Join us for our annual Toast to Hope on Thursday, October 17th from 7 to 9 pm.
Enjoy food and drinks from 25 local vendors as well as networking, a silent auction and wine pull.
Your admission fee will help us build homes and complete critical home repair projects in our local communities.
Location: Devens Common Center, 31 Andrews Pkwy, Devens, MA 01434
Date and time: Thu, Oct 17, 2024 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Organizer: Diana Sinkus, (978) 348-2749,
Join Leominster Credit Union on October 9, 2024 as we celebrate our new name (our new name will be unveiled on October 7) with special visit from Joe Andruzzi!
The Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts is proud to announce grants totaling $60,000 to six area nonprofits aimed at keeping families in their homes. While COVID-era support has ended, the region is seeing a growing number of families facing the threat of eviction or mortgage default.
Pictured: Stephen Adams, President of the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts.
“Stable housing is the foundation of a healthy, thriving community,” said Stephen Adams, President of the Community Foundation. “These financial stability grants serve as a lifeline for residents experiencing economic hardship, helping them avoid the devastating cycle of homelessness. By providing these grants, we are not only keeping families and individuals out of emergency shelters but also investing in the long-term stability and strength of our region,” Adams said.
Many North Central families run into temporary financial difficulties that can put them at risk. Small, timely financial assistance can be the difference between maintaining housing stability and falling into homelessness. To address this gap, the Community Foundation selected six organizations with a proven track record of effectively reaching individuals and families in financial distress. They are Athol Area Young Men’s Christian Association, Catholic Charities of Worcester County, Making Opportunity Count, The Spanish American Center, the Fitchburg Salvation Army, and Winchendon Community Action Committee.
“The goal of this funding is simple but urgent: to ensure that more of our neighbors can remain in their homes, rather than being forced into the already overburdened emergency housing system”, Adams said.
Studies show that North Central Massachusetts communities are facing some of the highest eviction rates in the state. This targeted support comes at a critical time, ensuring that our community’s most vulnerable have the opportunity to recover and thrive.
Do you want to learn more about AI and how it can help your business today? Join Wachusett Business Incubator for our FREE AI Symposium on October 3rd from 9-12 PM at the MWCC South Cafeteria! We will cover topics from AI applications for business operations and AI prompt engineering to ethical considerations in AI adoption.
Please register for the event here: https://tinyurl.com/4ykzh75s
TEDxNewEngland on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at 1:00 pm at Groton Hill Music Center
TEDxCambridge is now TEDxNewEngland – honoring the region as a global hub for transformative research and technology. Join the brightest minds in science at our 2024 conference, where we’ll spotlight groundbreaking scientific ideas, featuring 11 brilliant speakers plus two performances. Our annual conference explores curiosity, wonder, and the pursuit of scientific knowledge!
Amitai Shenhav (University of California, Berkeley): Decision Making
Keith Hengen (Washington University in St. Louis): Brain Criticality
Aleena Garner (Harvard Medical School): Neurobiology of Perception
Jeff Sebo (New York University): Ethics of Nonhuman Sentience
Philip Goff (Durham University, UK): Purpose of the Universe
Michael Wong (Carnegie Institution for Science): Nature’s Missing Law
Harriet Lau (Brown University): Geodynamic Timescales
Nikta Fakhri (Massachusetts Institute of Technology): Physics of Life
Sarah Kocher (Princeton University): Evolution of Social Behavior
Asher Leeks (Yale University): Social Behavior of Viruses
Ferris Jabr (Science Author): Planetary Ecology
Award recognizes the 100 most influential Latino/Hispanic leaders across Massachusetts
Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson has been named one of the 2024 ALX100 recipients by Amplify LatinX.
Started in 2023, this award annually recognizes 100 of the most influential Latin-American leaders across Massachusetts.
“I’m truly honored to have been named one of this year’s ALX100,” said Mayor Nicholson. “I’m truly proud of my heritage and thankful for the sacrifices the members of my family made in coming to this country that allowed me to have all of the opportunities I’ve been given. I cannot thank my mother, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and all my family members enough for all that they have sacrificed for me to be where I am today”
In Gardner, and across Massachusetts, Latinos are the youngest, largest, and fastest-growing minority demographic in Massachusetts, making up 14.4% of the population statewide. According to the 2020 Census, the Hispanic/Latino population make up approximately 11% of the City’s residents. Additionally, data collected by Gardner Public Schools show that over 32% of students identify as Hispanic/Latino.
“I’m proud to be the first Latin-American elected official in Gardner’s history and of the work we’ve been able to accomplish over the last four years,” continued Mayor Nicholson. “Gardner is a growing and diversifying community. As we continue our work to build a stronger, more lively City, it’s important to ensure that all voices, perspectives, and backgrounds are heard. I look forward to seeing how we can continue those advancements in the future.”
Amplify LatinX is a non-partisan, collaborative non-profit with the mission of advancing Latino prosperity and leadership representation. Every year, Amplify LatinX honors 100 Latino leaders from across Massachusetts. The ALX100 includes some of the brightest Latino leaders — risk-takers, quiet disruptors, and outspoken advocates from all industry sectors who are impacting the future — today.
The ALX100 recognizes exceptional Latino leaders who have demonstrated excellence and have made significant contributions in their respective fields and communities. From unsung heroes to civic leaders to business trailblazers, we celebrate 100 of the brightest Latino changemakers from across the commonwealth.
Throughout the six-month ALX100 campaign, Amplify LatinX convenes and celebrates the ALX100 through events, a traveling museum exhibition featuring information on the 100 honorees, media partnerships, and a limited- edition keepsake book.
The full listing of this year’s ALX100 honorees is available on the Boston Globe website and will be printed in the Sept 15, 2024 issue of the Globe Magazine.
Additionally, over the next six months, additional events will be held as the traveling museum exhibit about the 100 honorees moves around the Commonwealth. A full listing of this year’s honorees can be found here: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/09/12/magazine/top-100-list-of-latino-and-hispanic-leaders/
President James Vander Hooven with Board of Trustee members Patricia Pistone, Oren Cohen, Claire Freda, Denise Gosselin, Rick Walton, and Patti Bergstrom. Members not pictured are Douglas Peterson and Irene Hernandez Guzman.
On August 15, 2024, Leominster’s Claire M. Freda presided over her first Board of Trustees meeting as Chairperson after her appointment to the position by Governor Maura Healey.
“I am very excited for Chairperson Freda and the College,” stated MWCC President James Vander Hooven. “I have enjoyed working with her on the board since her arrival. She has been a passionate advocate for our students and MWCC.”
Freda, currently the longest serving elected official in the City of Leominster, has served on the MWCC Board of Trustees since 2017. Her appointment came following the retirement of Robert Antonioni after nearly a decade of serving on the board, including seven years as Chairperson.
“I am deeply honored to accept this appointment as Chairperson of the MWCC Board of Trustees and appreciate Governor Healey’s trust in me. My commitment to the students and the mission of Mount Wachusett Community College has only grown stronger during my time on the Board,” stated Freda. “I look forward to continuing to advocate for our students and working with my fellow trustees to ensure the college’s continued success. I am also committed to making sure that our North Central Massachusetts students are aware of the dedicated faculty ready to help them prepare for their future.”
Freda has been associated with Frigoletto & Associates in Leominster for over 40 years as a licensed real estate appraiser and broker whose civic involvement stretches back decades. In addition to her service as a Leominster City Councilor, she has also served on the Leominster School Committee, Police Station Building Committee, four school building committees and the Committee on Housing. She is a member of the Blue Star Mothers, a Gold Star Wife, the DAV Auxiliary and a past member of the Rotary Club for over 30 years. Freda has also been a member of the North Worcester County Board of Realtors for over 40 years. She currently serves on the Massachusetts Municipal Association Board of Directors and the Massachusetts Municipal Councilors Association. Freda has also served on the Local Government Advisory Council and Massachusetts Municipal Association for 25 years.
The Mount Wachusett Community College Board of Trustees is comprised of an alumni, an elected student representative, and community business leaders who have demonstrated a deep level of commitment to the College. The Board meets bi-monthly throughout the school year. Meetings are open to the public and are broadcast via a live stream.
Pictured: Carolyn Read, Executive Director of NCM Habitat; Martin F. Connors, Jr., President & CEO of Rollstone Bank & Trust.
Rollstone Bank & Trust, through its Charitable Foundation, provided $10,000 to the North Central Massachusetts chapter of Habitat for Humanity, for its Critical Repair program. Proceeds will support projects across the region that allow low-income homeowners to maintain a safe place to live so they may stay in their homes.
Martin F. Connors, Jr., President & CEO of Rollstone Bank & Trust, said, “Habitat is a great organization, providing our neighbors with the most basic necessity – a roof over their heads.” Connors continued, “It’s the mission of RBT to help families, communities, and businesses flourish, so we’re proud to support a program that is vital to the health and well-being of families in our community.”
“We are very thankful for Rollstone Bank & Trust’s generous donation to help us to repair homes in our local region”, stated Carolyn Read, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts, Inc. “The critical home repair program helps low-income seniors, individuals, and families remain in their existing affordable homes through repairs to address accessibility, safety, weatherization, and age. This grant will help us keep our neighbors safe and warm in their homes for years to come.”
The Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts is thrilled to announce the establishment of a new fund dedicated to supporting the Bigelow Free Public Library in Clinton. The Foundation Fund has been made possible through the generosity of Gordon Graham and the Graham family, former residents of Clinton.
“The Graham family believes that the Clinton Bigelow Free Public Library, at the center of the great town of Clinton, is vital to helping our citizens enhance and improve their learning literacy skills to live a fuller life. Our family has enjoyed and appreciated what the library has brought to Clinton and hope to help with continuing this important public service.” said Nicholas Graham of Belton, TX, the son of Gordon Graham. Gordon’s parents, Lillian and George Graham, immigrated to Clinton from their native Ireland and Gordon was born and raised here. Nicholas and his siblings spent most of their childhoods in Clinton, and Gordon lived out his final years in town until his death in 2012. All were regular library patrons.
The newly established fund will provide vital financial support to enhance the services provided by the Bigelow Free Public Library. This resource will help to ensure that the library can continue to serve the town of Clinton with the excellence and dedication that Mr. Graham valued so highly.
Says Marie Letarte, Director of the Bigelow Public Library, “We are deeply grateful for this generous gift. It will greatly assist us in our mission to offer invaluable resources and services to our community. This fund not only honors Mr. Graham’s legacy but also reinforces the library’s role as a cornerstone of Clinton.”
The Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts is honored to steward this fund, which joins a growing list of funds established to sustain nonprofits throughout the region. These funds play a crucial role in supporting local initiatives and ensuring the continued vitality of community services in the 33 towns the foundation serves.
For those interested in exploring opportunities to make a difference in their own community, Erin Thomason, Director of Philanthropy at the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, is available to discuss potential gifts and contributions. Please reach out to Erin to learn more about how you can support the organizations and causes you care about.
The Student Ambassadors of Sizer School in Fitchburg are hosting their 2nd Annual Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, November 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and we are looking for vendors!
This event is a fundraiser to support our students’ social-emotional growth. These funds will go towards After School Activities like School Dances and Field Trips.
We will have 10×10 spaces available to rent in the gym, cafeteria and other areas of the school the morning of the fair. The rental cost is $25 per space. (Only 1 vendor/company per table/space, please)
NOTE: We already have Color Street and Mary Kay!
Table and chairs available upon request. Electricity can be provided.
Please make checks payable to “Sizer School” or pay online HERE.
Type CRAFT FAIR as student name and select Other Fee.
All payments must be submitted before day of the event. Mailed checks made out to Sizer School must be sent to: 500 Rindge Road, Fitchburg MA 01420. Atten: Craft Fair
Questions? Email Club Advisor Lindsay Alweiss at .
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