Kids

Rollstone Bank & Trust donates to Just Understand My Potential youth program

April 11, 2023 by pkzadmin

LEOMINSTER — Rollstone Bank & Trust donated $2,500 to Just Understand My Potential in support of their 2022-2023 $50K Grant Challenge, given by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, to be used for outdoor adventure education for area youth in grades 2 and up. The purpose of the grant is to engage disadvantaged youth and youth of color in afterschool and out-of-school activities at no charge.

Since 2010, JUMP has supported youth in need in Leominster, Fitchburg, Gardner and surrounding towns through adventure education programs. JUMP inspires young people to realize their full potential through mentorship and a variety of outdoor adventures that provide life lessons, personal insights, and confidence which serve as a foundation for taking on leadership roles in the community.

“We are so grateful to Rollstone Bank & Trust for their support that helps us give children of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to be active and a part of something bigger than themselves,” said Bill Spacciapoli, executive director of JUMP. “If we can teach our kids leadership and overcoming adversity in a safe, inclusive and fun environment, then we as an organization will have succeeded.”

“We’re honored to contribute to such an amazing organization as JUMP,” said Arthur Feehan Jr., executive vice president and chief operating officer of Rollstone Bank & Trust. “Rollstone Bank’s core mission is to help the people in our community flourish, and that aligns perfectly with JUMP’s goal of supporting the community by instilling confidence in children and giving them leadership skills that will stick with them throughout their lives.”

Girls on the Run returns to Leominster’s Fall Brook Elementary

January 12, 2023 by pkzadmin

LEOMINSTER — Girls on the Run Worcester County is returning to Fall Brook Elementary School this spring, one of over 30 sites the nonprofit organization will serve throughout the 2023 spring season.

Girls on the Run is based in Charlotte, North Carolina with local councils in all 50 states. According to a press release, the organization was founded in 1996 with 13 girls. It has now served over two million girls in grades three through eight across the country, giving them the tools to develop their physical and emotional health and inspiring them to be joyful, healthy and confident.

Registration for the Worcester County chapter of the activity-based, positive youth development program is now open. The 10 week spring program that launches the last week of March incorporates running to teach critical life skills, encourage personal development, and foster team building and community service.

“Girls in our program grow strong physically through our exercise-based approach, and emotionally strong through a series of confidence-based lesson plans,” said GOTR Worcester County Marketing Coordinator Katie Bullied. “Young people are struggling with their personal growth now more than ever, giving this program an opportunity to be a pivotal experience in any young girl’s life.”

The Girls on the Run Worcester County team from Fall Brook Elementary School in Leominster participated in the Nov. 20 5K at Assumption University in Worcester, the culmination of the fall season by the nonprofit organization that that aims to incorporate running to teach critical life skills, encourage personal development, and foster team building and community service. (COURTESY GIRLS ON THE RUN WORCESTER COUNTY)

Volunteer coaches utilize a curriculum to engage teams of girls in fun, interactive lessons. Teams meet twice a week for 10 weeks and the transformative, confidence-building program culminates with girls positively impacting their communities through a service project and all teams participating in a 5K celebratory event “where they see that they can achieve anything they set their minds to” Bullied said.

Jennifer Bolt, a Girls on the Run volunteer coach during the fall 2022 session, said her school “saw girls develop new friendships — both in the program and around school,” as well as “demonstrate great pride and excitement in knowing that they can run a 5K.”

Similarly, coach Heidi Richard saw a transformation in her team, particularly in the Community Impact Project portion of the program. Each team completes this project to enhance their leadership skills and serve their community and her team chose to collect supplies to donate to a local animal shelter.

“From speaking at all school meetings, to making an announcement over the intercom each morning for a week, our girls went above and beyond to spread the word and get their community involved,” Richard said.

This spring the Fall Brook team will meet every Tuesday and Thursday after school from 3:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. for 10 weeks beginning March 28. All individual teams participate in a practice 5K, which usually occurs towards the end of their season.

“The girls typically run laps around their school or community center equaling the distance of the 5K to give them a better idea of the real 5K they will be participating in, a great opportunity for girls to cheer on their teammates and encourage them to keep going,” Bullied said.

The Fall Brook team participated in the Girls on the Run Worcester County fall 5K at Assumption University on Nov. 20. Their season was led by volunteer coaches Kelsey Bedard, Tracey Cavaco, Kayla Moschetti, Erin O’Toole and Tonia Young.

With the largest 5K series by number of events in the world, Girls on the Run hosts more than 330 5Ks per year in more than 13,000 schools across the country. Every team across Worcester County, including Fall Brook, will run the spring 5K on June 10 at Polar Park in Worcester.

Girls on the Run is included as a top research-based program in a Social-Emotional Learning Guide developed by researchers at Harvard University and has been recognized by the National Afterschool Association as one of the most influential after-school programs.

Bullied relayed that she enjoys being part of an organization that aims to lift up young women and spread “the crucial message that they are strong, capable, and impactful leaders of tomorrow.”

Girls in grades three through eight can register today to be entered into lottery status, which gives each girl a fair shot to participate in the program. The lottery will run through Feb. 3, and those who register during this period will be notified of their girl’s registration status no later than Feb. 6. Following this period, registration will be on a first come, first served basis.

For more information about coaching or registering for the Girls on the Run program visit gotr-worc.org.

Empower Children for Success provides Calming Kits and programs in the region

January 10, 2023 by pkzadmin

FITCHBURG — The passion the four women behind Empower Children for Success have for the community focused nonprofit organization they formed together is evident.

Adela Cintron, Angelica Lacourse, Marites MacLean, and Gretchen Rodriguez, all graduates of the Public Education, Children with Special Needs, Mental Health, Childcare, and Financial Stewards programs of NewVue Communities, were inspired to launch ECFS in November with the mission to create more equitable childcare, workforce development, and behavioral health systems in Fitchburg, Worcester County, and the North Central region.

(Left to right) Senator John Cronin, Empower Children for Success President and Founder Marites MacLean, Outreach Coordinator at Allied Rehabilitation Center Beth Robbins, and Representative Michael Kushmerek celebrated nonprofit organization Empower Children for Success getting the Leaders for Equitable Local Economies grant application in January 2022 to create a more equitable child care system to help Fitchburg families get access to high quality child care to find and maintain gainful employment in order to actively participate in the economy. (COURTESY EMPOWER CHILDREN FOR SUCCESS) — Left to right: State Sen. John Cronin, Empower Children for Success President and Founder Marites MacLean, Outreach Coordinator at Allied Rehabilitation Center Beth Robbins, and Representative Michael Kushmerek celebrated nonprofit organization Empower Children for Success getting the Leaders for Equitable Local Economies grant in January 2022 to create a more equitable child care system to help Fitchburg families get access to high quality child care to find and maintain gainful employment in order to actively participate in the economy. (COURTESY EMPOWER CHILDREN FOR SUCCESS)

According to a press release, these four minority women business entrepreneurs saw the need to create an organization that will meet the comprehensive needs of the children and families that they serve. They met several times with Francisco Ramos, director of Community Organizing at NewVue Communities, Inc., for help with the creation of Fitchburg Loves the Children in 2021, now known as ECFS.

They were granted 501(c)(3) nonprofit status for ECFS in October and MacLean said they “appreciate” the organizational and development grant funds received from the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts that allowed them to hire an accountant and lawyer who worked closely with the ECFS Board of Directors to apply for the application to obtains its nonprofit status.

“We are grateful to the Greater Worcester Community Foundation for awarding us the community grant for general operating support this year,” MacLean added about additional funding.

NewVue Communities and Highland Baptist Church acted as the corporation’s fiscal sponsors in 2021 and 2022, respectively, which enabled MacLean to write grants “to advance its mission of promoting the overall healthy development of children.”

She said ECFS is “creating a more equitable mental health system by implementing its Calming Kit project.” The kits include books, art and drawing supplies, fidget toys, and more.

Empower Children for Success Calming Kits include books, art and drawing supplies, fidget toys, and more. (COURTESY EMPOWER CHILDREN FOR SUCCESS) — Empower Children for Success Calming Kits include books, art and drawing supplies, fidget toys and more. (COURTESY EMPOWER CHILDREN FOR SUCCESS)

Recipients of the 2021 calming kits, which included materials donated by the Fitchburg chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Women’s Association, were family resource centers, family engagement agencies, childcare centers including family childcare programs, and parents. Last year they gifted kits to LUK, Inc. to be distributed to its clinicians in its various programs “to use as a preventive tool to support the social-emotional, mental, and behavioral health of the children and the families that they serve.”

“ECFS strongly believes that obtaining training and having the Calming Kit as a resource should be an essential part of an adult’s everyday tool when dealing with children’s social-emotional needs to promote and or improve health outcomes,” MacLean shared.

Grant funding secured through UMass Memorial HealthAlliance Clinton-Hospital, Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, and NewVue Communities in 2021 and from Community Health Network of North Central Massachusetts (CHNA9), the Fitchburg Cultural Council, and NewVue Communities in 2022 enabled ECFS to launch and maintain is Calming Kit project to provide a free, “preventive tool to programs and families to help children self-regulate to support their social-emotional, mental, and behavioral health.”

MacLean and the other women partnered with several medical and mental health personnel in the area to provide training for parents and caregivers on how to use the Calming Kits and distribute them in the region. They are also working to address “the need to find a solution to decrease the uptick of children’s and youth’s mental health cases in childcare programs and schools” in the greater region by providing support to a variety of people who work with young people.

“Counselors, teachers, childcare providers, and family resource and engagement counselors report an increase in youth depression, sadness, suicide ideation, bullying and despair,” MacLean said. “There is a wait for an appointment for students to see a mental health professional and many institutions lack a mental health professional in the buildings.”

In addition, ECFS is “increasing access to culturally responsive quality early childhood and out of school programs” through its Child Care Entrepreneur Stewards Training Program.

Graduates of the spring 2022 Child Care Entrepreneur Steward 8-week training session through Empower Children for Success Child. (COURTESY EMPOWER CHILDREN FOR SUCCESS) — Graduates of the spring 2022 Empower Children for Success Child Care Entrepreneur Stewards Training Program. (COURTESY EMPOWER CHILDREN FOR SUCCESS)

“There is an urgent need in Fitchburg and other parts of the North Central region and Worcester County,” MacLean said of the idea behind the program created to increase admission to childcare for the Latino community.

She secured grant funding last year from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, United Way of North Central Massachusetts, and the Greater Worcester Foundation to fund and launch its Child Care Entrepreneur Stewards Training Program “to help women especially in the minority groups to open a family child care business.”

“The participants are trained to promote children’s healthy overall development in a more culturally and linguistically appropriate ways,” MacLean said of the child care training program.

ECFS has been able to successfully expand its reach and enroll 46 minority-women participants in its Child Care Entrepreneur Stewards Training Program in the first three cohorts, 32 educators in its Trauma Informed Care Training program, and distribute more than 250 Calming Kits to children and families.

MacLean teamed up with Liz Murphy, Executive Director of Community Development & Planning in the city, secure $40,000 from Community Development Block Grant funds to provide a $3,500 grant to the each of the graduates of the Child Care Entrepreneur Stewards Training Program who live in Fitchburg and obtained their family child care license from the Department of Early Education and Care.

Estefania German is one of the recipients of the grant from the city and Nicole Young of Ashburnham is the recipient of a $3,500 grant from United Way, which will assist them in paying for the startup cost of running their family childcare businesses.

Volunteers pack Fitchburg nonprofit organization Empower Children for Success Calming Kits. (COURTESY EMPOWER CHILDREN FOR SUCCESS)

MacLean said graduates of the program are referred to Ray Belanger, Director of Small Business Assistance at NewVue Communities, “to get access to small business assistance programs to grow and maintain their businesses to become part of the small business ecosystem and to be recognized for their importance in building and boosting the local economies.”

“Empower Children for Success plans on scaling up the Child Care Entrepreneur Stewards Training Program statewide to increase the supply of culturally responsive high-quality childcare programs, especially family childcare programs to ensure that our children are being taken care of by caregivers who represent their cultural and linguistic background,” she said.

MacLean said she and her partners are determined to do what they can to serve children and families in the area and beyond with their programs.

“ECFS applies a community voice approach by amplifying the voice of the children and the families who are enrolled in the Head Start programs, childcare programs that receive state subsidies, and family resource centers and other agencies that serve the target population in the area,” she said. “ECFS includes the voices of the community most affected by the problem by asking families and stakeholders to get involved in the planning process like creating goals or defining the problem. We actively solicit their support to volunteer in the implementation of our projects, fundraising efforts, attend public events, and serve on our committees that focus on promoting health and wellbeing, family support, increase family’s wealth, and establishment of high-quality early childhood and out of school care.”

She said that it has truly been a collaborative community effort and wants to “extend gratitude” to Highland Baptist Church, Leominster United Methodist Church, IC Federal Credit Union, Enterprise Bank, Workers Credit Union, Rivers Brothers, Bin There Dump That, the ECFS Board of Directors, “and all the individuals that donated money to support and advance the important work of the organization.”

Empower Children for Success is looking for partners from financial institutions, local businesses, and other organizations that are community-minded helping to advance its mission to make greater impacts on the lives of the people it serves. Those interested can email Marites MacLean at empowerchildrenforsuccess@gmail.com or call her at 978-348-2416, and for more information follow Empower Children for Success on Facebook and visit empowerchildrenforsuccess.org.

Celebrating the Winter Solstice with light, stories and of course, s’mores

December 11, 2022 by pkzadmin

LEOMINSTER — The Winter Solstice kicks off the official start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and is the perfect day to celebrate the change of seasons, honor nature, and beginning of adding more sunlight to our days.

The Leominster Public Library, the North County Land Trust, and the Trustees of Reservation are teaming up to celebrate the shortest daylight of the year with light and family fun.

Children ages 4 to 12, and their caregivers, are welcome to decorate a lantern from 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. until 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14, at the Leominster Public Library, 30 West St. Battery operated tea lights will be included for your lantern.

“This is our first year participating and we are so happy to be teaming up with the Trustees of Reservation and the North County Land Trust for this Winter Solstice Walk and Celebration,” said Sarah Chapdelaine, head of Children’s Services at the Leominster Public Library. “There are not as many activities to do outside this time of year, so bundling up, getting outside, celebrating the shortest day of the year, and then looking forward to the days slowly getting longer will be a fun way to spend the early evening. There will be some fun treats along the way too, including hot chocolate and s’mores.”

To register for this library event, visit leominsterlibrary.org or call 978-534-7522. Both children and adult names are needed if you are going to decorate a lantern.

The Winter Solstice Walk and Celebration will be held from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21, at the Doyle Community Park and Center, 466 Abbott Ave.

All are welcomed to bring your lanterns made previously at the library, make lanterns onsite, enjoy solstice-themed stories, a campfire with s’mores, and a wintery walk along the lantern lit paths of the conservation area.

“Humans, since the beginning of time, have celebrated the return of the light on the winter solstice,” said Anna Wilkins, executive director of North County Land Trust. “It’s a tradition that crosses cultures and religions and connects us to the movements of the planet around the sun. Many people make this time of year a time of reflection and renewal. We want to remind folks to pause on this significant day for humans and nature alike.”

Volunteers are needed to help with both the set-up and take down of the lanterns for the event. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the North County Land Trust at info@northcountylandtrust.org.

To register for the Winter Solstice Walk and Celebration, visit northcountylandtrust.org/events/winter-solstice-2022/.

Local author explores Christ’s birth from different perspective

December 2, 2022 by pkzadmin

The story of Jesus Christ’s birth is one of the most well-known in the world, but few have heard it from the perspective of a piece of hay in the manger.

“Herbie the Hay” was written by Catt B. Aubuchon, a Westminster resident who was born in Gardner and moved to Fitchburg at a young age. She attended Catholic schools from kindergarten through twelfth grade.

The children’s book “Herbie the Hay” was a long time coming — Aubuchon came up with it in middle school.

“In seventh grade, my assignment was to write about a non-living thing during the Great Happening of Jesus’s birth,” she said. “I pictured the manger in my mind while I was writing and decided on a piece of hay to come to life and take us through this storybook journey.”

The reading of Aubuchon’s story became a family Christmas tradition for her parents, Norman and Carol Boudreau, and her two older sisters, Jacqueline and Nancy.

Aubuchon’s dad was “a big fan of the book” and showed it to a local Catholic priest, the Rev. Rich Lewandowski. She said “he was enamored by it” and had it printed locally, asking her in 1999 to do a guest reading at Christmas Eve Mass in St. Camillus Church in Fitchburg.

Her Catholic community and extended family’s enduring love for her story made her want to have it published in modern times for new generations, leading to “Herbie the Hay” coming out as a half storybook, half coloring book hardcover in August.

The story goes that Herbie the Hay was placed in a manger, sad and alone, because all the other hay made fun of him. However, deep down he knew he had an extremely important job to do. Three days later, a very special baby was born in his stables and placed in the manger for Herbie to keep safe and warm. Herbie traveled with Mary and Joseph, continuing to be attached to Jesus’s blanket, until his love for the child causes him to become part of the family home.

Ultimately, the message of the book is that all believers in Jesus are special and important, and that Christ is the savior, which Aubuchon said is a great Christmas message for children of all ages and the young at heart.

Aubuchon is a wife, mother of two, and grandmother of three. All of her children also attended Catholic schools, and so do her grandchildren.

Her faith in Christianity is a huge part of her life. “At such a young age I was taught the values of morals, discipline, respect, and being accountable for my actions which gave me a solid foundation,” Aubuchon said.

She has high hopes for the future of “Herbie the Hay.”

Aubuchon said, “I have realized that being a published author is a tough but rewarding feat. This is the first but maybe not the last book about Herbie and his adventures. Herbie The Hay could someday become a franchise and even a movie!” She plans to write a sequel or “another adventure for Herbie the Hay” soon.

“My dream is that Herbie turns into a New York Times bestseller but reality tells me to just have fun promoting it locally,” she added.

After interviewing a few publishers, Aubuchon settled on Dorrance Publishing of Pittsburgh. Authors pay Dorrance Publishing to produce, print, promote, and distribute.

Her brother-in-law Jeff B. Aubuchon, a professional artist, drew the illustrations and the publisher added the color — in the first half of the book which is the story.

The second half of the pages is a coloring book of the illustrations in the first half. Aubuchon said that she made that choice for “Herbie the Hay” to be unique and interactive.

Aubuchon believes art, and writing, are important.

She does paintings and portraits “for my own pleasure”, although she said that people have asked to purchase some of them.

“I truly believe and want to inspire that anyone can be an author and artist,” she said.

Aubuchon moved her young family from their “hometown of Fitchburg” to Westminster in 1999 because they outgrew their home and had a lot of extended family there. “It’s a quaint little town; we love it here”, she said.

But she’s still in Fitchburg on an almost daily basis — her day job is as a preschool paraprofessional in the Fitchburg public school system.

Aubuchon recently did a book signing at Notown Gifts in Sterling and will be doing one soon at The Velvet Goose in Gardner. “Herbie the Hay” can be purchased at both and can also be bought at the St. Joseph Parish Christmas Fair in Fitchburg, MA on Dec. 3, on Amazon, and directly from Dorrance Publishing.

Food Explorers teams up with Leominster Public Library empowering children to learn about food and nutrition

November 13, 2022 by pkzadmin

LEOMINSTER — Two teams, an assortment of ingredients, and culinary creativity is a recipe for the Food Explorers “Chopped” Inspired Cooking Class, hosted by the Leominster Public Library.

The class will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, at the library, 30 West St.

Participants will be split into teams and choose from a variety of ingredients from the ‘pantry’ to create a delicious salad and dressing.

“They will put their heads together as a team to decide which flavor and ingredients work together for a final taste test at the end,” said Sarah Chapdelaine, Head of Children’s Services, Leominster Public Library. “They will also make cannoli cones for dessert.”

Recipes are nut free but will contain dairy. This class is appropriate for children, ages 8 to 12.

“This class is inspired by the popular television series Chopped Junior, and challenges kids to work as a team and create a delicious dish,” Chapdelaine said. “With these classes we hope to expose children to a variety of nutritious yet delicious ingredients that they may not have tried before.”

Chapdeline says she and the library staff are excited for the children to learn how to safely use kitchen tools and prepare easy dishes and snacks that they will be able to recreate at home, and to team up with Food Explorers.

Food Explorers was founded by Katie Shepherd, registered dietitian, whose mission is to empower children to learn about food and nutrition.

“All of my instructors are registered dietitians,” Shepherd said. “Through hands-on activities, games, and child friendly cooking lessons, we focus on making sure kids learn valuable kitchen and life skills, exploring food in a no pressure environment, and learning that foods of all kinds can be enjoyed in an equal way.”

For more information on Food Explorers, visit them at food-explorers.com or on Facebook and Instragram. For more information, or to register for this class, call 978-534-7522 or visit leominsterlibrary.org.

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