October 9, 2009 RSS feed / Front Page

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Plenty of pickin's at Marshall Farm

By Caroline Keras JOURNAL CORRESPONDENT
Fall means fun at Marshall Farm. Every Saturday and Sunday until Oct. 11, visitors can enjoy live music, an inflatable slide, a mechanical bull, and a homemade barbeque at the farm's Fall Festival in Fitchburg. More...

Budget news not good for school district

By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

The Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School Committee was told that the district budget was within a $150,000 of being completely spent during the last fiscal year and that this year's budget might be even closer to the bottom line. More...

Special Sections

Opinion

Federal stimulus charity begins at home

Over the course of the past week there has been a fair amount of criticism of Gov. Deval Patrick's use, or lack thereof, of federal stimulus money sent to Massachusetts. More...

State officials offer advice on battling influenza

By Jennifer Flanagan

Recently, my legislative colleagues and I met with the state's Commissioner of Public Health, John Auerbach, to ensure that all the necessary steps were being taken to prepare for the upcoming flu season. More...

Monty Tech's ROTC should be recognized for contribution

To the Editor: The Westminster's 250 anniversary parade was held on September 27. Many town's people and local bands and schools were involved and everyone should be commended on a job well done. More...

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Sports

Following the course

(Top left) Oakmont's Nate Young traverses Oakmont's home course in a tri-school meet on Tuesday, Oct. 6. Young placed third overall in the race, while the Oakmont boys took the meet by placing six runners in the top 10. More...

Running ahead of the pack

The Overlook boys' and girls' cross country teams ran against a huge squad from Skyview Middle School in Leominster on the Overlook course Monday, Sept. 28. More...

Oakmont Cross Country Round-up

Thursday, Oct. 1: The Oakmont boys' cross country team lost a close meet to number one ranked Nashoba, 25-31. Brendon Aylaian of Nashoba captured first place in a time of 16:45 over the threemile course in Bolton. More...

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Schools

Curling up with a good book

Second grade reading buddies Olivia Ray of Groton, Amaiah Ince of Ashburnham, and Meredith Yardley of Hollis, N.H., read together as part of a Drop Everything and Read (D.E.A.R.) time at Applewild School. COURTESY PHOTO More...

Learning new words

Third grader Connor Fagan receives his new dictionary from Thomas Ruble, a member of the Ashburnham-Westminster Rotary Club. The community organization annual gives dictionaries to the third graders at Westminster and John R. More...

Oakmont students are high scorers on national exam

Five Oakmont Regional High School students were recognized for their scores and placement on a national exam. More...

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Business

WCU works hard to raise money for community programs

United Way of North Central Massachusetts' Connie Hundt thanks the senior managers of Workers' Credit Union for the company's support for the organization. More...

GFA to conduct series of financial seminars

GFA Federal Credit Union will conduct a series of no-cost seminars covering topics to help people better manage their finances in the challenging economic environment. 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, Oct. 6, 2009
Compiled by Caitlyn Kelleher

Top Story: Selectmen supported the fire department goals developed by Fire Chief Paul Zbikowski for the upcoming year, including many longterm projects that will require a variety of intermediary steps. More...

Cultural Council seeks funding proposals

The Ashburnham Cultural Council has set a Thursday, Oct. 15 postmark deadline for organizations, schools and individuals to apply for grants that support cultural activities in the community. More...

Dancause earns Bronze Award

Nicole Dancause, a member of Cadette and Senior Girl Scout Troop #30123, earned her Bronze Award with her completion of her service project this fall. More...

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BREAKING NEWS: Legendary basketball coach, active community member to be remembered

William Wyman died Thursday

(FRIDAY, 5:15 P.M.) The Oakmont and Westminster communities will say good-bye to long-time basketball coach and teacher William H. More...

Reductions may claim personnel

Westminster's department heads warn cut might lose people in smallest offices
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Selectmen heard Monday night from representatives of most of the town's departments on how much they can cut from their budgets, which are already in the red this fiscal year due to reduced state aid. More...

News

MOC's fifth annual 'Taste Of North Central' on the schedule

This year marks Montachusett Opportunity Council's fifth annual "Taste of North Central," a fabulous night of great food, fun, and music to benefit the region's anti-poverty agency. The event will be held on Wednesday, Nov. More...

A closing party

The Ashburnham Farmers' Market is getting ready to close their season with a bang. Organizers believe the first season of the market, which is held on Mondays from 4 to 7 p.m., was successful with both the turnout of customers and vendors. More...

Enjoy the Westminster Farmers' Market

The Westminster Farmers' Market is open every Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. on Academy Hill Road, Westminster. The Market will be holding a free raffle tonight to win any number of the market's products. The drawing will be held at 6 p.m. More...

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Living Well

Fitchburg Ghost Tours takes walkers back in time

FITCHBURG — Take a step back in time and hear about the most prominent families in Fitchburg. More...

Fire department road race to benefit Lucky13 Foundation

FITCHBURG — This year's second annual Fitchburg Fire Department Verne E. Roy Memorial 5K Road Race will be held Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Fitchburg Fire Station, 33 North St., Fitchburg. More...

A Halloween Party at Drawbridge Puppet Theatre

LUNENBURG — Willy the Wizard's Halloween Party, a song-filled puppet show all about Halloween using shadow, hand puppets, and marionettes, will be performed Saturdays and Sundays, at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. More...

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Police Log

POLICE LOG

Ashburnham Tuesday, Sept. 29 5:07 a.m. Willard Road - Medical Emergency 5:10 a.m. Rindge State Road - Deer Struck 9:23 a.m. School Street - Assist Other Agency 10:38 a.m. Fitchburg Road - Medical Emergency 10:52 a.m. More...

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Obituaries

Thelma M. Cormier, 68

Worked for Independent Lock Co.; avid bingo player

FITCHBURG — Thelma M. Cormier, 68, of 350 Water St., died Monday, Oct. 5, 2009, in her home after a brief illness. She was born in Ste.-Antoine, New Brunswick, Canada on Oct. More...

Dorothy C. (Gage) Hickey LaDue, 87

An active member of the Westminster community

WESTMINSTER — Dorothy C. (Gage) Hickey Ladue, 87, of Meetinghouse Road, died Sept. 16, 2009, at her home after an illness. Dorothy was born in Leominster on July 28, 1922, a daughter of the late Franklin M. and Eva E. (Blood) Gage. More...

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Westminster

Zoning study group takes center stage

By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

A group of Westminster residents studying the idea of creating a zoning district to allow mixeduse construction, such as residential/commercial or business/industrial, has taken its first step -- clarifying its role. More...

Lions give a roar of approval

The Westminster Lions Club honored (front row left to right) Irene Kamila, Donna Brownell, Betsy Hannula, (second row) Evelyn Giammalvo, Lorraine Emerson, Bob Mason, (third row) Stanley Skamarycz, Melody Gallant (fourth row) Bob Cudak, Glenn Forsyth, More...

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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