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5 Things You Need to Know Today in Worcester – October 6

By Tom Marino | October 6, 2022
Last Updated: October 6, 2022

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 6 – a concert is being held at Polar Park to honor breast cancer survivors and their families, the Blithewood Avenue playground will be closed three days next week for repairs, Worcester is hosting its ninth White Cane Safety Awareness Day, the Marcotte Foundation is hosting its annual women’s self-defense workshop and there are Sudbury Minutemen reenactments at Salisbury Mansion next weekend.

Rhythm for Ribbons Concert Event for Breast Cancer

Pawsitively 4 Pink honors individuals and families who have been affected breast cancer with a concert in October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

On Oct. 22, starting at noon at Polar Park, the Rhythm 4 Ribbons concert presents Alisan Porter, Ashley Jordan, Ricky Duran, Katie Kadan, On the Rocks, Ball in the House, Dave Macklin Band and the Country Wild Heart Band.

Get more information and tickets here.

Blithewood Avenue Playground to Close Next Week

The Blithewood Avenue playground located within Blithewood Park, at 10 Blithewood Ave., will be closed for repairs starting Tuesday, Oct. 11.

The playground will reopen on Friday, Oct. 15.

White Cane Safety Awareness Day

The City of Worcester hosts its ninth annual White Cane Safety Awareness Day on Thursday, Oct. 15, which includes blind-folded community leaders will finishing a walk with sighted guides on a course on city streets. The walk intends to highlight challenges faced by the blind community and walkability in the city in general.

Attorney Liz Myska, vice-chair of the city’s Accessibility Advisory Commission, together with the City’s Office on Human Rights and Accessibility, led by Jayna Turchek, are again hosting this one-of-a-kind event to educate community leaders, drivers of vehicles in the Commonwealth, and the public at-large, of the need to observe the white cane law, and the challenges — and opportunities – faced by the blind community as they travel on the city’s sidewalks.

This free event on Oct. 15 starts at 11 a.m. in the Saxe Room, is open to the public, has included city councilors, city department heads, university deans and chancellors, public safety officers, and other dignitaries who are leaders in the community.

Marcotte Foundation Annual Women’s Self-Defense Workshop

The Vanessa T. Marcotte Foundation and the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office hosted a women’s self-defense Workshop on September 20 at The Overlook in Charlton.

The foundation is named for Vanessa Marcotte, who was walking near her family’s home in Princeton when she was attacked and murdered in the summer of 2016. The annual workshop began in 2018.

Attendees practiced realistic self-defense tactics, situational awareness, and approaches handling a confrontation both physically and mentally. Female correctional officers from the Worcester County Jail and House of Corrections facilitate the workshop.

Two friends who attended the class explained that they enjoyed the opportunity to participate in live drills and the ability to ask questions along the way. Further, they commended the staff for running participants through realistic drills and unique situations they would have never thought to find themselves in.

The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Training Staff was on site to facilitate the workshop with the female correctional officers. In total, nearly 15 members of the Sheriff’s Office were in attendance. Members of the Marcotte family and representatives from the foundation also attended.

For more information on the Vanessa T. Marcotte Foundation, visit its website.

Sudbury Minutemen Reenactment and Demonstrations

Salisbury Mansion, at 40 Highland St. in Worcester, hosts historic reenactments by Sudbury Minutemen, historians who reenact of daily life of men and women in the 1770s Massachusetts, and the Revolutionary War on Saturday, Oct. 15 from 10 AM to 3 PM.

Demonstrations will consist of musket firing, militia drills, cooking, and other aspects of 18th century life. This event is free and open to the public. Tours of the Mansion will also be available throughout the day.

This event is part of celebrating Salisbury Mansion’s 250th Anniversary. Other events include:

  • Sunday, Oct. 9 – Worcester History Bingo and Release of Salisbury Mansion Old Ale at Redemption Rock 4 PM to 6 PM – Redemption Rock Brewing, 333 Shrewsbury Street, Worcester
    • Sit back and enjoy the third and final beer release in this Worcester anniversary year honoring the construction of Salisbury Mansion. And get your thinking caps on for a few rounds of Worcester History Bingo, and a chance to meet Stephen Salisbury, the first of three generations of Salisburys to impact Worcester.
    • The event is free but registration is encouraged here.
  • Saturday Revolutionary Walking Tours starting at Salisbury Mansion – Oct. 29; Nov. 12, 10 AM to 11:15 AM
    • From Worcester’s meetinghouse, near the site of today’s City Hall to what we now call Lincoln Square, Worcester Patriots led Massachusetts toward revolution. Walk in their footsteps – “Worcester’s Revolution, A Town that Defied an Empire.
    • Admission is $10, free for Worcester Historical Museum members
    • Registration encouraged at (508) 753-8278

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