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 – Monday, July 13 – the City’s Board of Health is holding a public hearing tonight on regulating the sale of tobacco products, Harrington Hospital receives several awards, the Worcester Public Library is hosting a film discussion, two Worcester County fire departments have been awarded grants from FEMA, and a quick reminder: it’s National Fry Day at McDonald’s.
Board of Health to Hold Public Hearing Tonight to Discuss Vaping, Tobacco
Worcester’s Board of Health is holding a public hearing tonight to discuss restricting the sale of cigars, electronic nicotine delivery systems [e-cigarettes, vape pens] , and flavored tobacco products.
The BOH aims to regulate the sale price of individual cigars [$2.50 or more] and packs of cigars [$5.00 or more], ban the sales of flavored tobacco in all places except smoking bars and limit the sale of vaping products with nicotine content greater than 35 milligrams per milliliter outside of smoking bars and tobacco stores.
To read the full BOH regulation, click here.
The meeting will be held virtually at 6:30 PM. If interested, call 415-655-0001 (Access Code: 1608846930) to participate.
Harrington Hospital Receives Multiple Awards
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health [DPH] Paul Covedell Stroke Systems of Care Collaborative has issued Harrington Hospital in Southbridge and Webster multiple awards.
DPH has recognized both hospitals as Primary Stroke Service Centers. Both have also reached a milestone of 75% of stroke patients being to a CT scan within 25 minutes of arriving.
The Southbridge Hospital has also completed a 30-day American Heart Association [AHA] get with the Guidelines Post-Discharge Follow-Up form for at least 75% of discharged patients.
In Webster, the hospital received an award for completing a dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) screen on at least 95% of stroke patients.
These Coverdell awards are the latest in a series of recognitions awarded to Harrington HealthCare System recently for quality of care. In May the healthcare system was awarded its 14th grade “A” from in the spring 2020
Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing Harrington HealthCare System’s achievements providing safer health care.
Worcester Public Library Virtual Film Discussion on Friday, July 17
The Worcester Public Library is holding a film discussion on the award-winning documentary, “Race: The Power of an Illusion,” moderated by Stephanie Williams, Cultural Humility Practitioner, on Friday, July 17 at 11:30 AM.
The discussion is open to the public and will be held virtually over Zoom. Registration is required.
The documentary discusses the origins of race, challenges the idea of race as biology, and examines its impact on institutions and social policies. Patrons can access this three-part documentary free through Kanopy, a streaming service available to patrons with a valid library card. Each episode is approximately one hour long.
Two Worcester County Fire Departments Win FEMA Grants
The Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA] announced $2.6 million in direct assistance grants to 50 fire departments nationwide through the agency’s FY2020 Assistance to Firefighters Grant COVID-19 Supplemental program (AFG-S).
On Friday, July 12, two Worcester County departments were announced as grantees: the Holden Fire Department was awarded $38,428 and the Dudley Fire Department was awarded $18,003.
Reminder: It’s National Fry Day at McDonald’s
Today is National Fry Day and McDonald’s is celebrating by offering a free medium size fries.
The free order is available exclusively through the McDonald’s app. No purchase is necessary
The limit is one offer per customer.
