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 — Thursday, Jan. 23 — a new director of Veterans’ Services has been named for the city, Worcester PopUp explores hip-hop with “Words You Can See,” ArtsWorcester just opened up a new season of exhibition proposals, a fuel fund fueled with a big donation from a local bank, and, do you wanna buy a coffee shop?
Soon-to-Be Former Home of the Stop Cafe is For Sale
There’s a coffee shop for sale at 377 Park Ave. in Worcester, and the price is negotiable. Owners of the Stop Cafe say that their shop with a unique interior design is a business experience a lot of growth, and that the buy is a turnkey investment. “Everything is all set to go,” said the announcement. “All you need are the keys for the shop.”
Owners added that Stop Cafe is selling the shop in order to move to a bigger location in Worcester, to be announced. Call 508-579-0808 should you be interested.
PopUp in Worcester Explores Hip-Hop with “Words You Can See”
Lots of people dig Hip-Hop, but don’t really understand what’s behind it; how it’s put together. Here’s a really good chance to do so with “Words You Can See: Vol. 2.”
DOS of 4 Elements Worcester is putting on a a series of Hip-Hop music videos by a contingent of talented Hip-Hop artists from Worcester and surrounding areas, screened on a projector. The artist include: Ghost of the Machine; DannyFantom Velazquez; The Hashassins; Elijah Divine; Kaz SN; Paulii ROTX; Mastermind Alliance; Sleepquil Sleepquil; and Kaynen Marrero
Each video has an introduction by the artist breaking down the lyrics and conception of the song and video, educating attendees to some of the legwork that goes into creating their art.
This Worcester PopUp takes place at 20 Franklin St. on Friday, Jan. 31, from 6:30-8 PM.
Alex Arriaga Named Director of Veterans’ Services
A native of the Dominican Republic and Purple Heart recipient has been named Director of Veterans’ Services within the Department of Health & Human Services, and started on Jan. 21, according to City Manager Edward Augustus, Jr.
Alex Arriaga came to the United States when he was 14. He previously served as a combat engineer in the Army National Guard from 2001 to 2007, including a deployment to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2005 to 2006. Near the end of his deployment in Iraq, he suffered a head injury when hit with shrapnel from a nearby missile explosion while working at a detainee compound. He later received the Purple Heart, a U.S. military honor awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving.
Arriaga comes to the city after serving as Employment and Training Manager for Veterans Inc. of Worcester where he oversaw all employment and training programs across New England along with the outreach program in Massachusetts.
ArtsWorcester Opens Up Its 2020 Call for Exhibition Proposals
ArtsWorcester just opened up the gates on proposals for solo, group and member-curated shows for its 2020-2021 gallery season and corporate art program. A panel of seven volunteers, all of whom have extensive experience as curators, educators collectors and/or artists, evaluates all the submissions to come up with the best picks. The chosen exhibitions are show in the Printers Building gallery. In addition to a solo exhibition, the Present Tense Prize winner receives an award of $1,000.
The deadline is March 31.
Propose a solo or group exhibition, and read more about the parameters, here.
UniBank Hands Over a Check to the WCAC Fuel Fund
As the Central Massachusetts region faces a ongoing, bitter blast of winter cold, Worcester Community Action Council, was pleased to accept a $20,000 dollar donation from UniBank to support the agency’s Emergency Fuel Fund.
“It is during these cold winter months that those in need among us suffer the most,” said Michael W. Welch, UniBank CEO. “We are honored to be able to partner with the Worcester Community Action Council to provide support to the LIHEAP program benefiting the most vulnerable members of our community.”
WCAC has already certified 7,000 fuel assistance applications this season. Last winter nearly 12,000 households were served through WCAC’s home heating assistance program, including more than 2,400 emergency fuel deliveries and utility payments.
The Low Income Home Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is open Nov. 1 to April 30 each year.
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