Templeton MA – Gardner News Magazine: Local News & Articles in Gardner MA

Templeton MA

Town of Templeton MA on Gardner Magazine

Templeton MA Local News and Community Information

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Templeton 12-5-24

Templeton Citizens Act on 3 articles – Waste Plastics – Senior Center Project – Solid Waste

The Town of Templeton held a Special Town Meeting on December 5, 2024 that was attended by hundreds of residents. Concerns over possible Waste Plastics Incineration were discussed during the first part of the meeting. Listen to the meeting on any device. CLICK PLAY.

Town Meeting 12-5-24

View the Special Town Meeting Warrant, CLICK HERE.

Meeting Results: Article 1: Enact a 1 year Moratorium on Waste Plastics Incineration within Templeton – YES, passed unanimously. Article 2: Transfer $175,000 from Capital Stabilization Account for Senior Center Project – YES, APPROVED. Article 3: Bylaw Amendment to Solid Waste Management – YES, and will take effect after approval from Massachusetts Attorney General’s office.
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!
Zlotnik Interview 9-20-24

2nd Worcester District – Consisting of the town of Ashburnham, the city of Gardner, and the towns of Templeton and Precincts 2, and 3, of the town of Winchendon, all in the county of Worcester.

“I’d say the top-driving thing that got me into public office all those years ago was that I felt this community and the communities in this district, the ones I grew up in, needed help. They needed additional investment opportunities. They needed things to be built, quite frankly. And the state is the best entity positioned to do that” – Jon Zlotnik

We have reached out to his opponent and offered a similar opportunity to do an interview.

Exploring the 12 Year Record of Zlotnik’s Greatest Hits

Gardner Magazine had the honor of speaking with State Representative Jonathan Zlotnik about his record. Voters are being asked to rehire Zlotnik in this Fall’s election. We spoke with Zlotnik about education, training, business, housing, veterans, local projects, infrastructure, recreation, civics and literacy, food insecurity, the homeless, and help for the disadvantaged. Representative Zlotnik had a few interesting stories to tell along the way including how the need for a stool helped get a new school.

Listen on any device. CLICK PLAY.

Jon Zlotnik 9-20-24

The job pays less than private industry, but Zlotnik does it to help the communities he represents. The State Representative interned at the State House both in high school and college.

Interestingly, one of the first bills Zlotnik filed was to re-institute a Civics curriculum as well as a financial literacy curriculum at the high school level. Eventually, the legislature did take up the civics portion, providing incentives for schools.

Zlotnik spoke about his involvement in the expansion of Mount Wachusett Community College. He spoke of fighting to get state funding for the On-Site Academy which provides for post-traumatic stress treatment for first responders and told a heartwarming story about it. Zlotnik explained his efforts on behalf of veterans in the area. The State Representative detailed and discussed the Wachusett Business Incubator program.

With respect to area development, Jonathan Zlotnik provided some background on the Rear Main Street Project and the Underutilized Properties grants which affects Downtown Gardner. We spoke at length about the Gardner Elementary School and Zlotnik related a story about the hearing on the school when the State Treasurer heard enough to say the project was clearly needed.

Zlotnik spoke of initiatives with respect to recreation including the bike path and the upcoming bridge across Route 140. He also spoke of the importance of actually getting out and talking with people. And, he detailed various projects which have brought in jobs.

Representative Zlotnik spoke of big projects like the one affecting the water main of Winchendon and Ashburnham. He spoke of pulling communities together to better utilize Opioid settlement funds.

Reach State Representative Jonathan Zlotnik via the following email: Jon.Zlotnik@mahouse.gov
Temple Stuart Hazard

Complete EPA Fact Sheet, CLICK HERE.

EPA Removal Action to Take Care of Dangerous PCBs at Temple Stuart

The factory has been inactive for years, but the chemicals known as PCBs at the site remained. The site located at 24 Holman Street in Baldwinville was targeted in the Spring of 2023 for cleanup and the short-term cleanup began in July 2024 under the supervision of the Massachusetts Department of Environment Protection. Goal of EPA is to help communities safely and sustainably redevelop once used commercial property.

About PCBs from the EPA: “PCBs belong to a broad family of man-made organic chemicals known as chlorinated hydrocarbons. PCBs were domestically manufactured from 1929 until manufacturing was banned in 1979. …Exposure to high levels of PCBs or exposure for long amounts of time may cause health effects. Health effects that hav been associated with exposure to PCBs includew acne-like skin conditions in adults and neurobehavioral and immunological changes in children. PCBs are known to cause cancer in animals.”
Beach Status

Most MA Beaches Open – A few Greater Gardner Beaches are Closed

According to the State of MA, bacterial contamination has closed the following beaches: Beaman’s Pond Campground, Templeton —- Dunn Pond, Gardner —- Damon Pond Beach, Ashby —-mentioned on state site in a list, but not shown on map: Lake Dennison Winchendon

The Massachusetts Interactive Beach Water Quality Dashboard is updated 7 days a week at 9:30am and 12:30pm. CLICK HERE.
Templeton No Trespass

Templeton Development Center Off Limits – No Trespassing Signs Posted

Templeton Police Department issued this statement, “Effective today 06/07/2024 the Templeton Developmental Center (TDC) formally known as the Fernald State School, and all surrounding roadways have been posted NO TRESPASSING. Yes that includes driving through the property. All entrance ways have been properly posted with signs on both sides of the roadway. Criminal penalties could be issued for anyone who is on the property without PROPER JUSTIFICATION or PERMISSION. This does not include the Norcross Hill WMA. This is due to the increase in vandalism, destruction of property and theft that has been occurring in the area recently. Some of the involved parties have been identified and investigations are on going. Freight Shed Road and surrounding roadways are NOT PUBLIC WAYS and are State Property. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.”

Zlotnik 6-3-24

The State Budget covers funding from the state to cover school lunches for all students, $6.68 billion for Chapter 70, and other public school funding programs including Circuit Breaker Special Education reimbursement and Charter School reimbursement, as well as Regional School Transportation reimbursement.

State Representative Jonathan Zlotnik Provides Helpful Budget Information

Jonathan Zlotnik represents the communities of Ashburnham, Gardner, Templeton, and Winchendon. The State Representative provided us with an overview of what can be expected from the new Fiscal Year Budget which starts July 1, 2024 or when approved. View complete overview, CLICK HERE.

Community	Local Aid Transfers
Ashburnham	$960,002 Unrestricted General Government Aid
Ashburnham	$15,928,887 Chapter 70
Gardner	$5,116,463 Unrestricted General Government Aid
Gardner	$29,677,210 Chapter 70
Templeton	$1,683,719 Unrestricted General Government Aid
Templeton	$12,479,169 Chapter 70
Winchendon	$960,002 Unrestricted General Government Aid
Winchendon	$14,135,502 Chapter 70

Other Local Funding Highlights

$150,000 to support civic engagement and community service activities at Mount Wachusett Community College
$1,500,000 for On-Site Academy, located in Westminster, to provide post traumatic incident stress counseling to first responders and corrections officers
$125,000 for the Operation of “Cathy’s House” in Winchendon by Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center for female veteran’s housing
$25,000 for GAAMHA in Gardner to support capital improvements to their residential substance use disorder facilities
$100,000 for the operation of the Gardner CAC
$50,000 for the operation of the Wachusett Business Incubator
$100,000 for Growing Places for the Operation of the North Central Food Processing Center

Templeton Fire 5-30-24

Templeton Fire Destroys Barn – All Horses Safe

On May 30, 2024 at around 9pm there was a 5+ alarm fire at 551 Patriot’s Road in Templeton. The barn was fully involved. Almost 2 dozen horses were safely removed from the barn.

A local restaurant KROs on the common is donating 50% of all sales on May 31, 2024 – “Last night our neighbors Liberty-Belle Stables suffered a horrific fire. Happy to report that no animals or people were hurt. The community really came together to support & help overnight! Now let’s rally together for them today! Today we are donating 50% of our sales to Liberty Belle Stables & Templeton First Responders eat for FREE! Alone we can do so little, TOGETHER we can do so much!”

There is a Go Fund Me to help the horses, CLICK HERE.
Templeton 5-20-24

Templeton Annual Town Election and Community Update.

Annual Town Election is Monday May 20, 2024 from 11am to 7pm in the Narragansett Regional high School Gymnasium. Sample Ballot is featured at left.

The most recent report of the Town Administrator goes over street sign replacements, buildings and grounds, activities of the Board of Health, site visits of the Conservation Commission, and Community Services including the library and seniors.

Town Administrator Report of 5-16-24, CLICK HERE.
5 Alarm Templeton

5 Alarm Fire in Templeton on Patriots Road

From the Templeton Fire Department: “At 15:40 Friday May 17^th Templeton Fire Department was Notified of a possible building fire on Patriots rd. Upon arrival of police fire was reported to be coming out the front and side first floor windows. A second alarm was immediately requested. The first arriving crews were told of possible trapped people in the building. With this new information we quickly went to a 5-alarm response to bring in the much-needed help to search for victims and extinguish the fire. Shortly after, all the people were accounted for, and crews were on scene for approximately 4 ½ hours extinguishing the fire. There were no responder or civilian injuries during this incident.” See complete Press Release, CLICK HERE.

Around the Templeton MA Community

Community Facts

Templeton is a town in Worcester County Massachusetts with a population of around 8200 people. Templeton is unique with four main villages of Templeton Center, East Templeton, Baldwinville, and Otter River. The Town of Templeton records most meetings and uploads them to YouTube. To watch, CLICK HERE.

Templeton website

Schools

Narragansett Regional School District: (978) 939-5661

Narragansett Regional High School: (978) 939-5388

Narragansett Middle School: (978) 939-5928

Templeton Elementary School: (978) 939-8892

Government

Town Administrator: (978) 894-2755

Town Clerk: (978) 894-2758

Fire Department: (978) 939-2222

Police Department:(978) 939-5638

Select Board: (978) 894-2755