All One Credit Union (formerly known as Leominster Credit Union) will hold a Shred-A-Thon at its 20 Adam Street, Leominster MA location on Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 9:00AM – Noon.
Members and non-members can get rid of old, sensitive documents by shredding and recycling them at the Shred-A-Thon. All items will be shredded on site by a secure shredding service, New England Security Shredders.
Members of the community can bring up to three legal size file boxes or three 13-gallon kitchen trash bags to be shred for free. However, we will be accepting donations for Habitat for Humanity during the event. The Shred-A-Thon helps raise awareness about recycling and of course the importance of shredding personal documents to protect against identity theft.
Important documents to bring to the Shred-A-Thon include bank statements, tax returns, medical bills, credit card statements and other personal documents.
For more information contact Joanne Lattanzi, VP/Marketing 978-466-7240 or .
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
Mass Center for Employee Ownership – Central MA Regional Symposium
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Glass Tower, 24th Floor, 446 Main St., Worcester, MA 01604
Overview
If you are interested in exploring an employee ownership model for your business, at the symposium you will:
Learn about the MA Center for Employee Ownership (MassCEO).
Gain a basic understanding of some forms of employee ownership.
Understand benefits such as succession planning, pay equity, wealth building, etc.
Hear from employee-owned firms about their journey to employee ownership.
Learn about potential state and federal funding for adopting employee ownership.
Participate in a round-table discussion on employee ownership and interact with subject matter experts.
Lauren Howe, a breast cancer survivor from Leominster, announced a new program with Fitchburg-based business First Class Hair Design and 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/.
A study to determine the possibility of establishing a co-working facility is being conducted by Fitchburg State University. Your participation in this survey is truly valuable, as it will allow you to provide us with data and opinions about co-working spaces that we can then use in our planning. Your responses will be completely anonymous, but may be shared with other partners (various cities/towns, non-profit partners, and others) who may help move this idea forward. Thank you VERY MUCH for your time and thoughts!
We value the participation in this survey from anyone, regardless of your background and experience with co-working spaces. Whether you have utilized a co-working facility in the past or not, your input and thoughts are incredibly valuable.
The survey can be found here. Respondents who complete the survey by 5/5 will be entered into a drawing for one of two $25 Amazon gift cards
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 4th 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 4th: 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.
The Adam Ezra Group is one of the hottest folk music groups around with shows planned around New England and a tour in Germany. This talented group will be performing a benefit for at the Bull Run Restaurant on April 13. An included dinner buffet will be served at 5pm and the show will start at 7pm. All proceeds will go to North Star Family Services whose mission is to provide stable housing, comprehensive services and advocacy for families in need of support.
Habitat – 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 Habitat for Humanity North Central MA 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. It also provided $10,000 to North Star Family Services to continue its work serving homeless families in Northern Worcester County.
“Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts (Habitat NCM) is very grateful for the financial support we have received from Rollstone for our Critical Home Repair Program (CHR)”, states Carolyn Read, executive director of Habitat NCM. “Through the years, this funding has allowed us to dramatically grow the CHR program and help low-income homeowners who struggle to maintain the safety and integrity of their homes. Through this program, homeowners have been able to remain in their homes and in many cases, age in place.”
North Star – Wayne Carney, Senior VP of Wealth Management at RBT and North Star Board member; Connors; Jon Hogue, President & CEO of North Star; Mary Beth Jokela, Chief Operating Officer at RBT; Shauna Neidigh, Director of Development at North Star
Jon Hogue, President & CEO of North Star Family Services, Inc., said, “Rollstone Bank & Trust has been one of our strongest supporters and advocates for more than a decade. Marty and his team readily provide donations, education, and guidance. RBT has been a key partner in our shelter operation as well as the development of our new Journey Home supportive housing project.” Hogue continued, “We are so fortunate to have Rollstone as our friend.”
Martin F. Connors, Jr., President & CEO of Rollstone Bank & Trust, said, “Habitat and North Star are great organizations, providing our neighbors with the most basic necessity – a roof over their heads.” Connors added, “It’s the mission of RBT to help families, communities, and businesses flourish, so we’re proud to support programs that are vital to the health and well-being of families in our community.”
Sheila King-Goodwin, Chief Community Banking Officer; Fidelity Bank
Sheila King-Goodwin, chief community banking officer for Fidelity Bank, was recently recognized by the New England Women in Banking as one of the 2025 Northeast Women in Banking and Mortgage. The award was given during the New England Women in Banking Conference held on January 15, at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn.
The award recognizes women in the banking industry who have achieved success and are trailblazers in representing women not just in the boardroom, but in the communities where they live, work and play.
“At Fidelity Bank, we realize a great client experience is made possible by our incredible colleagues who make financial success more accessible,” said Joseph Silva, president, Fidelity Bank. “Sheila embodies our LifeDesign promise of caring for our clients and providing the clarity and confidence to support families and businesses, foster generational wealth, and drive sustainable economic growth by building stronger communities. We are all proud of Sheila and congratulate her on this well-deserved recognition.”
A resident of Worcester, King-Goodwin currently serves on the Fitchburg State University Board of Trustees, Massachusetts Bankers Diversity Council, the Community Foundation of North Central MA, Racial Equity Fund Committee, and the United Way of Central Massachusetts Women’s Initiative and Diversity Council. She is also a member of Yes We Care, which provides basic financial literacy skills and development programs for high school girls to support their college, career, and life plans.
King-Goodwin earned a master’s degree in business administration from Assumption University, and a bachelor’s degree in political science and business from the University of South Carolina. She is also a graduate of the Stonier National School of Banking.
