Dean Mazzarella

A play space for all

December 3, 2023 by pkzadmin

LEOMINSTER — A recent ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrated the opening of the new playground at Johnny Appleseed Elementary, a place where students and community children of all ages are welcome.

“This playground is an all-inclusive playground, meaning all young people can safely access the structure in a variety of ways,” said Assistant Principal Katie Gingras at the Nov. 28 event.

Johnny Appleseed Elementary staff at the new playground that was recently opened at the Leominster school. (COURTESY KRISTEN LECLAIR) — Johnny Appleseed Elementary staff gather at the new playground that was recently opened at the Leominster school. (COURTESY KRISTEN LECLAIR)

Principal Bevin Tapply spoke to the crowd at the ribbon cutting and talked about the playground that was designed to welcome everyone.

“Today is an exciting day because the official opening of our playground symbolizes something so special for our whole school community – a play space that all students can access,” Tapply said. “This playground will be a great community feature here in North Leominster. Today, we dedicate this playground to the past, present, and future students of Johnny Appleseed.”

She went on to say she wanted to “especially thank” PTO Co-Presidents Sarah Hall and Karen Pabst “for making sure this playground happened.”

“They organized and met with the playground company to create this structure that we now have,” Tapply said of the dedicated duo. “They prepared a big presentation for the school committee in hopes of getting approval from the city to fund and build this playground.

Besides school staff and students, attendees included Leominster Public Schools Superintendent Paula Deacon, Mayor Dean Mazzarella, members of the school committee and Johnny Appleseed (JA) PTO, and former JA Principal Patricia King, who retired this past spring.

“We need to thank Superintendent Deacon who supported our plan for an all-inclusive playground, which will bring years of fun and activity for our whole student population,” Tapply said. “Thank you to the school committee, who unanimously said yes. They said yes to fostering your social skills and expanding your imaginations.”

Current Johnny Appleseed Elementary Principal Bevin Tapply, left, with former Principal Patricia King on the new buddy bench at the Leominster school. The buddy bench is dedicated to King, who retired this past spring. (COURTESY LINDSEY WINSHIP)

Before first grader Jennifer Moise cut the ribbon to open what is known as the “red dragon” playground, Tapply thanked King, “who supported this plan as well,” and dedicated the buddy bench to her.

“Mrs. King…values kindness, friendship, and showing respect to one another each day,” Tapply said. “The buddy bench is a safe place to sit when you need a buddy.”

JA Assistant Principal Katie Gingras said they are thrilled to have the playground completed and that they are grateful to the City of Leominster for covering the $235,000 cost.

“Having this playground project completed means that all students in our school will be able to enjoy new, imaginative play with their peers,” she said. “We hope they can enjoy a few weeks of fun before winter hits.”

She said they have plans to use the playground for school events such as Ninja Warrior Night and the Kindergarten Summer Social.

Dozens gathered on Nov. 28 to officially open the new Johnny Appleseed Elementary playground in Leominster with a ribbon cutting, including (from left) former JA PTO Co-Presidents Karyn Pabst and Sarah Hall, former Principal Patricia King, current Principal Bevin Tapply, school committee Melissa Bible and Salvatore Perla, Mayor Dean Mazzarella, and JA Assistant Principal Katie Gingras. (COURTESY LINDSEY WINSHIP) — Dozens gathered on Nov. 28 to officially open the new Johnny Appleseed Elementary playground in Leominster with a ribbon cutting, including (from left) JA PTO Co-Presidents Karyn Pabst and Sarah Hall, former Principal Patricia King, current Principal Bevin Tapply, school committee members Melissa Bible and Salvatore Perla, Mayor Dean Mazzarella, and JA Assistant Principal Katie Gingras. (COURTESY LINDSEY WINSHIP)

Gingras communicated that when they use the term inclusive to describe the playground, which still includes the iconic red dragon structure, they mean that “there’s something for everyone.”

“Inclusive means that it is an engaging, sensory-rich environment that provides the right amount of challenges for all students,” she said. “The play experiences meet a variety of needs and interests. Some of the specialized items include the roller slide which eliminates any static feedback for students with cochlear implants. The music station allows for sensory play. The variety of rope climbing obstacles are challenging and simplistic depending on needs. The playground is spaced out so adults can also participate in play with their children. The playground has a sign language board and visual talker board for students who are non-verbal and wish to communicate their playground preferences.”

When asked what the reaction to the new playground has been, Gingras said “the students and staff are beyond excited about the new structure.”

“Because of the spacing and the addition of more structural pieces, an entire grade level can play together in one space with room to play safely,” she said. “It’s an exciting day to be a JA student!”

Leominster unites following devastating storm

September 16, 2023 by pkzadmin

LEOMINSTER – While it’s not unusual for people to come together in the face of adversity, Leominster has exemplified the concept of community in the wake of the devastating storm.

Mrs. Koukkanen's second grade class at Northwest Elementary School created a colorful thank you banner for the first responders which was delivered along with food from Sunrise Senior Living. (COURTESY STEPHANIE KOUKKANEN) — Mrs. Koukkanen’s second grade class at Northwest Elementary School created a colorful thank you banner for the first responders that was delivered along with food from Sunrise Senior Living. (COURTESY STEPHANIE KOUKKANEN)

What’s just as extraordinary as a city jumping into organized action following the Sept. 11 deluge are the stories pouring in from across the city, people from all walks of life coming together to provide support to neighbors and strangers alike both during the storm and in the aftermath.

Good Samaritan Nick Rixford, along with his girlfriend Kellie Cook, stood outside in the pouring rain to warn drivers and redirect them around a gigantic sinkhole in the road; Boy and Girl Scouts troops and leaders were working alongside residents filling sandbags for folks; people were taking in those displaced from their homes, feeding first responders as well as anyone who was in need.

Michelle Harris posted this photo of Good Samaritan Nick Rixford, who along with his girlfriend Kellie Cook stood outside in the pouring rain during the Sept. 11 storm in Leominster to warn drivers and redirect them around a gigantic sinkhole in the road. (COURTESY MICHELLE HARRIS) — Michelle Harris posted this photo her daughter took of Good Samaritan Nick Rixford, who along with his girlfriend Kellie Cook stood outside in the pouring rain during the Sept. 11 storm in Leominster to warn drivers and redirect them around a gigantic sinkhole in the road. (COURTESY MICHELLE HARRIS)

Up until Tuesday, Shannon Eichorn and her family were not on a first-name basis with their neighbors who live several houses down. That all changed when Mark and Sue Amico, Mr. Amico as they called him, were “super hard hit” by the devastating storm and Eichorn and her kids decided to help them.

“The Amicos are the nicest people who always go out of the way to say hi or support the kids whenever they are out having lemonade stands,” Eichorn said. “When we saw the damage to their yard how could you not go help them when they would do the same.”

Eichorn and her husband have lived in the same house in Leominster for 15 years. The mom of three said her kids love playing in the brook behind the Amicos’s house and that they were glad to pitch in along with “so many people stopping to offer them help, it was amazing.”

“People are still showing up daily to make sure they are ok. Every time we walk by it’s really cool to see.”

The Amicos returned the favor. In fact, Eichorn stated that the couple “paid out of pocket to redirect the river” that decimated their yard so it would save not only what’s left of their own yard, but their neighbors’ yards as well.

Nine-year-old Cohen Eichorn did some heavy lifting helping clean up flooding in his Leominster neighbor's yard, the result of the Sept. 11 storm. (COURTESY SHANNON EICHORN) — Nine-year-old Cohen Eichorn did some heavy lifting helping clean up flooding in his Leominster neighbor’s yard, the result of the Sept. 11 storm. (COURTESY SHANNON EICHORN)

Fortunately, Hurricane Lee took a different path than what had been forecasted and it looks as though that storm will impact mostly the coast and not inland. That’s good news for the city workers and staff who are in the thick of repairing massive sinkholes and damage to buildings and roadways along with lending residents a helping hand.

Department of Public Works, public safety, and other crews have been working nonstop around the clock, beginning when the storm hit, and they have not stopped since.

Mayor Dean Mazzarella has been keeping people updated through a series of press conferences as well as sharing a plethora information and photos and videos, including a picture he posted on Thursday that showed a large group of “storm busters moving residents out from dangerous territory” and pictures of other “storm busters working feverishly to open Lancaster Street.”

There are many reports of people helping each other during the storm, whether it was posting real time updates and road closures on social media or providing comfort to each other in the face of the nightmare that was unfolding. Hannah Martin commented on a post in Leominsterites Unite that it was “even little things,” like a brother and sister who, along with her, were trapped on Route 2 during the 11-inch downpour that took everyone by surprise.

While driving home from Gardner “after being stuck on the highway for what seemed forever not knowing what way to go home and not knowing what we were driving into” Martin wrote that the siblings saw she was getting nervous and talked to her “for some time.”

“[They] offered drinks and food and even offered to get out and just sit with me so I was not scared,” the young woman shared, adding that she talked to more people “as we sat trying to find our way home thru the closed streets.”

“People were scared but trying to check in on others. Finally, once I had to park my car at the TJ Max [sic] plaza three hours into my scary ride I spoke to three other women in cars. We simply made sure each other was okay, had food on hand just in case, and made sure we all knew each other was not alone.”

Martin wrote that she was “thankful” when she made it home safely “after four harrowing hours” and that while she was “so scared…having others to talk to and check in on made me feel a lot safer and not completely alone.”

“I’ll never forget that night and am still shaken up by it but I’ll also never forget the kindness people had for each other.”

Leominster resident Harrison Ingels was driving downtown on Thursday when he noticed some women outside Christian Life Center behind a table loaded with pizza boxes and baked ziti and a sign that read “FREE FOOD” for “storm workers, flooded home owners, people without power, stressed business owners” courtesy of the church and Paisanos Pizza. (COURTESY HARRISON INGELS)

In spite of all the fear, heartache, sadness, and the unknown that people are experiencing as they they mourn the loss of cherished belongings, homes, businesses, and as they are literally rebuilding their lives, one thing is for certain — people have certainly bonded over difficulty and strife together, as a city united.

Harrison Ingels, for example, was driving downtown on Thursday when he noticed some women outside Christian Life Center behind a table loaded with pizza boxes and baked ziti and a sign that read “FREE FOOD” for “storm workers, flooded home owners, people without power, stressed business owners” courtesy of the church and Paisanos Pizza.”

“I just saw them and stopped,” Ingels said. “They are absolutely awesome, giving their time to help us all and Paisanos too with all that food.”

Ingels has been in his house, which he said, “got smashed,” for a year but in Leominster for 12 years. He’s one of many who have noticed people stepping up to offer food and resources during this time of great need.

Several Leominster troops including Boy Scouts Troop 12 and Girl Scouts Troop 7012, pictured here, helped fill sandbags for residents affected by the Sept. 11 flooding. (COURTESY ERIC MABIE)

Sunrise Senior Living Activity Volunteer Coordinator Lorrie Brodeur and her crew were busy getting ready for their annual barbecue to thank community first responders when the storm put a very big wrench in their plans. Instead of cancelling the Sept. 13 event, they decided to pivot in a remarkable way.

“In light of the unexpected flooding situation we decided to still cook all of the food and deliver it to Emergency Management, fire departments and MedStar,” the longtime city resident shared. “It was a very special day delivering all the food. They were very happy to receive it.”

In addition, children from the Academy for Little People childcare center, Mrs. Koukkanen’s second grade class at Northwest Elementary School, and Sunrise residents and volunteers created a big “thank you” banner for the first responders and designed colorful notes of gratitude for them.

“It was our little way of thanking them for everything they do for Sunrise and the Leominster community,” she said of the inspiration behind the kind gestures. “Our city has so many stories of goodness to share.”

City advises on flood cleanup, offers help

September 15, 2023 by pkzadmin

LEOMINSTER — During one of his regular flood updates, Mayor Dean Mazzarella said that residents struggling to repair and clean flood-damaged properties should be aware of a few things that could make the process much easier. From advice, to cleaning crews, to dumping areas, the city wants residents to know that help is being made available to them.

First off, during natural disasters like this flood, not all people are looking to help and Mazzarella wants to remind residents to be very wary of anybody approaching them to offer cleaning services.

“For a lot of companies, this is a chance to take advantage of people. Be careful of who you get yourself involved with,” said Mazzarella. “Be careful with those kinds of things.”

He said, there are those that specifically go out to natural disaster areas in order to scam vulnerable people, and he wants to remind residents that the scams can come in many forms, so flood-ravaged neighborhoods just need to be vigilant.

The state has offered a hotline that residents can call for assistance in flood cleanup called Crisis Cleanup. The hotline is (978) 219-6107.

“If you need assistance with damage from the flooding in Massachusetts, call the number above to ask for help. We will connect you with volunteers from local relief organizations, community groups and faith communities who may be able to assist,” said a release from Crisis Cleanup.

Crisis Cleanup will assist with cutting fallen trees, removal of drywall, removal of flooring and appliances, tarping roofs and mold mitigation. All services are free but, due to the overwhelming need, services can’t be guaranteed.

Fortunately, before long, Mazzarella said the city will actually be sending people out to help clean Leominster neighborhoods.

“From what I understand, starting next week, we have a group that comes in that will help people clean up [at their homes],” Mazzarella said Wednesday evening. “We’re trying to help in as many ways as possible.”

In the meantime, the city has organized a flood disposal collection this weekend at Doyle Field. This Saturday, Sept 16, and Sunday, Sept. 17, the city will be holding a storm debris collection at Doyle Field, 160 Priest St., Leominster. The collection will be held, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The collection is for storm debris only and residents can bring damaged flooring, ceiling tiles, sheetrock, drywall and boxes filled with paper (photos, magazines, etc.). The collection will not accept electronics, appliances, mattresses, tires, propane tanks, furniture, or yard waste.

Residents are still allowed to dispose of one bulk item per week but, as the situation progresses, the city is telling residents to call the Leominster Health Department directly at (978) 962-3558 for updated disposal allowances.

For those that rent, the city is providing a service to advise tenants on who is responsible regarding property damage during a natural disaster.

For questions related to tenant/landlord storm related responsibilities, reach out to Community Legal Aid, which has a fully-staffed office located in Fitchburg. Apply for services online at communitylegal.org/get-help or call at (978) 516-5155 during intake hours; Monday, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and Wednesdays from 1:30-4:15 p.m.

Charitable flood relief efforts for residents begin

September 13, 2023 by pkzadmin

LEOMINSTER — As flooding response and repair to city infrastructure continues, local organizations have already sprung into action for the city residents whose lives were aggressively halted by the flood and want to help them get back to normal.

The United Way of North Central Massachusetts has created a relief fund to support the residents in the city in a variety of ways and Ginny’s Helping Hand will be taking donations at their Mechanic Street location in the city.

“In the face of the recent historic floods in Leominster, Ginny’s Helping Hand is actively engaged in aiding our community’s swift recovery. We invite you to be a part of this vital effort. Starting today, we are gratefully accepting donations of essential items such as food, personal care products, and clothing at 52 Mechanic St., Leominster,” said a statement from Brandon Robbins, Ginny’s Helping Hand executive director. “Your contributions will directly benefit those affected by the floods, making a significant impact on their lives. If you prefer to provide monetary support, you can easily do so on our website by clicking the ‘donate’ button,”

They will also accept monetary donations by mail, send to: Ginny’s Helping Hand, Inc., 52 Mechanic Street, Leominster, MA 01453

“Every dollar counts in helping us provide a hand up to our friends and neighbors during this challenging time. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all those who have already reached out to support us in assisting our community,” said Robbins in the statement. “Together, we are #TeamGinnys, standing strong for our city and region.Thank you for your generosity and compassion.”

United Way of North Central Mass. created a relief fund to accept donations and will be matching every single dollar donated to directly assist the residents affected by the floods.

“With the support of Leominster City officials and in collaboration with the Community Foundation of North Central Mass., United Way of North Central Mass. has opened the ‘Leominster Flood Relief Fund,'” a statement read. “Your donation will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $50,000! Donate now and help us reach our goal of $100,000 to help the residents facing this crisis. We can Live United”

To donate, Text FLOODRELIEF to 50155 or visit uwncm.org/leominster-flood-relief.

Healey: Leominster deluge ‘unprecedented but not unexpected’

September 12, 2023 by pkzadmin

LEOMINSTER — Gov. Maura Healey paid a visit to the city on Tuesday afternoon to survey damage from a storm that turned the area into a full-blown disaster zone overnight, dumping what officials estimate was upwards of 11 inches of rainfall over a very short period of time.

As images of raft rescues in Leominster poured from media outlets everywhere, Healey met with officials at all levels Tuesday, trying to assess the true impact of the flood and figure out exactly how bad it was — and what it will take to bring the area’s infrastructure back to working order.

Governor Maura Healey paid a visit to Leominster on Sept. 12 to survey damage from a catastrophic rainstorm the evening before that dumped what officials estimate was upwards of 11 inches of rain in a matter of hours, causing massive flooding in many areas of the city and a state of emergency declared. She praised and thanked first responders including Leominster fire, police, DPW, Emergency Management, state public safety, and everyone involved in the relief efforts. (DANIELLE RAY/SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE) — Gov. Maura Healey paid a visit to Leominster on Sept. 12 to survey damage from a catastrophic rainstorm the evening before that dumped what officials estimate was upwards of 11 inches of rain in a matter of hours, causing massive flooding in many areas of the city and a state of emergency declared. She praised and thanked first responders including Leominster fire, police, DPW, Emergency Management, state public safety, and everyone involved in the relief efforts. (DANIELLE RAY/SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE)

Healey was first greeted by local and state officials and several news crews at the city’s Emergency Management building on Carter Street and provided updates by those involved with coordinating the response to the Sept. 11 storm.

“We’ve got a plan for everything,” Mayor Dean Mazzarella said to her. “It’s not fixed, but we have a plan.”

The governor went inside the operations center to meet the first responders and praise them, including fire, city and state police, EMTs, public works, Emergency Management, Salvation Army, Red Cross, Massachusetts Department of Transportation, state Environmental Police and others who worked through the night and into Tuesday.

“All you first responders, we are so thankful. We saw incredible leadership and partnership… local, state and federal partnership,” Healey said, adding that “this is important work.”

Mazzarella also thanked everyone involved and spoke about the large team of hardworking people who helped during and after the storm, which included state representatives and city councilors.

“This is the A-team,” he said as his voice broke. “Last night was bad. They made life easier.”

Healey addressed a question about climate change and financial costs as a result of storms like this, saying that severe weather becoming more common is something she is dedicated to addressing.

“Things are happening that we haven’t seen before,” she said. “I can tell you it is unprecedented but not unexpected. It’s devastating for families, these weather events we are seeing with such frequency now.”

The governor expressed “sympathy” and said her “heart goes out” to everyone affected by the storm, including a large number of residents rescued from their homes by firefighters and police who went door to door — and some by boat.

Along with the governor, Mazzarella announced that Leominster Public Schools would be closed again on Wednesday as crews continue to work to fill sinkholes and make the roads safe to travel again, especially for school buses.

District 3 Highway Director Barry Lorion said the bridge on Route 13 will remain closed for now as teams assess the condition of the bridge, which Mazzarella said sees 26,000 vehicles cross it daily.

“We want to be over-cautious,” Mazzarella said of the bridge and road closures around the city as well as returning residents to their homes. “Safety is paramount, we will have to continue to assess.”

He reported that two dams in the city are “stabilized” and that some of the older residents who were rescued via boat are back in their homes.

“We are in much better shape now,” Mazzarella said, with the city posting on social media late Tuesday afternoon that “people are allowed back in their homes, and the evacuations have been lifted unless deemed unsafe already.”

Leominster Fire Chief Robert Sideleau II shakes hands with Governor Maura Healey during her visit to the city on Sept. 12, the day after a catastrophic rainstorm dumped 11 inches of water within a matter of hours. (DANIELLE RAY/SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE)

Lorion said Route 2 was closed from 6:30 p.m. Monday to 4 a.m. Tuesday, when it was under 8 feet of water, which has since subsided.

“I’ve never seen anything quite like this in my 28-year career,” he said. “We’ve never had Route 2 under that amount of water that I can remember.”

The storm and resulting damage made national news, including “Good Morning America” on Tuesday.

Healey said she has reached out to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and President Joe Biden and that they will continue to work with them as well as the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency to get relief funding lined up. After the press conference, city officials brought Healey on a tour of the city to view areas damaged by flooding.

“We have a plan and it’s now about execution,” Healey said.

Bill Brady of Brady’s was at the press conference and reported that “amazingly” he has minimal damage at his downtown restaurant, especially compared the others in the area that didn’t fare as well, and said he was “thankful” there were no fatalities.

State Rep. Natalie Higgins said she was thinking about late, longtime Emergency Management Director Jim LeBlanc and how he worked hard to set up the city to be in a good position to respond quickly and efficiently to disasters like this.

Fire Chief Robert Sideleau II said that while they “had a long night… we’re back on our feet” — and that the night went as well as can be expected.

“We didn’t lose radio communication and I think the new dispatch center bailed us out,” he said, later shaking hands with the governor and thanking her for her efforts.

The Salvation Army at 739 Water St. in Fitchburg has dozens of free cleanup kits up for grabs and welcomes anyone to come get one.

The governor also toured flood damage in North Attleboro, a part of the state more than 50 miles away from Leominster that also dealt with torrential rain, flooding, and flood damage on Monday night.

“We rescued so many people last night we don’t even have a total count,” Mazzarella said on Tuesday morning to a news team on the ground, adding that the cost of damages will be “in the millions.”

Reports of vehicles and chunks of streets floating, houses and businesses flooded, and more damage and chaos as a result of the Sept. 11 storm were shared via social media in real time overnight as people stranded on Route 2 and other roadways posted photos and videos of the havoc.

First responders were busy through the night monitoring nonstop communication and assisting with road closures, water rescues, bridge and dam safety including questioning stability, calls from residents, and evacuations of areas including a section of Exchange Street. Mazzarella was also on the scene overnight and provided updates through his Facebook page including going live around 1 a.m. and several more times Tuesday morning.

Leominster Public Schools Superintendent Paula Deacon announced around 8:30 p.m. Monday that all schools in the district would be closed on Tuesday. Current road closures and updates can be found on the City of Leominster, MA Facebook page.

Danielle Wilson got stuck on Route 2 with her young daughter in the car around 7 p.m. Monday along with many others who were taken by surprise by the storm. She snapped and posted a photo of the substantial flood of water that stranded a plethora of motorists, an image that shows people sitting on top of their vehicle, that is mostly buried by water, holding an umbrella over their heads.

Danielle Wilson snapped and posted this photo on Sept. 11, an image that encapsulates the major flooding as a result of the rainstorm that dumped upwards of 11 inches of rain on Leominster within a matter of hours. The photo taken on Route 2 in Leominster shows people sitting on top of their vehicle that is mostly buried by water holding an umbrella over their heads. (COURTESY DANIELLE WILSON)

It took Wilson well over two hours to get to her destination. She was relieved when she and her daughter finally made it safely to her mother’s house around 8:30 p.m.

Downtown eatery Logan’s Table posted on their Facebook page Tuesday, offering all first responders a 50% discount on takeout lunch orders that day, “As a huge THANK YOU to the first responders that are working to help those in need and put Leominster back together.”

“We appreciate what you are doing for folks and would like to do a little something for you.”

Additional flood aftermath details

According to the National Weather Service, 6 to 9 inches of rain had first pummeled the city on Monday night, a total that reached double digits by the time the deluge ceased. An updated NWS report states two trained spotters in southeast Leominster measured 9.5 inches of rainfall at 10 p.m. Monday.

By the time the governor spoke in Leominster on Tuesday afternoon, officials were reporting 11 total inches of rainfall from the storm.

As of Tuesday morning, about 100 people had gone to one of the shelters at Skyview Middle School and Frances Drake Elementary, although many are now back home, according to city officials. Hovercrafts and boats were used throughout the night to get people to safety.

There were at least 14 roads closed at one point Tuesday morning.

PHOTOS: Flood rips away layers of Leominster

September 12, 2023 by pkzadmin

The monumental flood waters that disabled the city Monday and Tuesday finally receded but the city is still in a state of disarray. Luckily many of those displaced are back in their homes and roads that weren’t washed away are opening back up. Officials at all levels are now working together in the early stages repairing the widespread damages.

Dean Mazzarella

Additional flood aftermath details

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