Worcester Public Health Medical Director Dr. Michael Hirsh Retires

WORCESTER – After 13 years serving as the City of Worcester Public Health Medical Director, Dr. Michael Hirsh announced he will retire on Dec. 12.

Hirsh became widely known in Worcester during the pandemic, serving as public information officer and leading over 200 press conferences alongside then-City Manager Ed Augustus and Mayor Joe Petty. He also played an instrumental role in the Worcester Department of Public Health becoming the first in the state to earn national accreditation.

Hirsh says his proudest moments during his tenure as medical director of the city were his tenure during the pandemic and “helping to train the Vaccine Corps of medical students who helped administer the COVID vaccine beginning in January 2021.”

After growing up in New York City as the only son of survivors of the Holocaust, Hirsh attended medical school at Harvard University and graduated in 1979. He completed his surgical residencies at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and Temple University’s St. Christopher Hospital for Children.

While at Columbia, Hirsh lost a close friend and co-worker to gun violence. Hirsh personally provided medical assistance to his friend at the scene of the shooting. That experience led Hirsh to lead gun violence prevention efforts, including co-founding the Goods for Guns Buyback program in Pittsburgh in 1994. He founded a similar program in Worcester in 2002 which continues annually.

Hirsh He first joined UMass Memorial in 1986. He practiced for nine years in Pittsburgh and the rest of his career in Worcester.

“UMass Memorial Health deeply appreciates Dr. Michael Hirsh’s service as Medical Director for the Worcester Division of Public Health and the positive impact his leadership has had on the community over the last 13 years,” said Eric Dickson, MD, President and CEO of UMass Memorial Health. “We are working closely with the WDPH to identify a successor and remain fully committed to supporting the health and wellness of Worcester residents through our continued partnership.”

Hirsh continues to serve as the Assistant Vice Provost for Health and Wellness and the Chief Quality Officer for the Department of Surgery at the UMass Chan School of Medicine.

Image Credit: UMass Chan Medical School 

Brockton Man Arrested in Auburn for Human Trafficking

AUBURN – Detectives arrested a man in Auburn on Monday for human trafficking and other charges.

Another jurisdiction had released the man, Dario Arron Hamlin-Baxter, 30, of Brockton, on bail for unrelated charges.

The Auburn Police Department says its detectives learned of online advertising of the services of a commercial sex worker for a fee. While communicating with the contact listed within the advertisement, the detectives positively identified the identity of the woman they were communicating with.

The detectives arranged a meeting with the woman in Auburn. Upon arrival at the scene, Hamlin-Baxter and the woman were detained and separated for questioning. That investigation led to the arrest of Hamlin-Baxter on charges of:

Worcester Announces Winter Overflow Shelter on Oriol Drive

WORCESTER – The City of Worcester announced on Thursday the opening of a temporary winter overflow shelter at 50 Oriol Drive, the former site of Quality Inn & Suites, on Dec. 15. The city says the location will remain open through April.

The facility will feature 36 beds in 18 former hotel rooms, with two individuals per room. The South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) will manage the location, which will be open 24 hours per day with a security guard on site at all times.

SMOC will process all intakes for the facility at its 25 Queen Street location.

The city also says that SMOC will assist individuals at the Oriol Drive location by providing the following services:

• Intensive case management;
• Referrals to treatment programs;
• Referrals to permanent supportive housing;
• Assistance with stabilizing medical and behavioral health needs;
• Obtaining photo IDs;
• Applying and following up on benefit applications; and
• Assistance with workforce development and finding employment.

Image Credit: Google

Mass. Lawsuit Ends Federal Suspension of Wind Power Projects

BOSTON – The federal district court of Massachusetts has vacated an inauguration day executive order signed by President Donald Trump that suspended any new federal authorization to develop wind energy projects. both onshore and offshore.

The executive order directed:

“the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Energy, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the heads of all other relevant agencies, shall not issue new or renewed approvals, rights of way, permits, leases, or loans for onshore or offshore wind projects pending the completion of a comprehensive assessment and review of Federal wind leasing and permitting practices.”

The lawsuit, filed by 17 states, including Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.), argued that the order is “arbitrary and capricious,” in violation of two sections of the Administrative Procedure Act.

U.S. District Judge Patti Saris wrote in her decision that orders from the then-Acting Secretary of Interior Walter Cruickshank, issued the same day as the executive order, suspended all delegation of authority within the Interior Department to issue any onshore or offshore renewable energy authorization until the agency completed the review ordered by Trump.

Saris also wrote that the agency said that assessment was underway, but provided no timeline for its completion.

Judge Saris vacated the executive order, saying in her decision that “after review of the parties’ submissions and a hearing, the Court concludes that the Wind Order constitutes a final agency action that is arbitrary and capricious and contrary to law.”

Worcester Cowboys Continue Playoff Run 28-7 in Florida Nationals

The Worcester Cowboys 12u team continued their playoff success with a 28-7 win over the Pittsburgh Jr. Pirates in the first round of the American Youth Football national championship in Naples, Florida, on Tuesday, Dec. 9.

Luis Mackenzie put the Cowboys up first with a rushing touchdown in the first quarter. The Pirates answered with a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 with 90 seconds left in the first half. From that point, the Cowboys never looked back.

With just a second on the clock in the first half, Cowboys QB Ben Sivert connected with Christian Montique to put the Cowboys up 14-7.

Jovanni Coleman got the defense involved with an interception for a touchdown in the third quarter, and Mackenzie put the Pirates away with his second touchdown of the game. John Brady put the exclamation point on the game with an extra point kick.

Teams with kids 12-years-old and under, like the Cowboys, typically use a run or pass play for the extra point conversion. Kicks are rare at that level.

The Cowboys play again in Naples on Thursday at 6pm. Their opponent is not yet determined.

Millbury Selectman Nick Lazzaro Announces Run for State Rep.

MILLBURY – Millbury Selectman Nick Lazzaro spoke to Hank Stolz on the Talk of the Commonwealth radio show on Tuesday, Dec. 9, to announce his campaign to challenge State Representative Paul Frost to represent the 7th Worcester District.

The 7th Worcester District includes Auburn, Millbury, and parts of North Oxford, Leicester, and Charlton.

Lazzaro first won election to public office when elected to the Millbury School Committee in 2020, when he was 19 years old. He also founded two businesses.

According to Lazzaro’s campaign, his focus will be on policy solutions to the affordability crisis, support for public safety agencies, fiscal responsibility, and supporting small businesses.

Lazzaro graduated from Millbury High School and earned his B.A. at Holy Cross. He also earned an MBA from the Boston College Carrol School of Management.

Hear the full interview on Talk of the Commonwealth  and visit Lazzaro’s campaign website.

The incumbent, Rep. Paul Frost, has served as a state representative since 1997. His campaign website says his focus is supporting law enforcement, Senior Citizens,,Veterans and all Public Safety personnel. He highlights his efforts in fighting for state aid to support schools, roads, local services and economic development.

Frost also says he has a 100 percent voting attendance record since being elected in 1998.

Image Credit: Lazzaro for State Rep (image background extended)

Police Seek Information on Shooting in Worcester

WORCESTER – Police responded to a report of a gunshot victim near Water Street and Harrison Street on Monday, Dec. 8, shortly after 6 PM.

Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered a 31-year-old Worcester man with a gunshot wound to the chest. EMS transported the man to a local hospital. The Worcester Police Department says medical professionals expect the man to survive.

The department also says the shooting appears to be an isolated incident.

The Worcester Police Department Detective Bureau will lead the investigation into the shooting.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the police through one of the following methods:

• Send an anonymous text to 274637 TIPWPD + your message
• Send an anonymous web-based message at worcesterma.gov/police
• Call the Worcester Police Detective Bureau at (508) 799-8651

Sobriety Checkpoint in Worcester County Dec. 11 to Dec. 12

WORCESTER – The Massachusetts State Police announced there will be a sobriety checkpoint in Worcester County from Thursday, Dec, 4, to Friday, Dec. 5.

Police are required to announce the dates and county which sobriety checkpoints will appear. The checkpoint will appear on a public way within Worcester County.

According to the state police, the purpose of sobriety checkpoints is “to further educate the motoring public and strengthen the public’s awareness to the need of detecting and removing motorists who operate under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs from our roadways.”

A grant from the Office of Grants and Research, a division of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety, funded the operation.

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.

Monday,  Dec. 8

• Tatnuck Square Neighborhood Meeting, First Congregational Church, 1070 Pleasant St. – 6 PM

Wednesday, Dec. 10 

• Saxon Road Neighborhood Meeting, Congregation Beth Israel, 15 Jamesbury Dr. – 5:30 PM
• Newton Square Neighborhood Meeting, First Congregational Church, 1070 Pleasant St. – 6:30 PM
• Lake View Neighborhood Crime Watch Meeting, Lake View Congregational Church, 115 Coburn Ave. – 7 PM

Thursday, Dec. 11

• Main South Beacon Brightly Neighborhood Meeting, Y.M.C.A., 766 Main St. – 5:30 PM
• Burncoat/Greendale Neighborhood Meeting,St. Michaels On-The-Heights, 340 Burncoat St. – 6 PM
• South Lenox Street Neighborhood Meeting, First Congregational Church, 1070 Pleasant St. – 6 PM

The Netflix Deal Could Be The Catalyst For Film Industry Expansion

On December 5th 2025, Netflix announced a deal to buy Warner Brothers that has caused shockwaves around the world. Anyone remotely related to the film industry has an opinion. The amount of film industry people I have watched suddenly support a position that President Trump has (he wants Paramount to own Warner Brothers because he likes David Ellison and his family) is wild. The anti-Netflix rhetoric is based (supposedly) on Netflix not wanting to put its movies in theaters, and when they do, they focus on shorter timeframes in theaters.

This is a non sequitur. Netflix has never put its movies (except for small exceptions) in the theaters. So if they change the Warner Brothers release schedule, how would that affect theatrical offerings? The best thing about the movie industry is that it tracks every ticket and every cent so it can use them for promotional purposes.

In 2025, Warner Brothers has 11 movies that are on the schedule for wide North American release. That seems like a small amount to get all up in arms about.

Of 190 theatrical releases in 2025 (including the rest of December’s schedule), the six majors released 75:

• Warner Brothers (11)
• Walt Disney (10)
• 20th Century Fox (zero)
• Paramount (8)
• Sony (20)
• Universal (26)

Fox is now a part of Disney, so there are only really 5 majors.

The mini-majors released 72:

• A24 (19)
• Neon (19)
• Lionsgate (13)
• IFC Films (9)
• Roadside (12)

Focus Features, often grouped in with the mini-majors while partially owned by Universal, put out 10 movies this year. If you include Focus, the mini-majors put out more than the majors, but the numbers are close nonetheless.

The rest of the major releases include smaller, independent companies.

If Netflix were to take the eleven movies that Warner Brothers has averaged over the last three years out of theatrical rotation, most people seem to think that would tank the film industry.

I think this is one of the biggest opportunities that independent studios (like the one that I own HollyWooot Film Group) have ever had. To me, if there are 11 big Warner Brothers slots open, I could put a movie into one of those runs.

Let’s look at the Warner Brothers films this year:

• Companion
• Mickey 17
• The Parenting
• The Alto Knights
• A Working Man
• A Minecraft Movie
• Sinners
• The Accountant 2
• Final Destination Bloodlines
• F1
• Superman,
• Weapons
• Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass
• The Conjuring: Last Rites
• One Battle After Another
• The Family McMullen

How many did you see? I can tell you how many I have seen, and I am a film buff, and love movies. I have seen one.

I saw Mickey 17 in the theater. It was weird, and I liked it. Of the rest, I haven’t felt compelled to see them yet. I want to see Sinners and Weapons, but I didn’t get to the theaters in time.

How many movies have I watched this year? 200+. Some are repeats, some are research, and some are new.

If you include short films, the number balloons to over 500. If you include watching my own films during the editing process, I cannot imagine the number. The point is, I bet you didn’t even know that those were the movies released by Warner Brothers.

In fact, F1 and Superman were distribution only. Apple Studios produced F1 and DC Studios produced Superman. Five of the films were co-productions with New Line. Many of the deals that lead to films being released involve co-production agreements, distribution rights, international territory rights (A Minecraft Movie was a co production with Legendary and three other studios, and was an outside-China only distro deal) and much, much more.

This idea, that in buying WB, Netflix is going to ruin the rest of the industry is basically nonsense.

The $82.7 billion that Netflix paid is something that the unions should use as a negotiating point. Warner Brothers reported a loss of $148 million in the third quarter of 2025 with over $33 billion in debt. That’s right: Thirty-three BILLION in debt. That’s a lot of money.

So the $82.7 billion valuation means something is not being reported correctly. Of course, Warner Brothers argued they couldn’t afford to agree to both the WGA and SAG’s demands in the last round of union talks. This deal shows, at least on the surface, that the union leadership teams have a lot of explaining to do to their members.

Those negotiations are actually next year, and they probably will be worse considering the current state of the American government. Acrimony seems to be the leading policy for all negotiations in our society now, so I doubt this will be a quiet negotiation.

In the meantime, smaller production companies are free to make their own deals with the unions. The big companies all negotiate together through AMPTP, which has the power of over 300 different production organizations. That’s a lot of potential billion dollar companies there.

According to IBIS World, projections estimate $40.9 billion in revenue for the North American film industry in 2025. Netflix paid under half of that for one major company. Which again points to the strange accounting systems they all seem to have. How can Warner be in debt for 75% of the estimated revenue for the whole industry? It doesn’t make sense.

This is just part of why I support this deal. Netflix will work on this merger for 2 years or more. There are many, many moving parts, and in the end that will take an enormous amount of energy and time. You know what suffers when you put energy and time into business operations? Film quality and production.

I believe that good film requires good writing, a vision, a commitment to excellence, and on top of all of that, a little luck. You need to hit the theaters at the right time for people to want to see your vision. You need to have the right combination of stars and unknown people, and you need to have the money to advertise it all. Film is considered a risky investment, but as demonstrated above, a lot of people with a LOT of money clearly see it as much less risky when taking in the big picture.

I am currently in production on two feature projects, and a couple of others are in post-production. My production partners, Tommy Jay Dwyer and Leanne Silvia, have brought their experience to help launch all of this right here in Worcester. One project, Burnin’ Down the House, is a feature documentary about firehouse conditions here in Massachusetts. It’s budget: $50,000 so far. It may seem like a lot of money, but it goes fast. You need to pay people fair rates, cover insurance, equipment rentals, permit fees, feed your crew and much more before you pay yourself.

Independent production companies also do their own fundraising. On The Hours That Keep Us, which is Dwyer’s horror anthology feature that includes our short film Solus (that has won dozens of awards at various film festivals around the world), we are in the middle of raising a budget of $230,000. As we ramp up in fundraising, there are legal questions, there are contract provisions, and there are compliance issues with both state and federal law. All of this generates economic activity. Each investor that we bring on (and it’s going well, reach out if you are interested), has questions, ideas and concerns that we have to address.

These hurdles are difficult and require a huge amount of focus and drive. In the time it takes to make all of this happen, we have gone all in. When we finish these films (and we will), we now have a chance, thanks to this Netflix deal, to get our films into the theaters. If streamers, and all the increasing fees, annoy you, take a chance on a local, independent production group who believes that not only can we get it done, but that it is only the beginning of a more localized structure for entertainment and art.

While consolidation often seems like consumers will get hosed (and your Netflix bill is going up for sure at the end of this deal), there is room for other outcomes. On January 10, 2000, AOL Time Warner became the biggest media company in the world. Today, its parts are spread out around the world. Several of them no longer exist. The doom and gloom about how they would ruin everything turned inward instead.

Check out local companies and artists, and give this deal a chance to give artists a chance to compete while the big boys keep buying each other.