Mediation Services of North Central MA, Inc. is excited to host a Virtual Round Table bringing together local non-profit and public service professionals for an hour of genuine conversation, idea exchange, and meaningful connection. This event is designed with you in mind whether you’re a community leader, a nonprofit program manager, or someone working on the front lines of public service. In today’s fast-paced and often isolated work environments, it is important to take time to connect with peers, share insights, and support one another’s missions.
Care Central VNA & Hospice, a leading provider of community-based home health, hospice, private duty, and adult day care in Central Massachusetts, will be accepting the transfer of care of patients and will be welcoming staff for employment, following the upcoming transition from Overlook VNA & Hospice.
Overlook VNA & Hospice recently announced its decision to transfer operations effective August 28, 2025. In collaboration with Overlook leadership, Care Central is coordinating a compassionate, well-structured transition of care for patients who choose to seamlessly continue with their home health & hospice services.
“Our foremost priority throughout this transition is to ensure patients and families continue to receive uninterrupted, high-quality care,” said Holly Chaffee, President and CEO of Care Central VNA & Hospice. “We are also proud to welcome members of the Overlook team who share our commitment to compassionate, community-focused care.”
Care Central has initiated onboarding efforts for Overlook clinicians and support staff, many of whom will continue serving the same patients and service areas to preserve continuity and trust. Patients and families will be personally contacted to ease the transition and provide updated information about their new Care Central care team.
“As a proud, free-standing nonprofit organization serving Central Massachusetts, we are thrilled to share a milestone moment in our history—we are doubling in size,” said Holly Chaffee, President & CEO of Care Central VNA & Hospice. “With this expansion, our service territory will reach 128 towns, welcoming 30 new communities into our care. This tremendous growth allows us to touch the lives of even more patients and families with the compassionate, high-quality care they deserve. Equally important, we are honored to welcome talented members of the Overlook team whose dedication to our mission will further strengthen our presence and amplify our impact across the nonprofit community.”
“This transition guarantees that those we have been honored to serve will continue receiving the same high-quality, compassionate care through a trusted organization that shares our values and unwavering commitment to residents and the community. By choosing Care Central VNA & Hospice, patients will not only experience continuity of care but will also be comforted by the familiar faces of staff they already know and trust,” said Tameryn Campbell of Overlook VNA & Hospice.
For more information about Care Central VNA & Hospice or to inquire about services or employment opportunities, please visit www.carecentralvna.org or call 978-632-1230.
Excitement is in the air! Get ready to be part of something extraordinary at Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts’s fundraising event. Enjoy food and drinks from local vendors as well as networking, a silent auction and wine pull. Your admission fee will allow you to taste all of the samplings and help build homes and complete critical home repair projects in our local communities
Time & Location
Oct 04, 2025, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
College of the Holy Cross, 1 College St, Worcester, MA 01610
About The Event
In today’s fast-paced media environment, dominated by social media, how you communicate about a crisis is one of the most important aspects of leading through it. Effective crisis communication begins in the calm before the storm, in developing healthy relationships with reporters, organizing your team to prepare and to act as one, and in putting communication at the very front of your leadership efforts. Admiral John Kirby became the face — and the voice — of numerous high-profile crises, from the Navy Yard shooting of 2013 to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza and dozens more. Learn from Admiral Kirby how to prepare for crises and lead — both in action and communication — when they arise.
Register here to attend Admiral Kirby’s keynote speech at Holy Cross (One College Street, Worcester) on Saturday, October 4th at 5:30pm.
This event is hosted by the O’Callahan Society and Holy Cross’ Office of Alumni Relations. Questions may be directed to
Recognition sets Bank apart from the more than 100 banks that call Massachusetts home
Fidelity Bank announced it took the number one spot from the more than 100 banks that call Massachusetts home on the Forbes list of America’s Best-In-State Banks 2025. This prestigious award, which was announced on June 17, is presented in collaboration with Statista, the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider.
“This prestigious recognition is a powerful affirmation of what we already know: that our LifeDesign approach, which is grounded in care, clarity, and confidence, is making a real difference in the lives of our clients, colleagues, and communities,” said Joseph Silva, president, Fidelity Bank. “Being selected by Forbes as the top bank in Massachusetts reflects the trust we’ve earned, the service we provide, and the impact we deliver every day.”
America’s Best-In-State Banks 2025 aims to showcase the institutions most valued by residents in each state and to recognize the banks that have excelled in meeting the unique needs and expectations of their local communities. The ranking is based on an independent survey of over 26,000 customers in the U.S. Participants evaluated banks on several criteria, including Trust, Financial Advice, Customer Services, Digital Services, Branch Services, and Terms & Conditions. They also rated the importance of these criteria. A sentiment analysis was conducted using the publicly available reviews and a score.
Looking to make a change? The Fitchburg Arts Community (FAC) has immediate availability of just a few remaining two-bedroom apartments renting for $1494/month with heat and hot water included. Are you an artist? Join other like-minded individuals looking to foster their creativity with gallery and studio space next door to the Fitchburg Art Museum. The FAC features unique apartments as part of a beautiful renovation of the historic former BF Brown School, High School Annex and City Stables. Wingate, the property manager for these apartments, is willing to work with housing authorities on a mutually agreeable rent should you have a mobile voucher. Whether you are an artist or not, ACT NOW, as there are only a few apartments remaining.
LUK, Inc. recently learned that one of the founders of the organization and retired Chief Executive Officer, Punky Pletan-Cross, passed away on August 5, 2025 after a sudden illness. He was surrounded by his life partner and wife of 52 years, Cris Pletan-Cross who also worked for LUK for 26 years.
Punky came to Fitchburg MA in January 1970 as a Vista Volunteer and with co-founder Eric “Ric” Walen partnered with the community to identify needs and to take collective action to meet those needs as a human service organization. At the time, the answer was to launch a 24-hour, all-volunteer “hotline” and Let Us Know (LUK) Crisis Center, Inc. was formed accepting the first hotline call on June 26, 1970. Punky was always clear that it was the efforts of many community members bringing their unique strengths and diverse perspectives that lead to the initial creation and subsequent flourishing of LUK over the years. Punky became LUK’s first CEO and served the communities of Central MA until his departure to Hawaii in 1998. As a CEO he was passionate about LUK adapting and creatively providing services to those community members who needed it the most. Punky was a dynamic and talented leader who worked to develop organizations in which people could maximize their talents, learn, grow and be of service to others.
After leaving LUK, Punky and his wife Cris relocated to O’ahu, Hawaii and he became the Chief Executive Officer of Hale Kipa, a non-profit human service agency serving the state of Hawaii through a network of services and programs across four islands—offering outreach, housing counseling, foster care and more. He retired from Hale Kipa in 2022. Taken together, Punky served as a CEO for over 50 years to two non-profit organizations that have helped multiple communities, served countless children, youth, adults, and families and continue to make a difference in people’s lives. Punky cared deeply about his relationship with his wife and life-partner, Cris and was a devoted husband. He was a mentor, a friend, a teacher to many, and a gifted athlete who connected with all types of people and was endlessly curious about the world.
Punky remained connected to LUK throughout the years often providing mentoring to key leaders of the organization. Beth Barto, LUK’s current President and CEO shared “Punky was the type of person who you immediately felt at ease with. He understands what it is like to have the responsibility of an organization and those we serve forefront in the mind. He had the ability to ask the right type of questions to help leaders find a way forward that always kept the mission at the center. He will be missed by many but his memory lives on in the strong foundation he built at LUK which continues to help the Central Massachusetts community today.” The community can learn more about Punky and his remarkable contribution through his obituary on-line: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/honolulu-hi/punky-pletan-cross-12480015
LUK, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the safety, health, and well-being of youth, families, and adults in Central Massachusetts. As a community-based organization, LUK’s mission is to challenge and inspire youth, adults, and families to realize their unique potential through community-based prevention, intervention, education, and support services.
For more information about LUK, Inc., visit www.LUK.org, call (800) 579-0000, or find us on Facebook (@LetUsKnowINC). Join us in building stronger communities, family by family!
Ginny’s Helping Hand, Inc., a food pantry and thrift shop located on Mechanic Street dedicated to providing a “Hand Up” to those in need, today announced it will hold its Second Annual Murder Mystery Dinner and Silent Auction. This year’s event is in partnership with the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership Institute Class of 2025, which selected Ginny’s as their community beneficiary.
The event is scheduled for Saturday, September 27 at 6 p.m. at Great Wolf Lodge, 150 Great Wolf Drive, Fitchburg, and will feature the murder mystery performance, “A High School Reunion…with a Deadly Twist,” presented by Brickroad Productions. In addition to an interactive mystery experience, a cocktail reception, dinner, and silent auction will be provided.
“The need at our food pantry has reached unprecedented levels,” said Brandon L. Robbins, executive director, Ginny’s Helping Hand. “By joining us at the event, people will enjoy a night of entertainment while helping ensure Ginny’s can continue its mission of providing a ‘hand up’ to our neighbors in need. We invite everyone to join us in being part of something special.”
“Our community’s need for support is undeniable, and we felt called to stand alongside Ginny’s Helping Hand to help bring relief and comfort where it matters most. This opportunity has allowed us to turn leadership into action and action into meaningful impact. Together, we’re helping to rewrite stories of hunger and hardship into stories of dignity, strength, and renewed possibility,” said Lynese Wiafe, help desk coordinator, Fitchburg State University, and member of the Community Leadership Institute Class of 2025. “We hope our family, friends, and colleagues will join us in supporting this event so no one in our community experiences food insecurity. Our deepest wish is that this event reminds every person facing hardship that they are seen, valued, and surrounded by a community that truly cares and that they are never alone. We want to give everyone the chance to believe in a brighter tomorrow and know that brighter days are within reach.”
Tickets are $85 per person or $650 per table. All ticket sales and sponsorships will benefit the organization’s programs and services, which include providing groceries for more than 1,800 households and 5,000 individuals every month.
Local businesses, organizations and individuals have committed to supporting the event as sponsors, including All One Credit Union, Bin There Dump That, Brennan Staffing Group, Country Bank, empHowered PR, Fidelity Bank, Fitchburg State University, Great Wolf Lodge, IC Credit Union, Congressman Jim McGovern, Madore Photography, Magic Lamp Consulting, Main Street Bank, Mount Wachusett Community College, Reliant Medical Group, Rollstone Bank & Trust, Ron Bouchard Auto Stores, Workers Credit Union.
Additional sponsorships opportunities are still available.
Mass Soccer Foundation is thrilled to invite you to join us again this year, back on the greens of Red Tail Golf Golf Course, for a day of fun, camaraderie, and giving back. This tournament is more than just a great day on the course – this year all proceeds will support Mass Soccer Foundation as it aims to help community soccer organizations across the state. The backbone of this sport and key to its growth for all ages, levels, and formats is volunteerism – something that has fallen off year-over-year.
Find out more about the Mass Soccer Foundation here.