Mazzarella key to Leominster’s success

As we start the new year, my mind has been racing about the state of our country as well as our state. And then I read the article regarding our mayor, Dean Mazzarella who is now the longest serving mayor in state history. Quite an honor and for good reason.

I grewup in Fitchburg, went to public schools, graduated from Fitchburg State. Growing up in Fitchburg at the timewas what I would say pretty damn good. We had a lot going on in the 1950s90s. We have a vibrant Main Street where you could purchase just about anything fromgroceries and clothes to furniture, all in one short strip. We had a brand new library, one of the first planetariums in theu.s. at thewallace Civic Center.

Heck in 1976, Fitchburg was named an All-american- City. We had a pageant and drums in the night, featuring the numerous local marching bands of the time. We had two movie theatres and Coggshall Park where people could go walking/picnicking in the warm weather and listen to music under the lights while we skated on the pond there. We also were excited to see the one of the first market concept supermarkets called Heartland, on John Fitch Highway. It was fun to go there to see the bounty of food the U.S. had to offer. We had parades, concerts, and fireworks as a tradition.

And let us not forget being the host of the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic bike race which started in 1960. The race was one of the leading bicycle competitions in the U.S. and attracted the best of the best fromall over the country and world. It was a great and important event for Fitchburg to host I attended as a toddler and continued to go year after year for over 30 years. I can remember that the city would repave parts of the course around the main street loop just to make the course safer and more attractive. I also remember the year the race left Fitchburg due in part to the condition of the streets the race was to be held on. The racemoved to Leominster (thanks to Donn Ingemie) and was hosted there for a few years, but it was never the same and ended a few years later.

While in high school, it was Leominster that was dumpier and had less to offer — my how times have changed. Now, when I go back to my hometown of Fitchburg, it is honestly a troubling and disappointing experience. The city has become a shell of its former self. Main Street is empty, John Fitch Highway is nearly empty, there are barely any local restaurants, the streets are nearly impassable, it’s dirty and houses are not kept up. Fitchburg is in tatters, empty, dark and just not an inviting place. Thank God for Fitchburg State, otherwise this city would be closed.

I moved to Leominster over 33 years ago and it was the best decision I ever made. I saw Fitchburg in a steady decline, while Leominster seemed to on the upswing.

Leominster on the other hand has experienced a revival in the past 30 years. Heck, I can go out my door and find at least 25 locally owned within a half a mile or so. We have the big box stores as well, along with one of the best Market Basket’s in their chain. There are parks and walkways that are impeccably maintained. And as a parent, we have been more than happy with the education our two children received.

Leominster is on a great path for future growth, and I believe that our mayor, Dean Mazzarella, has be the central component leading to this success. His commonsense approach to governing, fiscal responsibility, genuine love for the city and his friendly personality have gone a long way in making Leominster a better place to live.

So, congratulations, Mayor Dean on becoming the longest serving mayor in state history, there is a reason for it and you deserve the distinction.