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, October 1 – Worcester Regional Research Bureau issues its annual report on the city budget, Worcester Art Museum receives a grant for the Higgins Armory collection, Rt. 2 closure in Leominster coming up, QCC gets a grant for dual enrollment and Sen. Moore supports the interlocking device bill being considered.
Worcester Regional Research Bureau Issues Annual Budget Report
The Worcester Regional Research Bureau issued its latest annual summary of the City of Worcester’s municipal revenue and expenses.
The report, titled “Breaking Down the Budget & COVID’s Impacts,” covers the fiscal year 2021 budget, which took effect on July 1 of this year, and identifies areas of particular volatility due to the pandemic.
The report highlights important parts of the City Manager’s municipal budget, and also explains relevant parts of the Worcester Public Schools budget.
The report is available to download for free.
Worcester Art Museum Receives $290,000 Grant
The Worcester Art Museum announced today that it has been awarded three grants totaling $290,000 to support a new arms and armor gallery, teen programming, and operational relief.
The awards include:
- $250,000 from the Institute for Museum and Library Services [IMLS] to fund the design and development phase for the long-term installation of the John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection of arms and armor
- $30,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in support of Teen Arts at WAM programming
- $10,000 in relief funds from Mass Humanities, provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities as part of the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020.
Acquired in 2014 when the Higgins Armory Museum closed, the Higgins Armory Collection at WAM is the second largest of its kind in the Americas, next only to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
MassDOT Announced Rt. 2 Closing Overnight Starting October 4
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation [MassDOT] announced it will implement temporary overnight roadway closures on Route 2 eastbound and westbound near exit 31 in Leominster and Fitchburg.
During the work, Route 2 eastbound and westbound in the vicinity of the railroad bridge will be closed overnight from Sunday, October 4 through Thursday, October 8, and from Tuesday, October 13 through Thursday, October 15 between 9: PM. and 5:00 AM the following morning.
This closure will support the demolition of the railroad bridge over Route 2 for Phase I of the Twin City Rail Trail Project.
QCC Gets Grant for Dual Enrollment for High School Students
Commonwealth Dual Enrollment Partnership [CDEP] issued a grant of $32,400. to Quinsigamond Community College.
The grant provides funding for high school students to take college-level courses that fulfill high school requirements, as well as earn college credit towards their degree.
The CDEP helps to ease the transition from high school to college, enabling high school students to get a head start on their college careers. The program offers academic experiences to qualified students who otherwise may not have access to an early college experience.
The CDEP’s goal is to increase the population of high school graduates who are college ready.
Moore Supports Interlock Devices for those Convicted of DUI
State Senator Michael Moore announced in a letter to the Senate Ways & Means Committee that he supports S.2806, an Act relative to strengthening public safety through ignition interlock devices.
Ignition interlock devices are devices installed in vehicles that require the operator to blow into them before starting the automobile. Should the operator’s breath produce any measurable amount of alcohol in their system, the vehicle will not start.
S.2806 will impose these devices by allowing judges to require drunk drivers to install them in any vehicle they own, lease, or otherwise operate, as part of their hardship waivers for first time offenders.
Massachusetts is the only state that does not allow for these devices to be imposed on first time offenders.
