5 Things You Need to Know Today in Worcester – Dec. 14, 2020

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, December 14 – there’s three days of free COVID-19 testing this week in Worcester, Worcester is hosting a virtual town hall for childcare facilities and schools this week, a Worcester restaurant is making take-and-bake to-go meals, find out what goes on a Dunkin’ charcuterie board, and there’s a Lego Drive being held in Worcester for kids in local hospitals.

Three Days of Free COVID-19 Testing this Week in Worcester

Free, walkup COVID testing and flu shots will be available this week at the Mercantile Center at 201 Commercial St. in downtown Worcester.

Testing will be done on the following days and times:

• Monday, Dec. 14, 11:30 AM to 3 PM
• Tuesday, Dec. 15, 11 AM to 3 PM
• Thursday, Dec. 17, 11:30 AM to 3 PM

Worcester Hosting Virtual Town Hall for Daycare Providers and Schools

Health and Human Services Commissioner Dr. Matilde Castiel and Worcester’s Medical Director Dr. Michael Hirsh will be conducting a virtual Town Hall on Thursday, Dec. 17 for daycare providers and charter, parochial and private schools as part of educational outreach on how to deal with the COVID virus and protocols.

Dr. Castiel and Dr. Hirsh have previously held town halls for restaurant owners and property managers.

Lego Drive Being Held at Worcester Car Dealership

Matt Laramie — a salesman at North End Motor Sales — is hosting a Lego Drive to collect as many Lego sets as possible for children with cancer in nearby hospitals.

Lego sets can be dropped at North End Motor Sales at 927 West Boylston St. in Worcester or donations can be made on Laramie’s Amazon wishlist.

As Laramie puts it, ” Something as small as a $10 dollar Lego set can be a huge difference in a child’s life during a time that almost none of us can even imagine nor relate to. CANCER SUCKS and it affects almost all of us at some point in our lives. Here is a chance to do something positive that will make you feel great.”

Brew City Now Has To-Go Meals You Make at Home

With mandated COVID-19 safety protocols in place, restaurants have had to find creative ways to continue to promote take-out dining.

Brew City is now offering Chef-made dinners for two available on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Brew City makes the meal for you, all you need to do is heat it up when you’re ready to eat. The options will change each week. Last week’s options were house-made lasagna Bolognese or chicken saltimbocca.

The meal for two is just $28.99.

 

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Here’s How to Make a Dunkin’ Charcuterie Board

Dunkin’ has released the ingredients for a Dunkin’ hot chocolate charcuterie board [there are no meats and cheeses].

Ingredients:

• Box O’ Joe® Hot Chocolate
• Variety of Glazed, Powdered, and Glazed Chocolate Cake donuts
• 10 count MUNCHKINS® donut hole treats (available for $2 now through December 29^th nationwide!)
• Selection of marshmallows in varying sizes, shapes, and colors
• Candy canes or peppermint sticks
• Soft peppermint puff candy
• Crushed peppermint
• Selection of holiday sprinkles
• Coconut flakes
• Pirouette cookies
• Chocolate chips
• Chocolate covered pretzels
• Hot chocolate stir sticks
• Chocolate caramels
• Stroopwafles
• Whipped cream

Instructions:

1. Assemble ingredients onto a board as pictured.
2. Remove any refrigerated ingredients such as whipped cream from the refrigerator and serve alongside your board.
3. Serve with Box O’ Joe® Hot Chocolate, holiday cups from Dunkin’, and festive mugs
4. Build your own cup of ultimate hot chocolate from your board, sip, and enjoy!