Worcester voters reject cannabis repeal, back firearms law
Worcester voters overwhelmingly rejected Question 8, which sought to end recreational marijuana sales in Massachusetts, with 75.1% voting against the proposal in Tuesday’s election. Complete unofficial results from all 62 city precincts also showed 69.5% support for retaining the state’s 2024 firearms law and nearly 85% support for expanding public records requirements to include most records held by the Legislature and governor’s office. Democratic incumbent Paul DePalo led Republican Margaret Abboud by a wide margin in Worcester’s portion of the Governor’s Council race, while Gov. Maura Healey and U.S. Sen. Edward Markey won reelection statewide. Read more
Hurricane Betty’s loses licenses after deadly shooting
Worcester’s License Commission voted unanimously Thursday to revoke Hurricane Betty’s liquor and entertainment licenses, effectively closing the Southbridge Street strip club following an Oct. 11 shooting that killed Steven Joseph and wounded another man. Joseph’s girlfriend, Nisha Berry, pleaded for the closure, describing how their 4-year-old son struggles to understand his father’s death. Police detailed numerous violations, including operating beyond permitted capacity, serving alcohol after the required cutoff and failures involving security screening and notification of police. Commissioners rejected the club’s proposed reforms and refused to delay the revocations pending an appeal. Read more
Amazon abandons Westborough drone delivery plans
Amazon has withdrawn its proposal to establish a commercial drone delivery hub in Westborough, ending immediate plans for a service that could have brought as many as 1,000 daily package deliveries to portions of Worcester and surrounding communities. The company notified state lawmakers of its decision after weeks of public opposition and scrutiny from local, state and federal officials over noise, privacy, safety and environmental concerns. Amazon requested permission to withdraw its site plan application without prejudice, leaving open the possibility of submitting another proposal in the future. Read more
Former Fallon Health headquarters becomes 220 downtown homes
A former downtown office complex has been transformed into 220 homes, marking what developer Synergy describes as the largest office-to-residential conversion in Massachusetts. Altitude Worcester, at 24 Elm St., contains 198 market-rate apartments in the former Fallon Health headquarters, while an adjacent building at 22 Elm St. now offers 22 income-restricted condominiums. State and city officials celebrated the completed projects Oct. 30, with residents already moving into both properties and the redevelopment providing a new use for one of downtown’s major former office buildings. Read more
Developers propose 323 more apartments across Worcester
Three proposed housing developments could bring another 323 apartments to Worcester, even as a major downtown office conversion celebrates its opening. Plans include 255 apartments at the former supermarket site on Mill Street near Coes Pond, 40 apartments at the former Mercy Centre property near Indian Lake and a 28-unit building on Goldthwaite Road near Lincoln Plaza. The city council’s Economic Development Committee has recommended a zoning change for the Mercy Centre property, while the other proposals are headed through city permitting and review processes. Read more
Worcester nonprofit receives nearly $88,000 to support entrepreneurs
The Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts has been awarded $87,816 through MassDevelopment’s Small Business Technical Assistance Program to expand resources for small businesses and entrepreneurs. The Worcester organization is among 42 recipients sharing $4.6 million statewide, with the program focused particularly on businesses with fewer than 20 employees and owners who face barriers to financing and professional services. Three other organizations serving Central Massachusetts and surrounding communities received grants, bringing the combined regional awards to $449,448. Read more
New mobile clinic brings health care directly to Worcester neighborhoods
UMass Memorial Health and Ronald McDonald House New England unveiled a new 40-foot Ronald McDonald Care Mobile Tuesday at the Green Island Neighborhood Center at Crompton Park. The vehicle replaces a mobile clinic that served the region for 14 years and continues a program providing medical and dental care outside traditional health care settings for more than 25 years. The program currently serves 26 Worcester public and charter schools and 11 community locations, offering primary care, immunizations, preventive dental services and screenings to residents who might otherwise struggle to access care. Read more
National Grid offers help with winter heating bills
National Grid is holding three free Worcester events this month to help residents understand their utility bills and explore financial assistance programs. The sessions coincide with the Nov. 1 launch of a revised income-based discount program offering six levels of assistance to eligible Massachusetts gas and electric customers. Following an initial Nov. 2 event, additional sessions are scheduled for Nov. 9 at the Worcester Community Action Council, 18 Chestnut St., and Nov. 18 at the Worcester Public Library, where company representatives will help customers review their options. Read more
Indian Lake reopens after summer cyanobacteria closure
Worcester officials have lifted recreational restrictions on Indian Lake after water testing showed cyanobacteria levels had fallen below the state’s safety threshold. The lake had been closed following Aug. 4 test results indicating elevated concentrations of the bacteria, sometimes called blue-green algae, which can produce toxins harmful to people and animals. The city continues monitoring recreational waters and advises residents to consult its water-quality information for updates on lake conditions. Read more
State education chief tours Worcester’s bilingual classrooms
Massachusetts Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez visited three Worcester public schools Oct. 30 to observe the district’s expanding dual-language programs and other educational initiatives. Joined by Superintendent Brian Allen, Martinez toured Worcester Dual Language Magnet School, Forest Grove Middle School and Doherty Memorial High School. The visit included classrooms and a bilingual library at Worcester Dual Language Magnet School, where the district has extended dual-language instruction into seventh and eighth grades as part of its efforts to develop students’ proficiency in multiple languages. Read more
Head Start preschoolers will soon grow their own food
Children at a Southbridge Head Start preschool will get six raised garden beds through a partnership between the Worcester Community Action Council and the Regional Environmental Council. Installation is scheduled for Nov. 13 at the center on Cole Avenue, where children ages 3 to 5 will learn to plant, tend and harvest fruits, vegetables and herbs. The gardens will serve as outdoor classrooms incorporating science, math, language development and nutrition, with some of the produce used in classroom activities and additional harvests shared with families. Read more
Community Legal Aid celebrates 75 years of helping residents
Community Legal Aid, founded by Worcester attorneys in 1951, is marking 75 years of providing civil legal assistance to residents who cannot afford representation. The nonprofit, which now serves five counties in Central and Western Massachusetts, handled approximately 9,400 cases last year affecting more than 23,000 low-income and elderly residents. An anniversary celebration is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 12, at the Jean McDonough Arts Center, where attorney J. Robert Seder, the United Way of Central Massachusetts and The Hanover Insurance Group will be honored for their contributions. Read more
Worcester library brings three acclaimed authors together
Bestselling novelists Celeste Ng, Annabel Monaghan and Jennifer Givhan were the featured guests at the Worcester Public Library Foundation’s annual “Celebrate Our Library!” fundraiser Thursday, Nov. 5. The event brought together authors whose work spans literary fiction, romance, folklore and stories informed by cultural identity, with proceeds supporting library resources and services. The evening also included recognition of longtime library supporter Lisa Kirby Gibbs, along with an author discussion, food and a fundraising auction. Read more
Veterans Inc. brings annual 5K back to Polar Park
Runners, walkers and supporters will gather at Polar Park on Sunday, Nov. 8, for Veterans Inc.’s annual Run4Veterans 5K, raising money for programs serving military veterans and their families. The Worcester-based nonprofit provides housing assistance, employment training, behavioral health services, benefits counseling and emergency financial support, reporting that it has assisted more than 130,000 veterans since its founding in 1990. The event welcomes participants of varying abilities, with veterans eligible to register at no cost and opportunities for others to sponsor a veteran. Read more
Worcester’s industrial past finds new life in Grove Village
Late-afternoon sunlight illuminates the historic brick buildings of Grove Village in a photograph by Worcester resident Antonio Pastor, capturing a neighborhood where former industrial spaces have become businesses and housing. Once part of the Washburn & Moen manufacturing complex, the area now includes Fuel America, Grove Village Market and the recently opened Grove Village Lofts. The 46-unit residential development at 90 Grove St. occupies a renovated mill dating to 1863, when the building was used to produce material for hoop skirts. Read more
Texas cyclists discover Worcester’s hills on New England journey
An eight-day bicycle trip from Portland, Maine, to Norwich, Connecticut, brought two Fort Worth residents through Worcester, where the scenery came with a considerable change in elevation. Timothy and Sharon, who chose not to share their last names, entered the city by way of Reservoir Street and the Holden Reservoir while traveling to visit their son in Connecticut. Worcester photographer Antonio Pastor encountered the couple during their ride, capturing the travelers and their loaded bicycles against a backdrop of autumn foliage near the city’s drinking water supply. Read more
Young Worcester jiu-jitsu team wins international tournament division
Young competitors from Soneca BJJ in Worcester captured first place in the Pee Wee team division at the 2026 Boston Fall Kids International Open. The academy earned 48 points, finishing 20 points ahead of the runner-up in a tournament organized by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation. Individual medal performances, including teammates who earned gold and silver in the same girls’ division, helped secure the team championship for the Worcester-area athletes. Read more
North High soccer works toward postseason opportunity
North High’s boys soccer team entered the final stretch of its regular season looking to strengthen its chemistry and secure a place in the MIAA tournament. Coach Andrew Koulisis identified offensive execution and adaptability as priorities ahead of a Monday matchup with North Middlesex Regional, while senior captains Leet Leet and Ricardo Bonilla stressed communication and teamwork. With the tournament field scheduled to be announced Thursday, the Polar Bears were focused on sharpening their play and preparing for the possibility of postseason competition. Read more
Ryan Wheeler adjusts to life on the other side of the rivalry
Defenseman Ryan Wheeler is getting accustomed to wearing a Worcester Railers uniform after spending the previous three seasons with the Adirondack Thunder, one of Worcester’s most familiar opponents. Wheeler, on loan from the Springfield Thunderbirds, recently experienced the unusual feeling of facing his former teammates during back-to-back games, including Worcester’s 3-2 School Day victory Monday. The Railers now prepare to host the Wheeling Nailers at the DCU Center on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. and Sunday at 3:05 p.m., hoping to build momentum and string together consecutive wins. Read more
Railers add AHL experience with goaltender Gabriel Carriere
Goaltender Gabriel Carriere has joined the Worcester Railers on loan from the Hartford Wolf Pack, bringing American Hockey League experience from previous stops with San Jose and Hartford. Carriere played college hockey at Vermont before beginning his professional career and has previously worked with former Worcester Sharks player John McCarthy, now a coach in the San Jose organization. His arrival gives Worcester another goaltender with an AHL contract as the team navigates its early-season schedule and prepares for a stretch of home games. Read more
Punk, country and blues keep Worcester’s music scene moving
Worcester’s live music calendar offers a wide-ranging lineup this weekend, from punk and alternative rock to country, Americana and blues. Friday’s performances include Microwave and Free Throw at the Palladium and Kier Byrnes & The Kettle Burners at Vincent’s, while veteran punk band Flipper headlines a Saturday show at Ralph’s Rock Diner. The weekend also brings performances at venues including The Electric Haze, Off the Rails and the Worcester MCL, giving music fans plenty of opportunities to explore the city’s clubs and concert rooms. Read more
Bruins alumni, teddy bears and live music fill the weekend
Worcester’s weekend calendar includes a Music Worcester concert celebrating America’s 250th anniversary Friday at Mechanics Hall, featuring the Soldiers’ Chorus of the U.S. Army Field Band and regional choral ensembles. Saturday brings a family-friendly Teddy Bear Clinic at UMass Memorial, where children can bring stuffed animals for pretend medical visits, along with a funk and soul performance by We and the Dawg at WCUW’s FrontRoom. The weekend also features a Diwali celebration and a Worcester Railers event involving Boston Bruins alumni, combining sports, music and family activities across the city. Read more
