This Weekend at Nova Arts

This week at Nova Arts we have our February Songwriter Session, indie band Florist, and the exciting album release for Keene's very own Tara Novak! It'll be a weekend of fun nights and great entertainment open to all ages.

Friday, February 24, Florist takes the stage! A New York indie band with storytelling melodies and lyrics. The band was formed by talented and vulnerable singer and songwriter Emily Sprague, who leads the band's tranquil and imaginative songs. Opening for Florist will be Footings, with Nova Arts' very own Eric Gagne playing guitar and vocals! Doors open at 7:00 p.m. with the music starting at 8:00 p.m.! Tickets are $15 and are available on our website and at the door.

Saturday, February 25, come join us for an exciting evening with Tara Novak as she releases her new album, Layers of Identity. Tara and her husband Ciaran Nagle perform in contemporary Irish folk band Ishna, where she plays the fiddle. Come help us support this wonderful artist as she debuts her album for the first time live! Doors open at 7:00 p.m. with the music starting at 8:00 p.m.! Tickets are $20 and are available on our website and at the door.

Nova Arts is supported by and under the fiscal sponsorship of Arts Alive, and is supported by the Putnam Foundation and the Osier Fund. Events take place at 48 Emerald St, within Brewbakers Cafe & Terra Nova Coffee. novaarts.org

Area Residents to Provide Input on Local Health Improvement Plan

During March, residents of 27 communities in North Central MA will have the opportunity to share their visions for the future as they provide input into the region's Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). The North Central Mass CHIP is designed to be a bridge between the most pressing needs in the community and a vision of a thriving North Central region where everyone feels safe, valued, and connected. The Health Equity Partnership of North Central MA (CHNA9), the organization which oversees the CHIP, invites residents to participate in one of seven March community meetings to provide input.

According to the Partnership's Executive Director, Chelsey Patriss, "The CHIP is a living thing, made by residents reflecting the diversity of the region and who share the power and responsibility to create the community of their dreams. We are looking forward to hearing directly from people in our communities. Our current CHIP update will include the lessons learned during the Covid pandemic as well as integrating climate-related health issues in our region."

At the March meetings, participants will learn more about the Partnership's current activities, help create a shared vision of a healthy region, and provide input on the actions we need to get there in an interactive 2.5-hour program. There will be in-person meetings in five locations across the region, and community members are welcome to register for and attend the one most convenient for them:

• North Middlesex at the Townsend Meeting Hall on Saturday, March 11th at 10:30 a.m.
• East Quabbin at the Barre Library on Tuesday, March 14th at 5:00 p.m.
• Greater Gardner at the Clark Memorial YMCA in Winchendon on Saturday, March 18th at 10 a.m.
• Fitchburg/Leominster at the Spanish American Center in Leominster on Tuesday, March 21st at 5:30 p.m.
• Clinton/Wachusett Area at the Clinton Adult Learning Center on Thursday, March 23rd at 9:30 a.m.

A region-wide virtual (Zoom) meeting on Thursday, March 9 at 2 p.m. and a region-wide in-person meeting at the DoubleTree Hotel in Leominster on Friday, March 24 at 11 a.m. are also planned. The events are free but advance registration is required. Food, childcare, interpretation, transportation, and other accommodations can be provided. You can learn more and sign up for one of the meetings at https://chna9.com/north-central-chip/

United Way of North Central Massachusetts Awards over $90,000 for Winter Heating Assistance and Emergency Shelter

Grants distributed to 11 local agencies through two winter weather initiatives

FITCHBURG, MA: February 23, 2023 - United Way of North Central Massachusetts (UWNCM) recently distributed $93,000 to 11 local agencies to help struggling community members this winter. Grants were made through two funds addressing critical areas of need in cold weather months: the Winter Heating Initiative and Emergency Shelter Fund.

The Winter Heating Initiative is a new program that provides financial assistance for heating expenses to households that have exhausted state heating assistance or fall just short of qualifying. UWNCM has so far raised and distributed $60,000, which includes $25,000 given by the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, $5,000 given by Unitil and donations from community members.

Grants were awarded to five agencies: Athol Area YMCA, Gardner Community Action Committee, Making Opportunity Count, Spanish American Center, and the Winchendon Community Action Committee—the final of which is a first-time UWNCM grant recipient.

Shaina Cunningham, Winchendon Community Action Committee Program Manager, says, "We are so appreciative of the grant and have heard from many people what a tremendous help these funds have been. Some have even told us that without the support, they would not have had heat this winter."

UWNCM also distributed $33,000 to six agencies through its Emergency Shelter Fund, a long-standing initiative that provides shelter for homeless individuals during extreme winter weather. This round of grants covered motel rooms for over 100 people and was made to Athol Area YMCA, Clear Path for Veterans New England, Ginny’s Helping Hands, Restoration Recovery Center, Salvation Army Athol Corps, and Spanish American Center.

UWNCM Director of Community Impact Judy Tomlinson notes that recipient agencies for both programs were selected to ensure coverage of the entire North Central Massachusetts region. In addition, many recipients are small grassroots organizations that run food pantries, enabling them to get immediate support to local community members.

"With costs for fuel, shelter and other expenses rising, the need in our community is at an all-time high,” says Tomlinson. “UWNCM is all about working with local organizations to meet basic needs such as heating and emergency shelter assistance for families dealing with this crisis."

Community members can support both the Winter Heating Initiative and Emergency Shelter Fund by making a gift at uwncm.org/donate.

The United Way of North Central Massachusetts serves the communities of Ashburnham, Ashby, Athol, Ayer, Devens, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Harvard, Hubbardston, Leominster, Littleton, Pepperell, Lunenburg, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Shirley, Templeton, Townsend, Westminster and Winchendon.