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, Feb. 19 — there’s a free and fascinating movie matinee at the Worcester Public Library, there’s a new art exhibit coming in which you can touch everything, take a fair housing survey to help out the city, Rutland selectman calls community to fight closing of access to land and a WPI professor is working on green energy research.
Fighting to Block the Block of the Roads to the Rutland Prison Camp
Among pending proposals stemming from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation are ones that would restrict public access to 100 miles of roads in the Ware River watershed, including roads leading to the public land that was once the site of prison camp in Rutland. The proposal would close vehicle traffic from January to September.
The area around the old Prison Camp, which closed in 1934, has long been popular for biking, hunting, hiking and dirt bike riding. Leading the charge against the proposal is Jeffrey A. Stillings, a Rutland selectman and member of the Rutland Sportsman’s Club. Stillings is hosting an event/call-out to those concerned to attend the 7 PM public meeting on Thursday, Feb. 20, of the Ware River Watershed Advisory Committee at the Rutland Library.
Stillings said the meeting is an immediate call to action, asking the community to appear as a “message that we do not want the state to limit access to our public lands in Rutland and the prison camps. “This is an achievable goal,” he wrote. “However, it entirely depends on you and yours committing some time to attend this meeting with the DCR at the Library. This meeting is for anyone concerned, not just Rutland residents.”
A Movie Matinee: Through a Lens Darkly
Inspired by the book “Reflections in Black” by photo historian Deborah Wilis, this documentary features the hidden and unknown photos shot by African American photographers about the lives, experiences and perspectives of African American that are absent from the traditional historical canon. Take in this movie, for free, on Friday, Feb. 21, at 2 p.m. at the Worcester Public Library.
You Can Look, And You Can Touch
Presented by ArtsWorcester, the Audio Journal and the Worcester Talking Book Library, the tactile exhibit “Come Touch the Art!” opens with a reception on Thursday, Feb. 20, from noon to 2 PM at ArtsWorcester, 44 Portland St., Worcester.
This exhibition invites visitors to go beyond looking at artwork and use their senses of touch, smell, and hearing to experience each piece. Refreshments and sighted guides are available. This event is particularly great for visually-impaired people. Attendees may meet at the Worcester Public Library at 3 Salem Square and leave as a group at 11:45 AM, as an option.
Exhibition gallery hours are open and free to all: Tuesday through Thursday from noon to 5 PM, Friday and Saturday from noon to 7 PM. The exhibit runs through March 7.
How Fair is the Housing for Worcester Residents: Survey
The city of Worcester is updating its Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing (AI) and is seeking public feedback from residents. That means you.
The Consolidated Plan is the five-year plan Worcester must submit to the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development as part of its receipt of federal funds for housing and community development. The AI is completed as a part of this process to ensure that Worcester affirmatively furthers fair housing practices and take the necessary actions to overcome the effects of any impediments identified. Take a few minutes to complete a confidential survey on fair housing in Worcester.
WPI Professor Expands Green Energy Research with $2M DOE Grant
Chemical engineers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are broadening attempts to convert waste into environmentally friendly biofuels, lowering reliance on fossil fuels, cutting the amount of municipal waste going into landfills, and reducing water pollution and unhealthy emissions from petroleum products and landfills, according to a recent announcement.
Michael Timko, associate professor of chemical engineering, has been developing ways to significantly improve the yield of biofuel that can be created from food waste. Now, with a $1,995,199 three-year grant from the Department of Energy (DOE) and $275,000 from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, he is expanding his earlier research to mix food waste with municipal green waste, such as yard trimmings, leaves, and sticks.
By combining the two kinds of waste, he’s aiming to create even more energy-dense oil that can be upgraded to a liquid biofuel. Timko is teaming up on the project with Andrew Teixeira, assistant professor of chemical engineering, and Geoffrey Tompsett, assistant research professor of chemical engineering.
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