April 17, 2009 RSS feed / Front Page

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Briggs chosen as administrator for Ashburnham

By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER
Ashburnham selectmen have unanimously agreed to offer Rutland Selectman Douglas Briggs the position of town administrator after interviewing Briggs and fellow finalist Christopher Ryan on Monday night. More...

Mixed reaction to proposed zoning change in Westminster

Overlay district would allow commercial development
by Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Many residents expressed concern at a public hearing on a proposed mixed-use zoning district on more than 100 acres of land in the western part of Westminster. More...

Getting the questions answered

The Ashburnham Business Council hosted a candidates' night Thursday, which fell after our press time. The Community Journal invites our readers to get coverage of this event on our Web site, www.thecommunityjournal. More...

Special Sections

Opinion

Editorial

The perfect spot

There is a developer looking to build a commercial shopping area on the western edge of Westminster near Route 2 and Route 140, close to the Gardner line. More...

People must never forget about the Holocaust

By Rabbi Alan M. Alpert

The term Holocaust literally means destruction by fire. It has become synonymous with the destruction of six million European Jews between the years 1933 and 1945. More...

Democracy in Action versus democratic inaction

SPEAK OUT Jim Holman Westminster resident

On Monday night, April 13, my wife and I attended a town meeting at the Westminster Elementary School to meet representatives from Waterstone Retail Development, More...

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Living Well

Willy Wonka Jr. at Theatre at the Mount

The musical Willy Wonka, Jr., based on the book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," will be presented by Theatre at the Mount on Saturday, April 18, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. All seats are $6. More...

A hobby on display

Former Ashburnham resident shows sketches at library
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Maurice Couturier spends his free sketching people's faces and now more than 180 of those sketches are on display in the community room of the Stevens Memorial Library in Ashburnham. More...

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Schools

Students honored as good citizens

Oakmont Regional High School student Lucas Fichtel was one of a number of students from the area 'shigh schools honored by the Captain John Joslin Jr. Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution. More...

Peer mediation program returns to Monty Tech

Dillon Handy of Ashburnham was one of 12 local students that completed a three-day peer mediation training program conducted by the Mediation Services of North Central Massachusetts Inc. under a grant from the state. More...

MWCC offering information sessions on academic programs

GARDNER — Mount Wachusett Community College scheduled spring information sessions for prospective students interested in learning about academic programs available at the college. More...

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Police Log

POLICE LOG

Ashburnham Tuesday, April 7 11:39 a.m. Walk-In - Request to Speak With Officer 1:59 p.m. Phone - Animal Control 2:45 p.m. Dunn Road - Suspicious Activity 6:08 p.m. Dunn Road - Complaint Wednesday, April 8 2:46 a.m. More...

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Worship

WORSHIP COLUMN

ASBHY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH Located at The Common, in Ashby. If you are seeking Christian worship, service and fellowship, please join us Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. More...

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Ashburnham

Selectmen put grant for fire department back before voters

By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Ashburnham selectmen voted Monday night to put the question of whether or not to hire more firefighters using grant and town money back on the warrant for the annual town meeting. More...

Three-alarm blaze destroys barn, house saved from fire

By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

A three-alarm fire that destroyed the attached barn on Highland Avenue on Monday evening is still under investigation by the fire department but it appears to be accidental. More...

School Committee ponders how to cover shortfall

By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

The Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School Committee members decided to wait until they hear if the staff members will make any concessions before deciding whether or not to seek an override to fund the short-fall in the certified budget. More...

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WEB UPDATE: Candidates part ways on overrides

By Caitlyn Kelleher Journal Reporter

(FRIDAY, 3:04 P.M.) The public got the chance to question the two candidates running for the Ashburnham Board of Selectmen last night, when the Ashburnham Business Council held a Candidates Night event. About 50 people turned out to hear answers fr More...

Blaze destroys barn

Firefighters battle a three-alarm fire that destroyed the attached barn at a Highland Avenue home on Monday evening. Please turn to page 6 for the story on the fire. JOURNAL PHOTOS/CAITLYN KELLEHER More...

News

News from Beacon Hill

Annual senior citizens holiday card contest announced Boston — Senator Stephen M. More...

Consumer protection comes through retention of appeals board

Boston- Earlier this month in a unanimous vote the House members voted in support of legislation to protect and solidify the Division of Insurance Board of Appeals. More...

Town wide yard sale planned

The Westminster Historical Society is planning a Town Wide Yard Sale for Saturday, June 20, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. More...

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Sports

In the Spotlight

Name: Amy Brackett Hometown: Ashburnham Age: 18 School: Oakmont Family: Mom-Karen, Dad-Doug, brothers - Nate-24 and Adam-20 Sport (current): Softball Team, League: Varsity, ORHS Favorite moment in sports: More...

Spartans take on Hudson

(Left) Oakmont pitcher Mark Ruberti throws to the plate with a pitch during a 16-4 loss to Hudson at home on Monday, April 13. The loss puts the Spartans record at 2-2 on the young season. More...

Helping another cause

Mitchell Swanson and his family - including his father Greg, his mother Corrie and his brother Cole - donated $1,000 to Bill Troy, the athletic director at Cushing Academy, to help him with the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge. More...

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Obituaries

Reverend Donald H. Baker, 68

Was pastor of several area churches

GARDNER — The Reverend Donald H. Baker, 68, Pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Gardner, died Thursday, April 9, 2009, at his home in the rectory, after an illness. He was the son of the late Preston A. and Grace F. (Jarvis) Baker. More...

Richard P. Sparks, 53

Worked at Ranor Inc.; had great sense of humor

LUNENBURG — Richard P. "Rick" Sparks, 53, of Lunenburg, died Thursday, April 9, 2009, in Jacksonville, N.C., as the result of an accident. He was born in Fitchburg on March 14, 1956, the son of the late Raymond K. Sparks. More...

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Westminster

Meeting Matters

Westminster Board of Selectmen Monday, April 13, 2009
Compiled by Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Top Story: A new kind of farm could be coming to Westminster. Selectmen heard initial plans Monday night to build a solar farm in the Westminster Business Park. More...

Historical Society to discuss Afghanistan

The next meeting of the Westminster Historical Society will feature Mary Ella Leiter, who will show photographs and talk about her experiences living in Pakistan and working with Afghan natives. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. More...

Depot Road to be closed for more than a year

By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Area residents driving Route 2 and trying to take the Depot Road shortcut into town or those trying to cross north-south over the state highway will have to find a new travel pattern for the next year or more. More...

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