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 – Friday, June 18 – public health agencies awarded $8.2 million for addiction treatment housing, 14 Girl Scouts receive gold awards, all 14 Massachusetts sheriffs take action to solidify family ties of inmates, Worcester Historical Museum announces the return of Revolutionary Walking Tours and get free donuts this weekend from Dunkin’ for Father’s Day.
Public Health Agencies Award $8.2 Million for Addiction Treatment Housing
The Executive Office of Health and Human Services [EOHHS] and the Department of Public Health [DPH] today announced $8.2 million in funding to provide transitional or permanent housing for 1,000 individuals and 147 families in treatment and recovery from substance abuse disorders.
Thirty-six organizations across the Commonwealth will provide housing stability and support that reduces the risk of relapse, increases independent living skills and supports recovery.
Organizations will provide services based on an individual’s specific needs but range from clinical intervention, medication assisted treatment, meetings and other supports.
Those in treatment or who have relapsed would receive support services, including detoxification and medication assisted treatment, to ensure there is no lapse or loss of housing while in treatment.
Fourteen Girl Scouts Receive Gold Awards
Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts hosts its Gold Award and Silver Award Girl Scouts at a ceremony on Thursday, June 17 at 5:30 PM at the Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts.
Fourteen Worcester County teens become Gold Award Girl Scouts, a designation they earned by assisting the unhoused, supporting grieving teens, building bridges and blazing new trails.
Massachusetts Sheriffs Re-Affirm Commitment to Family Contacts
The fourteen Massachusetts County Sheriffs recently re-affirmed their unanimous support for one of their highest collective priorities – providing strong support for communication and interaction between justice-involved individuals and their families.
Solidifying their mission to ensure that these crucially important links to family and support systems remain not only intact, but fortified, the 14 Sheriffs of Massachusetts have agreed to provide, at a minimum, ten minutes of free phone calling per week to all incarcerated individuals.
The Sheriffs have also committed to reducing the cost of subsequent phone calls by charging no more than 14 cents per minute.
Strengthening these bonds to family members, friends and outside support systems help to provide a sense of grounding to those in our care, which is beneficial to their efforts to better prepare for life after reentry.
By law, fees collected for phone calls must be, and are, used to benefit the inmates. This includes educational programs, vocational skills training and other services designed to prepare inmates for re-entry. The Sheriffs remain committed to working with our populations to break the cycle of recidivism that has captured so many in Massachusetts.
Given the logistics of implementing this program, it will go into effect no later than August 1, 2021
Revolutionary Worcester Walking Tours Return
The Worcester Historical Museum announces the return of Revolutionary Worcester Walking Tours.
The first tour is on Saturday, July 3, and starts at 10 AM at Salisbury Mansion at 40 Highland St.
The tour is a walk down Worcester’s streets through where the American Revolution began. From Worcester’s meetinghouse, near the site of today’s City Hall to what we now call Lincoln Square, Worcester Patriots led Massachusetts toward revolution.
Admission is $10 per person and limited to 12 participants. A second tour is on Saturday, July 17.
To reserve your spot call Worcester Historical Museum at (508) 753-8278 Wednesday through Saturday between the hours of 11 AM – 3 PM. The receptionist will take your reservation.
Get Free Donuts this Weekend to Celebrate Father’s Day
All weekend long, get a free half-dozen donuts rom Dunkin’ on orders of $12 or more at Dunkin’ via Grubhub*.
Here’s how to get the deal:
- Open the Grubhub app or visit Grubhub.com.
- Input your delivery address, search for Dunkin’, and choose your nearest Dunkin’ location.
- Select at least $12 worth of your favorite food and drinks and customize them just the way you like.
- Add the items to your cart and notice the free half-dozen donuts added on, then checkout.
- Wait for your order to be delivered by your delivery person, who can leave the items at your door for a no-contact delivery experience.
