Ashburnham residents will vote on 25 articles including the town's fiscal 2026 operating budget The annual town meeting will start at 7 p.m in the Oakmont Regional High School Auditorium at 9 Oakmont Drive in Ashburnham The special town meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m Voters will decide on the FY26 town budget of $20,695,494 Town officials estimate that the town's FY26 revenue is $21,119,681 6 and 7 request voters' consent for town officials to enter into contracts for town services and perform other administrative tasks needed to continue operations Articles 8 and 9 request $1,693,245 to pay for Water and Sewer Department operations in FY26 Article 21 requests that the town adopt a statute called the Prudent Investor Rule which would allow the town to invest money from the trust fund in a broader range of opportunities than under the current MA legal list of investments and 25 request to amend the current town zoning bylaws Nine articles on the annual Town Meeting warrant and Article 1 in the special Town Meeting warrant Article 12 would transfer $300,000 of free cash to the snow and ice account to pay for the FY25 deficit Article 13 requests $85,000 to be put in the Stabilization Fund The fund currently has $710,469; if the article passes Article 14 requests $42,500 to be transferred from free cash to the Other Post Employee Benefits fund Article 15 would transfer $20,000 to the Capital Account for IT upgrades on public safety computer systems and accessories Article 16 requests that $300,000 be transferred into the Capital Account to pay for road maintenance on Route 101 South Article 17 requests $25,000 to pay for the upkeep and maintenance of dams owned by the town Article 18 will give the police department $12,000 to buy replacements for weapons that are 12 years or older Article 19 requests $200,000 to pay off any unpaid bills regarding any fiscal 2025 highway repair and maintenance projects another $200,000 is requested to pay off the rest of the $1 million highway repair project completed starting on Lake Road from the Water Treatment Plant to Sherbert Road The special Town Meeting will also be held on May 6 Article 1 in the special town meeting warrant requests $175,000 for the recreation committee to complete a new playground at Winchester Park Article 2 in the special town meeting warrants $652,945 to pay for eight capital projects or purchases Rosemary and their spicy friends are eating well this holiday season residents of Slightly Off Course Farm on Williams Road The small farm is collecting Christmas trees giving residents a place to discard them while supplying nutrients to the ravenous animals Katie Guertin opened a small animal farm from their home Guertin and her family have slowly built what is now Weathered Oak Farm Weathered Oak Farm hosts themed community events and offers party packages for kids' birthdays The farm also has a seasonal homestead that sells fresh chicken and duck eggs and seasonal produce grown on the farm The farm has a chicken coop filled with about a dozen hens and a rooster Guertin said the mini ponies can hold kids that weigh up to 60 pounds Guertine said people can text her at (413) 539-1302 anytime they are visiting the farm if they want a pony or horse ride no need to spend money if they don't want to," she said "They can also use the play area and picnic tables we have for no charge but we have goat feed in the homestead for 50 cents so the whole experience is very inexpensive." Before the couple bought their home in 2015 Guertin said she was boarding her horse Karma they decided to bring Karma home with them and I grew up working in horse farms," she said." When I got Karma about ten years ago so I took her out of boarding and made her a place here." Guertin said that after they got the ponies and they haven't stopped adding more to their family yet "I plan to add about 20 more chickens and a few more ducks because eggs are in high demand right now," she said "We have plans to build a bunny enclosure this summer I would also love to add cows and another pony to our family." Upon request through the farm's Facebook page Guertin said she sells her chicken eggs for $4 a dozen and her duck eggs are $5 a dozen Guertin said she started doing events at the farm to cater to children and they usually cost $20 to $25 per child to participate The next event is an Easter egg hunt for children five and under "I started doing pony rides two summers ago so I need more public attention," she's said "Then I got the idea to do public events for children so I could get more people to come and visit us." The Easter egg hunt costs $20 per child and includes the egg hunt Easter Sunday brunch is a tradition: Where you can make reservations in greater Gardner "There aren't many farms in the area that are open to the public," she said "I saw this as an opportunity to help me feed the animals and give the community a place for children to get their farm animal fix." Guertin said she also lets people rent the farm for private birthday party events She said it costs $100 to rent the space for 3-hour windows including a 30-minute grooming session with the ponies and the tractor can be available for pictures "We generally have only gotten requests for children's parties but we are open to other private events if there are requests," she said "We plan to expand our parking area so we don't have to limit how many people can visit or participate in our events." and costumes and trick-or-treating will be here before you know it While Halloween can be a fun night for all ages there are safety tips that both kids and parents should follow as a precaution Kevin Wolski of the Winchendon Police Department said two ways to stay safe on Halloween night are to stay on sidewalks and off the road when possible and carry a flashlight at night Each greater Gardner community has designated trick-or-treat hours for the spooky night filled with candy and kids in costumes times and community Halloween events your town or city will have for the holiday Gardner Trick-or-Treat timesGardner officials have announced the citywide trick-or-treat times for Thursday The week before, downtown Gardner businesses are hosting the annual Fall-O-Ween Stroll for preschool-aged children on Friday Businesses participating in the trick-or-treat event will have a picture of a pumpkin displayed on their windows All children need to be accompanied by an adult Ashburnham Trick-or-Treat timesThe official trick-or-treating hours for Ashburnham residents are Halloween night between 5 and 7 p.m. The Ashburnham Police Department accepts candy donations until Halloween day Donations can be dropped off in the town's Public Safety Complex at 99 Central St. and donations will be handed out before the town-wide trick-or-treat hours begin More: Spooky fun for all ages: Here's a list of haunted happenings in or around Gardner this month Hubbardston Trick-or-Treat timesThe town of Hubbardston's trick-or-treating hours will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Halloween night. The Hubbardston Police Department will also host the annual block party at the town hall and police department parking lot from 4 to 8 p.m there will be free hot dogs and refreshments The department is still accepting candy donations for the event at the Slade Building on the town office side The trick-or-treating hours for Phillipston residents are 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31. However, the Halloween festivities in Phillipston will continue one more day when the town police department will host a Trunk-or-Treat at the town common on Friday The Templeton Police Department has announced trick-or-treating hours for Thursday Trick-or-treating hours for Westminster residents are on Halloween night between 5 and 7 p.m. The police department will close down Bacon, Pleasant and Elliot streets so trick-or-treaters can walk around safely that evening. The Westminster Parks and Recreation Department is hosting a Trunk-or-treat event at the Meeting School House parking lot during trick-or-treating hours The department is still accepting candy and toy donations for the town-wide Halloween celebration The town fire department will also hold a bonfire and costume contest at 7 p.m Town officials designated trick-or-treating hours for Winchendon residents as Thursday The first rule about Play Club is: it’s fun to talk about Play Club The second rule is that there really aren’t that many rules at Play Club, a new program at Overlook Middle School in Ashburnham introduced with the philosophy that free play with no adult planning or interfering allows students to make their own fun and solve their own problems while building resilience Principal Kristina Bogosh, who said the mixed-aged play program for adolescents is open to any students from grades 6 to 8, was inspired to implement the program after reading about Let Grow the New York-based group that established the Play Club concept “The whole point of it is that there aren’t a lot of rules,” said Bogosh which is held every Wednesday from 2 to 3:30 p.m the students play on the school’s field or inside the cafeteria or gym The club utilizes a “loose parts” approach for play there are three rules at Play Club: play respectfully; get permission to leave the area; and listen to the adults More: DPW crews in Ashburnham and Westminster have assumed additional roles: What they'll be doing “The whole idea is that the kids have free play and the kids have to create their own fun while socially interacting with each other where adults are not interfering and they have to figure things out for themselves,” Bogosh said adding that she wanted to implement the Play Club after seeing an increase in student mental health issues over the past 10 years “I’ve always been looking for something to boost kids’ health in a way that is beneficial to them and their development because they’re so screen-heavy in their day.” The ubiquitous presence of electronic devices in students’ everyday lives had led to a decrease in opportunities for them to go outside and play with each other “My feeling was that I had to give them this opportunity,” she said adding that around 30 students have been taking part in Play Club since it was first introduced “I have seen such a tremendous growth in those kids.” Bogosh noted that one student who had never thrown a football before had mastered the skill and begun showing leadership qualities on the field I don’t know if he would ever have learned how to throw a football and play with his friends,” she said Play Club also aims to teach students about how to solve arguments or disagreements on their own through a communication protocol called “Conflict Corner,” according to Bogosh who said any students with a conflict to resolve are invited to face each other and find a way to work things out without any adult intervention More: Student cellphone use is a hot issue: What are Monty Tech, Oakmont and Narragansett's rules? it’s like we’re always resolving conflicts with the kids because they want us to and the parents want us to – and that still happens – but at Play Club it’s very liberating to see them solve their own problems,” Bogosh said The faculty members who oversee Play Club activities assume roles like that of a lifeguard Bogosh said – stepping in only if things are getting too serious for the kids to handle on their own “But nothing serious has really happened,” she added which encourages cognitive development as children engage in activities that require problem-solving is an extension of the school’s cellphone policy which was established a few years ago to limit the amount of time students spend on their devices during the school day The policy states that all cellphones must remain in students’ lockers during the school day “Focused attention was really declining because students were worried about their notifications or about who was posting what and what else was going on and so to have that removed was a huge gain,” she said “I’ve seen a 70 percent reduction in disciplinary actions that are cellphone related.” Students at the Overlook Middle School in Ashburnham were briefly evacuated Tuesday morning due to a bomb threat district officials said the school received an anonymous call regarding a bomb threat in the building at about 9:20 a.m officials – including Ashburnham and Westminster police and fire and the Massachusetts State Police – made the decision to evacuate the students and staff to nearby Oakmont Regional High School After clearance from law enforcement officials the building was deemed safe and students returned to the middle school to resume their day at approximately 10:40 a.m Incident thought to be 'swatting'The incident resembled other "swatting"-type threats that have recently been received throughout the state and across the country "There is no reason to believe that this was a direct targeted threat against Overlook Middle School or that the safety and security of our students or staff was in actual danger," the letter read Counselors would be made available for any students who wished to speak with them This story has been updated to add new information Students at the Overlook Middle School in Ashburnham were evacuated Tuesday morning The students were temporarily moved to nearby Oakmont Regional High School due to an unsubstantiated threat according to a text message sent to parents by the Ashburnham Police Department at 9:41 a.m access to both schools was limited to emergency personnel only Parents were advised to refrain from coming to either campus The high school implemented a shelter in place due to an "indirect threat," police said Students and staff returned to Overlook before 11 a.m safely and and there were no threats found Police were working in partnership with school staff members during the incident according to a post on the Westminster Police Department's Facebook page All students and staff were safe and accounted for but there are still opportunities to stock up on locally tapped and boiled syrup in the Gardner area While maple syrup producers can't tap out more sap when it gets warmer, many still have gallons of syrup bottled and ready for sale. In the greater Gardner area, three local sugarhouses based in Ashburnham and Westminster produce and sell maple syrup, according to the Massachusetts Maple Producers Association The two sugar houses in Westminster are Salmi's Sugar House, owned and operated by Von Salmi at 41B Bacon St., and Baile an Chotaigh Farm, run by the Bean family at 10 Harrington Road. Both sugar houses sell their products on their property. The Baile and Chotaigh Farm has a Facebook page where people can message them for bottles of syrup The farm in Ashburnham is a one-woman enterprise. Lone Larch Farm is owned and run by Rachel Metterville Lone Larch FarmAfter having her second child Metterville didn't want to return to her office job; instead She and her husband bought their current home in Ashburnham in 2018 and she said she fell in love with farming "This made it possible for me to stay home with the kids while producing an additional income," she said I do all of the sap collecting and boiling and he does help me with the syrup filtering and bottling process." The weeks of below-freezing temperatures and high-speed cold winds in January and February delayed the maple tree tapping Metterville said she has had a better sap season than last year She started tapping her trees in mid-February "Ideal conditions for tapping are below freezing at night and then rising temps during the day so the sap can flow through the trees and out of the tap into the bucket," she said and the really strong winds made it nearly impossible to get to the trees and then bring the buckets of sap back to the house for boiling." Metterville said she has tapped 55 trees this year and collected between 120 and 160 gallons of sap and so far has been able to bottle four gallons of maple syrup Metterville sells her syrup in 12-ounce bottles for $13, 8-ounce bottles for $11, and 3.5-ounce bottles for $6. She said people can get her maple syrup from her homestead in front of her home or send her a message through the farm's Facebook page sugarhouses will still offer pancake breakfasts until early April no sugarhouses offer breakfast or brunch experiences Davenport Maple Farm in Shelburne Falls is about a one-hour drive from Gardner with little traffic This weekend is the last chance to get a sugary maple-filled breakfast or brunch from the farm which is open Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m Nearly an hour's drive from the Gardner area is the North Hadley Sugar Shack in Hadley The sugar shack offers breakfast Friday to Sunday from 7 a.m The Williams Farm Sugarhouse in Deerfield is also just under a one-hour drive from Gardner FITCHBURG ― Three residents and a firefighter were injured in a three-alarm blaze on Ashburnham Street Sunday morning Officials suspect a space heater was the cause of the fire The three adult residents were taken to a hospital for smoke inhalation and the firefighter experienced difficulty breathing Fire Chief Dante Suarez said Monday afternoon The firefighter was treated and released; the status of the residents was not immediately known The department responded to the fire at 153 Ashburnham St Lunenburg and Westminster summoned to the scene Four residents were not home at the time of the blaze All seven residents are being provided aid by the landlord the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross “This is a terrible time of year for an event like this,” said Chief Suarez “Our hearts go out to the people who were injured and the families that lost their homes.” The Fitchburg fire prompted State Fire Marshal Jon M Davine to issue a safety reminder please be sure to keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away on all sides,” Davine said and always turn it off when you leave the room or go to sleep.” Annual town meeting season is only a few weeks away and voters in the six towns in the greater Gardner area will approve their respective towns' fiscal 2026 operating budgets Residents of Ashburnham, Hubbardston, Phillipston, Templeton, Westminster, and Winchendon can expect an annual town meeting between early May and early June. Residents of all six towns can register to vote at their town's clerk's office or online through the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts website Town meeting warrants must be available to voters 10 days before the annual town meeting Warrants for all six towns should be available through the town's website and paper copies are given out at the town clerk's office during regular business hours and locations for when and where each municipality in greater Gardner will host their annual town meeting AshburnhamThe annual town meeting in Ashburnham will be on Tuesday, May 6, at 7 p.m. in the Oakmont Regional High School gym. The last day to register to vote is Saturday, April 26, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Voters can register online or in-person at the town clerk's office in the Ashburnham Public Safety Complex at 99 Central St The town clerk's office regular business hours are Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m Residents who qualify to vote can find the town meeting warrant on the town's website Town officials must post the warrant by Monday Hubbardston residents and town officials will have their annual town meeting on Monday, June 2, at 7:30 p.m. in the Hubbardston Center School gym. The last day to register to vote is Friday, May 23, at 5 p.m. Residents can register online or in person at the Hubbardston town clerk's office at 48 Gardner Rd Town clerk's office regular business hours are Monday from 9 a.m PhillipstonPhillipston qualified voters will attend the annual town meeting on Wednesday in the Phillipston Memorial Building gymnasium The last day to register to vote is Friday Residents can register online or in person at the town clerk's office during regular hours: Monday The clerk's office is closed on Wednesdays between 12 p.m The annual town meeting in Templeton is on Wednesday in the Narragansett Regional High School auditorium The deadline to register to vote for the town meeting at the town clerk's office is on Monday Registration to vote can be done online or in person at the town clerk's office during regular hours: Mondays from 7:30 a.m and Tuesdays through Thursdays from 7:30 a.m WestminsterWestminster voters and town officials will hold their annual town meeting on Saturday The deadline to register to vote is on Wednesday Residents can register online or in person at the town clerk's office during open hours: Monday from 7 a.m WinchendonWinchendon qualified resident voters will attend the annual town meeting on Monday, May 19, at 7 p.m. in the Murdock High School auditorium. The registration deadline to vote in the annual town meeting is Friday, May 9, either online or in person at the town clerk's office from 9 a.m Town officials just closed the meeting warrant this week The warrant will soon be posted on the town's website and hard copies will be available in the town clerk's office in the next couple of weeks Many Ashburnham municipal light customers can expect to pay less for their electricity bill starting Sunday The Ashburnham Municipal Light Plant (AMLP) conducts a cost-of-service study every five years Based on the information collected from the most recent study they have determined that three changes to the electricity rate will affect all four customer types they service The current AMLP electricity rate per kilowatt-hour is 0.1766 said over 90% of customers are in the residential rate class and many of these customers will see a small decrease in their electric bill She said that a customer who uses 750 kWh monthly will see an 8.8% decrease "The AMLP remains committed to our customers," she said we are dedicated to ensuring our customers receive reliable power affordable rates and excellent customer service." The department has created a rate calculator on its website for customers to see their new rate before the changes take effect on Sept Czasnowski said the calculator is to help customers understand the changes before they get their first bill The calculator also compares the AMLP rate to three other providers – Eversource Czasnowski said a computer will be set up in the AMLP office at 24 Williams Road in Ashburnham for anyone who wants to use the online rate calculator and has further questions on the changes Office hours are Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m The department plans to unbundle the following rates – customer charge Czasnowski said separating those three rates into individual rates will make it simpler for customers to understand what they are paying for "After performing a Cost of Service Study to evaluate our current rates and rate structure it was determined that it would be beneficial to unbundle the rates to provide customers with additional clarity on the charges on their bill," she said Their bills are broken out into many different charges." The next change is increasing the customer charge from $5 to $10 Czasnowski said the customer charge will allow AMLP to distribute the fixed costs of operating and maintaining the distribution system more equitably and increasing the customer charge has allowed a small reduction to the rate per kWh The purchased power adjustment charge (PPAC) will be reset to $0.00 per kWh The PPAC changes based on the cost of power Czasnowski said the PPAC can be adjusted if needed and customers will be charged 10 cents per kWh for power used The 10 cents per kWh rate for a residential consumer is unchanged WORCESTER — A judge has partially excluded grand jury evidence against Jonathan Lind, the man charged with helping Julia Enright hide the body of the man she murdered in an Ashburnham treehouse in 2018 finding authorities failed to properly inform him of his rights In an eight-page ruling referenced in Worcester Superior Court Thursday Superior Court Judge Karin Bell partially agreed with arguments Lind’s lawyer made in July and barred prosecutors from using testimony Lind gave to a grand jury in prosecuting several of the charges he faces However, Bell did not exclude the testimony from being used to prosecute Lind for perjury — the count that carries the highest jail term he faces — and authorities still have other evidence agreed Thursday to allow two separate trials for Lind misleading police and illegal conveyance of a human body "We are pleased and relieved that the Court remedied the violation of the Defendant's rights with respect to his treatment in the Grand Jury back in 2018,” Kevin C adding that his client maintains his innocence which has a practice of not commenting on ongoing cases the former Ashburnham phlebotomist and dominatrix serving a life sentence for the murder of her ex-boyfriend Authorities told jurors at Enright’s high-profile 2021 trial that Lind helped her dump Chicklis’ body off the side of a highway in New Hampshire after she stabbed him to death inside a treehouse she’d outfitted with restraints near her home.  Authorities charged Lind shortly after Enright’s conviction told jurors that Lind helped her dispose of Chicklis’ body though it is unclear whether she will testify at Lind’s trial Court records show prosecutors have evidence linking Lind’s cellphone to the area where Chicklis was killed and the area where Chicklis’ car was found abandoned by police The timelines of the cellphone data match the period of time when Chicklis was killed and transported Prosecutors called Lind to a grand jury investigating Enright after he in the fourth and last interview he gave police declined to talk substantively about the whereabouts of his phone noting that police already had the location data for Lind’s phone at the time they called him to the grand jury argued they called him for the express purpose of having him perjure himself should have known Lind either was or could reasonably become a target of their investigation prior to his testimony She agreed with Larson that authorities were therefore legally required to give a “target warning” to Lind — a warning about his rights against self-incrimination under oath that authorities acknowledged they did not provide as a result of the failure to provide the target warning the grand jury testimony must be excluded from three of his charges she agreed with Assistant District Attorney Shayna Woodard’s argument that the absence of a target warning does not give a person license to lie under oath “Failure to give such warnings provides no protection against prosecution for false testimony,” Bell wrote Police confirmed in testimony this spring they did not give Lind target warnings but said they didn’t recall Lind asking for a lawyer Bell said she credited the officer’s testimony fully and did not credit the testimony of Lind’s mother in summing up evidence officers had pointing to Lind’s involvement prior to his grand jury testimony at one point summarized some of his statements to police “Officers asked Lind whether he would have assisted Enright in Chicklis’ murder if she had asked,” Bell noted of one interrogation “Lind responded that he would like to say no Lind invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination at Enright’s trial He declined a request for comment following a court hearing last month suggested she intended the killing as a "gift" for Lind that she was concerned he did not like has been appointed president and chief operating officer of Cooley Dickinson Hospital (CDH) who has more than 34 years of experience in healthcare He currently serves as the vice president of community operations for Mass he has also been the interim vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer for Cooley Dickinson Hospital “I am confident in Kevin’s ability to lead CDH in delivering the safest highest-quality care and an exceptional experience for patients,” said CarolAnn Williams General Brigham's Community Division and senior vice president of operations at Mass Whitney has held various leadership positions throughout his career including serving as the chief operating officer for MGB Healthcare at Home and as the senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer for Newton-Wellesley Hospital He also worked at Emerson Hospital for 20 years in clinical and leadership roles Whitney holds a doctor of nursing practice in Executive Leadership from the MGH Institute of Health Professions a master of arts in Health Care Administration from Framingham State University a bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell and an associate of science in paramedic technology from Northeastern University He is board certified as a Nurse Executive-Advanced and Certified Emergency Nurse and is a member of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership and the American College of Healthcare Executives Whitney received the UMass Lowell Solomont School of Nursing Alumni Award for his contributions to the nursing profession This story was created by reporter Beth McDermott, bmcdermott1@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more ASHBURNHAM — The first thing to understand about the Frederick Historical Piano Collection is that it is not a museum The piano collection’s study center undeniably has several qualities in common with a museum which was formerly home to Ashburnham’s public library Founders Patricia Humphrey Frederick and Edmund Michael Frederick (married 52 years both in their 80s) offer detailed guided tours to anyone who makes a reservation The collection also hosts a concert series at the nearby Ashburnham Community Church said the two during an interview at the center the pianos are there because they’re ready to be played Michael, a dedicated amateur musician, built his first harpsichords during school vacations as an undergraduate at Harvard University but later turned his focus to the piano. Patricia took piano lessons from an early age and has held many jobs as a school music teacher and church musician; at the age of 8, she was featured in the Globe as the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s youngest “patron.” When you break down the word “instrument,” its purest meaning is “tool,” said Patricia who was a frequent childhood visitor to Symphony Hall because her father worked as a publicist for the BSO and her mother was the orchestra’s staff artist “Just as you wouldn’t use the same tool for every job we have different pianos for different kinds of music and each one really suits the music of its own day.” The pair curates the concert series with this in mind pianist Chenxing Huang will play an all-Liszt program on an Erard piano violinist Akiko Kobayashi and pianist Ivan Gusev present a program of Beethoven and Schubert using an 1830 piano made in Leipzig by Johann Nepomuk Tröndlin There are over two dozen grand pianos in playing condition in the study center with narrow aisles in between for navigation or to put a bench down The oldest is an unsigned piano in the Viennese style from around 1795: the kind of instrument that would have been cutting-edge at the end of Mozart’s lifetime The newest is an Erard from 1928 which once belonged to pianist and Polish prime minister Ignacy Jan Paderewski Michael is in charge of the restoration and preservation work as he has been since the mid-1970s when he traded a career in academia to pursue his interest in historic pianos As listeners who hear or play on standardized modern pianos “we always assume that there’s one way to do things,” which is not the case “the whole point of any important piano was that it didn’t sound like anything else.” For example there’s one famous passage in Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No “Waldstein,” where the pianist needs to do an octave glissando — sliding the hands up the keyboard while playing in parallel octaves “it literally can leave blood on the keyboard,” because the keys require more force to press and the edges are sharper “I play it on the kind of piano Beethoven had and it took me 15 seconds to learn how to do it.” The pair started presenting the concert series in 1985 shortly after they moved to Ashburnham following several years of collecting pianos while living in Ohio Usually the season consists of six weeks in early fall and late spring the piano will be moved to the church down the street “so it can get used to the temperature and humidity,” said Patricia That’s always a concern for pianists; during the winter the study center’s temperature stays at a a brisk 50 degrees Fahrenheit to keep the humidity at a healthy level for the instruments “Guests are advised to dress warmly,” warns the collection’s website After the pair started leasing the Stevens Library building from the town the first renovations they made included filling in some land on the side of the building and the addition of a large door and flat ramp leading directly to the nearby parking lot — wide enough to move a piano they had stored all the pianos in their house down the road where there were instruments in every room save their children’s bedrooms and the kitchen we tended to prefer skinny pianists,” Michael joked The couple moved the bulk of their piano collection to the former Stevens Library building in 2000 after a few years of negotiation with the town and the collection has been available for visit there since then North Easton-based pianist Asiya Korepanova estimated she has visited six or seven times bringing friends and colleagues along; recently she brought her mentor from the Saint Petersburg Conservatory in Russia Whenever she’s there she always learns something new and has an “epiphany moment” about the music “I have played these composers and studied them all my life,” she said “but to hear it in the exact sonority and quality of sound that these composers composed for They didn’t compose for a contemporary Steinway these Bechsteins.” Korepanova found out about the Frederick Collection through a few colleagues and played a September 2023 recital of Rachmaninoff’s two sets of “Etudes-Tableaux” on the collection’s 1907 Blüthner piano “Rachmaninoff owned a Bluthner himself of the same kind so it was such a tremendously interesting experience,” she noted but also incredible subtleties.” Korepanova is planning to return to the series on May 4 including repertoire by Debussy and Cécile Chaminade Korepanova found out about it through word of mouth The pair doesn’t actively advertise the study center; in the distant past Patricia’s parents bought them an ad spot in the Boston Early Music Festival program book “When they say ‘I want to play a concert for you,’” I’ll say ‘You have to come and explore the possibilities,’” said Patricia “If you come here with your mind made up that you want to play a Chopin concert you may find after you get here that you fall in love with the kind of piano Brahms had What’s it like for the couple when a pianist gets turned loose in the room we guide them around …,” Michael started to say Ashburnham. 978-827-6232, www.frederickcollection.org A.Z. Madonna can be reached at az.madonna@globe.com. Follow her @knitandlisten. Home Delivery Gift Subscriptions Log In Manage My Account Customer Service Delivery Issues Feedback News Tips Help & FAQs Staff List Advertise Newsletters View the ePaper Order Back Issues News in Education Search the Archives Privacy Policy Terms of Service Terms of Purchase Work at Boston Globe Media Internship Program Co-op Program Do Not Sell My Personal Information One Greater Gardner community will benefit from a state initiative to expand high-speed broadband internet infrastructure to underserved homes Ashburnham will be among the cities and towns to benefit from $45.4 million in grants from the Healey-Driscoll Administration's Broadband Infrastructure Gap Networks Program. "This grant will help identify and hopefully rectify spotty service in town which would benefit the residents and community as a whole," said Town Administrator Brian Doheny more than $37 million was awarded to Verizon New England which covers Ashburnham and 25 other communities "The goal is to connect all of the remaining unserved and underserved locations in each town "This will result in 100 percent coverage." "Reliable service would allow the residents to use devices which require internet service along with providing a reliable form of communication," Doheny said "More and more services are web-based only so the need for a reliable internet connection is increasing." Where are the dead zones in Ashburnham?It was too early to determine where the internet access trouble spots were in Ashburnham based on the collected information which officials said is still in the process of being reviewed Greenfield Community Energy and Technology along with more than $40 million in matching funds provided by the grantees of the broadband infrastructure Gap Networks Program - including Comcast and Verizon New England - to install high-speed internet lines to approximately 2,000 locations in 41 communities that lack access to a broadband connection A timeline for when and where the work would begin is being finalized and will be released when available The driver of a stolen municipal vehicle in Princeton was in custody after a vehicle and foot pursuit involving multiple communities Tuesday Ashburnham police gave the following account: the Town of Princeton reported that one of its vehicles had been stolen The vehicle was soon spotted in Ashburnham where it eventually crashed into a car at a Main Street house officers learned that a bicycle was stolen from a local business A police tracking dog and the state police helicopter were part of the effort The suspect eventually made his way to Cashman Hill Road in Ashburnham where a resident reported a stolen vehicle police learned the truck had crashed in Fitchburg at the corner of Routes 12 and 2A the man was apprehended by Fitchburg police police said the man refused to identify himself Return to telegram.com for more on this story Greater Gardner residents will end the first week of February with another winter storm This weekend, the seven communities that comprise the greater Gardner area can expect at least 6 inches of snow. According to the Norton/Boston National Weather Service team the second winter storm of the week will bring snow from Saturday NWS recorded between 1.3 inches and 2.5 inches of snow or sleet in the greater Gardner area 2.3 inches of snow and sleet fell; in Leominster Snow and sleet stopped a little before 2 p.m and a light freezing drizzle continued for the next two hours The NWS team said residents can expect a dry Thursday night greater Gardner residents will get a break from any snow The Ramble Music Festival, a day-long event in Ashburnham, is back again for its 15th annual edition on Saturday, Aug. 24. The event is hosted by Boston-based folk rock band Adam Ezra Group and RallySound a grassroots nonprofit that plans events to raise funds for dozens of organizations All proceeds collected at The Ramble will be donated to the New England Center and Home for Veterans (NECHV) the founder of the nonprofit RallySound and rock band Adam Ezra Group said that every $1,000 raised will help one homeless veteran He said the music festival collected $143,000 last year the most they have ever collected for the NECHV "It is a pretty unique and special kind of festival for a number of different reasons," Ezra said "All of the money that we raise over the course of one day is dedicated entirely to ending veteran homelessness "What we have been able to do together as a community is pretty incredible." There is no admission fee to attend the music festival, but donations are encouraged. Although tickets are free, Ezra said reserving them online is recommended so they know how many people plan to attend. To reserve tickets, visit getrambled.com there will also be a kid-friendly section with activities and a food and drinks section trained masseuses will offer free massages to anyone How can a free music festival be a fundraiser?It takes over 200 volunteers to organize and operate the music festival every year Ezra said they are grateful and love their little army of volunteers because there would be no festival without them He said the festival expenses are paid for by private donations and the 38 sponsors ensuring that all of the money collected will go to NECHV "While people have the option to donate and take advantage of the free event we found that most people are there not only to enjoy a day of music and community but also to support our veteran heroes," he said This will be the third year that The Ramble music festival will be hosted at "The Mountain” at 64 Gibson Road in Ashburnham Ezra said one of the RallySound board members owns the private property The nonprofit started an improvement project on the festival grounds last year and completed it just in time for the 15th annual Ramble festival Ezra said that through private donations and sponsors they were able to pay to flatten the land used for the music festival and build a proper stage "It was really last year we started to build out proper festival grounds on this property and last year things were pretty muddy because there wasn't enough time for grass to grow before the festival," he said "We flattened out the big concert area that overlooks the entire Mount Wachusett valley." The improvements didn't change the limited capacity of the festival grounds Ezra said they still expect about 1,000 people to attend this year This story has been updated to correct an inaccuracy Annual town elections are right around the corner Voters in the communities surrounding Gardner will be heading to the polls to decide everything from open school committee and select board seats to Fiscal Year 26 budget override ballot questions Voters in Ashburnham and Westminster will head to the polls on Tuesday Winchendon residents will cast their ballots on Monday while voters in Templeton and Phillipston will head to the polls on Monday Residents in Hubbardston will cast their ballots on Tuesday Below is a list of polling places and locations and which open seats will be decided in each town’s election More: What to know about your town's annual meeting, plus the deadline to register to vote Voters in Ashburnham will head to the polls for their annual Town Election on Tuesday Residents can cast their ballots at the J.R Briggs Elementary School gymnasium at 96 Williams Rd The last day to register for the election is Saturday Registration forms are available at Town Hall and will be available at the Safety Building from Thursday There is no early voting or mail-in voting Voters will be asked to decide the following open positions on the ballot: Hubbardston’s annual Town Election will be held on Tuesday Polls at the Hubbardston Center School gymnasium at 8 Elm St The last day to obtain nomination papers from the Town Clerk’s office is Tuesday Nomination papers may be picked up at the Town Clerk’s office at 48 Gardner Rd during regular business hours – Mondays from 8:00 a.m and Tuesday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m A minimum of 23 signatures of registered voters in Hubbardston is required The last day to register to vote in the Annual Town Election is Saturday The Town Clerk’s office will remain open from 9:00 a.m More: The future of historic Hubbardston church building in the hands of voters: What to know Voters will be asked to decide the 19 open positions on the ballot: PhillipstonVoters in Phillipston will head to the polls in the upstairs assembly room at the Town Hall at 50 The Common on Monday Voters will be asked to decide the following open positions: Cemetery Commission – one three-year term and one one-year term Narragansett Regional School Committee Phillipston – one three-year term and one two-year term Narragansett Regional School Committee Templeton – one three-year term and one one-year term Voters in Templeton will head to the polls for the Annual Town Election on Monday Residents can cast their ballots at Narragansett Regional High School on Baldwinville Rd Westminster’s Annual Town Election will be held on Tuesday Residents can cast their ballots at the Westminster Senior/Community Center at 69 West Main St The last day for voter registration is Friday, April 18. The Town Hall will be closed but forms will be available at the Westminster Police Department dispatch center until 5:00 p.m., or residents may register to vote online at www.sec.state.ma.us/OVR/ until 11:59 p.m Mail-in voting is available for the Annual Town Election with vote-by-mail applications available at the town’s website Applications should be returned to the Town Clerk’s office The last day to request a vote-by-mail ballot is Tuesday The last day to request an absentee ballot is Monday The Toy Town’s Annual Town Election will be held on Monday Residents will cast their ballots at the Murdock Senior Center at 52 Murdock Ave between 8:00 a.m The last day to register to vote is Tuesday Winchendon override questionsToy Town voters will also be asked to decide two ballot questions concerning the town’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget which officials said is facing a significant deficit resulting from the rising costs of town operations and the expiration of federal aid that local communities received in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic The town used one-time federal and local reserve funds of over $700,000 in FY25 to bridge the gap between its revenue and expenditures In order to build in greater sustainability into its budget officials said the town must either reduce services to balance the FY26 budget or raise recurring revenue through an override to maintain service operations Residents will be asked to vote on two separate operational override ballot questions one for $1.9 million and one for $2.9 million residents will be asked at the Annual Town Meeting on May 19 to appropriate the additional funding to the FY26 budget Here are the earnings for all Ashburnham town employees in the fiscal year 2024 The town spent over $5.6 million on a payroll of 162 employees during the fiscal year 2024 the general manager of Ashburnham Municipal Light Plant topped the list of the town's highest-paid employees with a salary of $171,183 in fiscal 2024 The top 20 earners include light plant employees members of the police and fire departments For further analysis of the list, please see our related story Massachusetts is known for its stunning natural beauty the reasons why many people want to move into the state Whether a senior citizen staring into retirement or a young professional looking to start a family the Bay State presents an array of options from big-city and suburban to village life However, the small towns are a choice destination for the mix of winning factors they offer. These are more affordable, have a slow pace of life with accommodating communities, and provide recreational opportunities amidst a rich natural setting while maintaining access to crucial social and health amenities. From the Berkshires' forested mountains to the soothing shores of the Atlantic Ocean here are the best places to live in Massachusetts in 2025 This bustling borough in Middlesex County, about 45 minutes northwest of Salem Moving into Dracut guarantees adequate room for your recreation given the ready access to green spaces like Beaver Brook Farm The site offers 1.5 miles of scenic trails perfect for stretching your legs the East Richardson Preserve features a serene oasis with water access where locals can enjoy a secluded picnic to be one with nature The downtown area has a delectable collection of shops and restaurants with Yujo Sushi & Asian Cuisine serving delicious Asian-inspired dishes Dracut's median home price is about $449,500 Ashburnham is a relaxed municipality in Worcester County with natural treasures and provides comfortable rural living including hiking the scenic Watatic Mountain Trails from where you can enjoy sweeping panoramas of the surroundings For new residents curious about the area's past the Ashburnham Historical Society houses a terrific collection of exhibits detailing the town's evolution dating back to the beginning Ashburnham's highly rated education system comprises the Cushing Academy the average home in the community is cheaper than in most places in the state Quintessential rural life awaits potential residents in this Hampshire County village known for its agricultural heritage and lush natural areas This guarantees a constant supply of fresh groceries from Dickinson Farm and Greenhouse which also doubles as a gathering hub where townfolk socialize Dufresne Park beckons residents of all ages to take advantage of its recreational opportunities The family-friendly space features picnic pavilions and a fishing pond to ensure everyone has a great time Granby is also a few miles from Springfield which allows locals to access crucial urban amenities by commuting to the vibrant city buying a decent real estate property in the town costs about $549,000 Lee is another gem in the Berkshires with a mix of rural atmosphere and urban conveniences It houses the sprawling October Mountain State Forest which offers a 16,000-acre playground for hikers The Appalachian Trail also cuts through its wilderness downtown Lee is a vibrant corridor with many shops and restaurants Lee Premium Outlets caters to all the retail therapy needs in the community by providing at least stores featuring nationally recognized brands the Spectrum Playhouse is the area's cultural hub and theatrical productions to entertain and educate the public Strand Theatre, Clinton Massachusetts, via By John Phelan - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons Clinton is a down-to-earth municipality in Worcester County with a pleasant history and admirable art scene According to the Clinton Historical Society and its enduring heritage has been captured through a diverse artifact collection inside the building the Icon Museum and Study Center blend history and the arts by showcasing relics and memorabilia from the Orthodox Christians Residents enjoy their time outdoors at Fuller Field reputed for being the world's oldest continually used baseball diamond It is often filled with parents supporting the local baseball league a home in Clinton costs an average of $402,500 Those who prefer lush natural surroundings and a peaceful atmosphere will enjoy calling Townsend their new home This Middlesex County borough is awash with raw nature spaces highlighted by the 1,000-acre Pearl Hill State Park It harbors a combination of isolated campsites and rugged mountain biking trails for complete outdoor immersion There is more room for play across the 2,500 acres of Willard Brook State Forest a great spot to admire native wildlife species Townsend also has a Recreation Center that brings the young and old together for a great time during essential community programs designed to foster a sense of camaraderie newcomers should know the median housing price is $488,800 If you fancy waking up to the unmatched allure of the Berkshires consider making this tiny town in western Massachusetts your new home Cheshire promises endless outdoor opportunities throughout its pristine backcountry home to the 2-mile Cheshire Cobble Trailhead The route lets you soak up the iconic Cheshire Cobbles and provides access to the famous Appalachian Trail Whitney's Farm Market and Garden Center is where locals meet to shop for fresh groceries and socialize in a friendly atmosphere Thanks to the Cheshire Community House, townsfolk bond over a range of recreational and social activities, resulting in a strong sense of place among them. Cheshire is also one of the most affordable places to live in Massachusetts in 2025, considering its median home price of $312,000 is lower than the United States average This small community in Worcester County enjoys a relaxed natural environment and fun recreational opportunities which make it a prime destination to live and work Its numerous open spaces include Goodale Park and basketball and tennis courts for the public's amusement The Old Stone Church is a vital historical landmark in the town it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 West Boylston is also lucky to be a short drive from UMass Memorial Health Care one of New England's most trusted medical institutions The local median housing cost of $525,000 is below the Massachusetts average this adorable town in the Berkshires enjoys access to a high-quality education system hosting one of the highest-ranked liberal arts colleges in the country and residents frequently converge inside the Williamstown Theatre Festival to support homegrown talent on stage Escapes to the open spaces bring you to exciting nature areas The site has picturesque trails designed for unassuming hikes to enjoy the views and breathe fresh air Williams College is the major employer in the community and it offers prime opportunities for academic and career progression the average cost of a home in Williamstown is $585,000 Wilbraham is an agricultural community in Hampden County with a reputation for growing peaches This Springfield suburb best suits people seeking rural life but with quick access to the urban center Families with kids can let the young ones learn and play at the Wilbraham Children's Museum which presents an interactive indoor environment with hands-on activities to stimulate their curiosity the Spectacle Pond Recreation Area is perfect for the general public and offers activities like fishing the Wilbraham Medical Center ensures the locals have ready access to reliable health services A decent real estate property in Wilbraham costs around $499,000 Outdoor recreation is readily accessible at Farandnear Reservation, a secluded 89-acre park with nature trails and open fields that accommodate picnickers, hikers, and nature viewers. Lastly, Shirley's median home price is $490,000. Settling down in the Bay State may just be the fresh start you need in life, and the best places to live in Massachusetts in 2025 promise you a comfortable time acclimatizing to your new environment. Each has its distinct charm and character, but the general consensus is that they provide a high-quality life, whether seeking a quiet suburb proximal to the many city job opportunities or a secluded rural community with undisturbed natural surroundings. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2025 worldatlas.com Passed away at his home in Keene, Ontario on Friday, January 24, 2025 at the age of 68. Grant will be lovingly remembered by his brother, Chris Hoey (Debbie). He is predeceased by his sister, Judy Harrison (Walter) and his parents, Joe and Helen (nee Crough) Hoey. Dear uncle of Terry, Scott, Blake, James, and Jess. Grant will be missed by his extended family and friends. A memorial service will be held at Our Lady of the Assumption Church – 1830 Keene Road, Peterborough on Saturday, February 1, 2025 at 11:00 AM, with a reception to follow. A private, family interment will take place in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Ovarian Cancer Canada – Big Hugs Team would be greatly appreciated. Condolences may be shared and donations made by visiting www.ashburnhamfuneral.ca. Tribute Archive The highest-paid earner among the Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School District’s 575 employees in the 2023-24 school year was Superintendent Todd Stewart compared to the $146,264 she took home during the previous year compared to the $146,264 she was paid last year Two of the district’s principals took the next spots in the list of top 10 earners in the district More: Ashburnham employees earned $5,667,701. Here's who made the most compared to the $130,060 she was paid during the previous pay period compared to the salary of $130,141 he took home last year Athletic Director Eric Dawley earned a salary of $124,716 in 2024 compared to the $113,485 he took home last year principal of Meetinghouse School/Westminster Elementary compared to the $118,596 salary she took home the previous year Two teachers at Oakmont Regional High School round out the list of the top ten earners in the district compared to the $112,219 she took home the previous year