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, October 19 – the Massachusetts Department of Public Health warns residents on the start of flu season, Holy Cross inaugurates its 33rd president on Friday, Quinsigamond Community College announces an open house, Redemption Rock Brewing CO. hosts trivia night to support Working for Worcester and gas prices reach the highest in seven years.
DPH Warns of the Start of Flu Season
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health [DPH]announced that since September 1, the department confirmed 37 cases of influenza in Massachusetts by laboratory test. For this time of year, DPH says that is within the expected range.
DPH says it is impossible to predict the severity of the flu season, but early indicators suggest that the uncharacteristically low flu activity last year, the result of COVID-19 mitigation measures, will not continue this year.
DPH urges residents to get vaccinated now to protect themselves, their families, and prevent the spread of flu, as well as ease the burden of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses on the health care system. Every person over the age of 6 months is recommended to get a flu shot every year.
Inauguration of the 33rd President of the College of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross celebrates the inauguration of its 33rd president on Friday, October 22, with a slate of events which concludes with an installation ceremony at the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex at 3 PM.
The event is also available via livestream.
Vincent Rougeau became president of Holy Cross in July. He is the first Black man, and the first person not a member of the clergy, to lead the College. Rougeau previously served as dean at the Boston College Law School and the inaugural director of the new Boston College Forum on Racial Justice in America.
Prior to Boston College, Rougeau was a tenured professor of law at Notre Dame Law School, and served as their associate dean for Academic Affairs from 1999-2002. Rougeau is also president of the Association of American Law Schools [AALS]. He earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1985.
Quinsigamond Community College All Campus Open House
Quinsigamond Community College [QCC] hosts an in-person All Campus Open House on Thursday, October 28, from 4:30 to 6:30 PM.
The Open House will feature a Q&A session with representatives from Admissions, Financial Aid, Tutoring, Career Services, Placement Testing and Veteran’s Affairs on hand to answer any questions. Faculty from programs such as Healthcare, Mathematics, Environmental Science, Biology, English and Computer Information Systems and more will be in attendance, and prospective students can learn what programs will lead them to their desired career path.
Interested students can receive step-by-step enrollment assistance and may apply for admission on the spot. Campus tours will also be made available.
To register for the Open House visit, QCC.edu/openhouse. For additional upcoming Admission events visit, QCC.edu/events.
For more information about QCC, contact Josh Martin, Director of Institutional Communications at 508.854.7513 or [email protected]
Trivia Night at Redemption Rock
Redemption Rock Brewing at 333 Shrewsbury Street in Worcester hosts Trivia Night on Thursday, October 21, from 7 PM to 9 PM.
The $10 cover charge will go to support community initiative Working for Worcester. Prizes will be available.
Massachusetts Gas Prices Rise to Highest in Seven Years
AAA Northeast reports changes in gas prices across the region on a weekly basis.
Massachusetts’s average gas price increased nine cents this week, now averaging $3.27 per gallon. That price is 17 cents higher than a month ago ($3.10), and $1.17 higher than October 18, 2020 ($2.10).
Massachusetts’s average gas price is five cents lower than the national average.
“Compared to the price of gas a year ago, it now costs consumers about $17 more to fill up their vehicles,” says Mary Maguire, Director of Public/Government Affairs. “And unfortunately, it doesn’t look like drivers will be finding relief at the pump any time soon.” Increasing crude oil prices are the primary factor in the higher prices at the pump.
The last time prices in Massachusetts were this high was October of 2014 at $3.32 per gallon.
AAA Northeast’s October 18 survey of fuel prices found the current national average to be five cents higher than last week, averaging $3.32 a gallon. Today’s national average price is 13 cents higher than a month ago ($3.19) and $1.16 higher than this day last year ($2.16).
Comparison to neighboring states, according to AAA Northeast:
Lead image: Vincent Rougeau/Courtesy: College of the Holy Cross
