LCU announces that Stephanie Hyles has joined the Credit Union as Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer. The CSO is a new position at LCU. Hyles will be responsible for ensuring that the Credit Union provides the optimum products, services, technology and organizational structure to meet its members’ needs. Hyles will report to John O’Brien, President and CEO and will serve as a member of the senior management team.

“As the financial industry continues to evolve, we remain focused on making changes to best serve our members,” O’Brien said. “These changes include new and improved technology and products as well as the right staffing and skill sets to achieve these goals. We have created the role of Chief Strategy Officer to drive these initiatives by focusing on our delivery channels and continuously examining Leominster Credit Union’s mission and vision to address critical business strategies. We are delighted to have someone with Stephanie’s breadth of expertise join LCU in this pivotal position.”

Hyles comes to LCU with more than 30 years of information technology and financial industry experience where she has focused on supporting credit unions to remain relevant and competitive in an evolving and highly competitive industry. Most recently she served as the Vice President of IT at Direct Federal Credit Union.

“LCU is well-known for its high-quality service and products, as well as its commitment to the community. I am excited by the opportunity that this position offers me to direct the management of our Strategic Plan and to ensure that LCU’s vision and promise to our members are at the forefront of all we do,” said Hyles.

Hyles is a long-time resident of Lancaster where she lives with her husband and son. She is an active supporter of the Circle of Learning Program at the Doctor Franklin Perkins School in Lancaster which helps pre-teens and teens with developmental disabilities to gain social skills. She also recently served on the Fiserv Spectrum Client Advisory Board.

Founded in 1954, Leominster Credit Union (LCU) is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative with a full range of deposit, lending, mobile and online financial services. Headquartered in Leominster, Massachusetts, LCU is proud to claim more than 50,000 members and more than $600 million in assets. LCU has seven branch locations in Leominster, Worcester, Clinton, Holden, Sterling and North Leominster with ATM services at all branch locations. Visit www.leominstercu.com or telephone at 800-649-4646.

The Fitchburg Historical Society will offer its Annual Holiday House Tours on Saturday, December 3, 2016 from 11 am to 4 pm. This fundraiser will welcome visitors into twelve of Fitchburg’s architecturally significant buildings, beautifully decorated for the holidays. The Fitchburg Historical Society House Tour is a popular annual fundraiser that celebrates Fitchburg’s architectural heritage while helping to support the educational and preservation programs of the Fitchburg Historical Society, a 124-year old nonprofit that preserves Fitchburg’s historical treasures.

Some of the homes showcase architecture by Fitchburg’s best known Victorian architect, Henry M. Francis. They date from the years around 1900, and represent such popular architectural styles as Art Nouveau, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival and Victorian Eclecticism.  Many of the building interiors also include extraordinary architectural details, such as grand fireplaces, Arts and Crafts tiles, custom woodwork and stonework. For example, the Beck home features a magnificent stone staircase at its entrance, leading to an elegant wrap-around porch.

In addition to seven private residences, other participating venues include: St. Francis Church, the Boulder Art Gallery, Gerry’s Martel’s Classic Carriages, the Fitchburg Historical Society, and the Fay Club.  The Fay Club is a magnificent mansion designed by American architect Richard Upjohn (famous for the Trinity Church on Wall Street). It will serve as the “Tea Room” for the day, where House Tour participants can stop for tea, coffee and desserts.

Tickets for the December 3, 2016, House Tours are $20.00 each and can be purchased starting on Wednesday, November 2, at Shack’s Clothing, Mill #3, Elliot’s Jewelers, Homestead Primitives, Windmill Florist, the Mayor’s Office at 166 Boulder Drive, DeBonis & Davin Florist, Slattery’s Restaurant and at the Fitchburg Historical Society. Charles Sternaimolo (photographer), Anne Giancola (graphic artist) and to Miles Press (printers) created the posters, brochures, and tickets for the House Tours.

The Fitchburg Historical Society is located at 781 Main Street, Fitchburg in the historic Phoenix building. There is abundant on-street parking near the Historical Society and free parking behind the building. The building is handicapped accessible. For more information, call 978-345-1157, email welcome@fitchburghistoricalsociety.com, visit www.fitchburghistoricalsociety.org or https://www.facebook.com/FitchburgHistoricalSociety.

 

Summit Academy, a private special education school, is celebrating 10 years of “moving mountains” for students with high functioning autism and related diagnoses.  Their anniversary gala, featuring Shonda Schilling, will be held on November 19 at 6:00 pm in the Congregation Beth Israel Hall; 15 Jamesbury Drive, Worcester, MA. Funds raised will benefit Summit Academy by supporting therapeutic programs and technology initiatives.

The evening will begin with a cocktail reception where guests will have a chance to mingle and bid in the silent auction. The cocktail reception will be followed by dinner, live auction and an evening of dancing to the music of Clockwork– a Boston based band of “seven seriously talented performing artists together in one tight, spirited, and energetic group… You name it, they can play it!”

Guests will also have the pleasure to share in Shonda Schilling’s story.  Shonda Schilling is the author of “The Best Kind of Different”, a memoir about her son’s life with Asperger’s.

“The funds raised are vital in ensuring that our students continue to have access to the necessary tools, technologies and support for successful development of social skills, academics, self-control and self-esteem. We also recognize the need to expand our services to reach more children” Summit Academy’s Executive Director, Daniel DiMezza said.  “We are excited about sharing our journey, the touching stories and recognition of a remarkable, dedicated staff.”

Family, friends, business and community leaders, and professional colleagues are invited to support the program.  Together, we can continue to “Move Mountains”.

The ticket price for the party is $135.00, while sponsorship opportunities include a $10,000 Summit Sponsor, $7,500 Peak Sponsors, $5,000 Viewpoint Sponsors, $2,500 Sherpa Sponsors, $1,000 Mountaineer Sponsors and $500 for the Trailblazer Sponsor.

For ticket information, to purchase tickets or to become a sponsor, please visit our website: www.summitacademyma.com or feel free to contact Amanda Panikian at 508-751-8500 or apanikian@summitacademiesma.com.

For more than ten years Summit Academy, has been providing unparalleled quality education for students. Summit Academy, a Massachusetts Association of 766 Approved Private School (maaps), nonprofit’s mission is to provide a therapeutic alternative school for students with high functioning autism and related diagnoses and to help students reach their greatest academic, social, and emotional potential, and to improve their overall quality of life.

CONTACT:  Amanda Panikian, Summit Academy, 508-751-8500   apanikian@summitacademiesma.com,

www.summitacademyma.com

Calendar of Upcoming Events

“A Time Capsule Reappears” Exhibition Now through – Wednesday, November 9 2016

In 2016, a 1953 time capsule was removed from a building at HealthAlliance Hospital (previously the Burbank Hospital.) This small exhibition takes you back to the Fitchburg of 60 years ago, with a peak into the ways that health care has changed.

Free and open to the public.

Exhibition: Fitchburg Faces: Portraits and Stories from Fitchburg’s History. Now through – Feb. 28th, 2017

A new exhibition featuring portraits from the permanent collection of the Fitchburg Historical Society, and the stories of the Fitchburg residents they depict.

 Memory Café at the Fitchburg Historical Society. Wednesday, November 2, 1:30 p.m.

This social event is designed for those with Memory Issues or dementia, and their caregivers. We will enjoy films and photos of mid-20^th century Fitchburg and share ideas and feelings. Sponsored by Life Care Centers of America The Highlands. Free Admission and limited space: advance registration required, call 978-345-1157.

“Alvah Crocker: Spirit Behind the Hoosac Tunnel,” talk by Cliff Schexnayder. Thursday, November 3, 5:15 p.m.

Fitchburg’s Alvah Crocker was one of the most successful and influential businessmen in New England during the 1800’s. He founded businesses in paper production, banking and railroads. As the railroad needed to expand west, the builders ran up against the heights of the Berkshire Mountains. Learn how Crocker led the construction of an engineering feat: the five-mile Hoosac tunnel. Cliff Schexnayder is a historian of engineering and construction, and the author of Builders of the Hoosac Tunnel, published in 2016 and supported with a fellowship from Smithsonian Institute Libraries.

Annual December House Tour:
Saturday, December 3, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

The annual holiday tradition returns, with a self-guided tour of some of Fitchburg’s most interesting and historic residences, decorated to celebrate the joys of the season. Tickets: $20 per person, all proceeds benefit the programs of the Fitchburg Historical Society.

Tickets: $20 and are available in advance at Fitchburg Historical Society and Fitchburg City Hall.