Rollstone Bank & Trust, through its Charitable Foundation, recently pledged $25,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Fitchburg and Leominster (BGCFL). Proceeds will help enhance programming at the Club, which serves 600 area youth. The Club members are comprised of a very diverse population, ranging in ages from 8 to 18 years old.
Jeff Bercume, CEO of BGCFL, said, “Support like this from Rollstone Bank & Trust helps us open doors of opportunity for hundreds of young people every day. This gift reflects the kind of community partnership that makes our work possible. Together, we’re creating a stronger, more supportive environment for our youth to grow, learn, and thrive.”
The Club aims to offer high quality programming at the Club focused on STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. With a variety of subjects like robotics, environmental education, LEGO design, expressive arts, and more, programs at the BGCFL help empower young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens.
“The Boys & Girls Club provides a safe and enriching place for young people in our region, helping them overcome obstacles and improve their well-being,” Mary Beth Jokela, COO at Rollstone Bank & Trust. “At Rollstone, we believe in the power of partnership to transform lives and communities; we’re very happy to help the Club in that endeavor.”
In addition to monetary aid, Rollstone Bank & Trust has a longstanding and robust volunteerism program. The Bank’s employees and board members dedicate thousands of hours to help non-profits in the region, including the BGCFL.
About Rollstone Bank & Trust
At Rollstone Bank & Trust, we deliver personalized service that goes above & beyond. Our dedication to providing our customers with superior bank and wealth management solutions, along with the support they need to prosper at work and at home, has enabled us to build one of the most trusted banks in the region. With branches located throughout central Massachusetts, customers have peace of mind knowing we are FDIC & DIF insured, and never far from home. Rollstone Bank & Trust – it’s where you matter most.
The City of Fitchburg Health Department will hold a Community Narcan and Overdose Prevention Training on Thursday, April 17, 2025 at the Fitchburg Legislative Building. Resource tables from area providers will be available at 5:30pm, along with refreshments. The training will begin at 6:00pm.
Naloxone, sold under the brand name Narcan, is an easy-to-use medication that blocks the effects of opioids (such as heroin, morphine, fentanyl, etc.) and can be used to reverse an opioid overdose. The training will be given by Keith Barnaby, Fitchburg Street Outreach Worker and Recovery Coach. Keith has conducted hundreds of trainings throughout the region and his presentation is both informative and engaging.
Attendees will learn how to recognize an opioid overdose and how to respond, including when and how to use lifesaving Narcan. An opportunity to ask questions will be available.
Narcan will be distributed to anyone attending who is interested. The City of Fitchburg is an affiliate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Community Naloxone Purchasing Program and receives the Narcan at no cost.
This event is free and open to the community and no preregistration is required
Looking to grow your business and connect with state agencies and vendors? The Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office (SDO) is here to help!
One-on-one meetings available to help you get the most out of your SDO certification or learn how to get certified for FREE if you haven’t yet!
Why get certified?
Stand out to buyers who are actively seeking diverse and small businesses like yours. It’s a game-changer for growth and visibility!
Meet with: John Fitzpatrick
Direction of Supplier Diversity
Programs Massachusetts Supplier
Diversity Office (SDO)
Date: Tuesday, April 29th
Times: 10:00 AM & 3:00 PM
Location: North Central MA Chamber of Commerce, 860 South Street, Fitchburg, MA
The City of Fitchburg Health Department will again partner with the Fitchburg Police Department to hold Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 26, 2025 from 10am-12 noon in front of the Fitchburg Legislative Building, 700 Main Street.
This initiative offers a safe, convenient and responsible way to dispose of unused prescription drugs and get them out of circulation. Residents are urged to gather unused, unwanted or expired prescription drugs and drop them off – you may “drive up and drop off” without leaving your vehicle. Although not required, labels containing personal information may be removed or blackened out. All materials are collected anonymously and will be taken directly by a police officer to a regional drop off site to be incinerated. Residents are also reminded that there is a permanent kiosk located in the lobby of the Police Station located at 20 Elm Street which is accessible 24/7.
Held twice a year across the nation, Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. The Drug Enforcement Agency’s Take Back Day events provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths.
Fitchburg Outreach & Prevention will have substance use disorder information and Narcan available. The Community Engagement team from the Fitchburg Police Department will also have a resource table.
In the photo; Left to Right; Mariśca Mozeleski, Fitchburg Public Library; Alison Burns, Enterprise Bank; Alfred Rivera, Fitchburg Public Library; Cheryl Gaudreau, Enterprise Bank; Jean Tenander, Fitchburg Public Library; Deb Hinkle, executive director of the Fitchburg Public Library; and Jon Bullock, Enterprise Bank.
The Fitchburg Public Library announced Enterprise Bank, a true community bank with a deep sense of mission and purpose, has pledged $50,000 to the Library’s Offering a World of Learning (OWL) Capital Campaign. The Bank has a Fitchburg branch location at 420 John Fitch Highway for over 20 years.
The OWL Capital Campaign, a visionary initiative to enhance the facilities of the Fitchburg Public Library, has garnered significant support from various community partners, including the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority, Rollstone Bank & Trust, the Wallace Foundation and Fitchburg businessman John Zarrella.
“We believe that serving our communities means more than just providing banking products and services,” said Cheryl Gaudreau, regional business advisor, senior vice president, Enterprise Bank. “We hope this donation will make a positive difference in the lives of the individuals and families who access the Fitchburg Public Library as we work to make sure every community Enterprise Bank serves is a better place to live and work for all.”
Construction for the renovation and expansion project at the library building, located at 610 Main Street, is currently underway and expected to be completed in 2026. Updates on the project’s progress are available weekly on Facebook and Instagram. During construction, access to the library’s services, programs and collections are available
at its temporary location at 166 Boulder Drive.
“Enterprise Bank has been a strong supporter of the Fitchburg Public Library for many years, and we are grateful for their continued support of this important project in our Library’s history,” said Deb Hinkle, executive director, Fitchburg Public Library. “The generosity of this donation will help ensure our community has access to an integral cultural resource for many generations to come.
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.
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/.
