In today’s daily 5 Things You Need to Know feature, ThisWeekinWorcester.com explores five important items and stories that Worcester and Central Massachusetts residents should keep a close eye on.
These five things can cover a whole range of subjects and issues that we feel are pertinent to understanding what’s going on in the city and the cities and towns surrounding Worcester.
In today’s edition – January 28, 2021 – three Worcester-area restaurants are hosting “Lockdown Showdown,” Governor Charlie Baker proposed his FY22 budget, the Worcester Public Library received a grant to support a teen program, Volturno’s first virtual pasta class is tonight and the Worcester Railers are hosting a virtual Q&A tonight with head coach David Cunniff.
Three Local Restaurants Live Streaming “Lockdown Showdown” Contest for Musicians
Lockdown Showdown, co-hosted by Reunion Tap & Table, The Mill at 185 and Rascals, starts tonight, January 28. Thirty-two local musicians will compete over five weeks for a winner-take-all $500 grand prize.
The shows will be broadcast on all three venues’ Facebook pages and you can also view on the big screens at Reunion Tap & Table and Mill at 185 with the audio playing on their in-house sound systems.
The shows will air live every Thursday from now until February 18.
Baker Files $45.6 Billion State Budget for FY 2021
Governor Charlie Baker filed his administration’s Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) budget recommendation, a $45.6 billion proposal, on Thursday, January 27.
The recommendation continues the response to COVID-19 pandemic and addresses critical priorities, including promoting economic growth. It also fully funds the first year of the landmark Student Opportunity Act, and supporting cities and towns across Massachusetts.
The proposal does not raise taxes on the residents and preserves substantial financial reserves for the future.
The proposal provides $246.3 million in new funding for the Student Opportunity Act including an increase of $197.7 million in Chapter 70 funding, with a particular focus on school districts serving low-income students. The Administration is also proposing to allow municipalities to count $114 million in federal dollars towards their Chapter 70 required local contribution increases to further deliver on the commitments in the Student Opportunity Act.
Worcester Public Library Art Program Receives $3,500 grant
The Library Initiative for Teens and Tweens [LITT] awarded a $3,500 grant to the Worcester Public Library Foundation to support a teen program on art and activism at the Worcester Public Library [WPL)].
The “Out of the Box Art-ivism” program encourages Worcester teens to engage civically while also expressing themselves artistically. The new grant will extend the successful program through June 2021.
The program ran previously with a grant from LITT of $2,510, and had 23 teen participants. WPL Teen Services Librarian Erin O’Neall operates the program.
The program provides boxes with a relevant book, art supplies, and a creative “change maker” challenge to engage teens in different ways to express themselves.
An accompanying series, “Out of the Box Art-ivism” In Conversation, features monthly speakers who discuss their work as artist-activists and invite teens to ask specific questions. Previous guests include artist Jennessa Burkes and musician Chris Kazarian who were involved in the art and programs surrounding the Black Lives Matter Mural in Worcester, as well as Joshua Croke who is a designer, podcaster and artist involved with the “Love Your Labels” organization.
Volturno’s First Virtual Pasta Class of 2021 is Tonight
Volturno is hosting their first virtual pasta class of 2021 tonight, January 28 from 6 PM to 7 PM. And there’s still (some) time to sign up!
Here’s what you get for the class:
- a ball of pasta dough
- all of the ingredients required for the dish
- a bottle of wine
Volturno owner Greg Califano is the instructor. You will also learn how to cook, sauce, and plate the pasta just like the staff at Volturno.
You can purchase your ticket here and pick-up your order today. And log on to Volturno Pizza on Facebook live at 6 PM tonight.
Worcester Railers Hosting Virtual Q&A with Coach Cunniff Tonight
The Worcester Railers are giving fans the opportunity to ask the team’s head coach and general manager David Cunniff some questions tonight, January 28.
The virtual Q&A session will be held on Zoom at 7 PM.
To join the event, click here.
The Railers are also promising a special guest!
Lead image courtesy: EDITED – micurs on Visualhunt / CC BY-SA
