Phillipston MA

Phillipston MA Local News and Community Information

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• Greater Gardner 11-25-24

  

  

  
  News Around the Greater Gardner MA area

  Winchendon: 3 finalists for Winchendon Superintendent position include: current interim Superintendent Dr. Marc Gosselin, Dr. Greg Rosenthal of Douglas Public Schools, and Mark McLaughlin of South Hadley Public Schools. Next step: School Committee will make its selection.

  Westminster: Recent Town Meeting Results – Articles 1,2,3,4,,5, and 6 YES Articles 9 and 10 regarding TIF: NO. Article 11: NO and Voters passed over article 12. Previous article with details, CLICK HERE.

  Ashburnham: Equipment options for the new Winchester Park Playground will be previewed at a presentation by consultants M.E. O’Brien and Sons, Inc. on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 6:30pm at Overlook Middle School, 2^nd Floor Team Room, 10 Oakmont Drive, Ashburnham. A question and answer session will follow the presentation. —– Toys for Tots donations will be accepted through December 6^th at the DPW and Town Hall. —- The Select Board will hold a tax classification hearing on Monday, December 2, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. in the Training Room at the Public Safety Building. The purpose of the hearing is to inform taxpayers and interested persons of the choices open to the Select Board in setting a single tax rate for all real estate and personal property, or two tax rates, one for residential and open space and one for commercial, industrial and personal property. Members of the Board of Assessors will be present to explain the options available in choosing the classification. The public is welcome to attend.

  Templeton: A special town meeting is scheduled for December 6, 2024 at 6pm at the Narragansett Middle School Auditorium. Here is the complete town meeting warrant, CLICK HERE. The Town of Templeton has a construction schedule update, CLICK for DETAILS. The Digital Equity Plan comment period ends on December 6^th. View a pdf of the plan, CLICK HERE.

  Phillipston: The Phillipston Lions have started a soup kitchen. Next Soup Kitchen is Wednesday, December 11^th at the Phillipston Church on the common. For details, CLICK HERE. —- The Ladies Benevolent Society is sponsoring a Holly Berry Fair on December 10, 2024 from 9 AM to 2 PM at the Phillipston Congregational Church. Highlights are: Christmas Vendors, Ladies Benevolent Society Raffle Table, Lion’s Lunch – Soup & Sandwiches Dessert, Cookie Walk Table, Come take a picture with Santa, Pets Welcome! Bring your camera!

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• Durant – Phillipston

  Senator Peter Durant is having office hours at the Phillipston Town Hall on Monday, February 12th starting at 10am.

  

  From town of Phillipston website: “MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) is inviting the public to a virtual informational meeting on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 from 7:30PM to 8:10 PM, which will be held via Zoom (link below).  The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the proposed Thousand Acre Reservoir Dam Removal project in the Millers River Wildlife Management Area.  The Project Team will be available to answer questions and to seek input on the project.  Please contact Todd Olanyk (todd.olanyk@mass.gov) with questions or requests for accommodations.”

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• Corrections Officers

  

  Gardner MA and Phillipston MA Residents Among Correctional Officers Sworn In

  On Friday, May 26, 2023, George Cormier of Phillipston and Kierra Caissey of Gardner were among 12 to take the Correctional Officers Oath after having completed the Basic Recruit Training Academy at the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Training Facility. 10 Massachusetts towns are represented. 1/4 of the recruits are veterans or reservists.

  The Sheriff’s Office Academy consists of 12 weeks of both classroom and hands-on instruction teaching a variety of skills involving how to handle inmates at the Worcester County Jail and House of Correction.

  “These men and women have just completed 12 weeks of rigorous training and are now among the best and brightest in corrections today,” stated Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis. “This class has demonstrated great strength and resolve as they have navigated the academy. They are the next generation of corrections officers that will continue our mission to serve, protect, and create a better, safer community for all.”

  According to the Sheriff’s office: “Since taking office, Evangelidis has made significant changes to the hiring standards to professionalize the department. All correctional officer applicants must have, at minimum, an associate degree, two years of military service, or two years of relevant work experience. They must also pass a written exam, physical fitness test, background check, and psychological screening test. Evangelidis has also implemented a policy that prohibits the submission of letters of recommendation from politicians and gives preference to hiring those who have served our country.”

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• Phillipston Annual Election 2023

  The Phillipston MA Annual Town Election is scheduled for Monday May 15, 2023. Polls will be open at Town Hall from noon to 8pm. NOTES FROM THE TOWN CLERKS OFFICE NOMINATION PAPERS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR 2023 ANNUAL TOWN ELECTION —The Annual Town Election is scheduled for Monday, May 15^th. Polls open at Town Hall from 12 PM to 8 PM. LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE WILL BE May 5th. For more details, CLICK HERE.

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• Electricity 23

  

  Electric Bill High in Greater Gardner MA? There may be something cheaper…

  EnergySwitchMA.gov allows you to shop for an electric supplier for your home or business. You put in your zip code and a list of suppliers and rates pops out.

  Electric Angst in the Toytown of Winchendon

  For example, the basic service rate in Winchendon MA may be as high as 34 cents. However, at the site there’s a supplier under 17 cents (saving 50%) and several others in the 17 to 20 cent per kilowatt hour range. Click here.

  Electric Frustration in the Chair City of Gardner MA

  In Gardner, basic service has a supply rate of about 34 cents. The City of Gardner negotiated rate is just under 24 cents. However, there’s a supplier for 17 cents and a number well under 20 cents per kilowatt hour. Click here. For example IGS Energy offers a 16.99 cents per kilowatt hour with a 12 month contract or a 17.99 cents per kilowatt hour rate with a 36 month contract. Click here.

  For your community, go to EnergySwitchMA.gov, select Home or Business, put in the zip code, and get the results instantly. CLICK HERE.

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• Mosquitos

  

  Mosquito Control Team Back Again to Greater Gardner MA

  The Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project is sending its team to the area on August 4, 11, 18, 25, and September 1.  Dates are tentative and weather permitting.   Requests for service may be recorded by calling  the CMMCP office at (508) 393-3055 between 7am and 3:30pm weekdays.   For more info visit the website.  CLICK  HERE.

• Storm

  

  Severe Thunderstorm with Tornado Warnings Hit parts of Worcester County including Greater Gardner MA on July 21, 2022

  Orange Airport had a wind gust of 58 miles per hour. Athol MA had a storm producing up to 1 inch hail. Route 2 West near Warwick MA closed due to trees falling across highway. The storm passed over many of the towns in the Greater Gardner area including the City of Gardner. A tornado warning was in effect until 4:15pm, having been issued an hour earlier. Tornado Warning now expired. Severe Thunderstorm Warning Eastern Worcester County and Southern New Hampshire until 4:45pm

  Strong storms are expected in other areas of Massachusetts including Middlesex County and Southern New Hampshire until early evening. It is unknown at the time of this report whether a tornado actually touched down. In Eastern Franklin County there were downed trees and some power outages.

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• Satellite Internet

  

  

  Unlimited Satellite Internet now available in Gardner MA and some area towns

  Elon Musk’s venture Starlink Satellite Internet is available to Gardner residents, and other area towns such as Winchendon, Phillipston, and Templeton.  Currently, the price is $110 per month for residential plus the cost of equipment.  Other satellite services are available to Gardner, but here is the difference: the bandwidth limit and latency.  Starlink offers unlimited internet while others have considerable limits, making the use of streaming apps not feasible in the past.  With Starlink,  you can do whatever  you did before with Cable internet.    Cost is not cheap, but it is a viable alternative, and a great backup for any business relying on the World Wide Web.   Note that Fitchburg and Leominster still have to wait.   There is more information on their website and you can check your exact address for availability.   CLICK HERE.

  We checked out exact cost. You’ll pay a total of $686.44 upfront for equipment and then billing will start within about 2 weeks of shipping out to you. Currently $110 monthly.

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• 988 Lifeline

  

  Nation including Greater Gardner MA has new number for National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

  The new number, 988, is easy to remember and is designed to save lives. The number is accessible across the United States and will connect callers with a trained counselor at any time. You can even text the number and get a response.

  Gardner Magazine found it difficult to find a high quality image, so we’re making it available here in a pdf you can print for the office or workplace. CLICK HERE. — Note: even if you have only a B/W laser printer, print and display this and you may just save a life.

  Note: To avoid confusion, we are not publishing the old longer number which is still working for now.

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• Phillipston Town Meeting

  

  Phillipston MA Town Meeting

  Annual Phillipston MA Town Meeting May 4, 2022 7:00PM
  Phillipston Memorial School
  20 The Common
  Phillipston, MA 01331

  For the annual Phillipston Town Meeting Warrant, click here.

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