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, November 10 – St. Spyridon’s is hosting a Greek Pastry Fair this weekend, take a look at refinancing before new fees start in December, the MBTA is holding a public meeting on proposed reforms, the Better Business Bureau offers textbook scholarships to veteran students and gas prices drop again this week in Massachusetts.
St. Spyridon’s Hosting a Greek Pastry Fair this Weekend
St. Spyridon’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral is hosting a Greek Pastry Fair this weekend on both Saturday, November 14 and Sunday, November 15 from 1 PM to 4 PM.
Money raised will help raise money for St. Spyridon’s and Worcester’s Greek community.
Live music will be performed both days. For more information, click here.
Look at Mortgage Refinancing Options Before New Fees in December
Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin is urging homeowners to make use of the mortgage refinancing calculator on his department’s website to help determine their best financial options before a new adverse market refinance fee goes into effect December 1st.
Galvin, whose office oversees most of the state’s registries of deeds, warned that the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac plan to implement the new 0.5% fee on all refinances next month.
Mortgages with balances below $125,000 will be exempt from the fee.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency had directed the companies to postpone the implementation of the fees in September, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the postponement set to expire soon, Galvin encouraged homeowners to look at their options now.
For more information visit the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website.
MBTA Virtual Public Meeting
As reported by ThisWeekInWorcester.com, the MBTA is proposing a series of changes to MBTA service that includes the elimination Commuter Rail weekend service.
The first of a series of public meetings on the future of the MBTA Commuter Rail in Worcester takes place tonight, Tuesday, November 10.
Click here to register for the meeting.
BBB Offers Textbook Scholarships to Veteran Students
The Better Business Bureau of Central New England Consumer Education Foundation will award up to eight $500 textbook scholarships to veterans and military service members attending area colleges.
Last year’s scholarships were awarded to students attending Becker College, Mount Wachusett Community College, Springfield College, Quinsigamond Community College, and Westfield State University.
To be eligible to enter for a $500 textbook scholarship, students are asked to test their financial literacy with a savvy consumer quiz and subscribe to BBB of Central New England’s consumer newsletter. They must also be currently attending a college or university located in the BBB of Central New England service area of Central and Western Massachusetts and Northeastern Connecticut.
Deadline for submission is Friday, November 20, 2020. Email [email protected] for the scholarship entry form and savvy consumer quiz.
Gas Prices This Week
AAA Northeast, the popular not-for-profit auto club, reports changes in gas prices across the region on a weekly basis.
Massachusetts’s average gas price decreased one cent from last week ($2.08), averaging $2.07 per gallon. That price is the four cents lower than a month ago ($2.11), and 49 cents cheaper than November 0, 2019 ($2.56).
Massachusetts’s average gas price is four cents lower than the national average.
AAA Northeast’s November 9 survey of fuel prices found the current national average to be one cent lower than last week, averaging $2.11 a gallon. Today’s national average price is seven cents lower than a month ago ($2.18), and 51 cents cheaper than this day last year ($2.62).
Comparison to neighboring states, according to AAA Northeast:
Lead image credit: Skley on Visual hunt / CC BY-ND
