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, July 12 – join a WRTA virtual public meeting today on proposed route changes, Anna Maria College is set to begin its Battle of the Badges, Quinsigamond Community College receives $735,000 for workforce training, tickets to the Worcester Wine Festival are now on sale and gas prices are down 11 cents this week.
WRTA Route Changes Public Meeting Today
The Worcester Regional Transit Authority hosts the first of three virtual public meetings today at 2 PM to present proposed bus route changes.
The proposed changes are scheduled to go into effect on Aug. 27 and include routes 1 and 3, 5 and 6, 8 and 25, 12, 14 and the shuttle between Southbridge, Dudley and Webster.
Tuesday, July 12 at 2 PM (ASL interpreter)
Link to Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 827 1514 5412
Passcode: 779724
Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Anna Maria College Battle of the Badges Begins Wednesday
Anna Maria College will host its third annual Battle of the Badges from July 13 to July 15. The program is designed for high school students who are interested in exploring the fields of criminal justice, fire science, and emergency management and who want to learn more about Anna Maria’s programs in these specialized areas.
This educational program provides participants the opportunity to experience aspects of these essential career fields and develop relationships with professionals who are on the front lines, handling emergencies, solving cases, conducting arson investigations, putting out fires, and protecting and serving their communities.
Participating are:
- Worcester County District Attorney Joe Early Jr.
- MA State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey
- Boston Fire Commissioner John Dempsey
- Boston Fire Department’s Patrick Langan
- Retired MBTA Police Richard Donohue, Boston Marathon Survivor (tentative)
- Assistant Commissioner of Massachusetts Corrections Patrick Depalo
- Paxton Fire Chief Michael Pingitore
- Fitchburg Police Department Sgt. Demetrice Phillips
- Worcester Police Gang Unit
- FBI and U.S. Marshals
- Anna Maria Fire Science and Criminal Justice Faculty and Staff
Students can register for the program here.
QCC Awarded $735,000 Workforce Training Grant
Quinsigamond Community College announced on Monday the school will receive a $735,000 workforce training state grant from $15 million in workforce training grants awarded to the Commonwealth’s 15 community colleges. The funding supports the creation and expansion of training programs in high-demand industries, such as healthcare, education, manufacturing, information technology and cybersecurity.
QCC received an award of $500,000 in June to train and help place over 70 participants in biotechnology jobs as part of the Senator Kenneth J. Donnelly Workforce Success Grants for Expanded Training Capacity & Employment Program Performance.
The training programs will assist those populations who have traditionally experienced higher rates of unemployment, as well as barriers to employment identified by the Black Advisory Commission and the Latino Advisory Commission. Priority will be given to those who are unemployed and underemployed.
Learn more about QCC programs here.
Worcester Wine Festival at Polar Park
The 2022 Worcester Wine Festival returns to Polar Park in 2022 from 12 PM to 4 PM on Saturday, August 27.
Tickets are on sale now and range from $40 up to $125 for VIP access.
Average Gas Price Down 11 Cents in Massachusetts
AAA Northeast reports changes in gas prices across the region on a weekly basis.
Massachusetts’s average gas price is down 11 cents from last week, averaging $4.74 per gallon. That price is 30 cents higher than a month ago ($5.04) and $1.72 higher than on July 11, 2021 ($2.95). Massachusetts’s average gas price is seven cents higher than the national average.
The decrease in the average for a gallon of gas occurred despite a slight rise in demand, likely due to robust July 4th holiday automobile travel. AAA forecasted that 42 million people would hit the roads for the holiday weekend, a new record.
“Usually, more people buying gas would lead to higher pump prices,” said Mary Maguire, AAA Northeast Director of Public and Government Affairs. “But the price for oil, the main ingredient in gasoline, has fallen and is hovering around $100 a barrel. Less expensive oil usually means less expensive gas.”
AA Northeast’s July 11 survey of fuel prices found the current national average to be 13 cents lower than last week ($4.80), averaging $4.67 a gallon. Today’s national average price is 33 cents higher than a month ago ($5.00) and $1.53 cents higher than this day last year ($3.14).
Comparison to neighboring states, according to AAA Northeast:
