twiw-horizontal-trans-150h
Is there a story you think we should be covering? Have a tip on something we should look at?
Contact Us

5 Things You Need to Know Today in Worcester – July 20

By TWIW Staff | July 20, 2021
Last Updated: July 20, 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 – Tuesday, July 20 – the Registry of Motor Vehicles issues a warning on text phishing scams, Worcester kicks off a free summer fitness series in eight parks, get free Worcester Bravehearts tickets for those vaccinated sponsored by UMass Memorial Medical Center, a study ranks Worcester the 53rd most-educated metro area in the country and gas prices in Massachusetts are up one cent.

 

July 20, 2021 AAA

RMV Warns of Text Phishing Scams

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles issued a warning on text phishing scams on Monday, July 19.

Phishing refers to emails or text messages formatted to be from a trustworthy source that contain nefarious links or other means to “phish for” ways to compromise personal information.

The RMV issued three tips for its customers to protect themselves from these scams:

  • The RMV does not send unsolicited requests for personal and/or contact information to customers by text.
  • Any communication by text from the RMV would be as a result of a customer-initiated request or transaction.
  • Do not click on any suspicious links or give out personal information.

Free Summer Fitness Series in Worcester

The Worcester Park Summer Fitness Series is a 15-week program that runs seven days a week at eight city parks now through Sept. 30.

The program requires no registration and is free.

Those who take part in three or more sessions will receive a special YWCA Fitness Membership to gain access to the Fitness Center and pool through Sept. 30. There will be no classes on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 6.

Rides on all WRTA buses are free through Dec. 31, and $25 each Lyft Codes, valid until July 31, may be requested by emailing [email protected] or calling 508-796-1411.

The program is presented by the Worcester Department of Health and Human Services, YWCA of Central Massachusetts and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.

Free Bravehearts Tickets for Vaccinated Fans

The Worcester Bravehearts announced on Monday, July 19, that eight free tickets are available for each remaining home game this season at Fitton Field.

UMass Memorial Medical Center is sponsoring the tickets for fans fully vaccinated by the day of the game they attend.

Tickets are available on a first-come-first serve basis and fans must show their vaccination card when picking up the tickets at will call.

To claim tickets for date of your choice, call the Bravehearts box office at (508) 438-3773 or email [email protected].

Worcester Ranked the 53rd Most Educated Metro Area in the U.S.

A new study that ranked the 150 largest metropolitan statistical areas to find the most and least educated cities in America.

The study ranked Worcester the 53rd most educated city.

The study ranked each city across 11 key metrics with a data set that ranges rom the share of adults aged 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher to the quality of the public-school system to the gender education gap.

Researchers compiled the metrics into two main categories. Here is how Massachusetts ranks compared to other cities in New England in overall rank and the categories of Educational Attainment  and Quality of Education & Attainment Gap:

Rank Metro Area Educational
Attainment
Quality of Education
& Attainment Gap
6 Boston-Cambridge-Newton 6 38
12 Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT 7 146
17 Portland-South Portland, ME 17 71
27 Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT 21 128
34 Manchester-Nashua, NH 26 132
43 New Haven-Milford, CT 39 105
53 Worcester, MA-CT 51 88
63 Springfield, MA 64 61
89 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA 86 94

See the most and least educated cities in America in the video below.

To see the full study and learn more about its methodology, visit WalletHub.com.

Gas Prices Up One Cent This Week in MA

AAA Northeast reports changes in gas prices across the region on a weekly basis.

Massachusetts’s average gas price remained the same as last week, averaging $3.02 per gallon. That price is the seven cents higher than a month ago ($2.95), and 89 cents higher than June 28, 2020 ($2.13).

“It’s a cruel summer at the gas pump with prices showing little signs of relief,” said Mary Maguire, AAA Northeast Director of Public and Government Affairs. “However, the more expensive prices aren’t stopping motorists from filling-up based on strong gasoline demand numbers.”

Massachusetts’s average gas price is 15 cents lower than the national average.

AAA Northeast’s July 12 survey of fuel prices found the current national average to be three cents higher than last week, averaging $3.17 a gallon. Today’s national average price is 10 cents higher than a month ago ($3.07), and 98 cents higher than this day last year ($2.19).

Comparison to neighboring states, according to AAA Northeast:

Region Current Price One Week Ago One Month Ago One Year Ago
Massachusetts $3.02 $3.02 $2.95 $2.13
Rhode Island $3.04 $3.03 $2.97 $2.14
Connecticut $3.15 $3.14 $3.09 $2.20

 

Follow us on The016.com, the social network for Worcester and you!