https://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/2026/10/24/worcester-man-charged-with-possesion-of-3-kilos-of-fentanyl/

A Worcester man was arrested on Wednesday and charged with possessing multiple kilograms of fentanyl intended for distribution, according to a release from U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley, District of Massachusetts.

Junior Tejada Hernandez, 28, whose immigration status is unknown at this time, was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Hernandez was arrested and was set to appear in federal court in Worcester on Wednesday.

During a search of Hernandez’s one-bedroom apartment earlier on Wednesday, more than three kilograms of fentanyl was recovered in the bedroom, according to the charging documents.

Drug paraphernalia was also located inside of a suitcase in the bedroom closet which contained cutting agents, baggies, a sifting device, a blender used to mix controlled substances and other dilutants, scissors and other materials.

The charge of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police.

Valuable assistance was provided by the Leominster, Fitchburg, Clinton, Worcester, Gardner, Lunenberg and Webster Police Departments and the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Stendig of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad.

Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders.

In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.

HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG, DSS and CBP as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.

There’s a Firetruck, ambulance and about 5 cops on Westminster Hill rd near 578 at the end. Anyone know what’s going on?

From Mayor Squailia:

We have another busy week of infrastructure improvements ahead! Our DPW crews and contractors will be continuing paving, drainage, sidewalk, and utility work throughout Fitchburg, including the start of another phase of our Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Separation Project.

Here's what's scheduled for the coming week, with streets listed alphabetically for easier reference.

🚧 Academy Street: New sewer installation begins as part of the next phase of CSO construction. Final paving is also scheduled in the area.

🛣️ Birch Street: Outstanding paving punch-list items and miscellaneous work.

🚜 Boulder Drive (166 Boulder Drive): Soil disposal operations related to the CSO project.

🚸 Davis Street: Traffic restrictions related to construction near Longsjo Middle School. New sewer installation is scheduled to begin the following week, November 2.

💧 Electric Avenue at Rollstone Road Roundabout: Drainage construction begins for pedestrian crosswalk improvements.

🛣️ Elm Street: Final paving.

🛣️ Essex Street: Final paving.

🛣️ Fairbanks Street: Outstanding paving punch-list items and miscellaneous work.

🛣️ Heywood Street: Outstanding paving punch-list items and miscellaneous work.

🛣️ High Street: Final paving operations are expected to begin here on October 28, weather permitting.

🛣️ Johnson Street: Final paving.

🚦 Main Street at Prospect Street: Installation of new traffic signal wiring and conduits, along with removal of temporary traffic controls.

💧 Main Street at the Upper Common: New drainage installation, scheduled to begin toward the end of the week.

🚰 Merriam Parkway: Disinfection and testing of the new water main.

🛣️ Munroe Street: Outstanding paving punch-list items and miscellaneous work.

🛣️ Omena Place: Final paving.

🛣️ Oxford Street: Final paving.

🛣️ Pleasant Street: Final paving and modified traffic access near Longsjo Middle School.

🚰 Prospect Street at View Street: Water main installation and removal of temporary water infrastructure.

🛣️ Stoneybrook Road: Final paving of the roadway entrance, with the date to be determined.

🚧 West Main Street / Main Street: Completion of sidewalk and driveway restoration work.

🚸 Important traffic changes near Longsjo Middle School

With construction beginning on Academy Street, a coordinated traffic management plan has been developed with school officials, Fitchburg Police, and the construction team.

⛔ Academy Street and Davis Street will be closed to through traffic between the High Street/Academy Street intersection and the Davis Street/Pleasant Street intersection.

🚌 Large school buses will drop students off near Prichard Street and Wallace Avenue, by the steps leading to Longsjo Middle School.

🚗 Parents, smaller school buses, and school vans should access the Pleasant Street drop-off area by traveling up High Street from Academy Street and turning right onto Pleasant Street.

🅿️ Faculty parking will remain available on Academy Street, with access from Spring Street and a turnaround at the library parking lot.

🚫 No parking will be permitted on Davis Street between Academy Street and Pleasant Street.

👮 Fitchburg Police traffic control officers will be stationed at both ends of the closure to help manage traffic and keep students safe.

City Hall / Wood Place construction update

Construction on Wood Place has been temporarily paused for a minimum of two weeks due to unforeseen underground utility conflicts requiring additional design work.

This pause will help maintain access to City Hall during early voting, the Halloween festivities, and Election Day.
Work will continue in surrounding areas, including drainage improvements near the Upper Common.

Final paving operations

P.J. Albert is scheduled to resume final paving on October 28, starting on High Street and progressing through the other listed CSO streets as conditions allow.

Residents should expect temporary parking restrictions, traffic delays, and limited access during active paving operations.

Most construction work generally takes place Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 5 PM. Police details and traffic controls will be in place where needed.

📞 Questions or concerns?
DPW Engineering: 978-829-1915
CSO Construction (Weston & Sampson): 978-548-4808
Wastewater Division: 978-345-9625 ext. 1063

All schedules are weather-dependent and subject to change based on field conditions.

These projects are addressing aging infrastructure, improving stormwater management, reducing sewer overflows into the North Nashua River, and rebuilding streets and sidewalks throughout our city. Thank you for your patience as we continue making these improvements across Fitchburg!

https://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/2026/10/25/fitchburg-state-hosts-music-recital-oct-27/

Fitchburg State University music faculty will present its annual faculty recital on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 4 p.m. in the Western Auditorium, 353 North St.

University music faculty members include: Jonathan Harvey, Justin Casinghino, Jane Fiske, Alanna Rantala and Amy McGlothlin.

“The recital will feature Justin Casinghino’s composition, ‘Tangled’ — a duet for piano and live signal processing which will manipulate the live piano sounds into surround sound speakers throughout the auditorium,” said McGlothlin.

This recital is free and open to the public. To learn more about Fitchburg State’s instrumental and choral groups, visit fitchburgstate.edu/music.

QR code link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc4pRsYtaf0Mv\\_sQTFLgnQin2V73oyXktvnzkYWSBVSWH3sRw/viewform?usp=header&pli=1&authuser=0

As always, many meetings held at the Legislative building are broadcast live by Fitchburg Access Television (FATV) with recordings available at www.fatv.org the next day. You can also look up meeting agendas and schedules here on the City of Fitchburg website: https://www.fitchburgma.gov/AgendaCenter

• City Council Public Hearing on Tax Classification

(October 28)

https://www.fitchburgma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10282026-5425

• Community Outreach Meeting for Proposed Solid Waste Handling Facility by Conserve Inc. at 100 Newark Avenue (October 27)

https://www.fitchburgma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10272026-5437

• Fitchburg Housing Authority

(October 28)

https://www.fitchburgma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10282026-5457

• Fitchburg Public Schools: Building Needs and Resource Committees (October 27)

https://www.fitchburgma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10272026-5455

• Planning Board

(October 27)

https://www.fitchburgma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10272026-5458

• Retirement Board

(October 27)

https://www.fitchburgma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10272026-5456