Leominster

Gym manager in the running to be fitness magazine cover model

June 7, 2023 by pkzadmin

FITCHBURG — Lifelong Twin Cities resident Marina Proietti is currently first in her group for the chance to be on the cover of Ms. Health & Fitness magazine, a contest that caught her attention as she was scrolling through Instagram.

“I thought ‘How cool would it be to be featured on a fitness cover?’,” the single mom, personal trainer, nutrition coach, group fitness instructor, and Global Fitness Leominster branch general manager said. “Then my mind went to how I could use this as a chance to educate many people about chronic illness and autoimmune disorders. I suffer from a couple of chronic conditions, yet despite the difficulties I find a way to push through and stay active. I have my good days and bad days, but I take advantage of the good days while my body still lets me.”

While you can vote for her for free every 24 hours, the contest has a humanitarian angle as optional vote donations are going to Homes for Wounded Warriors.

“This contest is more than about a cover photo or grand prize,” Proietti shared. “It’s about the Homes for Wounded Warriors project. It’s a great cause, and this competition raises significant funds for it. Please consider a monetary donation if you can.”

The 35-year-old fitness guru was born and raised in Leominster and most of her family still lives in the area. Proietti attended Fall Brook Elementary School, Samoset Middle School, is a member of the Leominster High School Class of 2006, and in 2010 graduated from Mount Ida College with a degree in liberal studies.

Proietti has called Fitchburg home since 2018, where she lives with her young daughter and Apollo, an adorable fluffy, white mutt rescue from Houston she adopted in March who is her sidekick at the gym. She grew up playing sports and said she “always loved staying active” and is committed to living a healthy lifestyle.

“In 2006, my freshman year of college, I started running and never stopped,” Proietti disclosed. “My first real fitness career experience started as a kickboxing instructor at ILOVEKICKBOXING in Fitchburg. After that I became certified as a personal trainer. I love how working out makes me feel — strong and healthy.”

She recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of her GM role at Global, where she has worked since 2019 after initially being hired as a part time personal trainer and FIT-traxx coach. Two years ago, she got certified as a Mossa Fight group fitness instructor and has maintained all those titles in addition to her GM duties, which she said, “are vast.”

“I have one-on-one personal training clients throughout the week, I coach FIT-traxx on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, I instruct Group Fight on Tuesday mornings, I keep up with the day-to-day operations, and did I mention, I am also a Certified Nutrition Coach,” Proietti said of her busy schedule.

Global Fitness Leominster branch General Manager Marina Proietti, left, with her rescue dog Apollo and gym regular Ariana Constant of Leominster. (DANIELLE RAY/SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE)

When asked what she enjoys most her time at the gym, she was quick to say that her “favorite part is always the people.”

“At Global we have the best members. It truly is a community and family. I love walking in the door and seeing all the regulars and meeting new people. Initially the biggest challenge was scheduling all my responsibilities. However, I have learned excellent time management, and now that isn’t a challenge anymore.”

In addition to being part of the magazine cover contest that helps support veterans, Proietti finds other ways to give back. She’ll be running the Falmouth Road Race in August for the fifth time to support another charity that is near and dear to her heart – the Joe Andruzzi Foundation – and in honor of her friend Dawn Deluca, a fellow city resident who is battling cancer.

“She was just on the mayor’s show and the Leominster Police Department did a fundraiser selling shirts for her as well,” Proietti said of Deluca, whose husband is an LPD police officer. “She’s a family friend and is very involved with JAF.”

Proietti is over halfway towards her $1,200 race fundraising goal and donations keep coming in. She said she likes helping people through both her charitable endeavors and as a fitness guide.

“As I mentioned earlier, I suffer from chronic illness and along my fitness journey I have overcome many obstacles and injuries,” she relayed of where her determination stems from. “It’s important to me to be able to help others do the same. Training a client, helping them find their own strength, both mentally and physically, is something I am extremely passionate about. I love being a part of their health and fitness journey while supporting them to reach their goals.”

The current voting round for the fitness magazine cover contest ends on Thursday June 7 at 11 p.m. and then quarterfinals begin June 12 and end the 22nd. Next is semifinals from June 23 to June 29 and then finals June 30 to July 6.

The winner will be announced on or around July 13. Proietti said what while she is “absolutely honored to have made it this far, the thought of winning renders me speechless.

“I’d love to be a role model for others out there and most importantly, for my daughter. I think it would be so cool to show her mommy on the cover.”

Leominster native proud to serve in the Navy

June 7, 2023 by pkzadmin

SASEBO, Japan — Leominster Stephanie De La Rosa is proudly serving her country in the U.S. Navy as a seaman.

Currently serving in Japan, De La Rosa attended Leominster High School and graduated in 2021.

De La Rosa joined the Navy two years ago.

“I joined the Navy to make history as the first person and the first female in my immediate family to join the military,” De La Rosa said.

Today, De La Rosa serves as a personnel specialist with Naval Beach Unit 7.

Skills and values learned in the Navy are similar to those found in Leominster.

“I learned how to work with a lot of different people and a lot of different personalities,” said De La Rosa. “That really helped me in the fleet.”

According to Navy officials, NBU 7 empowers forward-deployed U.S. and Allied Forces while providing superior support to military members and their families.

De La Rosa serves in Japan as part of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces. These naval forces operate with allies and partners to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Service members in this region are part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, which has the largest area of responsibility in the world.

“As the largest force in our nation’s front line against revisionist actors, U.S. Pacific Fleet meets this great responsibility with strength, resolve and confidence,” said Adm. Samuel Paparo, U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander. “Together with our joint and combined partner operations, we are positioned to defend – across all domains – any attempts to threaten our nation, our allies and partner’s security, freedom and well-being.”

As a member of the Navy, De La Rosa is part of a world-class organization focused on maintaining maritime dominance, strengthening partnerships, increasing competitive warfighting capabilities and sustaining combat-ready forces in support of the National Defense Strategy.

“The Navy is important to national defense because we are the eyes and ears all around the globe,” said De La Rosa. “We are the most diverse branch in my opinion.”

As De La Rosa and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.

“Serving in the Navy means a lot,” said De La Rosa. “My parents immigrated from Mexico. I’m serving the country that gave everything to my family. Now I’m giving back.”

De La Rosa is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.

“I would like to thank my mom,” added De La Rosa. “She was a big help. It was a big decision to join the Navy. My step dad helped me a lot, too.”

Playoff notebook: Strong spring for Blue Devils

June 6, 2023 by pkzadmin

Maybe it’s something in the water in Leominster, but this spring has been a fruitful one for Blue Devils athletics.

The girls lacrosse team, softball team and baseball team are all thriving in their respective postseason tournaments. The volleyball team had a historic season, claiming a Central Mass. title.

Even the boys lacrosse team, which stumbled out of the gates, put together a respectable second half of its season, and the girls tennis team had a memorable spring campaign.

These are good times to be a Blue Devil fan.

Leominster’s girls lacrosse team is loaded with offensive talent and plays stout enough defense that should the goals fail to come, netminder Laura Falandys and her defensive group can keep the Blue Devils in games. The fifth-seeded Blue Devils’ most recent victim was Oliver Ames on Monday, with six players finding the back of the net in an 18-8 rout.

Gabriella Santucci, Emma Miller Ayala, Kiley Cuddahy, Kailyn Cuddahy, Ella Hersey, Alana Marchetti and Laila Melendez are all offensive threats that have kept the opposition on their toes.

Up next for the potent Blue Devils is Minnechaug Regional. The 12th-seeded Falcons visit Doyle Field Wednesday afternoon for a 4 p.m. contest in the round of 16.

Not to be outdone, the Blue Devil baseball program was fairly impressive in its playoff opener on Monday evening. Second-seeded Leominster started slow, but powered past No. 31 Silver Lake Regional, 4-0, for a comfortable home victory.

Just like the girls lacrosse team, Leominster’s baseball team has depth in spades. Any batter one through nine can come up with a clutch hit or a heady bunt when called upon and the pitching staff isn’t only deep, it’s very talented.

Monday’s night’s game saw ace Angel Baez go the distance, shutting down Silver Lake to the tune of four hits and a walk. The junior hurler struck out 10 and helped his own cause with an RBI double in Leominster’s four-run fifth inning.

Freshman Mark Garner continued to swing a hot bat, doubling and scoring a run, while Thomas Gosson drove in a pair and Alex Oquendo had a single RBI.

The Blue Devils are back under the lights at Doyle Field on Wednesday, hosting No. 15 Mansfield at 6:30 p.m.

Leominster's Abby Barnaby hits a single during Thursday's Division 2 tournament win over Masconomet. (Sentinel & Enterprise / Gary Fournier) — Leominster’s Abby Barnaby hits a single during Thursday’s Division 2 tournament win over Masconomet. (Sentinel & Enterprise / Gary Fournier)

On the softball diamond, the 10th-seeded Blue Devils are readying for a game at No. 7 Somerset Berkley on Wednesday. Having dispatched No. 23 Masconomet on Thursday, Leominster has had plenty of time to prepare for the road tilt.

First pitch is scheduled for 3:45 p.m.

St. Bernard’s upsets Littleton boys lax

What fun is a tournament without any surprises?

The 21st-seeded St. Bernard’s boys lacrosse team knocked off No. 12 Littleton in the Division 4 tournament Monday evening, toppling the Tigers, 7-6 in overtime.

Chase Courtemanche paced the Bernardians (11-8) with a hat trick, lifting St. Bernard’s to a matchup with No. 5 Abington in the round of 16.

Twin Cities residents become trained correctional officers

June 5, 2023 by pkzadmin

WORCESTER — A resident of Leominster and a resident of Fitchburg are among the 12 graduates of the Sheriff’s Office’s 59th Basic Recruit Training Academy.

The Correctional Officers Oath was administered to the class on Friday, May 26 at the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Training Facility. In there class were Officer Julio Inostroza, a resident of Leominster, and Officer Mariangely Rivera-Ortiz, a resident of Fitchburg.

In a press release, the Sheriff’s Office said it has remained committed to hiring a diverse workforce to better meet the needs of the population it serves. The graduates of B.R.T.A. #59 are a well-rounded group of recruits. The newly sworn-in corrections officers represent 10 towns across Massachusetts and one-fourth of the recruits are veterans or reservists.

The Sheriff’s Office Academy is a 12-week paid program that consists of both classroom and hands-on instruction in which recruits are taught how to handle and maintain the care, custody, and control of inmates incarcerated at the Worcester County Jail & House of Correction. Important topics such as de-escalation, duty to intervene, fire safety, defensive tactics, first responder training, suicide prevention, mental health, and substance abuse are covered in the classroom. Hands-on training consists of physical fitness, CPR/first responder, firearms, skid school, and many other scenario-based exercises.

“These men and women have just completed 12 weeks of rigorous training and are now among the best and brightest in corrections today,” Sheriff Lew Evangelidis said. “This class has demonstrated great strength and resolve as they have navigated the academy. They are the next generation of corrections officers that will continue our mission to serve, protect, and create a better, safer community for all.”

Since taking office, Evangelidis has made significant changes to the hiring standards to professionalize the department. All correctional officer applicants must have, at minimum, an associate degree, two years of military service, or two years of relevant work experience. They must also pass a written exam, physical fitness test, background check, and psychological screening test. Evangelidis has also implemented a policy that prohibits the submission of letters of recommendation from politicians and gives preference to hiring those who have served our country.

Protesters rally against proposed closure of Leominster Hospital’s maternity ward

May 31, 2023 by pkzadmin

LEOMINSTER — Protesters lined the area of Nelson and North Main streets Tuesday night to oppose the anticipated closing of the maternity ward at Leominster Hospital.

Recently, UMass Memorial Health Alliance-Clinton Hospital Leominster announced the maternity ward would close Sept. 22. However, regulators must first approve the plan. Protesters said the decision would force expectant mothers to travel to places like Gardner, Worcester or Concord to deliver their babies or in an emergency room.

UMass Memorial Health Alliance – Clinton Hospital President Steve Roach cited “industry-wide workforce shortages” and “a declining birth rate” in the region as the rationale for shuttering the birthing center in a statement last week.

The announcement has been met with an overwhelmingly negative response.

“This will really impact low-income families the hardest, and those with travel restrictions,” said one protester who chose not to share their name.

Leominster is home to many families that are low-income or fixed-income, 11% are below the poverty line. Protesters said the closure would put the vulnerable in a very difficult position — forcing them to pay costs for travel in a time of crisis.

Several protesters were asked what or whom they believed to be behind this decision, their responses were similar.

“I can only assume that it has to do with big corporations. These conglomerates buy up everything.” one person said.

“Babies before big bucks” said another.

However, state Sen. John Cronin said big business is not to blame.

State Sen. John Cronin addresses protesters who rallied against the proposed closure of the maternity ward at Leominster Hospital on Tuesday. (COURTESY OFFICE OF STATE REP. NATALIE HIGGINS)

“This decision was made by one person, Doctor Eric Dickson, the CEO of UMass Memorial health,” Cronin said. “This was a complete failure in leadership to have made this decision without consulting the North Central delegation. What he should have done — what a leader would have done — was let us know what the struggles were so we could keep this service in North Central.”

“Absolute radio silence from UMass Memorial,” Cronin said regarding the failure to communicate with Dickson.

Cronin was not the only member of the delegation in attendance. He was joined by state Reps. Michael Kushmerek, Natalie Higgins and Margaret Scarsdale. Fitchburg Mayor Stephen DiNatale and Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella were also present.

This proposed closure comes just a short six months after UMass Memorial was awarded a state grant based on good relationships with the delegation.

“We take pride in being very good partners with the UMass Memorial health system. We have sent tens of millions of dollars to the UMass Memorial health system and those dollars are from taxpayers, and they are for one reason,” Cronin said.

In regards to fighting the proposed closure, Cronin said, “We are asking Dr. Eric Dickson to withdraw the notice of closure and come to the table with us and tell what UMass needs to keep it open in the community. It’s not asking for a lot.”

For many protesters, the decision carries personal significance. The group was comprised of mothers, many of whom had delivered their children in the very maternity ward that stands to close. They felt as though a piece of their own family’s history would be lost as a result of this decision.

“It feels like it’s a part of our history,” said one citizen. “Both of my children were born here.”

The decision has also been slammed by the Massachusetts Nurses Association. In a statement, Miko Nakagawa, a nurse at Leominster Hospital and co-chair of the nurses local bargaining unit with the MNA, said the decision shows a “blatant disregard of our patients and our region.”

Miko Nakagawa, a nurse at Leominster Hospital and co-chair of the nurses local bargaining unit with the Massachusetts Nurses Association, speaks out against the proposed closure of the maternity ward at Leominster Hospital on Tuesday. (COURTESY OFFICE OF STATE REP. NATALIE HIGGINS)

“There is no medical or moral justification for this decision, which will have a devastating impact on families, particularly economically disadvantaged residents who lack the ability to travel long distances to receive care in Worcester or Gardner,” Nakagawa added.

The MNA also said nurses in the hospital’s emergency department were concerned about their ability to care for mothers and newborns without the birthing center.

“We struggle now with our emergency department staff to care for our current patient population, and it can take hours to find ambulances to transport patients who need to go to other hospitals. Under these conditions, I don’t see how we could safely manage a mother and baby without the specialized skills and experience of our labor and delivery staff. It’s downright scary,” said Samantha Rahaim, a nurse in the hospital’s emergency department in the statement.

The MNA also said nurses at the hospital took issue with the hospital’s rationale, believing that staffing shortages are a means for hospital management to increase revenue, at the expense of patient care. The MNA said it has filed dozens of grievances with management over their failure to recruit appropriate staff in all areas of the hospital, including the maternity unit.

City Editor Jacob Vitali contributed to this report.

LHS senior passing along Celebrating the Success of Women of Color speaker series baton

May 31, 2023 by pkzadmin

LEOMINSTER — Ivy Sasu is feeling a gamut of emotions as she wraps up not only her high school career but the successful “Celebrating the Success of Women of Color” speaker series she spearheaded while at Leominster High School.

The senior, who is on the brink of graduation this coming weekend, invited former Olympian Zara Northover to address the students earlier this month as part of the speaker series she launched in May of last year.

“She discussed her journey of finding who she is,” Sasu said of the message the Jamaican shot-putter imparted to the students on May 12. “She described what it means to be encouraged but also to believe in oneself. She encouraged students to follow a method a former coach taught her — daily go into the mirror and repeat these words ‘I am great, and I will do great things.’ She told the students to believe these words and some students got the opportunity to do this at the event.”

Sasu conveyed that the speaking engagement “was very successful” and followed by a lunch with a small group “that was nurturing.”

She went on to say that she is proud of the speaker series and incredibly thankful to those who have supported it, including the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts which provided a $7,500 grant Sasu applied for to fund it and former longtime LHS Principal Steve Dubzinski, without who the series “would not have started.”

Left to right: Leominster High School senior Ivy Sasu, former Olympian Zara Northover, and LHS Principal Josh Romano. Sasu is passing along the “Celebrating the Success of Women of Color” speaker series baton to her younger sister, Princess Sasu. (COURTESY IVY SASU)

“As this was my last speaker series, it is so so bittersweet,” Ivy Sasu expressed. “I can’t believe how far the speakers series has come and I am beyond grateful for the support of [LHS Principal] Dr. Josh Romano, Superintendent Paula Deacon, and the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts. With their support, as well as my amazing family, I have been able to place a home for the speakers series.”

She went on to say that her younger sister Princess Sasu, who is going into her sophomore year at LHS, will take over running the speaker series.

“She is beyond qualified, and I am excited to see what she does,” Ivy Sasu said of her sibling continuing the family legacy. “I am so glad I get to watch this grow.”

With graduation right around the corner on June 3, the hardworking and determined young woman said earning her high school degree and heading off to college as a biology major is the realization of a dream of hers.

“It’s all so exciting and nerve wracking at once,” Ivy shared. “I am so excited to see where God takes me and my peers!”

Leominster

St. Bernard’s upsets Littleton boys lax

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