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, May 18 – Worcester Department of Public Works and Parks names its employee of the year, Austin Liquors will host food trucks and beer tastings, Startup Worcester is now accepting applications, Fitchburg Police issue a traffic advisory, and travel this Memorial Day expected to rise over 8% compared to 2021.
The 2nd Annual Worcester DPW Employee of the Year
City Manager Edward Augustus, Department of Public Works and Parks (DPW)Commissioner Jay Fink, and Mayor Joseph Petty presented the 2022 Paul J. Moosey Department of Public Works & Parks Employee of the Year Award too Mark Clemente at a ceremony at City Hall on Monday, May 16.
The award is named after former DPW Commissioner Paul Moosey, who died in 2020. Cindi Moosey, the wife of Paul, was also part of presenting the award on Monday.
Mark Clemente is an employee of the streets and sanitation group at DPW. Fink said Clemente showed his leadership during the course of the pandemic when daily trash totals reached record-high levels, equating to tons of extra trash per crew. At a time when the Sanitation Department was short a Foreman, Clemente stepped up and into a role as “acting foreman” and found creative ways to collect the excess trash, to keep his team moving in the right direction, and to get the job done.
Food Trucks and Beer Tasting in Worcester
Austin Liquors will host food trucks at its 370 Park Avenue location on Friday, May 20, between 5 PM and 8 PM. Along with a variety of foods, Austin Liquors will provide samples of the latest seasonal craft beverages.
Access to the beverage samples requires proper ID and is available to only those 21 years of age and older.
Startup Worcester Now Accepting Applications
StartUp Worcester is now accepting applications for the 2022-2023 cohort.
StartUp Worcester is a joint initiative of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, Venture Forum, and WorcLab, designed to help launch new businesses as well as to provide support and workspace for the region’s entrepreneurs. The program encourages these entrepreneurs to grow their businesses here in Central Mass., where they have access to everything they need to succeed.
Though initially geared toward college-age entrepreneurs, StartUp Worcester now accepts applicants of all ages and from a wide range of backgrounds, talents, and industries.
Previous companies to participate in StartUp Worcester include Petricore, Inc. (’16), which designs app-based games with over 750,000 downloads and contracts with museums, companies, and other institutions; Slydde (’16), which was acquired by NY company Hooch; Solvus Global (’16), which just opened a 32,000 SF manufacturing facility; and HydroGlyde Coatings (’18), which has received over $1.4 million in funding from the government and the Gates Foundation.
Applications for the program can be found online and are due by July 1, 2022. There is no charge to apply or to participate if selected as a winner.
Fitchburg Traffic Advisory
The Fitchburg Police Department issued a traffic advisory for the area of Water Street and Laurel Streets starting on Wednesday, May 18.
Travelers should expect heavy traffic delays in the area between 7 AM and 5 PM during weekdays with the roadway restricted to just one lane.
The advisory is expected to be in effect for the next seven days. During this time, motorists are asked to seek alternate routes and avoid the area whenever possible.
Travel Expected to Increase Over 8% this Summer
AAA predicts 39.2 million travellers of 50 miles or more this Memorial Day weekend, accounting for an 8.3% increase over 2021. This would bring travel volume almost in line with 2017.
Air travel continues to rebound, up 25% over last year, the second-largest increase since 2010. With volumes closing in on pre-pandemic levels, AAA urges travelers to book now and remember flexibility is key this Memorial Day weekend.
Travelers from Massachusetts will make up close to 950,000 of the 39.2 million, with more than 860,000 going by car and 72,000 by air, both numbers more than last year and approaching pre-pandemic levels.
The highest level of travel is expected to occur on Thursday afternoon, May 26, from around 2:30 PM along I-190 and I95.
Tips for Travelling this Memorial Day
AAA recommends travellers book travel plans now if you haven’t already – the earlier the better to lock in the best rate and any discounts for pre-paying in full. Flights, car rentals, accommodations, tours, cruises and other activities are in high demand and availability is filling up. Prices are already skewing higher and with greater demand, finding last-minute deals is unlikely.
- Air — AAA finds that the average lowest airfare is 6% more than last year coming in at $184/ticket with Saturday being the most expensive day to fly and Monday the least.
- Hotels — Mid-range hotel rates have increased about 42%, with the average lowest nightly rates ranging between approximately $199 – $257/night for AAA Approved Hotels.
- Car Rentals — Daily car rental rates have decreased 16% compared to last year, with the average lowest rate coming in at $100/day.
Remember, flexibility is important when considering Memorial Day travel plans – look to travel on off-peak times or days, pick a hidden gem closer to home or opt to stay at an all-inclusive resort with plenty of on-site activities. This limits the need for a rental car and paying a la carte for entertainment and dining. Based on AAA booking data, Thursday is shaping up to be the busiest day for air travel during the Memorial Day travel period (May 26 – May 30) with Monday being the lightest.
Remember Your Travel Essentials
At the start of planning any trip, AAA reminds travelers not to forget the essentials – working with a travel agent and investigating travel insurance. A travel agent is an industry expert with many resources at their disposal to help plan and organize a trip that fits your individual needs and budget. They can easily look at a variety of options and scenarios to find savings not always available to the public. Plus if something goes wrong, your travel agent becomes your advocate – handling the logistics of changing or re-booking reservations.
AAA also highly recommends travel insurance to cover unexpected delays or trip interruptions. Travel insurance provides a safety net should something unexpected happen ahead of or during your trip. Travel agents can also advise on what travel insurance policy makes the most sense. They know you, your trip, your budget and your specific needs.
