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 – Thursday, July 2 — the Worcester Fire Department promoted five members, MassDOT announced construction schedule changes for the holiday weekend, Massachusetts is receiving millions from the Dept. of Labor, Clark University is hosting a series of summer webinars and Discover Central Massachusetts has launched a #WeLoveWorcester photo contest.
Worcester Fire Department Promotes Five
The Worcester Fire Department promoted five individuals on to new ranks on Wednesday, July 1.
- Captain Kurt Richard promoted to District Chief
- Lieutenant David Anger promoted to Captain
- Lieutenant Andrew Robinson promoted to Captain
- Firefighter Michael McTigue promoted to Lieutenant
- Firefighter Jason Charest promoted to Lieutenant
Congratulations to all!
Transportation Changes for the Holiday Weekend
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation [MassDOT] is making several changes over the holiday weekend to facilitate the flow of traffic.
Scheduled roadway construction will stop at 5 AM on Friday, July 3 and not resume until the start of business on July 6.
A number of changes are coming to public transportation as well.
Along the Worcester Commuter Rail Line, shuttle busses will run between Framingham and Back Bay from Friday, July 3 to Sunday, July 5.
Other public transportation changes include:
- All subway and ferries will run on a weekday schedule on Friday, July 3.
- All buses and the Commuter Rail will run on a Saturday schedule on Friday, July 3.
- No ferry service on Saturday, July 4.
- All subway and the Commuter Rail will run on a Saturday schedule on Saturday, July 4.
- The Rockport Commuter Rail Line will be replaced by buses on Friday, July 3, Saturday, July 4, and Sunday, July 5, between West Gloucester and Rockport.
- All buses will run on a Sunday schedule on Saturday, July 4.
The most up-to-date information on public transportation can be found on the MBTA website.
MA Awarded $3 Million to Expand Apprenticeship Programs
Massachusetts is one of 12 states to be awarded two rounds of grants from the US Department of Labor to expand registered apprenticeship programs.
The first round of funding saw 42 states receive awards. The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, which is responsible for registered apprenticeship programs in Massachusetts, received $450,000 in the first round of funding.
The award in the second round was $3 million.
States selected for second round funding are required to apply it toward initiatives to support the federal program in Massachusetts.
Clark Summer Series of Webinars Available On-Demand
Faculty, staff and alumni at Clark University are creating webinars on topics such as art, fitness, comedy and science fiction while showing how they can be powerful tools to overcome hard times.
The Clark Summer Series of webinars is available for .
Two webinars are currently scheduled for released in July.
The first is “Sci Fi, Race & the Radical Imagination” by Esther Jones, Dean of the Faculty, and Betsy Huang, Dean of the College. The description calls it “a conversation about what science fiction can teach us about surviving.”
The second is “Repurposed: The Design and Re-Design of Everyday Objects in Pandemic Living” by author Kristina Wilson. Wilson’s work will lead us in a conversation about function, comfort, and repurposing domestic designs in the COVID era.
#WeLoveWorcester Photo Contest
Discover Central Massachusetts [DCM] announced the #WeLoveWorcester on Wednesday, July 1, as an interactive campaign to help promote restaurants and small businesses suffering in the current climate.
The campaign encourages residents to share photos of themselves, family, and friends while wearing a mask and safely distancing at any Worcester business. Photos may be shared with the hashtag #WeLoveWorcester on any of DCM’s social media sites which are Facebook (DiscoverCentralMa), Instagram (@DiscoverCentralMA), or Twitter (@VisitCentralMA).
Entries are being accepted now through Sunday, August 23, 2020 at 11:59 p.m., with one weekly winner announced every Monday through the end of the contest. Weekly winners, chosen by Discover Central Massachusetts, will receive a $25 cash prize. Selections will be made on based on creativity and adherence to the contest rules. Weekly winners will be entered into the Grand Finale competition, with a $1,000 cash prize winner announced on Tuesday, September 8 following a public vote.
See the full rules of the contest.
