The Montachusett Regional Planning Commission (MRPC), in collaboration with the Montachusett Regional Transit Authority (MART) and technical consultant WSP, has released the MRPC Region Vision Zero Safety Action Plan. This comprehensive strategy aims to significantly reduce roadway fatalities and serious injuries across MRPC communities.
The plan is grounded in extensive data analysis and shaped by robust public engagement. It includes example projects tailored to each MRPC member community and outlines targeted infrastructure improvements, policy recommendations, and educational initiatives to make the region’s roadways safer for all users.
Review the Draft Plan: Your feedback helps the plan reflect the voices of MRPC communities. Please review the draft plan and share your comments by Tuesday, October 14.
Join us as we celebrate 50 incredible years of learning, laughter, and community at Busy Bees Preschool Center Inc. For half a century, Busy Bees has been a cornerstone of early childhood education and family support in Fitchburg and now it’s time to celebrate this remarkable journey!
Friday, September 26, 2025
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
3 Harugari Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420
RSVP: Please email Ms. Maria at
This special evening will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, opportunities for alumni to contribute to a time capsule, and plenty of time to connect with current families, past students, and community partners who’ve been part of the Busy Bees family over the decades.
Whether you’re a longtime friend of the school or discovering Busy Bees for the first time, we’d love to see you there to help us honor this major milestone.
Come celebrate 50 years of impact, growth, and buzzing with love!
Insurance losses due to reviver statutes for legacy abuse claims, social inflation and nuclear verdicts are driving up liability insurance rates. Some underwriting executives including those atHub International have posited that reducing policy limits saves money and can make nonprofits less attractive targets for the plaintiffs’ bar — but choosing the right level of insurance protection requires a deeper analysis.
When plaintiffs’ attorneys prosecute abuse and molestation cases, one of the first lines of questioning typically involves the target’s insurance protection: What type of policy and how much will it cover? Many attorneys take a pragmatic “grab-and-go” approach by demanding policy limits, collecting those sums and moving on to new opportunities rather than face a jury trial. In such instances, low insurance limits may discourage aggressive, protracted litigation.
However, limited insurance protection won’t immunize an organization for an egregious case of willful, wanton misconduct — such as serial abuse or vehicular manslaughter by an impaired driver. Juries won’t tolerate wanton negligence and won’t stop at an organization’s insurance limits when awarding financial damages. The bankruptcies of multiple Roman Catholic dioceses and the Boy Scouts of America illustrate the perils of inadequate insurance protection.
Use Data Analytics to Determine the Correct Insurance Mix
Weighing the benefits of lower liability limits against maintaining potentially insufficient coverage if a calamitous event occurs requires a deep dive into an organization’s net assets, annual revenues, location and relative prominence. While many organizations look to benchmarking data as a barometer, this is a flawed approach because finding “comparable” nonprofits is subjective. Do you benchmark organizations by Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)? By revenues or net assets? Headcount? Location?
Even if the benchmarking sources use a credible pool of organizations sharing similar characteristics, are the decisions made by those nonprofits necessarily appropriate for the organization seeking insurance guidance?
A better approach is to take an inwardly focused look at the organization’s metrics. A nonprofit can use analytics modeling tools to examine its own claims history and financials, and run thousands of loss simulations against a robust industry database of benchmark incidents. These Monte Carlo simulations will generate a wide range of potential situations, outcomes and probabilities, quantifying the organization’s projected loss frequency and severity from those events.
This data equips the nonprofit with information it needs to select an optimal insurance structure and yields objective recommendations for risk management and a defensible basis for insurance decisions.
Calibrating your insurance limits in today’s dynamic legal environment doesn’t have to be a guessing game. A skilled risk advisor can be a valuable resource to stretch your insurance dollars and fortify protection where it’s needed most.
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.
In a partnership with the Massachusetts Office of Business Development (MOBD), MassDevelopment, and MassHire, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce will be hosting state economic development officials for one-on-one appointments with local developers, manufacturers, and business owners. The meetings are an opportunity to discuss any specific matters related to their business or the expansion of their business, as well as to review state resources available to support business growth and expansion.
Kevin Kuros, Central Massachusetts Director for MOBD; Rob Anderson, Senior Vice President of MassDevelopment; Chuck Merrill, Senior Loan Officer for MassDevelopment; and Scott Percifull, Program Coordinator for MassHire, will be available at the Chamber office by appointment on Wednesday, September 24, between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. The appointments are in thirty-minute increments and are first-come, first-served. The meetings are free and confidential, available on a non-discriminatory basis, and are handicapped accessible.
MOBD is the state’s economic development office and manages the Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP), which provides tax credits for qualifying business expansion projects. In addition, MOBD directors are navigators in the state’s new Business Front Door portal, through which businesses can manage their interactions with state agencies and related quasi-public agencies. MOBD is also the home of the Massachusetts Center for Employee Ownership (MassCEO), which provides resources and information for businesses exploring employee ownership models, often as a succession planning strategy.
MassDevelopment, the state’s development finance agency and land bank, works with businesses, nonprofits, banks, and communities to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. During FY2023, MassDevelopment financed or managed 545 projects generating investment of more than $2 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are estimated to create or support 10,522 jobs and build or preserve 1,583 housing units. MassDevelopment has a variety of financing programs to address the needs of small businesses, from equipment to real estate to working capital.
MassHire Rapid Response coordinates state and federal resources for businesses, offering a single point of contact to multiple programs. The MassHire Rapid Response team provides layoff prevention, early intervention re-employment, layoff management, and outplacement services to companies and their employees. Additionally, we offer employment and training resources, including assistance with recruitment, hiring, and tax credit programs.
To schedule an appointment, contact Sandie Cataldo, Senior Economic Development Manager at the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce at 978.353.7600 ext. 232 or via email at .
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At the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, we believe in setting ambitious goals and measuring our progress against them. As we prepare to launch our new three-year strategic plan this fall, we’re taking a transparent look back at how we performed against the measurable objectives we established in our 2022-2025 Strategic Plan.
Why We Measure Our Impact
Strategic planning without accountability is just wishful thinking. By tracking specific metrics across our five core goal areas, we ensure that every initiative, program, and partnership we pursue directly contributes to strengthening the regional economy and creating value for our members.
Our Results: The Full Picture
The comprehensive results below show both our significant achievements and the areas where we continue working toward our ambitious targets. We exceeded expectations in several key areas—including helping facilitate $497M in direct visitor spending (far surpassing our $200M goal) and successfully launching transformative initiatives like the Regional Business Investment Fund and North Central Massachusetts Land Bank.
At the same time, we faced challenges in areas like loan generation and job creation, reflecting the complex economic landscape and resource constraints that many regional organizations navigate. These mixed results provide valuable insights that are directly informing our upcoming strategic framework.
Looking Forward
This honest assessment of our progress demonstrates our commitment to continuous improvement and strategic focus—principles that drive our success in delivering measurable impact for North Central Massachusetts. The lessons learned from this three-year period are shaping our next chapter, ensuring we set realistic yet ambitious goals that reflect both our capabilities and our region’s greatest opportunities.
We invite you to review the detailed results here and share your thoughts as we finalize our new strategic direction.
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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.
Founded in 1974, the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association (commonly known as Mass Youth Soccer or MYS) celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024—a milestone commemorating five decades of development, inclusion, and community soccer across the Commonwealth. Spokesperson Jaime Balboni reflects: “This anniversary wasn’t just about looking back—it’s an occasion to reaffirm our mission: to serve, educate, and provide safe soccer play for all.”
Uniting Youth Through Soccer
One of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber’s newest members, Mass Youth Soccer functions as the governing body for soccer in Massachusetts., overseeing programming, policies, and support for more than 100,000 young players and over 20,000 adult volunteers. The organization delivers a wide array of player development programs, coach and referee education, risk management initiatives, and organizational support for affiliated clubs and leagues. Their work structures the backbone of youth soccer throughout the state, ensuring quality and consistency across all levels. Their mission, as stated, is “to serve, educate, and provide safe soccer play for all,” underpinned by a vision to “lead, inspire & unite soccer communities,” and rooted in values like fun, growth, inclusion, integrity, respect, compassion, and belonging—all reaffirmed in a March 2023 update to their mission‑vision‑values platform
Programs That Matter
Mass Youth Soccer offers numerous programs that touch every corner of youth soccer:
TOPSoccer, created for athletes with intellectual, emotional, or physical disabilities, ensures that no player is excluded from the joy of sport.
The Olympic Development Program (ODP) aims to identify and nurture elite players, focusing on individual growth and holistic development through rigorous tryouts and seasonal camps
The Districts (formerly District Select Program), launched each summer, provides pressure‑free competition across seven districts, leading up to a community event at Progin Park. The 2025 season began July 6, with district games followed by a culminating event in early August
The Town Select League (TSL) works in partnership with town-based soccer organizations to give players a higher level of development and select-level competition. TSL practices weekly and plays Sunday matches, offering structured development with minimized travel and cost
Futsal programming through affiliated leagues such as the Coastal Youth Futsal League provides year-round, small-sided indoor soccer opportunities
Resources such as session planning guides for volunteer coaches—covering U6 to U12 levels—and user-friendly educational tools like Play‑Practice‑Play methodology support effective grassroots coaching across the state
Empowering Coaches, Referees & Organizations
Mass Youth Soccer emphasizes education and certification:
Coach education includes workshops, certification courses, survival guides, and technical resources that equip volunteers to be effective mentors.
Referee development and risk management are central, especially with the enforcement of U.S. Soccer’s Policy 531‑9 (misconduct toward officials) beginning March 1, 2025, which governs all Mass Youth Soccer‑sanctioned play . All adult volunteers must complete SafeSport, concussion awareness training, and pass CORI and national background checks
They provide a Member Toolkit—a comprehensive administration guide for club officers, helping organizations comply with governance best practices, waivers, financial guidelines, and safe operations
Governance is provided by a volunteer Board of Directors, elected at the Annual General Meeting, which helps steer strategy, policy, and organizational direction
Culture & Organizational Values
“Our workplace culture is collaborative, mission‑driven, and grounded in values of fun, growth, inclusion, and integrity,” says Balboni. The team is committed to creating a supportive environment where staff feel valued, respected, and empowered—a reflection of the culture Mass Youth Soccer encourages across its broader community. In hiring, Mass Youth Soccer seeks individuals who are passionate about youth development, collaborative in spirit, committed to diversity, and aligned with their core organizational values.
Community Impact & Influence
Mass Youth Soccer’s impact is felt statewide. Through TOPSoccer, thousands of youth with disabilities gain structured and supportive play opportunities. Their partnerships with local clubs, leagues, and partner organizations help deliver programming in both urban and underserved communities. The organization’s influence is rooted in the hundreds of volunteers, coaches, and referees—the backbone of local soccer—who bring passion and commitment every day. National and international soccer organizations shape the association’s standards in safety, inclusion, and player development. Most importantly, the families and communities who participate continually influence how programs evolve to remain relevant and accessible.
Looking Ahead: A Vision for the Future
“Our future is bright,” Balboni affirms. Mass Youth Soccer is focused on:
Enhancing player development structuring across programs like Districts, TSL, ODP, and TOPSoccer.
Advancing coach and referee education, leveraging technology and streamlined access to certification courses.
Expanding access to the game—particularly in underserved and urban areas—via outreach efforts and inclusive programs.
Strengthening community partnerships, enhancing collaboration with clubs, leagues, schools, and local organizations that share the mission.
Their goal is to grow the game in a manner that stays true to their core values: fun, growth, inclusion, and integrity.
Why It Matters
In an age where youth involvement in sports is often challenged by cost, safety concerns, and access barriers, Mass Youth Soccer stands out as a state-level organization purpose-built to tackle these issues head-on. They provide programming that is affordable, inclusive, and grounded in player-centered development. By supporting coaches and referees, educating volunteers, ensuring compliance and safety, and championing inclusive initiatives like TOPSoccer, Mass Youth Soccer plays a critical leadership role in making soccer a positive, community-building experience across Massachusetts. As Balboni summed it, “Our 50-year milestone is not the end of our journey—it’s a launching pad. We remain committed to shaping soccer environments where every youth can play, grow, and belong.” This forward-looking perspective, rooted in a legacy of service since 1974, positions Mass Youth Soccer to continue strengthening communities, empowering volunteers, and connecting children with the joy and lifelong benefits of the beautiful game.
For more information
Contact: Jaime Balboni, Mass Youth Soccer Association, Lancaster, MA
Website: www.mayouthsoccer.org
Phone: (978) 466‑8812
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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.
The Montachusett Regional Planning Commission (MRPC), in collaboration with the Montachusett Regional Transit Authority (MART) and technical consultant WSP, has released the MRPC Region Vision Zero Safety Action Plan. This comprehensive strategy aims to significantly reduce roadway fatalities and serious injuries across MRPC communities.
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.