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, August 12 – the City of Worcester is hosting a Youth Vax Giveaway for vaccinated Worcester residents, the Shrewsbury Street Neighborhood Association raffles off Worcester Red Sox tickets, the Nativity School of Worcester receives a donation from a local bank, the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce announces its 2021-2022 Leadership Worcester class and AAA provides safe travel tips for the end of summer.
Youth Vax Giveaway for Worcester Residents
The City of Worcester and Department of Public Health and Human Services announced Worcester’s Youth Vax Giveaway on Wednesday, August 11.
Worcester residents between the ages of 12 and 24 are eligible to enter to win one of four prizes:
SE Bicycle, courtesy of Worcester Earn-A-Bike; an iPad Air; one of three 43-inch, LED TVs; or one of two Nintendo Switches
Contest winners will be drawn weekly from September 23 to October 14.
See the full contest rules here.
Vaccination are available on Thursday, August 12 from 11 AM to 2 PM at a Mobile Vaccination Clinic at the Out to Lunch Festival and Farmer’s Market on the Worcester Common at 455 Main Street. See eligibility information here.
Shrewsbury Street Neighborhood Association Raffles Worcester Red Sox Tickets
The Shrewsbury Street Neighborhood Association raffles off tickets to a Worcester Red Sox game at its August meeting on Thursday, August 19, beginning at 7 PM.
Officials from the Worcester Police Department, Code Department, the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office, City Manager’s Office, and other offices will be present to answer questions from area residents.
Free parking is available in the lot behind Mac’s Diner.
Contact Gary Vecchio at [email protected] for more information.
Nativity School of Worcester Receives Donation
The Nativity School of Worcester, an independent Jesuit middle school providing all-scholarship education to underserved boys of all faiths at67 Lincoln Street, received a donation from Cornerstone Bank for $3,000. The funds will help low- and moderate-income families of current students and students who have graduated, through the school’s Graduate Support Program.
The Nativity School of Worcester’s summer program runs for three weeks during the summer and focuses on core academics, including language arts and math, as well as community services. Students and faculty spend every afternoon volunteering at local organizations to empower them to recognize the ways they can improve their community.
The Graduate Support Team coordinates with alumni to provide school supplies to high school and college-aged graduates of the Nativity School, helping them to continue their education.
Cornerstone Bank, a community bank with 12 locations throughout Central Massachusetts, is an independent, mutual savings bank serving residents, businesses and communities throughout Central Massachusetts.
Leadership Worcester Announces 2021-2022 Class
The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce announced on Wednesday, August 11, the 28 professionals selected to take part in the 2021-2022 Leadership Worcester class.
Now in its seventh year, Leadership Worcester has graduated over 150 professionals in the Greater Worcester area from various sectors, including government, business, education, nonprofits, and the arts.
The program is a nine-month experiential learning program from September to May where
Participants learn about their community from a variety of angles and engage with local leaders to learn about the region’s challenges and opportunities. Each monthly session takes participants behind the scenes of Worcester’s diverse anchor institutions and hidden gems, allowing them to see the city through a new lens. Participants then graduate in June and join a robust network of Leadership Worcester alumni.
Members of the Leadership Worcester Class of 2022 are:
- Amy Sciannameo – Senior Underwriter – Hanover International, The Hanover Insurance Group
- Andrew McShane – Program Manager, Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District
- Ariana Dello Stritto – Marketing Coordinator and Financial Literacy Assistant, Bay State Savings Bank
- Brittany Wong – CEO, Studio Jade
- David Conner – Director of Community Engagement, Worcester Historical Museum
- David Sullivan – Economic Development and Business Recruitment Associate, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce
- David Zeutas-Broer – Major Gifts Officer, EcoTarium
- Domenica Perrone – Project Manager, Department of Health and Human Services; City of Worcester
- Elizabeth Deliberto – Vice President, Nativity School of Worcester
- Heather Forchilli – Branch Manager, Central One FCU
- Johan Romero Luna – Area Manager, Workers Credit Union
- Jonida Duque – Director, Open Sky Community Services
- Juli True-Dooley – Director of Grants and Marketing, Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center
- Katherine Aguilar – Owner and Founder, K Sense Co. LLC
- Keyshawn O’Connell – Director of Athletics & Healthy Habits, Boys & Girls Club of Worcester
- Kimberly McCullen – Employment & Employee Relations Specialist, College of the Holy Cross
- Kwame Ofori – Director of Information Technology, RCAP Solutions, Inc.
- Larnese Cook – Director of Operations, Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging, Inc.
- Lisa Malo – Creative Group Manager, Bose
- Lovo D. Koliego-Narmah – Executive Director, Community Health Awareness Network (CHAN)
- Margarita Navarro – Executive Assistant & Event Coordinator, KARL STORZ
- Paula Fitzpatrick – Dean, D’Amour College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Assumption University
- Ryan Petrone – Owner/CEO, Energy Athletics LLC
- Sam Sui – Utilization Management Clinical Pharmacist, Fallon Health
- Samantha Sendrowski – Technology Innovation Manager, Bowditch & Dewey, LLP
- Sherri Lee Gentile – Project Manager, UMass Memorial Health
- Steven Schimmel – Executive Director, Jewish Federation of Central MA
- Vittoria (Tori) Buerschaper – Interim Executive Director, Community Harvest Project
End of Summer Tips for Safe End of Summer Travel
With increased travel expected to remain high through Labor Day and the resurgence of COVID-19 cases, some travelers considering if they should continue with future travel plans.
AAA provides these tips for safe travel during the rest of summer and beyond:
Mask Guidance for Travelers
The CDC recently updated its guidance on mask-wearing, advising people in areas with high COVID-19 transmission to wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status. You will be required to wear a mask on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States, and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. Additionally, some states and cities have updated their mask and other travel requirements.
Modes of Travel – What to Expect
Road trips can offer more flexibility than some other modes of travel, but it’s still important to plan ahead for travel by car. Understand the impact COVID-19 has on cities and states you are traveling through and if there are any restrictions in place.
Travelling by Air
The CDC advises that most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes, in addition to universal use of masks throughout the air travel experience. AAA recommends travelers consider enrolling in TSA PreCheck, to help expedite your time through potentially crowded airports this summer.
International Travel
With the success of the vaccine rollout and more countries opening to American travelers, AAA Travel agents have noted a significant increase in inquiries and bookings for international travel, especially for 2022 – with Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Greece, and European river cruises topping the list of international travel destinations.
As borders begin to reopen and countries start to loosen their travel restrictions, the CDC notes that international travel poses additional risks. If you are fully vaccinated, you should continue to follow the CDC’s recommendations for traveling safely and get tested 3-5 days after traveling internationally. You do not need to get tested before leaving the United States unless your destination requires it, and you do not need to self-quarantine after arriving in the United States.
All air passengers coming to the United States, including U.S. citizens and fully vaccinated people, are required to have a negative COVID-19 test result no more than 3 days before travel or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 3 months before they board a flight to the United States.
The U.S. State Department is also warning Americans of delays in processing passport applications. It may take up to 18 weeks to get your new passport, and 12 weeks for “expedited” service. As a result, it’s recommended that you submit your passport application at least six months before planned travel.
Traveling with Children
Families with children who are not yet eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine face additional questions about whether to travel, especially as many expect the start of the school year in the coming weeks. If you are traveling with children who cannot get vaccinated the CDC recommends following recommendations for unvaccinated people and choosing safer travel options, such as a road trip with few stops or a direct flight, and taking steps to avoid crowds and close contact with unvaccinated people who are not from your household. If you do fly, everyone over the age of 2 will be required to wear masks on the plane and in airports.
