WORCESTER—From the council chamber to backyard chickens, Worcester’s headlines this week packed both heat and heart. Here’s what you might’ve missed in the Worcester Guardian this past week:
City Council demands clarity on Mill Street safety, spending
After years of resident complaints, councilors grilled city officials on the long-delayed Mill Street redesign and rising costs.
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Worcester ranks in Top 10 U.S. cities for people with disabilities
The city earned high marks for access, healthcare, and economic opportunity, according to a new WalletHub report.
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Author digs up 400 years of family history — and unearths a legacy
With roots in both enslavement and freedom, Dr. Norwell Gourdine’s family tree reveals generations of Black American resilience.
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Worcester awards $44M in first round of CPA funding
From affordable housing to open space, projects across the city scored big in the initial distribution of Community Preservation Act funds.
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Fuller Park reopens with community upgrades, splash pad
The city unveiled a reimagined park with new amenities — and a crowd-pleasing splash pad to beat the heat.
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New spray park splashes down at University Park
Another neighborhood scores relief from the heat with a city-funded water feature and fresh landscaping.
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That’s no curveball: Maybelle Blair still stealing the show at 98
“A League of Their Own” trailblazer hit Worcester this week, and her stories were as sharp as her swing.
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Backyard chickens could soon be legal in Worcester
After years of debate, city officials are inching toward approving a new ordinance that would let residents keep hens at home.
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Worcester civic activist Bill Coleman dies
A longtime community voice and former city council candidate, Coleman left his mark on decades of local advocacy.
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Kate Toomey seeks 11th term on Worcester City Council
The veteran councilor says there’s more work to do — and she’s not backing down from the big debates.
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Worcester Airport fueling up with renewable diesel
Massport aims for cleaner air travel with a new biofuel blend powering airport operations.
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Worcester Police Department to host another Civilian Academy
Applications are now open for this fall’s citizen-policing course aimed at building community engagement.
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African Festival returns with celebration and resilience
Despite setbacks, this year’s African Cultural Festival is still bringing music, dance, and food to Worcester Common.
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Councilor Etel Haxhiaj arraigned after ICE-related incident
The Worcester city councilor pleaded not guilty (and was unapologetic) to charges stemming from a May 8 confrontation involving ICE and local police on Eureka Street.
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Local leaders take the plunge for youth and families
State Senators Michael Moore and Robyn Kennedy joined nonprofit directors and community advocates in a tandem skydive to raise awareness and funding for CASA Project Worcester County and Legendary Legacies. The second annual “Sky’s the Limit” campaign highlighted services for youth in the court system and young men impacted by incarceration.
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City looks to ease red tape for events after longtime, local event folds
After the surprise shutdown (this past fall) of a beloved annual Worcester event, officials are rethinking how the city supports public events.
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EcoTarium turns 200 with citywide birthday celebration
The beloved science and nature museum is marking its bicentennial with a summer full of festivities.
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Have news, tips, or a story worth telling? Reach Editor Charlene Arsenault at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org—because good stories (and great scoops) deserve to be shared.
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