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 – Wednesday, January 19 – Secretary Galvin issues reminder on property tax abatements, the Voice of Worcester joins the Bravehearts team this summer, a Worcester non-profit is awarded a $50,000 grant, Big Brother Big Sister scheduling Worcester pickups on Friday and gas prices fall one cent this week in Massachusetts.
Secretary of the Commonwealth Issues Abatement Tips
According to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, the average tax bill for a single family home in Massachusetts this year is $6,767, which is $395 higher than last year’s average bill.
February 1 is the deadline for 3rd quarter property tax payments in over 80% of the cities and towns in Massachusetts. It is also the last day to file for an abatement in those communities.
Abatement and property tax exemption forms are available at all municipal assessors’ offices. Exemptions are also available in many communities for certain elderly homeowners, the blind, disabled veterans, young children of a deceased parent, or young children of police or firefighters killed in the line of duty.
See Galvin’s tips at the Secretary of Commonwealth’s website.
The Voice of Worcester Sports Joins the Worcester Bravehearts
Rodney Lartey-Otoo has the full roster of Worcester sports on his résumé and adds the Worcester Bravehearts this summer.
Lartey-Otoo is the primary voice heard across Holy Cross Athletics and Saint Paul Athletics, while working with Worcester State University and Westborough High School. He’s had runs with the Massachusetts Pirates and some games with the Worcester Railers, UMass Lowell. and filled in for a few games at Fitton Field for the Bravehearts last season.
Lartey-Otoo calls the Bravehearts home opener on May 27 when they host the Nashua Silver Knights.
Worcester Non-Profit Awarded $50,000 Grant from Blue Cross
The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation announced its first round of grant recipients through its new Racial Justice in Health program.
The Racial Justice in Health program aims to strengthen the grant partners’ capacity and expertise in health care advocacy, through peer learning and technical assistance. The selected organizations are committed to dismantling institutional and structural racism in health care.
Of the eight programs announced as awardees in the first round of grants, Legendary Legacies, located in Worcester, was selected for a $50,000 grant. Legendary Legacies provides case management, mentoring, skills development, and re-entry services for young men of color, including fathers and previously incarcerated or gang-affiliated individuals.
Big Brother Big Sister Picking Up Donations in Worcester
The Big Brother Big Sister Foundation has a truck scheduled for pickups in the Worcester area on Friday, January 21.
Founded in 1904, Big Brother Big Sisters is the nation’s largest donor- and volunteer-supported mentoring network, Big Brother Big Sister makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), ages 5 through young adulthood in communities across the country.
Foundation pickups accept a range of items, including clothing, certain household items, books and other items. See the full list of acceptable items here.
Schedule a home pickup here.
Gas Prices Down One Cent in Massachusetts This Week
AAA Northeast reports changes in gas prices across the region on a weekly basis. Massachusetts’s average gas price decreased one cent from last week, averaging $3.36 per gallon. That price is three cents lower than a month ago and $1.02 higher than January 17, 2020 ($2.34).
Massachusetts’s average gas price is five cents higher than the national average.
“Prices remain high compared to a year ago, but the relative stability in recent weeks is some measure of good news for motorists,” says Mary Maguire, Director of Public/Government Affairs.
AAA Northeast’s January 17 survey of fuel prices found the current national average to be one cent higher than last week ($3.30), averaging $3.31 a gallon. Today’s national average price is unchanged from a month ago ($3.30) and 93 cents higher than this day last year ($2.38).
Comparison to neighboring states, according to AAA Northeast:
