Economic Development

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Quality of Life CITY WIDE CITY PRIDE Leominster’s City Wide City Pride group was created in 2001 as a partnership between the citizens of Leominster and the City’s business community, service agencies, schools, and municipal employees. Our group is committed to making Leominster the cleanest and prettiest city in the country. Our Mission Our Mission is to enhance the natural beauty of Leominster by improving our picturesque landscape and increasing civic pride throughout the entire City. Also, to improve the quality of life and business within our community and foster the spirit of volunteerism in our children in community services. City Wide City Pride and its volunteers are working to expand the City’s traffic island plantings program to all the Villages by placing decorative planters throughout their main corridors. Through the generosity of citizens and business the Monument Square Clock project was our very successful first major capital improvement. It is programs like CWCP that enable our businesses and citizens to come together and thrive in times of economic uncertainty with great success. COMBING THROUGH LEOMINSTER’S HISTORY THE LEOMINSTER BOOK   The Leominster Book Committee, under the Historical Commission was created by the Mayor to research, write and produce this historic book. The committee, made up of representatives of organizations from throughout Leominster, receives no taxpayer money and is composed entirely of community volunteers. Combing through Leominster's History is a survey of the people and events that have made Leominster a warm, vibrant and friendly place to live for more than two hundred years. Available in time for the 2005 holidays, the book will be a meaningful gift for family, friends and community. Copyright© 2003, Leominster Historical Commission HISTORIC VILLAGES The City of Leominster has been making strides in reestablishing its’ historic “Villages” of years gone by. Through an initiative between the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood’s, Historic Commission, Office of Planning and Development, and Department of Public Works, the City has been committing resources to improving the quality of life throughout the City. Through Historical Commission and Historic Society resources the City has identified ten areas of the City as “Historic Villages” and the Department of Public Works has installed historic signage in each of these ten areas, known as the Villages. This program was designed to help return pride and a sense of ownership to the neighborhoods that have slowly receded through the years. Each Village’s businesses and residents have been very receptive to the idea of renewing the village charm and feel. And many of the property owners have showed interest in helping plan the streetscapes in which the City will implement in the years to come. The Village program has resulted in the creation and invigoration of several community and neighborhood support and beautification groups as well. These neighborhood groups get together and discuss issues happening within their respective Villages, as well as plan events such as beautification fund–raisers, social gatherings and summer block parties. SHOLAN FARMS   Sholan Farms is a 169-acre orchard and farm located on Upper-Pleasant Street and owned by the City of Leominster and operated by the Friends of Sholan Farms. The Friends of Sholan Farms is a community-supported, non-profit organization that is open to the public, and welcomes your attendance at their monthly meetings. Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM, at City Hall, 25 West Street, in downtown Leominster. The City purchased this orchard in 2000 to help preserve a part of our history, while helping improve the quality of our future for generations to come. Please come visit the last working apple orchard in the birthplace of Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman). Your visit will be a memorable one! Situated on a hilltop with panoramic views of surrounding hills and even Boston on a clear day, the farm provides bird watching, walking trails, picnic areas, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, and a variety of other cultural and folk events throughout the year. And when in season you can choose from a large variety of spectacular native apples as they ripen, and even pick them yourself if you prefer. Pick-Your-Own Apples and Pumpkins: The picking season runs from September through October. For information call 978-840-FARM or visit us online at www.sholanfarms.com School Tours, Outings and Hayrides: Sholan Farms offers tours of our seasonal operations to schools and other groups on a first-come first-served basis. Reservations are made for groups of up to 50 people starting the first week in September running through October 31st. Tours are offered between the hours of 9am to 5pm Monday-Friday and are by appointment only. A small per-person fee is charged for these tours and each tour usually include complementary apple, fresh apple cider, and donut for each child. For reservations please call 978-840-FARM. On a tour you can expect to see the 169-plus acres of farmland, which includes orchard, meadows and forests, as well as learn about the future of Sholan Farms and their planned improvements to the property. Sholan Farms 1125 Pleasant Street, P.O. Box 632, Leominster, MA 01453 For information call 978-840-FARM or visit www.sholanfarms.com for information about events, volunteer opportunities, and membership. All events are subject to change.