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 – Thursday, November 17 – the Worcester Country District Attorney expands Drug Story Theater, Regional Transit Authorities across Massachusetts promoting fare-free riding for the holidays, the Worcester Public Library holds a pop-up holiday sale this weekend, the Abby’s House Thrift Shop is now open and Burncoat Theatre presents productions in early December at Burncoat Middle School.
District Attorney’s Office Expands Drug Abuse Prevention Program
The Office of Worcester County District Attorney Joe Early Jr. is expanding access to the Drug Story Theater program for all middle and high schools across the county, including providing translated Spanish and Portuguese versions, to enable students to receive an education on substance misuse and the disease of addiction.
Early’s office is funding $25,000 through a Department of Justice Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP) grant.
In 2018, the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office hosted Drug Story Theater at their Annual Wellness Conference at Anna Maria College. The program teaches youth about peer pressure, addiction and recovery from drugs and alcohol through the first-hand experiences of teens in a theatrical setting, aiming to decrease adolescent substance misuse.
Regional Transit Authorities Fare Free Holiday Season Service
The Massachusetts Regional Transit Authorities are fare free for all fixed route and paratransit services from Nov. 25 through Dec. 31, as part of the “Try Transit” initiative over the holidays.
Along with the Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA), the other regional transit authorities are:
- Brockton Area Transit (BAT): fixed-route bus and paratransit service to the Brockton area, with service to the Ashmont MBTA station and Boston medical facilities.
- Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA): fixed-route and paratransit service in Norfolk, Bristol, and Plymouth counties, with shuttle service to regional MBTA Commuter Rail stations.
- Montachusett Area Regional Transit (MART): fixed-route and paratransit service in Northern Worcester and Western Middlesex counties, with connections to the MBTA Commuter Rail and shuttles to Veteran Centers and hospitals in Boston and Worcester.
- MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA): fixed-route and paratransit service in Framingham, Natick, and surrounding communities, with connections to regional
- MBTA Commuter Rail stations and the Green Line.
Cape Ann Transportation Authority (CATA): fixed-route and paratransit service in Gloucester and Rockport, with connections to the MBTA Commuter Rail. - Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority: (MVRTA)fixed-route and paratransit service in Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Newburyport, and the surrounding areas, with connections to the MBTA Commuter Rail and direct transport to Boston hospitals.
- Lowell Regional Transit Authority (LRTA): fixed-route and paratransit service in Lowell, Billerica, Chelmsford, and surrounding communities, with connections to the MBTA Commuter Rail, as well as Greyhound and Peter Pan bus lines.
- Paul Revere Transportation: accessible shuttle service in East Boston and Winthrop, with connections to the MBTA Commuter Rail and Boston Logan International Airport.
- Burlington Public Transit: accessible weekday service in the town of Burlington, with connections to the MBTA Commuter Rail, LRTA, Lexpress, and Bedford Transit.
- Lexpress: accessible bus service throughout the Lexington area, with connections to the MBTA Commuter Rail
Find more information on the program here.
Worcester Public Library Holiday Pop-Up Sale
The Friends of the Worcester Public Library are hosting a Holiday Pop-Up Sale on Friday, Nov. 18 and Saturday, Nov. 19, from 11 AM to 4 PM at the Main Library at 3 Salem Square.
The pop-up sale will include seasonal reads, puzzles, plus giftable books for adults and kids. The Friends Bookstore will also be open regular hours on these days.
Abby’s House Thrift Shop Now Open
The Abby’s House Thrift Store is now open at 53 High St. in Worcester. The store has gifts, seasonal decor, accessories and more available.
The store is open Monday through Thursday from 10 AM to 3 PM and Saturday, from 10 AM to 1 PM through Dec. 22.
Learn more about the store and donation guidelines here.
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A Three-Day Burncoat Theatre Production
Burncoat Theatre presents “Peter/Wendy” from Dec. 1 to Dec. 3 at 7 PM a the Burncoat Middle School Auditorium.
Tickets, available at the door, are $5 for students and $8 for adults.
Burncoat Theatre Presents “Peter/Wendy”, December 1-3 at 7PM at the Burncoat Middle School Auditorium. Tickets may be purchased at the door – Students $5, Adults $8 pic.twitter.com/Qhi4QQXdyq
— Worcester Schools (@worcesterpublic) November 16, 2022
