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, April 22 – the Downtown Worcester Business Improvement district is awarded $75,000, the Worcester Red Sox will honor the New England Center for Children at its April 30 game, Worcester Community Action Council hosts its Second Community Conversation, the Massachusetts Pirates hold Worcester Spirit night on Saturday and AAA provides advice on booking your Memorial Day travel.
Downtown Worcester Awarded $75,000
The Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District (BID), in partnership with the City of Worcester, was awarded a $75,000 Travel and Tourism Recovery grant through the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT) to implement a new short-term, “tactical” pedestrian wayfinding and district branding initiative within Downtown Worcester.
This program will include signage, street banners, digital advertising, and translation of the BID’s website to bring greater awareness of the diverse array of businesses and attractions available to those visiting Downtown.
Governor Charlie Baker’s office recently announced $4 million in awards to 80 organizations throughout the Commonwealth, including the Downtown Worcester BID. Projects throughout Massachusetts range from establishing an enhanced virtual presence for organizations to creating new marketing campaigns and promoting new tourism experiences.
Worcester Red Sox to Recognize NECC During Autism Acceptance Day
Prior to their game on Saturday, April 30, the Worcester Red Sox will honor The New England Center for Children (NECC) on the field as part of its Autism Acceptance Day event. NECC will be recognized as a “Heart of Worcester” for its work helping children with autism lead fuller lives.
During its Autism Acceptance Day celebration, which falls on the last day of Autism Awareness Month, the Woo Sox will offer ballpark-wide sensory accommodations for individuals with autism. The pregame ceremony will recognize two NECC students and four teachers, with a student throwing out the first pitch.
According to the CDC, 1 in 44 children have autism, up from the 1 in 54 children that was reported in 2020.
The New England Center for Children® (NECC®) is an award-winning autism education center and research institute. Committed to creating a world where autism is not a barrier to happiness, growth, and independence, our community of teachers, researchers, and clinicians provide comprehensive services including day and residential programs, partner classrooms in public school systems, and consulting services.
Worcester Community Action Council Hosts the Second Community Conversation
The Worcester Community Action Council holds its second community conversation on Tuesday, May 3, starting at 9:15 AM.
The conversation, titled “Navigating the Cliff Effect and Breaking Barriers in the Bureaucracy,” will discuss how to navigate when an increase in work earnings results in a reduction of subsidies families have come to rely upon, including food, housing, and childcare, leaving them worse off financially.
The panel discussion will be moderated by Marybeth Campbell, WCAC Executive Director, and feature Gina Plata Nino, Massachusetts Lae Reform Institute; Anne Kandilis, Springfield WORKS/Economic Development Council of Western Mass; Miurka Torres, Catholic Charities South Worcester County; and Emily Billings, Southbridge Family Resource Center.
The virtual event is free to attend, but advanced registration is required. Register here.
Massachusetts Pirates Host Worcester Spirit Night on Saturday
The Massachusetts Pirates hosts Worcester Spirit Night on Saturday, April 23. Attendees wearing any Worcester Sports Team’s gear gets half off at the DCU Center Box office for that game.
The Pirates are holding a pregame party at Worcester Common from 4 PM to 6 PM on Saturday. Doors open at the DCU Center at 6 PM. Kickoff is at 7:05.
The Best Time to Book Memorial Day Travel
AAA has released information on the best time to plan your Memorial Day travel with just six weeks to go until the start of Summer.
Recent AAA booking data shows the best time to purchase airfare is about two weeks before Memorial Day with travelers paying an average of $445 per ticket. Those who like a longer planning window will pay slightly more since flights reserved 28 – 60 days ahead of the holiday are coming in at an average of $470 each. Sunday offers the lowest airfare followed by Friday.
AAA advises that travelers looking for a last-minute deal by waiting to book the week of Memorial Day will end up paying almost double – an average of $845 per flight. AAA also wants travelers to know that in the past, the cheapest day to fly for Memorial Day weekend has consistently been Saturday. This year, however, it is the most expensive day to fly. As expected, Friday is the most popular air travel day and Memorial Day is the lightest.
The top destinations in the U.S. for Memorial Day getaways this year are:
- Orlando
- Hawaii
- Alaska
- Bermuda
- Aruba
- Dominican Republic
- Bahamas
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Nashville
