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5 Things You Need to Know Today in Worcester – Jan. 11, 2021

By Patrick Sargent | January 11, 2021
Last Updated: March 23, 2021

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 – January 11, 2021 – the city’s COVID-19 vaccine Super Site is expected to open today, there’s free COVID-19 testing this week in Worcester, there’s a pair of stand-up comedy shows being streamed right from Worcester’s BrickBox theater, the AG’s office issues an advisory on stimulus checks for residents of long-term care facilities and open burning season starts this week in Massachusetts.

 

Worcester’s Vaccine Super Site to Open Today

The City of Worcester’s regional Emergency Dispensing Super Site will open today at the Worcester Senior Center on Providence St.

First responders — Police, Fire, EMTs, Dispatch and College Public Safety personnel — will receive the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.

The City expects to vaccinate more than 2,000 individuals, including vaccinations of first responders of the Regional Health Alliance: Shrewsbury, Millbury, Leicester, Holden, Grafton and West Boylston.

These vaccinations are part of Phase 1 of the state’s three-phased vaccination plan. A second shot will need to be administered 28 days later.

 

Free COVID-19 Testing this Week in Worcester

The UMass Memorial Health Care COVID-19 Equity Task Force and the City of Worcester are offering free, walk-up COVID-19 testing on three days this week.

All testing is held indoors at Mercantile Center, 201 Commercial St.

Here are this week’s dates for testing:

  • Monday, Jan. 11, 11 AM to 3 PM
  • Tuesday, Jan. 12, 11 AM to 3 PM
  • Thursday, Jan. 14, 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM

 

JMAC’s BrickBox Theater to Stream Two Live Stand-Up Comedy Nights

On Saturday, January 23, and Sunday, February 14, the BrickBox theater at The Jean McDonough Arts Center [JMAC] in downtown Worcester will be streaming live stand-up comedy with several standout comedians from the New England area.

The Jan. 23 show includes comedians Christine Hurley, Tooky Kavanagh, Will Noonan and Corey Rodrigues.

The Feb. 14 show features Jimmy Cash, Kathe Farris, Brian Glowacki, and Sam Ike.

Both shows start at 8 PM. Tickets will be on sale for both shows soon.

 

 

Attorney General’s Office Issues Advisory on Stimulus Checks for Long-Term Care Residents

Attorney General Maura Healey’s office has issued an advisory for long-term care facilities, residents and their families regarding who is entitled to a resident’s stimulus check.

According to the AG, the payments are considered tax credits and nursing home residents are entitled to the full amount for their own use.

Nursing and rehabilitation homes cannot take the stimulus payments to put toward a resident’s monthly payment.

To report a concern about this, you can contact the AG’s Medicaid Fraud Division at 617-963-2360.

 

Open Burning Season Starts on Friday in Massachusetts

The 2021 open burning season begins on Friday, January 15.

Contact your local fire department to obtain an open burning permit before you start burning.

NOTE: Open burning is prohibited in Worcester.

Open burning must be done:

  • Between 10 AM to 4 PM from January 15 to May 1
  • At least 75 feet from all buildings 
  • As close as possible to the source of material being burned
  • When air quality is acceptable for burning. Call the MassDEP Air Quality Hotline at (800) 882-1497 or visit MassAir Online to find out if it is.

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