(978) 297-0050 • Saturday, … · 2012. 12. 28. · certs. The auditorium rang out joyously with young voices and earnest instruments. As is traditional at Murdock, the final piece

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(978) 297-0050 • www.winchendoncourier.com Newsstand: 75 cents Saturday, December 29, 2012

LOCALStudents of the

Month

PAGE 2

LOCALContest winners

PAGE 9

WEEKLY QUOTE“Knowledge is power.”

Sir Francis Bacon

BY JERRY CARTONCOURIER CORRESPONDENT

WINCHENDON — It’s been a fix-ture in the region for almost threedecades, providing services and shel-ter for veterans and now theMontachusett Veterans OutreachCenter is coming to Winchendonwith their grand opening slatedsometime in the next few weeks.

Located across from Old Murdockon what’s technically known as theStallings Campus (21 Murdock Ave.),the Center will offer a haven for vet-erans to receive counseling and findhelp with navigating various bureau-

cracies as well as numerous otherservices.

“The town has been very support-ive in helping us to get started,” saidexecutive director Charles Bollinger,who cited town manager JimKreidler and Second District Rep.Rich Bastien as being especiallyhelpful. “It’s been a process to findthe building, and it’s taken some ren-ovating, but here we are and ready tohelp the veterans in this communi-ty.”

At the moment, Bollinger heads athree-person staff, being joined byprogram director Trudy Dould and

activities coordinator and case man-ager Heidi Hagan.

“We’re always looking for volun-teers,” laughed Dould.

“And it’s really important for veter-ans to understand and remember allour services are free,” Bollingeremphasized.

“Every class of veterans, whetherfrom Vietnam or the Gulf War orIraq and Afghanistan, is differentfrom another class, and we can spanas much as 50 years,” notedBollinger, “but some of the issuesthey face are common to all of them.


WINCHENDON —Walk into thelocal Cumberland Farms store —in fact, go into any of some 500Cumby’s scattered across NewEngland, and you’ll see a holidayposter with a smiling model drapedin all sorts of festive lights.

That first-time model turns outto be Winchendon’s own AllieMorin, a senior at Fitchburg State

University, and daughter of localresteraunteur Sally Morin, ownerof the Glen Caffe`.

Allie is a communication majorwith an emphasis on photographyand had been interning at theMichael Indresano studio inBoston for several months whenthe Cumby’s campaign cameacross the radar.

She was already involved in the

BY RUTH DEAMICISCOURIER EDITOR

WINCHENDON — After severalmonths of anticipation, as those driv-ing by watched a building gutted,sided and basically rebuilt to accom-modate, Cruisers Diner has openedits doors.

Located on School Street at a siteoften known for its down home stylecooking, the tradition continues asNasreen Khan said that is exactlywhat her family wants to be knownfor as well.

Residents of Ashburnham, Khansaid this has been a dream for severalyears.

“My husband was doing well inauto body work, but it wasn’t what wereally wanted. We wanted to worktogether. And we wanted a restau-rant,” she said.

They looked around at what wasavailable, and looked for a while, nottaking just what was out there thefirst time.

A moment oftranquility

Patricia Lentz photo

For short while Christmas Eve,a group of young peoplereminded everyone just why wecelebrate this season as theygathered in the cold in front ofthe United Parish on FrontStreet to re-enact the nativity

story. Silently, they shivered inthe costumes and held thetableau as those who gatheredalso stood in silence; remem-bering the story and watchingas shepherds and wise menmade the adorations. Morephotos on page 10.

Turn To CRUISERS page A8

Turn To SERVICES page A8 Turn To CUMBY’S page A7

Cruisers newest dining experiencefor ‘down home’ cooking

Ruth DeAmicis photo

Sajjad, Nasreen and their son Sajid Khan have opened Cruisers Diner for breakfast andlunch.

Expanded veterans’ services now availableCatching a show biz bug via billboards

Local girl now the face of Cumby’s

WINCHENDON COURIER2 Saturday, December 29, 2012

PRESIDENT & PUBLISHERFRANK G. CHILINSKI

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CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICERRON TREMBLAY508-909-4102

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THE WINCHENDON COURIER

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MONTY TECHHONOR ROLL

WINCHENDON —Murdock Middle HighSchool spread holidayjoy over two nights asthe band and then thechoral groups took sep-arate days to give con-certs. The auditoriumrang out joyously withyoung voices andearnest instruments.As is traditional atMurdock, the finalpiece is played or sungwith alumni invited tojoin in and be part ofthe festivities.

FITCHBURG —- Nicholas J. DeSimone,principal of Montachusett RegionalVocational Technical School, announces thehonor roll for the first marking period of the2012-13 school year.

SPECIAL HONORS: Hunter Manley(Phillipston, 2013), Jillian Manty (Phillipston,2014), Rhiannon Fletcher (Royalston, 2016),Marissa Arseneau (Templeton, 2013), EricHill (Templeton, 2013), Shelby Arseneau(Templeton, 2015), Katheya Singussen(Winchendon, 2013), Kiersten Bellar(Winchendon, 2014), Kelsey Bosselait(Winchendon, 2014), Shannan Nutt(Winchendon, 2016), Julia Pfeifle(Winchendon, 2016).

HIGH HONORS: BALDWINVILLE: DaleBelliveau Jr. (2013), Victoria Carrier (2013),Dylan Kasper (2013), Ryan Levesque (2013),Nathan Lucas (2013), Kelsey Shea (2013), GageFavreau (2014), McKenzie Lyons (2014), KaylaPaine (2014), Erin Cregg (2015), Rachel Davis(2015), Neiva LaBrecque (2015), DarrenBelliveau (2016) and Paul Brandon (2016).EAST TEMPLETON: Thora Stickney (2014).OTTER RIVER: Emily Langlais (2013) andJillian Brouillet (2016). PETERSHAM: RenataLanciani (2016). PHILLIPSTON: Justin Pucko(2013) and Vanessa Montesdeoca (2014). ROY-ALSTON: Meredith Carrier (2013), StormEaston (2013), Michael Persson (2013), JoshuaRoberts (2013), Corey Baker (2014), ElizabethMaynard (2015), Ryan Sawyer (2015), LorynKillay (2016), and Melissa Persson (2016).TEMPLETON: Ashley Bailey (2013), SophiaDiDonna (2013), Nicholas Gionet (2013),Courtney Harkins (2013), Taylor Wilson(2013), Erin Brown (2014), Jonah Bryant(2014), Sarah Haley (2014), Amber Haney(2014), Kaitlyn Morris (2014), NicholasNogueria (2014) Brooke Boulanger (2015),Matthew Elsevier (2015), MacKenzieMacAdams (2015), Rebekah Provencher(2015), Dylan Steinhaus (2015), Dana Symonds(2015), Sarah Bailey (2016), Sarah Boudreau(2016), Audrey Boyce (2016), Rebecca Gilbert(2016), Kyle Morris (2016), Wesley LeBlanc(2016), and Kaitlyn Norcross (2016).WINCHENDON: Ronald Alger III (2013),Brandon Beals (2013), Taylor Caruso (2013),Mikel Cravatta (2013), Rose Denis (2013),Allison Durling (2013), April Goodwin (2013),Emily Romano (2013), Keara Sweet (2013),Emily Costa (2014), Kaleigh Flagg (2014),Sarah Gage (2014), Jare3d Maxfield Jr. (2014),Jacob Michelson (2014), Vanessa O’Brien(2014), Marissa Schecker (2014), SpencerUguccioni (2014), Andrea Bickford (2015),Gwendolyn Bronnes (2015), SamanthaBuckler (2015), Brandon Ellis (2015), RachelHaley (2015), Joseph LeBlanc (2015), OliviaLore (2015), Michaela Mitchell (2015), JordanRichard (2015), Cole Bilodeau-Stacy (2016),Adam Brooks (2016), Gabrielle Calder (2016),Amanda Carrescia (2016), William Clukay(2016), Brian Labier (2016), Rebecca Mackie(2016), Cheryl Thomas (2016), and Jacob VanHillo (2016).

HONORS: BALDWINVILLE: MatthewLepkowski (2013), Hannah Campbell (2014),Justin Dennis (2015), Sarah Rusch (2015),Brodie Earle (2016), Brielle Lepkowski (2016),and Jacob McDonald. EAST TEMPLETON:Christopher Malm (2014) and Kelsey Wick(2014). ORANGE: Anastasia Anderholm(2013). OTTER RIVER Joshua Albert (2013).PETERSHAM: Kevin Kowalczyk (2016).PHILLIPSTON: Justin Boudreau (2014), LenaChristian (2014), Jake Hastings (2014), NoahRoy (2015), Ashley Scaplen (2015), BethanyValois (2015), and Paul Garny (2016). ROYAL-STON: Sydni Ayers (2013), Devin Bates (2014),Colleen Demboske (2014), Emily Mangum(2015), and Taryne Swan (2016). SOUTH ROY-ALSTON: Eric Duffin (2014). TEMPLETON:Eric Beland (2013), Brandon Byrne (2013),Mannie Nogueria (2013), Brooke Alexander(2014), Hailey Bibeau (2014), Jaclyn Cartee(2014), Timothy Cormier (2014), Alaina Gionet(2014), Taryn Lawrence (2014), Ashley Teeter(2014), Joshua Shepard (2015), Kati White(2015), Casie Harkins (2016), and MitchellKoren (2016). WINCHENDON: CalebBergeron (2013), Brigitte Hamel (2013),Matthew Lizotte (2013), Charles Nasiatka(2013), Trisha Randall (2013), Andrew Safford(2013), Max Santonastaso (2013), TaeshaContois (2014), Austin Cyganiewicz (2014),Shawn Grover (2014), Matthew Parmenter(2014), Nicholae Varieur (2014), AshleyArsenault (2015), Kayla Beauvais (2015),Adam Becotte (2015), Cody Caley (2015), AlexCantin (2015), Raymond Dexter (2015),Elizabeth Duval (2015), Kailey French (2015,Sarah Hosnander (2015), Cody Husselbee(2015), Isabella Smith (2015), CarleyTreshinsky (2015), Aaliyha Baldwin (2016),Trevor Bibeau (2016), Cameron Couch (2016),Christopher Croteau (2016), Michael LeBlanc(2016), Scott Ploskonka (2016), Cynthia Roy(2016), Macy Saulnier (2016), Megan Skinner(2016), Edward Tonet (2016), and AshleyTousignant (2016).

Murdock celebrates the season

The band plays intently.

Our own drummer boys.Patricia Lentz photos

Inviting alumni to join them, an expanded chamber group sings lustily.

WINCHENDON —The students of themonth were intro-duced to the SchoolCommittee at themost recent meeting.

December students of the month

John Dansin pictured with his parents John and Gina Dansin and his sisterJanelle, was named student of the month at Memorial Elementary.

Senior Bronte Torres Pagan was nominated byMr. Birney, who writes, “Bronte has performed inan exemplary fashion in all facets of my 20thCentury World History class. She completes allassignments as expected, participates in allclass discussions, collaborates fluidly in smallgroups, and infuses the class with a sense ofoptimism in the face of some real world chal-lenges. Additionally, Bronte has maintained avery high A grade.”

Olivia Beauvais with momKelly and dad Chris, washonored as student of themonth at Toy TownElementary. Olivia is a thirdgrade student in Mrs.Chambers class. Mrs.Chambers confirms the fol-lowing: “Olivia enters theclassroom each morningready to learn and with asmile on her face. She is anexceptional student wholoves to write and draw.Olivia is a great reader andhas recently taken an inter-est in biographies. She isalways kind to her class-mates and is willing to helpanyone out. Even herteacher is thankful for allthe help she offers! Olivia isa pleasure to have as a stu-dent. She is a positive influ-ence on other students”

Cassidy Morey, with parents Tracy and Jason Morey. Cassidy was nominated bythe 8th Grade Team as the middle school student of the month. “Cassidy is aconscientious, hardworking young lady. She always has a positive attitude andis an eager participant in all classes.”

Leaving the risers and gathering at the piano for a continuation; someone left behind their shoes.

WINCHENDON COURIER 3Saturday, December 29, 2012

The Winchendon Courier is committedto accuracy in all its news reports.Although numerous safeguards are inplace to ensure accurate reporting,mistakes can occur. Confirmed facterrors will be corrected at the top righthand corner of page three in a timelymanner. If you find a mistake, call(978) 297-0050 during normal businesshours. During non-business hours,leave a message in the editor’s voicemailbox. The editor will return yourphone call. Or contact the editor at thefollowing email: [email protected].

AACCURACYCCURACY

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Holiday open houseWINCHENDON — Murdock Whitney

House Museum will be open for tours anda reception to welcome the new year onSunday, Jan. 6 from 3-7 p.m. Come see themansion showcased for the holidays, meetyour local historical society and learnmore about Winchendon and how you canbe part of it all. Free and open to the pub-lic, tours will be available.

WINCHENDON — A new tradition hasstarted here as a small committee has found away to encourage charity and artistry in thesame venue. The Empty Bowls project is in itssecond year, and organizers Doneen Durlingand Darlene Rossi, while they might havehoped for more participants, were more thanpleased with the help given.

“The local restaurants were more than gen-erous,” explained Rossi.

Glen Caffe, the Carriage House, LittleAnthony’s and the Harbour all contributed agreat potful of soup to the project. The varietyranged from chicken vegetable, beef and bar-ley to Mexican wedding soup and a creamybutternut squash.

The rolls were provided by Hannaford’s.And just how were you able to partake of

the rich offerings? By purchasing a bowl.And not just any bowl, but a handmade

bowl, done by local high school aged artisans.Students from the Winchendon School,Murdock and the after school programs in

town had all worked on the pottery projects.The variety was endless, and it was hard todecide on a choice. But once a decision wasmade, Durling or Rossi would “fill” the bowlwith your choice of the soup for a modestdonation to the cause; this year being theCAC. Filling the bowl was actually done into aliner to keep from despoiling the pristinethrown pottery; which may or may not havebeen food safe.

Following this year’s event, which fell fortu-

itously on Dec. 21, those in attendance wereinvited to stay for a winter solstice celebrationconducted by Rossi.

The two events took place at the UnitarianUniversalist Church.

Empty Bowls serves it up

Patricia Lentz photos

Camaraderie was part of the evening as those who took part sat around the tables and had a good visitwith one another.

Doneen Durling helps Jane and Ed Galat decidewhat kind of soup to choose.

Your choice of pottery bowls could mean a toughdecision.

Dakota Wood and Kathleen Mazza volunteered theirtime to help with the Empty Bowls project, and werein the kitchen dishing up the soup.

��

JOYCE WATERHOUSE PHOTOHere we come a-caroling!

The kids were at a fun little cookie/caroling party Laura Wightmanorganized. They enjoyed some Christmas treats then headed aroundtheir neighborhood to sing Christmas Carols. In the photo are ShaeliDavis (age 7), Emily Wightman (age 6) and Sammy Waterhouse (age 7).Spreading holiday cheer the old-fashioned way!

WINCHENDON —Memorial ElementarySchool held its holiday con-cert last week and had every-one swinging and swaying tothe tunes. Unfortunately, theicy weather canceled the con-cert for Toy TownElementary.

PATRICIALENTZ PHOTOS

Candleflame slightly askew, thisyoung miss is intent on her song.

Tiniest carolers

Above, Red and green scarves are the style. Right, Some watch the conduc-tor, and others have something else on their radar.


VIEWSOpinion and commentary from Winchendon and beyond

WINCHENDON COURIER

EDITORIAL LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

This little light of mine

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER: FRANK CHILINSKIEDITOR: RUTH DEAMICIS

To the Editor:Written to parents, faculty, students and

friends:As I write this evening, I am deeply sad-

dened by the school tragedies in China andthe US today. Simultaneously, I am strugglingto reconcile these horrors with events inPakistan and Afghanistan where youngwomen are risking their lives to get an educa-tion. Nowhere in this world should any stu-dent have to take risk to learn, nor shouldtheir parents have to worry about their kidsgoing off to school.

It is clear that we aren’t there yet. Today’shorrible losses serve to remind us how hardwe must work to ensure that students here inthe U.S. and throughout the world can go toschool safely.

Tonight our thoughts are with the familiesand school communities that suffered suchhorror today. I can’t begin to comprehend thesense of loss they must feel.

And if any good can come out of this, itshould be a reminder of how precious theright to education is and how we must redou-ble our efforts to ensure that kids can learn insafety wherever their school is.

Safety isn’t just an issue in urban schools,or in those threatened by forces such as the

Taliban. Today’s atrocities in Newtown, CTare a reminder that these things happen ineven the nicest communities, and it is why weare committed to safety every day inWinchendon. We take lots of precautions,some which irritate our students and parents,and we remind all including our parentsabout the importance of being constantly vig-ilant. We have a close working relationshipwith the Winchendon Police Department, andwe consistently review our practices and safe-ty protocols. I spend a lot of time explainingthose protective measures, but I don’t apolo-gize for them.

Instead I dream of the day that studentseverywhere will be safe, and we won’t need totake such precautions. The sad irony of thisis that no amount of security or safety stepswill make our schools and communities total-ly safe. Only education and understandinghave a chance of getting us there.

Please keep those families in Connecticutand Henan, China in your thoughts andprayers.

JOHN KERNEYHEAD OF WINCHENDON SCHOOL

Kerney: tragedies in schools

Studied decisions

The year is coming toan end and the usualcelebrations havebeen toned down a

great bit because of the horri-ble Newtown, CT tragedyabout which much has beenwritten.

As emotions run high andfunerals and memorials occuralmost every day for the smallchildren so brutally taken from their families,there has been a lot of talk about our currentapproach in the United States to gun control.

I have an opinion.I accept that almost everyone has an opin-

ion.It is also obvious that most of those opin-

ions are, at the moment at least, fiery, unyield-ing and causing a great deal of unease aroundthe country.

It is not my intention to present an opinionin this column on this issue. That decision isbased on my belief that controversial issuesthat relate to national policy, and toConstitutional interpretation, best occurthrough the slow, rational thought processthat has the best chance of arriving at a rightconclusion about the way forward.

The climate for such a discussion does notexist at this moment in time in our country.

This is the time for cooler heads to prevail.It is time for a Congressional committee, or

even better, a Special Committee, populatedwith reasonable people from all sides of the

“gun debate” to gather andtake testimony, revisit boththe Constitution and whatConstitutional law professorscan put forward in the way oforal and written argument, toweigh the opinion of the peo-ple when they are not angryor afraid, and to draw upwhatever legislation oramendments seem appropri-

ate to the realities of American life in thetwenty first century.

None of us will benefit from a rush to judg-ment on something this important to ourfuture.

Cool Heads.Learned Scholars.Fair and Equitable Hearings.The end result of these things will be the

best possible decision for our country. Like somany of you, I understand the problem, thefear, and the danger. But I am also invested ingetting the final decision right. That rarelyhappens when quick or emotional decisionsare made in response to an event no matterhow heinous.

All of this needs to be put in perspective andthen a good decision rendered, one which willmeet all our needs and be viewed as the natu-ral continuation of our Constitutionallybased Republic.

For further information:[email protected]

There have always been ide-ological extremists. Therehave always been irra-tional and illogical ideas.

There have always been peopleand pundits who whine and com-plain but never actually getinvolved in the public arena. Godforbid. There have always beenobservers, or perhaps onlookers isthe better word, who will tell usthat, “both sides are to blame” nomatter what the issue, and certain-ly no matter what the facts.

So what we’re seeing these days ,as 2012 draws to a close, isn’t any-thing new. Last Friday, in its infinitewisdom, or maybe idiotic lack there-of, the National Rifle Associationresponded to the Newtown calamityby suggesting we put armed cops inevery school in the United States,thus disqualifying itself from fur-ther participation in sensible andserious debate. No mention of agree-ing with the idea that maybe lettingprivate citizens have access toassault weapons isn’t such a goodthing. No talk about agreeing thatimproving mental health optionswould be smart. No, indeed. Just putarmed police in the schools. That’llsolve the problem.

There were, of course, inevitably,those who agreed with this insanenotion not, by the way, that any of theproponents, most of them fiercespending-cut conservatives, actuallyhad a plan about how to pay for thishare-brained scheme. How to pay forit doesn’t matter anyway, becauseobviously, this idea will never get offthe ground, but still, you have to won-der about the mindset of folks whoactually believe guns in schools are agood idea. Will we just allow theschool cops to have guns? How aboutthe custodians? Or the bus drivers?Or the cafeteria workers? Do we nextarm the kid selling popcorn at themovies, too? Or just the kids who arethe ticket takers? What universe arethese people living in?

It’s a very strange mindset thatgenuinely believes schools will be

safer if there are more guns there.But this is same mindset that is cer-tain, and I mean absolutely positive,that when Democrats win elections,there must have been voter fraudinvolved. This is the same mindsetthat is utterly sure that when HouseRepublicans blew off SpeakerBoehner’s “Plan B” last week beforehe could even get them to vote on it,somehow this too, was as much thefault of the Democrats as it was theRepublican caucus, even though Irather doubt too many Democratswere invited to the GOP conference.

And so, if no agreement has beenreached, or isn’t reached by Monday,and your taxes go up on Tuesday,New Year’s Day, because theRepublicans have dissolved intowhat the Washington Post accuratelycalled “warring tribal factions” thefolks who cling to this mindset willstill insist the Democrats will beequally to blame.

How do you talk to people who hon-estly think like that? The sad truth is,you can’t. You can’t reason withthem. Even though the late Sen.Daniel Patrick Moynihan famouslyand acidly and rightly, once said,“you’re entitled to your own opinionsbut not your own facts” there are

those out there and you know themand I know them, who simply don’tlive in the real world when it comesto American politics and policy.

So what do we do? The answer, Ihave regretfully concluded, is to sim-ply ignore them. Let them babble onFacebook or Twitter or on the FAUXNews talk shows or other outlets.Believe it or not, there actually stillare responsible conservatives, morethan we sometimes might think, whoare open to rational discussion. Letthe extremists and the cynics dwellin their alternate universe with theirown set of “facts.” The same holdstrue, by the way, for the nutcases outthere on the far left, too. The more weisolate their absurdity, the better thechance for sane debate: about gunsafety, about mental health, aboutbudget priorities, about the kind ofconsensus we’d like to try and bringabout on numerous issues. Theseothers? They think the recent elec-tion was some sort of cosmic mis-take, or at the very least, that 68 mil-lion or so voters had to have beenbought off somehow. Forget them.Ignore them. They have nothingworthwhile to offer to any discus-sion.

The year is ending on a profoundly

sad note. I’ve rarely seen crowdedmalls and stores so quiet beforeChristmas as I did last week. Thismight well be the saddest end to anyyear since 1963 when the assassina-tion of the President six days beforeThanksgiving sent the country intodeep mourning for quite some time.But we are nothing if not resilient.We are by nature an optimistic, for-ward looking people. WinstonChurchill reminded us that democra-cy is the worst form of governmentthere is, except for every other sys-tem that’s ever been tried. As usual,Sir Winston was right. It’s beenenlightening that when Ihear/see/read about how awful ourpolitical system is, these whinersnever have any suggestions aboutwhat to replace it with.

That’s why I respectfully, oh hell,that’s why I simply say — maybe notrespectfully because they don’tdeserve it — let them wallow whilethe rest of us—- well, we can contin-ue to engage in reasoned, yet pas-sionate and vigorous, energeticdebate because we sure have plentyto talk about, don’t we? I think we do.

Happy New Year.

As the year ends

As we enter a new year, we always doit with great expectations. Weresolve to do better, at everythingfrom losing weight to ridding our-

selves of clutter; from getting a good job tosaving money. There are statistics thatshow how much gym memberships jump inJanuary, and quickly attendance at thosesame gyms drop off again in February.

The soul is willing but the flesh is weak.We always need to start…and stay…small.Choose a small change, and stick with it.

Don’t choose to lose 50 pounds in sixmonths, choose to lose a pound in the nexttwo weeks. If you did that, a pound everytwo weeks or so, that would still be the same50 pounds but it doesn’t sound as big. It is amanageable sum. Two weeks…one pound.Any one can do that!

So it is with anything in life. We often letour ambitions outweigh ability. Right nowwe are stuck in the politics of the fiscal cliffand gun control. We need to remind thePowers That Be they also need to, perhaps,think small. Don’t change the world, changewhat they can.

Gun control as an example needs onemajor change only: assault weapons. Wecan absolutely justify the 2nd Amendmentfor handguns and hunting rifles. We cannotin any consciousness see what civilianneeds to own an assault weapon. Ban themoutright for anyone not belonging to theUnited States military and be done with it.Period. Confiscate the ones already in theworld. Leave the others alone. The worldwill be a little safer. Not much, but a little.Because face it, those who own guns illegal-ly will still get them illegally and the devilbe hanged whether they are banned or not.But not selling them at gun shows andteaching eight year old babies how to shootthem (and then having them shoot them-selves in the process) will stop.

And sick children who should have hadhelp 10 years ago won’t have them in thehouse to use either.

As for the fiscal cliff; while it will hurt allof us if we have to pay higher taxes becausethe deadlines pass, it just might be a goodthing all around if it DID come to pass andevery one of the legislators was forced todeal with the fall out at the program levelthat would be affected. It would be devastat-ing, but it would shake out some of thebureaucracy too and in the long run mightnot be such a bad thing.

Finally, a sober holiday has passed; withlittle fanfare and heavy hearts. People havesaid they can’t remember such a solemnseason since 1963, when a president wasassassinated just before Thanksgiving. Welook at the photos of the Memorial Schoolstudents singing their hearts out for theholiday concert and can’t help but realize

they are the age of the Sandy Hook chil-dren. These little ones are the age that werelost; these innocents with the fresh facesand bright eyes.

If it didn’t hit you before, look again. Thiscountry cannot afford to lose like thisagain. We have been killing our young citi-zens for years, in the inner cities with gangviolence, with drugs, with domestic vio-lence and child abuse. We have been ignor-ing those with mental health issues for atleast 50 years; since some one decided clos-ing institutions for them and setting themloose without supervision or care was bet-ter for them; or leaving them with theirunprepared families to cope.

This time the two problems met head on;and it was children killing children thatcaught our attention.

Isn’t time we stopped feeling sorry forthem and got them help instead?

JERRYCARTON

JOURNEY

OF THE

HEART

Patricia Lentz photo

Memorial School students are the same age asSandy Hook Elementary students. When we seethem, we can see the same innocence.

JACK BLAIR

NOTES OFCONCERN

BY JOE CALLAHANLife can be so difficult at times. Each person

in a family has needs, ambitions and hopes.Each member needs attention and care fromfamily members and friends. Love and suste-nance are two of the greatest of family needs.Parents generally care for most needs and attimes, parents give more than they can afford.

However, smooth roads in life never last.With each bump in the road, a family adaptsand sacrifices are made. Sometimes, sacri-fices disturb or curtail certain family mem-

bers’ lives. The family survives, but a mem-ber’s life is never the same again.

Soon year’s pass and family membersbecome heads of other families; each motherand father provide for their children’s wantsand needs. Lives once again are mingled withneeds, ambitions, and dreams of a better life.Onward and onward, relationships developthat change families’ history and success forgenerations to come.

And for the good times, a dream does cometrue. But hard choices in life have to be made;

otherwise there are no rewards later. It takeshard work to reach that better place in life andno timetable exists for it. After this betterplace is attained, then the next plateau has tobe climbed or success may be short lived.

Before you know it, you’re at the next leveland perhaps you shouldn’t want to go any far-ther in life; since you are in the middle of thepack, two steps forward and two steps back,you’ve positioned yourself well, and in thefuture you’ll just deal with what you know; souncertainties and bad luck won’t ruin your

life.You have your wonderful family, a house, a

superb career, and extra cash. And it wasworth it; relax, enjoy, and don’t take unneces-sary chances, as your good life will certainlychange and for what? You have your family’smany past sacrifices as your constantreminder, embedded in your historicalessence, sacrifices made many times over andover again.

Complicated lives


Market supports local Salvation ArmyASHBURNHAM — Ashburnham

Market Place, Ashburnham’s com-munity supermarket since 1952, ispleased to announce its support forthe Gardner Area Service Unit ofthe Salvation Army. The donation,presented by Market Place ownerDarshan Patel and general managerJason Ellis, will go to support localservices in the greater Gardnerregion.

The Gardner Area Service Unit ofthe Salvation Army works to helpneighbors in Ashburnham,Gardner, Hubbardston, Templeton,Westminster and Winchendon withpersonal and financial emergenciesby providing practical aid, personalsupport and compassion.

“Ashburnham Market Place has along history of supporting our localnon-profit organizations. TheSalvation Army is an excellentorganization, and we are excitedthat our donation will stay local andhelp people in our own communi-

ties,” said Ellis.In addition to supporting the

Salvation Army through a directdonation, Ashburnham MarketPlace also hosted the GardnerService Unit’s annual kettle drive,providing space at the store’sentrance and exit doors for volun-teer bell-ringers to collect donationsfrom Market Place customers.

“We were very pleased to be ableto help the Salvation Army thisChristmas season, and we hope thiswill be the beginning of a long rela-tionship,” said Patel.

Ashburnham Market Place is afull-service supermarket. Foundedin 1952, the supermarket featuresfarm-fresh produce, an in-storebutcher shop, deli department, fulltake-out restaurant, and in-storebakery.

The newly formed Gardner AreaService Unit of the Salvation Armyworks to help neighbors inAshburnham, Gardner,

Hubbardston, Templeton,Westminster and Winchendon. Ourall volunteer staff is dedicated toserving those in need. Kettle collec-tions and business sponsorshipshelp us deliver toys to underprivi-leged children and gifts to nursinghome residents at Christmas time,and provide assistance with food,clothing, utility bills, medicine andother items throughout the year toour neighbors in financial distress.

PATRICIA LENTZ PHOTOS

WINCHENDON — Santa was out testing the rein-deer and sleigh the week before Christmas and made aquick stop at the local McDonald’s for a snack. Peoplefound out and crowded the local store to get a quickvisit.

SANTA MAKES ANEARLY STOP

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Submitted photo

Ashburnham Market Place managerspresent a donation to the Salvation ArmyGardner Area Service Unit. Pictured fromleft to right: Jason Ellis, Market PlaceGeneral Manager; Will Leslie from theSalvation Army; Darshan Patel, MarketPlace Principal Owner; Jay Patel, MarketPlace Operations Manager; Dan Allenfrom the Salvation Army Gardner ServiceUnit. The presentation was made atAshburnham Market Place on Saturday,Dec. 22.

People caught sight of the old gentleman through the windows andveered into the parking lot quickly to visit.

Above left, And some just wanted a chance to give him agreat big old hug. Right, Children took advantage of the visitto make one more plea for a favored present.

Editor’s Note: The information contained inthis police log was obtained through public doc-uments kept by the police department, and isconsidered to be the account of the police. Allsubjects are considered innocent until provenguilty in a court of law.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 17

12:30-4:25 a.m.: eight building checks,secure; 12:56 a.m.: burglar alarm (CentralStreet) secure; 1:56 a.m.: disturbance(Woodlawn Avenue) unfounded; 6:26 a.m.:ambulance (Brown Street) transport; 7:54a.m.: assist motorist (Glenallen Street) assist-ed; 9 a.m.: property found (Walnut Street) infotaken; 9:14 a.m.: entry on trespass notice(Juniper Street) info taken; 9:25 a.m.: generalinfo (Main Street) info taken; 10:31 a.m.: fraud(Banner Place) report taken; 11:11 a.m.: gener-al info (Bayberry Circle) info taken; 12:08 p.m.:ambulance (Summer Street) transport; 12:15p.m.: general info (Wendell Drive) info taken;12:35 p.m.: missing license plate (walk in)report taken; 12:46 p.m.: officer wanted(Willoughby Road) unable to locate; 1:18 p.m.:general info (Gardner Road) info taken; 1:47p.m.: officer wanted (Maple Street) assisted;2:46 p.m.: general info (Gardner Road) reporttaken; 3:10 investigation (Memorial Drive)report taken; 3:35 p.m.: investigation(Ingleside Drive) info taken; 3:48 p.m.: proper-ty damage (Franklin Street) report taken; 5:44p.m.: investigation (Crosby Road) info taken;6:33 p.m.: suspicious MV (Main Street) spokento; 6:57 p.m.: larceny (Court Street) info taken;7:21 ambulance (Mill Street) transport; 7:50p.m.: investigation (West Street) no policeservice necessary; 9:24 p.m. ambulance(Pleasant Street) no fire service necessary.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18

12:04 a.m.: fire alarm (Ash Street) falsealarm; 12:30-5:03 a.m.: nine building checks,secure; 12:40 a.m.: extra patrols (GoodrichDrive) secure; 12:54 a.m.: extra patrols (SpringStreet) secure; 7:23 a.m.: MV repossession(West St.) info taken; 8:00 a.m.: MV violation(Central Street) traffic citation issued; 8:07a.m.: power outage (Washington Avenue)referred to other agency; 9:14 a.m.: violation ofharassment order (Willoughby Avenue)report taken; 9:50 a.m.: stolen MV (Mill GlenRoad) report taken; 10:13 a.m.: ambulance(Grove Street) transport; 11:29 a.m.: generalinfo (Mechanic Street) spoken to; 11:41 a.m.:trespassing (Front Street) info taken; 11:53a.m.: larceny (Spring Street) report taken;12:34 p.m.: stolen MV (Glenallen Street) reporttaken; 3:28 p.m.: MV stop (Spring Street) traf-fic citation issued; 3:34 p.m.: burglar alarm(Lakeview Drive) building secure; 3:53 p.m.:investigation (Lakeview Drive) buildingsecure; 4:02 p.m.: animal complaint (HaleStreet) info taken; 4:30 p.m.: suspicious MV(North Ashburnham Street) spoken to; 4:59p.m.: registration check (North AshburnhamStreet) no police service necessary; 5:32 p.m.:warrant check (Pleasant Street) no policeservice necessary; 5:52 p.m.: MV stop (FrontStreet) verbal warning; 6:34 p.m.: MV stop(School Street) verbal warning; 8:04 p.m.:intoxicated person (Lincoln Avenue) reporttaken; 8:19 p.m.: other suspicious (Pearl Drive)

negative area search; 8:19 p.m.: ambulance(Walnut Street) transport; 8:27 p.m.: suspi-cious person (Central Street) no police servicenecessary; 9:11 p.m.: accident (Spruce Street)arrest: Jase K. Murphy age 21 of 7 ReadyDrive, Winchendon: OUI liquor, and negligentoperation of MV; 10:43 p.m.: suspicious person(Glenallen Street) unable to locate.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19

12:09 a.m.: fight (Lincoln Avenue) servicesrendered; 12:43-1:58 a.m.: seven buildingchecks, secure; 12:54 a.m.: MV stop (SpringStreet) verbal warning; 2:46 a.m.: general info(Central Street) info taken; 5:33 a.m.: accident(Glenallen Street) summons: Matthew P.Wilson age 28 of 10 Forcier Way, Jaffrey: negli-gent operation of MV; 8:36 a.m.: officer want-ed (Spring Street) info taken; 9:55 a.m.: gener-al info (School Street) info taken; 10:52 a.m.:officer wanted (Maple Street) info taken; 11:12a.m.: investigation (Highland Street) spokento; 12:20 p.m.: MV operating erratically (RiverStreet) unable to locate; 12:35 p.m.: officerwanted (Mill Glen Road) report taken; 12:51p.m.: vandalism (Glenallen Street) info taken;1:49 p.m.: MV violation (Central Street) verbalwarning; 2:03 p.m.: larceny (Teel Road) spokento; 2:24 p.m.: mutual aid for fire (Main Street)services rendered; 2:30 p.m.: animal complaint(Vaine Street) info taken; 3:33 p.m.: generalinfo (Lincoln Avenue) assisted; 3:53 p.m.: 911hang up (Eagle Road) spoken to; 4:11 p.m.: FDcall (River Street) services rendered; 5:07 p.m.:arrest warrant (Central Street) unable tolocate; 5:10 p.m.: DPW call (Central Street)assisted; 5:25 p.m.: officer wanted (BrownStreet) assisted; 5:49 p.m.: arrest warrant(Central Street) spoken to; 6:21 p.m.: disabledMV (Railroad Street) advised officer; 6:39 p.m.:ambulance (Spring Street) transport; 7:02p.m.: warrant (Central Street) arrest: David M.Gordon age 41 of 306 Central St., Winchendon:warrant arrest; 7:44 p.m.: suspicious MV(Alger Street) spoken to; 8:25 p.m.: suspiciousMV (North Ashburnham Street) advised offi-cer; 8:55 p.m.: officer wanted (Pond Street) spo-ken to; 9:40 p.m.: MV stop (Central Street) traf-fic citation issued; 9:56 p.m.: traffic hazard(River Street) removed traffic hazard; 10:29p.m.: general info (Mill Street) spoken to; 11:32p.m.: suicide (Spring Street) report taken.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20

3:28-3:39 a.m.: two building checks, secure;3:41 a.m.: parking violation (Old GardnerRoad) info taken; 3:57 a.m.: parking violation(Chestnut Street) info taken; 4:06 a.m.: parkingviolation (Highland Street) info taken; 4:42a.m.: officer wanted (Gardner Road) assisted;6:19 a.m.: ambulance(Carriage Lane) trans-port; 6:44 a.m.: DPWcall (Central Street)referred to DPW; 7:35a.m.: investigation(Elmwood Road) spo-ken to; 7:53 a.m.: gen-eral info (Mill Street)info taken; 8 a.m.:DPW call (Eagle Road)referred to DPW; 8:25a.m.: entry on trespass

notice (Juniper Street) info given; 8:48 a.m.:MV operating erratically (Lincoln AvenueExtension) spoken to; 10:59 a.m.: MV violation(Gardner Road) spoken to; 11:58 a.m.: officerwanted (Murdock Avenue) spoken to; 2:01p.m.: ambulance (Goodrich Drive) transport;3:07 p.m.: general info (Gardner Road) assist-ed; 3:30 p.m.: MV operating erratically (Rte.202) spoken to; 4 p.m.: general info (phone)assisted; 4:01 p.m.: ambulance (Front Street)transport; 4:47 p.m.: 911 non-emergency call(Central Street) no PD service required; 5:02p.m.: officer wanted (Mechanic Street) spokento; 6:23 p.m.: general info (walk in) assisted;8:18 p.m.: MV stop (Baldwinville State Road)verbal warning; 8:23 p.m.: MV stop(Baldwinville State Road) verbal warning;10:15 p.m.: general info (Hyde Park Drive)unable to locate; 11:49 p.m.: MV stop (CentralStreet) verbal warning.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21

12:10-4:13 a.m.: seven building checks,secure; 1:31 a.m.: welfare check (addresses willnot be printed) spoken to; 3:29 parking viola-tion (Adams Avenue) traffic citation issued;6:39 a.m.: ambulance (Winchendon Road) nofire service necessary; 7:38 a.m.: harassment(Willoughby Avenue) spoken to; 9:23 a.m.: bur-glar alarm (Central Street) false alarm; 9:36a.m.: investigation (Crosby Road) reporttaken; 9:50 a.m.: ambulance (Central Street)transport; 10:22 a.m.: tree down (RobbinsRoad) referred to DPW; 10:23 a.m.: animalcomplaint (Hillside Terrace) referred to ACO;11:27 ambulance (Hale Street) transport; 11:46a.m.: accident (Baldwinville Road) reporttaken; 12:21 p.m.: suspicious other (AlgerStreet) spoken to; 12:34 p.m.: tree down (HighStreet) refer to DPW; 1:01 p.m.: officer wanted(Robbins Road) spoken to; 3:12 p.m.: assist citi-zen (phone) assisted; 3:15 p.m.: assist citizen(walk in) assisted; 3:29 p.m.: general info(Central Street) remove hazardous material;4:15 p.m.: general info (walk in) info taken; 4:17p.m.: disabled MV (Gardner Road) spoken to;4:56 p.m.: accident (Spring Street) reporttaken; 5:36 p.m.: ambulance (Central Street)transport; 5:40 p.m.: MV operating erratically(Gardner Road) info taken; 6:01 p.m.: generalinfo (Crosby Road) assisted; 6:05 p.m.: fire,mutual aid (Camry Court) call canceled; 7:10p.m.: general info (School Street) assisted; 7:20p.m.: assist citizen (Elmwood Road) assisted;7:35 p.m.: animal complaint (Goodrich Drive)services rendered; 8:01 p.m.: assist citizen(Baldwinville State Road) assisted; 8:20 p.m.:animal complaint (Goodrich Street) assisted;8:20 p.m.: gunshots heard (Rice Road) areasearch negative; 10:22 p.m.: disabled MV(Spring Street) assisted; 11:21 p.m.: distur-

bance, fight (Spruce Street) services rendered.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22

12:01 a.m.: fire alarm (Spruce Street) assist-ed; 1:04 a.m.: suspicious MV (Central Street)checked, secure; 1:07 a.m.: ambulance(Pleasant Street) transport; 8:57 a.m.: officerwanted (Mill Glen Road) removed to hospital;10:50 a.m.: FD call (Glenallen Street) servicesrendered; 12:15 p.m.: general info (CentralStreet) info taken; 12:57 p.m.: general info(phone) advised officer; 1:20 p.m.: ambulance(East Street) transport; 2:04 p.m.: officer want-ed (School Square) spoken to; 3 p.m.: alarm,type unknown (Front Street) checked, secure;4:20 p.m.: officer wanted (Pearl Drive) spokento; 4:35 p.m.: general info (phone) spoken to;4:59 p.m.: assist citizen (walk in) assisted; 5:05p.m.: burglar alarm (Baldwinville State Road)spoken to; 5:28 p.m.: larceny (Central Street)report taken; 5:34 p.m.: assist citizen (walk in)assisted; 6:11 p.m.: animal complaint (OakStreet) assisted; 6:18 p.m.: officer wanted(Mellen Road) call canceled; 6:24 p.m.: investi-gation (Central Street) spoken to; 6:56 p.m.:ambulance (Hyde Park Drive) assisted; 10:41p.m.: burglar alarm (Lakeview Drive) falsealarm; 11:50 p.m.: building check (MemorialDrive) secure.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23

12:36-2:40 a.m.: eight building checks,secure; 12:03 a.m.: officer wanted (SpringStreet) spoken to; 12:08 a.m.: MV stop (WaterStreet) assisted; 12:52 a.m.: suspicious MV(Spring Street) checked, secure; 3:03 a.m.: MVstop (Spring Street) verbal warning; 4:17 a.m.:officer wanted (Front Street) spoken to; 6:07a.m.: repossession of MV (Mechanic Street)MV towed; 8:22 a.m.: ambulance (IpswichDrive) transport; 9:12 a.m.: death notification(Robbins Road) message delivered; 9:15 a.m.:general info (walk in) info taken; 9:39 a.m.: MVstop (Gardner Road) written warning; 10:50a.m.: ambulance (Maple Street) transport;11:03 a.m.: intoxicated person (Spring Street)services rendered; 11:11 a.m.: abandoned 911call (Front Street) child playing with phone;3:25 p.m.: noise complaint (Baldwinville StateRoad) unable to locate; 5:06 p.m.: ambulance(Baldwinville Road) no FD service required;5:22 p.m.: noise complaint (Baldwinville StateRoad) area search negative; 5:42 p.m.: custodydispute (Pearl Drive) spoken to; 5:59 p.m.:ambulance (Front Street) transport; 6:08 p.m.:officer wanted (Central Street) spoken to; 6:50p.m.: ambulance (Maple Street) transport; 9:31p.m.: ambulance (Ipswich Drive) transport; 11p.m.: suspicious MV (Benjamin Street) unableto locate; 11:51 p.m.: transport (Gardner Road).


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POLICE LOG

56 WreathesRuth DeAmicis photo

Despite the efforts of Wreathes AcrossAmerica earlier this month, there was a verysmall shortage of wreathes to complete thework at the Massachusetts Veterans Cemetery.When it was discovered, volunteers set towork, particularly Bridgette Marinelli whohas veterans in her family. Her husbandinsisted her name be revealed, though she wasreluctant to admit it was she who worked tomake it happen, contacting various retailersand finding access to provide the last of thenecessary wreathes. Be sure, she said to men-tion Leominster Home Depot, who gave a gen-erous veterans’ discount. And To Each HisOwn Design who donated her time to createthe large red bows with ribbon donated by ananonymous donor. The Keene Home Depotalso provided some of the wreathes and onSaturday morning, a group of volunteers, pic-tured above, gathered to be sure every gravehad a wreath before the holiday.

casting call behind the camera when it was suggested thatshe take a shot at the modeling gig herself.

“I was, ‘no way.’ I was really hesitant. The idea seemedkind of weird to me,” Morin recalled. “But people kepttelling me I should do it, and how cool it would be if I gotthe job. They’d go around the office saying, ‘the model’shere, the model’s here’ and ‘oh, you’ve got great teeth, andyou’ve got a great lookand a great smile,’ andI finally said ‘okay’,and did the shoot,”she said.

Allie did about adozen shots and,“kind of forgot aboutit. But one day, a cou-ple weeks later, I wasloading the dishwash-er, true story, whenthe phone rang andthey told me I’d beenchosen as the only girlwith a couple of guysto do the campaign,”she beamed.

Handled by the FullContact advertisingagency, whose clientlist includes Au BonPain, Boston.com,Uno’s and Zipcar, theactual shoot took sev-eral hours, almostfour to be exact.

“They had to wrapme in these Christmas

lights,” laughed Morin. “It seemed like it took forever.“But everyone was really nice, really professional. They

made me feel really, really comfortable,” she said.Allie will graduate next spring, and while her ultimate

goal is to own her own photography studio, she admits tohaving caught the modeling bug, too.

“I’m starting my portfolio. I’m looking at going to somecasting calls. The whole experience was a lot of fun,” sheconfessed.


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LEOMINSTER — Marguerite A. (Basque)Emma, 89 years old, of Leominster, formerlyof Fitchburg, died Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012 in theLife Care Center of Leominster.

She is survived by three sons: Robert Emmaand his wife Jane of Winchendon, JohnEmma and his wife Linda of Wellington, FLand Michael Emma and his wife Pam ofLeominster; daughter Jayne Emma Perry andher husband David of Crystal Lake, IL; sisterLorraine Rousseau of Lunenburg; brotherEdmond Basque of Leominster; seven grand-children, five great grandchildren and a great-great grandchild. She was predeceased by hersister Doris Lortie and brother Lionel Basque.

She was born in Fitchburg on Nov. 19, 1923,

daughter of Antoine and Alma (LeBlanc)Basque and had lived in Leominster for manyyears. She graduated from Fitchburg HighSchool and had worked in research and devel-opment at the former Foster Grant Co. inLeominster, before retiring in 1985. Previouslyshe had worked at the former E.B. KingmanCo. in Leominster.

Services will be private. There are no call-ing hours.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributionsmay be made to the St. Jude Children’sResearch Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place,Memphis, TN 38105.

Richardson Funeral Home is honored to bedirecting arrangements.

Michael D. Thomas, 42WINCHENDON — Michael

D. Thomas, age 42 ofWinchendon, died WednesdayDec. 19 2012 at home.

Michael was born inGardner Jan. 30, 1970, a son ofthe late Dale and Elaine(Elola) Thomas, and lived inGardner most of his life

before moving to Winchendon three years ago.Michael married his beloved wife Monica G.(Rodriguez) Thomas on Jan. 10, 2003 andtogether they have shared over nine years ofmarriage.

Michael worked as an assistant manager forthe Sterilite Company of Townsend. He wasvery gifted mechanically. In his spare time,Michael enjoyed building cars and bicycles.

Besides his wife Monica, Michael is sur-

vived by one daughter; Melanie Thomas ofWinchendon, one brother Ken J. Thomas ofOrange, and several aunts, uncles, and extend-ed family.

Relatives and friends were planning tohonor and celebrate Michael’s life by gather-ing for calling hours in the CommunityChapel of Lamoureux Fletcher and SmithFuneral Home, 105 Central St., Gardner, onWednesday Dec. 26, 2012. His funeral servicewasheld in the funeral home on Dec. 29, 2012.Burial followed in New Cemetery, Old NimsRoad, Ashburnham.

The family has entrusted the care ofMichaels arrangements to the LamoureuxFletcher and Smith Funeral Home (fletcher-cares.com), 105 Central St., Gardner, MA01440.

Amanda Margaret ‘Mandy’ Crear, 24SWANZEY, NH — Amanda

Margaret “Mandy” Crear, age24, of 7 Eastview Drive,Swanzey, NH died suddenlyTuesday, Dec. 18, 2012 inUMass Memorial MedicalCenter, Worcester after beingstricken ill at her home.

Amanda was born inFramingham on Dec. 6, 1988, the daughter ofRichard A. Crear, Jr. and Sandra Baleno.

She attended Murdock High School inWinchendon and in 2006 received her GEDthrough Mount Wachusett CommunityCollege.

Amanda was currently attending RiverValley Community College in Keene, NH andwas employed as a baker by the Bread Shed inKeene.

She was a member of Cornerstone Church

in Winchendon.Amanda enjoyed fishing, four wheeling and

spending time with her friends. Her pet igua-na “Miyagi” was very special to her.

Amanda leaves her father, Richard A. CrearJr. of Gloucester; her mother, Sandra Balenoof Gardner; one brother, Timothy WayneGibson of Winchendon; one sister, BrittanyMae Crear of Valparaiso, IN; her paternalgrandparents, Richard and Jean Crear ofFalmouth, ME; her maternal grandmother,Margaret (Sproul) Baleno of Bolton; and twouncles, Thomas and Robert Baleno.

Funeral services were held Thursday, Dec.27 in the Boucher Funeral Home, 110 NicholsStreet, Gardner. Burial will be held at a laterdate. Pastor Jay Lilly from CornerstoneChurch officiated.

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

Mabel L. Speckman, 77RINDGE — Mabel L.

Speckman, age 77, of Rindgedied peacefully, Monday Dec.17, 2012, at her home in the lov-ing care of her son and family.

Mabel was born inPeterborough, NH on Feb. 9,1935, daughter of the lateLloyd and Helen (Eaton)

Fernald. She was a 1953 graduate of ConantHigh School in Jaffrey and had lived in Rindgesince 1961. She had previously lived in Jaffreyand in Arlington, VA.

Mabel had worked for Dr. Francis Wozmak inJaffrey and for several neurosurgeons inWashington DC before moving to Rindge andworking for the town of Rindge as the adminis-trative assistant and secretary to the selectmenfor over 14 years. More recently, Mabel hadbeen a pharmacy technician at Hannaford’s inRindge and retired in 2002.

Mabel was active in the community andbelonged to the Rindge Woman’s Club. She also

enjoyed reading and baking, and will always beremembered for having the best pies in Rindge.

She was married to Donald E. Speckmanwho died in 1992.

Mabel is survived by her son KevinSpeckman of Rindge; her three grandchildren,Steven Voyer of Westminster, Jason Gauthierof Winchendon, and Rebecca Gauthier ofAshburnham; 11 great-grandchildren, andmany nieces, nephews, cousins and closefriends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorialdonations for other patient care needs in theMonadnock Region, to Hospice at HCS, PO Box496, Peterborough, NH 03458.

Family and friends honored and remem-bered Mabel’s life by gathering for callinghours at the Cournoyer Funeral Home andCremation Center, 33 River Street, (Route 202)in Jaffrey on Friday, Dec. 28, 2012.

Burial will be private and at the convenienceof the family at Hillside Cemetery in Rindge.

OBITUARIESNancy Ann (Speed) Casavoy, 56

ASHBURNHAM — NancyAnn (Speed) Casavoy, age 56, of140 Cashman Hill Road,Ashburnham died peacefully,Friday, Dec. 14, 2012 in her resi-dence surrounded by familyfollowing a brief illness.

Born in Fitchburg on May 22,1956, she was the daughter of

the late Gordon and Helen (Hyde) Speed.Nancy graduated from Fitchburg High

School in 1974. She later earned her nursingdegree from Mount Wachusett CommunityCollege in 1986.

Nancy was a registered nurse employed inthe intensive care unit of Heywood Hospitalfor 25 years, retiring in 2011.

She was a fabulous cook, exquisite gardenerand talented seamstress. She enjoyed playingScrabble, doing counted cross-stitch and puz-zles. Nancy cherished time spent with her

family and her dog Brooklyn. Nancy alsoenjoyed spending summers in Vermont.

She leaves her husband of 26 years, Kevin C.Casavoy of Ashburnham; one son, Eric S.Progin of Gardner; two daughters, Jessica H.Progin of Gardner and Abbey H. Casavoy ofBoston; two brothers, Gary J. Speed and hiswife Robie of Walpole, NH and Robert C.Speed and his partner Donna of Winchendon;two sisters, Patricia L. Kalagher and her hus-band David of Gardner and Mary Maki-Boisclair and her partner Gerry of Worcester;her step-mother, Barbara Speed of Fitchburg;several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews andcousins.

A memorial service was held Thursday,Dec. 20 in the Boucher Funeral Home, Inc., 110Nichols Street, Gardner.

Memorial contributions may be made toHeywood Hospital, Oncology Department, 242Green St., Gardner, MA 01440

Alice D. Sirois, 83JAFFREY — Alice D. Sirois,

83, of Plantation Drive inJaffrey died peacefullySunday Dec. 23, 2012 at theGood Shepherd Health CareCenter following a period offailing health.

She was born in Jaffrey onSept. 1, 1929, daughter of the

late Alfred and Yvonne (Gauthier) Pelkey.Alice had attended Jaffrey schools and has

been a life long resident of this community.She retired from Millipore Corp in 1992 fol-

lowing 16 years of employment. Previously shehad worked at D.D. Bean & Sons Co for 31 years.

She was a communicant of St. PatrickChurch in Jaffrey.

Alice was married to Francis A. Sirois whodied July 30, 1984.

She most cherished the time spent with herfamily and especially the grandchildren. Sheloved them all very much.

Survivors include her three sons Francis ASirois Jr. of Troy, Richard A. Sirois of Rindgeand Michael P. Sirois of Jaffrey; six grandchil-dren; six great grandchildren; four sisters: RitaChamberlain and Marie Rene both of Jaffrey,Felice Johnson of Greenfield, and LorraineHolman of Winchendon; two brothers AndrewPelkey of Winchendon and Franklin Pelkey ofMarlborough; several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributionsmay be made to Good Shepherd Rehab &Nursing Center, c/o “Activities Fund”, 20Plantation Drive Jaffrey NH 03452 or to haveMasses said in Alice’s memory.

As per her request, there will be no callinghours.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebratedFriday Dec. 28 in St. Patrick Church, 89 MainSt., Jaffrey. Rev. Wilfred H. Deschamps, pastorofficiated.

Spring burial in St. Patrick Cemetery will beat the convenience of the family.

Mary Elizabeth ‘Betty’ (Carlson) Johnson, 86GARDNER — Mary

Elizabeth “Betty” (Carlson)Johnson, age 86, a lifelong resi-dent of Gardner died peaceful-ly Saturday, Dec. 22 at SterlingVillage, Sterling after an ill-ness.

Mary was born in Gardneron Oct. 24, 1926, the daughter of

the late Signe M. Carlson. Her husband of 44years, Carl Einar Johnson, died in 1993.

Mary graduated from Gardner High School,Class of 1944. She worked at Gardner SavingsBank for 35 years, retiring as vice presidentand mortgage officer. She served her commu-nity, devoting 36 years as a member of theGardner Housing Authority. She had alsoserved as treasurer of Petersham CountryClub, the Queen Lake Association andGardner Quota Club.

Mary was a member of Faith LutheranChurch. She had been a longtime active mem-ber of the former First Lutheran Church, hav-

ing served as Church treasurer, ChurchCouncil member and Sunday School teacher.

She is survived by a nephew, Dr. Stanley R.Gemborys and his wife Janyce of Manomet; aniece, Janice Blake and her husband Jamesand daughter Kirsten of Kennesaw, GA; agrand-niece Kyra Mercer and her husbandChris and son Connor of Duxbury; cousins,Dr. Richard A. Johnson of Boston and LindaJohnson of Gardner, and close friends, Paul,Lina, Leana and Marcus Carlberg of Gardner.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. onSaturday, Dec. 29 at Faith Lutheran Church,627 Green St., Gardner. Burial will follow inGreen Bower Cemetery. There are no callinghours.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributionsmay be made to the Faith Lutheran ChurchScholarship Fund, 627 Green St., Gardner,MA. 01440

Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 CentralSt., Winchendon is directing arrangements.

Marguerite A. (Basque) Emma, 89Martha (Thompson) Sweeney, 60WINCHENDON — Word

has been received of the deathof Martha (Thompson)Sweeney, age 60 on Dec. 6, 2012.She was born Nov, 11. 1952,and lived in Burnbridge, INwhere she lived with hergranddaughter Karisa as shefought a long battle with can-

cer. She was surrounded by family at the timeof her passing. She was the daughter of thelate Robert and Lillian Thompson I ofWinchendon.

Martha is survived by three children:Belinda Sinclair of Fort Wayne, IN; CandaceDortch of Avon, IN; and Jay Thompson ofDayton, IN; plus many great and great grand-children with whom she loved spending timewith often.

Martha was one of 14 siblings. They are Earl,George, and Robert Thompson II ofWinchendon; Larry Thompson of Woodbridge,VA; Jimmy Thompson of Messena, NY;Clifford Thompson of Gardner; and AliceTessier of Fitchburg. She was also preceded byKenneth Thompson of Oregon; HowardThompson of California; Leslie Thompson ofFlorida; Arthur Thompson of South Carolina;plus two sisters Rita McClenathan and PhillisGothwent of Athol.

Martha was an office secretary and moved toIndiana in the ‘80s. And even in later yearslived in Juno, AK, returning to Indiana a fewyears ago. She will be greatly missed by herloved ones.

Memorial donations can be made in hername to the American Cancer Society.

CUMBY’S continued from page 1


SPORTSSPORTS

A look back

If you buy what theAssociated Press is selling,then Michael Phelps is, as hewas four years ago, the

Athlete of the Year. If you buywhat Sports Illustrated is selling,it’s Lebron James. Valid choices,both, but let me throw out anoth-er name: Miguel Cabrera.

After all, all he did was win base-ball’s first Triple Crown in 45 yearsand help lead his Detroit Tigers tothe World Series. That’s not a badseason, is it? Not since Yaz in theRed Sox’ “Impossible Dream” yearof 1967 had there been a TripleCrown winner. Even horse racinghasn’t gone as long (Affirmed in1978 being the most recent) as base-ball. The Tigers, heavily favored inthe AL Central, barely scraped bythe White Sox to win the divisionbefore sweeping the Yankees in theALCS, and before being themselvesswept by the San Francisco Giantsin the Fall Classic. Obviously,Detroit wouldn’t have made the postseason without Justin Verlander,but they also wouldn’t have gottenthere without Miggy. You can make,I contend, quite a strong argument

for him as Athlete of the Year.Baseball had three other great sto-

ries. The Washington Nationals andOakland A’s came from nowhere, orat least the bottoms of their divi-sion, to win the NL East and ALWest respectively, the former beingpowered in large measure by theamazing teenager Bryce Harper.The Baltimore Orioles ended a 15year-drought by winning theAmerican League wild card game.Make that four stories. The Angelsdidn’t make it to October, but theydid unveil Mike Trout, and thismonth went all in again. LastDecember, the Halos added AlbertPujlos and CJ Wilson and finishedthird. This month, they added JoshHamilton. We’ll see.

The Red Sox were a disaster,

rivaled only by the Phillies in thatcategory. Derek Jeter was last seenbeing helped off the field, just likelongtime teammate Mariano Rivera.But the Nats, O’s, and A’s made it asummer to remember.

If the Orioles made it fun to be aBaltimore baseball fan again, theRavens made it excruciating to be afootball fan in Charm City whenthey came within a dropped pass ofgoing to the Super Bowl. The Giantswould beat the Patriots for the sec-ond time in four years, but as I writethis, stand on the edge of not evenmaking the playoffs. New England,though, is in as are repeatsBaltimore, Houston, Denver,Atlanta, Green Bay, and SanFrancisco. The usual suspects. TheBroncos, of course, showed theyhaven’t needed Tim Tebow at quar-terback because they signed someold guy who missed 2011. That oldguy’s old job was taken by AndrewLuck, one of three exciting rookieQBs. Russell Wilson has Seattle onthe verge of the post-season, andperhaps you’ve heard of RobertGriffin III as well. The Eagles andJets imploded — what a sports year

in Philly — and the Steelers andBears are staggering to the finishline.

Lebron finally got his first ring,but what are the chances of seven,as he promised when he signed withthe Miami Heat a couple summersago? The NHL has, again, disap-peared. Anyone notice? Tiger Woodscame back, at least to a degree, withthree non-Major wins. I’ll HaveAnother won the first two legs ofracing’s Triple Crown but came uplame before the Belmont. As anaside, his trainer faces a potentialsix month ban. Just saying. Whichreminds me — Barry Bonds is onthe Hall of Fame ballot in a coupleweeks.

Locally, when it comes to wins andlosses, while it wasn’t exactly a ban-ner year, there were a few successstories, but not many. Winchendon’sMajor level girls won the town’s fifthDistrict 3 title in seven summers.Murdock’s girls cross country teamwon leagues and the cheer teammade it six straight trips toRegionals. The varsity softball teamqualified for the post season for thefifth straight season but was uncere-

moniously bounced in their openingplayoff game as a two seed. The var-sity baseball team made a stronglate run, barely missing the post sea-son. The girls’ basketball teamtripled their win total.

The Pop Warner cheerleadersreturned to Nationals. Trevor Allen,Pat Culverhouse, and Andy Polcariplayed on a regional Big Baseballteam that nearly garnered a thirdstate title. The Senior baseball teambased in Gardner but includinglocal kids Tim Enwright, MattParmenter, Tyler Perry, and JustinSmith, made it to the semi finals.

But the boys’ basketball team wasblanked as was the boys’ soccerteam, and the girls’ soccer teamstarted over yet again with a sixthcoach in eight years. The footballteam never had more than 18 kids.Field hockey remained stagnant.The senior softball town team lost inSectionals. Major level baseballcouldn’t get past pool play. At leastuser fees remained reasonable.

And so, 2012. What lies ahead?Check next week for one fearlessforecast.

JERRYCARTON

TALKING

SPORTS


WINCHENDON — It’s been a busy post-Christmas week for Murdock Middle HighSchool’s varsity basketball teams as both theboys and girls were slated to hostNarragansett last night after they traveledover to Monty Tech on Thursday, but thesquads entered the week off different results.

The girls (2-2) completed a season sweep ofNorth Central Charter with a 31-20 road winduring which they scored 11 first quarterpoints while blanking NCC in that frame. Theboys, on the other hand, dropped two contests,losing 67-51 to Leicester after holding an 11-point edge, and fell in their home opener toMonty Tech , 65-50 after scoring the game’sfirst seven points and leading at the half.

League play begins next Wednesday, Jan. 2when the boys host West Boylston and thegirls visit that same opponent.

The Lady Devils had no trouble beatingNorth Central for the second time this month.After opening that 11-0 edge, they led 19-5 atthe half and 27-9 after three quarters beforecoasting through the final eight minutes.Autumn Brown led Murdock with eight pointswhile Sara Vose added six on a pair of three-pointers. Amanda Newell also had six points.CaSandra Parkhurst contributed four, CaitlinBaker drilled a three-ball, and Amber Brownand Morgan St. Pierre each scored two.

“Autumn, and Amber for that matter, haveimproved so much since the end of last year,”said coach John Maliska. “Their ball-han-dling, their shooting, every aspect of theirgames have gotten better and better. It showswhat hard work can do,” he added, noting thatAutumn has been Murdock’s leading or co-leading scorer in three of the first four games.

“This game showed what we can do whenwe execute right. When our press is workingand we’re playing tough defense, we look pret-ty good out there,” Maliska remarked.

The Blue Devils suffered a couple of toughdefeats. At Leicester, they led the Wolverines29-27 at halftime and 43-42 after three periods.

“Things were going really well, then theycalled time out and put the pressure on us andone turnover led to another and then anoth-er,” lamented Murdock coach Steve Ringer.“We were up by 11 in the third, but they justcame back at us.”

Kevin Suchocki scored 11 points, includingtwo three pointers, while Hunter Russelladded 10. Jack Murphy tallied nine, PatCulverhouse, eight and Corey Draleau con-tributed two.

If that loss was disappointing, and it was,Friday’s defeat at the hands of the Bulldogswas even more of a letdown. Murdock openedon a seven-point run as Austin Russell scoredthe opening hoop, Suchocki dropped anotherthree, and Culverhouse popped a jumper. Yet,

by the time the first quarter was over, MontyTech was in front.

“We play scared at times and when we do,we go back to our old bad habits,” said Ringer.Murdock had regained the lead at the half andextended that edge to 31-27 early in the thirdwhen Suchocki drilled another three pointerbut Monty Tech roared back with a 15-1 runand that was pretty much that.

“This one really hurt,” Ringer said lastSaturday after having had a chance to sleep onthe loss. “I admit, I’m completely drained.With just eight kids, we get tired but that’s thereality. Sometimes it seems like we’re reallythinking, and then the next minute we’re not.We make lazy passes when we get tired andthat means we beat ourselves. I’m trying to bepositive, but we really need to have somethinggood happen, to get a win,” he said.

Ringer pointed to the program at Sutton,where the Blue Devils lost earlier this year, assomething he’d like to emulate.

“The kids down there, they get that it’s aprivilege to play varsity basketball. They’vebuilt a successful program, I mean theybrought out all these balls for warm-ups whilewe had to go out and raise two grand just tobuy six balls and that seems like it’s a littlething, but winning basketball has becomepart of the culture there. That’s what I’d liketo see happen here, but it’s going to take awhile to get to that point,” he remarked.

Sutton also had 15 players and depth obvi-ously makes a difference too.

“We call ourselves the ‘Great 8’, but we haveno margin to error. We need to figure out waysto get kids to stay and get some of them tocome play basketball,” he pointed out. “Everykid on our team was sick last week, reallysick, and the schedule, with back to backs lastweek (Leicester/Monty Tech) and this week(Monty Tech/ ‘Gansett), hurts us a lot, butwhat can you do?” he asked rhetorically.

“We’re doing what we can to build a pro-gram. Our sixth, seventh, and eighth gradetravel teams — that’s all going smoothly. Ourplayers were at their practices last week, help-ing out. We have an athletic director (JennaHunt) who’s really committed to Murdocksports. Our kids are raising money for theprogram. They’re going to study halls, so in alot of ways, we’re doing really well.

“From those perspectives, I’m seeingprogress, but we need to do better things onthe court. I’m not a perfect coach and they’renot perfect players, so we have to get better atbelieving in each other.

“Winning can be contagious and can takecare of a lot of things, and we haven’t won ina long time, so if we can get one, that would bea big thing for us,” reflected Ringer.

Girls get a win; boys drop two

Personal bests highlight track


WINCHENDON — Dan Fournier posted overall first place fin-ishes in the mile and the 1,000 meters in an indoor track meetagainst Ayer on Saturday and Kyle Blouin helped lead the wayin a recent boys team triumph over Narragansett.

Fournier took the mile in 5:11, two seconds faster thanNarragansett’s Joe Capps. Dan Denette and Jordan Manuel fin-ished fourth and fifth in that event. Fournier then came back topost a 2:59:6 in the 1,000, again besting Capps by a couple sec-onds. Denette delivered another top ten effort, finishing sixth.David Blouin and Steven Ingman also competed in the 1,000.

Kyle Blouin was third in the 600, won by Ayer’s James Jewettand eighth in the 300, taken by Tyler Nims of Oakmont. Blouinhad been joined in the 600 by Justin Harris, Chris Michaud andJames Huff while Huff, James Martin, John Murphy, AustinColston, and Josh Ramsey ran the 300. Blouin was the only BlueDevil aside from Fournier and Denette to post multiple top tenfinishes.

Evan Drake was tenth in the shot put, an event in whichRobert Pesce, Trevor Allen, and Thomas Aho also competed.

Kyle Blouin and Dom Allard were in the high jump, won over-all by Gardner’s Jonah Kattau. Max Robichaud was 10th andIngman 11th in the two-mile. Trevor Allen was ninth in the 55hurdles while Allard finished sixth in the 55.

Alyssa LaBrack finished fifth in the girls’ shot put as MariahTenney and Clarissa Simmers participated as well. Tenney fin-ished second in the 300, a race won by ‘Gansett’s Kristin Webb,who also took the 55. Felicia Ingman was tenth in the mile won,unsurprisingly by ‘Gansett’s Renee Capps. Brianna Dellechiaieran a strong 11th in that event after finishing eighth in the 55hurdles. Brianna Rogers was tenth in the 2 mile to yet anotherCapps, this one Anna.

LaBrack and Liz and Chelsea Simmers raced the 55 while Liz,Courtney, and Clarissa Simmers ran in the 600. VictoriaSwanson was in the 300 and Ingman, Tenney, and Rogers all tookpart in the 1,000.

In the win over ‘Gansett earlier in the week, Kyle Blouin wonthe 600 in 1:43:6 and was second in the 300. Fournier won the1,000 in 3:03:7 and finished second in the two mile. Denette tookthe mile in 5:19, Allen the 55 hurdles, and Colston the high jump.

“We had a good week. We’re getting there,” said coachAnthony Findley. “It was nice to see Kyle come back and we werebalanced against ‘Gansett.”

The girls got winning performances from Tenney in the 55 andDellechiaie in the 55 hurles. Felicia Ingman was second in themile and LaBrack was second in the shot put.

“She’s just an eighth grader,” enthused Findley.

“We knew what we wanted. A cer-tain ambiance, it needed to be comfy,homelike.”

It certainly is. White pine panelingup half the walls, with a soft blue upthe rest, only six tables to seat cus-tomers and a small counter. A pelletstove blazes away in the corner, areminder of a wood stove that oncegraced the same corner in a previouslife.

“It has the feel of a household, some-one’s own home,” Khan said. “Welooked at paint colors a long timebefore choosing this.”

The stainless kitchen gleams in thebackground, the modern light fixturescast just the right amount of light, noglares, no shadows.

And now shall we talk about thefood? A hearty two egg breakfast with

homefries and a meat for less than $5.A good beginning for the first time vis-itor, we will need to return to try avariety of pancakes and omelets.

The restaurant is also open for lunchand that menu too is extensive.

Khan said there are daily specialsoffered, like a meatloaf day, or a potroast.

“Always something that might behome cooked; something hearty,” sheexplained.

The restaurant is open for breakfastand lunch only, six days a week andclosed on Mondays. And bring cash, itis cash only, no credit cards accepted.

“We knew people were just sick offast food and we want to offer an alter-native,” continued Khan.

“I have been cooking since I was 14,”she continued with a laugh. “These aremy recipes, just simple home cookingadapted for restaurant cooking.”

It is a family business, with her hus-band out back today, running the dish-

washer, and her son helping the cookin the kitchens. She and a waitress areat the front, seating customers and fill-ing orders.

The small room is crowded, fillingand emptying again regularly.

“We want you to feel at home here, afriendly atmosphere, not presupposingat all. Just come in, visit a little, havesomething to eat. Feel at home,” con-tinues Khan.

It takes a few minutes to gathereveryone for a photo shoot, becausethey are all busy, as it should be. Butfinally, peeling serve-safe gloves fromhands and wiping wet hands on towels,they stop for a moment for a familyportrait; then hurry back to theirassignments. But not before waving toa customer, shaking a hand, smilingand happy to be where they all obvi-ously want to be.

At Cruisers, serving customers.

CRUISERS continued from page 1

We understand that red tape can be a serious problem, thatclaims can get tied up, and we can help them work throughthese situations.”

The Center will offer help on issues including obtainingall sorts of military records, including discharge paper-work as well as being able to assist with disability compen-sation claims, obtaining food stamps and fuel assistance,and working on applications for VA and MassHealth care.Other services available will include help with home loaneligibility applications and educational and vocationalissues.

“We’ll be offering a wide range of assistance,” Bollingersaid.

Counseling will be a major component at the newOutreach Center.

Dould explained, “Our counseling will cover all the bases— individual, families, couples. We don’t have waiting lists.We can deal with crises immediately, and we can definitely

be a support system for family members,” she stressed.One method of dealing with at least some issues will be

fly fishing classes on Tuesday nights between 6 and 8 p.m.“It’s both therapeutic and it teaches about the sustain-

ability of natural resources,” said Dould. “We think thiswill be a good program.”

“For clients in Winchendon who have had to go toGardner in the past to receive some of our services, beinghere in town will be a great benefit to them,” Bollinger said.

With plenty of space, and while different rooms will beused for different activities during the day, “we stronglyencourage veterans to take advantage of them,” Dould said,one thing the Center won’t be doing is serving meals.

“Clients can bring their own, or they can go over to thesenior center at Old Murdock,” said Bollinger, adding thatdirector Sheila Bettro, “has been great to us.”

The Center is scheduled to be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.weekdays, except for Tuesdays when the fishing classes willkeep it open until 8 p.m. More information about prospec-tive programs and services is available from Bollinger,Dould, and Hagan at (978) 297-7466.

SERVICES continued from page 1

“Every Town Deserves a Good Local Newspaper”WinchendonCourier.com


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Ruth DeAmicis photos

WINCHENDON — This year’s holiday coloring contest winners were excited to receive their array of gifts for their efforts. In an age when computer games take up so much time, it’s wonder-ful to see the artist in everyone is still so much a part of young lives.

Winners: Sophia Jean age 5, Ashley Sevigny age 8, Jayden Shampine age 3, others who entered Aleksander Gusakov age 7, Sadie Michelson age 7 and Patricia Montsion age 9.

Holiday contest winners

Sophia Jean, age 5Ashley Sevigny age 8 Jayden Shampine, age 3

LEGAL AUCTIONPUBLIC AUCTION

SALE OF HOUSEHOLD GOODSBy virtue of the right granted by the statute,the Massachusetts Code Section 105A, theenforcement of satisfying the lien ofWinchendon Central Storage, for storageand expenses will be sold at public auctionon January 7 2013 9am. All and singular, thefurnishings, household furniture and equip-ment of Tawnee O Malley #38 and RachealDay #35

All items sold will be cash or certifiedcheck only. Auction to be held at WinchendonCentral Storage, 234 Lincoln Ave.,Winchendon, MA 01475December 22, 2012December 29, 2012

COMMONWEALTH OFMASSACHUSETTS

LAND COURTDEPARTMENT OF THE TRIAL COURT

Case No. 12 MISC 473704ORDER OF NOTICE

To: Maurice L. Rocheleau and to all personsentitled to the benefit of the ServicemembersCivil Relief Act, 50 U.S.C. App. § 501 et seq.:

U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee,successor in interest to Bank of America,National Association as successor by mergerto LaSalle Bank National Association, asTrustee for Certificateholders of BearStearns Asset Backed Securities I LLCAsset-Backed Certificates Series 2005-TC1claiming to have an interest in a Mortgagecovering real property in Winchendon, num-bered 13 Old Gardner Road given byMaurice L. Rocheleau to Town and CountryCredit Corp., dated January 10, 2005,recorded in Worcester County (WorcesterDistrict) Registry of Deeds in Book: 35565, atPage: 336, has/have filed with this court acomplaint for determination ofDefendant’s/Defendants’ Servicemembersstatus. If you now are, or recently have been,in the active military service of the UnitedStates of America, then you may be entitledto the benefits of the Servicemembers CivilRelief Act. If you object to a foreclosure ofthe above-mentioned property on that basis,then you or your attorney must file a writtenappearance and answer in this court at ThreePemberton Square, Boston MA 02108 on orbefore January 28, 2013 or you will be forev-er barred from claiming that you are entitled

to the benefits of said Act. Witness, KARYNF. SCHEIER, Chief Justice of this Court on12/14/2012 Attest: DEBORAH J. PATTER-SON, Recorder 1010242 12/29/2012December 29, 2012

(SEAL)THE COMMONWEALTH OF

MASSACHUSETTSLAND COURT

DEPARTMENT OF THE TRIAL COURT2012 MISC. 473485ORDER OF NOTICE

To:Raymond A. Siroisand to all persons entitled to the benefit ofthe Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, 50U.S.C. App. § 501 et seq.:OneWest Bank, FSBclaiming to have an interest in a Mortgagecovering real property in Winchendon, num-bered 310 School Street, given by RaymondA. Sirois to Financial Freedom SeniorFunding Corporation, a subsidiary ofIndyMac Bank, F.S.B., dated March 28, 2007,and recorded with the Worcester County(Worcester District) Registry of Deeds atBook 40923, Page 223 and now held by the

plaintiff by assignment has/have filed withthis court a complaint for determination ofDefendant’s/Defendants’ Servicemembersstatus.

If you now are, or recently have been, inthe active military service of the UnitedStates of America, then you may be entitledto the benefits of the Servicemembers CivilRelief Act. If you object to a foreclosure of theabove-mentioned property on that basis,then you or your attorney must file a writtenappearance and answer in this court atThree Pemberton Square, Boston, MA02108 on or before January 28, 2013 or youwill be forever barred from claiming that youare entitled to the benefits of said Act.

Witness, KARYN F. SCHEIER ChiefJustice of this Court on December 13, 2012.Attest:

Deborah J. PattersonRecorder

201208-0359-GRYDecember 29, 2012

LEGALS


IN COUNTY� 26 WEEKS - $22.50� 52 WEEKS - $45.00� 104 WEEKS - $76.00

OUT OF COUNTY� 26 WEEKS - $30.00� 52 WEEKS - $56.00� 104 WEEKS - $90.00

SENIOR RATES� 26 WEEKS - $19.50� 52 WEEKS - $45.00� 104 WEEKS - $76.00

Name _____________________________________________________________

Address ___________________________________________________________

City________________________________State___________Zip ____________

Phone ( ) ________________________________________________________

� Check/Money Order Enclosed _______________________________________

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Santa makes a visit with children

Patricia Lentz photos

Ella Celona, 9 months old, at her first holiday party, with Barbara Mollyand Georgianna Garno

Cara Woodard and Dylan Romanowski were there to helpAshly Hastings, Melissa Woods (mom) and Amy Lynn.

The family of Daira Marcano, Jesus Mangual, withChristian, Caleb and Cristal

Santa has a quiet talk with this young fellow.

Cherie Calabrese, Katie Calabrese and Lexiana Ciaranitaro with blue cupcakestains on happy faces.

Mrs. Claus was in her best finery for this party.

AND LO, THEY ADORED HIMPatricia Lentz photos

In the days when the story unfolds, the tiniest shepherds certainly wouldhave been no older than these, charged with caring for the flocks in thefields as a responsibility to help their families.

LocalHeroes

FOUND HERE!

WINCHENDON — Colleen Laperriere and her many volunteers andcoworkers at the CAC were thrilled with the outcomes of this year’sholiday program and were able to be part of a wonderful party at theAmerican Legion last week complete with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

The children received boxes of gifts and their parents were able tohave gifts for later too. Local merchants provided food and drink andthe evening was a big hit with everyone.

Documents

(978) 297-0050 • Saturday, … · 2012. 12. 28. · certs. The auditorium rang out joyously with young voices and earnest instruments. As is traditional at Murdock, the final piece