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5 Things You Need To Know Today In Worcester – October 14

By TWIW Staff | October 14, 2021
Last Updated: October 14, 2021

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, October 14 – there’s a pubic hearing tonight on the re-precincting of Worcester, more opportunities are announced to get vaccinated in Worcester, ceremonies this weekend will mark the official opening of the new South High School, BioLife Plasma Services opens its first Massachusetts location in Worcester, and Worcester Arts Council grant applications are due on Friday.

Public Hearing on Re-Precincting of Worcester is Tonight

The Board of Election Commissioners is meeting tonight to hold a public hearing on the re-precincting of the city of Worcester due to the results of the U.S. Census 2020.

From 2010 to 2020, Worcester added 25,473 residents, a 14.1% growth. Worcester now has a population of 206,518.

The public hearing will be the first part of tonight’s meeting at 5:30 PM in the Esther Howland Chamber at City Hall. The hearing will be followed by a discussion on re-precincting between the board members.

To participate in the meeting virtually, dial 415-655-0001 and use access code 160-935-9156#. When prompted for an attendee ID number, press the # sign.

Several Opportunities to Receive COVID-19 Vaccine in Worcester

Worcester’s Department of Health & Human Services offers mobile clinics open to all eligible Worcester residents, including every Wednesday from 11 AM to 7  PM and Saturday from 11 AM to 5 PM at the Main Branch of the Worcester Public Library. You can also get your booster shot at these clinics.

Free, walk-up COVID-19 testing and vaccinations are also available through UMass Memorial Health Care at 201 Commercial St. on Mondays, 11 AM to 4 PM and Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 AM to 3 PM.

You can also find an updated schedule, along with information about the vaccine, at www.worcesterma.gov/coronavirus/vaccination.

For a complete list of upcoming and ongoing vaccination clinics, click here.

Dedications at the New South High School

The City of Worcester and Worcester Public Schools hold three events on Sunday, October 17, related to the new South High Community School.

The street that sits at the entrance to South High will become Paul J. Moosey Way in honor of the long-time Commissioner of Public Works and Parks, who passed away earlier this year.

The second event celebrates the official opening of the new South High Community School.

The auditorium of the school will have its own dedication ceremony and become the Brian A. O’Connell Memorial Auditorium. O’Connell served the Worcester School Committee for 36 years until his death in 2019.

New Plasma Services Center Opens on Stafford Street

BioLife Plasma Services announced on Wednesday, October 13, the opening of its first plasma center in Massachusetts at 68 Stafford Street in Worcester.

BioLife Plasma Services is part of the global biopharmaceutical company Takeda. Plasma donations received at BioLife centers are used by Takeda to make established therapies that treat a range of rare and chronic complex diseases, such as immunodeficiency disorders, for which there are often no alternative treatments.

The company plans a second Massachusetts location, in Medford, in Spring 2022. There are over 160 BioLife locations across the United States.

Prospective donors can make online appointments to visit the Worcester center which opens on Saturday, October 16.

For more information visit the BioLife Plasma Services website.

WAC Grant Application Deadline is Friday

The deadline for Worcester Arts Council [WAC] grant applications on Friday, October 15.

Grants are issued to support arts, humanities, interpretive sciences, visual artists, performing artists, science educators, historians and other humanists; as well as community, business and civic groups, social service organizations, schools, neighborhood centers, and youth, senior and family associations.

To learn more and apply ahead of the deadline, visit the City of Worcester’s website.

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