Home Care In Fitchburg, MA

FITCHBURG, MA–Fitchburg State University will launch a new Master of Science in Construction Management program next year, building the state’s capacity in a critical professional field, the university announced on its website.

The fully online program will be offered through the university’s Engineering Technology Department and the School of Graduate, Online and Continuing Education. The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education approved the new program this fall.

This new graduate program will expand opportunities and streamline pathways in a critical workforce area for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, according to Fitchburg State President Richard S. Lapidus.

“Our program will provide professionals with the comprehensive academic and technical skills necessary for them to meet the needs of regional, national, and global industries,” President Lapidus continued. “This innovative program builds upon the strong foundation of our Engineering Technology Department, which has evolved for more than a century to respond to changing workforce needs.”

The online program will prepare students to manage complex construction projects and enhance their decision-making processes; provide pathways to students to advance into the field of construction management from related disciplines and/or prior construction experience; provide employers with a well-educated and skilled workforce, capable of performing valuable construction management services and ready to serve in managerial and leadership positions; and contribute to scholarly activity in the discipline. Students, who may complete the program in as few as three semesters, will graduate ready to meet the workforce needs of the construction industry.

Dr. Nirajan Mani, the Engineering Technology Department Chair and the founding program chair for the M.S. in Construction Management program, noted that Fitchburg State is the first state university in Massachusetts to offer such a graduate degree.

“We are uniquely prepared to provide this program in national and international markets,” Mani said. “We are also planning to offer an accelerated 4+1 pathway from B.S. to M.S. in the Construction Management program. In addition, the Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) through portfolio option allows students the opportunity to have their industry experience evaluated as educational experiences and credited toward a graduate degree.”

The Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts, Inc. (AGC MA), a statewide trade association representing almost 200 construction managers, general contractors, subcontractors and affiliated service providers, endorsed Fitchburg State’s proposal to the Board of Higher Education.

AGC MA Chief Executive Officer John Ferrante described his organization’s long history of collaboration with Fitchburg State and said the program will support students as well as the state’s commercial construction industry.

“There are fewer than 10 universities in New England offering construction management programs for an industry that puts in place over $10 billion of work annually,” wrote Ferrante. “Currently, there is a disparity between the demand for project management professionals in our industry and the availability of talent. We consistently hear that some of the most successful construction management firms are turning down opportunities to bid because they do not have the management capacity to take on additional work.”

Ferrante said AGC-MA’s member companies have a backlog of work through 2025 which, coupled with the anticipated retirement of many industry professionals, will only exacerbate this issue. “Many of our member firms hire individuals without any construction experience or education because of the need for management professionals,” he continued.

The construction management master’s program developed by Fitchburg State will provide the only such public credential in the state, helping rising professionals advance in their careers.

WALTHAM, Mass. – MassDevelopment has issued a $17,820,000 tax-exempt bond on behalf of 2Life Leland LLC, an affiliate of 2Life Communities, which will use bond proceeds to demolish a vacant former rest home at 21 Newton St. in downtown Waltham and build a three-story, 68-unit affordable rental housing facility for seniors in its place.

Built in 1891, the existing building operated as The Leland Home before its closing in 2020. The new building, which will be known as Leland House, will include 66 one-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom apartments. The property will also include two one-bedroom apartments for overnight staff. Brookline Bank purchased the bond, which helped 2Life Communities achieve a lower cost of capital.

Leland House will be constructed to Passive House building standards, including 100% electric HVAC and hot water systems and solar photo voltaic panels to promote economic, environmental, and health benefits for residents. Universal design elements – especially in bathrooms and kitchens – will enable new residents to age in community at Leland House regardless of physical ability. The ground floor will house an active Village Center, which will feature a collection of flexible spaces for fitness and wellness activities, arts and culture programs, and community events.

“All seniors deserve housing that is affordable, safe, and allows them to age healthily in their communities,” said Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Ed Augustus. “I recently had the opportunity to attend the groundbreaking for the new Leland House in Waltham, a project that epitomizes the type of transformative development that is possible when state, local, and private partners come together to address our housing shortage.”

“This property has been a place dedicated to the care and comfort of seniors across three centuries of Waltham’s history,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Dan Rivera. “Now, as Massachusetts faces a housing shortage, we’re excited to help 2Life Communities build a new senior living community that keeps this legacy alive while also incorporating modern design standards that make for a healthier and more sustainable living experience.”

In addition to the tax-exempt bond, MassDevelopment assisted the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities with the approval of federal low-income housing tax credits that will provide approximately $17.5 million in equity for the project.

“We couldn’t be happier to have been able to help provide this much-needed, affordable housing for seniors in our community,” said Brookline Bank President and CEO Darryl Fess.

“On behalf of Ward 5 City Councilor Joseph P. LaCava, the Waltham City Council, Council on Aging and Senior Center staff, former Leland Home board and staff, and the Waltham Community Preservation Committee, I would like to thank MassDevelopment and 2Life Communities for their investment in new affordable housing in Waltham,” said Waltham Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy. “These 68 rental units, adjacent to the Waltham Senior Center, will provide much needed affordable senior housing. Thank you to all who played a role.”

“We are grateful for our continued collaboration with MassDevelopment, and all of our partners, to help us bring more affordable apartments to older adults living in Waltham,” said 2Life Communities Vice President and Acting CEO Lizbeth Heyer. “2Life believes that every older adult deserves the opportunity to live a full life of connection and purpose in a dynamic, supportive community.”

2Life Communities Inc. is a nonprofit provider of senior supportive housing in the Greater Boston area. Founded in 1965, 2Life has developed 10 distinct properties and nearly 1,446 apartments, all of which are owned and managed by the organization. Properties located in Newton include Golda Meir House, Golda Expansion, and Coleman House. Properties located in Brighton include Ulin House, Leventhal House, Kurlat House, Weinberg House, and the soon-to-be-completed JJ Carroll House. Other properties include Shillman House in Framingham, Brown Family House in Brookline, and Shirley Meadows in Shirley.

MassDevelopment has previously supported 2Life Communities. In 2023, the agency issued a $129 million tax-exempt bond to help 2Life Communities build Opus Newton, a 174-apartment senior living community in Newton targeted to middle-income adults aged 62 or older. In 2021, the agency issued a $4 million tax-exempt bond to help 2Life Communities build a 13,000-square-foot addition to its program center facility located at 28 Wallingford Road in Boston.

MassDevelopment, the state’s development finance agency and land bank, works with businesses, nonprofits, banks, and communities to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. During FY2022, MassDevelopment financed or managed 356 projects generating investment of more than $1.69 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are estimated to create or support 11,080 jobs and build or preserve 1,778 housing units.

BOSTON– Bergmeyer, Boston-based design collaborative with offices in Columbus, and Los Angeles, announced its leadership and practice promotions as 2023 comes to a close.

Highlighting the diversity of the organization’s talents and expertise, the firm continues to expand its creative services to meet the needs of its deepening client base.

“The team at Bergmeyer is comprised of exceptionally talented individuals with remarkably unique creative and technical abilities,” said Rachel Zsembery, President at Bergmeyer. “Our people are the heartbeat of our Design Collaborative and fuel Bergmeyer’s continued success and evolution through embracing proactive partnerships and an empowering approach to design.”

At the leadership level, Bergmeyer elevated two team members into its Associate tier, as well as two Senior Associates, one Associate Principal, and one Principal. These forward-thinking individuals are recognized for their impact on others inside and outside the firm.

Associate:

Joe Vecchione, AIA | Associate, Senior Architect Quinn Levine, AIA | Associate, Senior Architect

Senior Associate:

Jason Cohen LEED AP | Senior Associate, Design Practice Leader JJ Nelson | Senior Associate, Director of Brand Communications

Associate Principal:

Rachel Lanzafame, AIA, LEED AP BD+C | Associate Principal

Principal:

TJ DiFeo, LEED AP | Principal

In addition to significant leadership advancements, Bergmeyer announced Design Practice Leader promotions for team members who demonstrate significant expertise in their dedicated areas of practice. These candidates practice with purpose and creativity, innovating the firm’s approach to projects, practices, and collaborations.

Design Practice Leaders:

Dan L’Esperance, AIA | Associate, Design Practice Leader Anna Butterfield, IIDA, NCIDQ | Associate, Design Practice Leader

Bergmeyer also recognized advancements at the Senior Practitioner level. These candidates exemplify a level of professional expertise worthy of special recognition, regularly demonstrating expertise in their work and collaborative approach with teams and clients.

Senior Practitioners:

Steven Barron, IIDA, Senior Interior Designer Lettie Ramos, Senior Designer Maria Montas, Senior Designer.

LOWELL – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, was recently joined by Fitchburg Mayor Sam Squailia to highlight $5,665,706 in federal funding awarded to LUK, Inc. to improve mental and behavioral health services in Fitchburg.

“The mental health crisis has impacted every single person in our community in one way or another, and that’s particularly true for our youth. I’m proud to secure this significant federal investment that will expand access to mental and behavioral health services here in Fitchburg and across North Central Massachusetts,” Trahan said. “No organization is better prepared to meet the mental health needs of the community more than LUK Inc., which has built trust and a track record of success over decades of service here in Fitchburg.”

“This investment shows that Fitchburg, led by community organizations like LUK Inc., is proudly at the forefront of the fight to promote mental and behavioral health,” Squailia said. “We must continue to nurture a protective, supportive and uplifting environment for those of us who are most in need and LUK Inc. and the devoted staff here represent some of the best of this effort, we look forward to all the great work to come.”

“LUK is beyond thrilled to implement programming to help children, families, and young adults to meet their unique potential,” said LUK CEO Beth Barto. “We are thankful to the federal government for their ongoing support to implement these essential services. We appreciate Congresswoman Trahan’s steadfast advocacy for our community.”

Founded in 1970, LUK is a nonprofit social service agency that aims to help young people and their families in North Central Massachusetts through a full spectrum of programs addressing mental health, trauma, addiction and substance use prevention, homelessness, and more. Each year LUK delivers crisis care, social services, and behavioral health care to over 3,000 children and adults.

They offer strength-based services, meaning each person or family receives individualized care, sets their own goals with the support of LUK staff, and has a voice throughout their care.

To support those services, LUK secured $5,665,706 in total federal funding through three separate programs.

LUK will receive $4 million over four years through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s to develop a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic to support the development of a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic to expand behavioral health services and targeted case management for North Central Massachusetts residents through home-, clinic-, community-, and school-based settings.

LUK is also receiving $972,406 over three years from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to implement a Personalized Approach to Healing (PATH) program aiming to interrupt the multigenerational cycle of violence for North Central youth under age 18 who have experienced or witnessed domestic violence.

Finally, LUK has also been awarded $693,300 over three years from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Basic Center Program (BCP) to support their Transition to Independent Living Program, which provide four slots of temporary emergency shelter, basic need supplies, and counseling and referral services to homeless youth under the age of 18 who have no safe parent or guardian or alternative living arrangement.

Trahan has used her position to support LUK’s efforts in North Central Massachusetts. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Trahan secured more than $1 million to expand access to mental health services and youth emergency shelter and counseling. She also spearheaded the introduction of bicameral legislation to increase federal investments in successful youth mentoring programs like LUK’s.

FITCHBURG - A movie theater in central Massachusetts is closing for good at the end of the month after nearly three decades in business. Cinema World in Fitchburg says its last day will be Sunday, March 31.

"We can't thank you enough for making Cinema World as your go-to movie theater over the past 28 years!" the seven-screen theater posted to Facebook. "Stop by to see your last movie at Cinema World and enjoy some of our delicious popcorn!"

Owner Dave Fedeli told the Sentinel & Enterprise that the theater isn't making enough money to pay rent.

"I can't sign a long-term lease and I'm losing money," he told the newspaper. "It's all about business. I can't stay open."

Movie theaters have struggled since pandemic

Despite last summer's "Barbenheimer" box office success, movie theaters have struggled since the start of the COVID pandemic that forced many to shut down for several months.

Showcase Cinemas Worcester North never reopened after closing for the pandemic. Regal closed its Fenway movie theater in Boston after filing for bankruptcy last year. And a nonprofit is trying to raise nearly $10 million to save the six-screen West Newton Cinema.

"One of the last affordable movie theaters"

Hundreds shared their Cinema World memories on Facebook in reaction to the closure announcement.

"This is terrible. One of the last affordable movie theaters," one person said. Tickets for evening shows were $8.50 for adults and $6 for children and seniors.

Another longtime customer said they remember when there were lines out the door at Cinema World.

"Having to sit solo with strangers because all the seaters were taken. The long lines for popcorn. Good ol' days," they wrote.

Neal Riley

Neal J. Riley is a digital producer for CBS Boston. He has been with WBZ-TV since 2014. His work has appeared in The Boston Globe and The San Francisco Chronicle. Neal is a graduate of Boston University.

Video: Golden Buzzer: Lavender Darcangelo wins over Heidi Klum with a STUNNING song! | Auditions | AGT 2023

Lavender Darcangelo of Fitchburg was showered with confetti when she received the Golden Buzzer from Heidi Klum during her audition on NBC’s America’s Got Talent (AGT) which aired Tuesday.

The 27-year-old, who is autistic and blind, told the judges she has been singing since the age of three.

Her dazzling performance of "Out Here On My Own" by Irene Cara ended with a standing ovation from the audience.

How did the judges react?

Simon Cowell: “That was sensational. Honestly, sensational. Everything about that was just magical. You have such a talent. You have such an amazing personality. We make this show because we get to meet people like you occasionally. I am so happy you have come on our show to share your talent with us because this is an audition I will never forget. It was amazing.”

Sofia Vergara: “That was spectacular. I forgot that I was judging you. I was just enjoying your voice. That was beautiful.”

Howie Mandel: “Not only is it beautiful and not only is it amazing, but when you sing, it is so exciting, and gives everybody hope that maybe we can all achieve our dreams if we just go for it. You are a dream come true, young lady.”

Heidi Klum: “I feel like I just fell in love. AGT is an amazing journey. I would love to be your cheerleader and hold your hand all the way to the finish line. What do you say?”

Klum then said, “Let’s do this,” as she hit the Golden Buzzer and confetti rained down onto the stage.

“AGT Is my favorite show because it’s about being different and, I don’t know, I am just not normal,” Lavender said. Cowell responded, “I think I am speaking for all of us because we love you just the way you are.”

When Mandel asked Lavender why she wanted to be on AGT, she responded, “I have a lot of dreams.”

One of her dreams is to build a school where classes are based off what students are naturally curious about. “A school I would have thrived in,” she added.

When host Terry Crews asked Lavender how she felt, she replied, “I don’t know if this is a dream, or if I am really awake."

With the Golden Buzzer, Lavender automatically moves onto AGT’s Live Shows.

A Breakdown of How America’s Got Talent Works

Wil and Jamie Darcangelo adopted Lavender in 2017. Lavender first met Wil as a high schooler at a rock band-slash-youth-program he started.

“Sometimes when I grew up, I didn’t know what am I here for, but now I know where I am, why I am here,”

“So we can be a family,” Wil replied.

In 2019, Lavender stunned the crowd at First Parish Church in Fitchburg when she sang "Part of Your World" from Disney's "The Little Mermaid" for an LGBTQ+ cabaret performance.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Rufus Gifford, who was honored at the event, posted a video of Lavender’s performance. The video received hundreds of thousands of views and Lavender was featured on Good Morning America (GMA) and in BuzzFeed News.

Lavender told Good Morning America at the time she chose to sing "Part of Your World" because she resonated with the song's meaning in many ways.

"I felt like I was lonely in my life because I have multiple disabilities in my life being blind and autistic," she said.

Fitchburg, Massachusetts, a relatively small city in Worcester County, has transformed itself into a mega town for marijuana.

Converting an old wire-making factory into a cannabis cultivation operation, Garden Remedies was the first to move to Fitchburg in 2016. Since then, six other companies have created similar set ups within the city’s limits and six others are in the pipeline.

“They’ve been very accommodating to us here in Fitchburg,” said Kyle Vigeant, vice president of Cultivation for Garden Remedies, as he gave a tour of their Fitchburg facility. “And, as you can see, we grow a lot of weed here.”

Fitchburg’s history as a factory town of paper mills, shoemakers and machine manufacturers has made it an ideal location for the fledgling cannabis industry, in need of sprawling buildings where rows of plants can grow, and rooms of chemistry equipment can be housed while meeting industry safety requirements. Since much of the manufacturing companies have moved out, the marijuana industry has moved in.

“We haven't been actively recruiting them because we've laid the foundation and everything is in place,” said Mary Jo Bohart, Fitchburg’s director of economic development. “The locations exist, the zoning is good, the processes we have our smooth. They continue to find us.

“So, could we see more? We might.”

According to tax records, Fitchburg has collected $4 million in tax revenue to date from cannabis cultivation businesses. Collectively, they occupy about one million square feet of property across the city.

Eight years ago, as Fitchburg worked long hours to meet a state-imposed deadline for cannabis zoning rules, they were also fighting a population of 42,000 residents, unsure marijuana would be a good fit for their community.

The recently elected mayor, Samantha Squailia, says a consistently growing number of people are evolving on the issue.

“What we have seen over the last six, seven years is that there really has been very little impact at all to our community in a negative way. But we've seen a lot of positive impacts, impacts with the jobs, with the tax revenue,” Mayor Squailia said.

There may be anxious days ahead, however. Falling cannabis prices and federal laws threaten industry survival. In Fitchburg, that could mean cultivators closing, consolidating, or some in the pipeline, never opening at all.