DATE: April 26, 2017
LOCATION: Hampton Inn & Suites
65 Prescott St.
Worcester, Massachusetts 01605
DATE: April 27, 2017
LOCATION: DoubleTree by Hilton 99 Erdman Way
Leominster MA 01453
TIME: 6:15pm – 9:00pm
COST: $49.99
REGISTER: Call A+ Firearms Training of MA at 508-864-7473
You hear about active shooter drills for emergency services so they will be ready should an active shooter event occur. But they typically are not there at the time it starts. In fact, they likely won’t arrive on scene for five to fifteen minutes, or more.
So what do you do when the shooting begins until they arrive to better your chances of survival?
This interactive presentation, with hands-on exercises, explains what the term “Active Shooter” means, history of past active shooter events, why it is so important today, and what civilians can do to better their chances of survival.
The Johnny Appleseed Trail Association (JATA) helped host a New England FAM tour in May, 2016 with award winning Italian travel writer Barbara Gallucci that resulted in a feature in the April, 2017 edition of Touring Magazine highlighting New England. The Town of Harvard and several members in region were included in the feature. Touring Magazine is the official magazine of the Italian Touring Club Association, which is similar to AAA in the United States. The publication has a circulation of 300,000 copies and a readership of 571,000 people. The FAM Tour was conducted in partnership with the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism and Discover New England. JATA wishes to thank members who participated. The purpose of these familiarization (FAM) tours is to generate positive awareness among travel writers and positive coverage in their travel publications, which ultimately generates additional tourists and additional dollars to our state and our region. The marketing generated from this travel article is estimated to have a value of $300,000.
Please join DRL for the taping of Season 2, Level 4 in Fitchburg, MA .
The Semi-Finals will take place from 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM.
The Finals will take place from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Please be sure to fill out the name of your guest (if you are registering them), since there will be a guest list at the door. This is an invite-only event, so only those who have RSVP’s will be admitted. All social media and visual documentation of the event are forbidden.
No April Fooling! Winter is Not Over at Wachusett Mountain. Friday Forecast Calls for Another Major March Snowstorm
12-20 Inches Could Fall Friday into Saturday! Wachusett to Extend Season!
PRINCETON, Ma. – Just when Wachusett Mountain skiers and snowboarders think the season may be ending, think again. Mother Nature is playing the ultimate April Fool’s prank this weekend with the prediction of a major late-season snowfall that could be the biggest of the entire winter.
The central Massachusetts ski area is still reaping the benefits from its expanded snowmaking system and 16 inches of snow in mid-March — snow cover on the trails is still edge to edge and base depths still range to more than 4 feet in the deepest sections. “We don’t want the season to end,” said Wachusett President Jeff Crowley. “After our huge investment during the off-season in snowmaking and these late boosts in natural snow, we can keep it going as long as weather permits and as long as folks want to ski and snowboard.” Wachusett was originally planning to end its season on Sunday, April 2 with its annual pond skimming competition and deck party but, with as much as 20 inches expected this weekend, is now looking to extend its season on weekends further into April.
The Ski Season Meets the Baseball Season!
The mountain has already made plans to be open again on Monday, April 3 to celebrate the new snow. In fact, since Monday also coincides with the Boston Red Sox home opener, Wachusett will offer skiing for only $5 to anyone who comes on Monday wearing a Boston Red Sox jersey.
“We’re proud to still be open for skiing on the first day of baseball season,” added Crowley. “If conditions allow, we will also reopen for the weekend of April 8-9 and will consider going further if possible. Our season rarely ends because of a lack of snow, it usually ends because people stop coming out – so we’re saying don’t stop!”
Wachusett has special late-season pricing in effect. For the best lift ticket deals and the latest updates on snow conditions and the operating schedule go to www.wachusett.com.
The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC) is proud to announce that Little Explorers Child Care Center, LLC has secured a micro-loan of $39,750 for the purchase of real estate.
Lindsey Page opened the Child Care Center in July of 2012, which is conveniently located off Route 2 in Templeton, and attracts families from surrounding towns. With the help of this loan, Lyndsey plans to purchase the building that she currently leases to accommodate her growing business. Quality care, convenient location, and flexibility to suit the individual family’s needs separates Little Explores Child Care Center from the competition; giving her a huge advantage over her market. This loan was in partnership with Bank Hometown and will create 2 jobs. For more information on Little Explores Day Care call (978) 939-8080.
As a microloan lender, NCMDC can provide loans to small businesses up to $150,000 for working capital, equipment, inventory, expansion and working with our banking partners to provide gap financing for the final piece of a project.
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. NCMDC is certified by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and the U.S. Department of the Treasury under the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Program. The NCMDC 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. Since 1996, the NCMDC has granted over $4,200,000 in loans to small businesses to help grow jobs and the economy in 26 communities in the North Central Massachusetts region.
For more information about the NCMDC and its loan programs, call 978.353.7607 or visit www.choosenorthcentral.com.
Fitchburg Historical Society Receives Massachusetts Cultural Council Planning Grant For Continued Development of Phoenix Building Headquarters
Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund Awards $24,250 for Historic Fitchburg Building
The Fitchburg Historical Society has been awarded a planning grant of $24,250 from the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Cultural Facilities Fund for the continued development of its Main Street headquarters, which are located in an historic H.M. Francis building that the Historical Society purchased and renovated over the last decade. The grant funding is a matching grant, and the Fitchburg Historical Society has received generous matching funds of $15,000 from the Douglas and Isabelle Crocker Foundation, $9,000 from the Rollstone Foundation, and $1,000 from Historic New England.
The funding will be used to create concept plans for the further development of the Phoenix Building for collections storage, program facilities and exhibition spaces. Since its grand opening in 2012, the Crocker Family Center for the Study of Fitchburg History has attracted a growing audience to Fitchburg’s downtown for historical exhibitions, educational talks, films and conferences presented by the Fitchburg Historical Society.
“Since we opened on Main Street four and a half years ago, we have been able to offer larger programs and marquee exhibitions that are attracting large new audiences to the Historical Society,” says Fitchburg Historical Society Past President William McSheehy. “We are proud to serve as one of Main Street’s most important institutions, enlivening the Upper Common area and attracting tourists and other visitors to Fitchburg.”
“This funding will set the stage for new building projects, in order to update our collections management and move part of our collections out of temporary storage into their permanent home,” adds Board President Jay Bry. “We are continuing the project that began with the acquisition of the Phoenix building itself: specifically the expansion of our audience and membership. We will continue to offer programs and exhibitions that draw a new audience to Fitchburg from all over New England.”
The Fitchburg Historical Society will celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2017. Home to popular events like the annual Holiday House Tour and popular recent exhibitions like “Healing Hands: the History of Medicine in Fitchburg” and “Felix Leger: A World War II Soldier from Cleghorn,” the Historical Society is currently presenting an exhibition on the history of firefighters in Fitchburg.
“Institutions like the Fitchburg Historical Society are central to the quality of life in our community,” according to Fitchburg Mayor Stephen DiNatale. “This investment in an important local cultural resource by the State of Massachusetts and Massachusetts Cultural Council creates tangible results in both economic activity and community vitality.”
The Cultural Facilities Fund was created to increase investments from both the public sector and the private sector to support the sound planning and development of cultural facilities in Massachusetts. It provides capital and planning grants to promote the acquisition, design, repair, rehabilitation renovation, expansion, or construction of nonprofit cultural facilities in Massachusetts. All grants from the Fund must be matched with cash contributions from the private or public sector.
The funding agency is the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency supporting the arts, humanities, and sciences to improve the quality of life in Massachusetts and its communities. The MCC pursues this mission through grants, services, and advocacy for nonprofit cultural organizations, schools, communities, and artists. The planning grant is being administered by MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency, which works with businesses, nonprofits, financial institutions, and communities to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. During FY2015, MassDevelopment financed or managed 294 projects generating investment of more than $2.5 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are projected to create about 6,100 jobs and build or rehabilitate about 2,000 residential units.
For more information on the Fitchburg Historical Society, its exhibitions, educational programs and research library, contact the Fitchburg Historical Society at 978.345.1157, e-mail at or visit http:www.fitchburghistoricalsociety.org.
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Cities of Fitchburg and Leominster along with the Towns of Clinton and Westminster, is pleased to be bringing an exciting workshop to our area for the benefit of our storefront small businesses. The retail industry is facing changes large and small — but there are things that can be done!
The workshop provides ideas and instruction in the areas of business identity and positioning, store and restaurant design, visual merchandising and retail marketing. Tips, tools, trends and tricks of the trade will be shared — and business owners’ specific questions will be answered. There are even ways to compete with online businesses … come and find out how!
Retail Best Practices – The Power of Presentation is delivered by Christine Moynihan of Retail Visioning. This program has helped hundreds of business owners improve the look and feel of their establishments as well as the customer experience and marketing messages in print and online. Formerly the VP of Retail Marketing for a national footwear brand, Chris has helped launch a number of new store concepts around the country and has worked to support and improve independent retail establishments for over 10 years. Over 1500 retailers have attended her workshops. Every attendee at the workshop will receive a copy of her booklet: A Retailer’s Gut Check, A Self-Assessment Guide for Small Business.
The workshop will be held on April 5, 2017 at the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce at 860 South Street, Fitchburg, MA. The program will run from 8am to 10am. Coffee and an opportunity for business owners to network with one another will begin at 7:30am.
Pre-registration is requested to prepare for the arrival of all of our attendees. Attendance is just $10. Registration is available online at www.northcentralmass.com. For more information, contact Maria McCaffrey, Events & Programs Manager, at 978.353.7600 x. 235 or
The North County Land Trust is pleased to announce our newly hired Executive Director, Anna Wilkins. Anna has worked in the field of conservation in Massachusetts for thirteen years, most recently working for the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust as their Stewardship and Outreach Coordinator. She is excited to turn her focus to the region of north central Massachusetts, where she was born and raised. Anna lives in Ashburnham, MA with her husband and two young children. We look forward to introducing her to all of you.
North County Land Trust is a regional non-profit conservation organization. For the past 25 years, the land trust has been preserving, protecting and promoting the farms, forests, and watersheds of North Central Massachusetts. Nature programs and events at the land trusts five open to the public conservation areas are free and open to the public, thanks to the generous support of donors.
To learn more about the land trust visit our website www.northcountylandtrust.org or follow us on Facebook https://business.facebook.com/northcountylandtrust for events and programs.
We recently welcomed Nutrishop Fitchburg located at 18 John Fitch Highway in Fitchburg.
When Scott Radford (a policeman by trade and a life-long fitness buff) and his wife, Melissa, decided to open a new business, they wanted to establish a wellness center, not just a supplement shop. Frustrated by what he felt were staff lacking product knowledge and offering generic service at national chain shops, Scott set out with Nutrishop to fill a void in the retail nutrition industry locally, by providing health-conscious consumers with a diverse selection of superior supplements at low prices, sold by fitness enthusiasts who could help each customer choose the right products based on body type and workout goals.
Due to the popularity of wellness programs within businesses, Nutrishop offers a “body transformation challenge” for employees of local companies. The points-based contest begins with a weigh-in on advanced In-Body scale, which uses electric impedance to measure a host of fat & strength stats, including “lean analysis” by limb & and by trunk. Participants are consulted on their goals and given guidance on meal planning and exercise (when and how often). Over a 3-month period, they come back to check-in every 2 weeks, and receive points for each pound of fat or % of body fat lost – or pound of muscle gained. Nutrishop does the admin work and the challenge is flexible enough to accommodate other routines as well.
Scott hopes people will appreciate his advice, and offers a discount on supplements (and free samples) for participants. But he makes it clear that supplements aren’t the most important part of a fitness routine: “They really are a niche product, supplements & vitamins may address a deficiency but first you need the foundation of exercising and eating right.”
Please join Nutrishop for their Grand Opening on Friday, April 7th at 11:00 am at 18 John Fitch Highway in Fitchburg. You can call the shop on (978) 516-2476.
Do you love fine dining? Are you a foodie? Do you love people and helping them to have a wonderful dining experience? Are you looking for employment in the food arts? Then dress smart and come by with your CV on Saturday, April 1 between 3-4 PM to meet with our Chef. We are looking for servers, line cooks and bartenders.
The Fay Club, originally The Park Club, was founded in 1881. Lucy Fay, whose father was George Flagg Fay, a prominent Fitchburg businessman, had donated their family home to the club after her father’s passing. Renowned architect, Richard M. Upjohn, designed the club’s gorgeous and detailed, historic architecture. The club is the premiere dining and social club in Central Massachusetts and Worcester County.
For more details about the club, visit TheFayClub.com
Massachusetts-based independent filmmaker Jennifer Potts announces the cast for her short film, The Extraordinary World of Cecily Blinkstop, scheduled to film in Central Massachusetts in July 2017. Jennifer is not only filming in New England, but she has hired a cast that is entirely from the New England region.
Playing the lead role of Cecily Blinkstop is eight-year-old Colbi Gannett of Waterboro, Maine. Colbi has been acting since she was four years old and is best known for her role in HBO’s Olive Kitteridge, alongside Academy Award-winning actress Frances McDormand. Her brother, six-year old Emmett Gannett, also from Waterboro, Maine, will play the role of Cecily’s younger brother, Barney. Six-year-old Molly McCarthy of South Easton, Mass., will make her film debut in the role of Amanda Jane, Cecily’s magical friend, and Patricia Fitzgerald, a 13-year-old actress from South Yarmouth, Mass., will play the role of Cecily’s older sister, Kim.
The adult roles include Ava Gaudet of Providence, R.I., will play the role of Helen Blinkstop, Cecily’s mother. Ava played the role of Maureen in both the National Tour and Broadway companies of RENT and had a memorable recurring role on the ABC series Ugly Betty as the scheming neighbor, Gina Gambarro. Other TV credits include NCIS, Private Practice, Franklin & Bash, The Exes, Mike & Molly, and Love Bites. Will Bouvier of Shirley, Mass., will play the role of Kevin Blinkstop, Cecily’s father. Will is best known for his role in Black Rock (Katie Aselton/Mark Duplass) and can be seen in Kathryn Bigelow’s upcoming film, Untitled Detroit Project, which is currently in post-production. Will also had lead roles in Potts’ previous two short films, Home and Charlie & Poppy .
Jennifer Potts wrote the feature film The Extraordinary World of Cecily Blinkstop in 2014 and won the Grand Prize in the New England Spotlight category for the 2016 Rhode Island International Film Festival. Set in 1974 rural New England, this enchanting story moves through the days of Cecily, a seven-year-old girl who, after the death of her baby sister, lives in a world with no music, no color, no laughter, no love—that is, until a magical imaginary friend shows up and joins Cecily on the quest to save her family from the grief that is destroying them. Based on the first 15 pages of the feature film script, this short film will be produced as a proof of concept for the feature film. In addition to enlisting at least 80 percent of her cast and crew from the New England region, Potts is also committed to building a crew with at least 50 percent women.
Find The Extraordinary World of Cecily Blinkstop at www.cecilyblinkstop.com, Facebook page: Cecilyblinkstop, and Twitter handle @cecilyblinkstop.
About Jennifer Potts: Potts is a Massachusetts-based screenwriter and film director. She is living proof that life does not need to slow down when you get to the middle. After graduating from Drew University in 1992 with a BA in Theatre Arts, she co-founded and ran Cornerstone Performing Arts Center in Fitchburg, Mass., where she oversaw a small non-equity theatre company and directed multiple productions every year. In 2012, at age 41, Potts returned to school to study film/video production at Fitchburg State University, where she wrote and directed two short films and was awarded 2014 Film Student of the Year. In July 2016, Potts received an MFA in Writing for the Stage and Screen from New Hampshire Institute of Art. Potts’ most recent short film Charlie & Poppy was selected to screen at fifteen film festivals around the world and won two “best of” awards. Potts resides in Fitchburg, Mass., with her husband of 27 years and has five grown children. www.jenniferpotts.com
