Thanks to a colder-than-average March and early April, Wachusett Mountain Ski Area officially wrapped up its 2016-17 winter season on April 9, extending its season nearly 2 weeks longer than average.

 The biggest story of the 2016-17 season was the impact of Wachusett’s expanded snowmaking system. Thanks to last summer’s $2 million snowmaking improvements (which doubled the mountain’s pumping capacity from 4,000 to 8,000 gallons per minute), snowmakers made more snow in less hours than ever before.  Season-long snowmaking operations yielded an 11% increase in machine-made snow produced (from the previous high), covering trails in up to 5 feet of base.  This was achieved in only 570 hours, nearly a 20% decrease (from the previous high).

“We made more snow more energy efficiently than ever before in our history,” said Wachusett President Jeff Crowley.

In fact, thanks to cold temperatures in early March and its newly expanded snowmaking system, Wachusett also made snow later in the season than ever before.  That, combined with a well-timed mid-March snowstorm, allowed for some of the best snow conditions of the season right through into early April.   In fact, there is still so much snow on the mountain, Wachusett will be holding its annual Cinco De Mayo Celebration (on Saturday, May 6^ta  – Sexto De Mayo!) with a slopestyle competition for snowboarders and freeride skiers and a deck party with live music and outdoor barbecue.

This season by the numbers:

• Opening Day:  Friday, November 25;  Number of Trails Open: 4;   Average Base Depths: 10-12 inches
• Closing Day:  Sunday, April 9; Number of Trails Open:  24; Average Base Depths:  10-48 inches
• Number of Days in Operation:  123
• Snowfall Total:  108 inches
• Biggest One-Day Snowfall: 16 inches on Feb. 9 and Mar. 14
• Lowest Temperature This Season:  -2 on Dec. 16 and Jan. 9
• Highest Temperature This Season: 67 on Feb. 24

“As evident by the 69 degree swing in temperatures during the season, the winter was somewhat of a roller coaster ride,” said General Manager David Crowley.  “March was colder than average, however, allowing us to finish on a positive note.  In fact, we’re already seeing interest on 2017-18 season sales!”  (A special 1-week preview sale of next year’s Wachusett Mountain season passes will run from April 24^ta to May 1^para.  Check www.wachusett.com for details.)

Habitat for Humanity NCM is looking for donations for their ReStore. The ReStore, located in Leominster MA, sells donated new and gently used furniture, home improvement and building materials at a fraction (typically 50-70 percent) of the original retail value. All profits go to support home ownership for hard working families in North Central Massachusetts, while keeping good reusable materials in use and out of the landfill.

Since opening on January 5, 2011, the Habitat for Humanity’s Restore has diverted over 1,000 tons of goods from the landfill. That is over 2,205,000 pounds or about 77 dump trucks full of usable items. The ReStore mission is to increase the number of homes built for hard working, low income families, keep good and reusable items out of the landfill, provide quality materials to the general public at discounted prices, and bring people together to build homes, communities and hope. When you donate your gently used items to the Restore, you’re helping change the lives of many by making affordable home ownership a reality!

If there are items you would like to donate, there are several options to donate the gently used items. The store is open Wednesday through Saturday 10:00 am until 4:00 pm and staff will be happy to assist you in offloading your items. You can also contact the store by phone at 978.227.5556 or use the online form at www.restorencm.org/donate to schedule a donation pick-up for qualifying items. Donations are picked up Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts

Habitat for Humanity NCM offers a hand up, not a hand out, to hard-working, low-income central Massachusetts families seeking affordable homeownership. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat NCM builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses alongside our homeowner partner families.

Habitat for Humanity North Central MA will again host its Spring Breakfast event on May 3, 2017 at the First Parish of Bolton from 7:30 – 8:30 am. The breakfast is an annual awareness and “friend-raising” event and provides an opportunity for the community to meet Habitat’s newest homeowners and to learn more about current building and renovation projects in the region. Habitat for Humanity North Central MA will also honor its long-term volunteers at the breakfast.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the many local banks and businesses who have come together to help sponsor this event. This year’s event sponsors include Avidia Bank, DCU, Enterprise Bank, Exit Assurance, Exit New Options, The Law Office of David R. Rocheford, Jr., P.C. and 3-D Asset Management. All Sponsors receive a dedicated table and recognition before and during the event. Sponsorships are still being accepted and more details can be found by visiting the Habitat for Humanity website.

Keynote speaker for the Breakfast is award-winning author Michael J. Tougias. Michael J. Tougias is a NY Times Bestselling author and co-author of 24 books. He is best known for his seven survival at sea books such as A Storm Too Soon, So Close To Home, and The Finest Hours now a major motion picture by Disney. His book, Ten Hours Until Dawn: The True Story of Heroism and Tragedy Aboard the Can Do in the Blizzard of 78, was selected by the American Library Association as one of the “Top Books of the Year” and described as “a white-knuckle read, the best book of its kind.”

There is no cost to attend the breakfast however reservations are required as seating is limited. Please visit the Habitat website to reserve your spot.

Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts

Habitat for Humanity NCM offers a hand up, not a hand out, to hard-working, low-income central Massachusetts families seeking affordable homeownership. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat NCM builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses alongside our homeowner partner families. Habitat NCM also operates the Leominster ReStore which raises funds through the sale of discounted or recycled materials and furniture.

Leominster Credit Union is hosting free first time homebuyers’ seminars each Wednesday from April 26 through May 25.  The seminars will be held in, Clinton, Holden, Worcester, and Leominster. Seminar details and registration can be found at Leominstercu.com/home-seminars/

A team of real estate experts including a realtor, attorney and financing professionals will present the program.  Topics will include ‘Are you ready to by a home?’ ‘Finding Your Dream Home,’ ‘Obtaining Financing,’ and the ‘Closing Process.’  Attendees will learn about the costs associated with homeownership, how your credit affects your options, making an offer and negotiating the price, the inspection process, and closing.

LCU’s Financial Education Officer, Ingrid Adade will also provide valuable budgeting and planning tips.

“The process of buying your first home can be daunting.  Making the right choices can help set you up for the rest of your life,” said Matt Dufault, Assistant Vice of Mortgage Origination. “The seminars will help break down the entire process.  Our goal is to enable the attendees to be well prepared, to have realistic expectations and to avoid costly mistakes.”

Seating is limited and registration is required.

The First Time Homebuyers’ Seminars are part of LCU’s May is Homebuyers’ Month which includes home-buying tips on facebook, special offers and contests.

Fundada en 1954, Leominster Credit Union (LCU) es una cooperativa financiera sin fines de lucro, de propiedad de sus socios, que ofrece una gama completa de servicios de depósito, crédito y otros servicios financieros. Con sede en Leominster, Massachusetts, LCU se enorgullece de contar con casi 50,000 socios y más de $600 millones en activos. LCU cuenta con siete sucursales en Leominster, Worcester, Clinton, Holden, Sterling y North Leominster, todas ellas con servicios de cajero automático. LCU también ofrece servicios bancarios las 24 horas a través de sus servicios móviles y en línea. Visite leominstercu.com o llame al 800-649-4646.

The North Central Career Center of Gardner will host a Job Fair at the Gardner Police Station,  200 Main Street, Gardner, MA 01440 on Tuesday, April 25^ta, 2017 from 9:30AM-12:30PM.  Visit www.ccncm.com for a list of participating companies or call (978)632-5050 or (978) 534-1481 for more information. 

Local employers will include:

Advanced Cable Ties; Advantage Home Care; Alternatives; Appleseed Personnel Services; Broadview Assisted Living; CoWorx Staffing; Great Wolf Lodge; GVNA Healthcare; Hannaford Supermarket; Moduform; NH Ball Bearing, HiTech; Nouria Energy; Operon Resources; Recovery Centers of America; Seven Hills Foundation; TRW/ITW; Wachusett Brewing Co.; Workers Credit Union