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Pepperell

Revolution soccer to grant Pepperell boy’s wish

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PEPPERELL — Owen Coole loves animals, being outdoors, and sports. He is a soccer player in the Nashoba Valley Youth Soccer League, and if he had one wish come true, it would be to play on the New England Revolution Soccer Team.

This past Saturday, with the help of Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island, 9-year-old Owen, who has cystic fibrosis, learned that his dream will come true.

At a surprise reveal, Owen learned at the end of his soccer game that his wish to be a member of the New England Revolution team will be granted on Saturday, Oct. 21, at Gillette Stadium, in Foxborough.

Participating with Owen on this special wish reveal day, were his mom Danielle D’eon and stepdad Andrew Johnson, his dad Joshua Coole and stepmom Anna Carlson, and his sister, Kelsey Leonardi, along with his extended family and teammates from the Pepperell B34 Timbers, and members of the opposing team, the Harvard B34 Gunners.

Owen’s surprise wish reveal was organized by dedicated Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island volunteers – Lindsay Cahill of Dracut, who herself is a 1999 wish recipient and Kate Greene of Billerica. The pair make up Owen’s wish volunteer team, working with Make-A-Wish staff to plan his wish.

“Wish granting for me is a way of giving back to Make-A-Wish in gratitude for my own wish being granted over two decades ago,” said Cahill. “The feeling is immeasurable, and each wish is a rewarding journey for both wish child and wish granter alike. I could not be happier for Owen and his family and can hardly wait to celebrate with them and the New England Revolution on Owen’s wish day.”

Greene says she is over-the-top excited for Owen and his wish day.

“Owen is such an enthusiastic, kind boy who is so loved by his family, his teammates, and his community,” Greene said. “He deserves this great opportunity to immerse himself with the team and sport that he loves!”

His wish will coincide with Make-A-Wish Night with the New England Revolution. This special night celebrates the Make-A-Wish mission and the 40th anniversary of Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

“Owen was so surprised; he and our family felt like it was caring and supportive to have his teammates involved in his wish reveal,” said Owen’s mom, Danielle D’eon. “It was great to see his team have his back.”

Owen enjoys staying active, and his parents believe that is what helps him remain motivated and happy.

“Owen is extremely excited to meet his role models – the New England Revolution players – and to feel the excitement of being a professional soccer player,” Owen’s dad, Joshua Coole, said.

Every wish granted comes together thanks to volunteers, donors, and members of the community who rally for the kids and their families.

“We love seeing Owen’s soccer team participate in surprising him with the news that his wish will be granted,” said Sean Holleran, CEO, Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island. “Our thanks to all who came out to be part of his reveal. We are very grateful to the New England Revolution for their partnership in creating what will be a day full of joy and hope for Owen and his family and all who will witness his wish coming true.”

To learn more and get involved, and for tickets to Make-A-Wish Night with the New England Revolution, visit www.massri.wish.org.

Pepperell Garden Club scoops up fun at concert

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PEPPERELL — Members of the Pepperell Garden Club were busy scooping dishes of ice cream for sundaes while live music played in the background during a fundraising event Tuesday evening.

Every summer, the Pepperell Business Association holds free concerts on the town fields and are a result of many in the community joining together to bring in donations for local non-profits. Local businesses donate supplies and ice cream in order to help the association with their fundraiser, which benefits the local non-profits that send volunteers to scoop ice cream.

This week musical act Rip Cord was the featured band and Charlotte’s Cozy Kitchen, at 142 Main Street, donated the ice cream for all the concert goers to enjoy during the calm summer evening.

(COURTESY PEPPERELL GARDEN CLUB)

Pepperell Police Department swears in new deputy chief

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PEPPERELL – Police Chief Todd Blain is pleased to announce the promotion of a longtime member of the Pepperell Police Department.

Lt. Thomas Maskalenko was promoted to Deputy Chief and sworn in by Town Clerk Brynn Durno on Monday, July 31. He officially started his role on Tuesday, Aug. 1.

“Deputy Maskalenko has done exceptional work for the department over the years and I know he will continue to excel in his new role,” Chief Blain said. “I wish him all the best as he takes this next step in his career.”

Deputy Chief Maskalenko has been with the department for 13 years. He was hired as a patrol officer in 2010, became a detective in 2012, and was promoted to patrol sergeant in 2016. In 2022, he was promoted to lieutenant.

Deputy Chief Maskalenko holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and is completing his master’s degree in criminal justice and public administration at the end of August.

DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo tours Nashua River Rail Trail

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PEPPERELL — Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Brian Arrigo joined with the Friends of the Nashua River Rail Trail, members of the legislative delegation and municipal officials from Groton and Pepperell to walk a segment of the 12-mile Nashua River Rail Trail July 21.

The scenic rail trail was acquired by the DCR in 1987 and it first opened in October 2002. It begins at the Ayer Central Business District near the commuter rail station and passes through the towns of Ayer, Groton, Pepperell and Dunstable to the New Hampshire border and beyond. The popular trail is used by bicyclists, runners, walkers, roller skaters and cross-country skiers.

Over the past 20 years, portions of the rail trail have come to be in need of maintenance and repair. Potholes, protruding rocks, cracks, washouts and gaps can be seen along many parts of the rail trail. In 2019, state Sen. Ed Kennedy, D-Lowell, was able to secure a local initiative in a transportation bond bill that provided authorization to bond $650,000 for the repair and repaving of the Nashua River Rail Trail.

This year, the Healey-Driscoll administration has included $650,000 to repave the trail in its 2024-2028 Capital Investment Plan. In the spring of 2023, the DCR spent approximately $400,000 on repairs to the NRRT, including resurfacing, signage replacement and refreshing of pavement markings.

“As a user of the Nashua River Rail Trail, I know first-hand that the rail trail has been overdue for repaving and certain maintenance. I am very thankful to DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo for taking an interest in the Nashua River Rail Trail. I also want to thank the Healey-Driscoll administration for including the trail in their capital investment plan,” Kennedy said.

In addition to Kennedy, state Rep. Margaret Scarsdale, D-Pepperell, state Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Marlboro, state Rep. Danillo Sena, D-Acton, and Susan Templeton from the office of state Sen. John Cronin, D-Fitchburg, joined the rail trail tour.

“Commissioner Arrigo has hit the ground running, and we appreciate his leadership and willingness to engage with the delegation and the Friends of the Nashua River Rail Trail. This trail provides recreation, relaxation, and respite to thousands of users and we are eager to restore it so that residents and visitors can safely enjoy it for years to come,” Scarsdale said.

Groton Select Board Chair Peter Cunningham, who is one of the leaders of the Friends of the Nashua River Rail Trail, led the tour that focused on the Pepperell segment of the rail trail.

“DCR Commissioner Arrigo’s visit to the Nashua River Rail Trail (NRRT) in Pepperell this past Friday is a very positive sign that the agency will now sharpen its focus on the importance of the NRRT to the towns in the Nashoba Valley and the need for its reconstruction,” Cunningham said. “Viewing firsthand deteriorated trail conditions and their impact on user enjoyment and safety speaks to the old adage ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’”

“I am grateful to DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo for visiting Pepperell to tour the Nashua River Rail Trail with state legislators, municipal officials, and rail trail enthusiasts,” Eldridge said. “The walk was an important opportunity to show Commissioner Arrigo the need to repave the twenty-year-old rail trail and thank him and the Healey-Driscoll administration for including $650,000 in the administration’s capital plan, to upgrade the rail trail. This will provide a beautiful recreational opportunity for bicyclists and pedestrians through the communities of Ayer, Groton, Pepperell and Townsend, up to New Hampshire.”

Many members of the state legislature have welcomed the appointment of Arrigo as commissioner of DCR since he assumed the role in April this year. Prior to his role as DCR commissioner, Arrigo served as mayor of Revere from January 2016 to April 2023, and before that as Revere city councilor from January 2012 to December 2015.

“I’m thankful to the local delegation and the Friends of the Nashua River Rail Trail for meeting with me along the trail to discuss NRRT’s importance to Ayer, Groton, Dunstable and Pepperell. DCR is committed to working with our partners in the legislature, the Administration and our municipalities to support our extensive shared-use trail network which offers tremendous environmental, social and economic benefits to our state and our residents by connecting communities, reducing carbon emissions and providing equal access to open space,” Arrigo said.

The Nashua River Rail Trail is open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset.

Our So-Called Live Music brings 90s vibe to Leominster venue

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LEOMINSTER — Fitchburg musician Melissa Gates and Sarah Clark from Pepperell lead Our So-Called Live Music, a five-piece band loaded with talent that rocked The Fix Burger Bar downtown Leominster on July 29.

The concert took place not too long after the local venue began offering live music once again and The Fix will be continuing to host more local talent.

The band, which also features Sarah’s husband Keith Clark on guitar, Bob Belanger on drums, and guitarist Jeremy Chabot, boasts a 1990s female powerhouses centric catalog that includes tunes by The Cranberries, Letters to Cleo, Destiny’s Child, and more.

The large crowd of fans the band attracted were treated to a plethora of 90s tunes during the Saturday evening show, hits such as “I’m Only Happy When it Rains” by Garbage, a stirring rendition of “Nothing Compares 2 U” by the late great Sinéad O’Connor, and the entirety of Alanis Morissette’s unapologetically raw and in your face 1995 offering “Jagged Little Pill” as the second set. The third set saw a deeper dive into the era of grunge with songs by Soundgarden and back to back Nirvana and Hole.

The Fix staff said this was the largest crowd they’ve had since they started offering live music again in the downstairs space of the restaurant, a popular spot that used to house Rye & Thyme. Next up for the musicians is a gig at Hollis Hills Farm in Fitchburg on Sept. 2.

For more information follow Our So-Called Live Music on Facebook and Instagram.

Cars and barbecue

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Albert Harris Center, formerly the Pepperell Senior Center, welcomed summer with their annual car show, featuring over 40 antique and vintage cars. Guests were entertained by music from “Back to the Garden.” Pepperell Friends of the Seniors kept busy selling barbecue to hungry guests. Dinner was completed with ice cream by Charlotte’s Cozy Kitchen Ice Cream truck.