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, April 6 – a COVID-19 equity vaccine mobile clinic is being held in Worcester on Saturday, Cornerstone Bank and the Worcester Bravehearts team up for reading for kids, Worcester Center for Crafts announces a public art project, gas prices down two cents this week and Wendy’s brings back a fan favorite.
COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic in Worcester on Saturday
The Massachusetts COVID-19 Vaccine Initiative hosts an Equity Vaccine Mobile Clinic on Saturday, April 10 at the YMCA at 755 Main St. in Worcester.
The clinic will administer the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The COVID-19 Vaccine initiative focuses on 20 Prioritized Communities and those disproportionally impacted by COVID-19.
The state plan for vaccination eligibility moves into Phase 3 on April 19. The current eligibility criteria applies for the clinic at YMCA. That includes:
- People 55 years of age or older
- People with 1 certain medical condition
- People who live or work in low income and affordable senior housing
- K-12 educators, K-12 school staff, and childcare workers
- Certain Workers
The COVID-19 Vaccine initiative focuses on 20 Prioritized Communities and those disproportionally impacted by COVID-19, including:
• Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Latin individuals
• Individuals who do not speak English, or who prefer to speak in another language.
• Individuals who do not have access to public transportation or who have barriers getting to a vaccination site.
• Individuals who do not feel comfortable receiving the vaccine in a traditional Healthcare setting.
• Individuals with disabilities and those who have access and functional needs.
• Individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Individuals with mental illness and/or residents with substance use disorder
Cornerstone Bank Teams Up with Worcester Bravehearts for Youth Reading Program
Cornerstone Bank donated $10,000 to the Worcester Bravehearts to support the team’s Ticket to Read and Pen Pal Club programs.
The initiatives reward children who read a set number of books or exchange notes with seniors, with prizes and experiences.
The Ticket to Read Program offers students incentives for reading in the form of baseball game tickets, merchandise and even a class field trip by reading 10 books a month. Additionally, the classroom that reads the most books over the year will win a free field trip to a Bravehearts baseball game. Each year, over 30 schools in the Central Massachusetts area and 6,000 students participate in the program.
The Pen Pal Club encourages students to increase the amount of time they spend reading and writing. The program pairs a local middle school student with a senior citizen and the two write each other monthly letters throughout the school year. Then, during summer break, the pen pals have the opportunity to meet one another and enjoy a Bravehearts game together.
Cornerstone Bank has 12 locations in Central Massachusetts.
Worcester Center for Crafts Announces Public Art Project
The Worcester Center for Crafts is uniting 30 artists who have or are currently serving as faculty, visiting artists, or artist-in-residents at the Center to craft a public sculpture .
The handcrafted sculpture will be a 18 inch leaf-shaped piece from ceramic, glass, or metals. The Worcester Center Crafts will host the piece, upon completion.
The combined pieces of the work will demonstrate the power of artists working together.
The Center is seeking contributions to support the artist stipend portion of this project. All donations will support artists with costs associated with materials and labor for the public sculpture.
Gas Prices Down Two Cents This Week in MA
AAA Northeast reports changes in gas prices across the region on a weekly basis.
Massachusetts’s average gas price is down two sents from last week [$2.76], averaging $2.74 per gallon. That price is the 8 cents higher than a month ago ($2.66), and 69 cents higher than April 5, 2020 ($2.05).
Massachusetts’s average gas price is 13 cents lower than the national average.
AAA Northeast’s April 5 survey of fuel prices found the current national average to be one cents lower than last week, averaging $2.87 a gallon. Today’s national average price is 12 cents higher than a month ago ($2.75), and 94 cents cheaper than this day last year ($1.93).
Comparison to neighboring states, according to AAA Northeast:
Contribute here to support the project.
Wendy’s Brings Back the Bacon Double Stack
The Bacon Double Stack is back at Wendy’s as part of the Wendy’s $5 Biggie Bag promotion.
The Bacon Double Stack is two fresh never-frozen beef patties, Applewood smoked bacon, cheese, ketchup, mustard, pickle and onion.
Currently available is a Bacon Double Stack, 4-piece chicken nuggets (Spicy or Crispy, your choice), small fries and a small drink for just $5.