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🌱 What the state’s nursing home ruling means for Fitchburg Healthcare residents.

Fitchburg, Massachusetts Patch AM: a 4 min read

Greetings Fitchburg! We’re your go-to source for what’s happening in town. Read on to get plugged in! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • What the state’s nursing home ruling means for Fitchburg Healthcare residents.
  • How a $3.5M grant will change Fitchburg students’ career options
  • Why Fitchburg’s fire chief fought a blaze while on leave

Also on today's calendar: Petersham Youth Curling Open House and 10 more events.

Today's riddle: How long is a minute? 🤔 (Answer below!)

☑️ Important voting information: The Nov. 3 general election is coming up. Official Massachusetts election resources: Find your polling place | Register to vote | Check your registration | Absentee, mail and early voting.

Weather forecast:

  • Friday: Plenty of sun, with a high of 58 and low of 25 degrees.
  • Saturday: Partly to mostly sunny, temps: high: 62, low: 31.
  • Sunday: Sunny and pleasant, with a high of 67 and low of 36 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. CA firm blocked from buying nursing homes in Worcester, Fitchburg (wickedlocal.com) — State health officials have ruled a California company unsuitable to buy Fitchburg Healthcare, blocking its planned purchase along with 10 other Massachusetts nursing homes. For Fitchburg residents, this means the local facility will stay under temporary management while the state seeks a new operator, amid ongoing concerns about staffing levels, quality ratings, and how aggressively regulators vet out-of-state nursing home buyers.
   

2. $14.5M state grant brings culinary program to Fitchburg (thisweekinworcester.com) — Fitchburg Public Schools just secured a $3.5 million state grant to build a commercial teaching kitchen and student-run restaurant at the MVP Academy, creating new Culinary Arts training seats for local teens and adults. The program will add 42 vocational seats a year, offer evening workforce classes, and is being held up by state officials as a model for other districts.
   

3. On leave Fitchburg fire chief puts out blaze in Puerto Rico (sentinelandenterprise.com) — Fitchburg Fire Chief Dante Suarez, currently on paid administrative leave, used his training to help extinguish a kitchen fire while on vacation in Luquillo, Puerto Rico. He and restaurant staff used multiple extinguishers to contain the blaze to the kitchen, ensuring everyone got out safely and preventing the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.
   

4. N.J. schools are using this app to block kids' phones — and critics say it goes too far (nj.com subscription) — Fitchburg Public Schools are paying $12,500 a year for the Doorman app, which blocks student access to social media and the internet during school hours while still allowing emergency communication. The same tool is sparking privacy and surveillance concerns in New Jersey districts adopting it to comply with a strict cellphone ban, raising questions Fitchburg families may want to consider about data use, student choice, and enforcement.
   

5. Worcester Man Charged After 3 Kilograms Of Fentanyl Seized (patch.com) — A major federal fentanyl case in Worcester drew support from multiple local departments, including Fitchburg police, after investigators seized over three kilograms of the drug from a city apartment. The regional investigation, involving federal and state agencies, underscores how Fitchburg officers are working alongside neighboring communities to tackle large-scale trafficking that can affect residents here.
   

📸 Around Fitchburg

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Home Depot (Retail) posted a job opening for Customer Service/Sales in Leominster. Apply here.
  • DICK'S Sporting Goods posted a job opening for Seasonal Retail Sales Associate in Leominster. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Fitchburg here.

Ok Fitchburg! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "How long is a minute?" — It depends what side of the door you are on. (Thank you Richard E. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

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Stay in the loop with what's happening in Fitchburg

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.

Stay in the loop with what's happening in Fitchburg

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.