A City and a College

Thanks to our brush with Noel over the week end, we managed to be out of contact via the internet for several days. Modern Technology is surely a wonder, but is still susceptible to a tantrum from Mother Nature. In the meantime, several new developments have occurred that are hereby worthy of mention:

Fitchburg, MA- This week Fitchburg voters overwhelmingly elected Lisa Wong as their next mayor. Wong, a political neophyte, won handily over local businessman, Tom Donnelly. In another time, the mayoralty might have been Donnelly’s by succession. A well-known Fitchburg native who has served for many years on the City Council, Donnelly would have been a shoo-in. Suffice it to say, these are different times as this old city, along with many of its counterparts in New England, struggles to survive in the face of years of decline stemming from the loss of its old-economy industries. Its downtown is neat and pleasant, but there are entirely too many vacant stores and offices. Apparently the voters felt that it was time to try a fresh approach and decided to give Wong a chance to produce on her campaign emphasis on new business development and economic revival.

One of the bright spots in the local scene is the vibrancy of Fitchburg State College. In addition to being one of the areas largest employers, it also supports the local economy through the scores of visitors to the campus for academics, sporting events and cultural activities. The strength of the College’s commitment to its community is best reflected by its College/Community Partnership program. Led by its dynamic president, Bob Antonucci, the college has also reached out to the local communities through a variety of programs. When a new athletic complex was built a few years ago, the old gymnasium building was turned into a Boys and Girls Club for the local kids. The Center Stage program provides an annual series of top cultural events open to all. The college regularly hosts academic and athletic events for the region’s high school students.

Last Saturday, amidst a Noel-induced downpour, I attended a reunion of my fraternity, formally known as The Esoteric Society, at the FSC campus. Fraternities, in general, have a well-earned reputation for marginal behavior and perpetual partying. And while there may have been some of that over the years within Delta Phi Pi (nee, Phi Delta Pi) it also has produced many strong and lasting friendships that have survived the rigors of graduation, families and careers and, in the case of some of us, retirement and beyond. These are some of the best people I know and I am proud to be an Esoteric. As we move forward, we will be investigating the possibility of endowing a legacy scholarship at FSC. At this point, this is only an idea, but if anyone can make it happen, these are the guys.