Rodeo restrictions pit animal welfare concerns against economic impact
A proposed Worcester ordinance would prohibit flank straps, electric prods, certain spurs and other equipment or practices considered harmful to animals during rodeos on municipal property, with fines of up to $300 per violation. City Manager Eric Batista has warned that the restrictions could effectively end professional bull riding events at the DCU Center, costing the city visitors and business for hotels and restaurants. Animal advocates dispute that assessment, arguing that rodeos can continue without the equipment and that events held in publicly owned facilities should meet enforceable animal welfare standards. Read more
Worcester opens $7.4 million funding opportunity for community projects
Worcester is accepting applications for more than $7.4 million in Community Preservation Act funding for projects involving historic preservation, recreational spaces, open land and community housing. Public agencies, nonprofits, businesses and individuals may be eligible to apply, provided their proposals meet state requirements and offer a public benefit. The funding round comes after Preservation Worcester identified several endangered historic properties, although inclusion on that list does not guarantee eligibility; initial applications are due Dec. 2. Read more
Three arrested after reported chase near Worcester-Paxton line
Worcester police arrested three people Wednesday morning following reports of a vehicle chase and possible gunfire near 1128 Pleasant St., close to the Paxton town line. Officers located two vehicles connected to the incident, one with a shattered rear windshield and broken passenger-side windows, but found no firearm or shell casings in the reported area. Carla Michelle Lopez-Reyes, 44, Roberto Carlos Crespo, 40, and Raquel Lozada-Vega, 46, face assault with a dangerous weapon and property destruction charges; Lozada-Vega also faces a drug possession charge, and no injuries were reported. Read more
School committee sends classroom screen-time debate for further review
Worcester’s School Committee voted Thursday to refer a parent-backed petition seeking fewer internet-connected devices in early elementary classrooms to its Standing Committee on Teaching, Learning and Student Success. Parents questioned the district’s response to their concerns, while committee members debated the balance between digital tools and traditional instruction. District figures show students average 28.5 minutes of device use daily in kindergarten, 32 minutes in first grade and 39 minutes in second grade; the referral leaves the petition unresolved while further discussions continue. Read more
Vacant Main South factory slated for 58 apartments
A century-old industrial building at 98 Beacon St. will be converted into 58 market-rate studio and one-bedroom apartments through a redevelopment backed by MassDevelopment financing. The agency provided a $1.8 million bridge loan to Beacon Street Lofts LLC, an affiliate of Bluestone Residential, which is partnering with Civico Development on the project. Construction is underway, with completion expected within two years, and financing also includes a $7.5 million mortgage from Clinton Savings Bank and $2.55 million in state historic rehabilitation tax credits. Read more
Parents organize to reduce technology use in early grades
A Worcester parent group has collected approximately 550 signatures supporting a proposal to remove individually assigned, internet-connected devices from preschool through second-grade classrooms. Worcester for Safe Student Technology held a Nov. 4 forum at the Worcester Public Library, where families discussed concerns involving screen time, artificial intelligence, student privacy and the effects of digital instruction on young children. The group wants greater parental involvement in technology decisions while preserving access to assistive devices and other necessary educational tools. Read more
School technology spending and student screen time face scrutiny
Ahead of Thursday’s School Committee meeting, Worcester school officials prepared reports on classroom technology use, artificial intelligence, student data privacy and a proposed lease to replace 6,000 student Chromebooks and 1,000 staff MacBook Airs. The administration reported that recreational screen time is prohibited during instruction and that younger students cannot use screen-based technology during lunch or recess. The meeting agenda also included a student petition seeking repairs to Sullivan Middle School bathrooms, enrollment trends and updates on school boundary realignment, with a community forum scheduled for Nov. 16 at South High Community School. Read more
Fallon Health grants support food security and family services
Worcester-based CASA Project Worcester County and Rachel’s Table are among 11 Massachusetts nonprofits receiving a combined $125,000 in Community Impact Grants from Fallon Health. The grants support organizations addressing food insecurity, services for older adults and the health and well-being of children and families. CASA Project advocates for children in foster care, while Rachel’s Table works to reduce hunger and food waste, placing two Worcester organizations among the statewide recipients. Read more
Worcester nonprofit receives nearly $88,000 to help entrepreneurs
The Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts has received an $87,816 state grant to expand technical assistance for small businesses and entrepreneurs. The Worcester organization is among 42 recipients sharing $4.6 million through MassDevelopment’s Small Business Technical Assistance Program, which helps business owners obtain advising, training and access to financing. The funding is intended to support entrepreneurs who may face barriers to starting or growing businesses, including members of immigrant and refugee communities. Read more
Worcester marks Veterans Day with tributes and community events
Worcester’s 73rd annual Veterans Day observance was scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 11, with a free pancake breakfast at Veterans Inc., a parade and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Massachusetts Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Green Hill Park. The observance also highlighted the year-round challenges facing veterans, including housing insecurity, financial hardship and social isolation. Among those sharing their experiences was 70-year-old Army veteran Paul Arcouette of Spencer, who received housing assistance through Veterans Inc. after losing his permanent home. Read more
Hurricane Betty’s stripped of licenses following fatal shooting
Worcester’s License Commission voted unanimously Nov. 5 to revoke Hurricane Betty’s liquor and entertainment licenses after an October shooting outside the Southbridge Street strip club killed Steven Joseph and wounded another man. Joseph’s family pleaded for the closure, describing the devastation his death has caused, particularly for his young son. Police detailed numerous licensing and security violations, and commissioners rejected the club’s proposed corrective measures, moving to revoke its licenses without delaying the decision for an anticipated appeal. Read more
Assumption adds sport marketing major for fall 2027
Assumption University will introduce a sport marketing major in fall 2027, combining business education with specialized coursework and professional experience in the sports industry. The program will be housed in the Grenon School of Business and draw on the university’s relationships with the Worcester Red Sox, Worcester Railers and other sports organizations. Students will study subjects including marketing research, sport consumer behavior, event promotion and sports data analysis, building on Assumption’s existing sports management minor and its recently announced Larry Lucchino Institute for the Study of Sports. Read more
QCC basketball champions reunite 20 years after historic season
Members of Quinsigamond Community College’s record-setting 2006-07 men’s basketball team returned to campus Nov. 7 for induction into the college’s inaugural Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame. Led by coach Jon Winer and standout Maurice “Mo” Horton, the Chiefs went 28-7, won the NJCAA Division III District 8 and Region 21 championship and reached the national tournament for the first time in school history. The reunion celebrated both the team’s accomplishments and the lasting relationships formed during a season that changed the direction of several players’ lives. Read more
Assumption men’s soccer rebounds from two-win season
Assumption University’s men’s soccer team completed a turnaround in 2026, finishing 7-7-3 overall and earning the No. 6 seed in the Northeast-10 Conference tournament after winning just two games the previous season. Senior captain Jorgo Karamelo, a Worcester native and St. John’s High graduate, returned healthy after missing much of the 2025 campaign and helped rebuild the team’s confidence. The Greyhounds’ five-win improvement reflected a renewed focus on accountability, leadership and a stronger sense of unity within the program. Read more
Rainy downtown scene captures Denholm’s uncertain future
A pedestrian sheltering beneath an umbrella outside the historic Denholm Building is the subject of a photograph by Worcester resident Antonio Pastor, part of the Guardian’s This Is Worcester series. Located at 484-500 Main St., the building once housed Denholm & McKay, a department store that opened in 1870 and became a major downtown shopping destination before closing in 1973. Later converted into office and commercial space, the aging structure is now awaiting redevelopment, with state funding recently awarded toward its demolition. Read more
Colorful Chandler Street mural brings imagination to school walls
A vivid mural on the exterior of Worcester Dual Language Magnet School at 525 Chandler St. takes center stage in another installment of This Is Worcester, photographed by Antonio Pastor. The artwork features a mechanical-looking horse, a masked figure and other fantastical characters against a bright yellow background. The school provides bilingual instruction, and its colorful exterior offers another example of public art woven into Worcester’s everyday streetscape. Read more
Friday the 13th brings drag, rock and retro dancing
Worcester’s weekend entertainment lineup includes a horror-themed drag show at Electric Haze on Friday, Nov. 13, and a Saturday concert by alternative rock band The Maine at The Palladium. The “Turn It Down” All-Stars will perform an acoustic Pink Floyd tribute for charity, while the Worcester Lodge of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America hosts a 1950s sock hop Friday at the Italian American Victory Athletic Club in Shrewsbury. The Museum of Worcester also marks Notre Dame Academy’s 75th anniversary, offering a mix of music, nostalgia and local history. Read more
