Fitchburg athlete set to report for boot camp

This spring, the two or so hours Kenny Marte spent each day at practice throwing in the bullpen, shagging fly balls and occasionally poking fun at his own lack of hitting prowess, or at games cheering on his teammates, backing them and bringing out their best, are times he cherished.

“I felt supported and welcome, and that was the best feeling for me,” said the most personable Marte, who moved to Fitchburg from Lawrence two years ago. “I felt like I belonged here. I wish I could have played all four years here.”

Fitchburg coach Chad Garner noticed Marte’s live arm when he was throwing in the gym one day last winter. COVID wiped out the 2020 baseball season, but Garner was happy when Marte, at the encouragement of senior second baseman and pitcher Anthony DiNardo, came out for this year’s team.

“I was honest with him,” Garner said, “I said, ‘I don’t know if you will end up pitching for us, but you’re a great kid and you want to be supportive here and you want to put on the jersey, and we want to have you.’ He accepted his role and he won us over right away with how positive he was, how professional, how mature.”

Marte, who played football and basketball for the Red Raiders, didn’t get into any baseball games this spring, but that hardly dampened his experience.

“A lot of people get down and get upset because they don’t play,” Marte said, “but I always had the support from the coaches. I really enjoyed this year.”

Recently, Marte made the very difficult decision to leave the team before season’s end. He is joining the U.S. Marine Corps and reports for boot camp at Parris Island in South Carolina June 22. The time commitment to preparing for the mental and physical rigors of boot camp factored into his decision.

“Mentally, I just had to get myself ready to go to boot camp,” Marte said, “get serious and figure out my plans, what I’m going to do for a job while I’m in; money plans.”

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Art Museum putting Fitchburg Families First – Public school students receiving food, supplies this winter

The Fitchburg Art Museum announced Wednesday the launch of Fitchburg Families First, a pandemic relief program that will provide food, family necessities, and educational support to students in the Public Schools and their families this winter.

This program is funded by a grant of $50,000 from the Cathedral Fund, a Boston- based self- described intergalactic/ interdimensional arts engagement foundation, and an additional grant of $5,000 from ReImagine North of Main, according to museum Executive Director Nick Capasso.

“We are deeply grateful to the Cathedral Fund, who challenged us to consider expanding our mission of community service during this national emergency to provide direct support to people in our community.” Capasso said. “Since March, FAM has distributed free art supplies to families in need sheltering at home, developed free online art-making projects, and helped to create the Lionel Reinford Artists Pandemic Relief Fund. But Fitchburg Families First allows us to stretch even further, to help meet the basic needs of the families we serve. As the director of the Cathedral Fund said to me, ‘Kids can’t eat crayons.’” Fitchburg Families First consists of two efforts. The first, already underway, is a donation of internet-capable computer tablets to local families that will enable the Public Schools to add 50 additional students to its Footsteps 2 Brilliance early education reading program. Footsteps 2 Brilliance is a breakthrough early learning mobile game solution that helps children succeed in school and life by significantly improving readings skills and comprehension, according to Capasso.

The second will be a series of six drive-by distribution events at FAM over the course of the upcoming winter, when hundreds of families will be able to pick up free relief packages containing food, necessities, and school supplies, he said.

These events are being organized in collaboration with Inform Fitchburg, a local volunteer group that supports public education which grew out of the Community Stewards program at NewVue Communities, our regional community development corporation, according to Capasso.

Since August, Inform Fitchburg has been organizing occasional drive-by relief events, he said.

The first distribution event will take place on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 9 a.m.-noon, at the museum that is located at 185 Elm St., he said.

Logistical support for the distribution will be provided by ReImagine North of Main, a collaborative partnership between the City of Fitchburg, Fitchburg State University, the museum, NewVue Communities, the Minority Coalition, and Making Opportunity Count (MOC).

The initiative is committed to making a collective impact and is dedicated to improving the quality of life in downtown Fitchburg and the North of Main neighborhood through its focus on community engagement, economic development, and neighborhood stabilization. ReImagine North of Main is supported by The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts, he said.

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Diplomas in hand, FHS graduates focused on what comes next

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Clear skies and warm weather greeted the Fitchburg High School Class of 2020 as they crossed the stage for their diplomas during the 154th commencement ceremony at historic Crocker Field.

Families and friends sported masks on Saturday as they watched from the stands, looking over a sea of socially-distant graduates.

Alhana Waqar, master of ceremonies, welcomed dignitaries, School Committee members, teachers, administrators, family and friends.

Waqar told her fellow graduates that while their final semester was interrupted by a pandemic, forcing the cancellation of traditional senior year events like prom, they should be proud of Saturday’s achievement.

“ Today marks a defining milestone in the conclusion of this chapter of your lives,” she said.

Waqar thanked teachers and faculty members for their unwavering dedication to students at Fitchburg High School.

Kiara Pedraza, the senior class speaker, noted the stranger circumstances of this year’s ceremony and said nobody could have predicted it.

“ Even with our 20/ 20 vision, we couldn’t see this coming,” Pedraza said. “ When we least expected it, the last few months of our senior year was stripped from us.” Pedraza said this year’s graduating class showed passion and energy each time they shouted, ‘ Here we go Fitchburg’ during football games. They again showed it during senior relays, and again and again.

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Clutch Cavins wins nail-biter – Fitchburg guard sinks 3-pointer, comes up with steal

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Mia Cavins sank a go- ahead 3- pointer with 20 seconds to play, then came up with a huge steal on the defensive end, giving Fitchburg High a thrilling 5048 road win over archrival Leominster High, before a raucous packed house on Tuesday night.

Cavins ( 12 points, 10 rebounds) was a good two feet behind the arc on the left wing, when she drained her fourth trey of the night, giving the Red Raiders the lead for good, 50- 48. Both teams had doublebonus free throws but neither was able to convert.

Leominster had a final chance with 8.3 seconds on the clock. The Blue Devils quickly pushed the ball up the floor and got it to Destina VivoAmore on the wing. The senior looked to have Faith Akoachere alone under the hoop for a layup that would have forced overtime. But Cavins dropped down from the free throw line, slipped in front of Akoachere and picked off the bounce pass as time expired.

“ This was the best learning experience game for us this year. We had to battle the whole way,” said Fitchburg head coach Paul DiGeronimo, whose team improved to 4-10. “ That was a big- time shot ( Cavins) made. To be honest, I’d like to see her shoot more.” Alyvia Smith and Jennifer Allen had 13 points each to lead the balanced Fitchburg attack.

Allen, just a freshman, added 11 rebounds and appeared unfazed by the deafening crowd and playoff- like atmosphere of the LHS gym. “( Allen) is a real throwback player,” said DiGeronimo. “ She doesn’t quit and plays hard both ends of the floor.”

Patriots coming to Crocker Field

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Are your ready for some football?

In Fitchburg, it’s always time for a little pigskin action.

Boys and girls, ages 9-14, will get the opportunity to participate in a free clinic that stresses leadership, teamwork and commitment when the New England Patriots Alumni – in partnership with the New England Patriots Foundation and the NFL Foundation — host a free and non-contact “Football For You” football clinic on June 5 at historic Crocker Field.

“The community has been great each year I have been a part of the Patriots Alumni camp, especially the parents who are more familiar with the group who come to Fitchburg each year,” said Fitchburg High football coach Tom DiGeronimo. “It’s just a fantastic program for our youth in the city. The players that come are so enthusiastic and do a great job teaching the game of football.”

Registration begins at 3:30 p.m., and the camp starts at 4. A parent information session is slated for 4:30 p.m., and the meal is at 6.

The following Patriots alumni are scheduled to attend: Vernon Crawford, Tully Banta-Cain, Garin Veris, Robert Kratch, Steve King and Pete Brock.

This list, however, is subject to change.

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Goodrich student honored at Statehouse

A Goodrich Academy student was among those honored at the annual Letters About Literature awards ceremony, held on May 23 in the Reading Room of the State Library at the Massachusetts Statehouse.

Maya Flowers of Lunenburg, a senior at Goodrich Academy, received Top Honors in Level 3 (Grades 9 – 12) for her letter to H.P. Lovecraft. As a statewide top honoree, Maya will progress to the national competition. She also received a State House citation from Fitchburg state Rep. Stephan Hay.

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Still making strides – Fitchburg track stars prepare for all-states

The Fitchburg High girls’ outdoor track and field program has been on the rise for the past couple of years. Although the Red Raiders have struggled with numbers for decades against bigger schools, Fitchburg has consistently been able to send athletes to the all-state meet, a sign that the future looks very bright for the program.

That trend continued this year, as three Red Raiders will represent their school at the MIAA All-State Outdoor Track and Field Championship Saturday at Westfield State University.

It will be the second consecutive year that junior Wonuola Ashaju will compete in the triple jump at all-states. Sophomore Olamide Bamgbose will embark on her first trip to all-states as an individual, tackling the long jump. Senior Emerson Scott will make her third consecutive trip to all-states as an individual, competing in the 400 hurdles.

“We’ve consistently had 20 girls on the outdoor team, which is a good number, but tough when you match up in dual meets,” Fitchburg head coach Sara Lamey said. “But I have always told the girls through this trend that it is a process, the goal is to improve every day. We talk a lot about goal-setting and what they want to accomplish. (Ashaju and Scott) have had some great experience, and have been great role models for our younger kids. They’ve risen to the occasion and handled things well.”

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Fitchburg continues its gallant climb

The Fitchburg High baseball team won two games in 2015, Ray Cosenza’s first season in his second stint as coach.

That, believe it or not, was progress, because the Red Raiders won a total of two games over the previous three seasons. Once stabilized, the long-faltering program has since been on a steady and increasingly successful upward trend.

“We can now play catch without anyone getting hit in the head,” Cosenza said with a knowing chuckle prior to practice Tuesday. “We still have incoming kids, freshmen playing JV, who haven’t played in a while, but I think our program has grown over the last five years.”

That it has.

The Red Raiders finished 8-11 in 2017 after qualifying for the Central Mass. Division 1 Tournament for the first time in 11 years by virtue of their second-place finish in Mid-Wach C. They were 14-5 and earned a share of the league title — their first in 18 years — last season.

Fitchburg (12-5) closes out the regular season Thursday at Quabbin Regional, with the league title going to the victor.

This marks the first time the program has earned three consecutive postseason invites since 1999-2001.

“They’ve worked really hard,” Cosenza said. “Some kids played in a fall league on their own; they did things in the winter working out. They’ve just been sponges with everything we’ve given them and been focused.

“It’s really a fun group. … And I think they play the game the right way. They hustle, they stay together.”

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Rotary honors four Fitchburg teachers

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These teachers are raising the bar.

Four teachers — Sharaai Marrero, Dee Brideau, Lindsey Flathers Friend and Debbie Jeffries — in the Fitchburg Public Schools system were honored for their tremendous work at the annual Rotary Awards Dinner last week at the High School.

“I want to congratulate all four of our teachers who bring their ‘A’ game to their students every day,” said FPS Superintendent Robert Jokela.

Marrero is this year’s Teacher of the Year Rotary Award recipient from Fitchburg High. Jeffries has been a driving force in the Crocker Elementary School community for over 30 years. Flathers Friend is the drama specialist at McKay Arts Academy, teaching middle school and elementary students.  Brideau is Memorial Middle School’s literacy coach, and also takes on more duties in a math coach position role.

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School districts get health grants

Fitchburg and other Central Massachusetts school districts is among 123 public school districts and 11 non-public schools that will share more than $7.5 million in state grants to provide mental and physical health services for students.

The four-year competitive state Department of Public Health grants come with three two-year options to renew, for a total of 10 years, ending on June 30, 2020. School districts will receive from $3,000 to $250,000 annually, depending on student enrollment, community need, and level of programming.

Pamela J. Rivers, director of nursing health services for the Fitchburg schools, said the $165,000 will be used to further work on social and emotional learning and to address any racial inequities and health disparities.

Read more here.