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 – Tuesday, July 14 – get a sweet deal during Ice Cream Week at Insomnia Cookies in Kelley Square, the City of Worcester is allowing “low risk” sports to resume, gas prices are up again across the state, Girls, Inc. of Worcester is putting technology in the hands of its members and Governor Baker announced funding for special education schools in Massachusetts.
Celebrate Ice Cream Week with BOGO ‘Cookiewiches’ from Insomnia Cookies
From now until the end of the week, Insomnia Cookies — located at 1 Kelley Square in Worcester — is celebrating Ice Cream Week with a Buy One, Get One Free deal on cookiewiches.
Choose between the Cookiewich – two traditional cookies with one scoop of ice cream in between or the Deluxe Cookiewich – two deluxe cookies with two scoops of ice cream in between.
You can get your cookiewiches made with two different cookies — or if it’s a Deluxe Cookiewich, even two different scoops of ice cream.
When ordering online, find the BOGO deal under “Deals.” Or if you’re in store, just ask for the deal.
Low Risk Sports To Resume Games
The Worcester Division of Parks, Recreation and Cemetery has announced it will allow baseball, softball and field hockey games to start being played. Handball courts will also be reopened.
These sports have been identified as posing a “moderate risk” involving “intermittent contact, but with protective equipment or mitigating measures in place that may reduce the likelihood of respiratory particle transmission between participants.”
Regulations requires permits for games. Tournaments are not allowed.
All fields for football, soccer, rugby, lacrosse and ultimate Frisbee remain open for practice only. These sports have been identified as “higher risk sports” involving “close, sustained contact between participants, lack of significant protective barriers, and high probability that respiratory particles will be transmitted between participants.” Permits will only be issued for practices on these fields.
Gas Prices Climb Again in Massachusetts
AAA Northeast has found the current average price for a gallon of gasoline in Massachusetts at $2.12, up two cents from one week ago.
That is seven cents below the AAA national average of $2.19. It is also seven cents lower than the average in Connecticut and one cent lower than the average in Rhode Island.
While the price in Massachusetts has climbed eight cents over the last month, it is still 63 cents cheaper than the same time last year.
Girls, Inc. of Worcester is Bridging the Technology Divide
Girls, Inc. of Worcester has reacted to a recent study showing nearly a quarter of Worcester students don’t have access to a computer or another device besides a cell phone at home.
At the Girls, Inc. of Worcester signature 2020 Career and College Shower, every graduate was gifted a laptop with tools and software required for postsecondary education.
Girls, Inc. is also launching a technology library to support under-resourced school-age girls. It will include a take-home lending program with for Chromebooks and access to virtual programs and resources. Girls without internet at home will also receive wireless hotspot cards.
Girls, Inc. is also building a Technology Center to give girls access needed to complete daily school work.
Over the last three years more than 40% Girls Inc. of Worcester members who graduated high school became first generation college students. More than 60% of those came from low-income households.
Governor Baker Releases COVID-19 Funding to Special Ed. Schools
The office of Governor Charlie Baker announced on Monday, July 13, that $16.1 million in economic relief was being released for 32 special education residential school providers to support costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This funding is in addition to $3 million in funding the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) provided in April to support the residential education school system.
Together, this $19 million acknowledges the efforts of these schools to remain open on a 24/7 basis throughout the pandemic and the measures they implemented to keep their doors open and their youth and staff safe.
Photo courtesy: Insomnia Cookies/Facebook
