Templeton MA
TEMPLETON WEATHERTown of Templeton MA on Gardner Magazine
Templeton MA Local News and Community Information
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- Greater Gardner 11-25-24
News Around the Greater Gardner MA areaWinchendon: 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, 2nd 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 6th 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 6th. View a pdf of the plan, CLICK HERE.
Phillipston: The Phillipston Lions have started a soup kitchen. Next Soup Kitchen is Wednesday, December 11th 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 ZlotnikWe 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.
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
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.
- 5 Alarm Templeton
5 Alarm Fire in Templeton on Patriots Road
From the Templeton Fire Department: “At 15:40 Friday May 17th 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.
- Templeton Rotary
Templeton MA Rotary Project Pulls Ahead of Gardner
Templeton MA has announced major progress in its rotary project on May 14, 2024 as shown in the visual from the Templeton PD which posted, “TRAFFIC PATTERN CHANGE 05/14/2024 After two days of paving, the East Templeton Rotary Project has started to take form and will begin to enter the next phase of the project. Please note the layout, and traffic directions moving forward. Gardner Road (Route 101) will remained closed. Thank you!“
Completion of the Rotary Project in Gardner is expected to be this Fall.
Meanwhile, in Gardner, the work continues. Shown at right is construction and the concept illustration of what the finished project will look like.
CLICK IMAGE for larger view.
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.
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
Organizations
Community Services: (978) 894-2783
Boynton Public Library: (978) 939-5582
Templeton Food Pantry: (508) 826-4258
Templeton Senior Community Center: (978) 894-2780
Interactive Map of Templeton MA
Town of Templeton MA Photos
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