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Billerica

Fuel tanker spill shuts down section of Route 3

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BILLERICA — Route 3 in North Billerica remained shut down in both directions into Wednesday night after a fuel truck rolled over in the northbound lane in a multivehicle crash near the Treble Cove Road exit around 10 a.m., resulting in thousands of gallons of fuel being spilled on the highway, according to the Massachusetts State Police.

The incident snarled traffic in the area throughout the day as hazmat crews, firefighters and State Police troopers worked on the scene of the crash. Footage from local TV stations showed the area immediately around the tanker covered with foam used to contain the fuel.

In a post on the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, at 12:18 p.m., State Police said the driver of the tanker and driver of one of the other vehicles involved in the crash sustained minor injuries. The crash also involved a 2022 GMC Sierra pickup truck and a 2022 Tesla Model Y SUV, State Police said on X at 1:14 p.m., adding that there was no estimated time for lanes to reopen.

“Lane closures remain in place for the foreseeable future,” State Police posted.

Billerica Police Chief Roy Frost said in a phone call Wednesday afternoon that his officers immediately responded to the crash by shutting down construction details along Route 3A in anticipation of a larger volume of traffic coming off Concord Road, while also bringing in additional personnel for the shift.

“We have been working with the [Department of Public Works] and Fire Department to respond to the scene and set up the appropriate details,” said Frost.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, as of 12:30 p.m., the northbound lanes of Route 3 were being detoured at Exit 78, and the southbound lanes were being detoured at Exit 79. The ramps from Interstate 495 to Route 3 southbound were also closed.

“Closures on Route 3 northbound may be in place tonight into early tomorrow morning as northbound lane pavement has been damaged and needs to be repaired by MassDOT crews,” the statement from MassDOT read.

MasDOT also urged drivers traveling through the area to expect delays and find alternate routes, a warning that was repeated in an update posted on X at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday.

“Update: Rt 3 remains closed. Ramp remain closed. Cleanup continues. Expect delays,” MassDOT posted.

An MSP spokesman told the Herald the “investigation is ongoing” and would not speculate on whether charges would be filed against any driver.

A dashcam video shared on social media purporting to depict the crash appears to show the Sierra veering from the middle lane into the passing lane as the Tesla was already there, shoving the latter off the road. Then there seems to be some sort of chaos in the low-resolution video before it appears that the truck moves perpendicular into the far-right lane, pushing the tanker trailer to avoid the vehicle and then tipping over.

A person who answered the phone at Performance Trans. Inc., the Fitchburg-based company whose logo appeared on the side of the tanker, said the company did not have immediate comment on the incident as it was still dealing with it and was unlikely to have a comment Wednesday.

Boston Herald reporter Flint McColgan contributed to this report.

State officials announce $11.6M in MassTrails grants

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BILLERICA — The Yankee Doodle Bike Path is one step closer to finally being a reality after Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and a bevy of other state officials announced the project would receive $472,000 in MassTrails grant funding Wednesday.

The bike path was one of 68 walking and biking trail projects around the state to receive grant funding from MassTrails, an interagency initiative with the goal of expanding the trail network across Massachusetts and promoting outdoor recreation.

Among the other recipients was Ashburnham, which received $51,113 to make improvements to an 1,800-foot section of the Ashburnham Rail Trail. Squannacook Greenways Inc. received $150,000 to help pay for the construction of the fourth and final phase of the Squannacook River Rail Trail in Groton and Townsend. Townsend on its own also received $160,140 to create a new shared-use path to connect the western and eastern sections of the Squannacook River Rail Trail. Littleton received $30,285 to upgrade a portion of the Cloverdale ADA Trail to connect to both an Americans with Disabilities Act‐accessible parking lot and boardwalk. Lunenburg received $61,305 to improve parking access to the trails at the Table Rock, Rayno and Harley conservation areas.

Standing in Billerica’s town center in front of dozens of grant recipients from communities across the commonwealth, Conservation & Recreation Commissioner Brian Arrigo said his office and the trail network “sits at the intersection of the climate crisis, economic opportunity, public health and equity.”

“Our vast trail network is a terrific example of this. Our network of recreational and shared use pathways creates connections between communities that fosters tourism and economic growth, provides opportunities for transportation that will help us reach our climate goals, and gives people access to our beautiful natural and recreational resources that we know are essential to our well-being,” said Arrigo.

Driscoll said this year’s allocation of grant funding totals close to $12 million in state and federal funding, and that trail networks can serve to offer alternative ways to get around besides by car.

“As the mayor of Salem, we have received several MassTrails grants over the last several years, and we are so proud that you can get to the heart of our community and the heart of downtown Marblehead all off-road, all through trails,” said Driscoll, referring to her previous position. “What a great way to get around in New England, and part of our efforts here are really making sure we think about that connectivity.”

Energy & Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper said that with the world facing a climate crisis, investments in walkability and alternate forms of transportation are of the utmost importance.

“We are laser-focused in this administration in ensuring we can cut down on the transportation emissions and give residents opportunities to get outside and enjoy our beautiful state,” said Tepper. “MassTrails does that, we are stitching together our trails network so residents can move fluidly from community to community both on foot and on bikes.”

In a statement, Gov. Maura Healey said that investing in outdoor recreation is “directly tied to the economic prosperity of our state.”

“By investing in our trails system, we can give our residents opportunities to get outside, commute for free, and showcase all the natural assets Massachusetts has to offer. This is how we grow our economy, cut emissions, and improve health outcomes all at the same time,” said Healey.

Billerica Town Manager John Curran said the Yankee Doodle project has been planned since before he became the town manager 13 years ago.

“This is a great day for the town of Billerica because we are getting closer to making this path a reality, and we can’t thank the state enough for the support it has given to the town,” said Curran. “It will lead to a huge improvement in the quality of life for people, not just in Billerica but throughout the commonwealth.”

The Yankee Doodle project, based on current numbers, is expected to cost $18 million for a 4-mile stretch of trail through Billerica. Curran noted it will also include five bridges throughout the length of the trail. It will begin as a connection to the Narrow Gage Trail in Bedford, run next to Route 3, through the wooded area along the Concord River and up River Street to Billerica Memorial High School.

State Rep. Marc Lombardo said the Yankee Doodle Bike Path has been a passion of his and will be very important to Billerica once it is finished.

“There were times where we didn’t think it was going to happen but we were able to bring some life back into it through the support of the town manager, Board of Selectmen and MassDOT,” said Lombardo.

Yankee Doodle Bike Path Committee Chair Ellen Rawlings said after the speaking program concluded that the $472,000 in grant funding will be used to “wrap up” some of the final steps before shovels can go into the ground to begin physically creating the trail.

“This grant will clear up a lot of the things that need to be paid for that haven’t been in the budget yet,” said Rawlings.

If all goes well, Rawlings said, the project will go out to bid in 2024.

She added that she has felt supported by the Billerica community in the years that this project has been in the works, and that the end result is going to be great for Billerica.

“It really takes advantage of some of the natural beauty of Billerica. The path will go down near the river. It is going to be a gorgeous trail, it is going to get a lot of use and a lot of people have worked very hard on making this happen,” said Rawlings. “This grant is a huge help, and it is coming at the right time.”

Billerica’s Yankee Doodle Bike Path gets $472K MassTrails grant

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BILLERICA — The Yankee Doodle Bike Path is one step closer to finally being a reality after Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and a bevy of other state officials announced the project would receive $472,000 in MassTrails grant funding Wednesday.

The Yankee Doodle Bike Path was one of 68 walking and biking trail projects around the state to receive grant funding from MassTrails, an interagency initiative with the goal of expanding the trail network across Massachusetts and promoting outdoor recreation.

Standing in Billerica’s town center in front of dozens of grant recipients from communities across the commonwealth, Conservation & Recreation Commissioner Brian Arrigo said his office and the trail network “sits at the intersection of the climate crisis, economic opportunity, public health and equity.”

“Our vast trail network is a terrific example of this. Our network of recreational and shared use pathways creates connections between communities that fosters tourism and economic growth, provides opportunities for transportation that will help us reach our climate goals, and gives people access to our beautiful natural and recreational resources that we know are essential to our well-being,” said Arrigo.

Driscoll said this year’s allocation of grant funding totals close to $12 million in state and federal funding, and that trail networks can serve to offer alternative ways to get around besides by car.

“As the mayor of Salem, we have received several MassTrails grants over the last several years, and we are so proud that you can get to the heart of our community and the heart of downtown Marblehead all off-road, all through trails,” said Driscoll, referring to her previous position. “What a great way to get around in New England, and part of our efforts here are really making sure we think about that connectivity.”

Energy & Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper said that with the world facing a climate crisis, investments in walkability and alternate forms of transportation are of the utmost importance.

“We are laser-focused in this administration in ensuring we can cut down on the transportation emissions and give residents opportunities to get outside and enjoy our beautiful state,” said Tepper. “MassTrails does that, we are stitching together our trails network so residents can move fluidly from community to community both on foot and on bikes.”

Billerica Town Manager John Curran said the Yankee Doodle project has been planned since before he became the town manager 13 years ago.

“This is a great day for the town of Billerica because we are getting closer to making this path a reality, and we can’t thank the state enough for the support it has given to the town,” said Curran. “It will lead to a huge improvement in the quality of life for people, not just in Billerica but throughout the commonwealth.”

The Yankee Doodle project, based on current numbers, is expected to cost $18 million for a 4-mile stretch of trail through Billerica. Curran noted it will also include five bridges throughout the length of the trail. It will begin as a connection to the Narrow Gage Trail in Bedford, run next to Route 3, through the wooded area along the Concord River and up River Street to Billerica Memorial High School.

State Rep. Marc Lombardo said the Yankee Doodle Bike Path has been a passion of his and will be very important to Billerica once it is finished.

“There were times where we didn’t think it was going to happen but we were able to bring some life back into it through the support of the town manager, Board of Selectmen and MassDOT,” said Lombardo.

Yankee Doodle Bike Path Committee Chair Ellen Rawlings said after the speaking program concluded that the $472,000 in grant funding will be used to “wrap up” some of the final steps before shovels can go into the ground to begin physically creating the trail.

“This grant will clear up a lot of the things that need to be paid for that haven’t been in the budget yet,” said Rawlings.

If all goes well, Rawlings said, the project will go out to bid in 2024.

She added that she has felt supported by the Billerica community in the years that this project has been in the works, and that the end result is going to be great for Billerica.

“It really takes advantage of some of the natural beauty of Billerica. The path will go down near the river. It is going to be a gorgeous trail, it is going to get a lot of use and a lot of people have worked very hard on making this happen,” said Rawlings. “This grant is a huge help, and it is coming at the right time.”

In a statement, Gov. Maura Healey said that investing in outdoor recreation is “directly tied to the economic prosperity of our state.”

“By investing in our trails system, we can give our residents opportunities to get outside, commute for free, and showcase all the natural assets Massachusetts has to offer. This is how we grow our economy, cut emissions, and improve health outcomes all at the same time,” said Healey.

Among the other recipients of MassTrails grant funding was Ashburnham, which received $51,113 to make improvements to an 1,800-foot section of the Ashburnham Rail Trail. Squannacook Greenways Inc. received $150,000 to help pay for the construction of the fourth and final phase of the Squannacook River Rail Trail in Groton and Townsend. Townsend on its own also received $160,140 to create a new shared-use path to connect the western and eastern sections of the Squannacook River Rail Trail. Littleton received $30,285 to upgrade a portion of the Cloverdale ADA Trail to connect to both an Americans with Disabilities Act‐accessible parking lot and boardwalk. Lunenburg received $61,305 to improve parking access to the trails at the Table Rock, Rayno and Harley conservation areas.

Admissions system used by local vocational schools under fire

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LOWELL — Two vocational technical high schools in Massachusetts are the target of a civil rights complaint regarding their admissions policies, which are practiced at nearly every other vocational school in the commonwealth.

The Vocational Education Justice Coalition — a collection of 20 civil rights groups, labor unions and community groups — filed a federal complaint Thursday with the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights against the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the state entity that establishes admissions guidelines at such schools.

The action takes aim at Montachusett Regional Vocational High School in Fitchburg and Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School in Wakefield for their use of a ranked admission system based on grades, attendance, recommendations and discipline.

All but two of the state’s 28 voc-tech schools use a similar ranking system. Marlboro’s Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School uses a lottery-based system, and Worcester Technical High School relies on a modified lottery, wherein applicants with 10 or fewer unexcused absences have the same chance of getting accepted.

At Greater Lowell Technical High School, 811 students of color applied for the 2022-2023 school year compared to 383 white students, according to admissions data. However, 64.5% of white students were accepted while just about 56% of students of color were offered admission, according to DESE.

That disparity is greater between low-income students and students who aren’t. A total of 715 financially disadvantaged students applied, 48% of whom were accepted. But 74.5% of their 479 wealthier peers who applied received an offer letter, according to that data.

Greater Lowell Tech Superintendent Jill Davis defended the school’s policies, stating they conduct blind admissions, offer tours and do not conduct interviews like other schools. The school uses criteria in a ranked admissions process including: attendance, grades, guidance recommendations and conduct.

When asked why there are particular disparities between certain demographics, as noted above, Davis said the data presented by the Vocational Education Justice Coalition is incomplete and should instead focus on the number of students enrolled.

For the current school year, Davis said 575 students enrolled, 378 of which are students of color and 197 who are white.

“We believe that our data and our student population is a diverse student population and it reflects our sending communities,” Davis said. “I think the real focus should be on that there are not enough seats to meet the demands for vocational education and we should be looking at other ways to expand the seats, or expand vocational technical education.”

Lisa Martinez, director of technology, enrollment and information at Greater Lowell Tech, said there are two times the school submits their admissions data, meaning there are “adjustments” that are made in the fall and errors that are corrected.

However, the numbers provided by the Vocational Education Justice Coalition and those on DESE’s website are exactly the same.

The data is also “skewed,” in part, due to COVID, Martinez said. The problem is that they can’t offer a spot for everyone — of the roughly 2,280 students currently enrolled, they have about 500 or so on the waitlist.

“We have limited seats, and we really make the best use of the resources we have and we try to make it as fair as possible for the students,” she said. “We have more students naturally applying and more kids applying than we can ever accommodate.”

Martinez said they can only speak on their own admissions policy, and neither she nor Davis commented on the complaint or other vocational schools.

Shawsheen Valley Technical High School in Billerica, on the other hand, admitted 100% of students who applied, though just 308 students of color were eligible to apply in the first place, compared to 1,073 white students.

The data is similar at Nashoba Valley Technical High School in Westford — while white students, students of color, financially disadvantaged students and non-disadvantaged students were all admitted roughly 80% of the time, 398 students of color were eligible to apply while 1,036 white students were.

For financially disadvantaged students, 255 could apply, but for students who are not classified as low-income, a total of 1,179 were eligible. That proportion is roughly equivalent for special education students versus non-special education students, according to the data.

Shawsheen Tech received 59 applications from students of color and 343 from white students for the current school year, according to that data, and about 80% of both groups, as well as about 84% of financially disadvantaged students and 79% of non-disadvantaged students, accepted the offer.

The complaint states that DESE allows voc-tech schools “to use admissions criteria that disproportionately and unjustifiably exclude students from protected classes.” That includes students of color, those with disabilities and English Language Learners. Four students, two from Chelsea and two from Gardner, are named in the complaint.

Low-income students are also considered a protected class.

Josue Castellon, a 16-year-old junior at Chelsea High School and youth peer leader at La Collaborativa, said at a State House press conference Thursday morning that he applied to Northeast Metro Tech, despite his counselor dissuading him to do so, and was denied. Castellon called the admissions process “completely biased” and one that fails to “reflect your value as a student.”

“Why is it that our futures are decided on middle school grades, discipline records, attendance and recommendations from people that may not even know us, instead of judging us purely on our show of potential and hard work and determination?” Castellon said. “This needs to change.”

Officials are recommending the use of a lottery system, which they deem more equitable, and are requesting the Board of Education in Massachusetts change the admission policy.

Steve Sharek, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators, wrote in a statement that vocational-technical schools can’t accommodate all of the students looking to attend — 6,000 students are currently on waiting lists for such programs, which enroll about 55,000 students.

The organization supports bills that would invest $3 billion to expand MAVA schools and construct new ones, he wrote, and they’re hoping to make those schools more accessible “to a more diverse population of students.”

“Nearly 97% of the regional vocational-technical and agricultural high schools in Massachusetts have made changes in their admissions policies, practices, or staffing (in the past two school years),” Sharek wrote. “We’re seeing improvement.”

To continue making said improvement, Sharek said MAVA needs time to analyze the impact of the changes in admissions and a bigger presence in middle schools to educate students on their educational offerings. The investment bills, filed by Sen. Paul Feeney, D-Foxborough, and Reps. Frank Moran, D-Lawrence, and Adam Scanlon, D-North Attleborough, would grant them “access to all students” in middle schools.

Shawsheen Tech and Nashoba Tech officials did not respond to a request for comment before this article’s publication.

Fitchburg new biz Letz Rage offers patrons the chance to smash stuff

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FITCHBURG — Have some anger and stress to release? Feel like hitting something or enjoy making a glorious mess? Newly opened smash biz Letz Rage is the perfect place for you to get all your angst out.

Co-owners Brian Lipomi, president of the company, and his husband Jonathan Martelli held a soft opening at their 49 John Fitch Highway spot last weekend that drew many people interested in smashing stuff.

“We have had a great amount of traffic so far,” Lipomi said. “The community support and customer feedback has been astonishing. It certainly lets us know we’re in the right place.”

Brian Lipomi (left) recently opened Fitchburg smash biz Letz Rage along with his husband Jonathan Martelli (right) in their hometown. COURTESY LETZ RAGE
Brian Lipomi (left) recently opened Fitchburg smash biz Letz Rage along with his husband Jonathan Martelli (right) in their hometown. COURTESY LETZ RAGE

A little over 9-tons of glass is on hand to smash in the rage room that’s open to ages 13 plus. The room features all sorts of breakables including plates, vases, bottles, and mirrors along with furniture, electronics, appliances, and televisions, “anything we can get our hands on that doesn’t pose a health or safety risk,” and a variety of weapons to choose from to shatter and demolish everything in sight.

The paint splatter room enables customers of any age to create some art and to be the art by splattering paints of all colors on the walls, ceiling, floors, canvases, and on the people in your party with brushes, paint guns and more.

Bluetooth connectivity and personal protective equipment such as safety goggles, coveralls and ponchos, face shields, and gloves are provided. Several different package options are available including BYOS, Bring Your Own Smash, The Quickie, The Break-up, to name a few — and the best part of it all is that you make the mess, and they clean it up.

“I feel there can be tons of benefits to participating in an activity like these,” Lipomi said. “I’m not exactly a medical professional but I’d certainly say it’s a healthy way to release anger, stress, and improve your mood. We provide a truly non-judgmental space to just let it all out!”

Recently opened Fitchburg biz Letz Rage offers patrons the chance to release stress by smashing breakables and throwing paint around. (COURTESY LETZ RAGE)
Recently opened Fitchburg biz Letz Rage offers patrons the chance to release stress by smashing breakables and throwing paint around. (COURTESY LETZ RAGE)

The couple, who have been married since 2016 and together for 13 years, are offering a 10% discount to customers who mention this article and will be celebrating with a grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday morning at 11 a.m. Private functions and team building events are part of their plans moving forward. Part of the building will be dedicated to a “party space” where participants can rent the room.

“We also have a local network of businesses that can help us fulfill special requests such as catering or custom cakes,” Lipomi said.

When asked what inspired them to open Letz Rage, Lipomi said that after visiting a rage room that is over an hour away, he realized it “was the best thing I never knew I needed.”

“Personally, for me it was almost like a euphoric feeling and an amazing stress relief,” he recalled. “It was then that I realized our hometown could really benefit from a safe outlet like this.”

The 34-year-old said that after doing some research he discovered the reaction he had “was a common description” and that smashing things “has been utilized as an anger and stress relief tool in Japan for over a decade.”

“Of course, not all ages can participate in smashing things with our ‘tools of mass destruction’ and that is exactly why we added the paint room into our business model,” Lipomi said. “The paint splatter experience is arguably just as stress relieving and fun, but also allows any age a safe outlet to participate.”

Visitors who stopped by newly opened Fitchburg business Letz Rage during the soft opening weekend enjoyed smashing stuff and making a glorious mess with paint. (COURTESY LETZ RAGE)
Visitors who stopped by newly opened Fitchburg business Letz Rage during the soft opening weekend enjoyed smashing stuff and making a glorious mess with paint. (COURTESY LETZ RAGE)

The entrepreneur grew up in Billerica “with a strong single mother who showed us that anything is possible through dedication and hard work” and attended public schools there. Lipomi worked for MedStar Ambulance for a number of years and because he was in the Twin Cities area a lot for work, “the Fitchburg and Leominster area started to really feel like home” to him. The couple bought a house in the city in 2020 and have resided there with their dogs ever since.

He said the process of opening Letz Rage “has been smooth overall” despite one obstacle when it came to trying to find just the right spot for it.

“Our biggest challenge with opening was finding the right property that would truly allow us to provide a safe experience for everyone regardless of age,” Lipomi relayed. “Being such a new activity there was also quite a bit of push back from insurance companies and property owners, mostly due to the lack of understanding regarding what a business like this entails.”

Letz Rage is their second business, which they anticipate will “be an additional full time-gig.” Their other one is Hometown Pros LLC, a landscaping, construction, and plowing company which services the Twin Cities and beyond, “all the way to Ayer and anywhere in between.”

Recently opened Fitchburg biz Letz Rage offers patrons the chance to release stress by smashing breakables and throwing paint around. (COURTESY LETZ RAGE)
Recently opened Fitchburg biz Letz Rage offers patrons the chance to release stress by smashing breakables and throwing paint around. (COURTESY LETZ RAGE)

“Deep down I know I have what it takes to bring another business that helps the community we live in be a better place every day,” Lipomi said. “As long as we continuously provide an exceptional experience to the participants, we will successfully be able to provide jobs, activity, give back, and hopefully be able to help the city combat illegal dumping a bit.”

The way they are helping to combat illegal dumping is by gladly accepting donations of all kinds. “Don’t trash it, let us smash it!” is their mantra and people can set up a time to drop off or coordinate a pickup by calling or texting 978-868-0999 or visiting letzrage.com, the same process customers can use to reserve spots to rage or paint.

“We will always accept donations,” Lipomi said, adding they welcome “a wide array of including glassware, small appliances, most electronics, flat screen TVs and even some furniture.”

“We have received an overwhelming positive response from everyone, and it seems this area can really benefit from a business like this,” he said. “Reasons like being able to offer another resource to recycle some of those hard to dispose of items to providing the community a place offering a smashing good time, the community has given me hundreds of reasons to know Letz Rage is in the right city.”

Recently opened Fitchburg biz Letz Rage offers patrons the chance to release stress by smashing breakables and throwing paint around. (COURTESY LETZ RAGE)
Recently opened Fitchburg biz Letz Rage offers patrons the chance to release stress by smashing breakables and throwing paint around. (COURTESY LETZ RAGE)

He went on to say that a couple local businesses, D & D Waste Removal and The Cellar, “have welcomed us with a steady stream of support and items to be recycled through our rage rooms” and that the response from their circle has been phenomenal.

“My family and friends have definitely become accustomed to my crazy ideas and are always right by my side no matter what. You will surely see friends and family helping out there every day,” Lipomi said. “They all thought I was crazy for bringing my other business to the area at the beginning of the state shutdown, but they wholeheartedly supported the opening and still are active parts of the daily operations to this day.”

And when it comes to the support from them as well as the greater community, the hardworking business owners say that “can’t stress it enough” how much they appreciate it.

“Thank You!” Lipomi said. “No matter how many times I say it, I don’t think the people that support me know how thankful I truly am. Without my friends and family these dreams would likely not become a reality and without our community and customers, we wouldn’t have a business at all. We look forward to welcoming everyone in and growing with our community.”