Michael Hewitt, President and CEO of bankHometown, announced the recent hiring of Michelle Moniz as Sr. Vice President – Retail Banking.
Under the direction of the Bank President, Moniz will plan, organize, and direct Retail Banking and Branch Administration, including business development and sales. She also serves as a liaison with the Marketing Department regarding strategy and execution, as well as serving as a liaison to the Security Officer.
Moniz brings a wealth of banking experience with her. She was previously a Senior Vice President, Market Manager at Webster Bank in Rhode Island. Moniz was responsible for leading, coaching and managing 15 banking centers throughout Rhode Island and the shoreline of Connecticut. Her market was ranked #1 in the company for customer experience.
Prior to Webster, Moniz was with Santander Bank where she held the position of Senior Retail District Executive and managed 14 banking centers.
She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science from Rhode Island College.
Moniz does volunteer work for the United Way
She resides in Coventry, RI
bankHometown is headquartered in Oxford, Massachusetts and has $730 million in assets. bankHometown has served its communities since 1889 and operates thirteen full service offices; eight in central Massachusetts and five located in northeastern Connecticut.
Michael Hewitt, President and CEO of bankHometown, announced the promotion of Christina DiRusso to Vice President Commercial Lending.
Christina was hired in January of 2014 and was based in the Leominster, MA office. She covers the North Central MA market as a commercial lender.
In May of 2017 Christina was promoted to Assistant Vice President Commercial Lending.
She received a Certificate in Commercial Lending from the Massachusetts Banker’s Association in 2012.
Christina is active in the BNI Group of Leominster and is a committee member of the North Central Mass Community Development Corp and currently serves as a board member of Newvue Communities, CDC in Fitchburg.
She resides in Leominster.
bankHometown is headquartered in Oxford, Massachusetts and has $730 million in assets. bankHometown has served its communities since 1889 and operates thirteen full service offices; eight in central Massachusetts and five located in northeastern Connecticut.
Social Security Workshop
Know the facts before signing up for Social Security
Kurt Czarnowski, formerly with the Social Security Administration, will
explain what you need to know about your Social Security benefits, so you
can see how it fits as part of your overall retirement plan.
800.581.5363 fidelitybankonline.com
Tuesday, May 8th
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Fidelity Bank Community Room
9 Leominster Connector, Leominster MA
Refreshments will be served.
April 30, 2018– Now in its 7th year, Habitat for Humanity North Central MA will welcome the new building season with its Annual Spring Breakfast scheduled for May 9th at the First Parish of Bolton. The event, which also marks the Affiliate’s 30th year of serving cities, towns and communities in North Central MA, is held to build awareness of the Agency’s Mission and provides an opportunity for the community to learn more about current building and renovation projects in the region. It is only fitting that this year’s speaker at the event is a Public Historian who will share stories on the evolution of factory worker housing, giving us insight into our current renovation project on School Street in Acton.
Chuck Arning, a retired National Park Service Interpretive Ranger, will be talking about the history of mills and mill housing in MA. He was chosen because the house at 43- 45 School St. is located in what was considered Acton’s industrial district in the 1800’s and the structure was originally used for mill worker housing for those employed at the many mills that dotted the area along Fort Pond Brook.
Arning has produced over 85 video and television episodes on the outdoor recreation, history, preservation efforts, and people of the Blackstone River Valley. He is a Member of the American Antiquarian Society and the National Council for Public History. Chuck previously served as the Public Historian Board Member for the New England Historical Association and is also a member of the Western Historical Association, the George Wright Society and the American Association for State & Local History.
In addition to hearing from Mr. Arning, Habitat NCM founding members will also speak on the early days of the Affiliate. The program will conclude with a celebration of a local homeowner who recently paid off her Habitat mortgage.
There is NO COST TO ATTEND this event but, reservations are required as seating is limited. Please visit the Habitat website to reserve your spot. The Breakfast and program will be held from 7:30 – 8:30am.
Thank you to Avidia Bank, Enterprise Bank and the Law Office of David Rocheford for supporting the event through their sponsorship commitment.
About Habitat NCM
Habitat for Humanity NCM offers a hand up, not a hand out, to hard-working, low-income central Massachusetts families seeking affordable homeownership. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat NCM builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses alongside our homeowner partner families. Habitat NCM also operates the Leominster ReStore which raises funds through the sale of discounted or recycled materials and furniture.
Public Speaking is the number one fear in America. Let’s make you one less person to fear talking about something you’re passionate about.
Learn the tips and tools to become apowerpresenter.
In this 4 hour workshop, you will learn to incorporate your presentation purpose, your passion for the topic, and your presence, to leave a lasting impression on your audience.
Whether you are looking to develop your public speaking skills or just get better at delivering information, this is the workshop for you.
Sat. May 12, 2108 9am-1pm (complimentary refreshments will be available)
Please feel free to bring your lunch.
Please bring an (up to) 10 minute talk (if you have one) that you are looking to perfect. It can be personal or business related. Dress comfortably, come with your notebook and ready to learn.
$60 per person
Maria Milagros Mailing List Insiders will receive a $10 off coupon code in the weekly video email. If you havent already you can join her list by going to her website at www.mariamilagros.net and clicking on the purple toolbar at the top of any page.
(FYI: This is the last time that the Power Presenter class is going to be at this rate. After this it will go up to $99 per person.)
WE WILL ROCK YOU takes place in a future age on a planet once called Earth that is now controlled by a mighty corporation … rock music is unheard and all musical instruments are banned. The hope of breaking free rests with an unlikely resistance – an alliance of rebel Bohemians. The show features many of Queen’s chart topping hits including “We Will Rock You,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Radio Gaga,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” “We are the Champions,” and more. It’s the world champion of musicals and the show that rocks harder than any other, so don’t miss the party!
Director – David Allen Prescott
Music Director – David Twiss
Choreographer – Kim Corbett
CAST REQUIREMENTS – large cast of 30 – 40 adults and teens
WHERE AND WHEN
Where? Mount Wachusett Community College, room 182
When? Monday, May 21 and Tuesday, May 22 at 7PM
No appointment needed – punctuality will be noted and appreciated
Performance Dates: August 10, 11, 17, 18 at 8:00pm; August 19 at 2:00pm
Tentative Rehearsal Schedule: Sundays from 6PM to 9PM; Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7PM to 10PM
WHAT TO EXPECT
For the auditions all should:
Prepare a short pop/rock vocal selection that displays range and ability preferably from the show (score will be available). Sheet music required if you decide to do a song not from the show. An accompanist will be provided.
Wear comfortable clothing for a movement/dance audition.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
GALILEO (Male) A misfit who keeps hearing strange voices and songs in his head which deliver messages he can’t understand. Galileo won’t dress like a Ga Ga kid and has been caught trying to make music. He is confused and unaware that he is the one the Bohemians have been waiting for, who will lead them to the place where the last remaining live instruments have lain hidden for hundreds of years.
SCARAMOUCHE (Female) Another misfit who also gets into trouble with the Secret Police, Scaramouche meets Galileo in hospital and they run away together. Her sharp wit keeps Galileo on his toes and gradually they fall for each other.
KILLER QUEEN (Female) Killer Queen is a ruthless businesswoman and is in charge of Global Soft, the worldwide corporation which is responsible for the suppression of all live music. She’s power crazy and tough, as well as beautiful.
KHASHOGGI (Male) He works for Killer Queen, getting rid of any original or creative musical thoughts and going after the Bohemians. His victims are sent to the Seven Seas of Rhye.
SECRET POLICE (Male and/or Female) These semi-automated characters carry out the bidding of the Killer Queen and Khashoggi.
GA GA KIDS/TEEN QUEENS (Male and Female) Living in a world of consumerism and downloadable music, the Ga Ga kids don’t notice their own soulless-ness.
BUDDY (Male) Buddy is an old librarian and a hippy who has studied the sacred musical texts to the extent that even the Seven Seas of Rhye cannot entirely erase them from his mind. He’s a comic character who acts as a foil to Galileo and Scaramouche towards the end of the play.
THE BOHEMIANS (Male and Female) A group of rebels, determined to fight against Global Soft and its downloadable music. Their base is Tottenham Court Road Tube station, and they have taken the names of musical heroes from the past, such as Paul McCartney, Cliff Richard, and Britney.
BRIT (Male) and OZ (Female) Two of the Bohemians who are intent on discovering the secrets of live music, and who believe that someone will come who will show the Bohemians the way. When they find Scaramouche and Galileo they are unsure at first, but are eventually persuaded that Galileo really does have strange musical lyrics in his head over which he has no control. When the Secret Police attack the Bohemian hide out, Brit is killed and Oz is captured along with the other Bohemians.
SUPER YUPPIES (Male and Female)
TEACHER (Female)
DOCTORS (Male and Female)
For more information contact Professor Gail Steele at 978 630-9162 or at
Program provides unique opportunity to experience local business while networking
The next edition of the Experience North Central series is scheduled for Thursday, May 3, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and will feature one of the area’s newest, unique additions: a balsamic vinegar and olive oil bar at Mill No. 3. Earlier this year, Mill No. 3, located at 85 Westminster Street in Fitchburg, became the only venue locally to host a balsamic vinegar and olive oil bar featuring more than 50 varieties!
Experience North Central is a popular new experiential networking series launched by the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and the Johnny Appleseed Trail Association last fall. Each session of the Experience North Central series offers a non-traditional networking opportunity with a fun, experiential learning twist. Guests at the May event will learn about balsamic vinegar and olive oil while taste testing and pairing different varieties. Attendees will be able to experience foods and wine from Mill No. 3 while enjoying the quaint atmosphere of the shop, garden center and view from the seating area outside.
In 1996, Mill No. 3 began as a mobile stand selling corn and tomatoes on a heavily wooded lot where the waterfall was not visible due to the dense brush. Today, Mill No. 3 Farmstand is blessed with a steady clientele of friends, family, neighbors and passersby, an enormous opportunity for future growth, and the motivation of a job well done. The business has grown to include a deli, beer & wine, groceries, flowers, coffee, pastries and also now offers 50 varieties of Olive Oils & Vinegar.
“It is important to inform the local community on all of the great things happening in North Central Massachusetts,” said Roy Nascimento, President & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and the Johnny Appleseed Trail Association. “This is a great opportunity to showcase a local small business right in our backyard while providing an opportunity for people to connect and engage.”
The cost of the event is $15 for Chamber and JATA members and $25 for non-members. For registration, please visit www.northcentralmass.com or contact Maria McCaffrey at 978.353.7604 x. 235 or
The next edition of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber’s popular Good Morning North Central breakfast series is scheduled for Friday, May 11, 2018 from 6:45 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at the Doubletree by Hilton, 99 Erdman Way, Leominster, MA. The May edition is sponsored by UMass Memorial Healthcare HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital, Inc.
The Good Morning North Central series is a high-profile, fast-paced and educational breakfast program geared towards executives, senior managers, professionals and business owners. Each of the programs has a business-oriented focus and features popular speakers to present on topics of interest to local businesses.
The May breakfast features the presentation of the Chamber Foundation’s annual scholarships and will highlight top scholars from throughout North Central Massachusetts. The Chamber Foundation distributes approximately twenty five (25) $2,000 scholarships to local high-achieving high school students each year. Since the establishment of its scholarship program, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber Foundation has awarded over a million dollars in scholarships.
Many of these awards are made possible through contributions from members of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and proceeds from the Chamber’s Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament. Scholarships endowed through the Foundation are often named in honor of prominent members of the North Central Massachusetts business community.
The Chamber’s Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization focused on assisting in the betterment of the region through charitable activities. Funds raised by the Foundation are utilized primarily for education/workforce development initiatives and charitable activities in North Central Massachusetts, including scholarships to eligible applicants pursuing education and grants to support economic and community development projects.
The cost is just $25 for Chamber members/$40 non-members and includes a breakfast buffet. Season Tickets are also available for purchase. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, please contact the Chamber at 978.353.7600 ext. 235 or visit www.northcentralmass.com.
Expansive guide highlights the region’s vast manufacturing firms and industrial space
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC) announce the publication of the 2018 edition of the Manufacturers Directory and Industrial Parks Guide for North Central Massachusetts. The publication is designed to promote and connect manufacturers with suppliers as well as serve as a resource for companies looking to relocate or expand throughout the region.
Working with multiple sources, the NCMDC confirmed the operating status and primary product line of each company listed in the directory. In addition to the listing of local manufacturers, the publication also includes a section on life science companies, a listing of suppliers and a guide to business and industrial parks in North Central Massachusetts.
“We published this directory to help support our local manufacturers who are so critical to the long term vitality of the North Central economy”, said Roy Nascimento, President & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation. “We hope that this publication will be a resource in connecting manufacturers with their peers and helping them find local suppliers.”
This publication is part of the Chamber and Development Corporation’s continuing efforts to help promote the region and advance the economy of North Central Massachusetts. In addition to this manufacturing directory, the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation has expanded its efforts to raise awareness of career paths in the advanced manufacturing field and was recently approved as a Community Advantage Lender through the U.S. Small Business Administration. It has also grown its technical assistance offerings for new and established small businesses in the region and expanded its reach to small and growing businesses in neighboring communities through partnerships with local chambers. Partnerships have been created with the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Assabet Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Gardner Chamber of Commerce and the North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce. Last year, the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation also launched the new website ChooseNorthCentral.com and the hashtag #ChooseNorthCentral to promote North Central Massachusetts as a great place to grow or relocate a business
The 2018 edition of the publication was supported by advertising and is being circulated to manufacturers throughout the region. For more information, please contact the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce at 978.353.7607.
The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC) is a non-profit corporation with the mission of creating jobs and improving the economy of North Central Massachusetts. The NCMDC acts as a connector, facilitator and partner and works in partnership with local banks, credit unions, chambers of commerce and area nonprofits to support emerging microenterprises, small businesses, and community projects with loans and business assistance. The NCMDC is certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury under the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) program and is a micro-loan intermediary for the U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Since 1996, the NCMDC has granted over $6 million in loans to small businesses to help grow jobs and the economy.
Use your creative skills to decorate a cupcake inspired by your favorite book, graphic novel, or comic. We’ll provide the cupcakes, icing & toppings, and you provide the creativity. You may bring props or “special edible” toppings to create your masterpiece. Prizes will be given out by ‘Special Guest’ judges at the end of the night!
Supported by the Friends of the Fitchburg Public Library.
Free, dinner will be served, and open only to teens aged 13-18.
Location: Fitchburg Public Library, 610 Main Street. Because the library will be closed during this event, teens should arrive and leave by the Youth Library doors on Newton Place.
On Wednesday April 4, 2018, Mayor Stephen L. DiNatale of the City of Fitchburg and representatives from the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and the Johnny Appleseed Trail Association (JATA) traveled on the Fitchburg commuter rail line into Boston to highlight the importance of the MBTA rail service to North Central Massachusetts. Gerald Francis, president and Linda Dillon, director of customer experience from Keolis accompanied the delegation from downtown Fitchburg into North Station. The ride provided ample time to discuss the positives and negatives about the line as it currently stands, as well as opportunities for future partnerships.
“It was important for the city to have met with Keolis to discuss the commuter rail and its impact on Fitchburg” said Mayor DiNatale. “Fitchburg is fortunate to have two stops on the line. With the investment and updates Keolis is making to their infrastructure, it is imperative to build these relationships so we can continue our work promoting our city throughout the Commonwealth.”
Infrastructure, reverse commuting, social media outreach, commute length, connecting with local businesses, and future partnerships were all topics discussed while being able to experience the train first hand. The discussion also focused on efficiency and the customer experience, including using social media to communicate any delays beforehand to riders. The MBTA’s Fitchburg line has recently been receiving updates all along the track that has made it one of the most efficient tracks; however the construction has affected commuters by creating occasional delays in service.
“The Ski Train” has been an effective partnership over the past few years promoting ski season at Wachusett Mountain to those in Greater Boston. During the winter months on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, the MBTA runs special trains on the Fitchburg Line that are equipped with ski and snowboard racks, making the commute to the slopes easy and comfortable. Boston has the highest skier per capita for any major city in the US, which makes promotions of the Ski Train as well as skiing overall a great market. Attracting university students from the city to enjoy the amenities of the region for all four seasons was also a main topic of discussion.
“Tourism is important to the future of North Central Massachusetts and plays an increasingly important role in our local economy” said Roy Nascimento, president & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and the Johnny Appleseed Trail Association. “Many visitors are coming from Boston and the commuter rail provides us greater access to individuals who otherwise wouldn’t be able to make it to our region and experience our unique destinations.”
As traffic around Greater Boston continues to grow, and millennials are becoming more reliant on public transportation, commuter rail provides the possibility of being a key driver in the continued growth of North Central Massachusetts.
The trip and discussions with Keolis leadership were organized by the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, Johnny Appleseed Trail Association and the Office of the Mayor of Fitchburg in an effort to facilitate partnerships and explore ways to better improve the Fitchburg Rail Line for the benefit of residents and businesses.
