Tyngsboro

State Fire Academy graduates 86 new firefighters

November 19, 2023 by pkzadmin

STOW — Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Jon Davine and Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Director Jeffrey Winn presented certificates of completion to 86 firefighters representing 43 departments in three graduating classes during the first week of November.

Among them included three graduates in the Career Recruit Firefighter Training Class #315, who are heading to the Tewksbury Fire Department; Taylor Brothers, Andrew Zampitella, and Caitlin Callahan. The three graduated Nov. 3 at the Mass. Department of Fire Services’ headquarters in Stow.

In addition to Tewksbury, the 35 members of Class #315 represent the fire departments of Ashland, Attleboro, Beverly, Concord, Fitchburg, Harwich, Haverhill, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Marlboro, Methuen, Orleans, Revere, Seekonk, and Weston.

Three other graduates from the area completed Call/Volunteer Recruit Firefighter Class #108; they included two graduates joining the Tyngsboro Fire Dept., Troy Marcinkewich and Jake Pelletier; one to the Ayer Fire Dept., Cory Prehl; and and one to the Townsend Fire Dept., Jason Borneman. They graduated Nov. 2, also at the headquarters in Stow.

The 26 members of Call/Volunteer Recruit Firefighter Class #108 also represent the fire departments of Boxboro, Carlisle, Dunstable, Holliston, Hopedale, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Oxford, Sutton, Upton, West Boylston, and Weston.

Guests included state officials from Fire Services, members of the state Fire Training Council, city and town officials, recruits’ family members, and local fire chiefs.

(Courtesy of the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services)

The 35 members of Career Recruit Firefighter Training Class #315 represent the fire departments of Ashland, Attleboro, Beverly, Concord, Fitchburg, Harwich, Haverhill, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Marlborough, Methuen, Orleans, Revere, Seekonk, Tewksbury, and Weston. They graduated on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023 at the state Fire Services headquarters in Stow. (COURTESY MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF FIRE SERVICES)

From left, firefighter graduates Troy Marcinkewich and Jake Pelletier will be working at the Tyngsboro Fire Department after graduating Nov. 2, 2023 at the Mass. Dept. of Fire Services' headquarters in Stow. (COURTESY MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF FIRE SERVICES) — From left, firefighter graduates Troy Marcinkewich and Jake Pelletier will be working at the Tyngsboro Fire Department after graduating Nov. 2, 2023 at the Mass. Dept. of Fire Services’ headquarters in Stow. (COURTESY MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF FIRE SERVICES)

Firefighter graduate Cory Prehl will be working at the Ayer Fire Department after graduating Nov. 2, 2023 at the Mass. Dept. of Fire Services' headquarters in Stow. (COURTESY MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF FIRE SERVICES) — Firefighter graduate Cory Prehl will be working at the Ayer Fire Department after graduating Nov. 2, 2023 at the Mass. Dept. of Fire Services’ headquarters in Stow. (COURTESY MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF FIRE SERVICES)

Firefighter graduate Jason Borneman will be working at the Townsend Fire Department after graduating Nov. 2, 2023 at the Mass. Dept. of Fire Services' headquarters in Stow. (COURTESY MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF FIRE SERVICES) — Firefighter graduate Jason Borneman will be working at the Townsend Fire Department after graduating Nov. 2, 2023 at the Mass. Dept. of Fire Services’ headquarters in Stow. (COURTESY MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF FIRE SERVICES)

North Chelmsford’s Jack Eichel brings Stanley Cup home, gets huge welcome

July 14, 2023 by pkzadmin

TYNGSBORO — A month after winning hockey’s biggest prize with the Vegas Golden Knights, Jack Eichel returned home to where it all began, with the Stanley Cup in hand.

The North Chelmsford native brought the Stanley Cup to Skate 3 to celebrate with over 2,000 of his closest friends. It proved to be the ultimate victory parade for the hometown hockey hero.

“It means a ton,” said Eichel, 26. “It’s always your dream to do this, to win the Stanley Cup, and having the opportunity to bring it back to a community that meant so much to me.”

The eight-year NHL veteran was touched by the turnout. A long line of friends, family and supporters showed up, wrapping around the rink and extending into the deepest corner of the parking lot. Some fans at the front of the line arrived as early as 5:22 a.m., just to catch a glimpse of the most popular trophy in sports.

“You’d never be in this position without some of the people that are here,” said Eichel. “Skate 3 meant so much to me. I still skate here in the summer. Just being able to come back and bring it here, it’s a special place to me and a special day.”

A 6-foot-2, 207-pound center, Eichel was a key cog in the Knights’ Stanley Cup victory. Playing in just his second season on the strip after his trade from Buffalo, the hulking center led Vegas in regular season scoring with 26 goals, 40 assists and 66 points. He continued to produce in the postseason netting six goals, 20 assists, and a NHL-high 26 points. His heady play helped power the Knights past the Florida Panthers, 4-1, in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final, capping off a dream season in Sin City.

Eichel credited the work of Bruce Cassidy with getting the team to the next level. The former Boston Bruins coach had his own Cup celebration Thursday in Milton.

“He was incredible,” said Eichel. “I think what he did for us as a group and me as a player was the reason we won. He changed our game, just pushed guys and held everyone accountable. He was able to get us to play. It was great. He was phenomenal, and great all year.”

Back on the East Coast, Eichel anxiously awaited the Cup’s arrival at his parent’s North Chelmsford home five miles away from Skate 3. He headed to Skate 3 with a special police escort featuring 20 motorcycle officers.

“That was pretty cool,” said Eichel. “They said I was going to get an escort. I didn’t expect this many policemen and motorcycles to help bring me here, but it’s all part of the memory of the experience. To have all them drive down the street that I grew up, my parent’s home, where they handed it off to me was pretty cool.”

Arriving at the rink, Eichel held the Cup high, walking down the long line of fans that littered the parking lot. He couldn’t help but smile as he bumped into countless friends and enthusiastic fans, including his elementary school gym teacher.

“I was expecting a lot of people,” said Eichel. “I don’t know if I was expecting this many. It goes to show the support in the hockey community around here. It means a ton. Just being around the last few days. I golfed up here, doing a few things, bumping into a few people. Everyone was saying they were coming. I knew the turnout would be crazy. It’s amazing to have all these people come out and support me.”

Although he had his pick of numerous places to kick off his victory tour, Eichel chose Skate 3 as the logical first step.

“This is where it began,” said Eichel. “I learned to skate right here in this rink behind me, fourth birthday. I still come back here. They let me skate when I want to. They’re pretty generous with their ice time during the summer.”

It was the perfect starting point in his day-long celebration with Lord Stanley’s Cup.

So what was next on Eichel’s agenda?

“I plan on enjoying it with the people that helped me earn it,” said Eichel. “(I’m planning) a nice gathering of family and friends. I’m going to enjoy it… And probably drink a bunch of beers out of it. How could I not?”

An estimated 2,000 fans turned out to witness North Chelmsford native Jack Eichel bring the Stanley Cup to Skate 3 in Tyngsboro. One group arrived at 5:22 a.m. for the event, which started just after 10 a.m. (Cameron Morsberger/Lowell Sun)

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel brought the Stanley Cup to Skate 3 in Tyngsboro, just up the road where he grew up in North Chelmsford, on Friday. (Cameron Morsberger/Lowell Sun)

Beej Das federally indicted for allegedly defrauding clients of more than $5M

June 26, 2023 by pkzadmin

BOSTON — An attorney, former Tyngsboro hotelier and one-time 3rd Congressional District candidate was arrested in Florida Monday on federal charges for allegedly defrauding clients of more than $5 million in escrow funds.

According to the office of Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy, Abhijit “Beej” Das, 50, of North Andover, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston on June 20 on 10 counts of wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud an India-based business-to-business supply company of millions of dollars. Das also allegedly used client funds for business and personal expenses, including purchasing a $2.7 million home in Boca Raton, Florida.

Das was arrested Monday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and appeared in the Southern District of Florida. Two years ago, Das was also arrested for allegedly violating the Federal Election Campaign Act and false statements, for which he was on federal pretrial release.

Das was principal manager of Troca Global Advisors, a boutique law and advisory firm with offices in Boston and New York. According to the indictment, beginning in or about May 2020, Das allegedly began providing legal representation and escrow services to twin brothers and their logistical supply company in India, which was coordinating large shipments of personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He allegedly diverted more than $5 million in escrow funds from his clients’ accounts and used the funds for his own expenses, including for his law firm, a yacht owned by one of his hotels, and the Boca Raton home. According to the release from Levy’s office, Das allegedly induced his clients to transfer funds to accounts he controlled in multistep, layered transactions, conducted under the guise of legal advice about the risk of potential litigation. In order to conceal the scheme, Das also allegedly provided clients with fraudulent and forged account statements.

According to the new indictment, Das allegedly committed nine of the 10 counts of wire fraud while on court-mandated pretrial release conditions resulting from his June 2021 indictment, which charged him with campaign finance violations, embezzlement of campaign funds and making materially false statements to the Federal Election Commission.

Das temporarily relocated to Lowell to run in the crowded 2018 Democratic primary for the 3rd Congressional District, now represented by U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan. According to the earlier indictment, in order to overcome a fundraising deficit during his 2017-18 campaign, Das allegedly devised a scheme to solicit personal loans from friends and close associates in excess of the legal limit. He allegedly caused three different individuals to contribute about $125,000 to his campaign and structured the contributions as personal loans to a family member to circumvent FEC reporting requirements and contribution limits.

Das allegedly concealed the excessive campaign contributions from the FEC, falsely claimed that they were his own personal funds, and engaged in illegal conduit contributions to his campaign. He also allegedly used at least $267,000 from his campaign account to pay outstanding business debts, and submitted falsified quarterly reports to the FEC that overstated his campaign’s cash-on-hand.

In 2014, Das bought the former Stonehedge Hotel and Spa in Tyngsboro, which was operated under his Troca Hotels hospitality company, and where he announced his run for Congress in 2017. But by 2019, the property’s parent company, Boston East Tyngsboro Holdings LLC, had twice become delinquent on its taxes to the town and was ultimately foreclosed for nonpayment. The foreclosure auction was stalled until May 2020 after Das’ company filed for bankruptcy and undertook a lawsuit alleging his bank violated its mortgage agreement.

Amid the bankruptcy proceedings for the Stonehedge Inn, in January 2020, Das created Troca Global Advisors, the firm that he allegedly used in the fraud scheme for which he was arrested Monday.

The charges of wire fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater.

The fraud indictment was announced Monday by Levy, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division Christopher DiMenna and Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigations in Boston Joleen Simpson. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Gallagher Jr. of Levy’s Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case.

Lori Trahan celebrates service academy nominees

April 26, 2023 by pkzadmin

LOWELL — Each June, U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan’s office begins the process of accepting, vetting and nominating 10 applicants each to four of the nation’s five U.S. service academies — West Point, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy and the Merchant Marine Academy.

Monday night, Trahan recognized the 24 nominees from her office in a ceremony held in the venerable Hall of Flags at Lowell Memorial Auditorium, celebrating what she called, “this remarkable group of young adults.”

They ranged across the 35 3rd Congressional District communities, hailing from Pepperell, Lancaster, Acton, Clinton, Fitchburg, Lunenburg, Concord, Dracut, Carlisle, Westford, Lowell and Tyngsboro.

Trahan made her remarks standing at the front of a room lined with flags depicting Veterans’ Council organizations, early American history and the state flag. She cited the hall’s significance as a place of honor dedicated to the men and women veterans of Lowell, especially those who died during time of war.

“As your representative in Congress, my role in this process — nominating the students to our world-class service institutions — is one of my greatest honors, and it’s a responsibility that everyone on the team takes very seriously.” Trahan started her congressional career serving on the Armed Services Committee.

That team included Air Force veteran and Trahan’s Director of Constituent Services Jorge Morales-Lopez, who told the crowd that a service academy education is “rooted in leadership, discipline and the skills necessary to become an officer in the armed forces.”

The application season opens on June 1 and ends Oct. 31. Students must submit three letters of recommendation, a resume of extracurricular activities, an official high school transcript, SAT and/or ACT scores and a 500-word essay on attending a service academy.

“As officers in the U.S. military, you will form the ‘tip of the spear’ in that effort,” Trahan said. “Seeing the drive that got you here, and the courage you have shown in taking this step, reassures me that America’s best days are ahead.”

A nine-member Service Academy board of past and present military, recommended the nominees on behalf of Trahan’s office. Both U.S. Army Sgt. First Class (Ret.) John Moses, of Chelmsford, and former U.S. Naval Academy graduate and Marine David Cote, attended the event representing the board.

“We don’t just look at your grades or your SAT scores,” Trahan said. “We look for students rich in character and leadership, and with unwavering enthusiasm and determination, driven by the steadfast commitment to serve our country and our common good.”

The Air Force Junior ROTC honor guard from Lowell High School opened the ceremony, presenting the flags that flanked the stage and later became a backdrop for family photos with Trahan and military leadership.

Among that group was cadet and nominee Kaiden Man, of Lowell, who attended the ceremony with his family. He said his parents “nudged” him to join the high school’s ROTC program four years’ ago. Although he did not receive an appointment to a service academy, Man said he was going to continue a military path by enlisting upon graduation in June.

Six women were among the nominees, which Trahan said reflects the commitment of the Board to nominate students representative of the 3rd District.

Sophie Russell, of Chelmsford, received nominations to West Point, the Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy. She’ll report to Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, Rhode Island. Service runs in her family, she said.

“My mother, my father and all of my grandparents were in the military, so I wanted to follow in their footsteps,” Russell said. “I was in the Air Force auxiliary for two years. I found out in January that I was nominated.”

Another legacy of family service was reflected in Elizabeth “Lisa” Fitzgerald’s decision to apply to and receive an appointment to the Air Force Academy.

“Both my parents went to the Air Force Academy, and served in the military,” the Concord resident said. “I found that inspiring. My three older siblings — two sisters and a brother — also went to the academy. That motivated me to pursue a life of service.”

Of the 24 nominees, eight received an appointment to a service academy, with Morales-Lopez noting that, “Receiving a nomination is in of itself an accomplishment.”

Lars Jansson, of Tyngsboro, knows both sides of the nomination process. Jansson was a nominee last year, but did not receive an appointment to a service academy. He enrolled in UMass Francis School of Engineering, and applied again this year, receiving an appointment to West Point.

“We nominate the students,” Morales-Lopez explained. “But the academy’s make the final determination on admission. He did not receive an appointment last year, but I encouraged him to come back and apply.”

After the speeches recognizing their accomplishments, Trahan, Col. Taona Enriquez and Chief Master Sgt. Alan Weary conferred the certificates upon the nominees. Afterwards, Trahan spoke again to highlight the impact the young people had on her work in Congress.

“We have a collective duty to secure our future and our children’s future by defending our values wherever they are challenged aboard or at home,” Trahan said. “As officers in the U.S. military, you will form the tip of the spear in that effort, and seeing the drive that got you here, and the courage you have shown in taking this step, reassures me that America’s best days are ahead.”

She wished the nominees the best of luck on their future endeavors, and thanked them for the honor of nominating them. “I’m so present for this moment, looking into your faces knowing that our best days are indeed ahead with you at the helm.”

The nominees who received appointments are:

West Point

• Adrien Lam – Groton, United States Military Academy Preparatory School.

• Lars Jansson – Tyngsboro, University of Massachusetts, Lowell – Francis College ofEngineering.

• Anthony Petracca – Lancaster, Trivium School.

Naval Academy

• Fiona Cullen – Andover, Austin Preparatory School.

Air Force Academy

• Zachary Aster – Fitchburg, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

• Elizabeth Fitzgerald – Concord, Austin Preparatory School.

•Keira Lonadier – Concord, Concord-Carlisle High School.

Merchant Marine

• Robert Baum – South Hamilton, Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School.

Football Notebook: Stopping St. B’s is a scary task

October 28, 2022 by pkzadmin

In the midst of spooky season, it’s a trope well-known by horror movie fans.

Despite knowing that the monster lies in wait, you still jump when it pops up on screen. The knowledge that it’s coming doesn’t make the scare any less effective.

It’s the same thing with opponents of the St. Bernard’s football team. They know that the Bernardians will run the ball on the vast majority of snaps, but stopping St. B’s ball carriers is a task easier said than done.

That will be the objective of Northbridge (3-4) when it visits the Bernardian Bowl tonight: slow down red-hot St. Bernard’s, which has won five straight games and sits at 6-1 on the season.

While offenses have struggled to get going against St. Bernard’s rugged defense, opposing programs have had no answers when the Bernardians have the ball. Save for a 24-6 loss to an outstanding Stoneham High team in the second week of the season, the Bernardians are putting up 42 points per contest, with the two-headed rushing monster of Damien Jones and Antonio Mancini piling up yards and touchdowns.

What’s a team to do?

Two weeks ago, the Bernardians squared off with a Sutton team that entered the contest 4-1. St. Bernard’s took control immediately, claiming a 50-8 halftime lead en route to a 50-16 victory. And last week, St. B’s wen up 22-0 in the first quarter and rolled to a 46-6 win over Blackstone-Millville/Hopedale.

The offensive line has been able to make space for Jones, Mancini and company this season, with St. B’s backs often breaking big runs with little or no contact made on the ball carrier. Getting in the backfield to disrupt plays has proven to be tough as the O-line is both fairly sizable and quick, in addition to being well-coached and well-versed at picking up blocks.

The Rams will have to break out all their tricks in order to avoid being the latest team treated to a heavy dose of big runs by the Bernardians.

Red Raiders on the rise

Two weeks ago, Fitchburg High picked up its first win of the season. Last week, the Red Raiders (1-6) gave Nashoba Regional a scare and came up just short in a 28-20 defeat.

It seems Fitchburg has turned things a corner, so to speak, midway through the season. The Red Raiders are playing inspired football down the stretch.

Fitchburg quarterback Lukas Beaulac fires a pass during Friday night's game against Marlboro. (Sentinel & Enterprise / Gary Fournier) — Lukas Beaulac and Fitchburg High travel to Doherty tonight. (Sentinel & Enterprise File Photo)

That’s not to say the effort hasn’t been there all season, but consistency was an issue. Now, the Red Raiders will have a chance to claim another win against a team that has had its struggles this season, traveling to Worcester to face 1-6 Doherty tonight.

With the intensity the Red Raiders have shown in recent weeks and the newfound ability to put together a complete 60-minute effort, expect a solid performance out of Fitchburg High.

Aiming for .500

When Oakmont Regional travels to Townsend tonight to square off with North Middlesex Regional, one team will head home at the .500 mark.

Both programs have seen up-and-down campaigns and enter the contest at 3-4. The Spartans are coming off a 38-33 upset of Maynard, while the host Patriots fell 49-34 to a strong Hudson team last Friday.

Action elsewhere

Leominster (6-1) hits the road to face Shrewsbury (4-3), while Nashoba (5-2) is at Tantasqua (2-5). Abby Kelley (3-4) visits Bulldog Field to square off with Monty Tech (5-2) at 6 p.m. and Ayer-Shirley (5-1) welcomes Murdock (5-2) to the Harold G. Norton Athletic Complex.

On Saturday, Lunenburg (4-3) hosts Tyngsboro (2-5) at 2 p.m.

Electrifying car show addresses buzz around EVs

September 25, 2022 by pkzadmin

LOWELL — While standing next to her fully-electric vehicle, a 2022 Tesla Model Y Long Range, Tyngsboro resident Margie Lynch-Freshner proudly announces she has been internal-combustion-engine free, or “ICE free,” as she put it, for almost two years.

Lynch-Freshner explains she and her husband have owned or leased at least one electric vehicle, or EV, for more than two decades. However, almost two years ago, they scrapped their last gas-powered vehicle and have relied solely on electric ever since.

When asked if she would ever consider turning in her EV and going back to buying gas powered in the future, Lynch-Freshner provides a definitive response.

“Not if I can help it,” she said. “Electric vehicles are a much nicer drive.”

Lynch-Freshner was one of the approximately 30 EV owners that showed up with their electric rides for the Lowell Drives Electric car show held in the parking lot of Heritage Farm Ice Cream and Restaurant on Saturday afternoon.

The event was part of National Drive Electric Week, scheduled until Oct. 2. With EVs becoming an increasingly popular and hotly-debated topic, the week was organized with the goal to raise awareness of the benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

During Saturday’s event, local EV owners talked about their vehicles, answered questions, and a few even gave rides, including Thomas Christian, of Nashua, N.H. Christian was happy to show off his 2023 Genesis GV60 Performance, glowing with a vibrant yellow paintjob, which one car show attendee described as “tennis ball yellow.”

“A lot of people I found who are on the fence (about buying EVs) are concerned about the cost,” Christian said while giving a test drive down Pawtucket Boulevard. “This is a $70,000 sticker price. … I consider that still to be reasonable for me, because I’m an enthusiast. I enjoy it not just as a vehicle, but as a toy.”

Mike and Sarah Rushton, of Lowell, along with their 4-year-old daughter, Emma, brought their 2019 Chevy Bolt — among the more affordable EV options — to Saturday’s car show. As they sat next to the vehicle eating ice cream, Mike Rushton explained his decision to go electric stemmed from being “a geek” who is interested in technology.

“Then getting away from gas, oil changes and all the rest of it made sense for me,” he added.

Mike Rushton pointed out the positives of EVs, including less maintenance demands and that they have fewer parts that lead to damage. And, of course, proponents of EVs tout them as the environmentally-friendly option compared to gas-powered vehicles, which spout toxic pollutants.

But, as for the EV naysayers, a common topic of discussion is range anxiety, which is the fear that the EV won’t have a sufficient charge to get from point A to point B.

Charging stations are becoming more common nationwide and there are apps, like PlugShare and ChargeHub, that will map out where charging stations are located. Despite these advancements, range anxiety continues to be one of the main roadblocks for those on the fence about switching to electric.

The recent passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act offers a potential solution to that concern. The bill puts $7.5 billion toward building out a network of 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations nationwide. Of that, $5 billion will go toward the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, which calls for states to focus on building public charging stations at least every 50 miles along interstate highways and within one mile of federally designated alternative fuel corridors.

Last week, the Federal Highway Administration announced it had approved the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s EV Infrastructure Deployment Plan, which was developed as part of the NEVI program. Massachusetts will receive funding over five years, including approximately $9.4 million for federal fiscal year 2022 to support the construction and operation of direct-current fast-charging stations along EV alternative fuel corridors.

On hand in Lowell on Saturday was James Penfold, the director of eMobility Solutions at Revision Energy, a company that specializes in installing public charging stations.

Penfold said when looking into locations to construct charging stations, one of the goals is to have them situated in areas that offer amenities that will give people something to do while they wait for their vehicle to charge.

“If you have to plan a trip, you might combine a stop with a place like this where you say, ‘Let’s grab some ice cream while we’re charging,’” Penfold said, referencing the host of Saturday’s car show.

When asked if EVs are the future, like Lynch-Freshner, Penfold provided a definitive answer of his own.

“100%,” he said. “The horse has left the barn.”

For more information about National Drive Electric Week, including where other events are scheduled to take place over the next several days, visit driveelectricweek.org.

Follow Aaron Curtis on Twitter @aselahcurtis