July 31, 2009 RSS feed / Front Page

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More than skin deep

Katie Petit's battle against a rare illness
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER
U nless someone looks very closely at 13-year-old Katie Petit they would never notice the small rash across her knuckles and the blue tint under her fingernails. More...

Walk around Willard Brook

By Karen Mann JOURNAL CORRESPONDENT

With two campgrounds, numerous trails for hiking and mountain biking, passive recreation areas for hunting, and swimming areas, Willard Brook State Forest offers something to entertain everyone in the family. More...

Bistro's license suspended after ABCC ruling

By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

The state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission ruled against a Westminster business on three counts of violating gambling laws and suspended the liquor license for 15 days. More...

Special Sections

People & Events

CALENDAR

31 FRIDAY The Fitchburg Farmers' Market will be open from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the lower parking lot of the Wallace Civic Center, John Fitch Highway. The market will remain open on Fridays through early October. Call (978) 807-2317. More...

Elvis is in the house

GARDNER- Good news rock and roll fans … Elvis is in the house at Theatre at the Mount, where his timeless songs are playing. More...

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Arts & Entertainment

'Miss Gulch Return!' to the Stratton Playhouse

apparently, so has a certain dog-napping, bicycle-riding spinster. "Miss Gulch Returns!" with David Allen Prescott in the title role will be presented for four performances between Aug. 7 and Aug. More...

Theatre at the Mount to hold auditions

GARDNER — Theatre at the Mount will hold auditions for "Forbidden Broadway" on Monday, Aug. 3, and Wednesday, Aug. 5, at 7 p.m. More...

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Living Well

Get your grill on

By Diane C. Beaudoin

Even if it hasn't been an ideal summer to date, that shouldn't stop anyone from firing up the grill when the rain stops for a while. More...

Five Below opens a new store

Grand opening this Friday at Water Tower Plaza in Leominster

Five Below, a national retail chain that offers thousands of trend-right products priced between $1 and $5, is celebrating the grand opening of a Leominster location today, at the Water Tower Plaza, North Main Street. More...

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Sports

A no hitter

(Above) Ashburnham player Jimmy Cancannon pitched a no hitter on Sunday, when the 10-year-old Jimmy Fund team beat the Lunenburg Blue team in a 3-2 win. More...

Local doctors offer advice on youth sports health

Athletics are an important part of life for this nation's youth. They provide children and young adults with endless benefits including fitness, social skills, and opportunities for leadership. More...

Fitchburg High hosting Soccer Academy

Central Mass Soccer Academy is now accepting registrations for its August Soccer Camp. Registration recommended as soon as possible as space is limited. More...

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Police Log

POLICE LOG

Ashburnham Tuesday, July 22 4:16 p.m. Pleasant Street - Out On Investigation 5:39 p.m. Central Street - Out On Investigation 7:16 p.m. Walk-In - B&E (Burglary) Past Wednesday, July 22 9:49 a.m. More...

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Obituaries

Lester J. Leblanc Jr., 78

Was long-time Fitchburg firefighter; U.S. veteran

FITCHBURG — Lester J. Leblanc Jr., 78, of Fitchburg, died Wednesday, July 22, 2009, in his home after being stricken ill. He was born in Fitchburg on Jan. 21, 1931, the son of Lester J. Sr. More...

Robert E. Miller, 75

Was avid outdoorsman; loved Boston sports teams

LEOMINSTER — Robert E. Miller, 75, of Leominster, died Sunday, July 26, 2009, in the Golden Living Center, Fitchburg. He was born on March 26, 1934, in Leominster, the son of Milton and Marion (Robbins) Miller. Mr. More...

Edwin Savilampi, 97

Owned Savilampi Farm; loved the town

WESTMINSTER — Edwin Savilampi, 97, of 92 South Ashburnham Road, died on July 18, 2009, at the University of Massachusetts Memorial Health Care, 55 Lake Ave North, Worcester, after an illness. He was born in Fitchburg on Nov. More...

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Ashburnham

State law needs to change to reimburse school district

By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

The Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School District is one of a handful of districts in the central part of the state that may not receive state reimbursement for costs incurred during the December 2008 ice storm. More...

Hazel joins GFA team

Peter K. Hazel of Ashburnham joined the GFA Federal Credit Union team as vice president/business development. Hazel brings to GFA over 25 years of commercial lending experience in local financial institutions. More...

Rotary Round-Up

Ashburnham-Westminster Rotary Club

During the last three months, the Ashburnham-Westminster Rotary Club has enjoyed a number of interesting and enjoyable activities: On May 3, the Club hosted the breakfast at the Rotary District Conference at the Four Points by Sheraton in Leominst More...

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BREAKING NEWS: Police standoff ends at local motel

Suspect shots self

(UPDATED, Monday, 12:05 p.m.) Ha Yang, a suspect in a Fitchburg murder investigation, shot himself on Saturday evening ending a multiple-hour standoff at the Rodeway Inn on Main Street in Westminster, according to police. Yang, 25, of Fitchburg, rem More...

BREAKING NEWS: Police close Main Street

(SATURDAY, 4:33 p.m.) State and Westminster Police closed the eastern end of Main Street before 4 p.m. More...

Taking a dip

Sophie Landry, 5, and Julie Ball, 4, were two of hundreds of visitors to Crocker Pond Recreation Area in Westminster this week as temperatures became summer like. JOURNAL PHOTO/CAITLYN KELLEHER More...

News

A cappella concert to come to Oakmont

The Hyannis Sound, Cape Cod's Boys of Summer, will be performing an a cappella concert in August at Oakmont Regional High School to benefit the Oakmont-Overlook Marching Spartans. More...

Volunteers sought by Nashua River Watershed

Volunteers needed: scout and pull water chestnuts from Nashua River on Sunday, Aug. 16, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Pepperell Pond (directions upon registration). More...

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Opinion

Buckle up

Editorial

Westminster Police joined with other police departments over the last week in the newest Click It or Ticket push to help encourage adults to not only wear their own seat belts but to buckle their children. More...

Green thumbs called to help raise money at Town Benefit

To the Editor: It is hard to believe that another year has passed and once again the town of Westminster will be holding their annual Westminster Town Benefit. The Benefit fondly named Neighbors Helping Neighbors is in its twentysecond year. More...

Local residents needed to drive patients to treatments

To the Editor: The American Cancer Society's Road to Recovery program is in great need of volunteers to drive local cancer patients to and from their chemotherapy and/or radiation treatments. More...

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Schools

Ryan graduates with honors, awards

Elisabeth Jenny Ryan of Westminster graduated from Colby-Sawyer College, summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design. More...

Frisch earns Champlain College honors

BURLINGTON, VT — Ian Frisch, of Westminster, was named to the Spring 2009 Champlain College's Dean's List for academic achievements. Frisch is majoring in professional writing. More...

Bresnahan receives degree from Western New England College

SPRINGFIELD — Patrick S. Bresnahan of Westminster graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in law enforcement degree from Western New England College. More...

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Worship

Local church to host vacation bible school

FITCHBURG — Emanuel Lutheran Church, 1200 John Fitch Highway, will host a Vacation Bible School running Monday, Aug. 10, through Friday, Aug. 14, from 9 a.m. to noon. More...

WORSHIP COLUMN

ASHBY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH Located at the Common in Ashby. If you are seeking a Christian worship service and fellowship, please join us Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. (July 5th through September 6th) for worship service. More...

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Westminster

New at Forbush Library

There will be a Job Searching Techniques workshop with Barbara Friedman on Tuesday, Aug. 18, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Eloranta Room. The program is geared to those who are looking for a job or needing to update their resume. More...

Photo

Sean Swanson, 4, and Liam McNeil, 6, play in the sand at Crocker Pond Recreation Area on Tuesday. JOURNAL PHOTO/CAITLYN KELLEHER More...

Artists to participate in silent auction

Artists in north Central Massachusetts are at work painting outdoor scenes in Westminster this summer. Those works of art will be in an exhibition on Saturday, Aug. 8, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 127 Main St., Westminster. More...

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