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 – Tuesday, August 2 – the Out to Lunch Festival and Farmers Market summer series starts Thursday, the 17th annual Worcester County St. Patrick’s Parade Golf Tournament is scheduled for Aug. 26 at Green Hill, the City of Worcester will hold a Summit on Housing & Community Well-Being on Wednesday, the Worcester Youth Council is hosting youth mental health workshops and the average price of gas dropped five cents this week.
Out to Lunch Festival Begins Thursday
The Out to Lunch Festival and Farmers’ Market summer series starts Thursday, Aug. 4 with music, food and vendors on the Worcester Common Oval.
This Thursday includes live music from The Alchemystics.
Get more information on the City of Worcester website.
Still Time to Register for the 17th Annual Worcester County St. Patrick’s Parade Golf Tournament
The 17th Annual Worcester County St. Patrick’s Parade golf tournament is scheduled for Aug. 26 at Green Hill Golf Course in Worcester.
The tournament will start at 1 PM. The cost is $150 per player and includes golf and cart fees, dinner and a golf shirt.
To register to play in the tournament, click here. To attend for dinner only, click here.
City Hosting Summit on Housing & Community Well-Being
On Wednesday, Aug. 3, the City of Worcester is hosting a Summit on Housing & Community Well-Being at City Hall at 5:30 PM.
The summit will include state, city and local nonprofit leaders discussing solutions to reduce homelessness in Worcester and improve residents’ quality of life.
The public is welcome to attend.
Youth Mental Health Workshops
The Worcester Youth Council will be hosting youth-led workshops on problems affecting youth mental health on Aug. 2, 3, 9, and 10 from 3 PM to 5 PM at the Worcester Senior Center.
Register here.
Average Gas Price Down 5 Cents in Massachusetts
AAA Northeast reports changes in gas prices across the region on a weekly basis.
Massachusetts’s average gas price is down five cents from last week, averaging $4.47 per gallon. That price is 41 cents higher than a month ago ($4.88) and $1.44 higher than on August 1, 2021 ($3.03). Massachusetts’s average gas price is 26 cents higher than the national average.
The national average for a gallon of gas fell to $4.21, down 14 cents since last week. But a slight uptick in gas demand as more people fuel up could end the steady drop in daily pump prices.
“We know that most American drivers have made significant changes in their driving habits to cope with high gas prices,” said Mary Maguire, AAA Northeast Director of Public and Government Affairs. “But with fuel prices locally falling every day, it’s possible that gas demand could rise.”
AAA Northeast’s August 1 survey of fuel prices found the current national average to be 14 cents lower than last week ($4.35), averaging $4.21 a gallon. Today’s national average price is 63 cents higher than a month ago ($4.48) and $1.04 cents higher than this day last year ($3.17).
Comparison to neighboring states, according to AAA Northeast:
