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 18 – attend a job fair at WPI today, a former Worcester Bravehearts pitcher had his first appearance in the MLB playoffs postponed on Monday, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health urges flu vaccinations, the WRTA seeks advertisers for its transit advertising service and the cost of gas in Massachusetts increases by four cents.
WPI Job Fair Today
Worcester Polytechnic Institution (WPI) is hosting a job fair at the Rubin Campus Center Odeum at 100 Institute Road today from 11 AM to 3 PM.
WPI currently has over 100 open positions, both part-time and full-time.
See more about the event, where to park for free, how to get to the event on campus and more, here.
Tomorrow @WPI: #WPI #jobfair—#hiringnow for FT, PT, and #Temp/Seasonal #jobs. Register: https://t.co/nIu8jAy952 @HECCMA @TweetWorcester @thisweekinWoo @MAWorkforce #higheredjobs #hiring #jobsearch #highered
— MassHire Central Region Workforce Board (MCRWB) (@masshirecentral) October 17, 2022
Former Bravehearts Pitcher’s MLB Playoff Start Postponed
Former Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona, now manager of the Cleveland Guardians, tapped former Worcester Bravehearts pitcher Aaron Civale to appear in his first Major League Baseball (MLB), starting the decisive game 5 of the American League Division Series (ALDS) on Monday night.
After a two-hour delay on Monday night, the game was postponed due to rain. The two teams will play the series deciding game on Tuesday, starting at 4:05 PM.
In 2014, Civale posted a 1.52 ERA with a .97 WHIP forthe Bravehearts, the team’s first championship season. He went on to Northeastern University between 2014 and 2016 before being drafted in the third round (92nd overall) of the 2016 draft by the Guardians, then named the Indians.
Zack Meisel from the Athletic reported on Monday night that the Guardians officially listed their starer TBD for the rescheduled game Tuesday.
The Guardians are officially listing tomorrow’s starter as TBD. This afternoon, Terry Francona said Aaron Civale would start Game 5 even if it were pushed back a day.
It’s possible Shane Bieber factors into the equation somehow. He pushed to contribute today, but was overruled.
— Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) October 18, 2022
DPH Urges Flu Vaccinations
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is urging residents to get their flu shot and get a COVID-19 vaccine or booster for which they are eligible.
October is an ideal time to get a flu vaccine before the flu season reaches its peak. Every person over the age of 6 months is recommended to get a flu shot annually. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that people 65 years and older get a high-dose flu vaccine this season.
Individuals can receive flu and COVID-19 vaccines in the same visit, including from many retail pharmacies. Both the COVID-19 and flu vaccines are safe and effective, and have been shown to reduce the risk of serious illness, hospitalization, and death.
The Massachusetts website provides resources to find a flu or COVID-19 vaccination here.
Advertising with WRTA Now Available
The Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) seeks advertisers for its transit advertising service.
WRTA buses travel for 12 hours per day and each bus travels a different route every day, exposing the advertisement to new audiences.
The area served by WRTA is home to over 500,000 residents, including the city of Worcester.
Learn more about WRTA advertising here.
Gas Prices in Mass. Increase by 4 Cents
AAA Northeast reports changes in gas prices across the region on a weekly basis.
Massachusetts’s average gas price increased 4 cents from last week, averaging $3.60 per gallon. That price is 10 cents lower than a month ago ($3.70) and 34 cents higher than on October 17, 2021 ($3.26).
Massachusetts’s average gas price is 28 cents lower than the national average.
“Despite concerns about the economy and declining demand for gasoline, gas prices increased again last week as markets continue to reckon with recently-announced production cuts from OPEC+ nations and the prospect of a colder-than-normal winter in the Northeast,” said Mary Maguire, AAA Northeast Vice President of Public and Government Affairs. “Even though national inventories of gas and oil increased last week, supplies are still well below seasonal averages and refiners have sparse capacity to increase production.”
AAA Northeast’s October 17 survey of fuel prices found the current national average to be 3 cents higher than last week ($3.91), averaging $3.88 a gallon. Today’s national average price is 20 cents higher than a month ago ($3.68) and 57 cents higher than this day last year ($3.31).
