August 7, 2009 RSS feed / Front Page

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Murder suspect kills self after standoff

Police had surrounded Rodeway Inn
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER
Nearly 40 police officers from Westminster, Fitchburg and the State Police surrounded the Rodeway Inn on Main Street for most of Saturday afternoon after Westminster Police identified the vehicle of a suspected murder. More...

Special Sections

People & Events

Artists paint the town

Artists in north Central Massachusetts are at work painting outdoor scenes in Westminster this summer. Those works of art will be in an exhibition on Saturday, Aug. 8, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. More...

CALENDAR

7 FRIDAY The Fitchburg Farmers' Market will be open from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the lower parking lot of the Wallace Civic Center, John Fitch Highway. The market will remain open on Fridays through early October. Call (978) 807-2317. More...

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Living Well

Enjoy a night out just for the ladies

LEOMINSTER — Ladies Night Out is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 20, beginning at 5 p.m. and will take place throughout Leominster at participating businesses. More...

August Quilt Show to be held

First Church of Templeton will once again hold a quilt show on Aug. 15 and 16, in conjunction with the Narragansett Arts and Crafts Fair. More...

B-I-N-G-O at Knights of Columbus each Thursday

LEOMINSTER — Leominster Knights of Columbus Council #406, located at 484 Lancaster St. (Route 117) hosts Thursday Night Bingo each week with doors opening at 4 p.m. Bingo starts at 6:30 p.m. More...

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Sports

Fall Sports Practice Schedule

Oakmont Regional High School Boys and Girls Cross Country: Thursday, Aug. 27, 2 to 4 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 28, 8 to 10 a.m.; and Saturday Aug. 29, 8 to 10 a.m. Girls Soccer: Thursday, Aug. 27, 2 to 5p.m.; Friday , Aug. More...

New hockey league forming for youngest players

A new hockey league will be starting this fall for children eight years old and under. The registration for a MITE only hockey league will be held on Thursday and Friday, Aug. 20 and 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Cushing Academy. More...

NHL coach holding goalie clinic NH

ASHBURNHAM — Jim Bedard, goalie coach of the A Detroit Red Wings since 1997, will hold his annual goalie Detro clinic on Saturday, Aug. 8 and Sunday, Aug. 9, at Cushing clini Acad Academy. More...

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Police Log

Ashburnham

Tuesday, July 28 11:51 a.m. Puffer Street - Assist Other Agency 5:50 p.m. Central Street - Suspicious Activity 7:09 p.m. Central Street - Out On Investigation Wednesday, July 29 1:33 a.m. More...

Westminster

Wednesday, July 29 9:10 a.m. Worcester Road - Motor Vehicle Accident no injury or hazmat; Caller reports her vehicle was forced off the road by a white van passing her states she now has two flat tires 10:18 a.m. More...

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Obituaries

Claire Louise Holmes, 80

Loved to be with her family; cooking and gardening

ASHBURNHAM — Claire Louise Holmes, 80, of 53 Crosby Road, died at her home after an illness on Thursday, July 30, 2009. Claire was born in Ashland on July 28, 1929, the son of the late George and Vera (Adams) Ballentine. More...

Hope F. (Brown) Paradise, 91

Was an active member of the Ashburnham community

ASHBURNHAM — Hope F. (Brown) Paradise, 91, formerly of Jewell Hill Road, died Tuesday, July 28, 2009, in Quabbin Valley Healthcare, Athol, after an illness. More...

Suzanne M. "Sue" (Richard) Pelletier, 52

Was a long-time resident of Ashburnham

ASHBURNHAM — Suzanne M. "Sue" (Richard) Pelletier, 52, of South Pleasant Street in South Ashburnham, died Wednesday, July 22, 2009, in Heywood Hospital, Gardner, surrounded by her family following a long illness. More...

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Westminster

Mixed-Use Overlay Committee members sought

The town is seeking citizens-at-large to volunteer for the Mixed Use Overlay Committee. More...

Civil War Encampment to offer historical fun

A Civil War Encampment, by Historical Happenings (the Matson Family), will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29, at the V.F.W. field, located off Main Street, Westminster. Enjoy games, food, and a sulter's shop. More...

A sweet treat for the hungry

By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

A commercial on the Food Network led to days and nights of baking for Colleen and Mackenzie Cole as they participated in the Great American Bake Sale. More...

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Time for you to decide who's BEST in North Central

Second annual contest starts in this week's Community Journal
By Caitlyn Kelleher EDITOR@THECOMMUNITYJOURNAL.COM

Are this year's favorites the same as last year's top picks for the Best of North Central? Who serves the best cup of coffee in this area? Or the best pizza? This is what we want you, the readers, to tell us. More...

Family farm marks its half-century anniversary

By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Doug and JoAnne Helenius celebrated the 50th year of Odd Pine Farm yesterday, when they opened their cultivated blueberry fields to this year's pickers. More...

News

United Way's Day of Caring set

The 14th Annual Day of Caring is set for Thursday, Sept. 10,and on that day volunteers with the United Way will help area nonprofit agencies do many things including stock kitchen pantries, paint, clean, landscape and read to children. More...

Yankee Street Fair coming again

The First Congregational Church of Westminster will hold the 68th annual Yankee Street Fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29, at the church, 138 Main St., Westminster. More...

Westminster Cultural Council seeks funding proposals for this year

The Westminster Cultural Council set October 15, as the postmark deadline for organizations, schools and individuals to apply for grants that support cultural activities in the community. More...

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Opinion

List of Demands

By Josh Farnsworth

Transparency is supposed to be a beneficial practice - in concept. It allows full disclosure and gives the general public a chance to decide for themselves, instead of having a one-sided answer spoon-fed to them. More...

Editorial Letters to the Editor

In rememberance

To the Editor: I met Aaron Creamer and his family in 1988. It was about a year after my diving accident which paralyzed me from the chest down. More...

Former superintendent disappointed in vote on MASC

To the Editor: I was disappointed to read in the July 24 edition of The Community Journal that the school committee voted "to eliminate the funding ($5,000) for membership to MASC (Mass. Assoc. More...

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Schools

New student registration upcoming

Overlook Middle School will be registering new students who live in Ashburnham or Westminster on the following dates, Tuesday, Aug. 18, and Wednesday, Aug. 19. Please call the guidance office at (978) 827-1422 for an appointment. More...

MWCC announces Spring 2009 President's and Dean's Lists

GARDNER—The following local Mount Wachusett Community College students were named to the President's List for the 2009 spring semester: Brianna Bodley- Gomes, Christina Lajoie, Mary Soeldner, all of Ashburnham; and Kerri Higgins, Jessica Soto More...

Monty Tech student wins in Pride program

FITCHBURG — Destiny Connolly of Ashburnham won both a Monty Tech sports t-shirt and a tool box as part of the Bulldog Pride program at Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School. More...

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Worship

WORSHIP COLUMN

ASHBY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH Located at the Common in Ashby. If you are seeking a Christian worship service and fellowship, please join us Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. (July 5th through September 6th) for worship service. More...

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Ashburnham

Meeting Matters

Ashburnham Board of Selectmen Monday, Aug. 3, 2009
Compiled By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Top Story: Selectmen heard positive reviews of a recent trip to the relatively new Swampscott Senior Center, which is located in that town's new high school. More...

Chartwells lands district lunch contract

By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

The Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School Committee voted on Tuesday to take the recommendations of officials and continue with the district's current lunch program provider. More...

Sportsmens Club to host beginner trap shooting program

The Fitchburg Sportsmens Club will host a beginner's trap shooting program from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 16, at the club, 289 Rindge State Road/ Route 119, Ashburnham. More...

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