Fun and Frolic at New Venue Works Well
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(978) 297-0050 • www.winchendoncourier.com FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 2016 Newsstand: 75 cents Fun and frolic at new venue works well WINCHENDON — A new venue proved the Winchendon cook-off is his favorite one successful for Winchendon Kiwanis and their since everyone is so friendly, adding that he’s many partners as the 32nd edition of the happy to win. Family Fun Day featuring the Massachusetts The Winchendon Fire Department took state chili cook off went off with a bang last third place in a two-way tie for second in weekend at the new site. the same red chili, also taking local People’s Using the grounds of the American Legion Choice and thus garnering the Overall Points on School Street, the crowds showed up once Championship. They won by one point and the morning clouds parted. were awarded $300, which they gave back to Dave Schulman of Avon CT once again the Kiwanis Club. placed first in red chili and garnered second Winchendon Fire Lt. Robert Soucy said place for Best Booth and Showmanship for his he never expected to place – not in a million skull and vulture decorations. In his 14th win, years. he won a trophy, plaque, and $500. “We entered into the cook-off, saying ‘no But his success wasn’t instant. expectations, no disappointments, just have He has been participating almost every year fun,’” Soucy said. “That’s what we went into since 1992 when his late wife brought home it for -- just to have fun, and it turned out even samples and he thought he could make better better than that.” chili than that. Schulman attended a seminar, He said two days later, he’s still in shock. where he realized he was on the wrong track. “How do you express that excitement?,” “I got help from other cooks,” Schulman Soucy asked. “It’s absolutely unexpected. I said. “I get to meet people from all walks of never, never expected it. Wow. Not bad for the life – the best group in the world -- and it’s com- first time.” petition without animosity. If I needed advice, Soucy said it was an honest attempt by him they’d give it to me. And ‘the rest is history,’ and his wife, Barbara, who prepared eight as they say.” gallons of chili for three to four hours for that He said his secret is the blend of hard-to- people’s choice. come-by spices. He said some people put tokens in because “Everyone has their own blend,” he said. “I they supported the Fire Department while use chili, pepper, cumin, onion, garlic, salt, others voted independently, solely for the and spices that aren’t from the grocery store.” taste, for the people’s choice version. His preparation time is 2-3 hours. He said Turn To CHILI, page A12 Mat Plamondon, Tara Vocino & Ruth DeAmicis photos Antonio Ford, age eight, enjoys watermelon at the event. Two Site found for GAR Park considered Gandy Memorial rededication for library on the job horizon BY GREG VINE COURIER CORRESPONDENT BY GREG VINE COURIER CORRESPONDENT WINCHENDON — Selectmen WINCHENDON — The Board of Monday gave the GAR Park Library Trustees and Town Manager Improvement Committee the go-ahead Keith Hickey met Tuesday night to to hold a rededication ceremony at the interview two finalists for the job of park on Sunday, Oct. 2. Invitations to director of the Beals Memorial Library. the event are being sent out even as The board is looking for a successor work at the park continues. to former director Brian Tata, who The initials GAR stand for Grand resigned earlier this years citing health Army of the Republic, an nationwide reasons. The finalists include Manuel organization formed by veterans who King, of Orange, and Tim Silva, of had fought for the Union during the Leominster. bloody Civil War. King has worked at Wheeler Greg Vine photo The event is scheduled to get under way at 12:30 with music from the Civil Memorial Library in Orange for the Organizers of the push for a memorial for Ed Gandy have found a way to remember the past 13 years, starting as a part-time War-era band Shades of Gray. In addi- local hero. From left, Sons of American Legion Commander Mark Casavant, American tion to a welcoming address and open- and working his way up to the post of Legion Auxiliary representative Coral Grout, American Legion representative Fran Murphy, head of adult services, a post he has ing prayer, the event will include a holding a display of Gandy’s medals and citations; Gandy’s son David and member of the wreath laying at the Soldiers Monument held for the past three years. Prior to Sons Steven Smith who started the drive to find a way to memorialize Gandy. accepting his current position, he spent by members of American Legion Post BY GREG VINE Kennebunkport. During those visits, #193. That will be followed by a rec- 12 years as director of youth develop- COURIER CORRESPONDENT ment at the Athol Area YMCA. He was Gandy and Bush would often go fish- itation of the Gettysburg Address by also the driving force behind Orange’s WINCHENDON — It appears a site ing off the coast of Maine. Steve Woods. Woods is a well-known, “Starry, Starry Night” celebration, a has been found for a memorial to The location for Gandy’s memorial award-winning Abraham Lincoln por- “First Night” event which has been Edward Gandy, a Navy veteran from will be near the north parking lot for trayer from New Hampshire. A short held each New Year’s Eve for the past Winchendon who served aboard the the North Central Pathway, overlook- history of the park will then be pre- 20 years. USS Finback, the submarine that ing Whitney Pond, near the intersec- sented, followed by selections from the King is in the process of completing picked up George H.W. Bush after his tion of Spring and Glenallan streets. Murdock Glee Club. After a closing a masters degree in library and infor- plane was shot down in the Pacific It’s hoped the plaque commemorating prayer, Shades of Gray will again enter- mation science from Valdosta State during World War II. Bush, as we Gandy will be erected in time to be tain. University in Valdosta, GA. He is due know, would go on to become the 41st dedicated on Sept. 11, the same day The park has been undergoing an to graduate in May of next year. president of the United States. the memorial to long-time veterans upgrade since last year. King told the board that one of his Gandy and Bush maintained a affairs director Charlie Grout is to be Any town residents expressed con- first priorities would be to ensure Beals friendship over the years, and the dedicated. If not, the dedication ser- cern when many of the trees in the complies with requirements of the Winchendon resident would some- vice for Gandy’s memorial will take park were cut down earlier this year. Improvement Committee Chairman times visit the Bush compound in Turn To MEMORIAL, page A11 Janet Corbosiero explained to select- Turn To LIBRARY, page A11 men that an arborist had been called in to examine all of the trees in the park and that he had determined the vast majority of them were diseased and County ‘tough nut to crack’ Altercation over beer needed to felled. Many of those trees have since been replaced by red maples and sugar BY JERRY CARTON make inroads,” lamented COURIER CORRESPONDENT maples purchased with contributions Eklund. turns deadly from groups and individuals through- REGION — Fifteen coun- For more than 50 years, out the community. More will be plant- and annually through this ties across the country BY TARA VOCINO ed once the walkways and driveway were selected to participate particular project since 1999, COURIER CORRESPONDENT leading into the park from the sur- in the National Health and NHANES has been collecting rounding streets have been paved. Nutrition Examination data regarding public health, WINCHENDON — Donald O’Malley Jr., age 32, of 163 Spruce St., died on Tuesday after a fight with his next-door- That work is scheduled to take place Survey this summer, and and that information, “has at the end of the month, according to while Worcester County has a far-reaching and signif- neighbor and best friend turned deadly at 169 Spruce St. in the backyard. Corbosiero. been among them, study icant impact on everything A plaque listing the names of those manager Janis Eklund said from the quality of the air Thomas “Tommy” Maxwell, age 49, of 169 Spruce St., is the suspect. According to Winchendon Police Lt. Kevin who purchased trees for the park will the going has been rough. we breathe to the vaccina- also be added, along with a storyboard “We’re finding a lot of resis- tions you get from your doc- Wolski, he was arraigned on Wednesday in Winchendon District Court on charges of aggravated assault and battery. detailing the history of the park. tance,” she acknowledged. tor, to the emergence of low- In addition to the new trees, other “For whatever reason, this Winchendon Fire Chief Thomas Smith said he couldn’t Turn To ALTERCATION A11 Turn To GAR, A11 has been a tough county to Turn To COUNTY page A11 page page LOCAL SPORTS WEEKLY QUOTE Willy Wonka Labor of love... “So long as we live makes a and fishing...gotta among men, let us Toy Town stop love fishing cherish humanity.” 6 5652510431 2 PAGE 2 PAGE 8 Andre Gide Friday, August 12, 2016 2 WINCHENDON COURIER Willy Wonka makes a Toy Town stop Even older children enjoyed the day as Daniele Srocynski, age 11, decorates a cookie with her mother Jenelle.