Downtown parking garage opens, Mayor posts FY27 budget

LEOMINSTER — The city's new Downtown Public Parking Garage opened to the public this week, one of several updates posted to the city website alongside Mayor Dean Mazzarella's proposed fiscal 2027 budget and new guidance for residents running businesses out of their homes.

TOWN HALL The Downtown Public Parking Garage is now open, the city announced, adding capacity for the downtown business district. The announcement did not detail hours, rates or a formal ribbon-cutting.

Mazzarella's fiscal 2027 budget is now posted for public review on the city website, giving residents a first look at the mayor's spending plan for the coming fiscal year.

The city also posted new FAQs covering the parameters for operating a home business, along with updates on the Monoosnoc Brook Stabilization Project and a set of frequently asked questions about the Flamingo Express service.

SCHOOLS Leominster Public Schools is flagging "important information regarding the First Student bus strike" on its website, directing families to updated summer busing routes. The district posted revised summer schedules for Fall Brook, Johnny Appleseed and Leominster High School on July 10, along with updated routes for Northwest and Samoset.

Separately, the Bennett Preschool has reopened its waitlist for tuition-based peer slots for the 2026-2027 school year. Children must turn 3 by August 31 to qualify; families can call the Bennett Preschool office to sign up.

COMMUNITY & ARTS The Leominster Public Library has a run of programming ahead this week, including "Hikes Through History" on July 22 and the Literary Leominster Book Club on July 21. Teens can catch a chalk pastel seahorse painting workshop with artist Gregory Maichack on July 23, and younger patrons have "The Toe Jam Puppet Band" on July 21.

Elsewhere in town, Sholan Farms hosts its Cruising and Crops Festival on July 22, and Carter Park hosts Bohemian Night (Noche Bohemia) on July 18.

COMING UP The Downtown Sounds concert series continues July 17 and 18. The Planning Board meets July 20, followed by the Cemetery Commission on July 21. A ribbon-cutting for a new Starbucks is set for July 23, and the city's Final Soccer Watch Party is July 19.

At the library, kids can build paracord survival bracelets July 17, join a "Mini House Design" session and a Strega Mama storytime July 20, and try mushroom-house relief painting or Teen Tournament Tuesday on July 21; a movie-and-craft afternoon follows July 23. Chess Club meets July 20 and again July 27, and an English Conversation Class runs July 21.