Armed Robbery, Clerk stabbed at North of the Border store
The popular North of the Border grocery and convenience store on Rte 202, just over the state line from Winchendon, was robbed by two masked male suspects armed with a knife and a gun on Friday, January 24.
North of the Border co-owner Ahmad Mortada told the Monadnock Ledger Transcript that his brother and the store's co-owner, Ali, was working alone in the store at about 9:30 p.m. Two males wearing dark clothing and masks entered the store, jumped over the counter, and demanded money from the register. They also demanded that the store safe be opened, and they threatened to kill Ali. After Ali turned the money over to them, one of the suspects stabbed him in the abdomen. As both suspects fled, Ali fired shots after them with his personal handgun. It is unknown whether either of the suspects was injured.
Rindge police responded to a call at 9:39 p.m. Ali was taken to Heywood Hospital in Gardner where he underwent surgery. His injuries were non-life-threatening and he has already returned to work.
A search of the area, including with the New Hampshire State Police K9 unit, did not locate the suspects, and how they left the area is unknown.
This incident has strong similarities to the robbery of the State Line Grocery in Fitzwilliam, NH, only a fifteen-minute drive away from North of the Border, on January 15. Police have not ruled out the possibility that the same suspects are responsible for both robberies, or that the third man involved in Fitzwilliam may have been driving a getaway vehicle in Rindge.
Anyone with information about the Rindge robbery is asked to call Sgt. Rachel Malynowksi at 603-899-5009, extension 15.
Anyone with information about the Fitzwilliam robbery is asked to contact Fitzwilliam Police Chief Leonard DiSalvo at 603-585-6565 or email chief@fitzpolice.us.
Focus Group Offers Feedback on Plans for Amphitheatre in Winchendon Community Park
Winchendon Community Park showing location of the proposed amphitheater
Over fifty people gathered in the downstairs hall of Winchendon American Legion Post 193 on Thursday, January 30 to discuss plans for developing the Winchendon Community Park off of Maple Street.
Winchendon Community Park Committee David Romanowski began the forum with a recap of the project's history. The Winchendon Community Park began with a community forum held by the Robinson Broadhurst Foundation in September, 2013 to identify ideas that most appealed to Winchendon residents, community organizations and businesses, with a focus on community participation, town pride and economic development. A ten-member Winchendon Enhancement Committee formed to propose a practical community project.
It was suggested that the town look into acquiring the 43-acre property on Whitney Pond known as the Ingleside property, which was owned by The Winchendon School and had been on the market for some time. In the fall of 2016, the town negotiated a swap of the Marvin School to The Winchendon School in exchange for the Ingleside Property. The WEC became Ingleside Utilization Committee.
The IUC began promoting use of the property. With the help of countless volunteers, the area was transformed into a park with picnic tables and trails. The ongoing work has been extensively supported by the Robinson Broadhurst Foundation, the Converse Fund and local businesses and individuals. In 2018, the property was officially named the Winchendon Community Park.
In the fall of 2019, the Robinson Broadhurst Foundation approached the Town Manager and the Winchendon Community Park Committee with a proposal to fund the construction of an outdoor amphitheatre and related infrastructure at the park.
David Pollak and Julia Patten of Abacus Architects prepared a detailed presentation. Photographs, schematics and small models gave representations of several possible options for the amphitheatre, parking and use of the existing buildings on the site, and community input was needed before final decisions were made.
The amphitheatre itself will feature tiers of natural earth and stone cut into the bank of the slope, facing toward the water. The stage and its sheltering structure will be close to the water facing up the hill. Several possible designs for the amphitheatre shelter range from enclosed and sturdy enough to support lighting, rigging, sets and electrical, to a simple canopy-like roof over an open stage. A simpler structure will allow audiences to see the water beyond the stage.
Considerable discussion was devoted to parking options, of which three were shown. In the simplest, head-in parking spaces would be constructed along the access road between Maple Street and the turnaround near the water. Another plan involved the clearing of two parking lots, each with a capacity of about fifty vehicles, on either side of the access road, with a strip of woods between the road and each lot. The third, "hybrid" suggestion proposed some head-in parking, one lot, and a smaller handicap-accessible lot. With any of these, it might be possible to arrange overflow parking in town with Park users walking in on the Carriage Trail path.
As a long-range plan, ideas are being developed for a Life Long Learning Center as part of the Park, offering crafts, classes, demonstrations, and other learning experiences. The potential of the three existing buildings on the site to serve the Park were discussed at length. The garage and the barn can probably be remodeled and upgraded to code; the house is likely to be removed and possibly replaced with a new structure.
Abacus and Ground Landscape Architects are working now on schematic design and a master plan, which will be followed by construction plans. Bids for the construction work are slated for the end of this year with ground-breaking on the work to commence in 2021.
Anyone with feedback or suggestions should contact the Winchendon Community Park Committee.
Public Comments Open for Winchendon ADA Public Right of Way (PROW) Self-Assessment
The town's fundamental goal is to ensure that individuals with disabilities are afforded an equally effective opportunity to participate in, or benefit from, all of its programs and services, subject only to the limitations of fundamental alteration and/or undue burden. Therefore, the town continues to make changes to increase accessibility.
The Public Right of Way (PROW) document specifically covers accessibility within the public rights of way and does not include information on Winchendon's programs, practices, or building facilities not related to public rights of way. Public rights of way include roadways, sidewalks, curb ramps or sloped areas, accessible pedestrtian signals and bus shelters. These areas must provide equal access to all.
Please send comments to: Tracy Murphy, Director of Planning & Development at 109 Front St Winchendon MA 01475 or tmurphy@townofwinchendon.com
Please follow the link below to view the document (PDF):
www.townofwinchendon.com/sites/winchendonma/files/news/winchendonada-final.pdf
