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Renovated and Expanded Fitchburg Public Library to Open in June 2027

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FITCHBURG, Mass.—The renovated and expanded Fitchburg Public Library will open its doors at 610 Main St. in June 2027.

The new date represents a delay from the original completion schedule, but the additional time will ensure the delivery of a truly transformative project. The new library will be a state-of-the-art destination for the community, offering expanded technology, improved accessibility, and vibrant programming and learning spaces designed to serve the residents of Fitchburg and the surrounding region for decades to come.

“We are profoundly grateful to the city, state, and federal leaders for their vital investments and ongoing partnership throughout this project,” said Fitchburg Public Library Board of Trustees Chairman Matt Bruun. “Their leadership and financial commitments have been instrumental in turning this vision into reality, preserving a historic landmark while creating a dynamic hub for lifelong learning, technology, and community connection.”

While work on the Main Street building is completed, the library’s temporary quarters at 166 Boulder Drive will remain open to patrons.

The funding mix for the building project includes a grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), an allocation from the City of Fitchburg’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, city appropriations, and the $3.5 million Offering a World of Learning (OWL) Capital Campaign.

Since the renovation and expansion began, a number of factors have led to increased costs for the Fitchburg Public Library project, as well as others supported by the MBLC grant program. In response, the MBLC authorized additional funding to bring these previously approved projects to completion. As a result, in addition to the $12.5M originally granted, a further $1.4 million was awarded for the Fitchburg Public Library effort. Those escalation funds, and interest generated on the prior allocations for the project, will cover the remaining costs to bring the project to completion.

Following substantial completion of construction this winter, crews will work on furniture, fixtures and equipment to prepare the building for the general public. The OWL Capital Campaign was launched to cover those expenses, with a goal of $3.5 million. The campaign team is proud to announce the $3.5 million target has been met.

“We are grateful to the individual, corporate, and foundation donors who have recognized the impact and promise of the Fitchburg Public Library building project and thank them for investing in the future of our community,” said OWL Capital Campaign Co-Chair Sharon Bernard. “Our gratitude extends to the capital campaign committee members who have joined me in leading this effort by showing the transformative impact this project will have on the city of Fitchburg and the population we serve.”

The OWL Campaign was also supported by a $1 million gift from the Fitchburg Public Library Board of Trustees. The donation comes from the Wallace Trust Fund, created to support future capital needs when the Library’s Wallace Building was opened in 1967.

There are still opportunities for donors to make an impact on the project and support future building needs. The Legacy of Learning campaign provides donors an opportunity to be recognized for their gift with a personalized book spine that will appear on a custom bookshelf installation–created by students at Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School–in the library lobby.

Additional information on the Legacy of Learning project can be found on the Library’s website at fitchburgpubliclibrary.org and clicking on the “Building Project.”

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Fitchburg Projects Awarded $9.345 Million in State Funding for Housing, Infrastructure and Downtown Redevelopment

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City infrastructure awards and Underutilized Properties investments will support housing production, adaptive reuse of vacant buildings and continued downtown revitalization

FITCHBURG, MA – Fitchburg projects have been awarded a combined $9.345 million through the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s FY27 Community One Stop for Growth, bringing significant state investment into the city for infrastructure, housing production and the redevelopment of vacant and underutilized properties.

Of the total, $8.5 million is being awarded directly to the City of Fitchburg for three major infrastructure projects:

– $5 million from the MBTA Communities Catalyst Fund for the Moran Square Improvements project;

– $2.5 million from the MassWorks Infrastructure Program to support Eleanor’s Lofts at 21 Depot Street; and

– $1 million from the MassWorks Infrastructure Program to support Main Street Lofts at 280-288 Main Street.

An additional $845,000 in Underutilized Properties Program awards is coming to Fitchburg through MassDevelopment, including $695,000 for NewVue Communities and $150,000 for Watch Us Grow LLC, bringing the total FY27 One Stop investment in Fitchburg projects to $9.345 million.

Together, the projects demonstrate Fitchburg’s strategy of pairing private redevelopment of vacant and underutilized buildings with public investment in the infrastructure necessary to support housing, businesses and stronger neighborhoods.

“These awards are all part of one strategy: building the infrastructure that allows Fitchburg to continue producing more housing,” said Mayor Samantha Squailia. “Housing development involves collaboration with private and public partners to bring new units online, while we also invest in the streets, utilities, connections and public spaces that support those neighborhoods. We will now work to connect infrastructure improvements with housing production and continued downtown revitalization. We appreciate the Healey-Driscoll Administration for recognizing that communities need both the housing and the infrastructure to support it.”

The projects are directly associated with approximately 302 new housing units, along with new commercial, coworking and community space.

Mayor Squailia also recognized Senator John Cronin and Representative Michael Kushmerek for their continued partnership and advocacy for Fitchburg’s housing and economic development priorities at the State House. “Senator Cronin and Representative Kushmerek have been strong partners in this work, and I appreciate the time and effort they continue to put into advocating for Fitchburg and helping us connect our local priorities with state resources,” Squailia said. “These projects only happen when the City, our legislative delegation, the Administration and our private and nonprofit development partners are all working in the same direction.”

 

Moran Square: $5 Million

The largest award will provide $5 million through the MBTA Communities Catalyst Fund to reconstruct and improve the historic Moran Square gateway into downtown.

The project includes intersection reconfiguration, new traffic signals and lighting, full-depth pavement reconstruction, drainage improvements, accessible sidewalks and pedestrian areas, streetscape improvements and better bicycle and pedestrian connections. The work will also address longstanding stormwater and flooding concerns in the area.

The infrastructure investment directly supports the redevelopment of the long-underutilized warehouse at 64 Main Street into Railside Lofts, a 36-unit residential development immediately adjacent to Fitchburg’s Intermodal Transportation Center and the future northern terminus of the Twin Cities Rail Trail.

The improvements also complement significant housing activity already underway nearby, including 34 units planned at 280-288 Main Street and additional permitted housing developments within the surrounding downtown area, with 44 units of mixed-income housing on 10 Main St completed in 2023.

“This is what coordinated redevelopment looks like,” Commissioner of Public Works Nicholas Erickson said. “We are improving the gateway, renewing aging infrastructure, addressing drainage and traffic concerns, making the area safer for people walking and biking, connecting residents to transit and the rail trail, and creating the conditions for vacant buildings around Moran Square to become productive properties again.”

 

Eleanor’s Lofts: $2.5 Million

Fitchburg will receive $2.5 million through MassWorks to improve Depot Street in conjunction with the redevelopment of the former Ahlstrom-Munksjö paper mill into Eleanor’s Lofts.

The historic industrial complex is being transformed into approximately 225 workforce and market-rate apartments, including family and senior housing, along with approximately 37,000 square feet of commercial and community space.    

The state-funded public infrastructure work will include roadway reconstruction, pedestrian safety improvements, traffic-calming measures, intersection upgrades, lighting, streetscape improvements, a new MART transit stop with passenger amenities and improved public access around the redevelopment.

The project brings housing production, environmental cleanup, historic preservation, riverfront reinvestment and private development together on the former industrial site.

 

Main Street Lofts at 280: $1.15 Million in Combined State Investment

The redevelopment of 280-288 Main Street will receive $1.15 million through two complementary state awards, pairing investment in the building itself with improvements to the public infrastructure surrounding it.

A $1 million MassWorks award to the City of Fitchburg will support reconstruction of the Main Street frontage, ADA-accessible curb cuts, stormwater improvements and utility upgrades necessary to support the redevelopment. In addition, Watch Us Grow LLC will receive $150,000 through MassDevelopment’s Underutilized Properties Program to support the rehabilitation of the building itself.

The long-vacant, five-story historic property will be converted into 34 apartments y approximately 2,500 square feet of coworking and commercial space. Built in 1897, the property has remained one of the largest underutilized buildings along the Main Street corridor.

Together, the two awards demonstrate Fitchburg’s broader redevelopment strategy: invest in both the private building and the public infrastructure around it so difficult adaptive-reuse projects can move forward. The completed project will bring housing and commercial activity back to a prominent downtown building within walking distance of the MBTA Commuter Rail station, businesses, restaurants, cultural institutions and public services.

 

470 Main Street: $695,000

NewVue Communities will receive $695,000 through MassDevelopment’s Underutilized Properties Program toward the redevelopment of 470 Main Street.

The prominent mixed-use Main Street property currently includes housing, commercial space and NewVue’s headquarters. A significant portion of its commercial space has remained vacant since the former TD Bank branch closed in 2020. NewVue plans to convert surplus commercial and storage space into seven additional residential units, bringing the building to 38 total mixed-income apartments, while retaining two smaller Main Street commercial suites better suited to current market demand.

The project will create additional housing while preserving commercial activity along Main Street and putting currently underutilized space back into productive use. The planned housing will include a mix of affordability levels, including project-based voucher units, LIHTC-restricted units, workforce housing and a small number of unrestricted market-rate apartments.

 

Coordinated City-State-Private Partnership

These awards reflect a broader approach Fitchburg has been pursuing: reuse existing buildings and neighborhoods, work with private and nonprofit developers willing to undertake difficult rehabilitation projects and pursue state resources to address the public infrastructure that makes those projects possible.

The Commonwealth’s Community One Stop for Growth is specifically designed to coordinate housing and economic development investments across multiple state agencies and programs. The state describes the program as an active partnership with municipalities in economic development strategy and investment. Massachusetts Government

“Fitchburg has a tremendous opportunity to turn long-vacant and underused properties into productive parts of our community” Liz Murphy, Director of  Community Development and Planning said. “Instead of watching vacant buildings continue to deteriorate, we are working collaboratively to bring them back to life. That means housing upstairs, businesses and community space where appropriate, safer streets and sidewalks outside, stronger utility systems underneath, and new property value that helps support City services. The State has been an incredible partner in helping Fitchburg connect all of those pieces.”

These five awards are part of more than $326 million in FY27 Community One Stop for Growth investments being announced statewide by the Healey-Driscoll Administration.

The awards will now proceed through the Commonwealth’s contracting process. The City will continue working with the Executive Office of Economic Development, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, project developers and other partners to move each project toward construction.

Eleanor's Lofts Ribbon Cutting
Eleanor's Loft
64 Main St Moran Square
280 Main St

bankHometown to Host Three Free Shred Days

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Oxford, Massachusetts, September 29, 2026 — bankHometown invites customers and members of the community to three free Shred Days. The first will be on Saturday, October 3, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the bank’s 31 Sutton Avenue location in Oxford, MA, and the second will be held on Saturday, October 10, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the bank’s 9 Sack Boulevard location in Leominster, MA. The third event will be on Saturday, November 7, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the bank’s 148 Route 171 location in Woodstock, CT.

Local residents can reduce their risk of identity theft by bringing old mail, receipts, statements or bills, cancelled checks, pay stubs, medical records, or any other unwanted paper documents containing personal or confidential information and shredding them safely and securely for free. Bay State Shredding, a professional document destruction company, will be on site in the bank’s parking lot and can accept up to two boxes of documents per car. No appointment is necessary.

Sobre bankHometown

Headquartered in Easthampton, Massachusetts, TruNorth Bank and its bankHometown and TruNorth Mortgage divisions have more than $6.9 billion in assets and offer consumer and business banking in 54 locations throughout Massachusetts, northeastern Connecticut, and southern New Hampshire. We’re proud to fulfill our community banking mission—providing individualized financial support, a suite of comprehensive products and services, and banking tools and technology—all to ensure our customers can unlock their potential and build a successful future.

Through our sponsorship and charitable giving program, The Giving Tree, TruNorth Bank supports non-profit organizations and causes throughout the communities we serve. In 2025 alone, we donated more than $2.2 million and over the last decade, more than $13 million. We were named a Corporate Citizenship Award winner by Boston Business Journal, reaffirming our status as one of Massachusetts’ most charitable companies.

As an employer of choice, we’ve been recognized nationally as a four-time USA TODAY Top Workplaces award winner, an America’s Best-in-State Bank by Forbes, and a top place to work by The Boston Globe. For more information, visit TruNorthBank.com.

NewVue Names Gonzalo Puigbo as New Executive Director

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The NewVue Communities’ Board of Directors is proud to announce that Gonzalo Puigbo has been named Executive Director of the Fitchburg-based non-profit community development corporation, effective Sept. 8, 2026.

Puigbo, a Natick resident, has served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Somerville Community Corporation (SCC) since 2020 and has more than 20 years of experience in the banking industry.

In both his professional and personal life, Puigbo has been a fierce advocate for the needs of low-income individuals and families by championing causes promoting social and financial equity.

“Gonzalo brings a wealth of community development experience to NewVue,” said Christina DiRusso, President of the NewVue Board of Directors. “We are excited to add his energy and passion to our work creating strong and healthy neighborhoods in North Central Massachusetts.”

A fluent Spanish speaker, Puigbo describes himself as a “servant leader,’’ a leadership style in which he focuses primarily on the needs and well-being of people

and communities in which they belong. He said he is excited to bring his skills and experience to NewVue and North Central Massachusetts.

“God has blessed me with the opportunity to serve as the next Executive Director of NewVue Communities. I am thankful that the Board of Directors, the staff, and our community have given me a chance to build on the strength of the work that has already been accomplished,’ Puigbo said. “Together, we will envision and work towards a place of diversity, equity, inclusivity and justice that supports all of the community members who have built this amazing region.”

Prior to SCC, Puigbo worked at People’s United Bank as the Vice President, Community Reinvestment Act & Community Development Officer for Northern New England. In this role, he was exposed to challenges facing local low-income households and worked to help them achieve financial independence through homeownership, workforce development, financial education, community organizing and leadership initiatives.

Leading by example, Puigbo has embraced community activism by volunteering with several non-profit organizations. He serves on the Board of the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations, and the Partnership for Financial Equity, a group dedicated to closing racial wealth gaps and improving the financial futures of low- and moderate-income households.

He is the former Board Chair for Compass Working Capital, an organization that works to end asset poverty for families with low incomes and narrow the racial and gender wealth divides. Puigbo is also a former Board Member and Vice Chair of Amplify Latinx, a non-partisan, collaborative non-profit whose mission it is to advance Latine prosperity and leadership representation in Massachusetts.

Puigbo received his Bachelor of Science and Master’s degree from Framingham State University. In 2012, he received the Alumni Achievement Award for his outstanding work in the community.

Timothy Johnstone served as Interim Executive Director while the board conducted an extensive search for a new leader. The Board is grateful for Johnstone’s steady hand during this transition.

“NewVue has more than doubled its impact over the past five years and has plans to continue to bring resources into the region,”DiRusso said. “We are very fortunate to have someone with Gonzalo’s leadership skills to guide our experienced team.”

NewVue Communities welcomes the community to meet Puigbo on Friday, Sept. 25 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the NewVue offices, 470 Main St., Fitchburg.

About NewVue Communities: NewVue Communities is a nonprofit community development corporation dedicated to creating strong and healthy neighborhoods where residents choose to live, work, and invest. NewVue Communities is dedicated to serving 240,000 residents of North Central Massachusetts, a region of 22 municipalities stretching from Harvard to Athol. We strategically use a five-pronged approach to strengthen communities and fuel economic and social progress through homeownership, small business development, housing development, asset management, and community organizing.

Green Leaf Construction and F.W. Webb Celebrate Topping Off of New Hazleton Central Distribution Facility

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HAZLETON, PA — August 13, 2026 – F.W. Webb Company, Green Leaf Construction, and project partners gathered in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, to celebrate a major milestone in the construction of F.W. Webb’s second Central Distribution facility; the topping-off of the 738,654-square-foot facility.

The topping off marks the completion of the building’s structural steel frame, representing a significant step forward in the construction of a facility that will expand F.W. Webb’s distribution capabilities throughout Pennsylvania and the surrounding Mid-Atlantic markets.

Crews lift the ceremonial final steel beam for placement.

“This building represents a significant investment in F.W. Webb and, more importantly, an investment in our customers,” said Jeff Pope, President and Owner of F.W. Webb Company. “As we continue to grow in Pennsylvania and the surrounding markets, this facility will help us increase our capacity, improve product availability, and better serve our customers when and where they need us.”

The scale of the project is significant. Before construction could begin, Green Leaf Construction addressed challenging subsurface conditions at the site, moving more than 1 million cubic yards of rock through blasting and excavation. Much of the material was crushed and repurposed on site for grading, stabilization, and infrastructure construction.

Once complete, the facility will serve as a modern distribution hub designed to support F.W. Webb’s continued growth. The building will feature high-bay storage, 70 loading dock doors, and infrastructure designed to support high-volume distribution operations.

“This is an exciting milestone, not only because of the size and complexity of this project, but because of what it represents for F.W. Webb and the team that has brought it to this point,” said Andy McBeth, President of Green Leaf Construction. “A project of this scale takes an incredible amount of coordination, planning, and hard work. We are proud of our entire project team and especially grateful to the tradespeople who have worked safely and diligently to make this milestone possible.”

The topping off ceremony also provided an opportunity to recognize the many people involved in the project; from the design and engineering teams to the subcontractors, tradespeople, suppliers, and Green Leaf and F.W. Webb teams working together to bring the facility to life.

With the structural frame now complete, construction will continue through the remainder of 2026, with the facility currently scheduled to open in spring 2027.

The new facility will further strengthen F.W. Webb’s distribution network as the company continues its growth across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. So far in 2026, F.W. Webb has opened new facilities in Central Islip, NY, and Somerdale, NJ, and relocated existing stores into new facilities in Whippany, NJ, and Queensbury, NY. 

About Green Leaf Construction

Green Leaf Construction is a full-service design-build and construction management firm based in Leominster, Massachusetts. Founded in 2014, Green Leaf provides preconstruction, design-build, construction management, and general contracting services throughout the Northeast. The company specializes in commercial, industrial, manufacturing, distribution, and other complex construction projects, with a focus on collaboration, transparency, quality, and long-term client relationships.

About F.W. Webb Company

An industry pioneer since 1866, F.W. Webb Company is the largest wholesale distributor of plumbing, heating, HVAC, LP gas, refrigeration, pipe, valves, and fittings in the Northeast. F.W. Webb has grown from a single location to more than 100 across nine states and proudly offers customers an extensive inventory of products and dedicated services that reach from underground to the rooftop. Covering 16 areas of expertise, specialty markets include process controls, water works, environmental services, and more. F.W. Webb also operates 50 Frank Webb Home bath, kitchen, and lighting retail showrooms.

Left to right: Mark Imse, Sr. Project Manager, Green Leaf Construction; Jeff Thompston, SVP of Purchasing, F.W. Webb Company; John McCubrey, Project Manager, Green Leaf Construction; Bryan Simmons, Assistant Superintendent, Green Leaf Construction; Jesse Wilbur, Sr. Superintendent, Green Leaf Construction; Mike Vogel, Project Executive, Green Leaf Construction; Brendan Monaghan, SVP of Operations, F.W. Webb Company; Jeff Henderson, General Manager, F.W. Webb Company; Brian Cavossa, Director of Regional Sales; Southern New York, New Jersey, & Pennsylvania, F.W. Webb Company; Jeff Pope, Owner & President, F.W. Webb Company; Andy McBeth, President, Green Leaf Construction; Art Osborn – Director of Residential and Light Commercial HVAC Sales, F.W. Webb Company

You’re invited to hear U.S. Senator Rev. Dr. Raphael G. Warnock

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Keynote Address

Saturday, September 26, 2026
Doors open at 3:00 PM
DCU Center, Worcester, MA — in person or livestream
Tickets: $35

Rev. Dr. Raphael G. Warnock represents Georgia in the United States Senate, where he is a leading voice for expanded healthcare access, voting rights, and criminal justice reform. He has served since 2005 as Senior Pastor of Atlanta’s Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, the spiritual home of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A Savannah native and graduate of Morehouse College with a doctorate from Union Theological Seminary, he is widely regarded as a prophetic voice at the intersection of faith and justice. He’ll bring that voice to Worcester for a keynote address grounded in this year’s theme, The Ties That Bind.

Get tickets here

Rollstone Bank & Trust Promotes Chris Connors to Vice President, Business Banking Officer

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FITCHBURG, Mass. (August 28, 2026). Rollstone Bank & Trust, an affiliate of River Run Bancorp along with Newburyport Bank and Pentucket Bank, is pleased to announce the promotion of Chris Connors to Vice President, Business Banking Officer, based at the bank’s John Fitch Branch in Fitchburg. Chris brings 28 years of industry experience to the position, having most recently served as Vice President, Treasury & Relationship Banking Officer.

In his new role, Chris is responsible for identifying new business opportunities within Rollstone Bank & Trust’s market area to attract and retain quality banking relationships. He will continue to build and maintain a network of professional referral sources, including real estate brokers, accountants, attorneys and other centers of influence, to generate new business, while recommending and selling a full range of banking products, including loans, deposits and treasury management solutions.

“Chris has spent nearly three decades building trust with clients and referral partners across our market, and this promotion reflects the depth of that experience,” said Stacey Palovich, Senior Vice President, Business Banking & Professional Practices Director at River Run “His ability to structure the right banking solution for a business, and to see a credit relationship through from first conversation to closing, makes him a tremendous asset to our business banking team.”

In addition, Chris will manage the credit process from structuring through closing, working closely with the bank’s underwriting and credit teams, and will coordinate with internal partners to deliver full-service banking solutions to clients.

“I’m looking forward to this new chapter at Rollstone Bank & Trust,” said Chris Connors. “Business owners in this region deserve a banking partner who understands their goals and can move quickly to help them get there, and that’s the kind of relationship I build with every client I work with.”

Chris holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications and Psychology from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, and served in the United States Navy as an Operations Specialist 2nd Class. He is an avid outdoorsman whose interests include offshore sailboat racing, hunting, golf and fishing. Chris lives in Lunenburg with his family.

About Rollstone Bank & Trust

Founded in 1846, Rollstone Bank & Trust is a trusted community banking partner committed to strengthening the financial well-being of individuals, families, and businesses throughout North Central Massachusetts. Headquartered in Fitchburg, MA, the Bank provides a full range of personal and business banking services through multiple community banking locations. Guided by a long-standing tradition of service, relationships, and local investment, Rollstone Bank & Trust is dedicated to helping communities thrive. Alongside Newburyport Bank and Pentucket Bank, Rollstone Bank & Trust is supported by River Run Bancorp, MHC. With collective assets of $3.6 billion, River Run ensures shared strength and resources in support of our banks and the communities they serve.

Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area Launches 2027 Partnership Grant Program; Allocates $100k in Support of Creative Programs & Projects

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DEVENS, MA, September 8, 2026 – Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area is pleased to announce the launch of its Annual Partnership Grant Program on October 1, 2026. Designed to provide strategic investments in the natural, cultural, and historical resources that enhance the region’s sense of place, $100,000 has been set aside for this funding cycle.

Reimbursable matching grants of up to $5,000 are available to eligible non-profits, municipalities, state agencies, and public academic institutions. Applications are accepted, reviewed, and awarded on a rolling basis from October 1para, 2026 through April 15, 2027, or until the allocated funds have been committed.

The Freedom’s Way Partnership Grant Program supports a variety of creative programs and projects, diverse in scale and scope, that align with the following

Freedom’s Way logo and Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire monument unveiling, 2026. A project funded in part by a Partnership Grant.

funding opportunities:

 

  • Storytelling
  • Education, Interpretation & Curation
  • Community Planning & Resource Conservation
  • Historic Preservation
  • Regional Cultural Events
  • Freedom’s Way 250

 

Prospective applicants are encouraged to arrange a time to discuss their program or project prior to the submission of an online application by sending an email to .

Since its inception, the Freedom’s Way Partnership Grant Program has awarded 270 grants totaling over $391,000 within the Heritage Area’s 45 communities. More than $4.9 million in cash and in-kind match has been generated, leveraging Heritage Partnership funds received through the National Park Service by 13:1.

For more information, including program guidelines, application materials, and past project descriptions, visit freedomsway.org/grants. 

Clinton Savings Bank Makes a Difference This Year with its 4th Annual Back-To-School Drive

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(CLINTON, Mass., August 31, 2026) – For the fourth consecutive year, Clinton Savings Bank (CSB) partnered with local radio station 104.5 WXLO to help local students gear up for a great school year through its Back-to-School Drive. The campaign kicked off in late July with radio ads, social media outreach, and in-branch materials inviting customers and community members to donate school supplies. The generous contributions helped ensure that local students have the essentials they need to start the school year prepared and ready to learn.

L to R: Jen Carter, morning show personality of 104.5 WXLO, Donna Ostiguy, Director of Community Outreach for the office of Sheriff Lew Evangelidis of Worcester County, Frank Foley, morning show personality of 104.5 WXLO & Ellen J. McGovern, Senior Vice President/CMO of Clinton Savings Bank

The drive culminated on August 15 with the Lemonade Back-to-School Refresher celebration at CSB’s West Boylston branch, 306 W Boylston Street, where 104.5 WXLO radio personalities Frank Foley and Jen Carter joined CSB staff to welcome families with refreshing lemonade, fun giveaways, and back-to-school spirit.
“On behalf of Clinton Savings Bank, I want to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who came out and generously donated to our fourth annual Back-to-School Drive,” said Mary T, Dean, President & CEO of Clinton Savings Bank. “The incredible support from our customers, community members, and our partnership with 104.5 WXLO will make a meaningful difference for local students as they head back to school. We are grateful to everyone who helped make this year’s drive such a success.”
“We were immensely proud and excited to see so many people come out to support the event through their generous donations, including members of Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis’ staff,” said Bob Goodell, General Manager of 104.5 WXLO.

With thousands of donations from the event, Clinton Savings Bank was able to send school supplies to Beal & Coolidge Elementary in Shrewsbury, Boylston Elementary in Boylston, Clinton Elementary in Clinton, Houghton Elementary in Sterling, Major Edwards Elementary in West Boylston, Tahanto Regional Middle/High School in Boylston and W.H.E.A.T. Community in Clinton.

About Clinton Savings Bank
Established in 1851, Clinton Savings Bank is among the oldest mutual community banks in Massachusetts with more than $745 million in assets. Clinton Savings Bank (CSB) offers business and consumer banking, through seven full-service branches in Berlin, Bolton, Boylston, Clinton, Shrewsbury, Sterling, West Boylston and as a member of the Allpoint network access to over 55,000 ATMs. CSB also provides mobile and online banking. For more information, please visit clintonsavings.com.

Brick Marketing to Host Webinar: AI SEO – Get Your Brand Seen and Chosen Online

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BOSTON, MA [September 1, 2026] — Brick Marketing, a Boston digital marketing agency founded in 2005, will host a free webinar titled AI SEO: Get Your Brand Seen and Chosen Online on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The program lasts 60 minutes and is designed for business owners, marketing leaders, sales leaders, and communications professionals who want their companies to appear more often in traditional search results and answers produced by AI platforms.

Attendees do not need a technical background to benefit from the session. The program will translate AI search concepts into practical marketing actions that teams can apply to websites, content calendars, company profiles, media outreach, and sales materials. It will also clarify the difference between appearing in an AI response and earning a meaningful recommendation, with attention to the accuracy, consistency, and credibility of the information AI systems can find about a business online.

Registration and complete webinar information are available at:

https://www.brickmarketing.com/webinars

The webinar will explain how AI SEO, Generative Engine Optimization, and Answer Engine Optimization work together with established SEO and content marketing practices. Attendees will learn how platforms such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Claude, Perplexity, and Microsoft Copilot interpret business information, assess authority, and decide which brands to mention when responding to questions.

“Being visible is no longer only about earning a strong position on a search results page,” said Nick Stamoulis, President of Brick Marketing. “Companies also need to make it easy for AI platforms to understand who they are, what they offer, who they serve, and why their expertise is credible. This webinar will give business and marketing leaders a clear framework for improving those signals so their brands have a better chance to be seen, cited, and chosen.”

Stamoulis and Katherine Tsoukalas, Brick Marketing’s Director of Marketing, will guide attendees through the foundations of AI search visibility. The discussion will cover how AI platforms crawl and interpret website content, how clear site structure supports machine understanding, and why consistent company information across websites, articles, profiles, and trusted third party sources matters.

The presenters will also address the role of content depth, topic alignment, entity recognition, structured data, citations, and brand messaging. Attendees will see why a company website must clearly communicate services, audiences, expertise, locations, and proof of experience. The session will connect these elements to practical decisions about service pages, educational resources, frequently asked questions, company background information, and thought leadership.

Another focus will be the continuing work required to support AI search performance. Brick Marketing will discuss brand citation audits, visibility monitoring, content reviews, and the refinement of authority signals over time. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of what to evaluate, which gaps may be limiting visibility, and how to prioritize improvements that serve both people and AI systems.

The webinar is especially relevant for organizations that already invest in SEO but are uncertain about how AI generated answers affect discovery and consideration. Rather than treating GEO as a separate marketing program, the presentation will show how it can complement technical SEO, content strategy, public relations, brand development, and reputation building.

Businesses seeking more information about Brick Marketing’s AI SEO, GEO, and AEO services can visit:

https://www.brickmarketing.com/aio-geo-search

The live webinar is free and will run for approximately one hour. Space is limited. People who cannot attend the live session may still register to receive access to the replay recording after the event.