GARDNER, MA – September 23, 2021 – WGAW1340.com – Heywood Hospital at 242 Green Street, Gardner has announced that the Ninth Annual RIDE OF YOUR LIFE MOTORCYCLE RIDE has been rescheduled to Saturday October 23, 2021 Rain or Shine.

This 3 hour motorcycle ride through North Central Massachusetts features stops at local motorcycle shops. Ride registration begins at 8:00 am and the ride starts at 10:00 am. The fee of $25 for riders and $15 for passengers includes lunch, maps, and on route refreshments.

A lunch will be open to all beginning at 11:30 am with a cost of $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Proceeds benefit suicide prevention efforts in the North Central and North Quabbin regions. For more information, contact Ms. Barbara Nealon at Heywood Hospital at (978) 630-6386.

ASHBURNHAM and ASHBY, MA – August 15, 2021 – WGAW1340.com – Federal funding for infrastructure projects in Ashburnham and Ashby has been earmarked through the federal American Rescue Plan, with the support of Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-3rd CD-MA).

$1-million will be used to rehabilitate Route 101 South in Ashburnham. A two-mile section of the roadway is planned to provide a multi-use travel lane for both bicycles and pedestrians. Ashburnham Town Administrator Brian Doheny said “The economic benefit that this project could stimulate to the Ashburnham community is exciting.”

$1-million will help fund planned intersection improvements at Greenville Road (Route 31) and Turnpike Road in Ashby. “The project’s goal is to enhance safety and operations at the intersection, resulting in more efficient driving conditions and fewer delays.”

WINCHENDON – August 10, 2021 – WGAW1340.com – The second annual Winchenstock music event is set Saturday at the Winchendon Rod and Gun Club to benefit the Winchendon Community Action Committee.

Several local bands will be featured, including The Fools, the Big RanDom, Point the Finger and Kilroy.

Winchendon Community Action Committee Director JENNIFER SIBLEY says the need for financial assistance for local families and individuals has increased during the pandemic. SIBLEY says 107 new clients have signed up for help in the last three months and last Friday she got four calls from homeless people who are seeking assistance.

Financial help is especially needed now since many COVID-related benefit programs are running out of money.

Tickets for Winchenstock can be purchased at the Winchendon C-A-C, LaPointe Law Office, at 91 Central Street or at the door. A Psycho Chicken BBQ will be included with your donation of $25-dollars. Children under 16 get in free with a paying adult.

Winchenstock is set Saturday, from noon to 9 P-M at the Winchendon (MA) Rod and Gun Club.

GARDNER, MA – August 8, 2021 – WGAW1340.com – D’angelo Grilled Sandwiches, 43 Union Square, Gardner, MA has shut its doors. As part of the Papa Gino food chain, the sandwich shop in Gardner, MA has closed “due to staffing shortages.” The Gardner, MA location officially closed Friday night, August 6, 2021 at 7 PM.

At its peak, D’angelo had many outlets in New England, including: 50 in Massachusetts; 7 in New Hampshire; 5 in Maine; 8 in Connecticutt; and, 13 in Rhode Island. D’angelo also served customers at major sports and entertainment venues, on college campuses, and at school cafeterias. The first D’angelo Grilled Sandwiches shop opened in Dedham, MA in 1967.

The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has negatively impacted small, mom and pop stores and large businesses as well. Restaurants have been been greatly impacted. Many restaurants tried to weather the pandemic, shifting their business strategy to offering pickup and free deliveries. But many went out of business. As the economic downturn continued, many large chain restaurants were impacted, such as Friendly’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Ruby Tuesday, which closed numerous locations.

D’angelo Grilled Sandwiches is owned by Papa Gino’s, a private company founded in 1961 by Michael Valerio who owned an East Boston pizza shop.

GARDNER, MA – August 2, 2021 – Victor Rojas, Assistant Director of GEAR UP, has been named GEAR UP Professional of the Year by the National Council for Community Education Partnerships (NCCEP) at their annual conference.

According to Mount Wachusett Community College, Gardner, MA, the “Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP)” initiative is one of the largest and most effective programs focused on increasing college and career readiness of low-income students in communities nationwide. GEAR UP targets entire grades of students, partnering with local organizations and business, and matching Federal Department of Education funds with local contributions, allowing projects to support large number of students. The NCCEP leadership awards honors students, family leaders, community partners, and professionals from the GEAR UP community.

Fitchburg residents who are members of the class of 2024 & 2025 will receive services through GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) throughout this academic year.

Program Goal

The primary goal of GEAR UP is to provide participants with the academic support and preparation necessary to increase their chances of academic success, and post-secondary success. GEAR UP program staff are located at Longsjo, McKay, & Memorial middle school. GEAR UP will continue to offer services to each of the students enrolled in the classes of 2024-2025 until graduation.

What is GEAR UP?

GEAR UP is a seven-year initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Education, and administered by Mount Wachusett Community College, in partnership with Fitchburg Public Schools. Additionally, GEAR UP has several community partners that contribute time and resources to support grant goals and objectives. This partnership mission is two-fold: to provide cohort students with intensive academic, recreational, and family based interventions; and to provide the public school districts with a sustainable, system-wide infusion of instructional and curricular reforms that lead to improvements in teaching, learning, and curriculum design.

GEAR UP supports the students of Fitchburg through collaboration with existing programs and activities. GEAR UP is funded 50% by the U.S. Department of Education, and federal funds are matched dollar for dollar by state and local community resources. Total funding for this year from the U.S. Department of Education is $669,600.

According to the college, the GEAR UP Professional of the Year is awarded to an individual who is committed to the GEAR UP movement and the goal of ensuring that college access and success is available to all students. Through their work with GEAR UP, the awardee demonstrates the passion and perseverance to assist low-income students in their quest to attain a college education.

Visit mwcc.edu to learn more about the GEAR UP Fitchburg program.

Jury Convicts CRESPO

in 2016 Fitchburg Murder

WORCESTER – August 5, 2021 – Jose Crespo was convicted of first degree murder in the 2016 killing of a Fitchburg man, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.

36-year-old Mr. Crespo, of Newark, New Jersey, was also found guilty of home invasion; aggravated kidnapping; two counts of kidnapping; armed robbery while masked; and arson.

The Superior Court jury deliberated for a day before delivering its verdict. Judge James G. Reardon Jr. scheduled sentencing for Tuesday.

The first degree murder conviction carries a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole.

The victims of the Dec. 3, 2016 home invasion at 122 Laurel St., Fitchburg were 24-year-old Kevin O. Cabrera-Soto, his girlfriend and his girlfriend’s 7-year-old son.

Mr. Cabrera-Soto was found dead in an apartment at that address where a fire had been set. The woman and her son escaped the fire.

An autopsy later revealed that Mr. Cabrera-Soto died of homicidal violence from blunt force trauma with thermal injuries.

42-year-old Ramon Millan, of Bridgeport, Conn., who was also charged with murder in the case pleaded guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison.

A third defendant in the case, 36-year-old Wilfredo Muniz, 36, of Bridgeport, Conn., was indicted under the intimidation of a witness statute for misleading a police investigation. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to probation.

DA Early said “Our prosecutors, Assistant District Attorneys David P. Feraco, Louis Tosches and DonnaMarie Haran, did an excellent job in trying this case and working to obtain justice on behalf of the victims,” “And I’d like to thank the jurors for their service in this trial, which was the first murder trial held in Worcester since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

GARDNER, MA – August 3, 2021 – The 8th Annual Gardner “National Night Out” at Monument Park, Gardner, MA, promoted prevention of drug abuse and the development of positive relationships between the community and Gardner Police and Fire Departments. Not-for-profit groups set up informational tables, the Scouts held some games including Rock climbing. Kids enjoyed the bounce house while the Big Random provided music. Click here to view and/or download photos of event for FREE.

GARDNER, MA – August 3, 2021 – “Pool Party with the Police.” The Massachusetts State Police Underwater Recovery Unit demonstrated its practices and techniques during a Water Safety Day at the Greenwood Outdoor Pool, Gardner, MA hosted by the Gardner, MA Police Dept. Click here to see and/or download FREE photos of the event

GARDNER, MA – August 3, 2021 – WGAW1340.com – Water Main Break just before noon on Central Street, Gardner, MA during construction to replace 100-year-old water pipes underneath street. Traffic re-routed near First Congregational Church next to traffic rotary. New pipes causing increased pressure in system (due to no water leaking from old piping) causing breaks at weakest points of old pipes in the system throughout Gardner, MA. CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS.

Bandstand Concert @ Gardner’s Monument Park with Jumpin’ Juba

GARDNER, MA – July 31, 2021 – Bandstand Concert at Monument Park, Gardner, MA featuring Jumpin’ Juba. Click here to choose photos to download FREE. Next Saturday night . . . “Maestro’s Men” featuring POLKA music.