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 18 – the third public meeting on a district-based school committee election system is tonight, Worcester Common Oval ice skating opens next week, local shop makers at River Styx Brewing in Fitchburg on Saturday, winter sports for Worcester high schools are coming and Hanover Theatre hosts The Nutcracker over Thanksgiving weekend.
Third of 5 Public Meetings on Future of School Committee Elections is Tonight
The city council’s Municipal & Legislative Operations Subcommittee will host five meetings across the city to discuss various electoral system options relative to a district-based system for electing members of the Worcester School Committee.
The third meeting is today — Thursday, November 18 — at 6 PM at the Union Hill School auditorium at 1 Chapin Street.
The current election system for school committee is an at-large format where six candidates get selected in a city-wide contest. The new proposed system will be one of three options, each of which include a district-based committee. Two options include representation from an at-large member.
For more information, click here.
Worcester Common Oval Ice-Skating Opens November 26
The Worcester Common Oval Ice-Skating Rink, located behind Worcester City Hall, is set to reopen on Friday, November 26th at 5:00 p.m.
The 12,000-square-foot rink is complete with amenities, including piped-in music, skate rentals, concessions provided by The Dogfather, holiday lights and more, making it a fun and affordable family-friendly activity.
Programming for the season is ongoing and will include several activities for attendees of all ages. Currently scheduled events include:
- Chanukah On Ice on Sunday, November 28th,
- A screening of the Lifetime holiday movie filmed in Worcester, “Christmas On Ice,” on Friday, December 10th,
- An appearance by the Harlem Globetrotters in mid-December
See the City’s website or the Worcester Common Oval Facebook page for additional events and activities as they become available.
Regular hours of operation will be Fridays 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Oval will be open for daytime skating during school vacation weeks in December and February, as well as on New Year’s Day and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The rink will be closed between Thursday, December 23rd through Saturday, December 25th.
Admission for skating is $5.00 and free for children ages 5 and younger. Skate rentals and MCPHS Little Helpers (learn to skate assist devices) will also be available for $5.00.
A limited number of free parking spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis in the garage located beneath City Hall.
Shop Local at the Holiday Sip n’ Shop in Fitchburg
Kickoff the holiday season with an afternoon shopping local in Fitchburg with a sip at River Styx Brewing at 166 Boulder Drive, suite 112 from noon to 3 PM.
Some of the best handcrafted makers and artisans of the community will enable you to cross some people off your list.
The vendors available on Saturday are:
- Birchouse Botanicals – soy candles
- Rock Harbor Designs – home décor
- Burning Succulents – plants
- The Tragic Whale – bags of all sizes
- Best Dressed Cup – insulated drink coozies
- Recycle Your Soul – jewelry
- Plainville Homestead – bath + body products
- Best Friends Supplies Co. – dog accessories
- Abigail Wolf Ceramics – pottery
- Maple Dragonfly Co. – macramé goods
- Happy Hooks – handmade scarves + blankets
- Salty Jewelry For A**holes – spirited jewelry
- Red Barn Cookies – delicious cookies + hot cocoa bombs!
- Singe Confectionary – gourmet marshmallows!
High School Winter Athletics Tryouts
Worcester Public School winter athletics season starts on Monday, November 29.
Prospective athletes for boys and girls’ basketball, ice hockey, boys and girls swimming, and wrestling should contact their athletic liaison for tryout information.
Schedules for basketball, ice hockey and swimming are available on the Worcester Public Schools website.
The Nutcracker at The Hanover Theatre
The Hanover Theatre, at 2 Southbridge Street, hosts Thanksgiving weekend performances of “The Nutcracker” from Friday, November 26 through Sunday, November 28.
The two-act ballet, first performed in 1892, revolves around the story of Clara, a young girl who receives a nutcracker doll as a Christmas gift and then enters a magical world where the Nutcracker and other characters come to life.
For more information and to purchase tickets, see the Hanover Theatre website.
