🛂 Attended the Community Meeting tonight for the residents of the Arlington/Chestnut St area at the Fitchburg Police Station.
Really appreciate the advocacy work in this neighborhood and the showing of care with the great group of residents attending. Appreciate having fellow Councilor Zarrella and Ward Candidate Joe Bowen attend as well.
The Chief introduced patrol officer Salas and Capt Lemay to the residents, discussed his data, listened to concerns and made suggestions for residents:
1️⃣ Always call the Police Dept for any concerns. 978-345-4355 The FPD is data driven and uses its crime analyst to determine hotspots of activity. The more you report incidences, the more data the police have to take action.
2️⃣ If you believe the police have not taken appropriate action, or you are not satisfied with their response, you are encouraged to call the Police Dept and ask for the OIC- Officer in Charge to register a complaint.
3️⃣ Use See Click Fix to report non-critical issues; you can photograph a car parking on a sidewalk and the report goes directly to a supervisor.
4️⃣ If you suspect a DRUG concern; please call the confidential DRUG TIP LINE 978-353-2308 and leave a message stating ADDRESS of incident, and TIME/FREQUENCY of suspected drug dealings. You are not required to leave your name/number (unless you'd like a call back).
5️⃣ If you have a neighborhood concern, please contact your councilors and/or police Dept and we would all be happy to have a meeting in your neighborhood.
PetSupplies Doggie Wash & Doggie Adoption
UPDATE: The doggie wash and doggie adoption was an amazing success!!!
Second Chance Animal Services brought 5 puppies...and ALL WERE ADOPTED!! 🚚❤🐕🐩 So much happiness abound on Saturday!
We could not have done it without The Hair Loft on Mass Ave in Lunenburg... so please tell them THANK YOU and get your hair, nails or toes done there too 💅
Thanks to all who brought their dogs for washes too 💧🌊🐕🐩 Thank you Pet Supplies Plus for the support!
2019 Heritage Park Flag Order
2019 Heritage Park Flag Order
We are partnering up with Operation Service and Central Flag & Gift- Primitive Decor, Furniture, Gifts to bulk order 3x5 Flags for our Heritage Flag Park.
Details:
1. Comment HERE on this post if you would like to donate for a flag!
2. We are going to put all the comments together and see how many flags, and how many multiple donations for a flag. From there we can determine how much for a donation...because most flags have differing costs.
3. Donations will be made to Operation Service, a 501c3 Organization. Note "Heritage Park Flag: (Name of country)" on the check or online donation can be made here https://operationservice.net/
You can also bring your deposit to an IC Credit Union and ask for it to be deposited in Operation Service Account. Take a pic of the deposit receipt and note which country flag you are donating for.
*I'll reach out for donation info after we have a flag list.
3. All flags fly on an alphabetical, rotating basis, usually for 1 season they fly (April-November).
4. There are approx 20 flagpoles, so we cannot guarantee exactly when your donated flag will fly (2020/2021)
NoWoCo Pride 2019
🏳️🌈 Great showing at our Fitchburg's Pride festival; No Wo Co Pride on Saturday July 20, 2019! Even though it felt like 108 degrees 🔥☀️ outside there were still a good amount of people and a number of vendors.
I bought a sweet "Ally" pin which went perfectly with my speech that I was honored to be invited to speak as a councilor!
I spoke about how I am an Ally.... because being inclusive makes us stronger.
I am an Ally....because Diversity makes us stronger.
Was really great to have our Congresswoman Lori Trahan join us and speak for the need for equality and the work at the Federal level to achieve this...as well as have State Representative Natalie Higgins who has consistently supported almost all of No Wo Co Pride's events this past year. Nice to have Mayor DiNatale read a Mayoral proclamation and attend the event as well.
I've attended most No Wo Co Pride events over the year; from their kickoff at River Styx, to Drag Queen Bingo, Drag Queen Karaoke (of which they made Myself, Natalie and our significant others all lip sync wearing wigs! Natalie's fiancee Pete Haigis won with Cher...he crushed it...) and Drag Queen Storytime.
I'm excited and proud to be a part of a Fitchburg community that is so welcoming; that includes all people, all orientations, all identities.
It is important for me to be to be a vocal and present ally for the LGBT+ community because it was only 15 years ago that MA led the nation to legalize same-sex marriage...and it was only 1 year ago that transgender rights were threatened through a ballot question. I will be an Ally until they do not need an ally anymore....and then I'll still be an ally after that ;-)
I'm excited for next year's Pride events and anticipate normal temperatures, bigger turnouts, and a totally gay time. ;-)
Thanks to Anthony Bovenzi and Sally Powerz for leading the organizing and Josiah Richards for always fighting for inclusion, diversity and respect....and thanks to the others in the great large group of organizers!
No Wo Co Pride Drag Queen Story Time with Nikita Le Femme
Took my daughter to No Wo Co Pride Drag Queen Story Time with Nikita Le Femme.
Big showing of families; She read Sparkle Boy, and Tango makes three, and Love is Love.
Library Director Sharon Bernard spoke in support of this event and all inclusive library events, as did the Mayor of Fitchburg. Very nice supportive messages inclusive of all people.
Roundtable listening session with Secretary Kathleen Theoharides
Councilor duties called this afternoon where I took my lunch break to attend Secretary Kathleen Theoharides Roundtable listening session at the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission. She is the Secretary of the Energy and Environmental Affairs under Governor Charlie Baker administration.
Discussing Fitchburg's $100k grant and State goals under the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program.
Our new DPW Director attended and spoke succinctly about Fitchburgs Storm and Climate change related challenges in the roundtable conveying our specific issues very well; Challenging Environmental Permiting, Our Combined Sewer Separation work, Water Bans for Fitchburg doe to a low Nashua river when we actually have an abundance of water, Ms4 program compliance and our wintertime warming causing significant snowstorms and icing damaging our roads further and faster than normal!
A breadth of great info from MRPC and surrounding towns representatives as well as to their issues and Hope's for this program.
Thank you for joining us in nearby Leominster at the beautiful Doyle Center!
☀️🔥 Summer Heat Advisory, update July 19, 2019
☀️🔥 Summer Heat Advisory, update July 19, 2019
This weekend the region will experience a Heat Wave. Temperatures are expected to reach the upper 90’s, with humidity making it feel over 100 degrees.
Please check on your neighbors & drink plenty of fluids.
☄️ You can cool off at the following locations:
Fitchburg Public Library, 610 Main St., Fitchburg
Friday: 10:00am – 5:00pm | Saturday: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Salvation Army, 739 Water Street, Fitchburg
Saturday: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Our Father’s House, 55 Lunenburg St., Fitchburg
Saturday- All Day / Sunday- All Day
FITCHBURG POOLS & Splashparks
Coolidge Park J. Robert Crowley Pool- $1.00
SPECIAL HOURS THIS WEEKEND 9am-8pm
11:00am - 6:00pm Daily
198 Townsend St, Fitchburg
Gustave Johnson Mem. State Pool- Free
11:15am – 6:45pm Daily
35 Wanoosnoc Rd., Fitchburg
Parkhill Splash Park
SPECIAL HOURS THIS WEEKEND: 9AM - 8 PM.
The Bathrooms will be available from 11am-6pm.
11am – 6pm Daily
Corner of Pratt Road & Beech St., Fitchburg
Crocker Park Spray Pad
West Fitchburg, Rt. 31
8am -7pm Daily
Activate Mill Street Kickoff
Activate Mill Street had a kickoff gathering for donors and guests on Thursday.... with Finicky Fork Cafe catering...so fancy. The space looks like it will be quite fun.
Here's some pictures of the current status of Mill St.
The PLANS are to start Thursday night outdoor music weekly at the end of July... and Saturday Morning YOGA weekly!
Tonight's City Council Mtg Highlights 7/16/19
Tonight's City Council Mtg Highlights:
👮♂️4 new Permanent Reserve Police Officers confirmed
👩🚒 Chief Roy of Fitchburg Fire Home Rule Petition approved to send to State for extending his Chief position through June 30, 2020.
⛰ $12k grant approved for Rock Walk trail
🚴♂️🚴♀️ Rail Trail Fitchburg Awards for temp easements and 1 permanent easement at Fitchburg Green
⛰ Jewell Hill Cons Restriction for Watershed with the Trustees approved... $40k cost to Fitchburg for 138 acres
✈ Approved the Runway Expansion final loan order ($768k total contribution from Fitchburg of $15.4M total)
Many happenings at tonight's last city council meeting til September!
Starting with the Council Appointment of 4 new Permanent Reserve Police Officers for the FPD!
👮♂️Brian W. Gelinas- 2013 Graduate of St Bernard's, FSU Criminal Justice Program and is a current Dispatcher
👮♂️Colin T. Banahan - 2008 Oakmont Graduate, UMass Criminal Justice Program, current dispatcher in Westminster
👮♂️Timothy W. Harden - 2013 Monty Tech Graduate, Criminal Justice Program, is a current FPD Dispatcher
👮♂️Daniel G. Adorn - From Walpole, lives in Malden, 2016 FSU Grad, past intern at FPD, plans on moving closer to Fitchburg
Congratulations and best of luck!!!
Folkfest at Riverfront Park
Awesome time at Riverfront Park in @FitchburgMass for the Fitchburg, MA Recreation Department Festivals By The River kickoff of Folkfest with Beers for Good aka Nashua River Brewers Festival.
Music by the Crocodile River Music, The Kelly Girls and the Squeezebox Stompers.
Plastic City Comic Con convention
My vacation is over and I'm back! First stop in Fitchburg is our awesome Plastic City Comic Con convention... what a great collection of artists. I got a number of books and comics for my favorite creepy little mini me...I met Barbara Friedlander one of the first (or the first?) female comic book writers in the 60's and a couple fun new card games...including a fortune telling set so I will absolutely be able to predict your future now.
Thank you Amy & Keith Gleason for another great show in Fitchburg!
2019 Longsjo Classic - 58th Annual
I'm here working the 58th Annual Longsjo Classic race in @fitchburgmass ... come say hi! We have The Boulder open serving Wachusett Brewing Company Longsjo Lager, Doughboys Pizza On Main serving pizza in the Upper Common with coffee by Jackson Effie Coffee Cabin and The Finicky Fork Catering Company setting up at the Start Finish Line. River Styx Brewing opens at 11 and Team Better Block doing cool things there! Fitchburg Historical Society open!!
Another great year for the 58th Annual Longsjo Classic! Many thanks to this great crew!!
Thanks Frank Tirrell Photography for capturing this group pic!
4th of July Parade
Happy 4th of July! Had a great March in the best Parade in Fitchburg with many fellow councilors...and ran back to walk with my Fitchburg Dog Park people ...celebrating our nation's landmarks with Mount RUFFmore!
Local reading of the USA Declaration of Independence
So proud to be a part of this amazing local reading of the USA Declaration of Independence.