News from our members

Sound Healing & Mindfulness: A Free Virtual Session with Nyell Jeudy

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Energize yourself on Monday, May 10, 2021 at 7:00 PM, for the rest of the week with this session on Sound Healing and Mindfulness, with Nyell Jeudy of Nyell’s Mindfulness Services.

Using crystal singing bowls, Nyell will guide us through the different frequencies and their benefits, and mindfulness techniques.

How sound healing works: As you strike the bowl or rub the rim with a mallet, the friction that results is what creates the vibrations. We can both hear, and feel, these vibrations. Singing bowls can produce different frequencies, with benefits such as:

  • Effectively reduce stress and anxiety
  • Relieve physical pain
  • Improve mental and emotional clarity
  • Cleanse and balance chakra
  • Stimulate the immune system
  • Help meditation
  • Improve sleep
  • Relieve anxiety and stress

Please register at https://tinyurl.com/fplmindfulness with your email address, and we will send you the Zoom link!

This is a free program. For information about this or other Library programs call 978-829-1780 or visit our website: www.FitchburgPublicLibrary.org.

North Central Youth Leadership Academy

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The North Central Community Action Team (NCCAT) and the Leominster Community Action Team (LCAT) is recruiting young leaders ages 16-20 to participate in the 2021 North Central Youth Leadership Academy. The group will be able to share their voice around substance use prevention, engage in programming, and create a social media marketing campaign to decrease youth substance use across the region.

 

This is a PAID opportunity at $15/ hour starting April 21st and ending June 30th. The group will meet weekly virtually on Wednesday evenings from 6-7PM. The leadership academy will include topics on the following:

  • Storytelling for Change
  • Social Media Marketing
  • Advocacy and Civic Engagement
  • Social Justice, Diversity, and Inclusion
  • Leadership
  • Community Organizing
  • Substance Use Disorder and Trends in Youth Substance Use
  • Project Planning
  • Finding Your Creative Voice
  • and More!!

 

Application

MassHire North Central Career Center Workforce Training Fund Webinar

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On May 7th, 2021 the MassHire North Central Career Center and Commonwealth Corporation will present a Workforce Training Fund informational workshop geared to your business training needs.  The Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund is a program that provides matching dollars to eligible businesses who are investing in their staff through training and/or retraining.

The info session will provide an overview of the features and benefits of each Workforce Training Fund grant program, including the amount of available funding, program guidelines, and how to apply for each grant. You will have direct access to Commonwealth Corporation staff to ask any questions you might have about each program.  The workshop will be presented virtually via Zoom.

To reserve a seat please use this Event Bright link  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/workforce-training-fund-online-info-session-may-7th-10am-tickets-148231838419

Or, for more information contact Scott Percifull at 

Ladybugz Interactive Agency hires new Director of Customer Success

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Billie Kenyon, Director of Customer Success

We are so excited to announce the addition of Billie Kenyon to our team as our Director of Customer Success! Billie will onboard our new clients and make sure their experience with our agency is nothing but Stellar! She will work with the team to build relationships and find clients that are that are the right fit for our little agency. She will work with the team to present the best solutions for our clients needs.

Billie has been working in sales for over 10 years focusing on customer relationships and making sure the customers needs are always put first. Billie knows how to help each customer determine what is best for their own business and uniquely tailor a plan to achieve their goals. Never afraid of a challenge, Billie thrives on helping companies take their big bold ideas and turn them into action and reality.

Billie is dedicated to our region of Central Massachusetts and plans to help find clients here who can benefit from our services. Soon you will see her at chamber events representing our little agency!

Beyond Dreamland event with Sam Quinones

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Join a virtual presentation with Sam Quinones, award-winning author of “Dreamland,” at 1 p.m. on April 15. Sam will discuss the state of the opioid epidemic, including emerging trends in the illicit drug market, the lawsuits against the pharmaceutical companies and the stigma that still persists around the disease of addiction. Sam previously spoke in Worcester in 2017 and demonstrated his depth of knowledge and keen insights into the drug problem that claimed the lives of more than 80,000 Americans last year. This is a unique opportunity for all of us to gain more insight on how to address the opioid epidemic.

Please pre-register using the link or meeting information below in the flyer.

Fidelity Bank Donated Nearly $450,000 in 2020 through its LifeDesign Community Dividend

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LEOMINSTER, Mass – In an extraordinary year of challenge due to the pandemic, Fidelity Bank donated nearly $450,000 to more than 200 worthy organizations, events, and causes in several Central and Eastern Massachusetts communities in 2020 through its LifeDesign Community Dividend, which is money the bank sets aside for this purpose each year.

The pandemic was a major focus of 2020 donations, with Fidelity Bank donating more than $100,000 to help various organizations support basic needs early in the pandemic through its Caring for Our Communities COVID-19 Response Grants and more than $50,000 in additional holiday support given to more than a dozen Massachusetts food pantries to help people affected by the pandemic.

“Local nonprofits, organizations and small businesses have done heroic work helping our communities get through this difficult time,” says Fidelity Bank Chairman & CEO Edward F. Manzi, Jr. “The LifeDesign Community Dividend allowed us to show our care and compassion for those in need during the pandemic.”

Other organizations receiving contributions in 2020 included The SHINE Initiative, which Fidelity Bank founded in 2004 with input from its employees to combat discrimination and destigmatize mental health conditions in children and young adults, as well as Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Needham Community Council, Quinsigamond Community College Foundation, City of Leominster Fund, March of Dimes, Heywood Healthcare, YWCA of Central Massachusetts, Hanover Theatre, and several causes promoted through Fidelity Bank’s weekly Caring Casual Fridays.

Fidelity Bank has given out approximately 2.5 million dollars since the program was renamed in 2013.

About Fidelity Bank:

Founded in 1888, Fidelity Bank is one of the strongest independent community banks in Central and Eastern Massachusetts. Fidelity Bank’s unique LifeDesign approach to banking provides the care and clarity needed to make informed decisions with confidence. The Bank offers a range of personal and business banking solutions to clients in 14 full-service banking centers in Leominster, Worcester, Fitchburg, Needham, Gardner, Stow, Shirley, Barre, Millbury, Paxton, Princeton, and Winchendon. The Bank has consistently earned a “5 Star” rating from BauerFinancial, Inc., the nation’s leading independent bank rating and research firm. In 2020 Fidelity Bank was voted Worcester Telegram & Gazette Best Financial Services in Central Massachusetts and was named to the Boston Globe’s Top Places to Work list for the sixth time. As of December 31, 2020, the bank had total assets of approximately $1.1 billion. For more information, visit www.fidelitybankonline.com or www.facebook.com/fidelitybankma

Leominster Credit Union Partners with Fitchburg High School for Financial Literacy

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Leominster, MA – Leominster Credit Union (LCU) has partnered with Fitchburg High School to supplement their math classes with a Financial Literacy section regarding personal finance. The personal finance course includes units on checking, savings, managing credit, types of credit, saving for college, budgeting and much more! The classes run for 40 minutes and are taught rotating both in-person and virtually, engaging with over 100 students. The classes are taught by LCU employees Brittany Haley, Waldemar Agostini and Daisy Casiano in conjunction with Katie Najjar.

“At LCU we hope to continue to foster this new relationship with Fitchburg High School, faculty and students and in the future hope to expand this curriculum to additional schools within our community. We want to provide financial education to students and families to improve their skills, boost their confidence and help them achieve success,” said Katie Najjar, SVP Retail, Leominster Credit Union.

“Introducing financial literacy has been a welcomed opportunity for Fitchburg High School students. Students need to be versed in the core curriculum and practical everyday life skills such as being financially literate. Learning about budgeting, money, and finances can impact student futures and quality of life. We are happy to work with LCU in offering these options for our students,” stated Josie D’Elia, Fitchburg High School, Guidance Counselor.

Fitchburg Public Library presents Virtual Puppet Story Time

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Join us for a virtual Puppet Storytime on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, at 10:00 AM!  Through Me to You Puppetry invites you to join Newton and his puppet friends for some storytime fun!  Newton and his friends take turns reading stories and singing songs with the kids.  At the end of the show, the kids are invited to “unmute” and say hi to Newton.  This program is geared to ages 3 to 6, but all are welcome.  Register to receive the Zoom link!  

Register at https://tinyurl.com/jr6c66h3 to be sent the Zoom link.

This is a free program. For information about this or other Library programs call 978-829-1780 or visit our website: www.FitchburgPublicLibrary.org.

Leominster Credit Union Announces Promotions

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Leominster, MA –Leominster Credit Union has recently announced the promotions of Ellen Coughlin and Mychelle Phillips.

Ellen Coughlin was promoted to the position of Vice President, Human Resources and Development. For the last 5 years, Ellen was the Assistant Vice President of Human Resources but has been with the organization for 17 years.  She will be responsible for all the Human Resources functions, development and training and will become a member of the Senior Management Team reporting to Barbara Mahoney, President & CEO.  Coughlin received a BA from Worcester State College in Spanish and a minor in Health Sciences. She went on to receive her master’s degree from Emmanuel College, with a concentration in Human Resources.  She has also received her PHR, Professional Human Resources designation from the HR Certification Institute and her SHRM-CP.  Coughlin resides in Sterling with her husband and daughter.

Mychelle Phillips was promoted to Vice President, Operations and Information Technology (IT). Phillips has been with LCU for 17 years and Vice President of Operations for the last 6 years. Her new duties will include being responsible for the Digital and Member Service Center, Operations and our IT division. Phillips will become a member of the Senior Management Team and report to Barbara Mahoney, President & CEO. Mychelle has a bachelor’s degree from New England College of Business and holds an Accredited Automated Clearing House Professional (AAP) certification awarded by National ACH Association to individuals who are experts in electronic payments. Phillips resides in Leicester with her husband.

“These promotions are the result of the exceptional performance of these individuals within their respective departments,” commented Barbara Mahoney, President & CEO.  “Ellen and Mychelle display exemplary behavior, discipline and leadership and we are pleased to have them as part of our Senior Management Team.”