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Worcester Fire Dept. to Honor Worcester Six on 26th Anniversary

The Worcester Fire Department will honor the six firefighters who lost their lives in the five-alarm Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse fire 26 years ago on Dec. 3, 1999. The six firefighters are Thomas Spencer, James Lyons, Paul Brotherton, Timothy Jackson, Jeremiah Lucey and Joseph McGuirk.

The fire department will host the ceremony at the Franklin Street Fire Station, at 266 Franklin St., at 6 PM on Dec. 3. The ceremony will be brief and include a moment of silence and the placing of a wreath.

The Franklin Street Fire Station sits in the same location as the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co, building at the time of the fire.

On Dec. 3, 1999, a homeless man and woman squatting in the then 93-year-old building accidentally knocked over a candle, starting the fire. The two individuals left the scene and did not report the fire. The building had no fire detection or suppression systems and no windows above the ground floor.

A person who owned a business near the building told a police officer about the two who had been squatting there. Firefighters began a search of the building for them.

While inside the building, which had no secondary escape route, the situation quickly became dangerous. When the interior floors of the building collapsed, six firefighters remained unaccounted for.

In 1999, for the 20th anniversary of the fire, Worcester native Dennis Leary produced a documentary about the experiences of firefighters that day and the six who lost their lives. See the full production below.

The Worcester Fire Department will host two similar events for other fallen firefighters.

  • 6PM on Dec. 8, at the Franking Street Fire Station, at  266 Franklin St., on the anniversary of the death of Firefighter Jon Davies Sr. in a fire in 2011 on Arlington Street.
  • 6 PM on Dec. 9, at the Webster Square Fire Station, at 40 Webster St., on the anniversary of the death of Firefighter Christopher Roy in a fire in 2018 on Lowell Street.

 

Image Credit: Auburnmassfire/ Facebook

 

Worcester Pizza Shop Offers Price Paid in Movie 35 Years Ago

WORCESTER – Thirty-five years after the comedy film “Home Alone” was released in November 1990, Kelley Square Pizza offers the same price for a large cheese pizza throughout December. When placing your order, use the code word “Home Alone” to receive the discount.

When Kevin McCallister’s family mistakenly left him home alone when they left to travel for Christmas, he defended the family’s Chicago home against a pair of robbers.

Before the robbers (Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern) began their attempts to infiltrate the home, McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) ordered a large cheese pizza for $11.80.

A large cheese pizza at Kelly Square Pizza typically sells for $14.95, according to its website menu.

“Home Alone,” now considered a comedy classic, won multiple awards and nominations for Best Motion Picture and Best Actor in a Motion Picture for Caulkin in the Musical or Comedy category. The song “Somewhere in My Memory,” written for the film, received Academy and Grammy Awards nominations.

The film generated over $290 million at the box office between its release on Nov. 16, 1990, and the end of that year.

The film also received several representations in other media, including in the video’s introduction for the second single, “Gin and Juice,” from Snoop Dogg’s debut album in 1993, “Doggystyle.”

Image Credit: “home alone” by s_herman, CC BY 2.0

New Mass. Proposed Graduation Requirements Include Testing Opposed by Voters

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Executive Office of Education released a new statewide high school graduation standards framework on Monday, Dec. 1, to replace MCAS testing. Voters approved Question 2 in 2024, with nearly 60 percent voting to end the requirement to pass the MCAS test for graduation.

The Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) says the recommendations made by the K-12 Statewide Graduation Council appointed by Governor Healey makes “new state standardized tests a central component of the new graduation requirements,” despite voters rejecting the MCAS standardized testing.

The MTA says that while it has representation on the council, the council did not vote on the recommendations. It says, “these are the recommendations of the secretary and commissioner, speaking on behalf of the Healey administration.”

The Healey Administration says the framework “would set nation-leading expectations for every school and prepare all students for success after graduation.” It also says that the comprehensive framework surpasses all other American states in setting high standards for education without relying on high-stakes testing.

Seven Core Elements

The framework has seven core elements:

Strong Starts

  • Students complete a set of coursework that aligns with admissions requirements for higher education.

Proven Skills

  • To show that students have mastered the course content, students complete a limited number of end-of-course (EOC) assessments and a capstone or portfolio.
    • These assessments are different from high stakes testing because students do not have to pass an EOC to graduate. EOCs will be a more targeted and relevant approach to assessment than our current high school MCAS.
    • Capstones are cumulative projects and usually include research, a written assignment, and a final presentation.
    • Portfolios are a collection of students’ best work that demonstrates mastery in one content area or across content areas.

Bright Futures

  • Students make their own plan for college or career, complete the FAFSA or MASFA, learn financial literacy, and earn seals of distinction.
    • Massachusetts currently awards the State Seal of Biliteracy to students who attain high functional and academic levels of proficiency in English and a world language in recognition of having studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation.

Teacher’s Union Response

The MTA says it does not endorse the framework presented by the administration and that it will “vigorously fight any attempt to reinstitute statewide standardized tests as a graduation requirement.”

Describing the opportunity as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity for stakeholders to come together and remake the high school experience for our students,” the MTA says participants in public forums on setting new standards overwhelmingly supported the end of excessive testing. It also says that many embraced innovative and modern alternatives adopted by other states with high standards. These programs include “having students complete capstone projects or compile work portfolios as ways to demonstrate mastery of material and the ability to think critically.”

The MTA also urged state education officials not to file legislation related to graduation requirements and “instead take the time needed to dig deeply into the innovative ideas that have been discussed and make Massachusetts a national leader in revitalizing high schools.” It also urged Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler and Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Pedro Martinez to withdraw the proposed end-of-course exams from their final report.

Instead, the MTA wants the council to refocus on “developing those elements in their report that have real merit, including a strong course of study available to all districts, with multiple pathways to a diploma, and strategies of teaching and assessment that are anchored in authentic learning and critical thinking.”

Winter Storm Expected to Bring 3 to 5 Inches, Parking Ban Announced

WORCESTER – A declared winter parking ban in goes into effect at 11 PM on Monday, Dec. 1. Worcester Public Schools announced the cancellation of classes on Tuesday, Dec. 2.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a winter weather advisory and predicts three to five inches of snow. The winter weather advisory goes into effect at 7 AM on Tuesday, Dec. 2 and runs through7 AM on Wednesday, Dec. 3.

The NWS says that commuters should plan for slippery road conditions throughout the advisory. Hazardous conditions could affect both the morning and evening commutes on Tuesday.

Because of the forecasted weather, leaf collection will pause on Tuesday. The latest leaf collection route updates are available from the city’s website.

The residential recycling drop-off site located at 1065 Millbury St. will be closed Wednesday.

During the Declared Winter Parking Ban, parking is prohibited on either side of main arteries, emergency and bus routes, and streets in the downtown area critical to the flow of traffic. On all other streets, parking is only permitted on the odd numbered side of the street, unless otherwise posted. Find the specific restrictions on your street at the City of Worcester website.

Municipal parking garages are free of charge to any vehicle that enters after 5 PM on Monday until the Declared Winter Parking Ban is lifted.

The following garages are included:

Federal Plaza Garage – 570 Main St.
Pearl & Elm Garage – 20 Pearl St.
Worcester Common Garage – 3 Eaton Place
Union Station Garage – 225 Franklin St.
Major Taylor Blvd Garage – 30 Major Taylor Blvd.

Towing and ticketing will be enforced to keep streets clear.

For questions, residents should contact Worcester 311 by dialing 3-1-1, emailing 311@worcesterma.gov, or visiting worcesterma.gov/311.

See the Neighborhood Meetings This Week in Worcester

WORCESTER – The Worcester Police Department is encouraging residents to attend their neighborhood watch meetings to stay up-to-date on what’s happening in their neighborhoods and to share any concerns or questions they may have. Representatives from the city also regularly attend these neighborhood meetings.

There are over 50 Neighborhood Watch Groups in Worcester. Meetings are held regularly — often once a month in various locations in the city.

Contact the Worcester Police Department’s Neighborhood Response Team at (508) 799-8664 for more information.

Here are the neighborhood meetings this week in Worcester.

Wednesday, Dec. 3

  • Seabury Heights Apartments Neighborhood Meeting, Seabury Heights Apartments, 240 Belmont St. – 4 PM

Thursday, Dec. 4 

  • Lincoln Village Neighborhood Meeting, Victoria Building, 116 Country Club Blvd. – 4 PM
  • Webster Square Neighborhood Meeting, Our Lady of Angels Church, 1222 Main St. – 7 PM

 

Old Grumbly Fan’s Week 13 Patriots Preview vs. the Giants

Well that was a nail-biter! The Pats got out of Cincinnati by the skin of a Bengal’s teeth, 26-20. They did not escape unscathed, with injuries to left tackle Will Campbell, left guard Jared Wilson, special teams ace Brenden Schooler and defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga.

Campbell was placed on the IR with an MCL strain, and looks to return in 4-6 weeks. Wilson has a high ankle sprain, and may miss just the Giants game with the bye week on the horizon. Schooler also has an ankle issue, and Tonga has an unspecified chest injury. At this point in the season, every team is hurting.

Cincinnati almost beat the Pats with Joe Flacco as their QB. Joe Burro stepped back in on Thanksgiving and the Bengals beat the reeling Ravens. Pats leaving with a win, and still undefeated on the road, is a good thing.

Coach Vrabel has instilled the team with a winning culture. Yes, the schedule is what it is, and there are still major tests to come, but this team is winning when they do not play their best, and that is the sign of a good team. Advanced analytics can’t measure those things.

Drake Maye had a career high of 294 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. The pick was a pick six, and you have to see that play. In the end, it was a bad throw. Joe Flacco had a worse one later on, but a pick six is a pick six.

Josh McDaniels had a good game. The tight ends were featured against Cincinnati’s struggling linebackers, and Hunter Henry dominated. The backs had a good game despite not having a lot of explosive plays. They had a grind it out game on the ground, and it worked.

The team still needs more at wide receiver. Keyshon Boutte had his first game back. Hopefullyhe ramps up quickly. they need those downfield plays again soon.

All of that said, the big weakness of no short yard game showed up ugly in this game. The team needs to find out how to run between the tackles when all the big boys are in the game.

The defense bent but didn’t break on that last drive, although the Pats got two non-calls in their favor on the last set of downs. Two clear holds/interference, but the refs let them play. Both could easily have gone the other way. Flacco showed his deep experience here but in the second quarter threw one of the worst picks you will ever see, which Marcus Jones took immediately to the house. This was a game-reset play, and the rest of the game tilted to New England.

The Pats still need to generate a more consistent pass rush. Flacco stood in there for most of the game and just threw at the last second on those last two drives. More pass rush when it counts.

Stefon Diggs had his quietest game of the year with only 2 for 20 on 3 targets. He was not a big part of the game plan, it seemed, with the heavy focus on the tight ends, and Maye just not playing a great first half. I expect a bounce-back against a weak Giants secondary.

Old Grumbly Fan Predictions

The Patriots are 10-2 with the best record in football, and the number one seed if the playoffs started today. They do not start today, so they have work to do.

The team gets an extra day before playing the 2-10 Giants on Monday night, followed by their much-needed bye week. With all the injuries, it’s a perfect time for a mental reset this late in the season.

Injuries have devastated the Giants. As usual, the New York sports media have run them through the mill. Everything is a scandal over there, and the team doesn’t even play in NYC.

The Giants are bad on defense, and in particular against the run. That is convenient for the Patriots, who lost two of the linemen for this week in Campbell and Wilson. I expect there will be a heavy dose of run to get the Giants pass rushers back a bit, and then I think you will see Maye let it fly. He is great off play action this year, so look for that.

Rookie QB Jackson Dart is playing for the Giants, but I just don’t see them with the weapons they need to take down this team this week. The Pats roll into the bye with a 10-game win streak, and then the real season starts after the bye.

Pats 31 – Giants 13

Cyber Attack Brings Down AlertWorcester, Notifications Across the US

WORCESTER – The City of Worcester announced that its automated emergency notification system, AlertWorcester, is unavailable.

The third-party system CodeRED by Crisis24, formerly OnSolve CodeRED, experienced a cyberattack. Crisis24 says the attack forced the company to decommission the legacy CodeRED environment, disrupting usage by organizations across the country. The company is rebuilding its system on new infrastructure from the ground up.

That system will use data backups from March 31, 2025, so some user accounts will not be present.

The attack not only damaged the company’s system, but also successfully stole data from the platform. According to bleepingcomputer.com, the data stolen includes names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, and passwords used for CodeRED user profiles.

Those who used the same password for AlertWorcester as other products should change those passwords.

According to Infosecurity Magazine, the company says there is no indications that the stolen information appears online at this time.

INCRansom, a hacker group that uses ransomware attacks, claimed responsibility for the breach. Ransome negotiations between the group and the company failed.

Infosecurity Magazine also reports that the group has begun selling samples of what it claims is stolen data.

Champion Worcester Cowboys Hold Fundraiser for Nationals Nov. 30th

The Worcester Cowboys 12U Team won the New England Regional Division 2 Championship, capping off a 12-0 season with a 26-6 performance against the Dorchester Eagles, a Boston-area powerhouse.

Both teams came prepared for the cold in New London, CT, and played tough defense in the first half. At the break, the score was 6-6.

After halftime, coach Todd Sivert’s team came out fired up on offense and defense. QB Ben Sivert led the team with 2 touchdown passes, including one to star receiver Christian Montique. Montique also had a momentum-shifting interception for a touchdown. Like many of the players, he plays in all facets of the game.

Izel Suarez had another interception and continues his stalwart defensive season.

As the game wore on, the offensive line led to large lanes for the quarterback and running backs to keep the pace and momentum on the side of the Cowboys. The Cowboys’ power game won in the end.

The team now moves on to represent New England as the Division 2 Champions, and travel to Naples, Florida, from Dec. 7 to Dec. 13th.

Team administrator Valerie Casagranda told This Week in Worcester that the team is currently holding a fundraiser to help support their trip to Nationals. Community members can attend the send-off event at 2 Chef’s, located at 317 West Boylston St. in Worcester, this Sunday, Nov. 30th at 2 PM. Attendees can make donations, take part in raffles, and show their support for the team as they prepare to represent New England on the national stage.

For those unable to attend in person, donations can also be made online through the team’s Snap Campaign.

Old Grumbly Fan’s Week 12 Patriots Preview vs. the Bengals

In Week 11, the Patriots rolled over and outclassed the Jets. It was not as close as the final score of 27-14.

Coach Vrabel has the team beating everyone the are supposed to. At 9-2, they share the best record in football with the Broncos who hold the one seed with a conference tiebreaker. The culture of losing football that had snuck in the last two years has been ceremoniously dismissed and sent on its way. Whether that leads to playoff success remains to be seen.

Drake Maye had a ho-hum 281 and a touchdown. The best sign was allowing only a single sack. Hopefully, the coaches are working with him on running into rushes, and getting the young offensive line into better situations. Moving forward, Reps are a good thing.

Josh McDaniels, who has suffered greatly here at Old Grumbly’s column, continued his dominance over the Jets as offensive coordinator for the Patriots. He is now 26-2 lifetime over three stints across three eras of the team.

Criticism aside, his offense generally pounds bad teams.

The defense did its job. The Jets had two scoring drives and 7 that ended with nothing. Justin Fields threw for a whopping 116 yards. Like I said earlier, this game was not close.

Stefon Diggs, who went 9 for 105, continued his dominance in extending drives with 6 first downs. He also celebrated the birth of his son with Cardi B this week. His locker room leadership is now what he’s known for, and his season of 59 catches, 659 yards and 3 touchdowns puts him on pace for another 1,000 yard season. He remains a great pickup for the Pats.

Old Grumbly Fan Predictions

9-2 puts the Patriots in command of the AFC East with 6 games to go. Buffalo lost this week to drop to 7-4. Anything can happen, but it looks more and more like there will be home playoff football in Foxboro this season. The Pats get to play the Cincinnati Bengals this week, who come into this game at 3-7, needing to run the table to have a shot at the playoffs. Joe Flacco has filled in admirably in his 18th season while covering for the oft-injured Joe Burrow. Burrow igot in a full practice, but may remain on the sideline.

The Bengals are without Ja’Marr Chase (and so is my fantasy team), who is one of the best receivers in all of football. Chase got himself suspended in a spitting incident last week with Steelers safety Jalen Ramsey.  The Bengals have other weapons, but Chase is a big piece in being able to keep up with teams scoring big against their defense.

The Bengals defense is just flat-out bad. They have allowed 334 points, the most in the NFL. The second-worst in points allowed, the Washington Commanders, have allowed 296 in one more game than the Bengals.

The Patriots are tied for 5th with the Detroit Lions at 292 points scored. This should be a relatively easy game, but weird things happen. I still expect the Pats to roll. Flacco will get a couple of drives, probably with Tee Higgins involved, but in the end they just don’t have the firepower to keep up.

Pats 37 – Bengals 18

Worcester Cowboys 12 and Under Team Dominates 41-0 in Playoff Opener

The Worcester Cowboys 12 and under team dominated 41-0 last Saturday at the Joseph R. Mewhiney Field. Head Coach Tom Sivert’s team came out of the gate swinging on a brisk cool day in Westborough.

The fans cheered as the team went down the field on the first drive and scored in three plays. They went up 13-0 before the Merrimack Valley Spartans mounted a drive down close to the goal. The Cowboys responded with an interception return of close to 50 yards and rolled from there.

Christian Montique highlighted the team’s victory with a spectacular one-handed catch by to put the Cowboys up 28-0 just before halftime.

This game was the New England Regional semifinal. This Sunday, the Cowboys play the Dorchester Eagles in the New England Regional Championship at New London High School, 20 Chester St, New London, CT.

Game time is at 1pm. You can get tickets here: Worcester Cowboys Tickets.

If the Cowboys win this game, they move on to the National Championship in Florida. The Cowboys are raising funds for the trip to Florida now. Find more information on the Worcester Cowboys Facebook page, the Worcester Cowboys Instagram or the team’s website. This Week in Worcester will keep you up to date as the team moves on!