For the first time in farm history, Davis Farmland is welcoming an extraordinary new addition to its flock—sextuplets, YES 6, Finn lambs, all born to one proud ewe! The lambs—tiny, fluffy, and full of energy—are thriving under the care of their mother, Linda, and the Davis Farmland Legendary Livestock care team.

Finn sheep, originally from Finland, are known for their calm personalities and ability to give birth to multiple lambs at once. However, a successful delivery of six healthy babies is a staggering, impressive feat that speaks to the strength of both the mom and the farm’s dedicated animal care team.

This spring, families visiting Davis Farmland will get to meet the new lambs up close and learn about the importance of endangered/heritage breeds in farming and conservation. It’s a unique opportunity for kids able to connect with animals in a extremely, hands-on, educational setting.

Davis Farmland opens for the season on Thursday, April 17th, hopping into spring with a bumper crop of baby animals, hands-on adventures, and acres of award-winning play! Visit DavisFarmland.com for dates, rates and times.

Join TaraVista Behavioral Health Center at the North Central Chamber for Top Talent Tuesday on April 15th!

✔️Meet directly with TaraVista’s recruitment team
✔️Explore roles in behavioral health & nursing
✔️Opportunities for both entry-level and experienced professionals
✔️Skip the job boards—have real conversations and make real connections

No appointments needed – stop by or sign-up for to connect with a TaraVista team member ahead of time: Behavioral Health Careers

 

Lauren Howe, a breast cancer survivor from Leominster, announced a new program with Fitchburg-based business First Class Hair Design y Pawsitively 4 Pink, a local non-profit dedicated to supporting women on their journey with breast cancer to help patients feel their best during treatment and recovery.

The program, Feel Your BrEaST, offers up to five complimentary hair washes and blowouts, as well as free consultation on hair loss, during the treatment and recovery of breast cancer. In addition, First Class Hair Design will offer information on breast cancer awareness to clients. The program is supported by Pawsitively 4 Pink, which provides support before, during and after breast cancer treatment, emotional support dogs to help alleviate the stress, pain and anxiety, and financial assistance for low-income, underserved women diagnosed with breast cancer in Massachusetts.

“Just one year ago this month, I received the worst phone call of my life from my doctor telling me I had breast cancer,” said Howe. “Within a few days, I was at Mass General Hospital meeting with my team and underwent major surgery to aggressively treat my illness, which resulted in limited mobility of my arms.”

During Howe’s recovery, she shared the struggle of washing her hair with her stylist, Samantha Fairfax, owner of First Class Hair Design, located at 50 Whalon Street in Fitchburg. “I couldn’t lift my arms, and it hurt to lean over kitchen sink for my husband to wash my hair, so I asked Sam if she would be willing to have me come in every few days for a hair wash and blow-dry. Without hesitation, she said yes!”

“When Lauren first told me about her diagnosis, I wanted to do anything I could to help her and her family get through such a difficult time,” said Fairfax. “Following her surgeries, she asked if I would be willing to help wash her hair, and it was something I was honored to do. It not only helped her feel better about herself, but it also provided the opportunity for Lauren to have a little pampering in a calming environment where she could relax and not think about cancer.”

This experience, and with the generosity of Fairfax and the team at First Class Hair Design, prompted Howe to design the Feel Your BrEaST program as part of her community service project through the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership Institute (CLI), of which Howe is a member of the Class of 2025. CLI is a nine-month, community-based, hands-on learning experience for current and aspiring leaders in North Central Massachusetts.

“The Community Leadership Institute program is designed to provide professionals, like Lauren, the opportunity to identify a need in our community and find a solution,” said Roy M. Nascimento, president and CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “While the program is being started here in North Central Massachusetts, we hope that other hair salons will participate to help breast cancer patients feel their best at salons across the Commonwealth.”

And the Feel Your BrEaST program was a perfect fit for Pawsitively 4 Pink.

“We are incredibly proud to support this new initiative led by Lauren, a breast cancer survivor whose strength and compassion continue to inspire us,” said Michelle Power, founder, Pawsitively 4 Pink. “This program not only provides free hair services to women in treatment—something that may seem small but carries tremendous emotional weight—it also restores a sense of dignity, confidence, and normalcy during an otherwise difficult time. Thanks to Lauren’s vision and the generosity of First Class Hair Design, this effort beautifully aligns with Pawsitively 4 Pink’s mission to ease the burdens our women face while they fight for their lives.”

First Class Hair Design is the first hair salon to participate in the Feel Your BrEaST program, and Pawsitively 4 Pink is looking for other hair salons in the region to join the effort. To learn more about the program and how to participate, visit https://pawsitively4pink.org/feel-your-breast/.

APRIL 3RD & 4TH, 2025

This notice is to inform you of upcoming traffic management and detour plans related to ongoing construction work. Please review the following information carefully as it pertains to temporary access, detours, and parking impacts.

• MassDOT’s Contractor working on the River Street Bridge near Crocker Field needs to temporarily detour traffic on Thursday April 3rd and Friday April 4ta between the hours of approximately 6 am and 5 pm to install structural beams at the project site.
• On Thursday April 3rd: The River Street Bridge will be closed to eastbound/inbound traffic. Eastbound/inbound traffic on River Street will be detoured around the project site via Sheldon Street to West Street to Main Street. River Street will remain open to local traffic up to the Dunkin Donuts. The Contractor will place a sign at the intersection of River Street and Sheldon Street indicating that businesses are open and accessible. Police details and barrels/sawhorses/cones will be used to manage local traffic and prevent interference with Contractor operations.
• On Friday April 4ta: The eastbound/inbound lane on Main Street will be closed from Caldwell Street to the roundabout. Eastbound/inbound traffic from Caldwell Street, Ashburnham Hill Road, Read Street, Westminster Hill Road, and West Street will be detoured around the project site via Sheldon Street to River Street and across the bridge to Main Street. Westbound/outbound traffic on Main Street from the roundabout to Caldwell Street will be maintained. The Contractor will place a sign at the intersection of Main Street and Caldwell Street indicating that businesses are open and accessible from the roundabout side of Main Street.
• The roadways will reopen to normal traffic patterns each evening after the work is complete. Note the River Street Bridge will continue to be limited to one lane in the eastbound/inbound direction.
• The outbound/westbound detour route from Main Street to Circle Street to Broad Street to River Street will remain open at all times.
• Due to the potential for traffic congestion on West Street between Westminster Hill Road and Ashburnham Hill Road, parking will be temporarily limited for both travel lanes during the detour hours. There is currently no parking for the westbound lane, but parking is allowed for the eastbound lane. The Contractor will coordinate with the Fitchburg Police Department (FPD) to place the necessary signage and notify abutting residents on West Street of the temporary parking restrictions.
• The Contractor will work with City staff to provide door-to-door notification to residents and businesses abutting the detours on River Street, West Street, and Main Street.