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Natalie Higgins

North Central delegation calls for UMass Memorial president to negotiate, stop maternity ward closure

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LEOMINSTER — With the closure of the maternity ward at Leominster Hospital looming, public pressure is mounting.

This week, members of the North Central delegation released a public letter calling on UMass Memorial Health president, Dr. Eric Dickson to negotiate and stop the proposed closure of the hospital’s Labor and Delivery Unit. The delegation is also circulating a petition opposing the unit’s closure.

The letter, which was signed by state Sen. John Cronin and state Reps. Natalie Higgins, Meghan Kilcoyne, Michael Kushmerek, and Margaret Scarsdale asks Dickson to engage to delegation in finding a solution that would keep maternal healthcare services in place. Officials said the letter also asks why UMass did not notify elected officials until after a decision to close the unit was made and why no effort was made to secure the necessary resources to prevent the closure.

UMass Memorial Health has previously stated that the decision was made due to declining birth rates in the region and staffing difficulties — the latter claim has been disputed by the Massachusetts Nurses Association. Officials and the MNA have also maintained no meaningful attempts have been made to prevent the unit’s closure.

The delegation said the proposed closure follows UMass’s 2018 decision to terminate Leominster Hospital’s  inpatient pediatric unit, which the state Department of Public Health deemed was an essential  service “necessary for preserving access and health status” in the region.

New Spanish American Center food truck is feeding the local community

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LEOMINSTER — Nourishing the community is at the heart and soul of the inspiration behind the new Spanish American Center food truck, which was celebrated with a ribbon cutting on Monday.

Dozens gathered at the Spruce Street nonprofit social service agency to christen the brand-new food truck, including SAC staff, board members, and volunteers, city police, representatives from City Hall, City Council, Making Opportunity Count, and North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, local and state dignitaries, and community members.

Congressman Jim McGovern spoke to the crowd gathered on Monday in Leominster to celebrate the new Spanish American Center food truck. "Food ought to be a fundamental human right." (DANIELLE RAY/SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE)
U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern spoke to the crowd gathered on Monday in Leominster to celebrate the new Spanish American Center food truck. “Food ought to be a fundamental human right.” (DANIELLE RAY/SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE)

U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern has long been an advocate for raising awareness about hunger and food insecurity and taking action to address those issues. The politician, who helped secure $110,000 in federal funding that was used to help purchase and outfit the truck, had high praise for longtime SAC Executive Director Neddy Latimer and her crew and thanked them for their tireless community efforts.

“This will help a lot of people in this community and how can you say no to Neddy,” McGovern quipped, drawing laughter from the crowd. “This is important work. This is what really matters.”

The total cost for the food truck was $125,000. Latimer said SAC covered the difference and state Rep. Natalie Higgins secured $50,000 in state funding that was used to purchase a food delivery truck.

“They say it takes a village and it really does,” McGovern said, adding that every person gathered for the celebration “had a part in making this happen.”

Both vehicles will be used to bring hot meals and fresh food out to members of the community who are dealing with food insecurity, homeless, families, and more, “nutritious food” for people who may not have access or transportation to grocery stores or the means to acquire fresh fruits and vegetables, McGovern pointed out.

The new Spanish American Center food truck that will be used to feed and nourish community members was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday morning at the Leominster social service agency. (DANIELLE RAY/SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE)
The new Spanish American Center food truck that will be used to feed and nourish community members was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday morning at the Leominster social service agency. (DANIELLE RAY/SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE)

Latimer was overcome with emotion when she thanked everyone involved, especially McGovern, Higgins, and state Sen. John Cronin and state Rep. Michael Kushmerek for their ongoing support and “for making a dream come true.”

“Thanks for joining us in this celebration,” she conveyed to the crowd. “This morning tears came to my eyes because I couldn’t believe this was happening. Words cannot express how I feel this morning, we are very happy and grateful.”

She went on to compliment the members of the SAC Board of Directors, whom she called “an asset to the community,” for their dedication and hard work, including board President Migdalia Velez.

“We all know that food insecurity is a big deal in our community,” Velez stated. “This is going to be instrumental in reaching those people who may not be able to get to the Spanish American Center. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.”

SAC Information and Referral Advocacy Specialist and Elder Services Coordinator Mickey Guzman, who has been with SAC for 27 years, introduced each speaker and shared that SAC is the “oldest minority Latin program in Worcester County” and has been around for 57 years. Latimer has been with SAC for over five decades and was recently selected as a Mount Wachusett Community College Service Above Self award honoree for her dedication and commitment to serving the community.

The new Spanish American Center food truck that will be used to feed and nourish community members was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday morning at the Leominster social service agency. (DANIELLE RAY/SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE)
The new Spanish American Center food truck that will be used to feed and nourish community members was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday morning at the Leominster social service agency. (DANIELLE RAY/SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE)

“Its amazing, what a journey it’s been for Neddy and the Spanish American Center,” said Mayor Dean Mazzarella. “[We] could have never dreamt this would come together … it’s all really come full circle.”

Mazzarella spoke about the financial challenges so many people face these days — high rent, the rising cost of groceries — “an indication of how tough it’s been” and that “it’s been difficult for families.”

“The Spanish American center is there to help everyone,” he said. “Today is part of that connection to make that happen.”

Earlier in the program McGovern said that “the idea of anti-hunger shouldn’t be a radical idea” and noted that there are “nearly 40 million citizens in our country don’t know where their next meal is coming from.”

“Food ought to be a fundamental human right,” he stated. “Look at where the gaps are … maybe others will follow your lead. This food truck will really allow the Spanish American Center to expand their operation and help more people.”

Latimer’s husband Jose Latimer, who is the SAC Manager of Food Services, said he’ll be helping with the food truck along with other SAC team members.

“I drove it, it’s really good,” he said with a smile about test driving the food truck. “The food we are going to prepare for the people out there is homemade, nothing frozen or canned. This is going to be beautiful for the community. There’s nothing like warm food.”

Spanish American Center Manager of Food Services Jose Latimer, who will be help run the Leominster social service agency's food truck, spoke at the ribbon cutting about why this new endeavor is so important. "This is going to be beautiful for the community." (DANIELLE RAY/SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE)
Spanish American Center Manager of Food Services Jose Latimer, who will be help run the Leominster social service agency’s food truck, spoke at the ribbon cutting about why this new endeavor is so important. “This is going to be beautiful for the community.” (DANIELLE RAY/SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE)

After not one but two ribbons were cut and Latimer invited all the SAC team members up for a photo, Mazzarella noted that this kind of collaborative community work is typical in Leominster.

“Neddy, we can’t thank you enough, you’re our leader we follow you,” he said while presenting Latimer with a congratulatory citation. “All the agencies here work so well together, there’s nothing we can’t get done. Maybe it’s food that brings us together.”

Cronin’s Director of Communications Jake Simopoulos gave Latimer a citation on behalf of the senator, who was unable to attend the ribbon cutting, and Tracy Gagnon presented her with another from the chamber of commerce.

“Food is love,” Gagnon stated, to which Latimer replied, “food is medicine.”

Delicious scents wafted through the air and attendees were invited inside the center to feast on a sampling of the kinds of cuisine the food truck will be serving to community members such as rice and beans, empanadas, chicken and pulled pork, garden and potato salads, fresh fruit, drinks, and a homemade cake with a light up toy food truck perched on top.

Natalie Higgins wants to keep fighting for 4th Worcester District residents

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Natalie Higgins wants to continue fighting for Leominster as its full-time state representative and lifelong resident (for at least three generations).

She said, “a government that works for and is accountable to the people of Leominster is on the line this election.”

If re-elected, Higgins’s priorities are an “affordable and accessible public education system from pre-K to higher education”, prevention of sexual and domestic violence including strengthened protections for survivors, ending the stigma around mental health with a “mental health care system that can support our entire community” when needed, reducing homelessness and housing insecurity, and “any policy issue that supports economic mobility.”

“These are investments in our neighbors that Massachusetts will benefit from for decades to come,” she said. “Smart investments can have generational impacts.”

She is running as the incumbent on what she believes is a strong history of success in her six years at the State House.

“I have a proven track record of bringing state resources to Leominster and working with our local, federal, and state delegations, including both Democratic and Republican leadership,” she said.  “I am proud of the progress we’ve made.”

Particular accomplishments that Higgins finds notable is her leadership to update the state education funding formula with the Student Opportunity Act, meaning Leominster receives $8.2 million dollars more from the state this year than last year (which will continue to grow annually), helped secure $2.75 million in local project infrastructure improvements, taken on predatory student loan lending with the Student Loan Borrower Bill of Rights, secured $6.5 million to help homeowners and small landlords retrofit properties to be eco-friendly and bring down utility costs, worked with others to bring the first trauma-informed non-congregate model adult shelter program to Leominster which helps people transition into permanent housing, and teamed up with the Republican House Minority Leader to make the State Crime Lab end Massachusetts’ backlog of 6,300 sexual assault evidence kits, leading to solved cold cases.

With a Democratic supermajority in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Higgins takes pride in being a centrist figure.

“Legislata named me one of the ‘most central’ legislators because of my ability to work with and support legislators from across the political spectrum, she said, which “comes out of representing Leominster well.”

Still, she believes “that there are solutions to so many of the challenges we’re facing, we just need the political will to fight for bold solutions, rather than accepting the status quo and tinkering around the edges.”

Accessibility to her constituents is crucial to Higgins.

“When I first ran, I wanted to make government more accessible and to ensure (it’s) better for Leominster residents. Growing up in a working-class family, with parents who are small business owners, government was not a place we got help when they were struggling. And being accessible meant being a full-time State Rep,” she said.

Higgins meets with constituents late Monday nights and early Friday mornings as part of her regular office hours and has held community forums about education, the economy, the environment, and healthcare.

She wasn’t always in government; Higgins worked in the nonprofit world, most extensively as a rape crisis counselor and then the executive director of PHENOM, an educational charity.  She volunteers at the nonprofit organization Pathways for Change.

“I learned how to stretch our budget and build coalitions of unlikely allies — this is critical as a member of the House Ways & Means Committee and to be successful in getting bills passed in the Legislature and to the Governor’s desk”, she said, and saw how laws could sometimes “come up short” instead of helping the people they’re meant to be helping.

She’s also a licensed attorney.  A 2006 graduate of Leominster High School, Higgins obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from UMass Amherst, earned her law degree from Northeastern University School of Law, and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 2014. She is a member of the LGBTQ+ Caucus in the State House.

“Law school helped me better understand how to draft policies that were effective and to be a strong advocate and lift up the stories of those most impacted by gaps in our laws,” she said.

She added, “My entire career has been focused on public service, from my work with nonprofits to my work in state government.”

Although she’s grateful for all her endorsements, more than a dozen local labor unions (including nurses, teachers, and carpenters) mean the most to her given her commitment to “standing up for workers’ rights, locally and statewide.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic and the current global economic crisis has heightened a lot of the challenges our community has been facing, all while the wealthiest see their wealth grow exponentially. We need an economy that works for everyone. I am going to continue to fight for solutions that lift up everyone in our city,” she said.

Higgins wants more transparency in state government, and has also been transparent about laying out all the minutiae of her policy positions on her campaign website, electnataliehiggins.com.

“I am asking for Leominster’s vote once again this November,” she said.

Leominster’s Mickey Guzmán awarded 2022 Latinx Excellence on the Hill Award

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LEOMINSTER — For his contributions to the community, Miguel “Mickey” Guzman was recently honored with a 2022 Latinx Excellence on the Hill Award by the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus.

Guzman, the elders program and information and referral specialist at the Spanish American Center has been serving the community for over 27 years. He was born in New York City to Puerto Rican parents and attended college at 17 on a handball scholarship. At Lake Forest College in Illinois, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in bilingual education with a minor in psychology, according to a press release.

He was recommended for the honor by state Rep. Natalie Higgins, which he shares with 41 other Latinx persons across the state who have made outstanding contributions in their communities.

Guzman has four children — Mikey, Jessica, Danny and Amanda — and he loves to play music with them in their family band, Fa’Unida.

“Mickey has continuously given back to the community, not only through his work at the Spanish American Center, but he also coaches basketball, baseball and track and field. He has been leading critical community discussions as a part of the Montachusett Martin Luther King Jr. Coalition,” Higgins said in her nomination. “Mickey has given so much of himself to Leominster and our surrounding community. We are stronger because of his tireless advocacy for our neighbors and our region.”

Neddy Latimer, the executive director of the Spanish American Center, said, “Here at the SAC we are very proud of Mickey been nominated and receiving this recognition. We celebrate, he is a true Leader and example to the Latinx community.”

“I am honored to receive this prestigious award, especially during this year’s Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month,” Guzman said in a press release. “I have been a community services worker for over 40 years, the last 27 years at the Spanish American Center and take pride in helping others. I am strengthened and empowered to continue my community services whenever I see a client or his/her child or grandchild who recognizes me and thanks me for the services I provided to his/her family. That ‘THANK YOU’ is priceless!”

Through the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, each 2022 Latinx trailblazer was nominated by legislators of the House and Senate and has demonstrated exceptional leadership and served as powerful reminders that leadership means a dedicated investment in the power of community.

The MBLLC was created in 1973, with the intent to be a leading voice on Beacon Hill for communities of color across Massachusetts. They also seek to empower constituents to gain a deeper sense of political awareness on issues concerning them and their greater communities.

Natalie Higgins, John Dombrowski debate at Leominster High School

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LEOMINSTER — State Rep. Natalie Higgins and former longtime City Councilor John Dombrowski went head-to-head at the Leominster High School last week during a debate hosted by Students for Transparency and Understanding of Municipal Politics.

S.T.U.M.P. President Ivy Sasu, an LHS senior, asked the state representative candidates a dozen questions at the Oct. 13 event that ranged from “In your opinion, which is the most important issue we face within our community?” to “What policy areas do you most want to emphasize during your time as state representative?” and “What is your plan to combat homelessness and poverty in Massachusetts and specifically in Leominster?”

State Rep. Natalie Higgins and former longtime City Councilor John Dombrowski went head-to-head at Leominster High School last week during a debate hosted by Students for Transparency and Understanding of Municipal Politics. (DANIELLE RAY/SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE)
State Rep. Natalie Higgins and former longtime City Councilor John Dombrowski went head-to-head at Leominster High School last week during a debate hosted by Students for Transparency and Understanding of Municipal Politics. (DANIELLE RAY/SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE)

The auditorium was packed with interested students from all grade levels as well as faculty members. STUMP Marketing Manager Matthew Cohen, also a senior, joined Sasu on the panel up front as the timekeeper and club advisor Larissa Murphy, a history teacher, also sat with them.

“The event went great,” Sasu said following the debate. “We had a large crowd that was able to learn more from Rep. Higgins and Mr. Dombrowski. Many students and teachers have been able to hear from both sides due to this event.”

She asked each November ballot candidate to comment on the pandemic and the ongoing effects because of it, stating that “despite losing restrictions on both the state and national level, COVID-19 is still a global issue.”

“Our society cannot go through another shutdown again,” Dombrowski stated. “It crippled many businesses and shut down many businesses.”

Higgins said in her rebuttal that “people are still falling through the cracks” and that she encourages people to “reach out to your reps.” if they are having issues related to COVID.

When asked what they would do to keep state colleges and universities affordable, Dombrowski shared that he put himself through college and law school.

“I know all too well about the hardships,” he said, adding that he has one college graduate and one kid currently in college in New York City.

“It’s $14,000 cheaper for my daughter to rent an apartment off campus than live in the dorms. That’s criminal.”

State Rep. Natalie Higgins and former longtime City Councilor John Dombrowski, pictured, went head-to-head at Leominster High School last week during a debate hosted by Students for Transparency and Understanding of Municipal Politics. (DANIELLE RAY/SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE)
State Rep. Natalie Higgins and former longtime City Councilor John Dombrowski, pictured, went head-to-head at Leominster High School last week during a debate hosted by Students for Transparency and Understanding of Municipal Politics. (DANIELLE RAY/SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE)

Higgins spoke about being a student at UMass Amherst and said her parents “took on debt” so that she and her brother “could have more opportunities than they did.” She said she supports implementing an excise tax which “would fully fund our education system” and help provide “free tuition for state education,” a concept Higgins said she has “been fighting for for six years.”

“It’s important to make sure you’re making an investment in your future,” she said to the students.

Both candidates said they would support a bill to change the voting age to 16, with Dombrowski noting that it “would increase voter turnout and knowledge. I would be in favor of that.”

“You are deeply impacted,” he said before adding that he is “proud of you students for showing up to school committee meetings” and getting involved with politics on the local and national level.

“I believe you deserve to make your voice heard through a vote.”

When they were asked what they would do to combat the opioid crisis in the state, Higgins said, “we’ve gotten pretty comfortable about talking about addiction not so much about talking about mental health.”

She mentioned teaming up with Mayor Dean Mazzarella and the city police department to help “people and their loved ones get connected to resources” when it comes to addiction and substance abuse.

“We are trying to figure out where those breakdowns are,” Higgins said. “We are not leaving families and individuals alone to figure out this complex issue.”

Dombrowski told the story of a law client of his, “a kid from Maynard,” who described his own opioid addiction “as an itch he just can’t scratch.”

“It’s a really tough addiction,” the attorney said. “Physicians should only be prescribing this highly addictive drug when absolutely necessary.”

Dombrowski suggested that educators, primary care physicians, high school guidance counselors, and more “should be talking about this” issue with students and that “there needs to be comprehensive health insurance reform, especially because of this issue.”

“This, like so many other problems, have to be solved from the ground level, and what’s the ground level? Health insurance. Health insurance reform is the answer.”

They were both asked for their opinion on a Massachusetts Graduated Income Tax Amendment (Higgins is in favor, Dombrowski is not), and the final question addressed gun control laws and whether the state should have even stricter laws in place than it already has.

“I don’t think that there needs to be more gun laws and more strict gun laws, those resources can be used on a lot of the other issues we talked about,” Dombrowski said.

State Rep. Natalie Higgins, pictured, and former longtime City Councilor John Dombrowski went head-to-head at Leominster High School last week during a debate hosted by Students for Transparency and Understanding of Municipal Politics. (DANIELLE RAY/SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE)
State Rep. Natalie Higgins, pictured, and former longtime City Councilor John Dombrowski went head-to-head at Leominster High School last week during a debate hosted by Students for Transparency and Understanding of Municipal Politics. (DANIELLE RAY/SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE)

Higgins responded by saying that while Massachusetts “has some of the most effective laws and is held up as the standard” there is always room for improvement.

“You all deserve to feel safe in your schools, your places of worship, at the grocery store,” she said. “Keep electing strong leaders.”

Members of S.T.U.M.P. posed for photos with the candidates on the stage following the debate. Sasu said they “appreciate the help of (Principal) Dr. (Joshua) Romano for allowing this event to happen” and that they “hope to further political knowledge of Leominster High School in the future.”

“This event is very important to students from all backgrounds,” she said. “The city of Leominster is heavily impacted by its community, and we continue to rely on our representatives to voice our opinions. Many of the students of Leominster high have the influence both on their peers and families based on what they know.

“S.T.U.M.P. continues to be the bond between the City of Leominster and its students,” she continued. “The debate allowed us to hear from both candidates in order to understand what aligns with our own beliefs. We want the candidates values known and shared.”