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, December 3 – we remember the Worcester 6, Rockland Trust Bank opens a second location in Worcester, Massachusetts is ranked as the best state with protections against elder abuse, 2021 Wildlife Licenses are now available and the Better Business Bureau is warning against online gift exchanges.
Today Marks the 21st Anniversary of the Worcester Cold Storage Fire
On December 3, 1999, six Worcester firefighters — Paul Brotherton, Timothy Jackson, Jeremiah Lucey, James Lyons III, Joseph McGuirk, and Thomas Spencer — lost their lives in the line of duty in the Worcester Cold Storage Fire.
Here’s how the Worcester Fire Department, Fire Fighters Local 1009, and many others are remembering the Worcester 6 today:
Today we remember and honor Paul Brotherton, Timothy Jackson, Jeremiah Lucey, James Lyons III, Joseph McGuirk, and Thomas Spencer.
Time may pass, but the impact of their sacrifice lives on
within our department and the community we serve.#W6 pic.twitter.com/uMKegqmDzc— Worcester Fire Dept. (@WorcesterFD) December 3, 2020
21 years ago today, we lost 6 of our brothers at the Worcester Cold Storage Fire. Paul Brotherton, Jerry Lucey, Thomas Spencer, Tim Jackson, Jay Lyons, and Joe McGuirk made the ultimate sacrifice that night. #worcffsl1009#neverforget pic.twitter.com/qf5XCELb7N
— Worcester Fire Fighters Local 1009 (@WorcesterFD1009) December 3, 2020
1999- The infamous Cold Storage Warehouse Fire that felled 6 of Worcester’s bravest. We honor their memory and the sacrifices of their families.#WorcesterFire Department still protects the Woo 24/7. 🙏😢🔥 pic.twitter.com/RqnVsLGQ7E
— Michael Hirsh (@MichaelHirsh4) December 3, 2020
December 3 is etched in our calendars & our memories. We pause today in solemn remembrance of these 6 fallen heroes. Worcester’s true Bravehearts. #Worcester6 pic.twitter.com/QMhQtaYpmY
— Worcester Bravehearts 💚⚾ (@WooBaseball) December 3, 2020
#Remember #Worcester6 @WorcesterFD 21 years ago pic.twitter.com/s7xxLIs7F6
— Denis Leary (@denisleary) December 3, 2020
December 3, 1999 Remembering The Worcester 6 and the entire @WorcesterFD @WorcesterFD1009 Learn more: REPORThttps://t.co/ybG1MKGEyl THE “PERFECT” FIRE:https://t.co/FOPVuu77lN NIOSH REPORT:https://t.co/crzOAiE0Il @MPFFU @MAFireMarshal @MassFireChiefs @NEFireChiefs @IAFC_SHS pic.twitter.com/e71HTrhq1U
— FirefighterCloseCall (@TheSecretList) December 3, 2020
Rockland Trust Bank Opens Second Worcester Location
Rockland Trust Bank opened its second location in Worcester this week at 967 Grafton St, inside South Plaza.
Rockland’s first Worcester location is at 301 Grove St.
The new branch features two 24 hour ATMs with Live Teller Services, which provide customers additional hours of service:
- 7 AM – 7 PM Monday through Friday
- 8 AM – 4 PM on Saturdays
- 10 AM – 4 PM on Sundays
These ATMs with Video Teller technology allow a customer to speak with a live person to assist with any account questions and help with cashing checks, deposits, withdrawals, transfers, loan payments, and much more. Customers will have 24-hour access to a drive-up ATM along with an ATM inside the branch.
Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation commemorated the arrival of a second retail branch with a $5,000 donations to Girls Inc. of Worcester and Friendly House.
Massachusetts Best in Protecting Against Elder-Abuse
A new study by Wallethub.com rates Massachusetts as the top state in the country in protecting against elder abuse. The study compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on 16 key indicators.
On a 100 point scale, Massachusetts scored a 58.55.
Wisconsin finished in second place with a score of 58.10. Vermont finished third with a score of 52.06.
In individual metric, Massachusetts ranked as follows:
- 1st – Total Expenditures on Elder-Abuse Prevention
- 6th – Elder-Abuse, Gross-Neglect & Exploitation Complaints
- 6th – Number of Certified Volunteer Ombudsmen
- 15th – Number of Eldercare Organizations & Services
- 21st – Total Long-Term Care Ombudsman-Program Funding
- 27th – Nursing-Homes Quality
The full study results are available here.
2021 Mass Wildlife Licenses Now Available
Hunters, anglers, and trappers can now purchase 2021 licenses, permits, and stamps from the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.
Licenses are also available as holiday gift. Purchase 2021 licenses here.
Beware of Online Gift Exchanges
The Better Business Bureau warns that online gift exchanges, like the “Secret Sister” exchange, is considered a pyramid scheme and is illegal.
The “Secret Sister” gift exchange campaign quickly became popular in 2015 through Facebook posts promising participants would receive up to 36 gifts, in exchange for sending one gift.
Each holiday season the scheme pops back up. A newer version of this scam revolves around exchanging bottles of wine; another suggests purchasing $10 gifts online. You might see references to receiving “happy mail” or doing the exchange “for the good of the sisterhood.”
The U.S. Postal Inspection Services explains that these gift exchanges are considered a form of gambling and that participants could be subject to penalties such as jail time, fines or a lawsuit for mail fraud.
