that question can be answered, there has to be some sort of ratio-nal definition of “success”. Some programs worked — Head Start and Job Corps come immediate-ly to mind — but others not so well. That’s inevitable. There are more people living below the poverty level than there were in 1964, but there are a hell of a lot more people living, period. Every piece of data suggests the per-centage of those impoverished has dropped significantly since the introduction of those govern-ment programs. That’s obviously a good thing. That said, there are still too many people living in conditions in which the sup-posed greatest country ever cre-

ated should be ashamed. That’s inexcusable. It is. But at least we’re doing better than we were and we’re doing better in large measure because of government. That’s an unpleasant reality for a lot of narrow minded people, but i’s true. To those who will reflex-ively bash this statement, fine, where are your ideas because I assume you agree it’s not okay when kids are hungry, be they in Winchendon or Wheeling, WV, right? How would you attack the persistent issue of poverty? A 50th anniversary seems the per-fect time to have this discussion.

I don’t have any idea if the strat-egy being pursued by national Democrats will work. As I wrote, it’s tough to do this in a mid term year. But the discussion is worth having.

There’s a lot of compassion and caring on individual levels. I am heartened when I see my daughter and many others ral-lying around the Cuercio fami-ly and offering clothes and pet food after that devastating New Year’s Eve fire. If we can show this sensitivity locally, why not beyond? Why oppose programs and policies that actually make a tangible difference every day? Why indeed?

See you next week.

JERRY CARTON

JournEy of thE hEart

The world is aflut-ter over “bad boy” Edward Snowden.

I am not.Snowden is a bit player

in what should be a stand-ing room only trial for any-one charged with leading the information gathering required for the defense of this nation.

The greatest nation on earth spends the largest sum of money on earth to uncover information designed to protect the citizen-ry. Just to be certain you are following my argument: we are talking billions of dollars a year.

In carrying out this task there are hun-dreds of thousands of employees at home and abroad, known and unknown, from receptionists to cloak-and-dagger agents.

They work in buildings with “state of the art” security systems. They talk in code. They carry multiple passports and speak many languages. They are known to

have the most sophisticated weapons with new inventions being added to their inventory daily.

The President of the United States makes crucial deci-sions based on the informa-tion provided to him by these people.

The decisions made by the President of the United States

affects people all over the world.Back to Snowden.He is a junior player for a firm our gov-

ernment contracted to help them do busi-ness. I emphasize: even with the billions of dollars and hundreds of thousand employ-ees our government is still contracting with management consulting firms to help them get the job done.

The outside consultants hire people like Edward Snowden.

It is unlikely he was subjected to any of the scrutiny we would give to someone actually applying to work at the NSA or

the CIA. Yet we gave him the keys not only to the front door of our security apparatus but also to the safe where we keep the most sensitive stuff.

Evidently he was not only pretty good using the keys we gave him but also very effective at stuffing one or more suitcases with all the paper and discs he could carry right out into the street in front of the build-ing.

He was able to purchase tickets and haul our national secrets from the homeland to Hong Kong.

Let us remember you and I cannot get access to a commercial airliner if we hap-pen to have one bottle of water on our person. Good old Ed carried the secrets of the free world right over to the center of Communism.

So lets just forget about Ed. We need to put on our big boy pants

and get really angry with our government. While the New York Times and other papers launch a campaign to provide Ed with a first class ticket home and a ticker tape parade

down Broadway, we should be looking for bigger game.

Last time I looked the same guy was running the CIA who was running it before Snowden got his 15 minutes of fame. Ditto the guy at the NSA. Ditto the guy at the FBI. Ditto the Senators who chair committees charged with supervising intelligence. Ditto the Congressmen.

The responsibility for this embarrassing international mess rests way above the pay grade for a clerk like Snowden.

I am angry that neither the President nor the Congress has seen fit to “deep six” or at least “drop kick” a few of these highly paid and poorly performing spy agency heads.

And I have a secret suspicion that the same consulting firm that gave the keys to the kingdom to Edward Snowden is still getting government checks while they con-tinue to help us out.

On this matter, as on so many other mat-ters lately, we seem unwilling or unable to hold anyone accountable for their perfor-mance.

JACK BLAIR

notEs of concErn

Some others need to address: accountability

Winchendon courier 5 Friday, January, 17, 2014

Signa works to get gyms and fields filled with fansBY JERRY CARTON

COURIER CORRESPONDENT

WINCHENDON — Getting stu-dents enthused and interested enough to show up at Murdock High School sports events other than football and some boys’ bas-ketball games has been an ongo-ing project for a long time. That doesn’t necessarily make Murdock different than most schools, but it is an issue that has vexed and frustrated administrators, coach-es, and athletes alike.

Last week, a new promotion was rolled out and an effort launched to attract fans to the basketball season finale next month at Narragansett, and early indica-tions were that both were provid-ing positive results.

For starters, a new t-shirt is being sold with the Blue Devil on the front and the inscription “Never Give Up, Never Give In” on the back. Students who bought the shirts at last Friday’s game against Tahanto were able to get up to $2 off items at the Boosters snack

shop, an offer that will be repeated before the season ends. How much of a difference that made is hard to quantify, but the gym was full as the Blue Devils fed off the crowd’s energy and scored their first win of the season. Changing the menu, in

fact, proved to be enticing during football season as fried Oreos and veggie chilli became big hits

With both the boys and girls teams finishing the season on Valentine’s Day night at ‘Gansett, senior soccer player Seth Signa came up with the idea of hav-ing a bus take local students to Baldwinville for those contests.

“They’re a neighborhood school, our natural rival, and I want to fill their gym with Murdock fans,” Signa said. “Right now it looks like it would cost about $6 a person, which isn’t much, and it’d be great if we could get a huge turnout over there.”

Signa, a constant bundle of energy and upbeat enthusiasm, is active in trying to get his fel-low students to show up at home games, too.

“I’m a soccer player,” he noted. “When we have big crowds, we get more pumped up. We play better. We’re more inspired.”

“Sometimes it’s hard when you look around and hardly anyone’s

there,” he acknowledged.That’s especially the case fre-

quently at girls’ games other than softball. There have been plenty of nights where the only fans in attendance seem to be parents.

“It sometimes gets dishearten-ing,” conceded senior point guard Morgan St. Pierre.

The girls who play soccer and field hockey can relate to that sen-timent, and so can their coaches. One warm sunny day last fall, soc-cer captain Randy Bishop told the Courier, “it’d be nice if there were people here.”

Her coach Ross O’Toole agreed. “These kids work hard. It’s disap-pointing to see so few fans.”

Track coach Anthony Findley concurred. “We appreciate what support we do get, especially in the spring, but it’s sure not stand-ing-room only,” he remarked.

While attendance is traditional-ly lower at girls’ games, it’s often not like the boys fill the gym or get the track lined to capacity every game, either. Thus, enter Signa’s

efforts this winter.These are my friends who are

playing basketball, boys and girls. That’s why I want to see a lot of people in the bleachers.

“I’m a big supporter of Murdock. I believe in being involved. There’s too much negativism. People say Winchendon is low-class and the kids at Murdock are bad kids and none of us are going anywhere and it’s a bad school, and none of that’s true. There are a lot of great kids in this school. People should be proud, and one way to show that is by coming to the games,” he remarked.

Signa’s graduating in a few months and he hopes to see others build on his efforts.

“Seniors get to ‘bequeath’ to other kids,” he laughed.

“I’m going to leave a legacy of making sure they work at getting people to come to games,” Seth said.

Seth Signa

Keene State showcases faculty artwork

KEENE, NH — Keene State College Thorne Sagendorph Art Gallery will present the biennial Keene State art faculty exhi-bition kicking off with a public reception Friday, Jan. 23 5:30-7:30 p.m. hosted b the Friends of the Thorne. The exhibit dates are Jan. 24-March 13.

The exhibit showcase recent work in a variety of media by studio art and graphic art faculty. Featured works are by associ-ate professors of art Yuan Pan and Lynn Richardson, and associate professor of film Randall Hoyt. The exhibition also showcas-es works by faculty members Rosemarie Bernardi, John Roberts, Peter Roos, Paul McMullan, Rebecca Davis Kelly, Robert Kostick, Melissa DiPalma, Ann Shelton,

Richard B. Carlson, Walter Nicolai, Julia Ferrari, Tanya Rudenjak, Mary Crawford, Stephani Nichols and Carlos Szembek.

Gallery hours are Sunday through Wednesday noon to 5 p.m., Thursday through Friday noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday noon to 8 p.m.

The gallery is accessible to people with disabilities, to request accomodations call the Thorne at least two weeks before the planned visit.

This exhibit is free and open to the public.Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery began its

collaboration with Keene, surrounding com-munities and Keene State College when it opened in 1965. The Thorne’s mission is to equally serve all constituencies by present-ing high quality exhibits for education and appreciation. More information about the Thorne can be found online at www.keene.edu/tsag/.

FITCHBURG — Fitchburg State University President Robert V. Antonucci has announced the names of students included on the President’s List for the fall semester.

The President’s List honors students for consistently high academic achieve-ment. A student is named to the list after achieving a 3.75 average in each of three successive semesters.

Fitchburg State University enrolls 7,000 day and evening students in more than 50 programs of study. The university was established in 1894.

Local students include:ASHBURNHAM: Heather M. Leger;

BALDWINVILLE: Angela E. Szymcik; GARDNER: James M. Daly and Felicia A. Weaver; PHILLIPSTON: Kellie E. Wheeler; TEMPLETON: Jillian M. Buckley and Laura L. Shotwell; FITZWILLIAM: Daniel J. Fisher.

President Robert V. Antonucci of Fitchburg State University has announced the names of area students included on the Dean’s List for the fall semester.

A student is placed on the Dean’s List for the semester if an average grade of 3.20 or better is attained, and the student is attending the college full time.

Local students include: ASHBURNHAM: Carlo J. Barbieri, Kayla R. Bates, Justin M. Bonitz, Sarah E. Brady, Tracy L. Daniell, Jason Driscoll, Drexel J. Erickson, Ian A. Hanlon, Denise A. LeBlanc, Kristen J. Liming, Vanessa A. Lugo, Daniel J. Marino, Ryan M. Monaghan, Eric J. Ouellette, Travis M. Perrett, Jane A. Peters, Nay Richey, Nicholas J. Roger, and Lauren M. Sanborn. BALDWINVILLE: Allison R. Botko, Justin B. Brown, Sarah W. Farrell, Joseph G. Kuehl, Thomas Mason, Derek Nguyen, and Kelsey M. Shea. EAST TEMPLETON: Sean Gravel and Kaylee Nobrega; GARDNER: Samantha Aube, Scarlet Budzinski, Amber Caron, Sarah Chatigny, Kyle DeVillafane, Daniel Della-Giustina, Natalie DiNardo, Jozlin Diaz-Patterson, Heather Duprey, Debra Forcier,

Megan Freeman, Michael Gaudet, Laura Gianetti, Kaitlyn Goguen, Heather Gray, Steven Hayward, Cassandra Hulecki, Joanna Inman, Michael Kardenetz, Cortney Kiewel, Sophia LaFrenier, Erica Mallozzi, Scott Marigliano, Michael Martin, Stephen Miller, William Morgan, Angela Mossey, Katie Murphy, Sarah Pinkerton, Justin Richard, Matthew Ridley, Leah Smith, Jennifer Spain, Vikki Stephens, Ashley Storm, Taylor Sylvester, Kevin Tomasetti, and Jessica Vienneau. PHILLIPSTON: Kara Farrell, Jessica Harrington, Amber Miller, Arianna Nickerson, Meagan Trainor, and Jasmine Wilder. ROYALSTON: Dylan Bates, Noah Dawson and Paul Thibodeau. TEMPLETON: Morgan Allen, Marissa Arseneau, Adam Brown, Danielle Girard, Danielle LeBlanc, Racheal Provencher, Shauna Springer, Lexie Stewart, Corey Stewart, Ashley Tarr, Jonel Thebeau, Nicholas Wilson, Arianna Winters, and Sarah Young. WINCHENDON: Christina Barbaro, Kiel Boutelle, Caitlin Boyden, Mikel Cravatta, Rose Denis, Alissa Desilets, Allison Durling, Ethan Gorecki, Taryn Holly, Sarah Huff, Melissa Paulitzky, Zakerie Perrault, Angela Polcari, Megan Provencial, Maximin Rocheleau, Kimberly Seguin, and Joseph Skawski. RINDGE: Jake Guerra, Briana King, Elize Perry, Stephen Strasser, and Brenda Wright.

BELOIT, WI — Senior Ethan Ley of Jaffrey has been named to Beloit College’s Dean’s List for the fall 2013 semester.

To be eligible for the Dean’s List, a student must carry a semester GPA of 3.4 or higher and take a minimum of three letter-graded units for the term.

Beloit College is a residential, liberal arts college offering 40 majors to its 1,250 students. Located 90 miles northwest of Chicago, Beloit is one of the nation’s most international colleges, drawing students from 41 nations as well as 48 states. For more information, visit www.beloit.edu.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

tion enhancements to make positive chang-es in soil quality, soil erosion, water quality, water quantity, air quality, plant resourc-es, animal resources and energy use. The program emphasizes conservation perfor-mance — producers earn higher payments for higher performance.

Eligible landowners and operators in Massachusetts can enroll in CSP through Feb. 7 to be eligible during fiscal year 2014. While local NRCS offices accept

CSP applications year round, NRCS evalu-ates applications during announced ranking periods. To be eligible for this year’s enroll-ment, producers must have their applica-tions submitted to NRCS by the closing date.

A CSP self-screening checklist is available to help producers determine if the program is suitable for their operation. The checklist highlights basic information about CSP eli-gibility requirements, stewardship thresh-old requirements and payment types.

Learn more about CSP by visiting the NRCS website or any local USDA service center.

capscontinued from page A3

Winchendon courier 6 Friday, January, 17, 2014

Editor’s Note: The information contained 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.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 5

12:51-3:08 a.m.: 10 building checks, secure; 2:37 a.m.: parking violation (Central Street) traf-fic citation; 4:01 a.m.: fire alarm (Ash Street) refer to FD; 8:36 a.m.: accident (Brown Street) report taken; 9:06 a.m.: MV stop (West Street) verbal warning; 9:24 a.m.: ambulance (Mill Street) trans-port; 10:02 a.m.: ambulance (Maple Street) transport; 11:39 a.m.: ambu-lance (Woodlawn Avenue) trans-port; 11:48 a.m.: officer wanted (Benjamin Street) spoken to; 2:11 p.m.: lift assist (Hyde Park Drive) assisted; 3:33 p.m.: ambulance (Ready Drive) transport; 4:44 p.m.: officer wanted (Banner Place) report taken; 6:07 p.m.: investiga-tion (Linden Street) spoken to; 8:44 p.m.: ambulance (Ipswich Drive) transport; 10:33 p.m.: fight (Front Street) info taken; 11:55 p.m.: flood-ing (Mechanic Street) assisted.

MONDAY, JANUARY 6

12:15-2:27 a.m.: three building checks, secure; 12:20 a.m.: offi-cer wanted (Northern Heights) report taken; 12:25 a.m.: notifica-tion (Woodlawn Street) unable to locate; 1:40 a.m.: suspicious MV (Maple Street) spoken to; 6:13 a.m.: flooding (Jackson Avenue) assisted; 7:23 a.m.: acci-dent (Grove Street) report taken; 7:43 a.m.: property found (Hale Street) returned to owner; 8:44 a.m.: ambulance (Mill Glen Road) transport; 9:05 a.m.: investigation (Ash Street) info taken; 9:27 a.m.:

tree down (Baldwinville State Road) refer to state DPW; 10:17 a.m.: assist other agency (Old Gardner Road) assisted; 11:10 a.m.: MV operating erratically (Spring Street) spoken to; 12:20 p.m.: regis-tration check (Baldwinville Road) checked, secure; 1:10 p.m.: officer wanted (Otter River Road) spoken to; 3:32 p.m.: lift assist (Hyde Park Drive) services rendered; 3:46 p.m.: traffic hazard (Spring Street) no PD service required; 4:15 p.m.: animal complaint (High Street) refer to ACO; 4:49 p.m.: ambu-lance (Central Street) transport; 5:25 p.m.: officer wanted (Lincoln Avenue) spoken to; 5:39 p.m.: traf-fic hazard (Spring Street) assist-ed; 8:05 p.m.: MV stop (Glenallan Street) verbal warning; 11:16 p.m.: noise complaint (Front Street) spoken to; 11:36-11:53 p.m.: four building checks, secure; 11:56 p.m.: suspicious MV (Spring Street) no PD service required.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 7

12:11-1:33 a.m.: five building checks, secure; 12:52 a.m.: suspi-cious MV (Lakeview Drive) no PD service required; 1:10 a.m.: extra patrols (Goodrich Drive) checked, secure; 1:14 a.m.: noise complaint (Front Street) spoken to; 7:33 a.m.: officer wanted (East Street) report taken; 7:33 a.m.: ambulance (Teel Road) transport; 10:22 a.m.: investigation (North Street) info given; 12:39 p.m.: offi-cer wanted (River Street) spoken to; 1:53 p.m.: sex offender regis-tration (Spring Street) info taken; 2:09 p.m.: alarm, type unknown (Hyde Park Drive) assisted; 2:23 p.m.: fire mutual aid (Lake Drive) assisted; 2:28 p.m.: burglar alarm (School Street) secured building; 3:20 p.m.: burglar alarm (Central Street) checked, secure; 3:20 p.m. ambulance (Spruce Street) trans-

port; 3:32 p.m.: animal complaint (Belmont Avenue) refer to ACO; 4:25 p.m.: 209A service (Beaman Court) unable to serve; 4:51 p.m.: MV stop (Baldwinville State Road) verbal warning; 5:05 p.m.: acci-dent (High Street) report taken; 5:29 p.m.: assist other PD (East Monomonac Road) info given; 6:50 p.m.: ambulance (Hyde Park Drive) transport; 8:32 p.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road) traffic cita-tion; 8:41 p.m.: MV stop (Elmwood Road) verbal warning; 9:27 p.m.: assist other PD (phone) returned to home or family; 9:42 p.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road) traffic cita-tion; 9:57 p.m.: MV stop (Elmwood Road) traffic citation; 10:07 p.m.: disabled MV (Central Street) spo-ken to; 10:36 p.m.: assault (Pearl Drive) arrest: Juvenile, age 15: A&B; 11:13 p.m.: unwanted party (Mill Street) transport.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8

12:21-4:09 a.m.: 15 building checks, secure; 12:37 a.m.: 911 hang up (Woodlawn Street) arrest: Todd W. Alden, age 39 of 139 Woodlawn St., Winchendon: assault & battery; 4:43 a.m.: burglar alarm (Spring Street) checked, secure; 7:34 a.m.: traffic hazard (Gardner Road) info taken; 8:47 a.m.: 209A service (Beaman Court) unable to serve; 10:20 a.m.: assist citizen (Highland Street) refer to DPW; 10:28 a.m.: officer wanted (West Street) no cause for complaint; 10:32 a.m.: burglar alarm (Central Street) checked, secure; 10:48 a.m.: gener-al info (Mason Street) info taken; 11:43 a.m.: disabled MV (River Street) removed traffic hazard; 12:29 p.m.: ambulance (Chestnut Street) transport; 1:24 p.m.: FD call (Pearl Drive) assisted; 3:20 p.m.: general info (walk in) spoken to; 3:59 p.m.: accident (Spring Street) report taken; 4:49 p.m.: summons service (Elm Street) served; 5:49 p.m.: fight (Spring Circle) spoken to; 6:05 p.m.: MV operating errat-ically (School Street) spoken to; 6:38 p.m.: MV stop (Spring Street) written warning; 7:12 p.m.: gener-al info (Spring Street) no PD ser-vice required; 8:02 p.m.: accident (Glenallan Street) assisted; 9:03 p.m.: general info (phone) report taken; 9:33 p.m.: flooding (Central Street) refer to DPW; 11:30 p.m.: animal complaint (Krantz Road) call canceled; 11:56 p.m.: building check, secure.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9

12:04-4:08 a.m.: nine building checks, secure; 12:44 a.m.: suspi-cious MV (Gardner Road) spoken to; 3:34 a.m.: patrol initiated (Maple Street) transport; 4:01 a.m.: park-ing violation (Monadnock Avenue) traffic citation; 7:30 a.m.: general info (Central Street) refer to DPW; 8:04 a.m.: MV stop (Baldwinville Road) verbal warning; 8:26 a.m.: accident (Harvard Street) report taken; 9:27 a.m.: burglar alarm (Spring Street) false alarm; 10:10 ambulance (Baldwinville Road) transport; 10:29 a.m.: 209A service (Beaman Court) unable to serve; 11:18 a.m.: MV stop (Central Street) traffic citation; 11:36 a.m.: MV stop (Spring Street) verbal warning; 11:50 a.m.: MV stop (Spring Street) verbal warning; 12:08 p.m.: MV stop (Lincoln Avenue) traffic cita-tion; 12:29 p.m.: MV stop (Front Street) verbal warning; 12:31 p.m.: lift assist (Hyde Park Drive) ser-vices rendered; 12:52 p.m.: MV stop (Academy Street) verbal warning; 1:46 p.m.: general info (walk in) assisted; 1:53 p.m.: MV stop (Front Street) verbal warn-ing; 3:18 p.m.: assist other agency (phone) spoken to; 3:40 p.m.: ambu-lance (Ipswich Drive) transport; 4:36 p.m.: officer wanted (Front Street) call canceled; 6 p.m.: FD call (Beaman Court) services ren-dered; 7:28 p.m.: warrant of appre-hension (Spring Circle) unable to locate; 7:38 p.m.: warrant of appre-hension (Bluebird Road) unable to locate; 7:47 p.m.: warrant of appre-

hension (Front Street) unable to locate; 8:10 p.m.: 209A vio-lation (Central Street) spo-ken to; 9:26 p.m.: assist cit-izen (phone) assisted; 10:15 p.m.: 911 hang up (Congress Road) no PD service required; 10:37 p.m.: unwanted party (School Street) services ren-dered; 11:34 p.m.: assist citizen (Pleasant Street) report taken.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 10

12:33-4:25 a.m.: five build-ing checks, secure; 12:47 a.m.: threats (Ash Street) arrest: Aamir N. Khan, age 18 of 31 Ash St., Winchendon: assault with deadly weapon, three counts of vandalizing prop-erty and domestic A&B; 3:06 a.m.: parking violation (Front Street) traffic citation; 4:13 a.m.: carbon monoxide inci-dent (Eagle Road) refer to FD; 7:50 a.m.: accident (Spring Street) gone on arrival; 8:06 a.m.: accident (Main Street) report taken; 8:33 a.m.: officer wanted (walk in) spoken to; 9:10 a.m.: assist other agen-cy (Baldwinville State Road) no PD service required; 9:14 a.m.: officer wanted (Ready Drive) spoken to; 12:20 p.m.: fire alarm (Hyde Park Drive) assisted; 12:23 p.m.: MV oper-ating erratically; (Gardner Road) unable to locate; 2:11 p.m.: assist citizen (Prentice Circle) assisted; 3:40 p.m.: general info (North Street) assisted; 4:30 p.m.: 209A ser-vice (Spring Circle) unable to serve; 4:41 p.m.: be on the lookout (Prospect Street) info taken; 9:26-11:33 p.m.: three building checks, secure; 9:46 p.m.: 209A service (Spring Circle) unable to locate; 10 p.m.: suspicious MV (School Street) spoken to; 10:55 p.m.: 209A service (walk in) served

to defendant; 10:59 p.m.: MV oper-ating erratically (Central Street) gone on arrival; 11:36 p.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road) written warn-ing.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 11

12:06-1:01 a.m.: eight building checks, secure; 2:38 a.m.: assist citizen (Spring Street) transport; 2:51 a.m.: suspicious MV (Gardner Road) checked, secure; 3:26 a.m.: accident (Spring Street) refer to other agency; 3:59 a.m.: B&E MV (Mill Street) unable to locate; 4:14 a.m.: disabled MV (Glenallan Street) info taken; 4:52 a.m.: lar-ceny (walk in) report taken; 7:57 a.m.: deliver message (Brown Street) delivered; 9:39 a.m.: ambu-lance (Ash Street) transport; 10:17 a.m.: general info (walk in) info taken; 11:06 a.m.: officer wanted (Ready Drive) assisted; 11:48 a.m.: fire alarm (Grove Street) assist-ed; 11:54 a.m.: ambulance (Hyde Park Drive) assisted; 1:07 p.m.: vandalism (Spring Street) report taken; 2:28 p.m.: property found (Central Street) report taken; 4:36 p.m.: assist other agency (Main Street) assisted; 5:16 p.m.: traf-fic hazard (School Street) refer to state DPW; 7:59 p.m.: burglar alarm (Mellen Road) call canceled; 8:14 p.m.: lift assist (Hyde Park Drive) assisted; 8:21 p.m.: traf-fic hazard (Baldwinville Road) assisted; 11:22 p.m.: burglar alarm (East Monomonac Road) checked, secure.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12

12:03-2:03 a.m.: eight building checks, secure; 12:33 a.m.: assist other PD (Lincoln Avenue) spo-ken to; 1:29 a.m.: general info (Elmwood Road) report taken; 2:13 a.m.: 911 call non-emergen-cy (School Street) info given; 2:50 a.m.: officer wanted (Front Street) returned to home or fami-ly; 3:03 a.m.: burglar alarm (Main Street) checked, secure; 3:14 a.m.: suspicious MV (Franklin Street) checked, secure; 3:32 a.m.: officer wanted (School Street) spoken to; 4 a.m.: officer wanted (Elmwood Road) returned to home or family; 5:25 a.m.: ambulance (Ready Drive) transport; 9:02 a.m.: ambulance (Pearl Drive) transport; 9:22 a.m.: disabled MV (River Street) no PD service required; 9:47 a.m.: wires down (Woodlawn Avenue) info taken; 10 a.m.: general info (Mill Street) refer to DPW; 11:12 a.m.: disabled MV (Spring Street) assist-ed; 11:26 a.m.: traffic hazard (River Street) refer to state DPW; 11:41 a.m.: ambulance (Brown Street) transport; 12:17 p.m.: ambulance (School Street) transport; 1:34 p.m.: suspicious person (Central Street) spoken to; 2:19 p.m.: ambulance (Main Street) transport; 2:29 p.m.: MV operating erratically (School Street) info taken; 3:13 p.m.: shop-lifting (Central Street) summons: Tia M. Covey, age 22 of 24 Cross Road, Winchendon: shoplifiting by concealing merchandise, sec-ond offense; 3:55 p.m.: loitering (Murdock Avenue) dispersed gathering; 4:54 p.m.: custody dis-pute (walk in) spoken to; 6:23 p.m.: custody dispute (Bayberry Circle) spoken to; 8:47 p.m.: suspicious MV (Memorial Drive) dispersed gathering; 10:42 p.m.: officer want-ed (Teel Road) advised civil action; 11:29 p.m.: assist other agency (School Street) removed to hospi-tal.

Police log

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Liquor store owner arrestedWINCHENDON — Lt. David Walsh of the Winchendon Police

Department has reported on Jan. 14 members of the North Worcester County Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at Kwik Stop Liquors, 18-20 Railroad St. An ongoing investigation had revealed the owner of the liquor store, Vacilios Halkiadakis, was selling prescription medications from the Kwik Stop Liquor Store.

Approximately 40 oxycodone tablets with a street value of $1,600 were seized along with a sum of money believed to be proceeds of the sale of the prescription medications. In addition electronic equipment and other items were seized that are believed to be stolen.

As a result of the investigation, Halkiadakis, age 51, of 28 Clement Road, Townsend, was arrested and charged with posses-sion of a class B substance and possession of a class B substance with the intent to distribute.

Further investigation is being conducted regarding the alleged stolen items recovered from the Kwik Stop Liquors.

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Winchendon courier 7 Friday, January, 17, 2014

SEND OBITUARIES at no charge to Editor Ruth DeAmicis, by faxing (978) 297-2177, or by e-mailing the editor at [email protected]. We also invite funeral directors and families to e-mail us a JPEG photograph to print, at no cost, alongside the obituary.

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WILLS & ESTATES • PERSONAL INJURY

G. Chester Baker, 89GARDNER — G. Chester Baker, age 89,

formerly of 250 East Broadway, died peace-fully Saturday evening, Jan. 11 in Golden Living Center – Hermitage Nursing Home, Worcester.

He was born in Gardner on Jan. 22, 1924, son of the late George and Elizabeth (Dooley) Baker. A lifelong resident of Gardner, Chet graduated from Gardner High School.

Chet proudly served his country during World War II as a member of the United States Army. A recipient of a Purple Heart, Chet served under General George S. Patton. He was a former member of Ovila Case Post #905 VFW. For 23 years, Chet worked

for Beauregard’s Hardwood Flooring of Gardner. Chet raised dogs and had a great passion for all breeds of dogs.

Chet was the last surviving member of his brothers and sisters. He leaves his best friend, Andre Beauregard of Rindge.

Military funeral services will be held Friday, Jan. 17 at 2 p.m. in Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 111 Glenallan St., Winchendon. The Rev. Francis A. Roberge will officiate.

There are no calling hours.Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home (stone-

ladeau.com), 343 Central St., Winchendon is directing arrangements.

Dorothy Frances Marshall, 97WESTMINSTER —

Dorothy Frances Marshall, age 97, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 7, at Sterling Village Nursing Home, in Sterling.

She was predeceased by her husband of 58 years, the late George Marshall.

Dot is survived by two daughters, Roberta (Bobbi) Wheless, of Greenville, SC, and Brenda (Bunni) Codding, of Westminster; her grandchildren, Glenna Gene Lattimore and her husband, Ed, of Greenville, SC, Stephen Marshall Stewart and his wife, Cyndee, of San Diego, CA, Mary-Elyse Edgar, and her husband, Michael, of Greenville, Kimberly Susan Buckler and her husband, Kevin, of Winchendon; along with seven great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

She is also predeceased by her parents, one sister, and four brothers, a daughter, Laura Lee Grant, of McCalla, AL and a

grandson, William Marshall Wheless of Greenville, SC.

Dot graduated from Peabody High School and Lynn Hospital School of Nursing in Lynn. She was a homemaker, and an active volunteer in various communities where the family resided. She served on the board of Julie Country Day School in Leominster and as president of the Leominster Hospital Women’s Auxiliary. She loved her fami-ly, her many friends, traveling the world, music, dancing, and possessed a wonderful, quirky sense of humor.

Private graveside services will be held at Oak Ridge Cemetery, in South Dennis on Cape Cod.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

The Westminster Chapel of the Sawyer-Miller-Masciarelli Family Funeral Homes (masciarellifamilyfuneralhomes.net), 123 Main St., Westminster is directing Funeral arrangements.

Robert C. Duchaine, 79JAFFREY — Robert

C. Duchaine, age 79, of 9 Forest Park, Jaffrey, for-merly of Gardner and Templeton, died peacefully Monday morning, Jan. 13 in Monadnock Community Hospital, Peterborough, NH, with his family at his side.

He was born in New Bedford on Dec. 31, 1934, the son of the late Jerry and Edna (Robillard) Duchaine and lived in Gardner for many years. For the last year, he had lived in Jaffrey, after moving from Templeton. He was a previous resident on Hyannis, Florida, North Carolina, Texas and Illinois.

Bob proudly served his country during the Korean War as a member of the United States Navy. He served in three branch-es, the Navy, Army and Air Force and served for many years as a member of the Army National Guard. Bob worked as a paint sprayer at Simplex and for many wood shops in Gardner. He also had worked as a custodian for eight years for the Rindge-

Jaffrey School Department. A member of the American Legion in Gardner, Bob was an avid bowler and enjoyed bowling at Gardner Ten Pins.

He leaves his wife of 57 years, Alice M. (Doiron) Duchaine; six children: Alan Michael Duchaine of Worcester, Michael Alan Duchaine of Jaffrey, Mary Marois and her husband William of Templeton, Lillian McDaniel of North Carolina, Barbara Bennett of Houston, TX and Rose Barros and her husband Michael of Houston, TX; a sister, Eleanor Alard of New Bedford; 13 grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Military funeral services will be held Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 10 a.m. in Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, Winchendon. The Rev. Francis A. Roberge will officiate.

Calling hours in Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home (stone-ladeau.com), 343 Central St., Winchendon are Saturday, Jan. 18 from 2-4 p.m.

Memorial donations may be made to Massachusetts Special Olympics, 512 Forest St., Marlborough, MA 01752.

Patricia A. (Feighner) Farrell, 83TEMPLETON —

Patricia A. (Feighner) Farrell, age 83, former-ly of 23A Winchester St., Baldwinville died peace-fully Saturday morn-ing, January 11th, in Baldwinville Nursing Home, with her family at her side.

She was born in Chicago, IL on June 12, 1930, daughter of the late DeLoss Henry and Mildred (Bowers) Feighner and was a 1948 graduate of St. Paul’s High School in Marion, IN. Pat later graduated in 1974 from The School of Fashion Design in Boston. In 1983 she graduated from Framingham State University with a Bachelor of Science degree and in 1989, Pat graduated from Fitchburg State University with a Master’s degree in education. She had also attended Marion College, Marion, IN. Pat was a resident of Baldwinville since 1960, moving from South Royalston.

Pat worked as a stitcher at Gardner Craftsman and at Eastern Furniture many years ago. A talented stitcher, she did many alterations at her home. For several years she worked as a school teacher and house mother at the Protestant Youth Center in both Baldwinville and Gardner.

A devoted mother, Pat loved her family and enjoyed painting, playing the piano, reading and drawing. Her home was wel-come to both family and friends, who would

often come by on Saturday mornings for her pancake breakfasts. For years, she worked the concession booth for the Narragansett Boosters. She was a former organist and choir member of St. Vincent de Paul Church. In recent years, she attended St. Martins’ Church in Otter River with her family. Pat enjoyed making visits to Indiana to see her family.

She leaves six children, Stephen P. Farrell of East Templeton, Kathryn E. Martinez of Worcester, Peter J. Farrell III and his wife Julie of Baldwinville, Thomas B. Farrell and his wife Carol of Phillipston, Joseph I. Farrell and his wife Cheryl of Baldwinville and Michael C. Farrell and his wife Marnie of Marlboro; a sister, Dolores Habiby of Marion IN; a daughter-in-law, Eileene P. Farrell of Orange, 22 grandchildren and six great grandchildren, as well as nephews and nieces. Pat also raised her grandson John Farrell. Two children, Daniel J. Farrell and Sharon A. Farrell, preceded her in death.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held Friday, Jan. 17 at 10 a.m.. in St. Martin’s Church, State Road, Otter River. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery.

Calling hours in Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home (stone-ladeau.com), 343 Central St., Winchendon are Thursday, Jan. 16 from 6-8 p.m.

Memorial donations may be made to Resident’s Activities Fund, Baldwinville Nursing Home, PO Box 24, Baldwinville, MA 01436.

Gertrude Emma (Dufault) Gauthier, 96WINCHENDON —

Gertrude Emma (Dufault) Gauthier, age 96, of Winchendon, died peace-fully Thursday, January 9, 2014 at Athol Memorial Hospital, after a short ill-ness.

Born in Winchendon on April 19, 1917, she was

the daughter of Eusebe and Mary-Jane (Bernard) Dufault. Gertrude was the wife of the late Roland H. Gauthier, who died March 27, 2007, after 69 years of marriage.

Gertrude is survived by four chil-dren, Therese G. Sherburne and her hus-band Franklin of So. Deerfield; Roland A. Gauthier and his wife Polly of North Brookfield; Gabrielle Joanne McDowell and her husband Rodney of Gardner and Darlene A. Field and her husband Arthur of Orange; grandchildren, Debra Sherburne, Brenda Pelissier, Rebecca Kula, Franklin C. Sherburne II, Jennifer Tyger, Jason Gauthier, Christopher McDowell, Dr. Brian

Field and David Field; 18 great grandchil-dren and many nieces and nephews.

Gertrude was the last surviving child of 13 children.

She was a faithful member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Winchendon, her faith being first and foremost in her life.

She was a homemaker, wonderful cook and beautiful seamstress, having worked for many years for The Winchendon Dress Shop.

A Mass of Christian burial was held Wednesday, Jan. 15 in Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 52 Spruce Street. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Patients Activities Fund, Quabbin Valley Healthcare, 821 Daniel Shays Highway, Athol, MA 01331 or to St Vincent de Paul Fund, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 52 Spruce Street, Winchendon, MA 01475.

Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central St. is directing arrangements.

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Winchendon courier 8 Friday, January, 17, 2014

SPORTSSPORTSBlue Devils snag first win 52-42

By Jerry CartonCourier CorrespondentWINCHENDON — The gym was

jammed, the energy and enthu-siasm level sky-high and the Murdock Blue Devils responded to all of it last Friday night, opening a big halftime lead and cruising to their first win of the season, a 52-42 triumph over the visiting Tahanto Stags.

After taking a 4-3 lead on a pair of Jack Murphy free throws, the Blue Devils never trailed again, leading 15-9 after the first quarter and 28-14 at the break. Tahanto had gotten the first four shots of the contest, but none went in and Hunter Russell tallied the game’s first two points to get things roll-ing.

“I feel 100 pounds lighter,” exult-

ed winning Coach Steve Ringer. “We really came together as a team and they played for each other.”

That they did. The Blue Devils were aggressive and tenacious on defense, forcing repeated turn-overs and going on short scoring bursts to keep Tahanto at bay. By the time the dust had cleared, Hunter Russell had scored 15 points to lead Murdock. Murphy added 11. Ryan Kaminsky scored eight, Austin Russell seven, Marcus Allen five, Kevin Suchocki four and Jared Nelson a deuce.

Consecutive first quarter steals resulted in six Murdock points from Suchocki, Allen, and Hunter Russell, and that pretty much set the tone for the night. Kaminsky had a pair of second quarter scores to put the Blue Devils ahead 24-11 and though no one knew it at the

time, the contest was never in doubt thereafter.

Tahanto did go on a brief five point run early in the third to cut the lead to 30-19 but Hunter Russell scored the next five Murdock points, including a three-ball with just under two minutes remain-ing in the period, and Kaminsky drained a three of his own near the end of the stanza to maintain the same 14 point bulge that had existed at the half, this time, 39-25.

The fourth quarter was fun time with the crowd, much of which was decked out in new school t-shirts, bellowing its approval every time a Blue Devil touched the ball in the front court and chanting players’ names as the clock began to wind down.

“We needed a confidence-build-er. We needed a game where we

could believe in ourselves and we got it tonight,” Ringer remarked.

“We’d had three really good practices and they set the tone for what we were able to do out there tonight. We hope we can build on this. I’m really proud of how unselfishly they played,” he added.

“It feels good,” said Suchocki. “We definitely put it together.”..

Noted Murphy, “we felt like we deserved respect but we had to earn it and now we’re going to go right back to work.”

It was a festive night for sure. Sales of those t-shirts created a sense of community (and students who bought them were entitled to a $2 discount at the Devil’s Den) and the cheerleaders did a dance rou-tine to help pump up the crowd. As the Blue Devils lead mounted, so

did the noise level. “We fed off that,” Ringer said.Almost a full year had passed

since Murdock’s most recent win, a victory over Trivium last winter, and Ringer’s team hosted Trivium again Wednesday afternoon.

“We’re looking to build some momentum,” he observed.

Momentum was elusive on Tuesday when the Blue Devils found themselves on the short end of a 71-49 drubbing at the hands of the Ayer Panthers. In the fourth quarter, Murdock had a chance to cut the deficit to five when trailing just 49-42 after being down 15 at the half, but the wheels came off with turnovers and Ayer easily took advantage to pull away.

BY JERRY CARTONCOURIER CORRESPONDENT

HARVARD — The Murdock Lady Devils took it on the chin twice last week, 60-35 at Tahanto, and 48-30 at Ayer, but interim Coach Chelsey Abare nonetheless saw some good things from a number of players and no one had Abare more enthused than senior point guard Morgan St. Pierre.

In addition to a strong defensive effort, St. Pierre scored a career varsity high 17 points at Ayer on Tuesday after a 10-point night at Tahanto on Friday, including a couple three-balls, but it wasn’t just her numbers that impressed Abare.

“Morgan’s been showing what leadership is all about. She’s mak-ing smart choices and smart deci-sions out there. She’s talking to teammates as plays are unfolding. She’s showing what being a cap-tain is all about. She should be really proud of herself. This is the Morgan we’ve been waiting for,” exclaimed Abare.

While she couldn’t pinpoint pre-cisely what’s ignited her game, St. Pierre did acknowledge, “I’m feel-ing good. I’m just comfortable right now.”

Abare had praise for others as well.

“Deanna (Polcari) was aggres-sive in going to the basket. That’s good to see. She keeps getting better every game.

“Haley (Jandris) was effective all night at Tahanto. She must have picked off ten rebounds or so. She’s not afraid of anyone or anything anywhere we go. You love seeing that.

“The twins (Amber and Autumn Brown) aren’t afraid to carry the offense. Rachel (Dickens) is hustling all the time she’s in there and that’s beneficial to us.

MacKenzie (Rushia) doesn’t back down. Phylicia (Shippy) gave us a free throw.

“We’ve had some inspirational talks about working at believing in each other and getting better together. We are get-ting better every day, but there are things we need to work on,” Abare said, point-ing out her team was 7-29 from the free throw line at Tahanto. “And we need to

square up better, and box out better.“It’s hard when you don’t, when you

can’t, have continuous practices. We hav-en’t had that. Kids are working. Kids are in other activities — those things make it harder for us to jell as a team,” she reflected.

At Tahanto, Amber Brown led the Lady Devils with a dozen points. In addition to

St. Pierre’s ten, Autumn Brown had five, Jandris had four while Polcari and Shippy each scored two. Tahanto led 14-9 after a quar-ter and 32-14 at the half.

Both Browns, Polcari, and Jandris got on the scorecard at Ayer.

“Sometimes it’s hard to see the progress, but it’s there,” assured Abare, who is likely to remain at the Lady Devils helm for a cou-ple more weeks while her grand-father Jim, Murdock’s regular coach, continues to recover from heart surgery.

“He’s doing pretty well,” Chelsey noted.

“He’d love to come to practice today,” she laughed earlier this week.

The middle school girls picked up a win Tuesday, downing Ayer, 27-11. Julia Shelly had 11 for the Mini-Devils while Emily Pervier and Ashley Greene contributed four each. Cassie Skinner, Kelsey Crouteau, Leah Pelkey, and Molly Murphy each scored two.

“We’d worked on some things in practice,” said coach Darryl Rupp, whose team is home this afternoon against West Boylston around 4:30. Murdock went up , 9-1 and never looked back.

For most of the team, the tri-umph was a quick bounce back

from Sunday’s travel loss to Narragansett during which the locals were blanked in the second

half of a 28-14 defeat. “We did a good job tonight,” Rupp said

about Tuesday’s win.The fifth grade girls cruised past

Littleton Sunday, 25-14 with Lexi Allard leading the way. At one point, it was 20-6, an indication of how thoroughly Winchendon dominated.

St. Pierre leads Lady Devils on the road

Tammy St. Pierre photo

Amber Brown takes the ball up court through Tahanto traffic

2014 WINCHENDON AREA LITTLE LEAGUE REGISTRATION

Winchendon Little League will be holding registration for the 2014 season at the Clark Memorial/YMCA on the following dates/times Friday, January 31st 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.Saturday, February 1st 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.Sunday, February 2nd 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noonFriday, February 7th 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.Saturday, February 8th 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.Sunday, February 9th 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon WLL is open to all youth, from the area communities of Winchendon, Ashburnham, Gardner, and Templeton, 4 to 18 years of age through our Little League, Junior League, and Senior/Big League programs. Baseball players: Birth date must fall between May 1995 and April 2010Softball players: Birth date must fall between January 1995 and December 2009 Visit our website or Facebook page for more information or instructions on how to regis-ter early! www.eteamz.com/winchendonll or www.facebook.com/winchendonllQuestions? Contact Tony LaPointe at 978-297-5130

BY JERRY CARTONCOURIER CORRESPONDENT

WINCHENDON — The numbers aren’t what they once were and competition is just over a month away, but that doesn’t faze Murdock High School cheer coach Amy Dupuis one bit.

“Small but mighty. That’s what we are,” Dupuis laughed earlier this week.

There are only 10 members on the roster, but Dupuis noted, “unlike last year, we have experience now and these girls work together well.”

Murdock’s now in a league that includes always-tough Clinton but Dupuis pointed out, “We can’t worry about that. We can’t worry about the rest of the league. We just

have to focus on our own program.”Helping her put that program together is

Amy’s daughter Selena, now at Fitchburg State and a former Murdock cheerleader herself.

“I don’t want to brag,” Amy chuckled, “but we really are lucky to have her. She’s done great choreography. She’s a resource I definitely don’t take for granted. She’s better at choreography than some profes-sionals I’ve seen. She really is.”

Dupuis had stepped down as cheer coach after last winter but returned from that brief retirement just as football season was getting underway last fall.

“I felt like I owed it to the girls who were there. If they were willing to put in the time

and effort, then I should too,” she reflected. “I’m glad to be out of retirement,” she

assured.Four or five competitions are on the

schedule with one in Gardner next month. At the same time, Dupuis plans to have her team attend an ice hockey and a girls bas-ketball game. Even at boys’ home game, the squad has added a musical dance routine to the standard cheers.

“We’re always practicing,” Dupuis noted. Murdock’s cheer roster includes Brianna

Berry, Carissa Boudreau, Alyana Burgess, Frances Castro, Jaclyn Cloutier, Haley Lemieux, Jasmine Leslie, Tiffany Shammo-Sluder, Colby Sinclair, and Caitie Thayer

Cheer squad ready for competition

BY JERRY CARTONCOURIER CORRESPONDENT

FITCHBURG — Senior Felicia Ingman became the third Murdock athlete to qualify for States when she posted a 12:48:9 in the two mile last week, join-ing teammates Alyssa LaBrack and Jordan Manuel as having punched their tickets to the big show later this winter.

LaBrack , meanwhile, once more shattered her own school shot put mark with a toss of 29:11:5. A new school mark was also set in the 4x50 hurdles.

“They just keep doing what they do,” enthused Coach

Anthony Findley. “It’s at the point where we almost expect Alyssa to set a new record every time out. That’s not really going to happen, obviously, but it does show how high the expectations are, and how high her own expectations are for herself.

“Felicia, what can I tell you that I haven’t before? She’s a terrific competitor, dedicated to training, and a great team-mate,” he said.

Ingman finished second overall to Renee Capps of Narragansett. That duo has had a long term friendly rivalry that will end this spring when both

graduate but at the moment it’s in full flower and Findley thinks that’s good. “They push each other,” he noted. Capps finished in 12:45:8.

The ‘Gansett senior also took overall first in the mile with Ingman fifth. Felicia was reflective earlier this week. “I’m proud of having qualified again. This is my last indoor season. I’ve had fun running with Renee, too,” she remarked.

Manuel finished second over-all in the mile, a race where Dan Fournier was ninth. Austin Landress was seventh in the high jump. Nick Swift placed

fifth in the 55 meters. Younger runners including sixth grad-er Alec Hart, seventh graders Emily Roberts and Richard Swanson and eighth grad-ers Chris Michaud and Josh Ramsey competed as well.

Speaking of younger runners, Steven Ingman got his banner hung in the school gym for his middle school cross country crown.

“I am not making any pre-dictions about Steven,” Findley laughed. “We’ll just let it play out.”

Ingman qualifies in 2-mile

TheHeartOfMassachusetts.com

Winchendon courier 9 Friday, January, 17, 2014

We know Sunday’s m a t c h u p s . Personally, I’m root-ing for Denver and

Peyton but am forced to flip a coin between the two obnox-ious brats — Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh, whose extreme dis-like for one another dates back to their Pac-12 rivalry at USC and Stanford. Too bad one gets to the Super Bowl. At least the other doesn’t. You take your consola-tions where you can get them.

Wins, too. If you were there, you know how electric it was last Friday night in the Murdock gym when Steve Ringer’s varsity boys surprised Tahanto, 52-42 for their first win this year. The gym was packed to the rafters, the din defi-nitely helpful, as Coach Ringer and a couple players told me after-wards, acknowledging they fed off the crowd. The energy and enthu-siasm, likely enhanced by the sense of shared community spirit brought on with the unveiling of the new Blue Devils t-shirts, were higher than any game I remember since the February 2011 “Blackout” shirt night when Murdock secured its most recent playoff berth. When the joint is jammed, when almost everyone is wearing the same shirt, you kind of get the feeling everyone is in the thing together. That’s a good thing to see at any school and especially at a school like Murdock where apathy is alleged to rule.

There are efforts underway to combat that apathy when it comes to sports. There was a dance fol-lowing the boys/girls joint home opener last month. Senior soc-cer player Seth Signa is trying to round up enough of his fellow students to commit to taking the short bus ride over to Baldwinville for the boys/girls season finales next month at Narragansett. Seth wants to see the Warriors’ gym filled with Murdock fans. Wouldn’t that be pretty cool? While Friday boys’ games are almost always crowded, attendance hasn’t been

bad this year even for weeknight games. That’s a hopeful sign. It’s more fun for the players to be out there when there’s a buzz in the building and a lot of people in the bleachers. It’s been nice, too, to see football coach Andy Dupuis, track coach Dick Karvonen and girls’ soccer coach Ross O’Toole showing up at every game. Cross-support is a good thing.

I’ve long been convinced this is one of the factors impacting the girls program, not the primary problem to be sure, but a factor nonetheless. They play almost all their games in front of relatively sparse “crowds,” a term I use very lightly. It’s hard sometimes to summon the energy when you feel like no one’s inter-ested, even professional athletes say that all the time, and more than one of the Lady Devils has told me the same thing. It’s not just basketball. Soccer’s the same way. There still seems to be, even in 2014, some kind of vague stigma attached to girls’ sports (excepting softball) at Murdock — that their games don’t matter as much as do the boys’ games and never mind that team records are pretty com-parable. How you overcome this perception seems elusive, but in any event, it’d be nice to see more faces in the stands tonight when the girls host West Boylston. This is a transitional year, but these girls are trying hard and deserve some support. Need more incen-tive? Buy a t-shirt and you get a deal at the Devil’s Den snack shop.

Ah yes, deals. Alex Rodriguez isn’t at all happy with the reduc-tion of his suspension from 211 games to the entire upcoming 162-game season plus playoffs if the

Yankees qualify. A-Rod says he’s going to federal court. Awesome. That’s exactly what the federal judiciary should be spending time on — right? Well, no. The ques-tion now is whether the Bombers are gong to try to rework (read :void) that insane contract and get some money back. At least that’s one question. The other revolves around whether New York will ban, or try to ban, A-Rod from spring training. I guarantee you they’d love to do so.

I imagine Rodriguez, a whiny narcissist to the nth degree, took note of the vote totals col-lected by admitted or suspecting PED users when the Hall of Fame results were announced last week. They weren’t pretty. Good. As for the vote, no one can argue with winners Gregg Maddux, Tom Glavine or Frank Thomas. Too bad John Smoltz played that one extra year — had he not — the three Braves would have gone in together. Smoltzy is a lock in his first eligibility next winter. I was disappointed to see how few votes Mike Mussina received. Moose’s credentials are every bit as good as those of, say, Bert Blylevan, who is enshrined. Maybe in a couple years? Craig Biggio missed by the narrowest of margins, actually gar-nering more support than I had anticipated. A-Rod’s prospects for immortality are rather dim and deservedly so.

Finally, perhaps the most annoy-ing sports story of the week came from Louisville where Bobby Petrino returned as the coach of the Cardinals after misadventures and ethical challenges in Atlanta and at Arkansas. I assume he left his motorcycle and former employee/mistress in Fayetteville. Petrino is a perfect Bluegrass complement to, speaking of shady ethics, Rick Pitino. What a circus, and do we need any further evidence of how sleazy big time college athletics are? Didn’t think so. See you next week. Go Broncos!

A new form of the ‘Brat Pack’...one we don’t enjoy...and a Blue Devils win

JERRY CARTON

Talking SporTS

HISTORICAL SPORTS

Soccer makes its debut

BY JERRY CARTONCOURIER CORRESPONDENT

As Winchendon celebrates it’s 250th anniversary this year, the Courier will be recalling historical happenings, sports and otherwise Today, here in the sports section, we begin with what appears to be the launch of town soccer some 36 years ago.

The year was 1978, and while there was no byline on the story, the Courier of November 22 that fall reported, “Winchendon’s soccer team wrapped up a very successful inaugural season over the weekend by defeat-ing the Winchendon school...on Saturday, 3-2, then edg-ing Oakmont Sunday on the Winchendon School field, 2-0.

“The double wins gave the team a 10-6-1 record for the fall season and a 15-8-2 cumulative record including the summer.

“Greg Vaillancourt tallied first with Bobby Grasmuck adding the second goal. Paul Arceci received assists on both plays in the first quarter. Mike Cote scored the winning goal.

“Goalie David LaPointe had an easy day, making just over half a dozen saves. Lapointe earned a shutout the next day against Oakmont. David Carrier collected the winning goal for Winchendon near the end of the second quarter. Larry Thompson received the assist on the play. Grasmuck added an insurance goal in the third with Brian Hagen getting the assist.

“Coach Scott Meyer is pleased with the way his team

has developed this season. ‘The head referee of the

Central Mass League said we could compete and would win some games. It takes about four years to build a soccer team, playing together, working together and talking together. It takes a lot of time.

‘The embryonic soccer pro-gram here in Winchendon appears on it’s way with the formation of the Winchendon Soccer Association. There are so many parent involved in this. There’s a uniform com-mittee and we’re ordering 54 uniforms, a fund-raising com-mittee, a rules committee and as we go along we will want to form more committees to get more people involved,” Meyer said.

“Plans are to have teams set up by age groups for ten and under, 12 and under, and 16 and under. Officers of the Association include Jeannette Ricord, president, Leston Goodrich, vice-president, George Ladeau, treasurer, and Elaine Kinner, secretary. Sara Smith is acting as league corre-spondent.

“A soccer program for girls is planned for January (1979). Meyer wished to extend thanks to the many people who helped with the program this fall. Special thanks are extended to Mrs. Shirley Arceci, ‘the team nurse who helped with scrapes and bruises, putting on first aid cream when needed’, her husband, Leon, Joe Ladeau, William Grasmuck, Mrs. Ruth Konopka , and Howard Junior.”

Legal NoticeWinchendon Conservation Commis-

sion300 Elmwood Road; Assessor’s Map 3D-1, Parcel 3 Pursuant to the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 131, Section 40, and the Town of Winchendon Wetlands Protection Bylaw, the Winchendon Conservation Commis-sion will hold a public hearing on Thursday, January 23rd, 2014 at 7:10 pm to consider the Notice of Intent filed by George Mizhir III for proposed work in the 100-foot Buffer Zone to Bordering Vegetated Wetlands at 300 Elmwood Road; Assessor’s Map 3D-1, Parcel 3. The project entails the repair/upgrade to meet Title 5 requirements of an on-site septic system serving an exist-ing four-bedroom house. The hearing will be held in the 4th Floor Conference Room of the Winchendon Town Hall, 109 Front Street. The Notice of Intent is available for public review at the Land Use Office, Room 10 (first floor) of the Winchendon Town Hall on Mondays and Thursdays during the hours of 9am – 12noon, except for 3pm – 6pm on the fourth Thursday of the month (meeting night), or by calling the Conservation Agent for an appoint-ment at 978-297-3537.January 17, 2014

TOWN OF WINCHENDON ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

Notice is hereby given that the Winchen-don ZBA will hold a PUBLIC HEARING on Wed, 2/5/14 at 7:05 PM in the Town Hall Aud., 2nd Fl., 109 Front St., Winchendon, MA 01475 on the application of Sabah El-nemer, 3 Kent St., Danvers, MA 01923 for property located at 230 Baldwinville State Rd., Winchendon, MA 01475 (Map 10A4, Parcel 4), owned by Vilson Camargo of 57 Princeton St., Gardner, MA 01440 to hear a request for a Special Permit under Sec-tion 5.2.2R of the Winchendon Zoning Bylaws to allow the operation of a facility for the purpose of automobile sales and service, located in an C-2 Neighborhood Business Zoning District. A copy of the ap-plication is available at the Dept. of P&D, Winchendon Town Hall. All interested per-sons should plan to attend. Reasonable accommodation for disabled parties can be made by contacting the department during business hours, (978) 297-5418 at least three days in advance of the hear-ing. The Town of Winchendon is an equal opportunity provider, and employer.

Cynthia Carvill, Chairperson,Zoning Board of Appeals

January 17, 2014January 24, 2014

LEGALS

NOMINATION PAPERWINCHENDON — The office of the town

clerk has announced nomination papers are now available at that office for the May 5 local town election. Papers must be turned in on or before Monday, March 31 by 5 p.m. Seats available include3: one 3-year seat for Board of Selectmen; two 3-year seats for School Committee; two 3-year seats for the Board of Health and one 5-year seat for the Housing Authority.

RECOGNITION SOUGHTThe Human Rights Campaign, the

nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, called on Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley to extend full statewide marriage recognition to the more than 1,300 gay and lesbian couples who entered into legal marriages in Utah. United States Attorney General Eric Holder announced full federal recognition will extend to these unions, and HRC is calling on all states that recognize marriage equality to join Washington and Maryland in recognizing

the marriages of these committed and lov-ing couples.

“The U.S. government has made it clear the 1,360 Utah couples who married during after a Federal judge said they could, are indeed married and they should be afford-ed every right and responsibility of mar-riage,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “Attorney General Coakley should follow the leadership of AG Holder and affirm these married couples are equal.”

Same-sex couples in Utah were legal-ly empowered to marry beginning on December 20th and ending on Monday, Jan. 6, when the U.S. Supreme Court stayed the lower court’s decision while it is on appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

Despite the stay, even Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes has suggested that benefits may flow to these couples in other states that recognize marriage equality. “It’s not invalidating it in the same way that if they went to Hawaii, they could potentially apply for benefits there based on the marriage that took place,” Reyes said to Utah reporters.

Senator Stephen M. Brewer (D-Barre), and Senator Jennifer L. Flanagan (D-Leominster), have announced the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission has awarded Heywood Hospital a total of $316,384, Athol Memorial Hospital a total of $484,128, to enhance the delivery of efficient, effective health care in central Massachusetts.

The HPC, an indepen-dent state agency created through the Legislature’s landmark health care cost containment law, Chapter 224 of the Acts of 2012, is making approxi-mately $10 million avail-able to 28 communi-ty hospitals across the Commonwealth through Phase 1 of the Community Hospital Acceleration, Revitalization, and Transformation (CHART) investment program.

“This is a great opportu-nity for the state to partner

with hospitals that pro-vide critical care to some of the neediest residents in the Commonwealth,” said Brewer. “I am thrilled that these four hospitals that serve my district are recip-ients. This money will go far in serving the needs of many patients.”

“Heywood Hospital has a proven commitment in making a positive differ-ence in the lives of every-one they serve, particular-ly in the area of mental health,” stated Flanagan. “It has been very reward-ing working in collab-oration with Heywood Hospital to address a criti-cal unmet need in the north central Massachusetts. We still have a ways to go, but this funding will go a very long way.”

CHART, a four-year pro-gram funded by an indus-try assessment of select providers and insurers, makes phased invest-ments to promote care

coordination, integration, and delivery transforma-tions; advance electronic health records adoption and information exchange among providers; increase alternative payment methods and accountable care organizations; and enhance patient safety, access to behavioral health services, and coordination between hospitals and community-based provid-ers and organizations.

Over the next six months, the HPC will support and monitor the implementa-tion activities of CHART hospitals. Comprehensive evaluation and account-ability are strong elements of the CHART Investment Program in order to assess these new initiatives’ impacts on health care cost and quality. This engagement will strength-en future phases of the CHART Program, includ-ing Phase 2 expected in spring 2014.

POLITICAL PIECES

CHART gRAnTS

SporTS

Winchendon courier 10 Friday, January 17, 2014

HELP WANTED

LEGAL SECRETARYExperienced part time

legal secretary needed for a general practice law office; shorthand or use of dicta-tion equipment and com-puter skills essential. Send resume to: Winchendon Courier, 44 Central St., Winchendon 01475 ATTN:

LEGAL POSITION.M A R K E T I N G

ASSISTANTAssist owner of company

in listing items for sale on EBay and Craig’s List. May include researching items to determine pricing, prepar-ing items for shipment and marketing. Include resume or list of experience when contacting. Compensation

includes: local to Winchendon, $8 plus 2% commission of next sales paid monthly. Contact Courier, attention JOB at [email protected]. (WILL FELLOW PLACED THIS AD CONTACT ME: RUTH)

EMPLOYERSThese help want-

ed ads are FREE! Contact the Courier to find out how to get help for your business by calling (978) 297-0050 x 100 or email [email protected].

FOR RENT

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SERVICES

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• a S t o n e b r i d g e P r e S S P u b l i c a t i o n •

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BY: COLETTE KOTOCHWhile it is not the first time

that Israeli officials resigned from their posts, previous resignations have resulted for the same rea-sons.

Maariv newspaper revealed on Dec. 23 the resignation of Meir Shalit from his post. Shalit is an official involved in export control security in the Israeli Ministry of Defense. His resignation came on the back of a transfer that advanced technological means to China, including a small cool-

ing system produced by Ricoeur Company, used for electro-optical as well as devices for missiles.

The United States considered it a violation of the pledge signed years ago by Tel Aviv to Washington concerning protection of technol-ogy. It is a reasonable fear in the U.S. that this technology might be leaked to Iran.

The director general of the Ministry of Defense, Ilan Biran, approved a sale deal of spy planes model ‘Vlcom’ to China 15 years ago, angered the Americans and

prompted Israel at the time to can-cel the deal; paying compensation to the Chinese amounting to near-ly $300 million.

It was also repeated in the mid-dle of last decade when Israel sold to Beijing a developed drone plane. That triggering the wrath of Americans, forced the direc-tor general of the Department of Defense, Gen. Amos Burrows, to resign. The Americans demanded at the time the adoption of export control devices of Israeli securi-ty, fearing that Israel would make

moves the Americans would find hostile; sharing Israeli technology with hostile parties to the U.S.

Based on the American demand Knesset passed a law but it only provides the permission to export advanced technology developed in Israel. This law is tantamount to satisfy the U.S., which recogniz-es the importance of keeping the extent of technology and sophisti-cated weapons imported from the U.S. remaining inside Israel and for Israel to be the only beneficiary of the United States capabilities.

As well as the repeated attempts by the Israeli to sell advanced tech-nology and arms to China, is a target point to test the pulse of the U.S. toward China and re-struc-ture the negotiations between the U.S. and Israel.

Also Israel aims to create a safe corridor to China, considered an economic substitute for the Arab-states that have characterized by a cut of economic ties with Israel leaving it to find an alternative in China.

Advanced technology via Israel to China

The letter to the IG’s further states that the three-quarter-acre lot size recommended for the project was based on construction of a new building, rather than an upgrade to the existing structure. The recommended site area for a refurbished building is, the letter contends, just over 21,000 square feet. The .52-acre lot exceeds that requirement by just over 2,400 square feet.

O’Keefe also vehemently disputed the inspector general’s contention that the town low-balled the estimated cost of the project in order to win voter approval. The amount approved by voters last year was $2.75-mil-lion.

“At no time were they worried about Winchendon people’s money,” he said. “They would have had us ask for more.”

Board member Keith Barrows wanted to make sure that the town’s response to the Dec. 24 letter isn’t interpreted in “any way, shape or form…(as) us taking a shot at the inspector general. We’re just correcting some erroneous information.”

As the project continues to move forward, so does the inspector general’s investigation.

In response to a question from the Winchendon Courier, Kreidler said the issue could end up in court if the IG continues to question the legality of project. If the inspec-tor general were to prevail in court, he said, the town would be back to square-one in its search for a suitable location for the facility.

Kreidler seemed to believe that is fairly unlikely, adding, “The inspector general’s office usually says ‘no,’ and they haven’t said no yet.”

POLICEcontinued from page A1

Maillet, Kreidler suggested establishing a seven-person committee. Members would include the town accoun-tant, school district business manager, one member each from the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee and School Committee, Khalfaoui and Kreidler.

In his response, sent via Niles, the superintendent said he “would not want to establish yet another committee.”

He noted that a commit-tee consisting of two mem-bers each from the Board of Selectmen, FinCom and School Committee, the town accoun-tant, district business manager and himself has already been established to address school district financial matters.

“The Town Manager was invited to join us at our last meeting this summer,” Khelfaoui noted. “We discussed the indirect costs agreement and the net school spending shortfall. The agreement was to wait until the town accountant closes the books for FY13 and then reconvene to discuss these issues.”

One problem with that com-mittee, Kreidler told selectmen, is that he is not a member.

In an e-mail responding to Niles, Kreidler said “each and every single financial mat-ter to occur in the town of Winchendon involves either the coordination with or the exclusive action of the position of town manager, yet the one position that you chose to not include in your committee is that very position.”

“That’s completely ridicu-lous,” said Chairman Robert O’Keefe. “How on earth can a group get together to prepare a document that you’re supposed to sign without your input? His (Khelfaoui) suggestion isn’t going to work.”

“Go ahead,” O’Keefe told Kreidler, “Pick your date and time for meetings. If the School Committee doesn’t want to par-ticipate, they won’t; if they do, they will.”

Kreidler, however, pointed out that “the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will review any doc-ument we draw up. It would be difficult to submit something that didn’t have the participa-tion of the school department.”

Selectmen ultimately instructed Kreidler to see if he could set up a panel consist-ing solely of the town accoun-tant, school business manager, Khelfaoui and himself.

“It would be better to have

the four of us sit down to ham-mer this out,” Kreidler said.

In other action, select-men received a briefing from grants Administrator Gerry White regarding the town’s next Community Development Block Grant application.

White informed the board that new restrictions limit the town to applying for a grant of $450,000 this year.

The grant proposal calls for the complete improvement of Walnut Street, including recon-struction of the road, sidewalks and curbs, and improvements to the water, sewer and drain-age systems. The street is approximately 355 feet long and the cost for the work breaks down to between $680 and $700 per linear foot.

Also included in the pro-posed project is an upgrade to a portion of the sidewalks along Central Street.

“We can only apply for $450,000,” said White, “and that includes the cost of engineer-ing and administrative fees. That will put me over budget by $40,000 to $50,000, so we’ll use program income to cover the cost of things like gravel, cement and wire mesh.”

White said that, if necessary, the Highway Department could use Chapter 90 monies for the paving of the roadway. Chapter

90 funds come from the state for use on local road projects.

White pointed out that the application was drawn up only after several meetings of a com-munity development citizens group, which, after much dis-cussion, decided on the final project. A public hearing on the matter was held on Jan. 9.

Board members Keith Barrows, Beth Hunt and Jack Blair all voted to support the project. Chairman O’Keefe recused himself from the dis-cussion and the vote because he owns property on Walnut Street and didn’t want to pres-ent a possible conflict of inter-est.

Selectmen also voted to approve the appointment of two new officers to the Winchendon police force. Brian Withtman and Brennan Jacoby will fill two vacancies in the department. Kreidler said that Withtman graduated fifth out of a class of 44 from the Police Academy in West Boylston. Jacoby began train-ing at the academy on Monday, Jan. 13, and will join the force upon graduation. Both men are Winchendon residents.

In other business, Max Performance was given its per-mits to hold the eighth annu-al Massachusetts triathlon on July 13.

MEETINGcontinued from page A1

unfair. I’m disappointed in our leadership. I didn’t feel that we were respected.”

Suchocki did have positive comments regarding some town officials.

“I was extremely pleased with the support we received from the Finance Committee,” she said. “They were very fair.”

The FinCom voted unanimously to support an amendment offered by School Committee Chairman Michael Niles that would have reduced the increase of $109,000 in indirect costs to $47,000. Niles argued that the state would be sending the town $62,000 in charter school tuition reimbursement monies, there-by covering the difference. The amendment was shot down by town meeting voters by a margin of about two-to-one.

A bare majority of the Finance Committee had endorsed the original article.

“I know we’re not here to run the schools,” Suchocki continued. “Our only real duty

is to make sure our superintendent has a vision for the district. But we’re still a voice for the community and the parents. The only thing that should be important is the kids. The kids need to feel that everyone is work-ing for their success. I think as a community we have a hard time focusing on that.”

Committee member Christopher McDonald said, “I’m not sure all of the lead-ership of this town is as vested in the best interest of the district as we are.”

McDonald asserted that officials who don’t have children attending Winchendon schools may not be as interested in the suc-cess of the district and the students.

“A lot of people in the past 24 months have been very interested in how all town com-mittees and boards are working together,” member Susan Burdsall added. “Folks will be upset when they find out that perhaps the schools don’t owe the town, the town owes the schools.”

Niles responded by asking, “why aren’t we talking about that?”

Niles pointed out that the state has told district officials it has failed to meet Net School Spending by in excess of $312,000. He said that amount could eventually reach $500,000.

“We’ve tried to talk about it,” said Niles, “but nothing is getting done.”

Net School Spending is the minimum amount that each community in the Commonwealth is allowed to spend on edu-cation. Failure to spend that amount can lead to penalties from the state.

Also at its meeting of the 8th, the School Committee received the department’s latest enrollment figures. There currently are 1402 students enrolled in the district. A total of 84 students attend the a.m. and p.m. sessions of the early childhood program. There are 286 children attending grades K-2 at Memorial School. Toy Town Elementary has 304 stu-dents in grades 3-5. There are 382 students enrolled in grades 6-8 at Murdock Middle School. And Murdock High School is serving 346 students in grades 9-12.

SCHOOLcontinued from page A1

financial records. State Police Sgt. James Nanof, who conducted the investigation, said Rose ultimately admitted to misuse of association funds. The former officer gave a check for restitution to the state police, who held onto it until Rose’s case was resolved.

Assistant District Attorney John O’Leary said Wednesday, “He has to pay that restitution as soon as possible…as in today.”

Rose, asked following his sentencing if he was glad the matter had finally been resolved, simply responded “yes.” His lawyer, Atty. Richard Paris, then said he and his client would have no further comment on the matter.

ROSEcontinued from page A1