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, May 11 – today is the last day to submit nomination papers to Worcester’s Board of Election commission, mobile and homebound vaccination programs are scheduled this week in Worcester, Quinsigamond Community College is holding a vaccine clinic, a Worcester community organization receives a state grant, and gas prices are up again this week.
Tuesday is Last Day to Submit Nomination Papers for Municipal Election
Today — Tuesday, May 11 — at 5 p.m. is the deadline for submitting nomination papers to the Board of Election Commissioners for certification of signatures.
District City Council candidates are required to obtain 100 signatures for nomination, while both School Committee and At-Large City Council candidates are required to have 300 signatures.
Next Thursday, May 20, is the deadline to file a withdrawal or objections to nomination of candidates with the Commission.
Mobile and Homebound Vaccination Programs
The City of Worcester led by the Department of Health & Human Services and Division of Public Health is engaged in mobile vaccine equity clinics and the homebound vaccination program.
All people age 16 and older who live, work or study in Massachusetts are eligible to receive a vaccine. This is in addition to all priority groups in Phase One and those in Phase Two.
Upcoming Mobile Vaccination Clinics are:
- Wednesday, May 12, from 5 PM to 8 PM at Boys & Girls Club, 65 Boys & Girls Club Way
- Thursday, May 13, from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM at Iglesia Casa de Oracion, 21 Canterbury Street
- Saturday, May 15, from 10 AM to 4 PM at YMCA, 766 Main Street
The Homebound Vaccination Program serves homebound individuals who are not able to leave their home to get to a vaccination site, even with assistance.
These individuals require one of the following limitations:
- Ambulance or two-person assistance to leave the home
- Unable to leave the home for medical appointments under normal circumstances
- Have considerable difficulty and/or require significant support to leave the home for medical appointments
Contact the Homebound Vaccination Program Central Intake Line from Monday through Friday between 9 AM and 5PM at (833) 983-0485 for assistance.
QCC Holding Vaccine Clinic
Quinsigamond Community College will host a Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic for students on May 11, from 10 AM until 5 PM, at the QCC Athletic Center, 670 West Boylston Street, Worcester.
The clinic is in collaboration with Albertson’s/Shaw’s/Osco.
QCC also invited students, faculty and staff from Assumption University, Anna Maria College and Becker College to participate in their clinic.
As the Moderna vaccine requires two shots, the College will host a second clinic on June 8 to provide the second vaccination.
Vaccinations are provided by appointment only.
State Awards Grants for Recovery-Based Reentry Services
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) and the Department of Public Health (DPH) today announced $2.3 million in grants awarded to provide recovery-based services for Black and Latino men who are at risk of fatal overdoses upon release from incarceration.
The pilot program will serve Black and Latino men with a history of substance misuse incarcerated in Suffolk, Essex, Worcester, and Hampden counties.
Local non-profit, community-based organizations will provide culturally responsive wraparound services and case management pre- and post-release, including individual recovery support from any substance of use.
Legendary Legacies is the award recipient in Worcester County.
The other recipients are Casa Esperanza, Inc. and Fathers’ Uplift in Suffolk County, Greater Lawrence Family Health Center in Essex County (in collaboration with the Lynn Community Health Center), and New North Citizens’ Council in Hampden County.
Gas Prices up Six Cents this Week in Massachusetts
AAA Northeast reports changes in gas prices across the region on a weekly basis.
The cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline is impacting gas prices across the country.
Massachusetts’s average gas price is up six cents from last week, averaging $2.86 per gallon. That price is the 12 cents higher than a month ago ($2.74), and 92 cents higher than May 10, 2020 ($1.94).
Massachusetts’s average gas price is 10 cents lower than the national average.
AAA Northeast’s May 10 survey of fuel prices found the current national average to be 6 cents higher than last week, averaging $2.96 a gallon. Today’s national average price is 10 cents higher than a month ago ($2.86), and $1.12 dollar cents cheaper than this day last year ($1.84).
Comparison to neighboring states, according to AAA Northeast:
