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

Winchendon MA

Town of Winchendon MA on Gardner Magazine

Winchendon MA Local News and Community Information

Jump to: Around the Community – Winchendon Map – Winchendon Photos – Service pages and outside links — View current Calendar (opens in new window)

Budget, Elections, and Meetings Winchendon MA

Several key budget meetings, town meetings, and elections are scheduled in Winchendon, MA, for April and May 2026, primarily focused on the FY2027 budget and annual town governance.

Key Upcoming Events

Annual Town Election: Monday, May 4, 2026.

Annual Town Meeting: Monday, May 18, 2026, at 7 p.m. at Murdock Middle High School.

Last Day to Register to Vote (Election): Friday, April 24, 2026.

Last Day to Register to Vote (Town Meeting): Friday, May 8, 2026.

Budget & Financial Meetings

Finance Committee Meeting: April 14, 2026, 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall Auditorium.

Capital Planning Committee: April 15, 2026, 5:30 p.m. and May 20, 2026, 5:30 p.m..

Finance Committee Public Hearing: April 29, 2026, 6:00 p.m. at Town Hall Auditorium.

Warrant Submission Deadline: The deadline for submitting warrant articles to the Town Manager’s office is April 21, 2026, at noon.

Other Upcoming Town Meetings

Board of Selectmen: April 13, 2026, and April 27, 2026, at 6:30 p.m..

Planning Board: April 7, 2026, and April 21, 2026, at 6:00 p.m..

Charter/Bylaw Review Committee: April 8, 2026, 6:00 p.m..

Zoning Board of Appeals: April 15, 2026, 7:00 p.m..

School Committee: April 16, 2026, 6:00 p.m..

The town recently held a joint meeting on March 30, 2026, regarding the final FY 2027 budget proposal.
Winchendon – April 2026

Winchendon – April 2026

For April 2026, Winchendon, MA, has several community events scheduled, ranging from seasonal celebrations like an Easter egg hunt to the multi-day Winchendon Music Festival.

Featured Community Events

Free Easter Egg Hunt: Saturday, April 4, 2026, at 52 Murdock Ave.

Winchendon Music Festival: Running from April 16 to April 25, 2026, this festival features international artists across various genres. Highlights include:

April 16 (6:00 PM – 8:00 PM): “How AI is Changing Music” panel discussion at the Murdock-Whitney House.

April 19 (7:00 PM): Classical guitar performance by An Tran at the Murdock-Whitney House.

April 23 (7:00 PM): Classical performance by Asako Takeuchi, Andrew Arceci, and John Lenti at the Murdock-Whitney House.

April 25 (7:00 PM): Final Choir & Chamber Ensemble Concert at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Winchendon.

Friday Night Frequencies Music: Live music event on Friday, April 24, 2026, at The Hub.

Good Friday: April 3, 2026. While not a state holiday, local schools and some businesses may have modified hours or closures.

Recurring & Local Activities

Brunch & Bowl: Held on Saturdays (April 4, 11, and 25) from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Winchendon CAC Community Hub. Includes one hour of bowling and breakfast for $10.

Winchendon Farmer’s Market: Saturday, April 4, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Old Murdock Senior Center.

Toy Town Bridge Artist Circle: Saturday, April 4, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at 122 Gardner Rd. A free gathering for local artists.

Town Government & Notices

Department Head Informational Session: Monday, April 6, 2026, at 5:30 PM in the Town Hall Auditorium. Residents can ask questions about town projects and services.

Annual Town Meeting Deadline: The deadline to submit warrant articles for the May 18 Annual Town Meeting is April 21, 2026, at noon.

State Holidays & Observances

Patriots’ Day: Monday, April 20, 2026. This is a legal holiday in Massachusetts; expect local government office closures.
Winchendon Fire 3-20-26

Abandoned Winchendon Factory Burns to the Ground – No Injuries Reported

Just before 4am on Friday, March 20, 2026 firefighters from Winchendon, Gardner and 6 other area Fire Departments responded to 283 Lincoln Avenue Extension in Winchendon which was the site of the former White Mountain Freezer Company. The 3 story building was fully engulfed with heat so intense that the siding of some nearby homes actually melted. Photos in our graphic are from those posted by the Gardner Fire Department.

This is the statement released by the Winchendon Fire Department: “Structure Fire – 283 Lincoln Avenue Extension. On March 20, 2026, at approximately 3:38 a.m., the Winchendon Dispatch Center received multiple 911 calls reporting a structure fire at a large, abandoned mill building located at 283 Lincoln Avenue Extension.

Upon arrival, Shift Commander Tyler Pelkey reported a fully involved three-story abandoned mill building with multiple exposures and immediately requested a second alarm. Due to the size and intensity of the fire, a third alarm was subsequently struck, bringing additional personnel and apparatus to the scene.”

“Winchendon Fire and Police Departments acted swiftly to evacuate residents from Brown Avenue, located directly behind the fire building, as a precautionary measure. Fire crews prioritized protecting nearby residential structures and successfully prevented the fire from spreading to adjacent homes. Two additional mill-style buildings located across the street sustained minor fire damage from spot fires; however, crews were able to quickly contain and extinguish these extensions.

Firefighters remained on scene throughout the morning and early afternoon conducting overhaul operations. An excavator was utilized to assist with extinguishing persistent hot spots. As of approximately 1:50 p.m., operations were concluding, and residents were permitted to return to their homes. However, power restoration in the area is expected to require extensive work.

Mutual aid assistance was provided by the Gardner Fire Department, Templeton Fire Department, Ashburnham Fire Department, Westminster Fire Department, Royalston Fire Department, Jaffrey Fire Department, Rindge Fire Department, Gardner Fire EMS, and the Ashburnham Drone Unit. Richmond Fire Department provided station coverage during the incident.

The Massachusetts State Fire Marshal’s Office and the District 8 Fire Investigation Unit responded to the scene and are actively investigating the cause of the fire. The Department of Fire Services Rehabilitation Unit was also on scene to support the firefighters.

The Winchendon Fire Department extends its appreciation to the Winchendon Police Department, Winchendon Dispatch Center, Winchendon Building Inspector, National Grid and the Winchendon Water Department for their assistance during this incident. No injuries were reported.”
Winchendon – March 2026

Winchendon MA News, Community Happenings, and Shopping for March 2026

Listen to a “Deep Dive” podcast on any device, CLICK PLAY.

DEEP DIVE – Winchendon MA – March 2026

Gardner Magazine focuses on Winchendon’s local governance and community life. The week of March 23rd (detailed in the infographic below) will be a busy one for municipal meetings including the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, Library Trustees, Board of Assessors, Economic Development Task Force and the Winchendon Youth Commission.

Winchendon has community activities for all ages including children’s storytime at the Beal’s Memorial Library, senior activities at The Hub, and outdoor opportunities at Lake Dennison. We’ve also highlighted Winchendon’s “Buy Local” initiative and highlighted the unique dining and culinary offerings and the “farm to table” resources in Winchendon.
Winchendon BOS 3-9-26

FULL COVERAGE: Winchendon Board of Selectmen March 9, 2026.

Listen to the entire meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY.

Winchendon BOS 3-9-26

During the over 2 1/2 Hour meeting of the Winchendon Board of Selectmen on March 9, 2026, the focus was on local governance and infrastructure updates. A significant portion of the session involved a public hearing regarding utility pole installations by National Grid to support a new substation and increase regional power capacity.

The Board officially approved several volunteer appointments to the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Cultural Council, while also honoring a local Eagle Scout. Building Commissioner Rick Germano presented plans to modernize the town’s permitting process through new digital software and discussed proposed fee increases.

Extensive deliberations were held to revise municipal policies concerning sexual harassment, protected class discrimination, and vacation accrual for future employees. The Board established the May 2026 dates for the annual town meeting and election, including the placement of school-related debt exclusion questions on the ballot.

Election: May 4, 2026. Town Meeting: May 18, 2026. The Town Meeting warrant is open until April 21st at noon. Our infographic below provides more detail on the meeting.
History: Winchendon MA

SPECIAL REPORT: The History of Winchendon MA

Gardner Magazine is publishing a special page focusing on the history of Winchendon, Massachusetts. The page contains various narratives, exploring the history of Winchendon from different perspectives and about different subjects. For the History of Winchendon page, CLICK HERE.

Listen to a “Deep Dive” about the History of Winchendon on any device, CLICK PLAY.

DEEP DIVE – History of Winchendon MA

Listen to a “DEBATE” on whether Winchendon should stick to its Toytown moniker. CLICK PLAY.

DEBATE – History of Winchendon MA

The special history page has narratives and infographics on the History of the Toytown, Winchendon, MA. CLICK HERE.
Winchendon – Super – King

Charlotte King Is the School Superintendent in Winchendon

The Winchendon School Committee signed a 3 year contract with Charlotte King which goes until 2029 with a base salary of $178,500. King has worked for the Winchendon School District for about 3 years serving in such roles as Dean of Students at Toy Town Elementary and Director of Pupil Services. About a year ago, King was given the job of Assistant Superintendent. Now she has the top job. Gardner Magazine has the AUDIO of the School Committee meeting of January 8^th. Listen on any device, CLICK PLAY.

Winchendon School Committee 1-8-26

In other matters, The Winchendon School Committee meeting held on January 8, 2026, focused on district updates, financial planning, and leadership stability. A student representative outlined several community service initiatives including hygiene drives and fundraisers, while the superintendent reported on holiday events, a free flu clinic, and progress on building renovation projects. The primary discussion centered on the preliminary FY27 budget, which faces significant challenges due to rising special education costs, decreasing federal grants, and a reliance on local funding despite level-funded supplies.
Year Ahead – Zlotnik 2026

The Year Ahead –2026 – A Comprehensive Interview with Jonathan Zlotnik

Gardner Magazine spoke with State Representative Jonathan Zlotnik on January 8, 2026. We review 2025 and we speak about the year ahead, 2026. Listen to the entire interview on any device, CLICK PLAY.

Gardner Magazine Publisher Werner Poegel and Jonathan Zlotnik took a look back at 2025 with some key achievements being a savings of $100,000 annually simply by effectuating the merger of the Winchendon and Gardner District Courts into the Winchendon-Gardner District Court, securing $10 million in infrastructure funding, and being involved in an important Veterans Housing project in Winchendon. 2026 Top priorities include education, the housing crisis, and infrastructure as is detailed more fully below and in a detailed infographic.

Gardner Magazine has prepared a briefing document with key themes and priorities from State Representative Jonathan Zlotnik. CLICK HERE for PDF and a Report entitled: “the $100,000 Hyphen: 5 Lessons from Local Government, CLICK HERE for PDF — or — CLICK HERE to view the text in a separate page.

In 2025, significant achievements included securing over $10 million for water and sewer infrastructure in the district, championing a revised road funding formula that benefits rural communities, and advancing major youth service initiatives like “The Hub” in Winchendon and the Gardner Community Youth Center. A cornerstone project, the redevelopment of two Winchendon schools into 44 units of veterans’ housing, moved forward with approximately 90% state funding.

Looking ahead to 2026, Representative Zlotnik’s top priorities are twofold: ensuring the full and continued funding of the Student Opportunity Act to provide stable support for K-12 education, and aggressively addressing the regional housing crisis through state investment in redevelopment projects. Supporting priorities include ensuring the financial sustainability of Heywood Healthcare, continuing investment in youth services and infrastructure, and strengthening local food security systems. Throughout, Zlotnik contrasts the Massachusetts legislature’s track record of consensus-building with federal-level gridlock, underscoring a pragmatic approach to governance.
Wreaths Across America 2025

Wreaths Across America Event in Winchendon

Wreaths Across America will be at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Winchendon on Friday, December 12, 2025 at 9am. However, there is NO PARKING at the cemetery location. People are encouraged to park at the American Legion Post 295 School Street, Winchendon where shuttle buses will take you to the cemetery. There will also be a ceremony in the chapel at 11:45am on Saturday, December 13th. Listen to the Chair Man and the Chair Lady discuss the event on any device, CLICK PLAY.

DEEP DIVE – Wreaths Across America – Winchendon Event
Winchendon Special Dec 1st Town Meeting

Winchendon Calls Special Town Meeting for December 1st

The Town of Winchendon Special Town Meeting to consider 2 articles will be held Monday, December 1, 2025 at 7pm (Doors open at 6pm) Location is Murdock High School Gymnasium, 3 Memorial Drive, Winchendon.

Article 1 proposes the adoption of a local Lodging Excise Tax, impacting hotels and bed and breakfast establishments. Majority Vote is required to pass.

Article 2 addresses a significant financial matter, seeking authorization to borrow and appropriate $16,632,499 for the construction and equipping of a new Fire Station Addition and Renovation project. This will need a 2/3 vote to pass.

Listen to the “Deep Dive” discussing the implications and the upcoming meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY.

DEEP DIVE – Winchendon Town Meeting 12-1-25

If approved at Town Meeting, both articles will also need to be approved at the ballot box prior to taking effect.