News from our members
Oktoberfest “Party in the Street” 2019 at the Gardner Ale House
Gardner’s own Moon Hill Brewing Co. at the Gardner Ale House, along with the City of Gardner, present their 14th Annual Oktoberfest “Party in the Street”. Admission for this event is free and open to all ages. Parker Street will be closed to traffic.
The party begins at 11:00 AM with the ceremonial Tapping of the Keg in front of the Gardner Ale House. Gardner closes Parker Street for the day and a New Orleans Street Party atmosphere ensues, featuring craft beer brewed locally by Moon Hill Brewing Co. and authentic German fare. Also at 11:00 AM begins the Chair City Community Workshop’s steamrolling print project Gardner Makes! The Gardner Chair Luge, powered by the Acadien Social Club, begins at 2:00 PM. Race teams convert their armchairs, sofas, and barstools into soapbox derby-style racers. They will be competing for the coveted Chair Luge Trophy and $200 in one dollar bills. Teams compete in costume and the event has become a legend in Central Massachusetts. “Human Bumpers” keep everyone safe. And revered Acadien Club mascot Brad Gallant clowns around dressed in this year’s theme: “The Muppets”. Mr. Gallant simply replied “No comment” to our query regarding this year’s costume. Then, relenting, he added: “I’m certainly not going to be Miss Piggy”. Knowing his proclivity for dressing in female garb, one wonders if Miss Piggy just might be making a showing in spite of denials.
According to Gardner Ale House and Moon Hill Brewing Co. owner Rick Walton, “Each year we keep shooting for the stars, which means we aim to make it twice as big as the previous year. Last year we accomplished just that and had our biggest party ever. The weather helps! This years major attraction, in addition to the luge is our Totally Local line up of musical acts.
This year’s musical lineup begins at 3:30 PM, just after the Chair Luge with:
3:30 PM Safehill Taking it back to the decade they were born in, these guys are solid 90s Rock.
5:15 PM The Green Sisters A Bluegrass/Newgrass quartet from Worcester County. The four local sisters sing tight harmonies while switching instruments from upright bass to fiddle to acoustic guitar to banjo. They deliver authentic Kentucky Soul while being totally original.
7:00 PM Electric Green Co. A local groove based Blues, Rock, Jazz fusion Funk band.
8:45 PM The Sufferin’ Bastards Local classic Rock band playing all your classics and favorites.
Oktoberfest “Party in the Street” is located at the Gardner Ale House, 74 Parker St., Downtown Gardner, MA. Admission: Free, Open to All Ages
Event: Saturday, September 28, starts at 11:00 AM. Live Music is 3:30 – 10:00 PM.
For more information visit gardnerale.com or call (978) 669-0122.
EINSTEIN’S COLOSSAL CORN-UNDRUM AT DAVIS MEGA MAZE
Davis Mega Maze is the largest of over 50 fun attractions at Davis Mega Farm Festival. Co-owner Larry Davis Says, “This year’s 8-acre maze will challenge your mind, body and imagination.” But don’t worry, according to Einstein, “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.”
Davis Mega Farm Festival opens September 14th and features… – Award-winning, Kansas City BBQ and “foodie” foods, – Craft beer, wine, seltzers, and adult slushies, – Live music, and – 50+ fun attractions, from the Zip Zone Zip Line, to Cannon Blasters, and much more.
Info at DavisMegaFarmFestival.com
Fitchburg Public Library presents Woodstock: A 50th Anniversary Celebration
Join percussionist/storyteller/educator/author/music historian/and radio host Craig Harris on Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 6:00 pm in the Fitchburg Public Library Garden Room for an action-packed 50th anniversary celebration of the 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Festival that includes archival audio/video, behind-the-scenes stories, joyful singing, guided music-making, and a half-century of memories.
About the presenter: Craig Harris’ latest book, Bluegrass, Newgrass, Old-time and Americana Music, was published in 2018. He’s also the author of The Band: Pioneers of Americana Music (2014), Heartbeat, Warble and the Electric Powwow: American Indian Music (2016), and The New Folk Music (1993). His reviews, articles, and photographs have appeared in countless newspapers, magazines and websites. The written word, however, is only one outlet for his passion for music. As a percussionist/drummer, Harris has accompanied C.J. Chenier & His Red Hot Zydeco Band, Greg Brown, Jonathan Edwards, Rod MacDonald, and Woodstock veterans Melanie, and the late Rick Danko (The Band). He currently plays with an Americana group (Two Days Jeans), a jazz fusion trio (Fuse), and a global-spirit ensemble, the Gaea Star Band, with whom he’s co-hosted a syndicated live music radio show since 2014. After teaching music in public/charter schools for more than a quarter of a century, Harris launched the all-ages program, Drum Away the Blues in 2009. He’s also presented multimedia programs on Amerindian music, America’s musical roots, and Woodstock’s 50th anniversary in libraries in MA, CT, RI, NH, NY, NJ, PA, and FL. His radio show airs on WAMU-FM/bluegrasscountry.org.
This is a free program. Free parking is available in the lot at the corner of Boulder Drive and Newton Place. For information about this or other Library programs call 978-829-1780 or visit our website: www.FitchburgPublicLibrary.org.
WACHUSETT BREWING COMPANY ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF NEW CIDER, FIFTY TREES HARD CIDER
Building on the success of their Nauti hard seltzer line, Wachusett Brewing Company is now stepping into the hard cider ring with their latest platform, Fifty Trees Hard Cider. Fifty Trees Hard Cider will be launched with two styles, both featuring local apples from farms in North Central Massachusetts. The first style, Fifty Trees Original, is blended with a touch of European Bittersweets for a semi-dry character that features a flavorful apple taste with a crisp, clean finish. The second style, Fifty Trees Cranberry, features the tart, refreshing flavor of locally sourced cranberries.
“We have been making hard cider pretty consistently over the last two years” saidWachusett President Christian McMahan. “Craft cider shares all the same values ascraft beer. It has an incredible history, it’s handcrafted, and it allows for incredible diversity and creativity. We have done a ton of experimentation over that time and are proud to finally be able to launch Fifty Trees to a wider audience.” McMahanconcluded.
Fifty Trees Hard Cider is handcrafted in Westminster, Massachusetts, in the heart ofthe state’s apple growing region, aka “Johnny Appleseed Country.” It pays tribute to the legendary orchardist and nurseryman who was born right down the road. In theearly 1800’s, he helped frontier settlers establish land rights by planting fifty apple trees on their land to establish permanent residency as required by Congress at the time, taking advantage of the Northwest Ordinance. Interestingly, the fruits born from these trees were not culinary apples for eating but instead were destined for producing hard cider. Fifty Trees represents a nod to this pioneering spirit and is also exploring other cider styles using ingredients indigenous to the New England agricultural region.
For more information about Wachusett Brewing Company, visit www.wachusettbrew.comFor more information about Fifty Trees Hard Cider, visit www.fiftytreeshardcider.com.
Wachusett Business Incubator Finds First Candidate for Leadership Program
The Wachusett Business Incubator, a business environment dedicated to fostering economic growth in the North Central Massachusetts region is pleased to announce the addition of our first Candidate for our Leadership Candidate Program.
We welcome Justin and Kate Robichaud to the WBI family. The up and coming business is known as ‘Wood You Build It’. The company is growing exponentially since its start in 2018. Wood You Build It provides custom cabinet products to clients regionally, blending personal service and craftsmanship while engaging clients in the online realm.
Working with WBI, Justin and Kate intend to scale their business nationally while building a portfolio of commercial real estate all while providing meaningful work opportunities for others.
“We are absolutely thrilled to engage Justin and Kate in our unique Leadership Candidate Program” said WBI executive director Scott M. Graves. “The projected growth of their company is significant and a clear example of their steadfast belief in themselves as entrepreneurs. Their company’s mix of leveraging modern tech with the traditions of Gardner’s craftsmanship past makes for the perfect early candidacy in our program.”
Rep. Jon Zlotnik, a tireless advocate for the WBI said, “I’m very pleased at the progress at the business incubator. It’s exciting to see more and more business activity and it’s a testament to the work and perseverance our group has put into this idea. I look forward to its continued success as well as the success of the businesses being formed and grown with the incubators support.”
The Leadership Candidacy Program of Wachusett Business Incubator, the first known of its kind in the United States is fast becoming a premier alternative to the ‘Hollywood’ model of incubator and accelerator programs. To find out more about our exciting opportunities write to Scott Graves sgraves@wachusettincubator.org or 978-410-9250.
Wachusett Business Incubator is also engaging additional clients and intellectual property. The organization is developing several event series and is actively fielding candidates.
Our website: http://wachusettincubator.com
All Other Inquiries
Scott M. Graves Wachusett Business Incubator 35 Sanborn St. Gardner, MA 01440 sgraves@wachusettincubator.org
978-410-9250
Hometown Financial Group Promotes Karen Yancik to Senior Vice President, Senior Compliance and Risk Management Officer
Matthew S. Sosik, CEO of Hometown Financial Group, Inc., announced that Karen Yancik has been promoted to the position of Senior Vice President, Senior Compliance and Risk Management Officer. Yancik has responsibility for internal audit, compliance and risk management for the subsidiary banks of Hometown Financial Group; bankESB, bankHometown and Abington Bank.
Yancik joined the company in 1987 and has held significant positions in the areas of internal audit, compliance and risk management, and most recently, Vice President of Compliance and Risk Management.
Yancik received her Bachelor’s Degree from Nichols College. She is also a member of the Massachusetts Bankers’ Association Legal and Regulatory Compliance Committee, the Eastern Massachusetts Compliance Network and the Western Massachusetts Compliance Association.
Yancik resides in Dudley, Massachusetts with her twin sons.
About Hometown Financial Group, Inc.
Hometown Financial Group, Inc. is a $2.7 billion mutual multi-bank holding company headquartered in Easthampton, Massachusetts and is the parent company of bankESB, bankHometown and Abington Bank. These separate and distinct banking franchises offer a complete line of consumer and business deposit and lending products through its 30 branch offices located throughout Massachusetts and northeastern Connecticut. For additional information about Hometown Financial Group, please visit www.bankhfg.com.
For more information, please contact:
Hometown Financial Group
Dena M. Hall
Chief Marketing Officer
(413) 779-2215
Leominster Credit Union to hold Fall Shred-A-Thon
Leominster Credit Union will hold a Shred-A-Thon at its 910 West Boylston Street, Worcester, MA location on Saturday, September 14, 2019 from 9:00AM – Noon.
Members and non-members can get rid of old, sensitive documents by shredding and recycling them at the Shred-A-Thon. All items will be shred on site by a secure shredding service, New England Security Shredders.
Members of the community can bring up to three legal size file boxes or three 13-gallon kitchen trash bags to be shred for free. However, we will be accepting donations to Habitat for Humanity during the event. The Shred-A-Thon helps raise awareness about recycling and of course the importance of shredding personal documents to protect against identity theft.
Important documents to bring to the Shred-A-Thon include bank statements, tax returns, medical bills, credit card statements and other personal documents.
For more information contact Joanne Lattanzi, AVP/Marketing 978-466-7240 or marketing@leominstercu.com.