Stonebridge Press and Villager Newspapers - Friday ...2015/12/25 · by Stonebridge Press, 25 Elm St. St., Southbridge, MA 01550 Out of county rate is $56 per year. Periodicals postage

(978) 297-0050 • www.winchendoncourier.com Newsstand: 75 cents Friday, december 25, 2015

6 56525 10431 2

LOCALHelping out

the babies in foster care

PAGE 2

SPORTSBlack bear harvested in

Athol just shy of a record

PAGE 8

WEEKLY QUOTE“The trees that are

slow to grow bear the best fruit.”

Moliere

WINCHENDON — While Steve Haddad has been at the helm of the public schools for several months now, it was a relief to have the School Committee confirm his appointment as full superin-tendent pending negotiation of a contract at last week’s meet-ing.

Haddad was praised by members of the committee, who each had conducted inter-views on their own with school

staff, teachers, and parents to create an overview for a super-intendent’s review of Haddad’s work. Each committee mem-ber turned in their prelimi-nary evaluations to Chairman Dawn Harris, who will com-pile the results into a summary report to be presented at a later date.

But based on the verbal results of each member, the vote to instate Haddad perma-nently was unanimous.

“I don’t think we could find a better choice,” said Janet Corbosiero.

Haddad thanked the mem-bers emotionally, and later said, “while I’m still a bit over-whelmed by the good remarks, I am ready to really get to work. I have a lot of ideas and we have such good people. It will be a challenge in some areas, but we are on the right track.”

BY APRIL GOODWINCOURIER CORRESPONDENT

WINCHENDON — Beginning in 2007, Winchendon honored its veterans with its first cer-emony for Wreaths Across America, a national event dedicated to remembering and honoring fallen heroes. Eight years later, this annual tradi-tion of dedication and integrity

continues to follow the mission to Remember, Honor, Teach while expanding to involve more of the community every year.

“This event is very mean-ingful for the community as a whole,” explained Bridget Marinelli, who coordinat-ed this year’s event for the first time. “The goal is to get

it to grow and get the youth involved.”

On Friday Dec. 11, children from schools in Winchendon and of the nearby community placed wreaths at the graves of more than 3,000 veterans at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery. The cere-mony for this prestigious event was held the following morn-ing above the rows of graves now adorned with wreaths.

Fundraising begins at the end of October in order to host the Wreaths Across America ceremony each year. Various community service groups, churches, grants, and so on come together to raise money for this significant event. Fire and Iron station 857 raised $2,000 through a veteran memorial ride, while Knight of the Inferno raised $2,800 through a golf tournament. The Robinson-Broadhurst Foundation generously grant-ed $1,000 to the cause, and the remaining costs were covered thanks to various other donors.

“We are so grateful for every-one’s generous donations – this year and every year,” Marinelli said sincerely.

Wreaths Across America is


WINCHENDON — Even the most furry enjoy a bit of holiday fun this time of year, and the adults at A Better Tomorrow Shelter for Cats, with help from Bethany Bible Chapel co-spon-sored an afternoon of orna-ment making recently at the shelter on Central Street; much to the amusement of the feline population in attendance.

A Better Tomorrow Shelter for Cats has been helping the local feline community find loving homes since 2012. In addition to being a volun-teer-run organization that rehouses stray and abandoned cats in the area, the shelter is also known for hosting various activities for the youth of the community.

Children of all ages came to spend the after-noon making ornaments and have a good time with their friends and family. While there were many new-comers to the shelter, many of the children were familiar

with the shelter and youth cen-ter. Every Saturday, the shelter hosts crafts, games, and other activities for young volunteers to enjoy.

“First the kids volunteer on the cat shelter side, then they get to go over to the youth cen-ter and have some more fun,” shelter director Sarah Fearing explained with a smile. “They all really enjoy helping out.”

The Bethany Bible Chapel of Winchendon and their Beautiful You youth min-istry hosted the week’s holi-day-themed event. This is the first year they have hosted the ornament making and they hope to make it an annual event in the future, especial-ly given this year’s successful turnout.

BY SETH SIGNASPECIAL TO THE COURIER

WINCHENDON — Jackie Skawski, Murdock High School class of 2014, remem-bers the time she made Steve Forte cry.

She said she made him cry once when she was talking to him about all the uncer-tainties that come with senior year, and the future, and plan-ning life.

At the time she was a lot more emotional about all of it and she started to cry a little, and after he started to cry a little.

“It was so nice. It showed how much he cared. I kind of knew already, since I knew him through my sister, but it just really reinforced it,” said Skawski.

In many cases in students’ lives teachers can be a hit or a miss.

Oftentimes the teacher may be just that, a teacher of one particular subject.

However, once in a while there is one who breaks that mold. Murdock High School students had the experience to have one such star teach them.

Come Dec. 18, when stu-dents and faculty head home for their holiday break, Forte will not be among the facul-ty returning, to the dismay

of many at Murdock.

The day marked an end to Forte’s 34 year teaching career, during which he not only taught multiple lev-els of history, current events, and political courses, but also coached football, baseball, and basketball.

Throughout his long career, he had a lasting impact on many of his students.

“There is a lot more to Forte than the stories. He is very helpful in a lot of different aspects of life, not just good at teaching history,” said Skawski.

Marcus Allen, class of 2015, said, “Forte is a part of Murdock. The school is so small it is a family.”

He has been more to stu-dents than just a history teacher or a current events and politics teacher, he has been a friend.

“A special kind of outlet for many people,” as Robert Pesce, class of 2015, put it.

Students were asked what their first impressions of Forte were. Answers ranged from, “He seemed really


WINCHENDON — Ornate furnishings, warm fires, and elegantly decorated trees wel-comed and astounded guests as they walked through room after room of beauty and sophis-tication. The picturesque scene was not some-thing out of a storybook; rather it was the historical homes of Winchendon offering a peak into the grace of days past during this

year’s Holiday Home Tour presented by the Winchendon Historical Society.

Each stop along the tour gave delightful insight into the rich history of the town. Gorgeous decorations, chandeliers, and furni-ture transported guests into a different era as the hosts, homeowners, and historians gladly explained the story behind their particular piece of history.

Turn To TOUR page A9Turn To FORTEpage A12

Turn To WREATHS page A9

Turn To HADDAD page A9

Forte forever

Steve Forte

Holiday-themed buildings featured on WHS tour

Mat Plamondon photos

Ashlyn Musgrove age 9 marvels at the Darling house’ Christmas tree


Paige Lafrennie, age 12, and Shaina Thompson, age 11, hang their orna-ments on the tree at the youth center.

Meowy Christmas from Better Tomorrow

Honoring veterans at holidays as part of national tradition


John H. Farmer Sr. places a wreath as his granddaughter Leona M. Farmer age 9 watches.

Haddad named permanently

Alex Lafrennie age 16, Paige Lafrennie age 12, Jocelyn Hunnewell age 11, and Reghan Hunewell make orna-ments.

Angela Carle photo

Two of the participants with their holiday masterpieces

BY ANGELA CARLESPECIAL TO THE COURIER

During the HOPE for Women Alumni luncheon recently at the Gardner Chamber of Commerce, women in the community had the opportunity to

create unique and festive holiday centerpieces to deco-rate their homes. With fresh cut greens and glittering ornaments on every table, it was certainly a crafters delight.

Each month, the HOPE for Women Alumni Committee organizes a luncheon at no cost to the women who attend, which includes a delicious meal, guest speakers, free raffles, and food/toy drives to benefit families of HOPE.

This month, instead of having a guest speaker, the focus was on coming together and holiday fun. Everyone had a wonderful time getting crafty and socializing with one another. The ladies also shared homemade cookies, along with the recipes to be included in the HOPE for Women Alumni cookbook coming out next year.

The House of Peace & Education is a non-prof-it organization in Gardner.

HOPE empowers women and children to learn new skills, believe in themselves and use those skills to live their best possible lives.

The HOPE for Women program is a compre-hensive computer and job-skills training pro-gram preparing low-income women 18 years and older who have already attained a high school diploma or GED to move to their next step on the path to self sufficiency, whether it be further training, returning to school or securing a job.

To learn more about the HOPE for Women program and how to enroll contact Allyson

Chalapatas, HOPE for Women program coordinator at (978) 632-0400 x 5 or by email [email protected]

Winchendon courier 2

President & PublisherFrank G. Chilinski

[email protected]

Chief finanCial OffiCerron Tremblay 508-909-4102

[email protected]

OPeratiOn direCtOrJames DiniCola 508-764-4325

[email protected]

Managing editOraDam minor

[email protected]

advertising ManagerJean ashTon

[email protected]

PrOduCtiOn ManagerJulie Clarke

[email protected]

The WinChenDon Courier

neWs staff direCtOrY editOr ruTh DeamiCis (978) 297-0050 x [email protected] tO subsCribe, Or fOr subsCriPtiOn serviCes:kerri PeTerson

[email protected]

tO PlaCe a business ad:

ruTh DeamiCis (978) 297-0050 x [email protected]

tO faX the COurier:Call (978) 297-2177

tO Print an ObituarY:email: [email protected] CenTral sTreeT

tO subMit a letter tO the editOr:email: [email protected] CenTral sTreeT

tO sOund Off:Call (978) 297-0050 x 100email [email protected]

tO subMit Calendar iteMs:email: [email protected] 44 CenTral sTreeT

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 county rate is $56 per year. Periodicals postage paid at Winchendon. To subscribe call (800) 367-9898. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Winchendon Courier, 44 Central St., Winchendon, MA 01475.

sTonebriDGe Press PhoTo PoliCyAs a community oriented family of newspapers, Stonebridge Press welcomes photos from readers, business owners, and other outside sources for publication in any of its titles. Any photos submitted for publication become the property of Stonebridge Press, and may be displayed in our newspapers, as well as on our Web site. They may also be made available for resale, with any proceeds going to Stonebridge Press and/or the photo re-print vendor.

Friday, December 25, 2015

Real Estate Brokerage & Consulting

Earning the public’s Trustone consumer at a time

for over 30 Years

www.morinrealestate.com978-297-0961

Merry Christmas & Best of every holiday wishes to you

and yours from all of us at the Winchendon Courier.

Thank you for another memorable year.

Helping out the babies in foster care

HOPE holds luncheon and creates holiday glitz

FITCHBURG — As part of their curriculum on the care of infants, seniors in Karla Boudreau’s early childhood education program at Monty Tech recently sponsored a baby shower for infants in fos-ter care. The students planned all aspects of the shower, including collecting donations, designing and distributing fly-ers, ordering refreshments, organizing a raffle and shop-ping for the baby items.

A representative from the state Department of Children and Families attended the event and talked to the stu-dents about the urgent and on-going need for essentials for babies entering the foster care system.

“In most cases, infants enter-ing foster care need immediate care, and foster parents do not necessarily have the neces-sary items on hand to care for them,” she said. She thanked the students for their tremen-dous work and said all items would be put to good use.

The students spent almost an hour asking questions about the foster-care system, partic-ularly about ways they could volunteer their time to help

families.Boudreau said she was over-

whelmed by the tremendous support the class received from students, teachers and staff.

“There is a huge need for basic items, such diapers, for-mula and clothing for infants entering foster care. I was overwhelmed by the generosi-ty of our faculty and staff. We received so many donations of essential baby items and cash. The cosmetology program donated two beautiful gift bas-kets for our raffle. Other pro-grams also made donations. It really was a school-wide effort,” she added.

Seniors Amy Capone of Ashby and Leah Wallace of Gardner, spearheaded the drive.

“It felt very good to be able to help people who really need it, especially babies,” said Amy. “All the seniors pitched in and worked together as a team to make this a success.”

Leah said she was very impressed with the great response they received from throughout the school. “We have so many wonderful resources here, and I am so happy we were able to use

them to help those less fortu-nate,” she said.

Local seniors working on the

project include:GARDNER: Aaliyha

Baldwin-Pierce and Leah

Wallace; TEMPLETON: Sarah Bailey, and WINCHENDON: Ashley Tousignant.

The Internet Apocalypse?

It could happen; would the world be better, or worse?

NEW YORK NY — There is no doubt that technology has changed our lives, but is it for the better? Could we survive and manage without it? Kids would undoubtedly have the worst time since most can’t even “unplug” from their phones or social media when they should be sleeping. Peter Sacco is an internationally-renowned, bestselling author whose new book, The Internet Apocalypse? The world without internet…How would you survive? is a fun read that challenges us to think about how, or if, we would survive a world without technology. Zombie apocalypses: the Ebola virus, Sars, AIDS, earthquake s— you name it — tend to scare the heck out of people with “What ifs?” Word gets spread rapidly through the Internet and social media and people start wondering if this is ‘the beginning of the end of the world’! Could the world really end because of one of these catastrophes or pandemics? So what about an ‘Internet Apocalypse’? Would people, especially young adults, survive? How many people would literally go insane, turn to drinking/drugging, or become violent without access to texting or online social media? Would this be like the ice age for technology? Don’t forget, this is the only life the ‘Y’ generation has ever known! This highly entertaining book explores what the world would be like without Internet technology should the earth get attacked with solar flares or meteors. It is a survival guide of sorts that points out we might actually not be worse off, possibly better, considering how people’s communication skills have suffered thanks to texting, or online addictions to pornog-raphy, infidelity, gambling, shopping, or social media bullying. Do you have what it takes to survive? A challenging thought since the threat of an Internet Apocalypse is more real than we think… Peter Sacco, psychology professor and former private practitioner and author of many popular international books and over 700 magazine articles, presents some thought-provok-ing questions should a catastrophe of this magnitude occur: • If the Internet and texting went away, what do you think would happen? • How has texting changed the playing field for com-munication, especially between men and women? • Why has the Y-generation become the most entitled population?

Do you think this generation has become more illiterate, poorer problem solvers, etc.? • Do you think that the Internet/technology has increased or created a dependent or addict-ed population? • Is the Internet and texting addictive and, if so, the same way as alcohol, drugs, gambling, etc? • What do you think has become the number addiction because of the Internet? • Why has on-line bullying increased so much? About the author: Peter Sacco has received the Award of Excellence in teaching and lectures at universities in both the US and Canada. He currently hosts a weekly radio show, “Matters of the Mind,” which features celebrities with whom he discusses mental health, relationships and addiction issues. He is an award-winning executive producer and has hosted many doc-umentaries on relationships, psychological issues and child issues. Peter has also written scripts for TV commercials, as well as for Los Angeles and Canadian movie production compa-nies. He worked with Academy Award winner Joe Mayer and also wrote Vices commercial which premiered at the Boston Film Festival. For more information, please visit his website at: www.petersacco.com. Contributing author Michael Fox has his bachelor’s of arts in communications and writing and associate’s degree in English. He is a featured writer with many articles and publications.

Courtesy photo

Some of the seniors in the early childhood education program at Monty Tech who sponsored a baby shower for infants in foster care. All items were donated to the Department of Child and Families for distribution. From left are, Ashley Tousignant of Winchendon, Valerie Hanley of Fitchburg, Amy Capone of Ashby, Kelsey Comiskey of Fitchburg, Kristina Berge of Holden, Leah Wallace of Gardner and Haley Smith of Fitchburg. Front row (right) are Samantha Reed of Westminster and Hannah Moilanen of Fitchburg.

Winchendon courier 3 Friday, December 25, 2015

Clyde’s CornerSATURDAY,

DECEMBER 26

TRANSFER STATION OPEN: today from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27OPEN HOUSE: an open house

is scheduled at the Immaculate Heart of Mary rectory, 1-5 p.m. located next to the church on Spruce Street. Please come, meet Fr. Michael Clements and enjoy an afternoon at the beau-tiful rectory with food, drink, laughter and friends.

DOWNTON CHRISTMAS: the day is done, the big meal is eaten, the gifts have been opened. Time for a bit of relax-ation for the lady of the house and her friends. Come to a Downton tea at the Murdock-Whitney House, 151 Front St. from 1-4 p.m. on us. A buffet ser-vice, so drop in when you can, relax a bit and enjoy the décor one last time this year.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29


WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30


Closed Thursday and Friday.TOWN HALL: closes at noon,

reopens Jan. 4

SATURDAY, JANUARY 2


FRIDAY, JANUARY 8TODDLER TIME: a story

hour for younger children with games, stories and fun for the youngest in the family is sched-uled every Friday morning at 9:15 a.m. at Beals Memorial Library. For more informa-tion call (978) 297-0300 or visit winchendonlibrary.org.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 9

SKATE CLUB: The 2015-16 Season for the Winchendon Skate Club from 8-10 a.m. All ages are welcome. Learn to Skate (hockey and figure skating) sessions are during club time from 9:30-9:50 a.m. We skate at the Winchendon School Ice Rink on Ash Street in Winchendon every Saturday morning. For more information please call Heather Gauthier @ (978) 297-0227 or Stacey Knight (978) 939-1265 or email us at [email protected]

MONDAY, JANUARY 11

YOGA: yoga classes are held at Beals Memorial Library beginning at 6 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13

COMPUTER CLASS: a free class concerning online com-puting is held every Wednesday night beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Beals Memorial Library. For more information call the library at (978) 297-0300 or visit winchendonlibrary.org.

BINGO! Hyde Park residents hold bingo in the community hall every Wednesday night beginning at 6 p.m. It’s inex-pensive, just two cards for 5¢, and the community is invited! Anyone over the age of 50 is welcome to join in. We’d love to have more players.

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

ACCurACy WAtCh

Owners Jamie and Tom Connor, along with Executive Director Chet Olsonwelcome you to join us for lunch and experience Broadview soon!

• Independent living• Assisted living• Memory setting• Flexible care

Living in style, comfort and with

dignity, among friends.

547 Central Street, Winchendon, MA 01475www.broadviewassistedliving.com

978-297-2333

Holidays HoursClosing at 3:00 pm

December 31st

Closed New Year’s Day

Dual enrollment adds several coursesGARDNER — High school students interested in

saving money while getting a head start on their college education can choose from several upcom-ing courses available through the Commonwealth Dual Enrollment Partnership at Mount Wachusett Community College.

The three-credit courses are being offered at the grant-funded price of $30, including textbooks, for the spring semester beginning Jan. 20.

Managed and supported by the Massachusetts departments of Higher Education and Elementary and Secondary Education, CDEP provides opportu-nities for high school students to take college-level courses at a discounted price and earn credit toward their high school diploma and future college degrees.

In September, MWCC was awarded a $50,000 CDEP grant from the Department of Higher Education, which has set a goal of increasing statewide dual enrollment from 2,000 to 3,400 each year. More than 500 high school students are concurrently enrolled at MWCC throughout the academic year. In addition to CDEP, MWCC’s academic programs are available

to high school students through traditional full-time and part-time dual enrollment, the Gateway to College program and the Pathways Early College Innovation School.

CDEP provides meaningful and challenging aca-demic experiences to qualified students who other-wise may not have access to an early college experi-ence, and strives to increase the population of high school graduates who are college-ready. The program aims to serve students who are underrepresented in higher education, including first-generation college students and students who come from low income families.

Upcoming spring semester CDEP courses include digital imaging (Photoshop) on Mondays from 3-6:30 p.m. at MWCC’s Gardner campus; introduction to sociology on Tuesdays from 3:30-6 p.m. at the Gardner campus; English composition 1 on Tuesdays from 5:15-7:45 p.m. at MWCC’s Leominster campus; intro-duction to psychology on Tuesdays from 3-5:30 p.m. at Leominster High School; introduction to criminal justice on Wednesdays from 3-5:30 p.m. at Fitchburg High School; strategic management on Thursdays

from 3-5:30 p.m. at Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School; and introduction to psychology on Thursdays from 3:30-6 p.m., also at Monty Tech.

New CDEP students are required to attend a man-datory orientation with completed dual enrollment application and transcript. Parents or guardians are encouraged to attend. Orientation sessions will take place Tuesday, Dec. 29 from 2-3 p.m. and Thursday, Jan. 7 from 6-7 p.m. in the North Café at MWCC’s Gardner campus, and Thursday, Jan. 14 from 6-7 p.m. at MWCC’s Leominster campus.

All students must meet Accuplacer/Placement requirements, attend or have attended a dual enroll-ment orientation session, complete a dual enrollment application, provide a high school transcript and payment.

For more information about enrolling in CDEP courses, contact Melissa Bourque-Silva at [email protected] or the Division of Access & Transition at (978) 630-9248. Additional information about dual enrollment programs can be found online at mwcc.edu/access.

ANOTHER BANNER YEAR

Mat Plamondon photo

The Artisan Lodge of Masons once again sold Christmas trees every weekend leading up to the holidays and sold out as usual, donating the last trees to families through the CAC.

Greg Vine photo

State Sen. Ann Gobi presents Quentin Pridgen with a check for $100 for winning the senator’s annual Holiday Card contest. The senator and Quentin are joined by Quentin’s mother, Rebecca. The Murdock Middle School student’s design was chosen from among hundreds of entries submitted by students in the 27 communities in Sen. Gobi’s district and was featured on her 2016 Christmas card. To celebrate, a pizza party was held for the entire Murdock Middle School sixth grade Art Club. Young artist talents show-cased

At right: The winning art is remi-niscent of a Dr. Seuss theme.

YOUNG ARTIST TALENTS SHOWCASED

TheHeartOfMassachusetts.com


We get what we deserveUnited States SenatorsEverett Dirksen Barry GoldwaterGayle McGee Hugh ScottGeorge Mitchell Mike MansfieldPatrick Leahy Evan BayhJacob Javits Ted KennedyMargaret Chase Smith John DanforthI was fortunate to grow up

when there were some outstand-ing men and women serving in Congress. As I prepared to write this week’s column I jot-ted down some names, men and women I have met who worked well with both sides of the aisle hammering out good legislation for Americans. This is not to

meant to be an exhaustive list and I know my readers might choose to add or subtract from my list.

Of course my list could be con-siderably longer, especially if I included members of the House of Representatives like John Rhodes and Barbara Jordan, Shirley Chisholm and so many others who worked hard and long in the trenches to learn to be better at their jobs.

Interestingly, these people paid attention, paid their dues, served multiple terms and worked their way up the ladder, just like in any good business, before they were given leader-ship roles.

We live in different times now. Some of the best people on my list chose to leave Congress

because of what it was becom-ing. They were good people who took notice of the different type of candidate that was being elected.

We live in an age when one term Senators want to be President of the United States. In our time we neither value time in grade, considerable experience or even measurable legislative results.

No one becomes CEO of a major company after complet-ing the one year training pro-gram. No consultant or trainer would ever suggest the route to the top in the corporate world is what we accept as good enough in the political world.

I am not addressing can-didates who are Governors of states because history has

shown that preparation to be more all inclusive and helpful when one ascends to the presi-dency. I am sure their are exam-ples but that is not the purpose of this column.

The Governors currently interested in being president are getting zero attention in the press and falling far short in the polls.

The 8x10 glossy Senators, the candidates with the best one liners, the folks who make the debates look like a reality show are getting the attention.

I know most people think this will all shake out in the end with the most qualified candidates being nominated and running a credible race.

You guys can write to me or email me because I have a

bridge in Brooklyn I am looking to sell you and it is a great deal!

The greatest people available in the Senate, the House and the Governorships are not run-ning. Which means we will get a fairly mediocre president and continue the slide that began some years ago.

You will be reading this on Christmas and I want to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a wonder-ful holiday and a prosperous new year.

Musing at the end of the yearSo here we are. Christmas Day. That

means there are six days left in 2015 and I hope I’m not jinxing myself by saying this but since this is my final column of the year, here goes:

2015 is just about over and I have not had to spend a single night this year in a hospital bed. Not one. Sssssh. Oh, I’ve had to use my nebulizer for my asthma a lot more than I’d prefer. I lose my balance more than I’d like even though I don’t go anywhere without my cane. I can’t hear out of my right ear at all. I absolutely cannot drive at night under any circum-stances anymore. I faked my way doing that through much of basketball season last winter. Not this time. My cholesterol is excellent, in part because I talk, or maybe babble is the better word, about bacon a lot more than I actually eat it. I imagine my blood pressure escalates every time I turn on a presidential debate though we’ll get to that later. But I’ve stayed out of the hospital. Completely. Entirely. Ssssh...

I even managed in 2015 to walk, yes walk, up that ridiculously steep hill from the baseball field to the quad at Franklin Pierce following Courtney’s graduation ceremonies in May. Granted the crowd was so dense and moved so slowly you couldn’t do much more than shuffle along but also there weren’t any railings to grasp, either. If I recall, I don’t even think I used my inhaler, which certain-ly wasn’t the case anytime I had to do a story on the third floor at Murdock

because there was no way, none, I was ever getting on that elevator, irrespec-tive of Principal Josh Romano’s assur-ance they were safe. No. Not happening. Didn’t happen. You see, I’m not exactly crazy about eleva-tors, a fact about which there are peo-ple who can emphatically attest (iron-ically the glass ones are okay, maybe because you can see?) and it didn’t help any when I had a significantly less than pleasant experience with one that simply refused to budge one day last spring at FPU. Right, Morgan? So no elevators if at all possible.

Ah, Franklin Pierce. When Courtney departed the Rindge campus last spring, having graduated Magna Cum Laude (pardon the parental pride) to begin her 27-month MSW program at Smith (I can recommend an outstanding bistro in Northampton where on Sunday morning you can get an amazing crab omelette), she was the only one in the family who left FPU. I didn’t.

Franklin Pierce is a regular destina-tion for presidential candidates looking to convince younger voters to turn out on Feb. 9. New Hampshire allows Election Day registration and thus the area schools, FPU and Keene State are poten-

tially fertile grounds for mining support from idealistic college students. Hence, most of the candidates, espe-cially the dozen or so Republicans, have made repeated visits to the region.

Here’s what I’ve learned from these appearances... I really wish Barack Obama

would listen to them. This is so simple. All the President has to do is say three words —”radical Islamic terrorism,” and ISIS would go poof. So would all the other bad guys and girls. Just like that. I have no clue why he insists on being so damn intransigent. Do you? Sigh. Anyway, we’ve got six or so more weeks of them traipsing through the area. You’ll be able to read about those visits in this newspa-per because I’ll be there too and whatev-er else they may be, boring they are not. Nor very rational but in the spirit of the season, we’ll save that for later.

Then again, the news business is never boring. A quiet Tuesday afternoon last July came to life, news-wise, when one of those one-seater experimental choppers crash-landed on the field at the Clark. Fortunately the pilot wasn’t hurt and there weren’t any campers in the vicin-ity. You never know what will happen next. I did a lot of interesting school stories — for example, Mark Nardini’s

media class, Amanda Beaulieu’s writ-ing/newspaper class; Mike Fontaine’s robotics/computer classes. Yes indeed, there are some very smart and talented kids at Murdock. I was honored to collab-orate with Brittany LaPointe as she told her deeply personal story about fight-ing the blackness of acute depression which led to her becoming an activist in bringing awareness about the illness, and hopefully reducing the stigma sur-rounding it. Of course I wrote about the Big RanDom Band. I wrote about Josh Romano’s firm stand on bullying , a story which drew national attention from Good Morning America and region-ally from Fox News. I’m continuing to chronicle the ongoing saga of veterinari-an Michaela Krafve’s legal issues. I wrote about the new school superintendent. I wrote about the heroin epidemic and how local authorities are dealing with it and I wrote about the new police chief and about the town’s first ever K-9 dog (you’ll see Clyde on the streets very soon) and I wrote about school safety. I wrote about a new restaurant,and it goes with-out saying that writing about food is always fun for me. There were so many stories, so many people, so many of the twists and turns that continue to make this a fascinating business and leaves me eager to get up and go to work every morning. And oh yes, I stayed out of the hospital. Did I mention that? Thought so. Merry Christmas. Happy New Year. See you back here Jan. 8.

VIEWSOpinion and commentary from Winchendon and beyond

Editorial lEttEr to thE Editor

Blessings

WinchEndon couriErPresident/Publisher: Frank Chilinski

editor: ruth deamiCis

We’ve had quite a year.New beginnings, bitter endings; different views on life as we know it.We have so many new faces in places of power these days, we need a guide to the

players. A roster of sorts. Very nearly, we need to ask them to wear nametags until we get to know them better.

To those who don’t keep good track of the politics, or just don’t watch the com-ing and going of those who make the news, the new faces must be a bewildering assortment of people indeed.

A shake up of the magnitude of a 7.0 at least.The settling down part comes now.We begin the new year with all the players in place: new town manager, new

superintendent, new police chief, new DPW director, new library director, new BOS, new School Committee, several new members on other committees and boards, one or two whole new committees addressing some needs like economic development and auditing.

So take a deep breath, and let the work begin. No more interims holding down the fort. And everyone now needs to get up to speed on the projects and the budgets and

let’s get going. No more playing head games with one another on the political side now, it’s time

to get serious. Talk to one another face to face. Communication is key to making it all work.

So we shall be blessed in our town.We have the tools. We have the people. We have the attitude.Our schools are small enough to be elite and amazing. A public school with the

chutzpah to have a private school reputation and ability to train its children. We are small, have good faculty, have good facilities and just need a bit of attitude adjustment about what and who we are.

We have the tools to be that town.Yes, that one. Look at the great retail space begging to be filled. Plenty of down-

town parking but we need a reason for someone to stop their car. We have nice restaurant for lunch, but what else is there? Why should they stop? Think people, what can we attract? An arts colony exists here, they need display space. A toy store (we are Toy Town people). A bike shop to cater to the new bike path. Other sporting goods since we have so much great outdoors around us. Gardening, bird-ing, geocaching, hiking...

Antiques, would always go good and need display space, maybe a group shop. And while reading on devices is cool, there’s nothing like a real book in hand so a bookstore, new or used would be grand.

A bakery...real bread and fresh pastry....Computer sales, service and online auctions...See, a little brainstorming is good for the soul. But now we need to find that

entrepreneur who wants a small town atmosphere for a business. No, we’re not ON Route 2 but we are only about 12 miles from it, not an outrageous distance to consider.

Let’s count blessings instead of deterrents for a while. And let’s find those bless-ings at this, the most blessed time of the year.

Merry Christmas one and all, enjoy all the holidays that happen around this time of the year, which ever one you might celebrate; even if it is Festivus for the rest of us.

We’ll understand.

Marilyn Treichel’s antique Christmas collection began when her husband and she purchased a box lot at an auction. Her $100 purchase contained paper and glass ornaments from the 1920s and 1930s. She bought books on Christmas antiques and eventually joined a group of other Christmas collectors, “The Golden Glow of Christmas Past.”

Christmas everywhere with collectibles

JACK BLAIR

notEs of concErn

JERRY CARTON

JournEy of thE hEart

Johnson: stop, look and readTo the Editor:This Christmas message is for all who

will take time to read these few para-graphs.

Something new is stirring in the air, incredible to imagine now. Cold days and nights are more frequent and daylight is shortened. Looking around, bright col-ored lights are appearing everywhere — in cities, towns and on homes. Church bells are ringing in the still of night. The glitter of snow falling, forming on rooftops and trees, creates a beautiful picture.

A spirit of enthusiasm is moving over people, something I never saw before. What is happening? We are now standing on the doorstep of another Christmas season. All the signs are apparent and in place. The stockings are hung by the chimney with care, and trees are dressed with colored lights and tinsel, in hope of receiving bountiful gifts.

This was Christmas Past. Nothing has changed. Will this Christmas be the same as Christmas Past? Or are you willing to make a change this Christmas? If the

answer is ‘yes’ then continue to read on.What should we do? The question

is before us as we travel the days to Christmas: do we live more spiritually? Let us ask ourselves, “Lord, what should we do?”

The answer would boil down to this: “Do justice and practice charity.”

Start now, showing justice and char-ity in all of our comings and goings. Justice means treating each person fair-ly. Charity means loving people with generosity and giving to the needy. In doing and living in this manner, your family and business will experience res-toration — hope of a new life and new beginnings — now and in this coming new year of 2016.

Thank you for reading this Christmas message. May the blessings of Christmas bless you one and all! Have the best Christmas ever. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

riChard JohnsonWinChendon

Turn To ANTIQUES page A9

To the Editor:Merry Christmas and thanks for all

you do Rocky Flint and Linda Bond!

From the hyde Park tenants’ CounCil

THANKS

Two more Republicans visit FPU

BY JERRY CARTONCOURIER CORRESPONDENT

RINDGE — Insisting he’s still a serious presi-dential candidate even though he likely wasn’t be on the main stage at the fifth Republican debate, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul visited Franklin Pierce University last week and said the best kind of gov-ernment “is one that’s invisible.”

“I want a government so small you can’t see it,” he told a group assembled at the Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communications.

Meanwhile, Ohio Gov. John Kasich made a brief appearance and assailed the medical device tax portion of the Affordable Care Act. “Obamacare in all likelihood if I’m President is gonna go away. There are other ways to manage health care. This tax is an impediment to development. That’s why it’s a bad tax.”

Kasich said he was in Congress the last time the budget was balanced. “We all want to see more jobs. I was in Washington the last time the budget was balanced and we saw jobs explode.”

Unlike Paul, Kasich focused on domes-tic issues, citing his Ohio record as proof he was the one candidate who can make government function effectively.

“I know the formula — you cut taxes, you restrain the government, you don’t let the regulators put you out of business,” he said.

Paul added he wants American intelligence com-munities to have less power.

“There’s a point where you get too much infor-mation and your decision-making isn’t good,” he remarked. Instead, Paul argued, the government should be more effective in how it monitors people, saying investigations of citizens is okay if there’s reason to suspect them. “Strong evidence,” he said.

The room was packed as Paul said the US can’t change the culture in the Middle East. Intervention, he argued, won’t eradicate the Islamic State.

“The ideology of radical Islams is not going away until civilized Islams come forward,” he asserted.

Paul made a point of commenting on the pro-posed Northeast Direct Pipeline project which is slated to include the Monadnock region as part of

W O R K S H O P S PLANNED

The North Central M a s s a c h u s e t t s D e v e l o p m e n t Corporation, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, and Hometown Bank are holding two business workshops on Jan. 12 aimed at assisting poten-tial and existing entre-preneurs.

The free workshops are being held in cooperation with the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center, SCORE, city of Fitchburg, city of Leominster, and NewVue Communities (formerly Twin Cities CDC).

Both workshops will each run approximately two and a half hours and will be held at the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, 860 South St., Fitchburg.

S e s s i o n I : Fundamentals in Planning, Preparing, and Financing Your Business will run from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and will focus on evaluating and under-standing the fundamen-tals of owning one’s own business. Information on how to get started, where and how to get financ-ing and the loan appli-cation process will be presented. Registration begins at 8. Continental breakfast will be provid-ed for all participants. Presented by Roland Nutter, AdviCoach Session II: Understanding the Purpose of Financial Statements and How They Can Help Determine the Health of Your Business will run from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will focus on understanding a balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement. The workshop will also explain how a small busi-ness owner can antic-ipate financial needs in order to operate his/her business more efficient-ly. Registration begins at 11. Lunch will be pro-

vided for all participants. Presented by Robert C. Alario, CPA

To register, please contact Sandie Cataldo at 978-353-7600 ext. 232 or [email protected] or register online at north-centralmass.com.

JOB FAIR PLANNEDThe North Central

Career Center is pleased to offer your organiza-tion the opportunity to meet with job candidates during our job fair on Jan. 14 9:30 a.m. to noon. This event, held at the Levi Heywood Library, is focused on the Gardner area where local can-didates will represent a wide range of skills and experience. This is an opportunity to show your organization’s com-mitment to the greater Gardner community.

We hope to see you at the North Central Career Center job fair at the Levi Heywood Memorial Library on Jan. 14th. Participation is free, but space is very limited so please contact me by Jan. 5 if you have an interest in participating.

For information regarding registration and arrangements please contact Scott Percifull, 978-534-1481, ext.209 or [email protected]

Shane Hoover

HOOVER PROMOTEDGFA Federal Credit

Union has promoted Shane Hoover to the position of assistant vice president and residential

lending officer. Hoover previously served as a residential underwriter at GFA Federal Credit Union since 2013. He has also held the position of mortgage underwriter and representative at another local financial institution. In his new position, Hoover will focus on managing res-idential underwriting, processing, and servic-ing, while focusing on ensuring positive mem-ber experiences when purchasing a home. Hoover brings over than a decade of lending and real estate experience.

“We are excited to have Mr. Hoover appointed to this position,” said Joan Moran, SVP/chief lend-ing officer. “He brings vast expertise in lending leadership, loan servic-ing and mortgage pro-cessing.”

Hoover earned his Bachelor’s degree from Colby-Sawyer College. He also has received several certificates, including the New England College of Finance Supervisory Skills certificate. Hoover is also a member of the GFA Community Support Committee.

GFA Federal Credit Union was established in 1938 and now serves 29,000 members who live or work in cen-tral Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. Family members are also eligible to join GFA. The finan-cial well-being of mem-bers is GFA’s top priority as the institution contin-ues to serve its mission by sharing profits with members through lower loan rates, rewards for checking accounts, and providing individual-ized investment services and competitively priced insurance for members. Visit gfafcu.com for more information. Like us on Facebook. Follow GFA Federal Credit Union on LinkedIn. Call 978-632-2542.

Deborah C. Phillips

P H I L L I P S APPOINTED

FITCHBURG—Fitchburg attor-ney C. Deborah Phillips was sworn in Monday to the Fitchburg State University Board of Trustees. Governor Charlie Baker appointed Phillips to the five-year post and the oath of office was administered by State Rep. Stephen L. DiNatale.

Phillips, a founding partner of the Fitchburg law firm Nickless, Phillips and O’Connor, has been represent-ing current and former govern-ment officials, towns, cities and those doing busi-ness with them for over 25 years. She has exten-sive experience in negotiating and drafting dedicated documents such as agreements for payment in lieu of taxes, solar and other specialized leases, complex agreements with g o v e r n m e n t a l agencies, and all land use docu-ments. She also represents busi-nesses and con-sumers in class action litigation, business transac-tions and civil lit-

igation.“Deborah Phillips has

built an impressive legal career and a legacy of pub-lic service,” Fitchburg State President Richard S. Lapidus said. “She will be an asset to the univer-sity’s board of trustees.”

Phillips completed her bachelor’s degree in his-tory at Trinity College in Washington, DC and her law degree from

New England Law in 1981. A former member of the Board of Directors of the Fitchburg State University Foundation Inc., Phillips is a long-time supporter of the university. She is a direc-tor at Family Federal Savings Bank, and is a trustee of the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts.


United Way elects new officers and directorsFITCHBURG — The

United Way of North Central Massachusetts elected new officers and directors at its recent annual meeting.

Elected as new directors to three-year terms expiring 2018: Mike Hewitt of Hometown Bank; Deb Weymouth of HealthAlliance; Sheila Harrity of Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School; and Susannah Whipps Lee of Whipps, Inc..

Elected as new ex-offi-cio directors to one-year terms expiring 2016: Jeanette Robichaud, agency representa-tive of Athol Area YMCA; and Donata Martin, agency repre-sentative of Boys & Girls Club of Fitchburg & Leominster.

Re-elected to a one-year term expiring 2016: Robert V.

Antonucci, retired president of Fitchburg State University. Re-elected to a three-year term expiring 2018: Wally Dwyer of North Middlesex Savings Bank.

Doug Petersen of Workers’ Credit Union was elect-ed chair for a one-year term

ending 2016; Win Brown of Heywood Hospital, vice chair; Keith Boissoneau of Sterilite Corporation, trea-surer; Daniel M. Asquino of Mount Wachusett Community College, assistant treasurer; Robert Chauvin of Tyco, clerk; Henry Botticello of Simonds

Industries, community invest-ment chair; Suzanne Farias of DoubleTree by Hilton, campaign chair; Jim Javaras of BHR Life Companies, Alexis de Tocqueville Society chair; Robert Chauvin, Tyco SimplexGrinnell, clerk; and Philip M. Grzewinski of

United Way of North Central Massachusetts, president.

The United Way of North Central Massachusetts, www.uwncm.org, is working to advance the common good by creating opportunities for all. Our focus is on educa-tion, income and health, the building blocks for a good quality of life for the com-munities of: Ashburnham, Ashby, Athol, Ayer, Devens, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Harvard, Hubbardston, Leominster, Littleton,

Lunenburg, Pepperell, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Shirley, Templeton, Townsend, Westminster and Winchendon.

Sheila Harrity Mike Hewitt Doug Peterson Deb Weymouth Susannah Whipps Lee

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Turn To POLITICIANS page A12


Editor’s Note: The information con-tained in this police log was obtained through public documents kept by the police department, and is considered to be the account of the police. All subjects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 1412:04-1:21 a.m.: building checks,

secure; 1:37 a.m.: assist other PD (West Shore Drive) assisted; 3:21 a.m.: ambu-lance (Lakeshore Drive) transport; 3:29 a.m.: ambulance (Highland Street) refer to FD; 7:46 a.m.: investigation (Mill Glen Road) report taken; 8:23 a.m.: ambu-lance (Central Street) transport; 10:08 a.m.: extra patrols (Metcalf Street) info taken; 10:10 a.m.: noise complaint (Spring Circle) spoken to; 10:37 a.m.: fire unknown type (Central Street) services rendered; 10:52 a.m.: MV stop (Gardner Road) spoken to; 12 p.m.: general info (Spring Street) info taken; 12:25 p.m.: accident (River Street) MV towed; 12:49 p.m.: be on the look out (Spring Street) info taken; 1:53 p.m.: illegal dumping (School Street) assisted; 2:20 p.m.: haz-ardous materials spill (Baldwinville State Road) services rendered; 2:25 p.m.: be on the look out (School Street) unable to locate; 3:17 p.m.: MV stop (Spring Street) verbal warning; 3:18 p.m.: keep the peace (Maynard Street) assisted; 3:32 p.m.: elderly welfare check (address not printed) spoken to; 3:50 p.m.: officer wanted (Gardner Road) unfounded; 3:54 p.m.: MV fire (Baldwinville State Road) refer to other PD; 4:49 p.m.: threats (Monomonac Road East) spoken to; 5:20 p.m.: accident (Spring Street) report taken; 6:02 p.m.: mental health issue (Monomonac Road East) removed to hospital; 6:11 p.m.: 911 call non-emer-gency (Ash Street) child playing with phone; 6:50 p.m.: keep the peace (School Street) assisted; 7:13 p.m.: MV stop (School Street) verbal warning; 7:59 p.m.: suspicious MV (Main Street) unable to locate; 8:35 p.m.: officer want-ed (Prospect Street) spoken to; 11:07 p.m.: officer wanted (Front Street) spo-ken to.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1512:07 a.m.: 911 hang up (Central

Street) transport; 3:14-5:01 a.m.: build-ing checks, secure; 6:19 a.m.: automat-ic fire alarm (Hyde Park Drive) refer to FD; 7:32 a.m.: animal complaint (Central Street) returned to home; 7:51 a.m.: ambulance (Hyde Park Drive) transport; 9:51 a.m.: ambulance (Ash Street) transport; 10:16 a.m.: burglar alarm (Maple Street) secure; 10:22 a.m.: elderly welfare check (address not printed) spoken to; 10:52 a.m.: investi-gation (Spring Street) unable to locate;

11 a.m.: animal complaint (Main Street) refer to ACO; 12:30 p.m.: animal com-plaint (School Street) returned to home; 1 p.m.: suspicious person (Pleasant Street) call canceled; 1:26 p.m.: inves-tigation (Walnut Street) assisted; 1:53 p.m.: MV stop (Spring Street) spoken to; 2:06 p.m.: sex offender registration (Pleasant Street) info taken; 2:17 p.m.: general info (School Street) info taken; 2:35 p.m.: assist other PD (Beech Street) services rendered; 3 p.m.: animal com-plaint (Maple Street) assisted; 3:47 p.m.: tree down (West Street) unfound-ed; 3:49 p.m.: sex offender registration (Glenallan Street) assisted; 4:21 p.m.: ambulance (Highland Street) transport; 4:31 p.m.: officer wanted (Harrisville Circle) spoken to; 4:51 p.m.: officer wanted (River Street) spoken to; 5:01 p.m.: ambulance (Goodrich Drive) no FD service required; 5:04 p.m.: animal complaint (River Street) refer to ACO; 7:04 p.m.: investigation (Beech Street) no PD service required; 7:06 p.m.: extra patrols (Summer Drive) services ren-dered; 7:07 p.m.: investigation (Central Street) spoken to; 8:10 p.m.: MV stop (Spring Street) written warning; 9:10 p.m.: be on the look out (Main Street) advised officer; 9:15 p.m.: MV operat-ing erratically (Central Street) advised officer.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 167:11 a.m.: 911 hang up (Royalston

Road North) child playing with phone; 8 a.m.: sex offender registra-tion (Glenallan Street) info taken; 8:35 a.m.: accident (Central Street) report taken; 9:01 a.m.: summons service (Webster Street) served; 9:04 a.m.: sum-mons service (Juniper Street) unable to serve; 9:12 a.m.: general info (Spring Street) spoken to; 9:20 a.m.: ambulance (Ipswich Drive) transport; 10:22 a.m.: 911 call non-emergency (Front Street) no PD service required; 11:55 a.m.: ani-mal complaint (Brown Street) returned to home; 12:34 p.m.: larceny (Spring Street) report taken; 12:55 p.m.: ambu-lance (Wellington Road) transport; 1:16 p.m.: fire alarm (Hatch Lane) services rendered; 1:36 p.m.: summons service (Chase Lane) served; 1:43 p.m.: sum-mons service (Laurel Street) served; 2:06 p.m.: animal complaint (High Street) returned to home; 3:57 p.m.: ambulance (Mill Street) transport; 4:23 p.m.: sus-picious MV (Elmwood Road) spoken to; 4:41 p.m.: assist citizen (Hill Street) assisted; 5:19 p.m.: summons service (Mechanic Street) served; 5:55 p.m.: gen-eral welfare check (address not printed) spoken to; 6:22 p.m.; investigation (West Street) info taken; 6:39 p.m.: investi-gation (Glenallan Street) info taken;

7:32 p.m.: traffic hazard (Otter River Road) removed; 8:08 p.m.: MV operat-ing erratically (Spring Street) unable to locate; 8:13 p.m.: animal complaint (Cobb Hill Road) refer to ACO; 8:22 p.m.: registration check (Spring Street) info given; 8:38 p.m.: ambulance (Harris Road) transport; 8:51 p.m.: assist other PD (Ready Drive) message deliv-ered; 9:26 p.m.: suspicious MV (Doyle Avenue) spoken to; 10:06 p.m.: disabled MV (Main Street) spoken to; 10:13 p.m.; extra patrols (bike path) secure; 10:45 p.m.: fight (Front Street) report taken.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1712:29 a.m.: burglar alarm (Main

Street) secure; 12:59-1:18 a.m.: building checks, secure; 7:56 a.m.; fire alarm (River Street) false alarm; 8:32 a.m.: assist other PD (Phyllis Road) mes-sage delivered; 10:55 a.m.: animal com-plaint (Hall Street) services rendered; 12 p.m.: animal complaint (Monadnock Avenue) returned to home; 12:55 p.m.: MV stop (Spring Street) property seized; 2:02 p.m.: larceny (Front Street) report taken; 2:32 p.m.: elderly welfare check (address not printed) advised offi-cer; 2:37 p.m.: sex offender registration (Pleasant Street) assisted; 3:09 p.m.: dis-turbance, fight (Mill Street) summons: Sonnie R. Butland, age 28 of 12 Mill St. #3, Winchendon: assault & battery; 3:16 p.m.: harassment (Monomonac Road East) report taken; 5:42 p.m.: acci-dent (Spring Street) report taken; 6:15 p.m.: MV operating erratically (Spring Street) report taken; 6:53 p.m.: burglar alarm (Teel Road) secure; 6:54 p.m.: tree down (Baldwinville Road) removed traffic hazard; 7:13 p.m.: suspicious MV (Spring Street) spoken to.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1812:35 a.m.: suspicious MV (Chestnut

Street) spoken to; 4:09 a.m.: ambulance (Front Street) transport; 6:20 a.m.: MV stop (Spring Street) verbal warning; 8:03 a.m.: larceny (Pleasant Street) spoken to; 8:45 a.m.: summons service (Juniper Street) unable to serve; 9:41 a.m.: ani-mal complaint (Alger Street) assisted; 10:29 a.m.: officer wanted (Spring Street) spoken to; 10:44 a.m.: illegal dumping (Beachview Drive) spoken to; 10:51 a.m.: assist other PD (Lincoln Avenue) assisted; 11:04 a.m.: investigation (River Street) spoken to; 11:20 a.m.: officer wanted (Central Street) assisted; 11:24 a.m.: animal complaint (River Street) refer to ACO; 11:28 a.m.: trespass notice (High Street) services rendered; 12:12 p.m.: lift assist (Mill Street) assisted; 12:57 p.m.: investigation (Baldwinville State Road) spoken to; 1:45 p.m.: inves-tigation (Spring Street) mental health issue; 1:53 p.m.: investigation (walk

in) assisted; 2:40 p.m.: fraud (Pleasant Street) spoken to; 2:44 p.m.: accident (Central Street) report taken; 6:12 p.m.: suspicious MV (Main Street) spoken to; 6:17 p.m.: ambulance (Toy Town Lane) transport; 7:37 p.m.: ambulance (Pearl Drive) transport; 10:11 p.m.: threats (Union Street, Athol) refer to other PD; 11:04 p.m.: MV operating erratically (Spring Street) spoken to; 11:11 p.m.: accident (Mill Glen Road) report taken.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 191:14 a.m.: stolen MV (Central Street)

removed traffic hazard; 1:22 a.m.: assist other agency (Gardner Road) call can-celed; 2:33 a.m.: MV operating erratical-ly (Central Street) transport; 5:36 a.m.: structure fire (East Street) refer to FD; 7:21 a.m.: lift assist (Ready Drive) ser-vices rendered; 8:06 a.m.: animal com-plaint (Washington Avenue) refer to ACO; 10:40 a.m.: investigation (Pleasant Street) spoken to; 11:16 a.m.: investiga-tion (Front Street) info taken; 11:37 a.m.: investigation (walk in) assisted; 11:50 a.m.: assist other PD (Ready Drive) spo-ken to; 2:05 p.m.: investigation (Spring Street) spoken to; 7:50 p.m.: ambulance (Maple Street) transport; 8:29 p.m.: ambulance (Central Street) transport; 8:32 p.m.: MV operating erratically (Gardner Road) unable to locate; 9:14 p.m.: officer wanted (Gardner Road) spoken to; 11:32 p.m.: suspicious person (Mill Street) unable to locate.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 201:18-1:57 a.m.: building checks,

secure; 7:18 a.m.: transport (Mill Glen Road); 9:30 a.m.: ambulance (Spring Street) transport; 9:59 a.m.: larceny (Doyle Avenue) assisted; 10:31 a.m.: ambulance (Ready Drive) transport; 11:03 a.m.; abandoned 911 call (River Street) checked, secure; 12:34 p.m.: vandalism (Front Street) report taken; 1:03 p.m.: animal complaint (Benjamin Street) refer to ACO; 2:06 p.m.: suspi-cious person (School Street) spoken to; 2:59 p.m.: officer wanted (River Street) report taken; 3:20 p.m.: officer wanted (Central Street) spoken to; 3:35 p.m.: threats (Gardner Road) report taken; 6:04 p.m.: MV operating erratically (Spring Street) unable to locate; 6:11 p.m.: assist other PD (Gardner Road) arrest: Jose A. Fernandes, age 51 of 1433 Green St., Gardner: carry firearm without license; 7:23 p.m.: MV operat-ing erratically (Highland Street) area search negative; 8:04 p.m.: MV stop (Spring Street) verbal warning; 8:47 p.m.: ambulance (Sibley Road) trans-port; 11:39 p.m.: fire unknown type (Sibley Road) extinguished.

Police log

IN COUNTYq 26 WEEKS - $22.50q 52 WEEKS - $45.00q 104 WEEKS - $76.00

OUT OF COUNTYq 26 WEEKS - $30.00q 52 WEEKS - $56.00q 104 WEEKS - $90.00

SENIOR RATESq 26 WEEKS - $19.50q 52 WEEKS - $38.50q 104 WEEKS - $62.50

Name ______________________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________________________

City________________________________State___________Zip ______________

Phone ( ) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ q Check/Money Order Enclosed ________________________________________

o VISA# ___________________________________________________________

o M/C # _____________________________________________________

o DISCOVER ________________________________________________

Expiration Date _______________________________________________

Signature ____________________________________________________

For More Information Call 1-800-367-9898 ext. 139 Circulation Department • P.O. Box 90 • Southbridge, MA 01550

PEOPLE ARE LINING UP for

DON’T MISS IT - SUBSCRIBE TODAY AND GET 4 WEEKS FREE!!• Current Complete Local News • Community Events• Local Classifieds and Merchant Advertising • and Lots More!


WINCHENDON — Like a lot of plays, Arthur Miller’s ‘The Crucible’ became a movie, the film version star-ring Daniel Day Lewis. Now it’s becoming a newspaper — sort of. At least it’s one at Murdock High School.

That’s where Amanda Beaulieu’s college prep English class, comprised primary of juniors comes in. Beaulieu is having her class create a newspaper for Salem Village, the setting for the play, and cover events from it.

“It’s a different way of look-ing at the play,” she said, noting the class is divided into small groups, each of which will complete the proj-ect through their joint per-spective.

Sections that make up the major parts of almost any newspaper (main arti-cles, letters to the editor, a ‘Dear Abby’- style advice and response column) are required but beyond that, the youngsters have multi-ple options from which they can choose to include, among them a police log, want ads, obituaries, comics/political cartoons, horoscopes, and pictures.

After that gets done, the project will be need to be organized with proofreading, checking to make sure the assignment requirements were met, and finally, doing a mock layout.

Beaulieu used recent edi-tions of the Winchendon Courier to demonstrate what an actual newspaper looks like in a final format.

“I asked them how many of their think their parents read a newspaper, an actual paper, not an on-line edition and a few of them raised their hands,” she said.

One of those was Logan Knight, who added he too

reads the paper. “I do,” he noted, adding

he likes this assignment because, “we get to choose for ourselves” what would go into the paper. It’s different than just reading the play and taking a test.”

Group-mate Morgan Grant agreed. “I like creative writ-ing anyway, so this is a fun project,” she remarked.

Stacy Antilla is also a writ-ing enthusiast. “I really like to write. I’m having a good time doing this”, she smiled.

“You can’t measure every-thing a student has learned by just giving tests,” Beaulieu said.

This is the third year Beaulieu has been doing the newspaper project. It was three years ago when she and fellow teacher Heidi Bevaqua came up with the idea, and while there’s been the inev-itable tinkering since then, Beaulieu sees it as a worth-while endeavor.

“This also gets the kids involved in refining our approach,” she said. “It’s good to get their input.”

The first time around, the duo did it electronically, “but we couldn’t find the right newspaper format online. This year is also the first time using groups and it helped to have them be able to go through the Courier and get a more realistic look at a paper. I like this approach — groups and a local paper — better,” acknowledged Beaulieu.

Newspapers have dead-lines in real life, but in an 11th grade class, some flexi-bility is okay. “We might be able to get most of it done, some groups at least” before the winter break that began yesterday, “but it’s okay if they come back in January and finish,” said Beaulieu.

Greg Vine photo

IN THE SPIRIT OF THE HOLIDAYS

Rev. Innana Arthen (far left), of Winchendon’s Unitarian Universalist Church, is joined by Jill Sackett, as well as Evan, Kayden and Hannah Gordon and Elyssa Malcolm at this year’s Spirit of Christmas toy drive. Toys were col-lected and distributed to children throughout Winchendon.

The ‘Crucible News’ a learning

experience atMurdock


OBITUARIES

Service Directory ads offer sellers the fastest and most affordable way to advertise. From apples to azaleas,

Chryslers to condos, the directory is the way to sell! Give Ruth a call today to

place your ad: 978-297-0050

YEARS OF

SATISFIED SERVICE

Fully Licensed & Insured 24 hr ServiceDon Comeau

978.413.6316 [email protected]

BRUCE’S BURNER SERVICE

Bruce W. Cloutier 978-297-1815

Lic. #016828

Heating Systems Cleaned, Repaired & Installed

0% Interest and large rebates available for new installations

YOUR AD HERE!

49 Central Street, Suite 3 Winchendon, MA 01475Tel (978) 297-2390 Fax (978) 297-3673

[email protected] • www.attorneylapointe.com

Attorney David A. LaPointeDivorce & Family law oUi/criminal DeFense

wills & estates • Personal injUry

52 Fitzgerald Drive, Jaffrey, NHPAVING • SEALCOATING

CRACK FILING603 532-1100

www.JDKPavement.com“We don’t claim to be the best, our customers do.”

JDK PAVEMENT

Made you look? Others do too. Keep your business in the public’s eye: advertise in the Courier

(978) 297-0050 x100 [email protected]

Scott William BeverGARDNER — Scott

William Bever, of Gardner, formerly of Fitchburg, died sud-denly in Gardner on Tuesday.

Scott was born in Fitchburg, son of Robert H. and Rachel A. (Walton) Bever

and lived in Fitchburg until moving to Gardner eight years ago.

He was employed as a laborer in the construction trade.

Scott leaves his step-father, Lenny Goodman; his children, Kristie N. Howard and husband, Brian S. of Fitchburg, Mallory A. Bever and companion, Nicholas E. Garretson of Townsend, Joshua S. Robichaud and companion, Tennette Y. Langille of

Winchendon. Also sisters and broth-ers, Belinda Scott of Gardner, Robin Norton of Fitchburg, Sandra Turner and Wayne of Tewksbury, Cheryl and Mark Engel of Willow Spring, N.C., Ed and Carrie Bever of Spring, TX, Lori Goodman of Fitchburg, Kristine and Hiram Boddie of Fitchburg; eight grandchildren, five great-grandchil-dren; many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his son, Scott W. Bever ll, and his brother and sisters, Robert Herman Bever ll, Elizabeth Ann Goodman, and Donna Rae Bever.

A memorial service was held on Sunday, Dec. 20 in the Bosk Funeral Home, 85 Blossom St., Fitchburg. Following the services, a memori-al gathering was held at the British American Club.

Lillian A. (Lawton) Courcelle, 90WINCHENDON —

Lillian A. (Lawton) Courcelle, age 90, for-merly of 547 Central St. died peacefully Friday morning, Dec. 18 in Wachusett Manor Nursing Home, Gardner, with her family at her side.

She was born in Winchendon on Aug. 6, 1925, daughter of the late Joseph and Etta (Montville) Lawton and was a life-long resident of Winchendon, where she graduated from Murdock High School.

Lillian worked for many years at the former Winchendon Hospital as a medical secretary. After the hospital closed, she worked as a secretary for Dr. William Mateik and also as a secretary in the family business, Lawton Electric. Lillian was a member of the Winchendon Woman’s Club and was a member and former lector of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. In her younger years, she enjoyed both downhill and cross country skiing and playing volleyball at the Clark Memorial YMCA. She also enjoyed knitting, walking and reading. As she advanced in years, she became an avid fan of the Boston Red Sox. Her greatest enjoyment was spending time

with her family.Her husband, Thomas W. Courcelle,

died in 1987. She leaves five children: David L. Courcelle and his wife Joan of Auburn, Mary-Lou Courcelle of Newburyport, Gaynor A. Goan and her husband John of Winchendon, Thomas M. Courcelle and his wife Susan of Salem, NH and Susan J. Brown and her husband Gary of Winchendon; nine grandchildren, four great grandchil-dren and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, John Lawton and Robert Lawton and a sister, Theresa Sibley.

A Mass of Christian burial was held Wednesday, Dec. 23 in Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 52 Spruce St, Burial followed in Calvary Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Residents Activities Fund, Wachusett Manor Nursing Home, 32 Hospital Hill Road, Gardner, MA 01440 or to Wendell P. Clark YMCA, 155 Central St., Winchendon, MA 01475.

Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home (stone-ladeau.com), 343 Central St., Winchendon was entrusted with arrangements.

Judith A. Nolan, 75PEPPERELL —

Judith A. Nolan, age 75, a longtime resident of Pepperell, died Dec. 15, 2015, at the Apple Valley Center in Ayer, after a period of declin-ing health surrounded by her loving family.

She was the wife of James J. Nolan Sr. with whom she shared 54 years of marriage.

She was born in East Boston on Feb. 1, 1940 the daughter of the late John H. Robinson Sr. and Catherine A. (Driscoll) Robinson. She was educated in the Stoneham school system, graduating from Stoneham High School in 1958.

Prior to her retirement in 2001, she was employed as a telephone sales rep-resentative for New England Business Services for 24 years. While living in Pepperell for 44 years, she was active in the community, serving on the 4th of July Committee and the Pepperell Democratic Committee. She was an election worker at the Pepperell polls and a Girl Scout leader. Judy donated to

many philanthropic interests. She was a former communicant of St. Joseph Church, serving on various committees and was a C.C.D. teacher. She enjoyed music, animals, cooking and mostly her family.

Besides her husband of 54 years, she leaves a son, James J. Nolan Jr. and wife Melissa of Ashby; two daughters, Tracy A. McEvoy and husband William of Leominster and Julie A. Holly and husband James of Winchendon; one brother, John H. Robinson Jr. and wife Reda of Maryland; six loving grandchil-dren: James H. Nolan, Jarred Nolan, Melissa McEvoy, William H. McEvoy III, Taryn Holly and Ruben Holly and three great-grandsons.

A funeral Mass was celebrated on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015 at Our Lady of Grace Parish, worshipping at St. Joseph Church, 28 Tarbell Street, Pepperell. Burial in St. Patrick Cemetery in Stoneham.

Marchand Funeral Home (march-andfuneralhome.com), 16 Pleasant St., Pepperell was entrusted with arrange-ments.

Kerryann (Proctor) Keeney, 47WINCHENDON —

Kerryann (Proctor) Keeney, age 47, of Winchendon, died peacefully after com-plications from her battle with cancer on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015 in UMass Memorial Medical Center,

Worcester, surrounded by her loving family.

Kerryann was born in Woburn Oct. 16, 1968, daughter of Kathleen (King) Miller, and Jeffrey Miller, and has lived in Winchendon for several years.

Prior to her illness Kerryann worked as an accountant with Athol Savings Bank. She enjoyed watching football especially the Patriots. Kerryann was an avid and talented crafter. She could make elaborate decorations out of very simple starts. Most of all Kerryann loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Besides her parents, Kerryann will

be missed by her husband David A. Keeney, her five children; Cory Keeney and his partner Jennifer Hall, Adam Keeney and his partner Angela Toch, Amanda Erskine and her partner Josh Thibodeau, Caitlin Ayers and her hus-band Bill Ayers Jr.., and Samantha Erskine and her partner Michael Keegan, three siblings; Kathleen Savoie and her husband Steven, Charles Proctor and his partner Mechille Avdic, and Shawn Proctor, her maternal grand-mother; Marilyn King, eight grandchil-dren, two fur babies; Little Butt and Scooby, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Thursday Nov. 12, 2015. Burial followed in Greenlawn Cemetery, Baldwinville.

Should friends desire, donations in Kerryann’s memory may be made to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 502 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105.

Lamoureux Fletcher and Smith Funeral Home (fletcherfuneralhome.com), 105 Central St., Gardner was entrusted with arrangements.

Elliot H. Pratt, 76BROCKTON — Elliot H. Pratt, age 76,

of Brockton, died Dec. 13, 2015, at New England Sinai Hospital in Stoughton, after a short illness.

He was the husband of the late Barbara H. (Schilling) Pratt. Born April 10, 1939, in Cohasset, he was the son of the late Nelson and Alberta (Marsh) Pratt.

Elliot was a long resident of Brockton and had worked as a chef for many years at the former Bobby Hacketts Restaurant in Pembroke.

He served in the U.S. Army and enjoyed coin and stamp collecting, the outdoors and was an avid bird watcher.

He is survived by his daughters, Sarah Pratt of Brockton, Lynn (Sawtelle) Paul and her companion Thomas McGinty of Brockton and Laura (Sawtelle) Marshall and her husband Rob of Winchendon; five grandchildren, Katrina and Nicole

Paul and Victoria, Alex and Matthew Marshall; four broth-ers, Nelson, Allen, Donald and Richard Pratt; a sister, Margie Earl and many in-laws, nieces, nephews, cous-ins and dear friends. He was also the twin brother of the late Edward Pratt and brother of the late Marilyn Morrison.

A funeral service was held Friday, Dec. 18, 2015 in Christ Congregational Church in Brockton with interment following in Melrose Cemetery in Brockton.

Dahlborg-MacNevin Funeral Home (d-mfh.com) 647 Main St., Brockton was entrusted with arrangements.

Eugene C. ‘Geno’ Roberts, 54W I N C H E N D O N

— Eugene C. “Geno” Roberts, age 54, of Winchendon, died suddenly Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015, in UMass Memorial Medical Center, 55 Lake Ave. North, Worcester,

after being stricken ill at home.

Born in Boston on Aug. 3, 1961, he was the son of the late Eugene and Rose M. (Bellan) Roberts.

He attended Bonar Law Memorial High School in Rexton, N.B., Canada.

At the time of his death, Geno was a carpenter employed by D.B. Construction of North Reading.

He was a member of Annunciation Parish/Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church of Gardner.

Geno enjoyed working around the house, doing trim carpentry work and was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing, snowmobiling and boating. He

loved and took great pride in his Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Geno leaves his wife of 26 years, Mona (Milliea) Roberts of Winchendon; one son, Alex Levi of New Brunswick, Canada; two daughters, Tahnee Augustine of New Brunswick, Canada and T.J. Lightfoot of Labrador, Newfoundland; two brothers, Anthony Roberts and his wife Twilla of Hamilton, NY and Leonard Maillet of Boston; one sister, Jane Maillet of Hamilton, NY; six grandchildren, Carlee, Madison, Macon, Aajun, Heaven and Angel; sev-eral nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his brother, Joseph Dominic Maillet.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Dec. 19 in the Boucher Funeral Home, Inc., 110 Nichols Street, Gardner. Reverend Joseph Jurgelonis of Annunciation Parish/Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church officiated.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.

James K. Rogers, 63WINCHENDON —

James K. Rogers, age 63, of Winchendon, died peacefully in UMass Memorial Medical Center, Friday evening Nov. 27, 2015 after an ill-ness.

Jim was born in Gardner, Jan. 15, 1952, son of the late Kenneth E. and Annie L. (Gotantus) Rogers and has lived in Winchendon for the last 18 years.

Jim is a 1970 graduate of Narragansett High School. He worked for Foster Grant and later as an electrician for the Local 96 IBEW of Worcester. He was a member of the Royalston Fish and Gun club. Jim enjoyed being out doors, snowmobiling, and trips to Maine. Most of all Jim loved to spend time with his family especially his 3 granddaughters.

Jim will be missed by his wife of 45 years, Dianne M. (Courtemanche) Rogers of Winchendon, three daugh-ters; Cheryl Gallagher and her husband Kevin of Baldwinville, Michelle Perron and her husband Bruce of Baldwinville, and Jennifer Dominguez and her hus-band Mauro of Winchendon, and three granddaughters; Olivia, Ashlin and Alaina Gallagher. Jim was predeceased by his sister Diane C. Rogers in 2013.

At Jim’s request funeral services will be private and at the convenience of the family.

Should friends desire donations may be made to the Winchendon EMT Ambulance Fund, PO Box 125 Winchendon, MA 01475.

The Fletcher-Hebert Funeral Home (fletcherfuneral.com), 70 Pleasant St. Winchendon, is directing the arrange-ments.

BY KEITH KENTSPECIAL TO THE COURIER

ATHOL — As a very large black bear was recently harvested by outdoor enthusiast and hunter Jim Mundell in Athol on Thursday, Dec. 10, many local-ly and around the state as well as mul-tiple national internet sites, have been taking part in the conversation both in person and on social media asking if the bear was a state record. It weighed in at a gargantuan field dressed weight of 498 pounds. The answer has now been con-firmed. It was close and a great effort, but has seemingly missed the elusive mark by just 43 pounds.

According to Massachusetts Division of Fish & Wildlife chief of informa-tion and education Marion Larson, the largest black bear recorded was taken in Massachusetts and harvested in the town of Southwick in 2012, and after being field dressed, weighed in at a mas-sive 541 pounds and was determined to be 15 years old. The Division of Fish & Wildlife, while not having access to the name of the trophy winning hunter, was able to confirm the bear was taken legally with a rifle, which is allowed in Massachusetts during certain bear hunting seasons.

In speaking with Larson about the weight an interesting discovery and distinction was made, “I would not characterize this as the ‘State Record’ bear as we have not and do not require weights for bears when checked in, and we don’t have certified scales. It’s more accurate to say the Southwick bear is the largest bear we have recorded in our database.”

There you have it. There is no state official state record. It is simply termed, “Largest recorded on database.”

During the interview, Larson noted the weight and scale factor several times. “It’s important to note, we do not officially have a ‘state record’ per say. There are many bears in our database

with the Department of Fish & Wildlife. Many do not have weights recorded. As bears are not required by law to be weighed when checked in, we do not certify our scales by having them cali-brated for total accuracy.”

Various factors such as, did a hunter who harvested a bear in years past have the ability to weigh the animal, and animals of varying weights have been harvested before and or long before official records and stats were kept also come in to play when trying to accurate-ly identify what would be the correct listing of biggest in state history. Due to all of the above factors, Larson again repeated the status of, “Largest bear we have recorded in our database.”

Photos of the bear harvested by Mundell were provided to Larson who said, “Oh I viewed the photos and there is no doubt that it is quite impressive!”

Larson went on to add, “It should be noted, that this has been a great year for bears to search for and find food in Massachusetts. There has been an abundance of food to stock up on for gaining weight for winter hibernation, and the fact that the ground is still uncovered and not blanketed by snow-cover is key to why bears are still able and actively foraging for food.”

When discussing weather and food resource conditions Larson added, “Due to warmer than average weather, no snow or ground cover, and the avail-ability of still being able to find food, people should not be surprised to con-tinue to see bears, as they do not have reason at this time to ‘den down and go in to hibernation.’ Bears only do that when the food runs out by virtue of nat-ural supplies running out which is usu-ally caused in our part of the country by the winter season. However, of inter-esting note, many people do not realize that down south where it is warmer and food is available all year round, bears, unlike around here, do not hibernate. They are active all year round.”

Locally, Massachusetts Environmental Police Officer Lieutenant Anthony Wolski upon being asked if Mundell’s bear was the big-gest bear ever harvested in the state to his credit said it was not, which helped spur the interest in fact finding and state records. Wolski, who is well known and respected and has three decades of experience in the field, when

commenting on the Mundell bear said, “Massive, absolutely massive. That thing was a monster size bear for this area. Unreal. It wasn’t the biggest, but truly unreal!”

To the lieutenant’s credit, it was his knowledge and accurate response which lead to the desire to find the larg-est on record in the state, which turned out to be, “largest on database.”

Of a truly interesting fact about the bear and hunting seasons, Larson was quick to point out, “This was also the first year in Massachusetts where a hunter who was hunting deer during deer shotgun season, could legally shoot a bear.”

Mundell harvested his bear with a shotgun on Dec. 10, during this season which ran from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12. Therefore, Mundell does actually own a type of record if you think about it. It was the largest bear taken in Massachusetts in 2015, and taken during the first year

this special season which was legally allowed by the Commonwealth.

In the mid to late 1980s the Massachusetts black bear population was roughly 2,000. There are now esti-mates subject to comprehensive pro-fessional debate in many discussion groups and forums around the state which indicated in 2015 the black bear state population could be as high as between 4,000 and 5,000. One of the con-tributing factors is while a bear will typically have two or three cubs per litter, she may give birth to just one, or as many as five. Weather and food sup-ply are important determinants of the size of the litter. Only one bear may be harvested per year by hunters, and it is no secret there are far fewer hunters now, than versus three decades ago. The math is simple as to why so many people are seeing bears encroaching on areas where they live and work, less hunters who are only allowed to harvest one bear per year, equals more bears.

Yogi has been doing quite well feast-ing on many peoples bird feeders who forget they should take them in at night. Wolski and other wildlife offi-cials would like to remind people this should be a responsible practice. There are countless photos and videos on the internet from Facebook to YouTube

showing how well bears make the rounds from feeder to feeder, and town to town. Officials would also like people to know, that feeding bears and other wildlife is not helping them, it harms them. Feeding the animal only makes it more dependent on humans, less afraid of humans, and increases their popula-tions in areas where there is often not enough food to support their increased numbers in the wild, especially during winter months.

If one thing is for sure as a sports-man, Mundell has plenty of reason to be proud of his harvest just down the road in Athol. He also posted on social media that he actually got a hernia removing the behemoth with is friend and fellow hunter from the woods, and that he will soon be interviewed by national publication, Field & Stream. He may not have taken the biggest bear in the Massachusetts Department of Fish & Wildlife data base, but he can claim the biggest bear in the state this year.


SPORTSBlack bear harvested in Athol just shy of a record

The undeniability of the year ending in five

LaBrack keeps toppling records


FITCHBURG — The records keep falling for Murdock shot putter Alyssa LaBrack. As the winter season got underway last week in a Mid-Wach dual meet in Fitchburg, LaBrack heaved a toss of 34.01 feet to set a new school record. The mark she broke, of course, was her own.

That was the primary highlight on the girls side as Murdock competed with Ayer, Bromfield, Lunenburg, Marlborough, Narragansett, North Middlesex, and Oakmont in the first meet of the 2015-16 indoor campaign.

Lily Digman delivered a strong eighth place finish in the mile. The sixth grader came home in front of nine older

runners, lending credence to Coach Anthony Findley’s confi-dence in her potential.

Victoria Swanson was fourth in the 600 and Paige Demanche tenth in the 300.

In addition, the shot put was contested by Kelsey Brooks, Swanson, Emily Roberts, Alissa Nanopoulos and Haley Desjean. Demanche and Roberts took part in the high jump, Swanson in the 55 hurdles, and Nanopoulos, Brooks, and Desjean in the 55 meter dash.

On the boys side, Jordan Manuel won the mile in 4:53, eas-ily besting Marlborough’s Brian Ornan, and as proof of his versatility, Manuel finished second in the 300 meters, stop-ping that clock in 40.2 seconds, a tick behind Marlborough’s Sebastian Pasqual, who ran a 40.1. Local runners in that event also included Adam Digman, who finished ninth, John Bickford, and sixth graders Moeketsi Molai and Jackson Charland.

Eighth grader Alec Hart finished fifth in the two-mile and Richard Swanson was an overall ninth in the 600 meters, a race also contested by sixth grader Richard Field.

The shot put contestants from Murdock included Adam Digman and Jackson and Kyle Higgens.

Dylan Lupien and Logan Huff took part in the 55 hurdles while Ryan Thira, Digman, and Swanson ran the 55 meters, and JT Huff and Steven Ingman ran the 1,000 meter race.

I told you. I told you 12 months ago that sports years ending in “5” tend to become etched indelibly in our mem-ories. For you Patriots fans, another championship will make February, 2015 some-thing you’ll forever remember. Of course you might also some-day recall 2015 as yet another season of Red Sox ineptitude. The Nationals imploded and the Astros skyrocketed. A-Rod was better than anyone antic-ipated he’d be and Peyton Manning was worse than any-one anticipated he’d be. The NLCS matched the Mets and Cubs. Only in a year ending in “5” or in some parallel universe does that seem even remotely possible. The Amazins’ went to the World Series. Really, they did. We all know the Cubbies last went to the Series in a year ending in “5”, 1945 to be precise. A 22 year-old kid from Texas won golf’s first two majors and barely missed a third in 2015. Serena Williams won three of four majors. The NBA champi-on Warriors began the new sea-son, more than a quarter of the schedule, with 24 straight wins. As of this writing, the Panthers are 13-0. Yes, the Panthers. Mayweather-Pacquio was a dud, contested at least five years too late. Duke won anoth-er title. I didn’t say everything

that happens in sports years ending in 5 was good. And then there was this, penned last June by SI’s Tim Layden:

“American Pharoah rolled away, each of his graceful strides a scream of atone-ment for the past failures that had been shared and mourn-ed by the entire sport — here for Spectacular Bid (‘79) and his overmatched jockey and the safety pin, here for Real Quiet (‘98) and his heartbreak-ing by-a-nose-loss to Victory Gallop; here for Smarty Jones (04) passed in deep stretch by Birdstone. With every stride the Belmont grandstand quaked, engulfed by a primal roar of exorcism, desperation given sound.

“Pharoah drew away as 90,000 fans leaned forward bearing witness.

“Twenty minutes after the race, Belmont remained full, spectators in thrall, refusing to leave. ‘Look at that’, said for-mer jockey Richard Migliore, witness to nearly all of the past failures of the last 37 years. ‘People still standing. Look at them’.”

“It was yet another June evening at Belmont Park, yet another horse running for the Triple Crown, yet anoth-er reach at history. Only this time was different, a prayer

answered in the gloaming. This time the horse was right. Now the wait is done.”

Perhaps you watched the race as a sports fan who’s drawn to racing only when a Triple Crown is on the line. That’s okay. Plenty of people watch only one football game a year and lots of fans over the last almost 20 years watched golf only when Tiger was on the prowl at the height of his then-great game. Hell, lots of people watch the Oscars with-out having seen a single nom-inated movie. It’s what people do.

If you were tuned to NBC that day in June, you heard what will resonate through history as one of sport’s iconic play-by-play moments. There’ve been others. There was Russ Hodges in 1951 — “the Giants win the pennant. The Giants win the pennant,” as Bobby Thompson blasted what remains the most famous home run ever hit.

“We’ll see you tomorrow night,” was the way Jack Buck concluded game six of the 1991 World Series when Kirby Puckett of the Twins homered to force a decisive final contest. There was Verne Lundquist in 2005 as Tiger Woods drained an impossible shot at the Masters. “Did you ever...”, intoned Lundquist, never needing to finish the sentence.

Racing, too, has had three unforgettable moments. It’s been a very long time since that day in 1973 when announc-er Chic Anderson proclaimed Secretariat was “moving like a tremendous machine” while certainly one of the most breathtaking single moments in sports history unfolded when the colt exploded to a 31-length world-record time tri-umph in his Belmont Stakes, sealing the first Triple Crown in a quarter-century. It’s been two decades since Belmont and NBC announcer Tom Durkin chronicled the end of a perfect season by hailing the winner as “the invincible, unconquer-able, unbeatable Cigar” as the Maryland-bred horse dashed under the finish line in the Breeders Cup Classic for his 16th win in 16 starts in 1995 (Yes, yet another year which ended in 5).

And so six months ago, it was Larry Collmus’ turn. Collmus cut his announcing teeth at the old Bowie racetrack in Maryland, calling mostly cheap claiming races before starting his climb to the big leagues and when his biggest moment came in June, he was more than ready.

As the horses came through the stretch, and the outcome became obvious, Collmus knew exactly what to say, his voice rising in excitement as the drama built:

“And here it is. The 37 year wait is over. American Pharoah is FINALLY the one. American Pharoah (pause) has won (pause) THE TRIPLE CROWN.” The 90,000 capacity crowd jammed into Belmont undoubtedly couldn’t have heard him because of the deafening din, but those of us watching on television - well, if that didn’t give you chills...

Years ending in 5 have, for whatever cosmic reason, been legendary in sports and such was the case this year, led by the Pharoah. But time doesn’t stand still, either. 2016 is a week away. I bet you that on the fields and tracks and courts and courses it won’t match the year drawing to a close. Not a chance. See you in two weeks.

JERRY CARTON

Talking SporTS

Morgan St. Pierre photo

NEW LADY DEVIL IN THE HOUSE

Gloriannie Andino has joined the Lady Devils basketball team and immediately made her presence known on the boards. Here she shows a little ‘stuff’ during a recent game against Clinton. Though the Ladys lost, Andino was a standout.

Courtesy photo

Jim Mundell with his immense black bear.

The tour featured seven unique stops to give a full taste of Winchendon history throughout the years. The first stop of the tour was the beau-

tiful Murdock-Whitney House, which is now home to the Winchendon Historical Society. From there, guests could explore the next stops at their own pace. Guests were in awe at the gor-geous Orange Whitney house and felt the warm

comfort of the Amasa Whitney house. Guests were amiably welcomed into the Darling house, the residence of Margaret Paston and Steve Katy, and the Unitarian Universalist Church. At the end of the tour, guests were invited to the

new dining room at the Winchendon School for musical entertainment and delicious refresh-ments.

The Winchendon Historical Society provid-ed a wonderful opportu-

nity for the community to learn some of the rich his-tory of our town through its beautiful historical homes. Houses are meant to be lived in, adored, and turned into a home for enduring generations

– they are supposed to tell stories. Every home and host in the tour ema-nated an inviting, warm, friendly energy for all to enjoy and give a taste of historic holiday magic to the season this year.

HELP WANTEDEMPLOYERS

These help wanted 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 RENTROOMS FOR RENT

Downtown Winchendon, immediate occupancy: located on second floor in secured, peaceful, friendly, well maintained, quiet & drug free building. Independent group of older gentlemen to co-habitat, hallway & bath facilities are shared. 1 parking space, dumpster use, heat/HW included, electric included (except AC in summer). $450 per month. References, income verification, first & last to move in. Applications available: Dick’s Place Barbershop, 298 Central St. (978) 297-0005.

GOODRICH APARTMENTSNow taking applications. Call for guidelines. (978) 297-0231. TFN

LANDFarmland opportunity:

Secure, long-term lease for experienced, entrepreneurial and community-oriented farmer for 15A prime soils and a house, 30 miles from Boston. Landowner open to supportive financial arrangements for farm infrastructure. Abundant markets and potential collaborations. Details here under “The Farm at Air Hill.” Contact [email protected] for Jan. 9 open house and application information.Farm for sale: 36.8 acre farm for sale in Montague. 18 acres of which are woodland.

Organic, NON-GMO. A portion of the land is protected by Mount Grace Land Trust, the rest is under MDAR. Existing crops are 90 blueberry bushes, several fruit trees, raspberries, blackberries, asparagus, and blackberries. Owned by two families since the late 1700s. Contact Lisa Adams, 413-522-3853, and [email protected].

SERVICES All in One Painting: interior, exterior, power washing, decks. More than 25 years experience, fully insured, free estimates. (603) 305-4974 or [email protected] TFN

WANTEDWANTED

Motorcycles, ATVs, scooters. Cash paid for good deals. (978) 297-1800. 11.1.16

WE BUY GOLDPattie’s Jewelry, open 10 a.m.-5 p.m.: best prices. Behind Dunkin’ Donuts. (978) 297-3536.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTSDrum teacher Leon LaPlante seeks used instruments and drum stands to help out high school students. (978) 297-1250.


A1 HANDYMAN SERVICES(978)297-4670

28 years experience Home Repairs-Remodeling-Painting

To-Do Lists-Clean Outs-Trucking State HIC & CSL Licensed & Insured

For advertising information call us

at 978-297-0050

(978) 297-4456OFFICE LOCATED AT

1335 ALGER STREET, WINCHENDON

3 CHECK OUR LOW PRICES3 50 GALLON DELIVERIES AVAILABLE3 AUTOMATIC OR CALL-INS 3 COMPETITIVE RATES

HI-LO OIL, INC.

“Keeping You Warm Since 1989.”

Eastern Propane600 School St.Winchendon, MAPhone: 978-297-0529 1-800-522-2000www.eastern.com

Hi-Lo Oil, Inc.1335 Alger Street Winchendon, MA (978) 297-4456

Your Guide To Local Fuel Dealers.

Serving the communities of Winchendon, Ashburnham, Athol, Gardner, Fitchburg, Leominster, Westminster, Templeton, Phillipston and southern N.H.

Winchendon CourierClassifiedsClassifieds • 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 •

We’d Love To Hear

From You!

What’s On Your Mind? We’d Like to Know.

Email us your thoughts to:

ruth@stonebridge press.com

Email

Us!

Marilyn and her husband made trips to the East Coast from their Wisconsin home every summer to hunt for Christmas collectibles. They searched along routes that were packed with antique shops in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. The couple attended auctions and went to antique shows, including Brimfield. Marilyn also searched for period furniture to fill her house on her trips east. It is a replica of a home from Historic Deerfield in Deerfield, Massachusetts.

Marilyn’s collection is focused on 1920s and earlier Christmas items. She is espe-cially fond of cotton and paper ornaments from the turn of the century. Some of the cotton ornaments look like Snowbabies with children in winter clothes. Santa Claus and animals are other popular figures. She also collects Dresden orna-ments which are embossed cardboard designs of birds, other animals, people, etc. Her husband looks for wire wrap Christmas ornaments. Glass ornaments and other Christmas decorations were tied together with wire to create larger ornaments.

Marilyn doesn’t just focus her collect-ing on ornaments. Among other things, she has some Santa “woodcutter” candy containers from 4 to 29 inches in height. They were produced in Germany around the turn of the century. Most depict Santa with a short coat and pants.

As with other antiques and collect-ibles, some of the more valuable items are being reproduced. Marilyn advises that you study books and learn as much as you can before you start to collect. She also recommends buying items at the Golden Glow of Christmas Past’s annual show. The group consists of 1,600 mem-bers internationally. Their conference and show is held in different venues around the country every July.

There is good news for those of you who have antique Christmas decorations that have been passed down through your families as well as long time collec-tors. Marilyn said that prices of antique Christmas items continue to rise. Prices have more than doubled, with ornaments that she used to be able to regularly buy for $10 now selling for over $25. Marilyn states that some early candy containers can sell for $6,000 to $7,000. With the pric-es currently so high she is more of a sell-er than a buyer now. I hope that all you are having a wonderful holiday season!

We continue to pickup some great items for our Jan. 28 live antique estates auction. The latest is a French newspa-per with a sketch on it signed by Pablo Picasso. Please keep following us on the web as we are planning some estate sales as well.

Contact us at: Wayne Tuiskula Auctioneer/Appraiser Central Mass Auctions for Antique Auctions, Estate Sales and Appraisal Services www.cen-tralmassauctions.com (508-612- 6111), [email protected]

ANTIQUEScontinued from page A4

Kristina Mecelaicaite, direc-tor of pupil services at the school system, gave a report on the English language edu-cation from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Winchendon has several students that fall under the umbrella of the program, and employs one full time and one part time teacher to address the needs of the students. The students are immersed in reg-

ular classes for the most part, but are pulled from classes for special instruction and support as needed.

The review, in November, was very positive for the most part, with only three requiring corrective action.

Accountability assessment was one area, reporting cer-tain information to the state and follow up information on the student needed to be bet-ter addressed. Mecelaicaite said new systems were already being put in place to address these issues.

Program placement and structure was a second area of need, and she said some of that would require further study, as part of the problem was per-haps a need for more instruc-tors. Attempting to address the number of students needing support with only one and a half people was, perhaps not enough. And attempting to keep the students in their regu-lar classrooms for vital instruc-tion, while also getting them the necessary pullout support was daunting.

“We don’t want them to miss

important classroom instruc-tion, but if they need individu-alized support, we have to find time for it. Scheduling time that meets the needs of the stu-dents and the instructors is dif-ficult,” Mecelaicaite said.

Finally, meeting the require-ments for determining the stu-dents readiness to exit addi-tional support, accountability and strategies for such support were also under scrutiny by state standards.

“We don’t have a regular fol-low through standard for this, and we need to develop some-

thing comprehensive. That too, is under new review,” she said.

All of these aspects will have a corrective action plan devel-oped by the end of this year, and a target date for implemen-tation by next fall.

For more information about the English learners programs, or perhaps ideas on how to help with the process, contact Mecelaicaite at (978) 616-1471 or email [email protected]

HADDADcontinued from page A1

TOURcontinued from page A1


Guests were welcomed to the new dining hall at the Winchendon School, decorated for the holidays and resplendent with refreshments.

an event dedicated to remembering and honors the fallen heroes of our nation. Each year, Winchendon holds its own wreath lay-ing and ceremony and all are wel-comed to help or simply show grat-itude for every-thing our veterans have done for our communities and nation over the years.


Members of the Knights of the Inferno raised $2,800 with a golf tour-nament this year for the Wreathes project, and are already planning next year’s fundraiser.

WREATHScontinued from page A1


NOTICE OF MORTGAGEE’S SALE OF REAL ESTATE

Premises: 1 Pearl Street, Winchendon, Massachusetts By virtue and in execution of the Power of Sale contained in a certain mortgage given by Jay A. Valliere to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc., as a nominee for Accredited Home Lenders, Inc., said mortgage dated 6/5/2007, and recorded in the Worcester County (Worcester District) Registry of Deeds, in Book 41283 at Page 240 and now held by US Bank NA as Legal Title Trustee for Truman 2013 SC4 Title Trust by virtue of an assignment from Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. to US Bank NA as Legal Title Trustee for Truman 2013 SC4 Title Trust dated February 17, 2014 and recorded March 3, 2014 in the Worcester County (Worcester District) Registry of Deeds in Book 52087 Page 238, previously assigned by Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as nominee for Accredited Home Lenders, Incorporated, its successors and assigns to Wells Fargo Bank, NA by virtue of an assignment dated June 19, 2012 and recorded June 22, 2012 in the Worcester County (Worcester District) Registry of Deeds in Book 49162 Page 61, for breach of the con-ditions in said mortgage and for the purpose of foreclosing the same, will be sold at Public Auction on January 4, 2016 at 12:00 pm Local Time upon the premises, all and singular the premises described in said mortgage, to wit:A certain parcel of real estate with the buildings thereon situated in the village in Winchendon, Worcester County, Massachusetts, and bounded and described as follows:Commencing on the westerly line of Lincoln Avenue at the corner of Lincoln Place; thenceWesterly on the northerly line of Lincoln Place seventy-eight (78) feet to line of land now or formerly of heirs of Reuben Pratt; thenceNortherly on line of said heirs’ land one hundred and thirty (130) feet to line of land formerly of Elisha Murdock; thence Easterly on line of said Murdock land seventy-eight (78) feet to the westerly line of Lincoln Avenue; thenceSoutherly on line of said Avenue one hundred and thirty (130) feet to the place of beginning.Lincoln Place above referred to is known as Pearl Street.This instrument creates no new bound-aries.

Meaning and intending to convey and hereby conveying the same premises conveyed by deed of Stephen M. Ares and Joan A. Ares, dated May 2, 2001, recorded in Book 23958, Page 299.The description of the property that appears in the mortgage to be fore-closed shall control in the event of a typographical error in this publication.For Mortgagors’ Title see deed dated May 2, 2001, and recorded May 2, 2001 in Book 23958 at Page 299 with the Worcester County (Worcester District) Registry of Deeds.TERMS OF SALE: Said premises will be sold and conveyed subject to all liens, encumbrances, unpaid taxes, tax titles, municipal liens and assessments, if any, which take precedence over the said mortgage above described.FIVE THOUSAND ($5,000.00) Dollars of the purchase price must be paid in cash, certified check, bank treasurer’s or cashier’s check at the time and place of the sale by the purchaser. The bal-ance of the purchase price shall be paid in cash, certified check, bank treasur-er’s or cashier’s check within thirty (30) days after the date of sale. Other terms to be announced at the sale. BENDETT & MCHUGH, PC

270 Farmington AvenueFarmington, CT 06032

Attorney for US Bank NA as Legal Title Trustee for Truman 2013 SC4

Title Trust Present Holder of the

Mortgage (860) 677-2868December 11, 2015December 18, 2105December 25, 2015

LEGAL NOTICEMORTGAGEE’S SALE OF

REAL ESTATEBy virtue of and in execution of the Power of Sale contained in a certain mortgage given by Jennifer MacDonald and Angus S. MacDonald, Sr. a/k/a Angus S. MacDonald to Ameriquest Mortgage Company, dated September 23, 2004 and recorded at Worcester County (Worcester District) Registry of Deeds in Book 34833, Page 158 of which mortgage Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Trustee for Ameriquest Mortgage Securities Inc., Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2004-R11 under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated as of November 1, 2004 is the present holder by assignment from Citi Residential Lending Inc., as Attorney-in-Fact for Ameriquest Mortgage Company to Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Trustee for, Ameriquest Mortgage Securities Inc. Asset-Backed Pass-Through

Certificates, Series 2004-R11, under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated November 1, 2004 dated January 15, 2009 recorded at Worcester County (Worcester District) Registry of Deeds in Book 43810, Page 157; and confir-matory assignment from Ameriquest Mortgage Company to Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Trustee for Ameriquest Mortgage Securities Inc., Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2004-R11 under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated as of November 1, 2004 dated February 11, 2011 recorded at Worcester County (Worcester District) Registry of Deeds in Book 47111, Page 143, for breach of conditions of said mortgage and for the purpose of foreclosing the same, the mortgaged premises located at 98 Morse Avenue, Winchendon, MA 01475 will be sold at a Public Auction at 3:00PM on January 8, 2016, at the mortgaged premises, more particularly described below, all and singular the premises described in said mortgage, to wit: All that parcel of land in Borough of Winchendon, Worcester County, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as more fully described in Deed Book 32558, Page 344, being known and des-ignated as metes and bounds property. The premises is more particular-ly described in the Deed(s) record-ed at Worcester County (Worcester District) Registry of Deeds in Book 32558, Page 344 to wit: That certain lot or parcel of land with any buildings thereon located in the Municipality of Winchendon, Worcester County, State of Mass; bounded and described as referenced below: Commencing at the Southeast corner of the lot at a stone monument set in ground on the Westerly line of Morse Avenue at its intersection with a proposed street running Westerly to Murdock Avenue; Thence: Northerly on the Westerly line of Morse Avenue sixty six and two thirds (66 2/3) feet to a stone monument at a corner of land now or formerly of Robert B. Greenwood; Thence: Westerly on line of said Greenwood land one hundred sixty-two and one-half (162 1/2) feet to a stone monument for a corner;Thence: Southerly on a line of said Greenwood land sixty-six and two-thirds (66 2/3) feet to a stone monument in the Northerly line of said proposed street; Thence: Easterly on line of said pro-posed street one hundred sixty-two and one half (162 1/2) feet to Morse Avenue at the place of beginning. Also another parcel of land in said Winchendon, bound-ed and described as follows: Commencing at the Southeast cor-ner of the lot at a stone monument set in the ground on the Westerly line of Morse Avenue, it being the Northeast corner of other land now or formerly of Arthur H. Raymond et ux; Thence: Westerly on line of said other Raymond land one hundred six-ty-two and one half (162 1/2) feet to a stone monument at land former-ly of Cummings and Greenwood now or formerly of Barton H. Harrigton; Thence: Northerly on line of said Harrington land thirty-three and one third (33 1/3) feet to a stone monument, at land formerly of Cummings and Greenwood, later of said Greenwood; Thence: Easterly on said land now or formerly of Greenwood sixty-two and one half (62 1/2) feet to a stone monument in the Westerly line of Morse Avenue. Thence: Southerly on the said Westerly line of Morse Avenue thir-ty-three and one third (33 1/3) feet to the place of beginning; Subject to and with the benefit of any and, or, all rights, restrictions, covenants and easements of record, insofar as the same may be in force and applicable. For mortgagor’s title see deed recorded with the Worcester County (Worcester District) Registry of Deeds in Book 32558, Page 344.The premises will be sold subject to any and all unpaid taxes and other municipal assessments and liens, and subject to prior liens or other enforce-able encumbrances of record entitled to precedence over this mortgage, and subject to and with the benefit of all easements, restrictions, reservations and conditions of record and subject to all tenancies and/or rights of parties in possession.Terms of the Sale: Cash, cashier’s or certified check in the sum of $5,000.00 as a deposit must be shown at the time and place of the sale in order to qualify as a bidder (the mortgage holder and its designee(s) are exempt from this requirement); high bidder to sign written Memorandum of Sale upon acceptance of bid; balance of purchase price payable in cash or by certified check in thirty (30) days from the date of the sale at the offices of mortgagee’s attorney, Korde & Associates, P.C., 321 Billerica Road, Suite 210, Chelmsford, MA 01824-4100 or such other time as may be designated by mortgagee. The description for the premises contained in said mortgage shall control in the event of a typographical error in this publication.Other terms to be announced at the sale.

Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Trustee for Ameriquest Mortgage Securities Inc., Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2004-R11 under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated as of November 1, 2004Korde & Associates, P.C. 321 Billerica Road Suite 210 Chelmsford, MA 01824-4100(978) 256-1500MacDonald, Angus S. and Jennifer, 15-020118, December 11, 2015, December 18, 2015, December 25, 2015December 11, 2015December 18, 2105December 25, 2015


By virtue and in execution of the Power of Sale contained in a certain mort-gage given by Peter E. Knowlton to Champion Mortgage, A Division of Keybank National Association, dated December 14, 2004 and recorded with the Worcester County (Worcester District) Registry of Deeds at Book 35358, Page 312, of which mortgage the undersigned is the present hold-er by assignment from Champion Mortgage, A Division of KeyBank, NA, A National Bank to Household Finance Corp II dated February 10, 2007 and recorded with said registry on March 12, 2007 at Book 40800 Page 76 and by assignment from KeyBank National Association formally known as Champion Mortgage, A Division of KeyBank National Association to Household Finance Corp II dated January 8, 2013 and recorded with said registry on January 25, 2013 at Book 50339 Page 341 and by assignment from Household Finance Corporation II to U.S. Bank Trust N.A., as Trustee for LSF9 Master Participation Trust dated September 25, 2015 and record-ed with said registry on October 6, 2015 at Book 54397 Page 78, for breach of the conditions of said mort-gage and for the purpose of foreclosing, the same will be sold at Public Auction at 10:00 a.m. on January 14, 2016, on the mortgaged premises located at 76 Main Street, Winchendon, Worcester County, Massachusetts, all and sin-gular the premises described in said mortgage,TO WIT:ALL THAT PARCEL OF LAND IN VILLAGE OF WATERVILLE, IN WINCHENDON, WORCESTER COUNTY, STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS, AS MORE FULLY DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 17316, PAGE 286, ID# 5D1-50, BEING KNOWN AND DESIGNATED AS METES AND BOUNDS PROPERTY.BY FEE SIMPLE DEED FROM FLORENCE M. BOSWORTH AS SET FORTH IN BOOK 17316 PAGE 286 DATED 09/01/1995 AND RECORDED 09/14/1995, WORCESTER COUNTY RECORDS, COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. For mortgagor’s(s’) title see deed recorded with Worcester County (Worcester District) Registry of Deeds in Book 17316, Page 286.These premises will be sold and con-veyed subject to and with the benefit of all rights, rights of way, restrictions, easements, covenants, liens or claims in the nature of liens, improvements, public assessments, any and all unpaid taxes, tax titles, tax liens, water and sewer liens and any other munici-pal assessments or liens or existing encumbrances of record which are in force and are applicable, having priority over said mortgage, whether or not ref-erence to such restrictions, easements, improvements, liens or encumbrances is made in the deed.TERMS OF SALE:A deposit of Five Thousand ($5,000.00 ) Dollars by certified or bank check will be required to be paid by the purchas-er at the time and place of sale. The balance is to be paid by certified or bank check at Harmon Law Offices, P.C., 150 California Street, Newton, Massachusetts 02458, or by mail to P.O. Box 610389, Newton Highlands, Massachusetts 02461-0389, within thir-ty (30) days from the date of sale. Deed will be provided to purchaser for recording upon receipt in full of the purchase price. The description of the premises contained in said mortgage shall control in the event of an error in this publication.Other terms, if any, to be announced at the sale. U.S. BANK TRUST, N.A.,

AS TRUSTEE FOR LSF9 MASTER PARTICIPATION TRUST

Present holder of said mortgageBy its Attorneys,

HARMON LAW OFFICES, P.C.

150 California Street Newton, MA 02458 (617) 558-0500 201401-0684 - PRPDecember 18, 2015December 25, 2015January 1, 2016


By virtue and in execution of the Power of Sale contained in a certain mort-gage given by George H. Beauvais and Tammy M. Beauvais to Family Federal Savings, F.A., a Massachusetts bank-ing institution, having its usual place of business in Fitchburg, Worcester County, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, said mortgage dated May 16, 2006 and recorded with the Worcester County Registry of Deeds in Book 38977, Page 180, as modified in Book 47152, Page 241, and as further Modified in Book 48951, Page 176, of which mortgage the undersigned is the present holder, for breach of the con-ditions in said mortgage contained and for the purpose of foreclosing the same will be sold at Public Auction at 11:00 o’clock A.M. on January 20, 2016, upon the mortgaged premises at 33 Sibley Road, Winchendon, Massachusetts, all and singular the premises described in said mortgage, To wit:“A certain parcel of land on the north-erly line of Sibley Road in Winchendon, Worcester County, Massachusetts being shown as Lot “1” on a plan entitled “Plan of lots prepared for owner: Joseph Mabardy, Jr., Trustee of Waterville Nominee Trust, Winchendon, MA, scale 1 inch = 40 feet, February 17, 2004, Edmond J. Boucher PLS, 4 Jolly Road, Royalston, MA, 01368” which plan is recorded with Worcester District Registry of Deeds, Plan Book 806, Plan 32, to which plan reference is made for a more particular description. Lot “1” contains 2.0009 acres according to said plan.Being the same premises conveyed to us by Deed of Jamison VanDyke dated August 11, 2004, recorded in the Worcester District Registry of Deeds in Book 34363, Page 365.”In the event of an error in this publi-cation, the description of the premises contained in said mortgage shall con-trol.Premises to be sold and conveyed sub-ject to and with the benefit of all rights, rights of way, restrictions, easements, covenants, liens or claims in the nature of liens, improvements, public assess-ments, and all unpaid taxes, tax titles, tax liens, water and sewer liens and any other municipal assessments or liens or existing encumbrances of record which are in force and are applicable, having priority over said mortgage, whether or not reference to such restrictions, easements, improvements, liens or encumbrances is made in the deed. The premises is also to be sold subject to the right of redemption of the United States of America, if any there be.TERMS OF SALE: The Mortgaged premises shall be sold in its entirety as a single lot by a single sale, the highest bidder shall be required to deposit TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($10,000.00) in cash or by certified, bank treasurer’s or bank cashier’s check at the time and place of sale as a deposit.The balance of the purchase price shall be paid in cash or by certified, bank treasurer’s or bank cashier’s check at the law office of Levoy & Wadhwa, LLC, 74 West Central Street, Natick, MA 01760 in or within thirty (30) days from the date of sale and the deed shall be transferred simultaneously. The suc-cessful bidder shall be required to sign a Memorandum of Terms of Sale con-taining the above terms at the Auction Sale.In the event that the successful bidder at the foreclosure sale shall default in purchasing the within described prop-erty according to the terms of this Notice of Sale and/or the terms of the Memorandum of Sale executed at the time of foreclosure, the Mortgagee reserves the right to sell the property by foreclosure deed to the second highest bidder providing that said second high-est bidder shall deposit with Mortgagee’s attorneys, Levoy & Wadhwa, LLC, the amount of the required deposit as set forth herein within three (3) business days after written notice of the default of the previous highest bidder and title shall be conveyed to the said second highest bidder within thirty (30) days of said written notice.The purchaser will be responsible for all closing costs, state documentary stamps and recording fees.The Mortgagee reserves the right to postpone the sale to a later date by public proclamation on or near the mortgaged premises at the time and date appointed for the sale and to fur-ther postpone at any adjourned sale date by public proclamation on or near the mortgaged premises at the time and date appointed for the adjourned sale date. Other terms, if any, to be announced at the Sale.

Family Federal Savings, F.A.Present holder of said mortgage

By its Attorneys, Levoy & Wadhwa,

LLC 74 West Central

Street Natick, MA 01760December 11, 2015December 18, 2015December 25, 2015

LEGALS



invested in his stu-dents,” said Zach Martins, class of 2014, to “honestly

I thought he was a bit strange and a little off his rocker,” said Pesce.

After having Forte in and out of the classroom, the experiences were nothing but positive.

“He is very passionate and enthusiastic. He took the time to get to know his students and be involved in our lives,” said Myranda Bishop, class of 2015.

“Forte is very personal and genuine. He would encourage you to try new things and to go for what you want, in school or life,” said Jordan Whelpley, class of 2015.

Chris Whitaker, a senior at Murdock, said, “He is one of the easiest teachers to talk to because he is just so real with you.”

High school is an important time. After graduat-ing one becomes part of the larger society and now

must be an active member of it. At a young age, children tend to not pay attention to the issues they will later face. And many are not taught what issues are out there and how to face them.

Forte changed that for stu-dents. Through his current events and politics course, students were able to view, discuss, and think about events that were happening in the world and shape their lives. Many were doing this for the very first time.

He would also tie in events happening in today’s world with his US history lessons to show it wasn’t just anoth-er issue that would be on a test. What happened then is affecting all us today.

He provided the tools for his students to go out and be informed members of soci-ety.

“He never tried to change our opinions or anything like that, he just tried to make sure there was one,” stated Whitaker.

If given the opportunity to say one thing to Forte, all those interviewed had trouble coming up with just one thing, but in the end said they would just thank him.

“Thank you for putting your heart and soul into your work,” said Bishop.

Forte was later asked about his career and the impact he has had on the students of Murdock.

He found that the hardest part of his job was, “Just every day you want to be good for your kids. I worked hard to be the best teacher, the best person I can be.”

The biggest accomplishment was, “Simply show-ing up every day with a smile on my face to try to be positive every day. Beyond that whatever my accomplishments are is for someone else to say that’s not for me to say,” said Forte.

In Forte’s classroom, college folders from the schools that his student have been accepted to were hung on the walls going around the room. Students also signed their names on the folders so future students could look and see where hard work could take them regardless of the fact they come from a small school.

Forte was asked what it is like to look at those college folders and think of the students that have succeeded under his teachings.

“I am thinking more about when I go into the middle school lunch room, about all the kids I won’t have. All the kids that I had are part of my life. I think of them of a present not a past. I’ve been here so long that that’s just weird to think of,” said Forte.

His image is not on his mind either. Students have nothing but great things to say about Forte and do nothing but praise him, but he isn’t really aware of it or why.

“It’s not for me to say what impact I’ve had on others. I am very aware of the impact you all, as students, have had on me. They have made me a better person, forcing me to new levels of thinking. You guys are just so good. I think I am incredibly blessed for the impacts you all have had on me,” said an emotional Forte.

To end the interview Forte was asked if there was one “golden nugget” of advice he had for any of his students, past or present. All he could say was, “who am I to give advice?”

Forte concluded with, “I’d just want to say thank you. I always thought I wasn’t good enough to be your teacher; that you were always smarter than me, and again I’m just grateful for the impact you’ve had on me and the experience.”

The River’s Edge302 Spring St. • (978) 297-7234

Breakfast - Lunch - BBQ SpecialsCatering Available

Buy one - get one 1/2 off with this ad • (one coupon per table). Not valid Sundays.

Open 5 a.m.-2 p.m. 6 days a week • Closed Tuesday

FORTEcontinued from page A1

Devils off to rocky startBY CHRIS MARTIN

COURIER CORRESPONDENT

WINCHENDON — The Murdock Blue Devils had their home opener last week taking on visiting Turners Falls. The Devils were looking to get the first win of the season, but would be halted with a 65-45 victory by Turners Falls.

For the first 5:13 seconds of the first quarter Turners went on a 9-0 run to open that would force Murdock to regroup and take time out. With 2:58 remaining Turners Falls would grab three more points for a 12-0 lead; but Jared Nelson would end the run giving his team their first two points.

Ryan Kaminsky would add three more points 24 seconds later to cut the lead to seven and then grab two more to cut the lead to five.

But Turners Falls would answer with another run of their own to take an 18-7 lead before the end of the quarter, and would end at 18-11 after one.

In the second quarter, it wouldn’t be any easier for the home team as Turners Falls would continue to run. Headed into halftime, Turners Falls would have a 37-19 lead.

The second half would be much of the same and Turners Falls would remain up by double digits the rest of the way, going on to a final score of 65-45.

Leading scorers for Murdock were Nelson with a team high 18 points, Nick Roy with 13 points, Daunte Pridgen with six points, Kaminsky with five points, Xavier Cepeda with two points and Dylan Farris added one.

In the holiday tournament last weekend, Friday was a loss to Gardner by 30 points but on Saturday the Devils finally flipped a switch and came ready to play against Athol. It was a tight game the whole stretch, but Murdock would lose in a heartbreaking 68-66 loss to the Red Raiders.

its route to a planned distribution center in Massachusetts. “I’m opposed to eminent domain unless it’s for public use,” he remarked. “You can’t have enough solar panels for New York city,” added Paul, pointing

out he supports expanding the use of nuclear power as opposed to fossil fuel.Kasich deflected a question regarding the pipeline, saying it’s his understanding

“states will have a big say” regarding the project.The Kentucky lawmaker said he’s the only fiscal conservative running for

President. “I think we should systematically go through the spending a little at a time,” Paul remarked.

With New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary less than two months away on Feb. 9, Paul said the country “needs a new brand” of leadership. Kasich argued “a proven executive” is necessary.

POLITICIANScontinued from page A5

Courtesy photo

MAKING THE HOLIDAYS A LITTLE BRIGHTER

On Sunday, Dec. 20, Scouts from Pack 193 and Troop 193 made their annual drop off of non-perishable food items to the Winchendon CAC. The Cub Scouts held a movie night and had been throughout town for donations and the Boy Scouts went door to door hanging flyers and then collecting the food a week later.

The Cub Scouts also raised enough money to purchase 31 turkeys for the fam-ilies in need just in time for Christmas. The total of food donated was 1,100 pounds

www.TheHeartOfMassachusetts.com

Documents

Stonebridge Press and Villager Newspapers - Friday ...2015/12/25 · by Stonebridge Press, 25 Elm St. St., Southbridge, MA 01550 Out of county rate is $56 per year. Periodicals postage