After allowing four runs in the first three innings, the Dirt Dawgs fall to the Pittsfield Suns 5-1 in Futures Collegiate Baseball League action on Saturday night at Wahconah Park.
Kyle Pangallo (SNHU) and Don Walsh (Post) led the way with collecting three hits apiece for the Dirt Dawgs. Mike Demarest (Adelphi) and Luke Brennan (Worcester St.) pitched the final 3.1 innings of no-hit baseball for Wachusett, shutting down the Suns offense.
Pittsfield was paced by a 2-for-4 performance by Scott Holzwasser (Northeastern) who launched a solo shot in the fifth innings. Cal Slepkow (Clark) went 6.0 innings of shutout baseball for the Suns, to set the tone from the get go.
The Suns jumped out to an early lead in the second inning, when the home team plated two runs in the bottom of the inning. Pittsfield would extend their lead in the third as the tacked on two more runs, expanding the lead up to 4-0. Holzwasser’s solo shot in the fifth padded the Suns’ advantage to 5-0.
The Dawgs would not get a runner to reach third base until the top half of the eighth, as Jack Gethings (Fairfield) singled home Pangallo on a base knock to centerfield. Wachusett would threaten in the ninth, as with one out in the inning the Dirt Dawgs got runners on first and second, but could not capitalize.
Inside the Numbers
This is the fifth game this season that the Dirt Dawgs have score three runs or less, and are 1-4 in those games.
After taking the first two game of the season series, the Suns push their lead in the all-time series to 26-16.
Up Next
The Dirt Dawgs returns back to Doyle Field on Monday night for round three against the Suns, with a 6:35pm start time. Tomorrow the Suns look to extend their winning streak to nine games as they travel to take on the Seacoast Mavericks at 4:00pm.
Emerging Leaders Learn about the Importance of the Creative Economy
On Thursday, May 25, 2017 the Community Leadership Institute class of 2017 visited Fitchburg Art Museum where the class spent the day learning about the creative economy and its importance to the growth and development for local communities and the region. Over the course of the day the class heard from Matt Wilson, Executive Director at MassCreative, and met with several local community leaders including Mayor Stephen DiNatale of the City of Fitchburg, Nick Capasso, Director of the Fitchburg Art Museum, Sharon Bernard, Director of the Fitchburg Public Library and Steve Duvarney, President of Duvarney & Company Jewelers.
Dr. Mike Greenwood, business professor at Fitchburg State University and chairman of the Institute steering committee, helped facilitate the creative economy session which explored current creative economy initiatives, trends, challenges and opportunities. The goal of the session was to give participants an understanding of the role that the creative economy has in contributing to eco nomic growth and how community leaders can become involved in supporting efforts to grow arts and culture in North Central Massachusetts.
The program included a presentation from Matt Wilson on arts, culture and advocating for this crucial part of society. His presentation was then followed by a panel of local representatives including, Nick Capasso, Mayor Steve DiNatale, and Lisa Dutton-Swain and Marc Dohan of NewVue Communities. The panel discussed Fitchburg’s plan to renovate the downtown area, and have the creative economy help downtown businesses blossom. Also, the panel discussed the ways in which Fitchburg highlights arts and culture, using institutions like the Fitchburg Art Museum, the Fitchburg Public Library and Fitchburg State University. Arts and culture is not only a want of the Fitchburg community, but it is a necessity in order for the city to grow and improve.
Following the panel, the Community Leadership Institute class went on a tour of downtown Fitchburg lead by Nick Capasso, Director of the Fitchburg Art Museum. The class saw some of Fitchburg’s most important cultural assets including the Fay Club, the Arc of Opportunity mural, Gallery Sitka, Fitchburg Public Library, the “Before I Die” public art wall, “the Immigrant” sculpture by Nora Valdez, and the BF Brown School. The importance of seeing these arts and culture venues in the downtown was to understand the positive influence the creative economy can have on a city, and the ways in which art can bring a community together. Art not only is beautiful to the eye, but is beneficial towards a community’s leadership, education and economic growth.
“Our emerging creative economy can play a vital role in the economic growth of North Central Massachusetts,” said Roy Nascimento, President & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. “It is important that these future leaders understand that our cultural assets are helping to shape our region’s unique identity and appeal, contributing to our quality of life and helping to revitalize our downtowns.”
This was the second to last meeting of the nine month long program. Next month will conclude the program with the wrap up session and graduation ceremony at the North Central Massachusetts Chamber’s 2017 Annual Business Meeting & Luncheon held on June 15, 2017 at Great Wolf Lodge New England. For more information on the Community Leadership Institute contact Maria McCaffrey, Events and Programs Manager, at 978.353.7600 ext. 235 or at .
The Community Leadership Institute was started in 1989 by the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce who recognized the significance of effective leadership to a community’s vibrancy. The Chamber set out to develop a community leadership program that could cultivate a diverse network of regional leaders who are prepared and motivated to strengthen and improve the region. Over 250 business and community leaders have graduated from the Community Leadership Institute since its inception.
This year marks our 27th Annual KidsFest – one of the longest running festivals in Central MA celebrating children (age 12 & under) and families and attracting 8-10,000 people during the 2-day event. We have two exciting vendor booth opportunities available:
STANDARD Vendor (No Charge) – You may promote your business or service ONLY and you MUST provide a complimentary activity or giveaway for all Festival attendees. Sales ARE NOT permitted.
PREMIUM Vendor ($100 Fee – new this year) – You may promote AND sell merchandise from your booth. You MUST still provide a complimentary activity or giveaway for all Festival attendees however, Sales of appropriate goods and/or services ARE permitted (pending approval from Festival Management).
As always, we’re actively working on other ways to make this the best KidsFest ever and we need your help to be even more creative than ever in coming up with an appropriate activity for your booth. We encourage you to provide an interactive booth that appeals to both kids 8 & under; but also to the older 9-12 year olds. We’re happy to assist you with ideas to provide a fun, entertaining, engaging activity for all ages. We would also be glad to connect you with other resources that might be able to assist you. Below is a list of some suggested ideas and we also welcome you to bring your own ideas to the table! If you have any questions, or would like to run an idea by us before submitting your application, please don’t hesitate to contact me via phone or email.
This year, we are also rewarding the Best Booth/Vendor Activity with a $100 Wachusett Mountain Gift Card. We are trying to keep routine activites like coloring, stickers, enter to win contests or prize wheels to a minimum. They are acceptable as an added attraction to your booth but not as the primary activity. Here are a few interactive ideas for you to consider:
Thank you so much for your support of KidsFest and we look forward to seeing you in September!
We’re opening the brewery to the public again this year. We’re normally closed to the public, so this is your chance to tour the brewery, sample our beers, purchase our beer, and purchase glasses, t-shirts, and bottle openers. The Spencer Fire Department will be offering a Chicken BBQ Meal for $10 as well, to benefit the Spencer Fire Department. Keep in mind that the event is CASH ONLY. No pets, please (service animals are welcome).
The Annual Celebration of Fitchburg-made Bicycles Returns
The Fitchburg Historical Society is pleased to offer its popular summer exhibition of classic Iver Johnson Bicycles from June17 to July 19, 2017. The display is timed to coincide with Fitchburg’s summer cycling events, including Fitchburg Rides and the Longsjo Classic, as well as the city’s annual Civic Days celebration. During Iver Johnson: Designed to Last, the Fitchburg Historical Society will be filled with the historic bikes that were made for decades in Fitchburg by the Iver Johnson Arms and Cycle Works. Many of the bicycles have been loaned by private collectors; others come from the Fitchburg Historical Society collection, which includes bicycles, tools and ephemera donated by Richard Hansen.
From 1891 to 1941, Iver Johnson’s Arms and Cycle Works in Fitchburg manufactured nearly 700,000 bikes. The bicycle models on exhibition are a favorite among bicycle historians for the quality of their construction and their capacity for high speed in long-distance bike races. These included racing bikes, standard and touring bikes, as well as children’s bikes and tricycles. They are known as some of the highest quality bikes ever made.
The skilled metal workers who created Iver Johnson bicycles were known for the quality and consistency of their work. Some worked for as many as 60 years at the factory, which also produced Iver Johnson guns until the 1970’s. This year’s exhibition will feature images and records documenting the workers and their innovations in bicycle design, gun design, and marketing.
The exhibition will also include photos and artifacts about American Olympian bicyclist Arthur Longsjo, a Finnish-American athlete from Fitchburg who was considered one of the greatest bicyclists of his generation. Longsjo died tragically young and his memory is honored with the Arthur Longsjo Classic Bike Race. The exhibition will be open extra hours, from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 25, when the Arthur Longsjo Classic Bike Race comes to Fitchburg.
The normal opening hours for the exhibition are Monday and Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Saturday, June 17, when the FITchburg Rides program will also take place in downtown Fitchburg, the exhibition will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be additional special hours during Fitchburg’s Civic Days celebration, when the Historical Society will be open Monday, July 3 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., as part of the Main Street Block Party celebration.
The Fitchburg Historical Society and Crocker Family Center for the History of Fitchburg is located at 781 Main Street, Fitchburg in the historic Phoenix building. There is abundant on-street parking near the Historical Society and free parking behind the building. The building is handicapped accessible.
Heywood’s Quabbin Retreat Project in Petersham. The next phase of the project will be up and running in the fall.
The first phase of Heywood Healthcare’s new dual diagnosis unit in Petersham is now up and running, and outpatient services are now available for adults with both mental health and substance abuse disorders, the system announced Monday.
The outpatient program, called the Dana Day Treatment Center at the Quabbin Retreat Project, is run by master’s-level educated therapists and offers care coordination and family support in small group settings. Local transportation is available for patients who need it, and most insurance plans are accepted.
When it’s fully operational, the Quabbin Retreat will include an adult residential substance abuse center, a residential adolescent substance abuse treatment program, and an inpatient detox center. Services will include group-based supportive therapies, life skills training, family education and support, and vocational assistance.
The adult residential substance abuse treatment center is scheduled to be completed in the fall.
The Dirt Dawgs fall in the season opener, as the Pittsfield Suns overcome a quick start by Wachusett to come away with a 8-5 victory at Doyle Field, on Thursday night.
The Basics
Scores: Pittsfield Suns 8, Wachusett Dirt Dawgs 5
Records: Pittsfield (1–0) | Wachusett (0–1)
How It Happened
The Dirt Dawgs were led offensively by the efforts of Kyle Pangallo (SNHU) and John Stanton (SNHU). Pangallo went 3–for-5 on the night blasting a home-run to dead center while also picking up a double and single. Stanton got the Dawgs going early on launching a ball to deep right for a two-run shot. He ended up 1-for–2 on the night while also reaching base on a pair of walks and a hit by pitch.
The Suns received a stellar performance from Kevin Donati (SUNY Albany) as he went 2–for-4, including belting two home-runs over the left field fence. The Suns also received an offensive showing from their 8-9 hitters, as Andre Marrero (Quinnipiac) and Justin Cooke (Oklahoma) both drove in a pair of runs each.
The Dirt Dawgs wasted no time getting on the board as John Stanton(SNHU) blasted a two-run shot to right field in the home half of the first inning. Pittsfield cut the Wachusett advantage in half, with a solo home run by Kevin Donati (SUNY Albany) in the top of the third. The Dirt Dawgs responded in their half of the third as Stanton scampered home on a passed ball.
In the top of the fourth, the Suns had an offensive outburst which included back-to-back home runs from Marrero and Donati. Naushon Galbraith (Elon University) came on to stop the bleeding for the Dirt Dawgs in the 4th.
The Dirt Dawgs answered again when Steven Gallagher singled to lead off the fourth and came around to score on a fielding miscue from the Suns.
After a leadoff walk in the sixth Marrero came around to score on a double by Conor Moriarty (UConn). Moriarty then came around after a couple of miscues to make the score 8–4 in favor of Pittsfield. Pangallo got the Dirt Dawgs back within three after a solo shot in the bottom half of the inning making it 8–5.
On the mound starter Dan Southerland (Wheaton) took the loss in 3.2 innings of work letting up six earned and striking out five. Suns starter Mitch Holcomb went 4.1 innings giving up four earned and striking out four. Suns reliever Austin Pope (Fairfield) picked up his first win of the year in 1.2 innings of relief.
Inside The Numbers
Suns reliever Craig Lacey (Bryant University) came in the bottom half of the ninth, and recorded a 1-2-3 inning to pick up his first save of the season.
Luke Brennan (Worcester State) pitched 3.0 innings of no-hit baseball in relief, while retiring a game high seven Suns, by way of the “K”.
Zach Tower (Franklin Pierce University) was the lone other Dirt Dawg to record multiple hits on the evening.
Both bullpens matched their opponent on the hill. The two teams relief pitching went 10.0 innings, while just yielding three hits, and collecting 19 strikeouts.
Up Next
The Dirt Dawgs will try to get to .500 on the young season with a 7:05pm first pitch at Brockton against the Rox. Pittsfield looks to continue their quick road trip, as they travel to the defending FCBL Champions, Nashua Silver Knights, for a 6:45pm tilt.
Michael Hewitt, President and CEO of bankHometown, announced “We are pleased to announce the promotions of our Hometown team members listed below. We are proud of their performance and accomplishments.”
He added, “Hometown is a community bank with a focus on providing the best customer service and truly caring about the communities we serve. All of the individuals below have earned recognition of execution of that charge and we look forward to many more years of their exemplary service.”
Christina DiRusso has been promoted to Assistant Vice President Commercial Lending. DiRusso has been a Hometown employee since January 2014 and is currently based in our Leominster branch. She covers the North Central MA market as a commercial lender. DiRusso is active in the BNI Group in Leominster and is a committee member of the North Quabbin Loan Fund and North County Community Development Corp. She resides in Leominster.
Donna Daigle was promoted to Assistant Vice President Branch Manager of Hometown Bank’s Leominster Office. Daigle started with Hometown Bank in August, 2014 as a Branch Manager of the Leominster location. She has more than 20 years of experience in banking. Daigle lives in Lunenburg.
Marc Ostberg was promoted to Assistant Vice President Branch Manager of Hometown Bank’s Athol Office. Ostberg came to bankHometown in August of 2013. He is on the Board at the Chamber of Commerce in the North and is a Board Member of the Economic Development & Industrial Committee in Orange, MA. Ostberg resides in Orange, MA with his wife and children.
Susan Rheault was promoted to Assistant Vice President Operations. Rheault started with bankHometown in July 2008 as a teller in the Oxford branch. She transferred to bookkeeping in 2009 and operations in 2013. She was promoted to operations supervisor in 2015. Rheault oversees the deposit operations for all 13 branches. She lives in Putnam, Ct.
With 24 hours left in our campaign, we are just 8% away from our goal. Reaching 100% of the goal means that we can head into production and get this movie made. If every person on this mailing list stops right now and contributes just $3, we will hit 100%. Please take a peek at yesterday’s video to find out why we need to reach that 100% mark. Together, we can make this movie happen! Contribute today!
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS!
We are thrilled to announce that Kym and Peter Cohen, Susan Potts, and Linda Keister have joined our filmmaking team as Executive Producers! This movie would not be possible without them!
CAMPAIGN UPDATE
· We have raised $22,520 of $24,400, which is 92% of our goal.
WHY??? Why attend one of these classes? So you will be better prepared to protect yourself and increase your chances of survival in one of these horrific events.
REGISTER for a class and train now before it’s too late. It’s like legally carrying a concealed handgun. Better to have it and never use it than not having it and needing it.
The Fitchburg Public Library Teen Center will be hosting its Fourth Annual CosPlay Day, on Saturday, June 10, from 2-6 p.m. This free event is open to young people aged 10-18.
You can come in costume, or we will have a seamstress on hand from 2-4 p.m. to help you create a costume. Make-up, games, and anime will also be available. For more information about this and other Teen Events, contact the Library at 978-829-1783, or visit the Teen Center Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FPLTeenCenter/
Looking to tee up, walk the fairways, or work on your swing? Help “Build Dreams” for area families at Habitat for Humanity North Central Massachusetts’ 4th Annual Golf Tournament on Tuesday, September 19th. The event will be held at the beautiful Shaker Hill Country Club in Harvard, MA. All proceeds from the event will benefit the work of Habitat for Humanity North Central MA (NCM), bringing affordable housing to those in need throughout the organization’s 25 towns and cities in the region.
Interested golfers can sign up for foursomes ($600) or singles ($175) at ncmhabitat.org/events/
Contests on the course include Hole-in-One, Longest Drive, Closest to the Pin, Bag of Rope, and Closest to the Flamingo. Prizes will be awarded to the winning foursomes.
Think you have what it takes to win these contests and help a good cause? Sign up now!
Sponsorships opportunities for the event are also available and local businesses and organizations are encouraged to apply early as space is limited. Sponsorship forms are available at www.ncmhabitat.org.
To register for the event, please visit the Habitat for Humanity North Central MA website at www.ncmhabitat.orgDeadline to register is August 30thAll teams registered by August 1st will receive a free Bag ‘O Rope to improve their score.
All proceeds from the Golf event will benefit the work of Habitat for Humanity North Central MA, bringing affordable housing to those in need throughout the organization’s 25 towns and cities in the region.
