News from our members
for our annual toy box raffle!
Thursday, October 25, 2018
5-7pm
110 Grill
207 Mill Street, Leominster, MA
Light appetizers provided
$25 per person
Guild members bring a friend and they can join the Guild for free!
Proceeds from this event will go toward the purchase of exercise
pedals for our Home Health & Hospice patients.
Please RSVP to Kathy Boudreau, 978-466-4516 by Oct. 19
Today Simonds International and US Blades announced the merger of the companies in a transaction that will create the leading producer and marketer of cutting tools and the leading cutting tool service company in the primary wood fiber industry. The combined entity, Simonds International Inc., will continue to operate in the United States and Canada with 17 facilities located in the major wood fiber regions of North America. All products and customers segments currently served by Simonds and US Blades will continue uninterrupted during the integration process and thereafter.
Ray Martino, President and Chief Executive Officer of Simonds said: “This merger will combine two of the leading companies in our industry with a deep history of product innovation, quality products and customer focused organizations providing value added services to our customers. The cultures of the two companies are similar and will strengthen our service to the industry. The Simonds and US Blades brands are prominent in the industry and will remain a core part of the combined company in the future.”
John Tyner, President & CEO of US Blades said: “Over the last 14 years, US Blades has become the largest service provider in the industry and with the Simonds merger we will now have the infrastructure to reach our goal of “total customer commitment”. The merging of manufacturing and service together will allow our customers to have the latest technologies.”
About Simonds International
Simonds International, founded in 1832, is a leading supplier and marketer of cutting tools and related products to the wood, pulp, paper and tree care industries. For more information, call (800) 426-6226 or visit www.simondsint.com.
About US Blades
US Blades was founded in 2004 as a cutting tool service company servicing the southeastern United States wood fiber markets. Since its founding, the company has expanded to cover the entire eastern U.S. market. For more information visit our website www.usblades.net.
SAVE THE DATE
for Nashoba Valley Medical Center’s
2018 Hunger Run 5K
to benefit Loaves and Fishes.
Activities, food and fun for the whole family. Register at active.com
Saturday, October 13, 2018
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Nashoba Valley Medical Center
200 Groton Road, Ayer, MA
Evening Under the Stars, Creating Bright Futures
Special Guest Speaker – Steve Gross, MSW, Chief Playmaker, Life is Good Kids Foundation
Friday, November 2, 2018
6 – 10 pm
The International
159 Balville Road
Bolton, MA 01740
Tickets and registration information can be found at www.perkinsprograms/stars
‘Rite of Passage for Children’ Was One of Fitchburg’s Favorite Entertainments
The Fitchburg Historical Society will premiere a new film by director Judith Lindstedt on Tuesday, October 2 at 6:00 p.m. Lindstedt’s 2018 release is Circus Lives On!, a 90-minute documentary on the history of the circus that was inspired by the sudden closure of the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus in May 2017.
“The circus is a magical, marvelous place. Ringling Brothers Circus has been around since before Coca-Cola,” says Lindstedt. “It’s a legacy brand that’s been a constant in the social contract of America. This documentary film is being produced because I feel the sadness and shock of the news of the closing of the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus.”
The film features interviews with historians, collectors and circus performers from both the United States and European circuses. Judith Lindstedt has produced hundreds of video programs for Massachusetts public community television.
Lindstedt also had an international career as a jazz dancer; in Beirut, Lebanon, she became acquainted with Sacha Houcke, whose family had performed with animals in European circuses for seven generations. One of his relatives, Gilbert Houcke, performed with Bengal tigers while dressed only in a loincloth. He was known as “The Swedish Tarzan.” Sacha Houcke is interviewed in the film, along with other performers and musicians.
In Fitchburg’s early years, circus was one of the few entertainments favored by pious New Englanders. The circus parade into town was a highlight of the city’s entertainment year as early as the 1830’s. It continued to be popular through most of the 20th century. Many Fitchburg residents remember watching the circus elephants and lions parading down Main Street.
Founded by James F.D. Garfield in 1892, the Fitchburg Historical Society is an independent non-profit that was created to collect, preserve, and interpret the history of Fitchburg. Now located in an historic H.M. Francis-designed building on Main Street, the Society hosts lectures, exhibitions and annual events relating to the city’s history.
The Fitchburg Historical Society and Crocker Family Center for the History of Fitchburg is located at 781 Main Street, Fitchburg, in the historic Phoenix building. For more information, call 978-345-1157, write or visit www.fitchburghistoricalsociety.org . There is abundant on-street parking near the Historical Society and free parking behind the building. The building is handicapped accessible.
This program is funded in part by the Fitchburg Cultural Council and the Townsend Cultural Council, local agencies which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. The film will also screen in Townsend on October 25. For more information on the Mass Cultural Council, visit http://www.massculturalcouncil.org/index.asp.
September 23rd
1 PM – 3 PM
Lisa DeLucia at the Bull Run Restaurant
215 Great Rd Shirley, MA 01464
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September 25th
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Beth Barry at
ZAVO Mediterranean Restaurant
1011 3rd Ave New York, New York 10065
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October 6th
2 PM – 5 PM
Bearing Witness: Mia Scheffey and the
North Central Mass WCA Show at
Gallery Sitka West
454 Main Street Fitchburg, MA 01420
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October 30th
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Amanda Pappalardo at
ZAVO Mediterranean Restaurant
1011 3rd Ave New York, New York 10065
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The Fitchburg Historical Society has announced the date of its Annual Meeting, which will be Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting is open to the public, and is free to attend.
Each year, the Board and Staff of the Fitchburg Historical Society create a short presentation on the previous year’s activities for the Annual Meeting. It can be a wonderful way for Fitchburg residents to learn something new about their city and meet the Historical Society’s Board of Directors.
A slate of officers will be considered at the Annual Meeting elections and one new Board member will be voted upon. Three retiring board members – Peter Capodagli, Jay Bry and Joel Kaddy – will be honored for their service.
The Fitchburg Historical Society has been a leader in documenting the history of culture and industry in central Massachusetts for more than 125 years. Since 2012, it has been based in new headquarters in the renovated Phoenix Building at 781 Main Street. There is abundant on-street parking near the Historical Society and free parking behind the building. The building is handicapped accessible.
For more information on the Annual Meeting, upcoming Fitchburg history programs or local history research, call 978-345-1157, email welcome (at) fitchburghistoricalsociety.com, visit www.fitchburghistoricalsociety.org or https://www.facebook.com/FitchburgHistoricalSociety.
The Hometown Bank Community Foundation announced their contribution to the first Southbridge Family Fun Day that took place on August 25, 2018.
As a major sponsor of the event, bankHometown worked closely with The Salvation Army, who put on the event, Southbridge Community Connections, Tradewinds Clubhouse and KIVA Wellness Center. The event served around 500 meals, much of which was donated, and provided free fun activities such as face painting, raffles donated from local businesses, two bounce houses and a live DJ.
“We wanted to do something for the community that was fun and free – a ‘get away’ from everyday life, even if it was only for a few hours,” said Sabrina Grillo, Branch Manager of the bankHometown Sturbridge branch.
This was the first ever Family Fun Day in Southbridge, and due to the event’s success, sponsors are looking into making this event happen annually.
Hometown Bank Community Foundation, Inc. was formed in early 2016 by bankHometown, a state-chartered cooperative bank headquartered in Oxford, Massachusetts with $750 million in assets.
bankHometown has served its communities since 1889 with offices in Massachusetts (Athol, Auburn, Leominster, Oxford, Lancaster, Sturbridge and Webster) and Connecticut (Putnam, Brooklyn, Killingly, Thompson and Woodstock). Depositors of bankHometown have their deposits insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for amounts up to $250,000 with amounts in excess of $250,000 insured in full by the Share Insurance Fund, a private excel insurer.
Entrepreneur Brings Passion for Education to Community
Kumon, the world’s largest after-school math and reading enrichment program, is opening a new center in Leominster at 21 Sack Boulevard. The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce invites the public to attend the Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Event on Wednesday, September 26, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. to meet local educators and entrepreneurs.
Kumon’s individualized approach helps children progress by ability rather than age or grade. More than 280,000 preschool to high school aged children across the United States are developing their math and reading skills independently and gaining confidence through the Kumon Method of Learning. The Kumon Center of Leominster joins the more than 1,500 U.S. instructors committed to helping children excel through the self-learning program.
“At Kumon, we believe children have unlimited potential to succeed,” said small business owner, Issumael Nzamutuma. “My goal is to help children of our community love learning and understand that they can learn and master the subject called Math.”
Ribbon Cutting Event:
Day: Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Location: 21 Sack Boulevard, Leominster
Best Visuals for Photography: Arrive at 4:00 p.m. to capture a shot of the ribbon cutting ceremony with local mayor, Dean J. Mazzarella, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Roy Nascimento, and District Education Superintendent.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, American students were significantly outperformed by 29 nations in mathematics. America’s stagnant performance and lack of advanced students impacts the country’s future growth, which is why Nzamutuma cares deeply about helping Leominster students in his after-school enrichment program achieve academic success. Many Kumon students study advanced math, which includes materials two to three years above their grade level.
Instructor Nzamutuma, saw her kindergarten grand-daughter develop a love of learning in Kumon, as well as discipline, accuracy, and focus. She is now studying one year beyond her school grade level. Prior to opening Kumon of Leominster, Instructor Nzamutuma spent many years teaching Math and Economics in addition to his administrative responsibilities in Colleges and Universities. He was constantly concerned by a growing number of first year college students who have to take remedial courses in Math, English, or both.
Kumon of Leominster class hours are: Mondays and Thursdays from 4:00 to 7:30 p.m. Students study for approximately 30 minutes per subject at 21 Sack Boulevard, Leominster, MA 01453 and have daily assignments to complete at home. For more information, or to schedule a free placement test, please call 978 706 2400 or email .
About Kumon Math & Reading Centers:
Kumon is an after-school math and reading enrichment program that unlocks the potential of children, so they can achieve more on their own. As a comprehensive program, Kumon serves children in preschool through high school. Founded in Japan in 1958, the learning method uses an individualized approach that helps children develop a solid command of math and reading skills. Through daily practice and mastery of materials, students increase confidence, improve concentration, and develop better study skills. Kumon has over four million students enrolled in nearly 25,000 learning centers in 50 countries and regions. The company’s North American headquarters is located in Teaneck, N.J. Visit Kumon.com to learn more.
