December 18, 2009 RSS feed / Front Page

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Tipping off the season

Oakmont Regional High School's girls' basketball team tips off their season as the winter sports begin to compete, with Oakmont's Kristen Enright outreaching Gardner's Kate Malloy for the ball on that the game on Friday, Dec. 11. More...

Patrick helps break ground for commuters

Improvements to Fitchburg Commuter Rail line begin
By Caroline Keras JOURNAL CORRESPONDENT

Gov. Deval Patrick was in Leominster earlier this week for the groundbreaking of the first stage of improvements to be made to the Fitchburg line on the Commuter Rail, a project that was long overdue, according to legislators. More...

Business owners upset with continued detour

By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Some of the business owners and residents immediately affected by the ongoing closure of the Depot Road bridge presented their concerns to selectmen Monday night as they asked the board for state Rep. Lewis Evangelidis’ help. More...

Special Sections

People & Events

Rabbit Hole to host Poetry Readings for Children

FITCHBURG — The Rabbit Hole Bookstore announces dates for 2010 Free Poetry Readings for kids age 12 and under. Readings will be at 1 p.m. on Sunday: January 17, February 14, March 14, April 18, and May 23, 2010. More...

Merry Christmas

Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. ~ Calvin Coolidge More...

CALENDAR

18 FRIDAY Stratton Players presents “Gifts of The Magi”at 8 p.m. at the Stratton Playhouse, 60 Wallace Ave., Fitchburg. For tickets, call (978) 345-6066. More...

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Opinion

Question Of the Week

Cast your vote at thecommunityjournal.com

Should the towns look to create a facility for young adults and teen recreation? More...

Editorial

Where are you Christmas?

“Where are you Christmas/ Why can’t I find you/ Why have you gone away/ Where is the laughter/ You used to bring me/ Why can’t I hear music play” are the lyrics of Faith Hill’s “Where are you Christmas?” I More...

Letters to the Editor

Holidays adjust deadlines To Our Readers: With the holidays quickly approaching we will be producing a double issue next week, which you will receive on Thursday, Dec. 24. More...

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Sports

Starting with a slam

(Top left moving clockwise) Oakmont senior Eric Howlett takes the ball to the hoop past Gardner’s Adam Conquest and Jahmall Jones during a 53-48 Spartan win on Friday, Dec. 11. More...

THIS WEEK’S GAMES

Send scores, results, or ideas for a sports story, to: editor@thecommunityjournal.com More...

Oakmont teams have record breaking Fall

The fall sports season is one for the record books, according to Athletic Director Lincoln Stiles. More...

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Obituaries

Dorothy Celia (Charette) Maguy, 92

Was a resident of Fitchburg

FITCHBURG — Dorothy Celia (Charette) Maguy, 92, died Tuesday, Dec.7, 2009, in UMass Memorial Health Care, University Campus. Mrs. Maguy was born on Jan. 2, 1917, in Fitchburg, the daughter of Odilon and Rozilda (Leduc) Charette. More...

Enoil Joseph Nadeau, 79

Was a devoted husband and father

WESTMINSTER — Enoil Joseph Nadeau, 79, of Davis Road, died Dec. 14, 2009, at his home after an illness. Enoil was born in Clare, New Brunswick, Canada on May 3, 1930, the son of the late Honore and Elizabeth (Long) Nadeau. More...

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Ashburnham

Ashburnham tax rate increase, property values decrease

By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Ashburnham residents will see a significant increase in their tax rate but could also see a significant drop in their property assessments when bills go out at the end of the month. More...

Stevens Memorial Library announces programs, fundraisers

The Friends of the Stevens Memorial Library are holding a Christmas raffle now through Dec. 16 at the library, 20 Memorial Drive, Ashburnham. More...

Giving to the United Way

Connie Hundt, the director of resource development at the North Central Massachusetts United Way, accepted the check from Athol Savings Bank’s Corinne Chagnon and Janice Hamel, for their corporate donation of $5,400. More...

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BREAKING NEWS: Ashburnham-Westminster teachers vote to take furlough

By Caitlyn Kelleher

(FRIDAY, 5:19 P.M.) The Ashburnham-Westminster Teachers’ Association voted on Thursday to agree to a 1.5-day furlough request by the school district. More...

Layoff notices pending on unions’ vote

Ashburnham-Westminster teachers to decide on 1.5 day furlough request this week
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

The Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School Committee voted Tuesday to support the superintendent’s proposed personnel cuts if the teachers’ union does not vote to agree to a request for a furlough. More...

News

Commerce Bank donates $60,000 to United Way

Commerce Bank capped off its successful 2009 annual fundraising campaign for United Way of Central Massachusetts by presenting UWCM officials with a check for $60,000. More...

Community Foundation seeks grant applications

The Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts is accepting applications for grant funding from nonprofit organizations serving its 33-town region. More...

Recalling our perfect storm

Do you have recollections of last year’s ice storm — a story, a photo(s), even some digital video — that you’d like to share? The Holden Landmark Corp. More...

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Arts & Entertainment

Faculty art exhibition to open this month

A collection of photography, sculpture, design, painting, drawing, film, video and mixed media by Fitchburg State College faculty will be the subject of an exhibition that opens this month at the Hammond Campus Center Art Gallery. More...

Moments captured by one and all at photo exhibit

By Melissa McKeon and Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTERS

Fitchburg Art Museum curator of photography Stephen B. Jareckie has been in the business awhile, and it might be assumed he’s seen it all. More...

Merrimack Valley Ringers ring in the New Year

LEOMINSTER - Pilgrim Congregational Church, located at 26 West St., will host a free bell concert in the church sanctuary at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3. More...

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Schools

Overlook Middle School first quarter honor roll

HIGHEST HONORS More...

Giving for the store

For the eighth year, Overlook Middle School’s Team 8 Orange participate in a holiday giving project for the Battered Women’s Shelter in Leominster. More...

School Events

Monday, Dec. 21 through Friday, Dec. 25

Meetinghouse School Thursday, Dec. 24 to Monday, Jan. 3, 2010 - December vacation Westminster Elementary Thursday, Dec. 24 to Monday, Jan. 3, 2010 - December vacation John R. Briggs Elementary School Thursday, Dec. 24 to Monday, Jan. More...

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Worship

CHRISTMAS SERVICES:

Ashburnham Community Church On Sunday, Dec. 20, the Ashburnham Community Church will hold a family Christmas service at 10:30 a.m. Also on Dec. 20, at 7:30 p.m. 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

Little League looking for the positive message

The Westminster Little League is working trying to create an opportunity for a gift that keeps giving throughout the spring and the summer as they organized a new fundraising campaign. More...

Marine Corp League collects toys

The Marine Corp League is collecting toys for distribution during this holiday season through the Toys for Tots Program. A drop-off box is located at the Westminster Town Hall and toys will be collected until Friday, Dec. 18. More...

Lions hosts this month’s pancake breakfast

A pancake breakfast will be held on Sunday, Dec. 20, from 8 to 11 a.m. at the V.F.W. Hall on Eaton Street in Westminster. It is sponsored by the Westminster Lions Club and will benefit the Westminster Food Pantry. More...

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