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Police nab Fitchburg man breaking into stranger’s house

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WORCESTER — With the help of a broomstick and a prompt police response, an incident involving a Fitchburg man attempting to break into a stranger’s residence was prevented from escalating early Wednesday morning.

At about 2:52 a.m. on Nov. 29, Worcester Police officers were dispatched to a Gibbs Street residential address for a report of a break-in that was still in progress. Upon arrival, officers saw a woman yelling out the window saying, “He’s trying to get inside!”

Officers located a male, Oniz Janniere, 32, of Fitchburg, at the scene and detained him while they gathered more information. Police determined that Janniere had been trying to enter the residence of a stranger who, before police arrived, had attempted to get the man to leave with no success.

At one point, police said that the Gibbs Street resident opened her door and saw him trying to enter the house, pushing him back with a broomstick and telling him to leave, according to a statement from the Worcester Police Department.

She locked the door but he continued trying to enter the residence.

After he was taken into custody, officers located two, double-edged knives on Janniere and placed him under arrest. He is charged with Attempt to Commit a Crime (Armed Burglary), two counts of Carrying a Dangerous Weapon, Disorderly Conduct and Disturbing the Peace.

Courtesy Worcester Police Department.

A play space for all

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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)
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!”

Kevin Scott Hall to perform two holiday concerts

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ASHBURNHAM — Singer-songwriter and entertainer Kevin Scott Hall, a native of Ashburnham who returned in 2021 after three decades in New York City, has invited the community to his holiday concerts next weekend.

The two concerts will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec.10, at New Dawn Arts Center, located at 84 Main St. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to benefit the center.

This year, all the musicians on stage with him have a strong Ashburnham connection — they were either born, raised, or currently live in town.

“The pianist I’ve had for the last two years couldn’t make it this year, so I had to reach out to other musicians,” Hall said. “It turns out, we have a lot of talent right in our little town! I think it will add a special touch to the shows.”

On stage, Hall will be joined by Jared Moore on guitar, Russ Gale on bass, Sian Michael on percussion, and Patricia Frederick as a guest pianist on a few of the songs. Arielle Cady Flores will return to add additional vocals.

During his New York years, Hall did some acting and directing and, for many years, taught theater and speech at The City College of New York. He has also written for many publications and is the author of two books.

However, the bulk of his creative output has been recorded music and many years of working the nightclubs.

“One night back in the ‘90s, there was a snowstorm and I had four musicians on stage with me and four people in the audience,” Hall said. “Doing concerts in this beautiful space with Ken Porter’s great sound system is a whole lot more fun. And this music is timeless.”

Hall will be performing his new song “Christmastime in Maine,” which he co-wrote and recorded with Grammy nominee Judy Pancoast. He wrote this song about his memories of Maine, which has an old-time country feel.

Tickets can be purchased in advance for $20 at newdawnarts.org. At the door, tickets are $25 (cash or Venmo); $15 for seniors and students.

Craft a mystery with the Sisters in Crime

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LEOMINSTER — On Thursday, Sisters in Crime celebrates 25 years and the community has been invited to this year’s interactive show “Sisters in Crime: Making a Mystery” from 6:30 until 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at the library, located at 30 West St.

Join authors Sharon Daynard, Janet Raye Stevens, and Sharon Healy-Yang as they riff on the art of making a mystery.

“The authors will invite the audience to participate in creating a mystery, developing setting and characters, and determining the perfect murder weapon,” said Alyssa White, Adult Services Assistant, Leominster Public Library.

Sharon Daynard’s writing runs the gamut from light and quirky to downright dark and troubling. Her debut novel, Murder Points North, puts a humorous spin on murder in a small town. Her short stories include “The Boss of Butler Square” which received Honorable Mention for the Al Blanchard Award and “Widows Peak” which was short-listed for a Derringer Award.

She’s been offered the services of a professional hitman, crossed paths with a serial killer, testified before grand juries, and taken lie detector tests.

Award-winning author Janet Raye Stevens writes smart, stealthily romantic WWII-set mysteries, paranormal suspense, and time travel adventures with humor and heart. A Derringer and Silver Falchion award finalist for mystery fiction, and Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery Fiction winner, Stevens lives with her family in central Massachusetts.

“As a baby boomer, I grew up surrounded by World War II vets and hearing their stories,” said Stevens, “So it is no surprise that I would turn my interest in history and that time period into short mystery stories and novels set primarily in Massachusetts and New England.”

Her novel “A Moment After Dark” is a suspense set in December 1941 on the Massachusetts coast.

“When I wrote Beryl Blue, Time Cop, in which a contemporary librarian time travels to 1943 on a mission to save a WWII soldier, I wanted to set the story even closer to home and created Ballard Springs, a fictional wartime city loosely based on Fitchburg – with a bit of Worcester thrown in and a fictional version of Fort Devens right down the street,” she added.

She also shared a fun fact – Stevens went to summer camp at Fort Devens, a program she recently learned was called Project Summertime.

“I don’t remember much except for swimming in a murky pond, and eating in the mess hall,” she said with a smile.

Sharon Healy-Yang, a former college professor at Worcester State University, writes smart and sassy mysteries that evoke the wit and suspense of her beloved 1940s films. Her Jessica Minton mystery series (“Bait and Switch”, “Letter from a Dead Man”, and “Always Play the Dark Horse”) features a sharp female lead who faces espionage, murder, Nazis, a femme fatale with henchmen, and even horse thieves, aided by her madcap sister; her wise alec cat Dusty; and a dashing, mysterious man.

“We are so pleased to have these talented folks hosting the program this year and for the wonderful engagements we’ve had with Sisters in Crime for over two decades,” said White. “Join us in celebrating the many opportunities we’ve had to meet talented authors and learn from them about the craft of writing and the business of publishing.”

For more information on this event, or other library events, call 978-534-7522 or visit leominsterlibrary.org.

FATV-LTV-PAC WEEKLY SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS

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FATV HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK:

PICKS OF THE WEEK:

Monday 4:30 p.m., “Kushmerek Connection” with guest Worcester County D.A. Joseph Early (New)

Monday 6 p.m., School Committee Meeting (Live)

Tuesday 7 p.m., “Barbara & You” with the International Veterans Choir (New)

Wednesday 7 p.m., “Inside Fitchburg” featuring School Superintendent Jonathan Thompson (New)

Channel Comcast 8/Verizon 35 “Public”

Sunday, 7:30 p.m., “FLAPtv en Espanol” (New)

Monday, 5:30 p.m., “Cronin’s Corner” (New)

Tuesday, 7 p.m., Barbara & You (New)

Wednesday, 7 p.m., “Inside Fitchburg” (New)

Thursday, 8:30 a.m., “Music and The Spoken Word”

Friday, 11 p.m., “Andy’s Little Sci-Fi Horror Show”

Saturday, 10 p.m., “Saturday Fright Special”

Channel Comcast 9/Verizon 36 “Government”

Monday 6 p.m., School Committee Meeting (Live)

Tuesday 7 p.m., City Council Meeting (Live)

Wednesday 6 p.m., Conservation Commission Meeting (Live)

Thursday 4 p.m., Board of Health Meeting (Live)

Channel Comcast 1074HD/ Verizon 37 & 2137HD “Civic”

Monday – Friday 7:30 a.m., Memorial Middle School Morning Show (Live)

Monday – Friday 9 a.m.,   Rollstone Bank “Dollars & Sense”

Monday – Friday 12 noon Leominster Credit Union “Makes Cents”

Complete daily schedules, on demand video and livestreaming is available at fatv.org. FATV is also on Fire TV, Apple TV, and Roku. Search for FATV in the App Store.

LEOMINSTER.TV HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK:

Verizon 34/Comcast 8 

Monday, 8:30 p.m., “Lifeline Ministries”

Tuesday, 6 p.m., “Medium Bonnie Page

Wednesday, 7:30, a.m. weekdays, “Good Animation”

Thursday, 5:30 p.m., “An Uncommon View”

Friday, 8:30 a.m. daily, “Rosary”

Saturday, 10 a.m., “Good Shepherd Ghana”

Sunday, 8 p.m., “Barbara and You”

Verizon 32/Comcast 9 

Go to www.leominster.tv for more schedule details

Verizon 33/Comcast 99 

Representing Leominster

Leominster City Council Meeting Nov. 27

Leominster Conservation Commission Meeting Nov. 28

Leominster School Committee meeting

For more information about School Committee Meetings

Please visit https://www.facebook.com/leominsterschools/

Leominster Planning Board meeting Nov. 20

City Council meetings, 2nd Monday of the month 6:45 p.m. (live)

School Committee meeting, repeated showings daily

Planning Board meeting, repeated showings daily

Go to www.leominster.tv for more schedule details

LUNENBURG PUBLIC ACCESS (PAC) HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK:

Channel Comcast 8 – Government

Sunday, 6 p.m., Conservation Commission

Tuesday, Thursday, 1 p.m., Select Board

Friday, 5 p.m., Planning Board

Channel Comcast 9 – Public

Sunday, 1 p.m, State Author Talk

Saturday, 2:30 p.m., Shrieks and Krieks

Thursday, 1:30 p.m., “Up in Smoke”

Channel Comcast 22 – Educational

Saturday, Sunday 2:30 p.m., “Movie Talk”

Monday, 5:30 p.m., UFO Discussion at Lunenburg Library

Daily, 4 p.m., 7 p.m., “Lunenburg Storytime – The Books We Love”

 

Fostering Change seeks gift donations

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LEOMINSTER — With a mission to provide foster children with all the joys that the holiday season brings, Fostering Change, Inc. is hosting the “Gifts From the Heart” initiative, now through Friday, Dec. 15.

Fostering Change, Inc. is collecting new, unwrapped gifts for the over 400 foster children in the area.

“Foster kids are often a subset of kids that get overlooked in many ways, and we, along with a community of supporters, are working to change that and give them the normalcy that all kids deserve,” said Lindsey English, president of Fostering Change.

English says there are three ways the community can help.

“You can either purchase wish list items online at Amazon.com, Target.com, or Walmart.com by searching Fostering Change, Inc.,” she said, “Or you are welcome to drop gifts off at several locations in the area.

Drop-off locations include Leominster United Methodist Church, 77 Hall St.; Leominster Credit Union, 20 Adams St.; Leominster City Hall, 25 West St.; or CapEx FSC LLC, 117 Florence St., all of Leominster; or Aesthetics by Cie – Manestream Day Spa, 909 South St., Fitchburg.

Monetary donations also welcomed and appreciated and can be made via Paypal to FosteringChangeMA@gmail.com, by check mailed to Fostering Change, Inc., 197 Spruce St., Apt. 5, Leominster MA 01453; or through Venmo @FosteringChangeMA

“The holiday season is typically one for family, friends, and thankfulness,” English said. “We strive to provide the joys of the holiday season for foster kids, provide them a sense of belonging, love, community, and compassion.”