October 23, 2009 RSS feed / Front Page

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Falling

An early snow fall covers the area on Sunday, Oct. 18, as residents were more focused on fall yard cleaning then on winter weather preparations. JOURNAL PHOTO/CAITLYN KELLEHER More...

Budget cuts reduce personnel at library, COA

By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Selectmen will recommend eliminating the Council on Aging director's position and cutting the a librarian's hours when voters convene at the Nov. 12 special town meeting. More...

Town prepares to conclude celebration

By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Six bands will be playing throughout the Village Inn as Westminster's 250th Anniversary Celebration concludes with a party on Saturday. More...

Special Sections

Opinion

Let the solar farm grow

Editorial

The proposal for the photo voltaic project in Westminster is a very exciting step into the future on both a local and a national level. The project will be operational in about two years, according to project developers Ansar Energy LLC. More...

Columnist was right when speaking about educational issues

Speak Out DICK MACKEY WESTMINSTER RESIDENT

The article in the Opinion section of the October 16th edition of The Community Journal: "The Pedagogy of Pedagogy" by Josh Farnsworth, would not be disputed by any teacher I know. Every word and phrase was valid. More...

Former classmate supports Michaud for selectman

Letters to the Editor

To the Editor: I'm asking you to vote for Laila (Jarvela) Michaud for selectman in Westminster. Laila has lived her whole life in this town and was a schoolmate of mine. She was always one of the top students and leaders in our class of 1963. More...

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Sports

Take aim

(Above) Oakmont golfer Erik Fagnant tees off on the ninth hole while competing in the match. He shot a 36 Tuesday, Oct. 20, which was his lowest score of the season. More...

Oakmont Cross Country Round-up

Saturday, Oct. 17: The Oakmont boys' cross country team finished thirteenth out of 27 teams at the Bay State Invitational in Northfield on Saturday. More...

THIS WEEK'S GAMES

Friday, Oct. 23 3:30 p.m. Girls' Middle School Field Hockey vs. Central Tree Middle, Rutland 3:30 p.m. Girls' Varsity Soccer vs. Narragansett Regional High 3:30 p.m. Girls' Junior Varsity Soccer vs. More...

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Schools

School Events

Monday, Oct. 26 through Friday, Oct. 30

Meetinghouse School Tuesday, Oct. 27 - Parent Volunteer Training Westminster Elementary School Tuesday, Oct. 27 - Parent Volunteer Training Overlook Middle School Monday, Oct. 26 - Picture retakes Thursday, Oct. More...

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Police Log

POLICE LOG

Ashburnham Tuesday, Oct. 13 8:24 a.m. Gibson Road - Medical Emergency 12:59 p.m. Winchendon Road - Medical Emergency 4:05 p.m. Cobb Road - Medical Emergency 4:27 p.m. Walk-In - Request To Speak With Officer 5:22 p.m. 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

Elementary enrollment number agreed to but not accepted

By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

The John R. Briggs Building Committee and the Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School Committee accepted a future enrollment figure for the building project on Tuesday night but both groups did it with reservations. More...

Ice Storm anniversary event in the works

Plans are underway to commemorate the anniversary of the Ice Storm of 2008 with an evening of shared photos, stories and discussions at Forbush Memorial Library on Thursday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. More...

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Westminster

Westminster budget cuts continue to be debated

By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Selectmen have not decided on final budget cuts to present to town meeting voters on Dec. 1, but they continue to talk with department heads about the impact. More...

Rotary Club to hold breakfast and meet the candidates

The Ashburnham-Westminster Rotary Club will host the three candidates for the Westminster selectman's position being vacated by Thomas O'Toole at its regular breakfast meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 4. More...

ZBA considers new farm in business park

By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Ansar Energy is hoping that Westminster's Zoning Board of Appeals will let their photovoltaic project in the Westminster Business Park see the light of day. More...

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BREAKING NEWS: DA

By Caitlyn Kelleher Journal Reporter

(WEDNESDAY, 5:42 P.M.) Westminster and State Police held a multi-hour standoff on Minott Road on Sunday that ended when Michael Membrino opened fire with a handgun. More...

BREAKING NEWS: State, local police have multi-hour standoff on Minott Road

Westminster man dies from gunshot wound

(MONDAY, 1:30 p.m.) As most of the streets of Westminster remained dark and quiet on Sunday night, Westminster and State police held a multi-hour standoff with Michael Membrino on Minott Road. Membrino, 49, who was pronounced dead at Heywood Hospita More...

Local woman hooks up with national bra-collecting campaign

By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Athena Goguen hopes to collect 1,000 bras on Sunday as part of a national effort to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research - and break a Guinness World Record. More...

News

'A Walk to Wachusett' comes to Forbush

Leominster resident Bob Young will host a slide presentation of his re-enactment of the journey taken by Concord native Henry David Thoreau "A Walk to Wachusett" at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. More...

Ashburnham library to host GFA's financial education seminars

GFA Federal Credit Union and the Stevens Memorial Library have partnered to offer a series of free financial education seminars at the library, located at 20 Memorial Drive, Ashburnham. The seminars will be held Monday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m. More...

Stevens Library holds story hours

The Stevens Memorial Library, 20 Memorial Drive, Ashburnham, is offering free story hours for pre-school children Thursdays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 29, Nov. 5 and 19, and Dec. 3 and 17. More...

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Living Well

Fitchburg Ghost Tours takes participants back in time

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

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 in October on Saturdays and Sundays, at 11 a.m. More...

The Best of Benny' coming to FSC

FITCHBURG — The music of Benny Goodman will fill Weston Auditorium when "The Best of Benny" is performed as part of the CenterStage at Fitchburg State College arts and cultural series. More...

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Obituaries

Margaret A. ("Peggy") Damon, 95

Long-time Ashburnham summer resident

ASHBURNHAM — Margaret A. ("Peggy") Damon, 95, a long-time Ashburnham summer resident, died at the Courville Retirement Home in Manchester, N.H. on Oct. 6, 2009. Peggy was the daughter of Richard A. Damon, Sr. More...

Pamela A. (Marien) Schultz, 66

Enjoyed time at Cape Cod, cooking and gardening

WESTMINSTER — Pamela A. (Marien) Schultz, 66, of Westminster, died peacefully Friday, Oct. 16, 2009, in her home after an illness. She was born on Feb. 17, 1943, in Gardner, the daughter of Francis J. and Alice J. (Kazokas) Marien. More...

Ruth Janet (MacLean) Wright, 97

Was long-time resident of Fitchburg; very athletic

LUNENBURG — Ruth Janet (MacLean) Wright, 97, of Lunenburg, died Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009, at the Legend Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Gardner. Ruth was born in Fitchburg on Nov. More...

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