(978) 297-0050 • www.winchendoncourier.com Friday, June 14, 2013 Newsstand: 75 cents Winchendon runners carry Winchendon Relay torch for first time now has own BY JERRY CARTON COURIER CORRESPONDENT WINCHENDON — The weather was beyond miserable last Friday but that did- n’t deter 22 runners from Murdock’s track middle school team, as well as one drenched athletic director, two soaked track coaches, and one track dad/Little League manager from BY RUTH DEAMICIS ferentiated cafeteria. Only the braving the near monsoon conditions to COURIER EDITOR gymnasium, auditorium, library participate in the Torch Run as part of the WINCHENDON — It’s official. and certain specialty classrooms prelude to the Relay for Life’s opening cere- With a unanimous vote of the will be shared by the two schools. monies. School Committee in attendance, Questions were raised concern- Abby Amenta, Amber and Autumn the separation of Murdock High ing athletics, whether the high Brown, Andrew Burns, Brianna School from its junior partner is school ranking would be affected Dellechiaie, Eric Desgrosseilliers, Rachel now complete. And the hiring of and just how the middle school Durgin, JT Huff, Felicia and Steven J. Leonard Mackey as its princi- would function in sports. Those Ingman, Jon Jean, Alyssa LaBrack, pal was also unanimous. are questions being explored Jordan Manuel, James and Ryan Martin, Patrice Harrington photo Kathryn Vanderhoof was hired with the MIAA; but Mackey said Drew Pelkey, Tim Quinn, Emily Roberts, the concept would definitely Shivering bravely in the soaking rain, a bevy of Murdock runners as Mackey’s replacement at Toy and Chelsea, Clarissa, Courtney, and Liz accompany the Relay for Life torch on its journey from Murdock High Town Elementary School as well. include middle school sports and Simmers-Swanson joined AD Jenna School to the Mount Wachusett Community College last week. The series of votes completed a it was not intended that the Whittaker, coaches Anthony Findley and months long process of review younger students would be given Dick Karvonen as well as Mike Ingman, and meetings culminating in a permission to play with older stu- who does a lot of running himself in addi- Nonetheless, “I’m game,” laughed Whittaker,shiv- presentation to the School dents on high school teams. tion to coaching, in carrying the torch from the ering in the cold rain. While a few Murdock runners Committee June 6 that explained And there were also questions Murdock track to Gardner. made the entire trek all with a police escort, most just how the Murdock High about placements of students, This is the first year Murdock was invited to join took turns running relays themselves, hopping on School and the lower grades and keeping communications the now two-year-old torch run and Findley was the trailing bus when their leg was through. would function in a single build- open between both Toy Town happy to be part of it. “They all did great,” Findley noted. ing. The sixth, seventh and Elementary School and the high “It’s fun. It’s for a great cause, and the kids came Saturday’s weather was better for the State Middle eighth grade classes will be con- school, to keep the middle school out in good numbers,” he said while waiting inside School track meet and Murdock athletes turned in fined entirely to the single wing as a viable part of the process for a dry bus for the run to get underway. Runners had some nice performances. of the building, designated by the students. gathered at the MHS track at 3 p.m. for a 3:30 start. LaBrack and Manuel both recorded runner-up fin- painting a stripe of a new color Mackey said the cross commu- “We don’t have to be in Gardner until after 5, so ishes in the javelin and mile, respectively.The 4x800 on the walls there; and students nication with guidance and we’re fine,” assured Findley. team of Manuel, Jean, Steven Ingman, and Max in those grades will enter by the teachers was ongoing. Most serious runners don’t like heat and humidi- Robichaud finished third while Desgrosseilliers separate entrance and use a dif- Turn To SCHOOL A9 ty, so those taking part probably didn’t mind when posted a sixth in discus. page Friday felt more like November than June. CAC earns Foundation award BY PATRICE HARRINGTON COURIER CORRESPONDENT WINCHENDON — In a very short expanse of time, the local Community Action Center man- aged to convince the town and busi- nesses help it to become one of only 10 entities to earn part of a $25,000 incentive proffered by the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts. On June 3 the Winchendon CAC Courtesy photo received $1,398 to help replenish Peter Russell of Athol Savings Bank; Christine Gibbs of Athol Savings Bank; the food pantries here. The Carmelle Lucius of Athol Savings Bank; and Mike Quinn of Wendell P. Clark Community Foundation of North Memorial YMCA, with the generous donation of $5,000 toward the costs of Central Massachusetts had award- this year’s Summer Solstice celebration. ed $25,000 to the 10 highest fund- raising towns in the area. The Foundation gave an incentive by matching grants to all of the dona- tions made. Whole day of activities “We wanted to leverage our grants dollars during what is typi- cally a slow fund-raising period for many food pantries,” said Phil Grzewinski, president of the in Toy Town kick Foundation. “It was a great suc- cess; the agencies were able to raise Bill White photo more than $70,000 during the CAC Executive Director Colleen Laperriere accepts a check from Phil Grzewinzki, month of April.” president of the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts. The off the summer The CAC, established in 1973, check represents a match to the CAC’s own fundraising efforts in April. found out about this fund-raiser in boot drive and sending out a letter and have solidified that partner- BY JERRY CARTON awards will be handed out to the March and what a better way for it campaign to select donors. The ship over the years.” COURIER CORRESPONDENT to celebrate the 40th anniversary, first three finishers in every age April kickoff capital campaign was “The people in this community WINCHENDON — The annual category and flowers and trophies then to give back to the communi- to help raise funds for the local food are very supportive of us,” said ty? Clark Memorial YMCA Summer will be distributed to overall win- pantry as well as help out with Laperriere. Solstice will be the centerpiece as ners. Awards will also be given out Colleen Laperriere, the executive monetary assistance to those who The CAC’s next fund-raising director of the Winchendon CAC, Winchendon kicks off summer following the Mile McFun Run. need it. Laperriere said the “United event will be at the Summer 2013 this weekend with an array of At 11 a.m., the much-anticipated explained the fund raising strategy Way supports us whole heartedly. Solstice where a basket will be raf- was through canister donations, a activities across town. parade gets underway at the fire They have developed a partnership fled. The Solstice will as usual get station, concluding at the IGA park- underway at 8 a.m. tomorrow, June ing lot. Leading off this year’s 15 with the Morin Real Estate 5k parade is Grand Marshal Rachel Road Race, an event that tradition- Grout, who was recently honored ally draws several hundred run- by the town of Winchendon, which LIGHTS ON! ners. designated May 25 “Rachel Grout “It gets better every year,” said Day.” She is being honored for race organizer Veronika Patty. more than 70 years of service to the Committee working on which ones Primary sponsor Athol Savings community and her dedication to Bank will be joined as a sponsor, as the cause of veterans. of this writing, by Broadview BY RUTH DEAMICIS “It would seem, trying to make curred. With good weather expected, the Assisted Living, McDonalds, and afternoon activities, which will COURIER EDITOR sense of the invoices and then the “This is exactly what we decided. Morin Real Estate. begin at noon, should draw lots of streetlights themselves, we have We asked for a breakdown from WINCHENDON — DPW Director In addition to the 5k, the visitors. Arts and Crafts tents, a some on that shouldn’t be, and National Grid, and a chart of the John Deline was given a new job McDonalds Mile McFun Run and giant inflatable, face painting and some we are paying for that are off, lights. We needed to know what this spring, and it may be giving the 1/3rd mile McFun Run for kids the Animal Craze petting zoo are him a headache or two before he it doesn’t make a lot of sense,” said was there.” will be held tomorrow starting at on the schedule. A raffle table will accomplishes it. He gave a brief Deline. Some lights were not numbered 9:30. be on the lawn as well. report to the Board of Selectmen Deline said before any new ones clearly, and the invoicing from NG When registration begins at 8 Aquatics director and Clark Monday night on the streetlights; could be turned on, it was impor- does not list just what is paid for, a.m., local DJ Amy Dupuis is Sharks swim coach Julie and turning on a few more may be tant to figure out just what the town only a total. Deline said he wants to expected to be on hand to pump up Whittemore will be the opening tar- bit more complicated than first was paying for already.