25 August 2010 - As recently reported on the Ashburnham Hometown News website,our town was not among the towns and cities awarded a Community Development Block Grant this year (see story). These grants are applied for through the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) and Ashburnham sought $606,000 for housing and septic system rehab, and $125,000 for the Senior Center renovation design (plus $101,000 was included for administration expenses).

Town Administrator Doug Briggs was puzzled by the rejection of the town's grant application, and after meetings with MRPC staff and State Senator Stephen Brewer, he seems convinced that because an attempt at regionalization was not made in the development of plans for the Senior Center, the grant "lost points".

There has been an effort in the past, and more recently in the last months, by the selectmen, administration, and department heads of both Ashburnham and Westminster to combine many services, as municipal budgets shrink and state monies for towns and cities continues to be compromised.

In a recent article in the Sentinel and Enterprise, Briggs is quoted as saying "...If residents want a beautiful senior center, we're going to need the efforts of both towns." (Ashburnham and Westminster)

Westminster has been actively seeking plans and funding options for a new senior center for the past two years, if not longer. For years, senior services have been housed in the American Legion building in the center of town.

In Ashburnham, the impetus and request for funding is not for a new senior center, but for the renovation and updating of their current site, the VMS Building on Memorial Drive. We understand, if the towns combined to build a new senior center, most likely the facility would be a distance from both town centers.

In discussions at a joint meeting on July 27, Joe Serio, a member of the Westminster Advisory Board, said, "I really believe that the seniors deserve to be in the center of a community," He further commented he believed the ability to walk around the center of town and the visibility of the town center location to be important to residents.

We heartily agree with Mr. Serio, and it has nothing, in our opinion, to do with "everyone wants their own empire", as one official has stated. We have heard others involved in the discussion voice the same opinion. Let's just look at our current senior center in Ashburnham, and try and think "outside the box" a little. Some time ago, it wasn't regionalization that fired the grant awards engine, but it was intergenerational facilities and programs. We have, in essence, the traditional New England town center, where right on Main Street our Town Hall stands along with our major businesses. There is the entrance to Memorial Drive, that leads to Winchester Park, with a "bandstand", green space, newly paved parking area, a beautiful and functional playground, our library, and the VMS Building which currently houses our senior center.

Imagine investing the money in upgrading that building as planned, with up to date heating and cooling system, larger kitchen, a bright and newly decorated senior center (where they currently dine and meet), a teen center, a young children's and/or adult day care center, the food pantry, and a "clothes closet", perhaps an area for selectmen's meetings, rooms for adult classes. Outside, the kids are playing tag football, croquet, badminton or volleyball. Inside, they play a game of ping pong with the seniors, or billiards, cards, a teen room for after school study and gathering, a computer room where teens are showing the seniors how to navigate the internet. Perhaps a community garden carved out of some green space over toward Chapel Street. And, all accessible to young and old alike, by bicycle, skateboard, walking, driving or MART pickup.

The playground is already a magnet for young mothers and fathers to gather as their children play. The Farmers Market is there, book sales, library events, civic events, band concerts.

It may take a couple of million dollars to build a new senior center, out away from both town centers. Perhaps it would take much less to restructure the use of an existing building to serve more generations, more functions, more programs, and to renovate for those projected uses.

What would happen to the VMS Building if a new center were built? Board it up? Still spend money to fix it for something else? Let's be realistic here folks, and use what we have, what works, and with a little innovative thinking can but enhance our town. We want to keep our seniors in their homes and encourage young families and seniors to purchase houses in and around our town village. Our businesses need the folks that surround our Main Street.

We think our selectmen and town administrator should rethink the senior center project, try to keep it in our town village center, and approach the project from a different view. It's a great building, and so many could benefit from the renovation of it, not just the seniors.

Our focus at the Ashburnham Hometown News in the next months and coming year, is to provide our readers with a greater variety of editorial and photographic content, from local and community events to perspective on government and world issues that impact all our lives. To this end, we are reaching out to our Ashburnham Hometown News readers, and would-be readers, to become participants in our e-paper adventure.

What would we like to read on the hometown news website? How about submissions from community leaders, elected officials, involved residents, sports enthusiasts, moms, dads, and kids who like to write about their community and school life and issues of their interest. What's going on in your everyday world of home, work and school may be just what others are thinking about, experiencing and want to know more about. Do you have a special interest that you would like to share with our readers? Does your profession or expertise in a specific field make you feel like you'd like to share some of that knowledge? Write a column, a story about a vacation experience, or a special cause you champion and let our readers know what you are doing. Is there a special event going on we should cover, or you want to write about, or send photos of? Do we want to know about it? You bet we do!!

We are interested in all things going on in our community, and always welcome more eyes and ears out there than we can do ourselves. Since our official launch last March, we have tried to cover all the news, school and community events we can, but there are not enough hours in day for us to get to, or know of, everything. And, what we may think is newsworthy, may not be what you think should be in the Ashburnham Hometown News. Tell us what you would like to see on Ashburnham's news website, and we'll find a way to do that.

We'd love some help with sports coverage, as the fall season begins. There's Oakmont, Overlook and then Pop Warner and the Outlaw Soccer teams, as well as the Ashburnham Recreation Soccer League.

We know there are interesting things happening everyday in our schools, fun photo opts and achievements that we may miss. If you know about it, please tell us, or just take out that camera, take a photo, tell us about it and send it on. Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, church events, 4-H activities, dance recitals, play performances, business news, senior "moments" and also issues in our own government you would like to voice your opinion about, or feel others should know about.

When we first "incubated" the idea for a local e-paper, we were basing our business model for success on our many years in the print media, advertising sales and, more recently web design and internet media trends. It seems we were "right on" according to a recent article in TIME magazine, who have covered the venture as "the hyperlocal websites taking over coverage of neighborhood news". (TIME, August 2, 2010). To read this article, follow this link, http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2005729,00.html. We'd be interested to hear your take on this emerging idea.

You can reach us by email, at editor@ashburnhamhometownnews.com or phone us at 978-827-1100 and find us on Facebook. We look forward to getting back into the routine after the summer lull, and launching some new and interesting reading to the Ashburnham Hometown News e-paper! We hope you will consider becoming a part of our e-paper adventure, or "hyperlocal" news business.

Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins

1/2 c. butter 2 c. bread flour 1/2 c. cake flour 1 c. sugar 2 lg. eggs 1/2 tsp. vanilla 1/2 c. milk 4 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 2 1/2 c. blueberries

At low speed cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each one to blend well. Add dry ingredients alternately with milk. Mash 1/2 cup blueberries and stir by hand. Add rest of blueberries whole and fold in.

Grease tins well (or use paper cupcake liners) and pile high in each. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Test for doneness and tap pan immediately after removing from oven. Remove from tins while hot.

[Editor's Note: We have been searching for a source of gardening news that is local. We asked our friends at the Amazing Flower Farm in New Ipswich if we could use their newsletter as a resource, and they were happy to send it to us. I have been shopping there for plants for the last 2 years, and have never been disappointed, and they are so very helpful. When you make you plant purchases, they keep track of the amount you spend, and send you a credit from a percentage of your purchases. They are closing soon, so be sure and visit the farm...you will be AMAZED! Follow the signs off of Route 123/124, heading towards Sharon/Peterborough.Tell them you saw their article on the Ashburnham Hometown News website!]

The Amazing Flower Farm, 202 Poor Farm Road, New Ipswich, NH 03071 (603) 878 - 9876 Hours: 8 am - 5 pm by Ara Lynn.

We made up some inexpensive perennials & houseplants in case you have a modest credit this year.

We are planning our summer workshops & garden tour now, so watch your e-mail for an invite to our first workshop on Worm Composting. If you have an idea for a workshop you'd like us to do, please e-mail Ara Lynn.

Also in this newsletter: tips on efficient watering, and a correction to last issue's wrong phone number for the gardening help hot-line.

Water Efficiency and Gardening Mulch in the vegetable garden is very useful to help conserve water as well as reduce weeding. Mulch keeps the soil and roots cooler and also reduces evaporation from the soil while the plant canopy is sparse. However, the soil should be damp several inches deep before applying mulch.
The idea with mulch is to cover the bare soil so rain can sink down but water won't evaporate back up, and also to block the light so weeds don't grow.

Useful materials for mulch in the vegetable garden are straw, grass clippings that have dried or broken down some so they don't heat up as they decompose, sheets of newspaper weighed down with rocks.

Drip irrigation, such as soaker hoses, are much more efficient about getting water directly to the plant roots than sprinklers.

Here is a free method of drip irrigation Poke one or two small holes (like a nail hole) in the bottom of an empty milk or water jug (or 5-gallon pail for trees) and place it at the base of the plant. When you fill the jug with water, your plant will get a gallon (or half-gallon, whatever you choose) slowly over time, there will be no wasted runoff, and you may not have to water that plant the next day if it has been watered deeply enough. You can tie the jug to a stick in the ground or a rock if the wind catches it when empty.

If you water deeply and less frequently, the plant will drive its roots deeper into the ground. If you give a little bit of water but often, the plant keeps its roots near the surface (where that little bit of water is) and you are actually making it more susceptible to drought.

To rejuvenate container plants: If hanging baskets or potted plants dry to wilt conditions often, the soil shrinks and pulls away from the sides of the container. The soil actually starts repelling water. You know...when you water and it just pours out the bottom of the container. To remedy this, soak the container plant overnight in a bucket or tub of water, or devise a way to let water drip into the container for a half hour or more, or add a small amount of dish detergent to your watering can. About 1/8 teaspoon per gallon should do it. It does not hurt the plant and it helps over-dried soil take on water again. Can I plant perennials or fruiting plants now? Yes, if you are planting it from a pot, rather than digging it out of the ground, you can plant it anytime.

Suggestions for best success: Keep it very well watered for a couple of weeks until it roots in. If it is a large plant, it helps to even dump some water in the hole before you actually put the plant in, and then water it again once you have filled in the hole. Make a rim of dirt around the plant to help keep the water at the base of the plant.

It also helps to plant in the late afternoon after the hottest sun has passed, or on a cloudy day.

Apology! NH Gardening Hot-line, Ara Lynn made a big mistake last newsletter. The toll-free number to contact the Free information hotline at UNH Family, Home & Garden Education Center should have been 1-877-398-4769. So very sorry if you used the wrong number.

Westminster-Michael N. Wirtanen, 44 died Thursday, August 19, 2010 at the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.

He leaves his wife of 8 years Tracy L. (Smith) Wirtanen, five children, Douglas M. Wirtanen, Jonathan N. Wirtanen, Devan E. Wirtanen, James, D. Wirtanen and William D. Wirtanen all of Westminster, his mother, Jeannine M. (Desrosier) Wirtanen of Rindge, N.H., four brothers, John F. Wirtanen, Edwin J. Wirtanen Jr. and his wife Tia of Texas, Robert R. Wirtanen and his wife Christine of Westminster, William W. Wirtanen of Winchendon, three sisters, Anna Green and her husband Donny of Maine, Kathy A. Murphy and her husband Paul of Westminster, and Lisa A. Savard and her husband Shaun of Rindge, N.H., and his former wife Christy L. Lombardo of Ashburnham, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is predeceased by a brother Daniel R. Wirtanen who died in 1978.

Michael was born in Gardner on May 27, 1966 a son of Jeannine M. (Desrosier) and the late Edwin J. Wirtanen. He graduated from Oakmont Regional High School in 1984. Michael played football at Oakmont and has continued his enthusiasm for all Oakmont Spartan Teams. He worked for the CTS Co. in Westborough for 15 years as a Communications Technician. He loved music especially Bob Dylan, and was a Mopar enthusiast. He was a Pop Warner Coach and a member of the Local 103 IBEW. His greatest love was for his wife, children and family.

Funeral Services will be held on Monday August, 23, 2010 at 10:00 A.M. in the First Congregational Church of Westminster, 138 Main Street, Westminster, MA 01473. Burial will follow in the Woodside Cemetery, 9 Narrows Road, Westminster, MA 01473.

Calling Hours will be in the Westminster Chapel of the Sawyer-Miller-Masciarelli Funeral Homes, (www.masciarellifamilyfuneralhomes.net) 123 Main Street, Westminster, MA 01473 on Sunday, August 22, 2010 from 2:00 - 5:00 P.M.

In lieu of Flowers, Memorial Contributions can be made to the Wirtanen Family Fund, C/O I-C Federal Credit Union, 101 Main Street, Westminster, MA 01473 or may be left at the Funeral Home.

ASHBY/ASHBURNHAM -- Joan M. (Borrelli) Reifenheiser, 68, of Ashby, died peacefully Tuesday morning August 10, 2010, after a long illness.

Joan was born in the Bronx New York, April 13, 1942, a daughter of the late John and Gertrude (Auger) Borrelli, and lived in New York for many years before moving to Ashburnham in 1973. She moved to Ashby in 1985. She married her husband Richard T. Reifenheiser on June 29, 1963. Together Joan and Richard have shared over 47 years of marriage.

Prior to her retirement Joan worked for Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Gardner for 17 years as the Parish secretary. She also worked as secretary to the Superintendent of Schools in Ashburnham. Joan was a talented and accomplished quilter and sewer. For several years she was active in Marriage Encounter. She taught CCD, and was a Eucharistic Minister at Saint Denis Church in Ashburnham. Family was most important to Joan. She especially enjoyed all the time she spent with her grandchildren. She was a good friend to many people. Joan will be remembered as one of the kindest, most genuine, caring person anyone could ever know. She was tremendously giving of herself and her time to help others. To all who knew and loved her Joan will be sadly missed.

Besides her husband, Joan will be sadly missed by one son; Richard F. Reifenheiser and his wife Sherri of Brownsville TX, one daughter; Jeanne M. Ridley and her husband Jerry of Ashburnham, one brother; John Borrelli of Bremerton, WA, five grandchildren; Sam and Lauren Reifenheiser of Brownsville TX, Shauna and Sarah Ridley of Ashburnham, and Brody Parnell of Nashville TN, and several nieces and nephews.

Joan was predeceased by her daughter Laura Parnell in 2006, and her brother George Borrelli.

Relatives and friends are planning to honor and celebrate Joan's life by gathering for visiting hours in the Community Chapel of Lamoureux Fletcher and Smith Funeral Home, 105 Central St., Gardner, on Thursday August 12, 2010 from 5-8 P.M. Her funeral will be held on Friday August 13, 2010 beginning at the funeral home at 9 A.M., followed by a Funeral Mass in Saint Denis Church, 85 Main St., Ashburnham, MA. Rev. John Horgan will celebrate the Mass. Burial will be in Saint Denis Cemetery, Ashburnham following the service. For directions to the funeral home or to sign the online guestbook for Joan, please visit our website atwww.fletchercares.com . The family has entrusted the care of Joan's arrangements to the Lamoureux Fletcher and Smith Funeral Home, 105 Central St., Gardner, MA 01440

ASHBURNHAM - Leone D. (Lashua) Gagne, 83, of Ashburnham, died Tuesday, July 27, 2010 in UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester.

Leone was born on July 7, 1927, daughter of the late Clarence and Alice (Ayotte) Lashua. She was the owner of The Samson Oil Company, along with her husband. She lived in Florida for a while where she was a member of the group the Lady Niners. Leone loved to golf and while in Ocala, FL, she hit her first hole in one at the age of 80. She was a cancer survivor, who participated in the walk for cancer. She was also a member of the American Legion in Ashburnham. Leone was an avid reader, who also loved crafts and quilting. She was a very social loving person. Leone leaves four daughters, Sharon Olsen and her husband Jeffrey of Westminster, Kathy Radley and her husband Jim of Fitchburg, Judy Scotland and her husband Glen of Ashburnham, Mary Taylor of Fitchburg; a son, Deoda “Chip” Gagne of Gardner; two sisters, Phyllis Amadon of Pennsylvania, Marlene Cochran of Gardner, a brother, Charles Lashua of Florida; 11 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her husband Deoda H. “Henry” Gagne in 1999, and her sister Lois Sargent of Maine.

A funeral Mass was held in St. Denis Church, 85 Main St, Ashburnham on Monday, August 2, 2010 at 10:00 A.M.

Calling hours were Sunday, August 1, 2010 from 5:00-7:00 P.M. in Brandon Funeral Home, 305 Wanoosnoc Rd, Fitchburg. Flowers may be sent or memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, MA Division, 30 Speen St. Framingham, MA 01701.

WHEN: 4-6 PM, Sunday, September 19th, 2010
WHERE: Stevens Memorial Library, 20 Memorial Drive, Ashburnham, MA (Malcolm C. Stewart Community Room)

The Ashburnham Cultural Council is hosting an Informative OPEN HOUSE on Sunday, September 19th, 2010, from 4-6 PM in the Malcolm C. Stewart Community Room at the Stevens Public Library in Ashburnham Center. The Ashburnham Cultural Council invites artists, musicians, writers, teachers and others interested in promoting a more vibrant cultural community in Ashburnham to an informational evening about Local Cultural Council grants. Come meet members of the Ashburnham Arts Council, Local Business Leaders, and hear presentations from previous grant recipients in order to learn how to apply for a Local Cultural Council grant for the upcoming 2010-2011 year. The Ashburnham Council wants to support Ashburnham artists!

The due date for applications for funding from the Ashburnham Cultural Council is October 15, 2010 (postmarked). Applications will be on hand as well as refreshments from local area restaurants. The Ashburnham's LCC (Local Cultural Council) receives money every year from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Last year the amount available was $4000.

The Massachusetts Local Cultural Council (LCC) Program is the largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation supporting thousands of community-based projects in the arts, humanities, and sciences annually. Individual artists, schools and cultural organizations are eligible to apply for project support from their local council.

The program promotes the availability of rich cultural experiences for every Massachusetts citizen. Each year, local councils award more than $2 million in grants to more than 5,000 cultural programs statewide. These include school field trips, after school programs, concerts, festivals, lectures, theater, dance, music, and film. LCC projects take place in schools, community centers, theaters, libraries, elder care facilities, town halls, parks, and wherever communities come together. The Ashburnham Cultural Council especially values collaborative projects.

For more ACC information visit our .Ning network: http://accarts.ning.com, follow us on Facebook and/or email: ashburnhamculturalcouncil@gmail.com

On July 4th 2010 Troop 18 of Ashburnham was off to Boy Scout Camp at Wanocksett for the week. These scouts had to endure a blistering heat wave avoiding dehydration, heat stroke and sunburns. While at camp they worked diligently on merit badges like Archery, Rifle, Marksmanship, First Aid, Swimming and Life Saving, just to name a few. Troop 18’s exceptional leaders, Scout Master Mr. Dennis Cormier and Assistance Scout Masters Mr. Tom Marks, Mr. Greg Snyder and Mrs. Sarah Weeks kept our troop safe while working on rebuilding the Green Cabin. At the end of the week, all of our scouts from Troop 18 Ashburnham endured the heat wave and achieved their personnel goals.

If you are between 10 ½ and 18 years of age and would like to join the adventures of scouting, Troop 18 meets every Wednesday evening at 7 pm downstairs in the Ashburnham Community Church, from September to June, until their new home is constructed in the William J Bresnahan Scouting And Community Center.

Job well done Scouts!

May 28, 2010 - I was driving down a country road when I noticed up ahead, a girl, about nine years old, walking out of her driveway...or I should say...being pulled out of her driveway by a large dog on a leash. I slowed way down, seeing she had her hands full with the rambunctious dog and had not looked both ways. Not even one way.

She then turned around and walked back up her driveway. So I cautiously began to speed up. Cautious because I wondered if she were coming back . And indeed she did, this time with a little sister and with her mother bringing up the rear. She was talking to her sister as she stepped into the road. I slowed again, almost to a stop. Still she was enthusiastically preoccupied and she did not check the road and had not seen me. At that moment her mother saw the situation and a look of fear came over her face. She said something to her daughter who looked up, saw my car and looked quite frightened.

As I crawled passed this tableau, I found myself hoping fervently that the mother was not yelling at her daughter, not just because I hate people yelling at each other, but because I had an insight into learning.

In that moment, when that young girl saw me, the potential was there for her to have a direct and authentic learning experience. And I thought that if her mother intervened with yelling, it might make it harder for her to process and digest her mistake.

I also imagined that if her mother had been able to get close and share the moment with her daughter without blame or shame, her mother would have gotten her own goal—to protect her daughter—even more securely.

The new discoveries in the field of “brain science” tell us that we learn best when we feel connected to others. When children feel joined in empathic communication they feel confident in their ability to grow and understand their world.

We are born with part of our brain completely developed and part not developed much at all.

The developed part, called the Limbic System, is like a radar system, telling a baby when she is safe. It is the part of the brain that controls behaviors necessary for survival and it is sometimes called the center of emotions. Even a very young baby can look at your face and tell if you are relaxed and happy. But if she senses that you are afraid or angry, she will have difficulty continuing to take in information.

Summer Exhibit:

Made in Ashburnham,
Then and Now

I cannot think of anyone in their childhood who has not been fascinated with clay. Just to have held that lump of clay in our small hands and feel it smoothness, how we could shape it and mold it, flatten it, roll it, take the most rudimentary of objects that we made and re-form it into something else. How many times have we not handed our children a block of clay, and hoped that the wonder of creating something with their hands would hold their attention for some time.

Some of the first forms of art introduced to children are the making and decorating of a bowl, or cup, or letting the imagination go, anything one's little hand could sculpt.

I, for one, have had a lifelong love affair with pottery as a product of the clay. There is nothing I love more than a beautiful vessel, of some shape and color, to use in my home or to hold plants on the porch. Coffee mugs, vases, unique platters and bowls, seen at a yard sale or in a gift shop, are looked at with covetous eyes.

When I first moved to Ashburnham, I saw Joan Hathaway's pottery for sale at Creative Connections, and was instantly touching every piece and marveling at the colors and shapes, earthy colors and tones, colors merged and layered, and not one thing with seemingly, the same shape...all individually crafted. I was addicted!

Want to learn to paint watercolors? It's as simple as showing up at the Ashburnham Senior Center, 20 Memorial Drive, each Tuesday afternoon at 1 p.m. Local artist and volunteer Phyllis Antidormi, hosts a class where, no matter your level of skill, you can devout a couple of hours each week learning about sketching and watercolor with her help and guidance.

For more information, call the Senior Center at 978-927-5000. You can leave a message if there is no answer and your call will be returned.

As I look back on my reading habits, it has been, to say the least, a series of sporadic reading frenzys, interspersed with sometimes years, of not picking up a book.
Life does, at times, get in the way of our practicing those personal pleasures that somoehow seem sinful if we indulge in them while the dishes are waiting in the sink.
For me, it was kids, two jobs and just maintaining status quo, as I look back on the times when my ability to start and finish a book was another challenge I wasn't ready for at the time.

I rememebr when that cycle was broken last, in 2001, when I thought I must read "Under the Tuscan Sun", which seemed all the rave at the time, and as someone of Italian descent, it had a special interest to me.

Well, that book turned into other books on Italy, and, finally, a trip to Italy, as I felt my reading had tutored me well for life in that coountry. As with most books I read, I always long to place myself in the setting of the book. An avid National Geographic readaer all my life, I have vicariously traveld the far reaches of our continent, through that magazine.
I was on a roll, and started going back to the library, perusing the book stores and had about two or three books going at a time, almost one for every place where I might be able to sneak a few minues to read. In North Carolina, I started doing reviews of local authors for the Brunswick Beacon, and that just pushed me further into the black hole of page turning.

As if that wasn't bad enough, I got a part time job at Barnes & Noble, a book lover's dream come true.

Between the Covers
by Nancy Hayes Clune

Part of the food donation made by GFA Federal Credit Union through its People Helping People program.

July 21, 2010 - Recognizing the challenging economic times, GFA Federal Credit Union recently stepped up to promote the spirit of people helping people. Based on, and named after, the credit union philosophy of People Helping People, the program started with the credit union’s employees performing random acts of kindness throughout their branch communities. The only request made of recipients was that they ‘pay it forward’ by doing something for another person.

Employees performed a wide variety of deeds including carrying groceries for an older shopper, buying people lunch, and picking up the cost of movie tickets for a family. Each recipient was given a card that explained the program and asked them to email their story to GFA. The program put over $5,000 directly into the community and as a wrap up, the credit union also donated several hundred items of food to each branch’s local food pantry.

“Our goal with ‘People Helping People’ was to start a cycle of people doing good things for each other in these difficult economic times,” commented Tina M Sbrega, President & CEO, “We encourage people to continue paying it forward and other businesses and organizations to support initiatives such as this.”

GFA Federal Credit Union is a full service community financial institution serving Central Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire. Branch locations are in Ashburnham, Fitchburg, Gardner, Hubbardston, Rindge, Rutland and Winchendon. Visit gfafcu.com for more information.

The Meeting House
79 Main Street
Ashburnham, MA

Summer Exhibit:

Made in Ashburnham,
Then and Now

visit: www.ashbunhamhs.org
email: ahs@ashbunhamhs.org
see: Meeting House story

For events sponsored by the
Nasua River Watershed Association

Click the White Dog Printing ad to visit the website for more info.

Yoga for Peace & Vitality - Wednesdays6:30-7:45 p.m. All levels, all ages welcome. $10 per class. For more information contact the library at 978-827-4115.
E-mail: yogaforpeace@comcast.net

Ashburnham Senior Center Needs

We currently have openings for a Meals on Wheels driver to deliver meals on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
If interested, please call the center at 978-827-5000 or come in anytime Monday through Friday 9:00am – 2:00pm.

The Ashburnham Senior Center and the Forever Young Club have a announced a trip to enjoy a day at Foxwoods Casino, on Wednesday, October 13. The cost per person is $29 and that includes the driver's gratuity. The package includes: $10 food or full buffet, $15 Keno (package is subject to change without notice).

The bus will depart at 7:15 a.m. from the Ashburnham Turnpike Rod and Gun Club, 94 Corey Hill Road, Ashburnham and at 7:30 a.m. there will be a pick up stop at Friendly's Restaurant in Leominster (next to Staples).

The bus will arrive at Foxwoods at 9 a.m. and depart at 5 p.m.

Payment for the trip is due by Wednesday, September, 29. For reservations call Mary Lajoie at 978-827-4882 or Althea Donahue at 978-827-5728. When making reservations, please designate where you will be picked up, the Rod and Gun Club, or Friendly's Restaurant. Transportation is provided by Wilson Bus Lines.

The Ashburnham Forever Young Club invites community seniors to join them on their upcoming scheduled trips.The following trips still available to all persons age 55 and over:

September 14 - 19, 2010 – The Canadian Island Trip (see more info below)

Monday, September 27, 2010 – Pirate Museum in Salem, MA – Fee $14.00

Monday, October 4, 2010 – Topsfield Fair – Fee is $14.00

October 13, 2010 – Foxwoods Casino – $29

October 26, 2010 – Christmas Tree Shop (Natick) 9:00 AM - $ 6.00

November 16, 2010 - Mystery Trip TBD TBD

December 13, 2010 - Edaville Railroad 2:00 PM - $18.00

*Please note: ALL prices include the Van ride and admission into the event.

The Canadian Island Trip

Get your US Passport or US Passport Card out and register for this Canadian Island trip with the Forever Young Club. At a cost of $635, per person, you will be treated to 6 days and 5 nights, September 14 - 19, visiting the incredible Charlevoix Region of Quebec, Canada.

The price includes: Motorcoach transportation 5 nights lodging including 3 nights on the Island of Coudres 10 meals; 5 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 4 dinners Gaming at the Casino De Charlevoix Guided tour of Quebec City Guided tour of the beautiful Island of Coudres Visit to the St. Anne de Beaupre Shrine Whale watching on the peaceful waters of Bay St. Catherine Visit the Underground City, and much more.

Diamond Tours, Inc. has planned this trip. Seventy-five dollars is due upon making your reservation. The price per person is based on double occupancy. Add $230 for single occupancy. The final payment is due on July 9.

For more information and reservations, please call Mary Lajoie at 978-827-4882 THANK YOU

Sign Up for Watercolor Classes
at the Ashburnham Senior Center

Want to learn to paint watercolors? It's as simple as showing up at the Ashburnham Senior Center, 20 Memorial Drive, each Tuesday afternoon at 1 p.m. Local artist and volunteer Phyllis Antidormi, hosts a class where, no matter your level of skill, you can devout a couple of hours each week learning about sketching and watercolor with her help and guidance.

For more information, call the Senior Center at 978-927-5000. You can leave a message if there is no answer and your call will be returned.

The Law Office of Daniel M. Tremblay is dedicated to providing quality client service and sound legal advice to clients in Worcester County, and surrounding areas. Our focus is accessibility to clients, and we will work closely with you to develop practical legal solutions designed to meet your unique legal needs.

• Medicaid Planning is your moral and legal right.
• Protect Assets from high costs of long-term care.
• Estate Planning for inheritance protection and avoid probate.

Attorney Dan Tremblay assists Elders and Families in transition.

• WHAT IS ELDER LAW?
• IS THERE A PLAN?
• WHAT ARE THE MASSHEALTH ELIGIBILITY RULES?
• HAVE YOU MADE GIFTS WITHIN THE PAST 60 MONTHS?
• ARE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIAL?
• ARE YOU FILING FOR MASSHEALTH BEFORE DETERMINING YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS?
• HOW CAN I FIND AN ELDER LAW ATTORNEY?

Call for more information:
DANIEL M. TREMBLAY, ESQ.
236 Main Street
Bolton, MA 01740
(978) 779-2236
Fax (508) 635-9502
Email:
dantrematlaw@lawyer.com
Web: www.dantremblay.com

Families in transition advice and advocacy legal services

• Separation and Divorce
• Child Custody
• Contempt Hearings
• Parental Planning
• Providing Mediation, Collaborative Practice

Wednesday, August 25
Final registration for the State Primary - Registration of voters at Town Hall, Town Clerk's Office, 32 Main Street, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Monday, September 13
Last day for filing applications for absentee ballots for voters who will be out of town for the State Primary. 12 Noon.

Tuesday, September 14
State Primary - Polls open at 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the J. R. Briggs Elementary School, Gym, Williams Road, Ashburnham

Monday, November 1
Last day for filing applications for absentee ballots for voters who will be out of town for the State Election

Tuesday, November 2
State Election - Polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the J. R. Briggs Elementary School gym, 96 Williams Road, Ashburnham

 
Ashburnham
Police Logs

July 29-August 11 2010

July 14-28, 2010

July 1-12, 2010

June17-28, 2010

June 8-16, 2010

June 12th 2010 - Eighth Annual Dan Farrell Memorial 3 on 3