Save FitchburgTaking Back Our Community

After attending last weeks meeting with the City Council and listening to representatives from Planned Parenthood, local residents and business owners, I’ve come to the conclusion that allowing Planned Parenthood to open on Main Street would do nothing but deter businesses from coming to Fitchburg, and even worse drive businesses out.

One of the things that concerned me most was the lack of answers given to the council by Planned Parenthood President and CEO Dianne Luby.  In fact most of the responses she did give proved to support the city councilors point of view that Planned Parenthood is not needed here in Fitchburg at all.

Let me explain: Luby applauded our current social service programs for their dedicated work in bringing down the number of teen pregnancies by 20% since 2006.  She also stated that the Fitchburg average (17.1 pregnancies per 1000 teens) is far less then the state average (49 pregnancies per 1000 teens).  What does this mean?  It means that the programs that are already in place are working!

So why did Planned Parenthood choose Fitchburg?  Was it because Fitchburg needed their services?  Obviously not since our teen pregnancy rates have gone down.  No, they chose us because a little chart told them that Fitchburg was low income community, therefore, we must need them.  Does that sound like a good enough reason?

Now if you listened to Luby at the meeting she says that Fitchburg was chosen because it has easy access to public transportation, but when further questioned it was easily noticeable that she knew little about our community or those surrounding us.

City Councilman Dean Tran asked why they did not consider Leominster or Gardner?  They both have easy access to public transportation and to Route 2 but Luby gave no explanation as to why those cities were not looked into.  Do they not qualify?  From the sounds of it,  Planned Parenthood never even checked into it.  It had to be Fitchburg.

And why not?  Fitchburg already has 40 other Social Service programs; why not one more?  Fitchburg already has their own problems; why not dump it all on us?

The truth is Fitchburg use to be a mecca to the business and industrial community of the North Central Area and beyond.  Now we are known as the Social Service Capital.

Residents, business owners and city officials have worked hard to rebuild this community and to restore the economic structure and foundation of this city.  What some might have lost in the process might not be regained but change was noticeable.  People were beginning to trust again; to make their way downtown bringing a heartbeat back to Main Street.

Do you honestly think new businesses are going to come to Main Street so that they can be next to a controversial organization like Planned Parenthood?  Do you think existing businesses will stay?  Two business owners left Tuesday nights meeting saying that they were done with Fitchburg and that they were relocating their current businesses.  Is this what we want?  To loose what we have already established!

And let’s not forget about the protesting.  Do you think it will actually stop over time or escalate?  If it escalates does the Fitchburg Police Department have the personnel or funds readily available for larger demonstrations.  Imagine Main Street littered with a thousand protesters.  Do you think that is going to encourage economic development?

And then there is the obvious, which is why we will have protesters on Main Street.  Planned Parenthood does abortions, and though they claim they will not be doing them on Main Street in Fitchburg, the negative stigma of it follows them where ever they go.  Which brings me to another point:  What happens in two years when their federal grant money runs up?  Luby told the city council that they could not abortions because they had received federal grant money to set up but that they were looking for a 5-10 year lease on Main Street.  What happens in two years time if they don’t receive money from another federal grant?  Luby told the council that Planned Parenthood had accessibility to other money through private donations.  What’s to stop them from doing abortions then?  Imagine an abortion clinic on Main Street two years from now.  The number of protesters would double in a night; not to mention the possibility of violence that could break out from it.

I’m sorry but placing Planned Parenthood on Main Street would be like putting the final nail in the coffin.  Main Street would fall and businesses would leave and Fitchburg would be left with an organization that cares more about statistics then the actual wants and needs of the people within our community.

And from what I witnessed and what I’ve heard the majority of the people of Fitchburg, including members of our City Council, do not want you, Planned Parenthood, here.  So instead of forcing your organization upon us, try respecting our city by respecting our wishes and find a new place somewhere else, that as you (Luby) put it yourself so many times last Tuesday, will feel “welcomed”.

For all of those who would like to sign a petition in favor of City Councilman Dean Tran’s Resolution to keep Planned Parenthood out of Fitchburg, please stop by 701 Main Street Monday through Thursday of this week.  Dean Tran would like to present his resolution to the Council this Thursday night.

Your voice will be heard!

Fitchburg Police Captain Charles Tasca was fired on Friday after being suspended without pay while under investigation for misusing compensation time.

The termination comes a day after a hearing was held Thursday morning to decide whether or not he had misused 10 paid comp days since June of 2009.

Tasca’s attorney plans to appeal the firing with the state Civil Service Commission.

For more information please check out the following articles:
~ Attorney: Tasca has been fired ~
~ Officer’s use of comp time questioned during hearing ~
~ City cop suspended without pay ~

I’ll update this post as we receive more information in the next day or so as to final findings that led to Captain Tasca’s termination.

According to The Sentinel and Enterprise, Councilor – at – Large Thomas Conry has filed a petition that would require heads of Fitchburg Departments live in Fitchburg.

The proposed petition would give anyone heading a Fitchburg Department six months to relocate to Fitchburg after signing their contract with the city.  Current department heads would be grandfathered until their contract expires at which point, they too would be given an additional six months to move if given a new contract.

The main idea here is that if you are in charge of Fitchburg Departments then you yourself should be a resident of the city, not just a five day a week employee.  This is most evident in the criticism given to both the Chief of Police and the School Superintendent, neither of whom live in the city or in a community which is similar to Fitchburg.  The question then is how can these Department heads know what is best for Fitchburg if they are not a full time part of it.

On the other hand those that oppose the petition believe that the city will lose valuable employees because of this and that where you live shouldn’t dictate where you work.

The petition will be discussed on January 7th at the city council meeting.  What do you think?

From the Mayor’s press conference Wednesday night, roughly 150 streetlights will be turned on in the next few weeks, with possibly 100 more after that.

The money needed to turn these lights back on is the result of $20,000 made possible to the city through a public safety grant.

The next decision to be made is which street lights in the city will be turned back on and which ones won’t.  Which area would you target first?

Free Idea will be hosting a local band show tonight as part of a food can drive for the holidays.

Doors open a 5:15 at St. Anthony’s  Hall at 84 Salem St  in Fitchburg.

The show will feature local bands: How to Become an Explorer, After the Storm, Dakota, Flight Of The Navigator, Convert To Cannibalism and The Sharpest.

Food will be provided by Gia’s Food Services.

Tickets are $7 or $5 with a canned food donation.

Tonight promises to be a lot of fun so come check it out!

While Friday night many Fitchburg residents joined together at the “Ice Breaker” Party to commemorate the one year anniversary of the “Ice Storm”, other residents and local officials gathered in freezing temperatures Saturday afternoon to protest against Unitil.

One year ago, during one of the worst storms this area has ever seen, Unitil failed to deliver when they were needed most.  Many residents went with out power for weeks, with many leaving their homes during the holidays to find warmth and shelter elsewhere.

And though much has changed in the past year with new legislation and stricter regulations being passed on utility companies; people have not forgotten what they have gone through and that Unitils lack of preparation was the cause of most of it.

With Unitil rates one of the highest in the state, residents peacefully protested in front of Unitil’s Fitchburg Office on John Fitch Highway looking for a choice and the removal of Unitil from the area.

With so many other utility companies in the state of Massachusetts, residents and communities are looking for the right to choose the company that is best suited for their needs.  Currently most communities do not have this choice, but as the issues concerning Unitil are in no way dead, it seems with so many residents calling on their state officials for a solution, that this might change.

Is it possible that this area will see an end to Unitil in 2010?

Here is a list of current businesses and organizations participating in Saturday’s Holiday Festival on Main Street:

This N That – Candy, Coffee
The Rabbit Hole (805 Main St) – Raffling Gift Certificates
Flesh By Design (701 Main St) – Raffling Gift Certificates, Grab Bag, Candy
Free Idea (701 Main St) – Donating Clothes and Hats
Premeir Subs (500 Main St) – Raffling Gift Certificates, Candy
Rollstone Studios (633 Main St) – Candy Canes
DeBonis & Davin Florist – Raffling a Holiday Plant
Goodwil Wreath Company – Raffling Holiday Wreathes
Twin Cities CDC (470 Main Street) – Raffling Gift Basket, Candy
The Boulder (880 Main Street) – Holiday Party After Parade
Bandit Clothing – T-shirts
ARC (564 Main Street) – Candy and Baked Goods

Rollstone Church (199 Main Street) will have their sanctuary open to the public from 12-4pm for tours.

I will try to keep this list updated as more businesses get back to me. Their is nothing to buy; just stop into one of these local vendors and grab your free raffle.

Also, please don’t forget about the local food drives and toys for tots to help the less fortunate at this time of year. Donations for both can be given at 701 Main Street until December 18th.

Happy Holidays and we hope to see you tomorrow from 12-6pm!

Tonight, there are 2 fun events planned in our city.

The 1st one is the “Off the Wall Art Party”, which will be held at Rollstone Studios at 633 Main Street, Fitchburg, MA.

Admission is $5 and all proceeds benefit the Fitchburg Cultural Alliance.

The Art Sale and Auction begins at 6pm and ends at 9pm.

There will be live music from 9-11pm with food and refreshments.

Come support your local art community!

For more information please visit Rollstone Studios online at http://rollstoneartists.com

Secondly, there will be the “Icebreaker” Party at the Fitchburg Senior Center located at 14 Wallace Avenue, right around the corner from Rollstone Studios from 7-10pm.

The party is to commemorate the one year anniversary of last years December Ice Storm. There will be live music, dancing, food and a cash bar.

Admission is $10 with all proceeds from the event going to the Fitchburg Senior Center.

So get out and have some fun while helping to support to great programs within the city!

Admission is $10 with all proceeds

The Coalition to Save Fitchburg has established the $5 Foundation with the hope of raising $50,000 in donations for repairs and upgrades for the Fitchburg Public Library.

This will be the first of many worthy causes the foundation hopes to raise money for.

Our thought is that if we can get 10,000 people to just donate $5 towards a cause we can make a major difference in the community.

If you wish to donate please make your check or money order to:
$5 Foundation

Please mail your donation to:
The Coalition to Save Fitchburg
PO Box 278
Fitchburg, Ma 01420

From the Telegram and Gazette, “Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray announced at a press conference in City Hall this morning the release of $5.5 million toward the state’s share of reimbursements for expenses incurred by communities after the Dec. 11-12, 2008, ice storm.”

Fitchburg might receive their share of this money as early as next week.

A special thanks should be given to State Representative Stephen DiNatale who fought so hard for the city of Fitchburg and its residents after the ice storm; both against Unitil and for financial reimbursement.