Emergency Shelter Opens Today at Worcester Tech High School

WORCESTER – St. John’s Catholic Church and its St. John’s Food for the Poor program announced that an emergency shelter will open in Worcester on Friday, Jan. 23, at 5 PM. Worcester Technical High School, at 1 Manny Familia Way, is the site of the shelter.

Transportation is available from St. John’s Church, at 44 Temple St., starting at 5 PM on Friday.

The emergency, temporary shelter will remain open until Monday afternoon, Jan. 26.

The shelter effort requests donations of food and snacks. It also seeks volunteers for all three shifts. To inquire about either, visit the Facebook page linked below.

NWS: Extreme Cold Friday Night, Heavy Snow Sunday

WORCESTER – The National Weather Service (NWS) issued two notices today that apply over the weekend, beginning Friday, Jan. 23.

Starting at 10 PM on Friday, a NWS Cold Weather Advisory warns if wind chills as low as 15 degrees below zero across much of southern New England, including Worcester County The agency warns that Frostbite and hypothermia will occur with unprotected skin exposed to these temperatures. That advisory begins at 10 PM on Friday through 10 AM on Saturday.

The NWS also issued a winter storm watch beginning Sunday morning through Monday evening that also applies to much of southern New England, including Worcester County. The NWS warns of the potential of heavy snow and accumulation of eight to 15 inches. The agency urges residents to delay all travel, as travel conditions may become very difficult or impossible.

For those who must travel, the NWS advises:

• drive with extreme caution;
• Remain prepared for sudden changes in visibility;
• Leave plenty of room between you and the motorist ahead of you;
• Allow extra time to reach your destination;
• Avoid sudden braking or acceleration;
• Be especially cautious on hills and when making turns; and
• Ensure your vehicle is winterized and in good working order.

Snowfall estimates are likely to be revised before the onset of the storm on Sunday.

New Councilor’s Requests Highlight Worcester Council’s Dysfunction

In the second meeting of the current Worcester City Council on Tuesday, Jan. 20, the council considered several orders from Dr. Satya Mitra, one of four serving their first term on the council.

I can’t say I had writing support for Mitra on my bingo card, especially this early in the term, but these orders are reasonable requests for practical changes to the operations of the city council.

They are also unlikely to happen.

Mitra comes from the business world, where things sometimes operate in ways that make sense. While I’m sure he understands that he is in government now, I’m not sure he understands the reality of Worcester’s government and the reality of the role the city council remands itself to.

Brief Background

Mitra founded The Guru Tax and Financial Services, Inc. in 1990, which he still operates. Mitra also served as a board member at the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce for several years, including a stint serving as chair of the board. He has also served on the City of Worcester Planning Board , the Worcester Public Library Board, and the Worcester State University Foundation Board.

Before immigrating to the United States in the late 1970s, he earned a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in biochemistry in India in 1976.

In short, the man is experienced, smart, and has achieved some success. Those are valuable traits, even if your politics differ from his.

Orders for Basic Information

During the city council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 20, Mitra had three orders that appear like common-sense asks for most other organizations.

Information on Reports

In item 9j, Mitra asked for a report on the processes the City Manager’s office uses to track the endless requests for information reports by city councilors. During the meeting, City Manager Eric Batista said the backlog of outstanding reports is around 1500, going back many years, with some originated before the council appointed him.

The city manager’s office couldn’t possibly fulfill the volume of reports requested. This allows the manager to choose which reports the administration returns to the council. As the manager can be terminated only by a majority vote of the council, the majority’s needs naturally receive priority. It also allows the manager to ignore reports for information that he doesn’t want public, for whatever reason.

The root cause is the non-functional city council committee system. Council committees do very little, if any, oversight of the operations of city government. If committees demanded that department heads appear before their committees and sought data, not reports, directly from departments, they could obtain information.

The dictator-like powers of committee chairs contribute to the problem as they have total control of the agenda of each committee.

Quarterly Report on Council Orders

Mitra’s order, 9k on the agenda, asks the city clerk to “provide City Council with a quarterly report outlining the various City Council Orders adopted over the previous three (3) months.”

Another request that seems simple, but not in Worcester.

The city clerk’s office in Worcester has plenty of responsibilities. It is the office of the clerk, not the council. The responsibility for this request should fall on the city council staff.

The problem: the city council refuses to do anything about its funding, which is embarrassingly low. The mayor’s office has two employees, and the other 10 members of the council have a support team of three.

Three employees for 10 councilors. Completely absurd. It also reflects the council majority’s views on what little responsibility it has.

Goal Setting

Item 9h on the council agenda asked for a report on the feasibility of establishing SMART Goals ” to standardize and track residents needs in a transparent and effective manner.” Mitra’s order asked for these goals to “include but not be limited to issues such as the amount of potholes that can and should be fixed in a month, providing services for homeless individuals, determining appropriate speed hump locations, and improving public safety outcomes.”

Some reasonably view SMART Goals, an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timebound, first introduced in 1981, as outdated. PACT Goals, Purposeful, Actionable, Continuous, and Trackable, are arguably more popular today after their introduction in 2019.

City Manager Eric Batista responded, saying, in summary, that departments in city government under his authority have implemented KPIs (key performance indicators) and as a means of measuring outcomes. There is no reason to dispute that, I’m sure they do.

What wasn’t said is that if any means of measuring performance involves reporting to the council, reports delivered to the council become part of the meeting agenda and easily accessible to the public. The last thing a majority of councilors want is any measurable outcomes made public. That’s not in their interests.

This highlights a fundamental flaw in the city’s system of government. The city council hires and appoints the city manager. They chose him, so negative outcomes reflect on them. While councilors do often use the manager as a shield to absorb criticism, as he doesn’t need votes to stay in office. However, they have every motivation to prevent measurable outcomes from public view.

The same reasons illustrate why the majority of councilors refused to even allow a search for the next city manager when they appointed Batista. Councilors can’t argue they made the best choice for the city. They couldn’t possibly know that, as they didn’t bother to look. They did what was best for them.

That’s a consistent theme of this city council majority. After all, the election just happened in November, but the next one is only two years away.

Unfortunately, Dr. Mitra is going to have to learn how to operate within nearly total dysfunction.

Court Orders Prediction Market Website to Cease Operations in Mass.

BOSTON – The office of Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell announced on Tuesday, Jan. 20, that a court issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting Kalshi from accepting online wagers on sports and related events from Massachusetts customers until the company complies with state laws governing sports gaming. That includes licensure by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC).

Kalshi describes itself as “a regulated exchange & prediction market where you can trade on the outcome of real-world events.”

“The Court has made clear that any company that wants to be in the sports gaming business in Massachusetts must play by our rules – no exceptions,” said Campbell. “Today’s victory marks a major step toward fortifying Massachusetts’ gambling laws and mitigating the significant public health consequences that come with unregulated gambling.”

Campbell sued Kalshi in September alleging the company is violating state law. The court also denied a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on Tuesday.

The lawsuit alleges that Kalshi uses an online “exchange” to offer sports wagering under the guise of “event contracts,” which allow bettors to place wagers connected to sports, such as the likelihood of a certain team winning a game or a certain player scoring a particular number of points.

According to the attorney general’s office, the Kalshi platform offers “event contracts” on sporting events, including moneyline contracts, point spread contracts, and over-under contracts.

Declared Parking Ban Ends Jan. 22 1 PM in Worcester

UPDATE: The declared parking ban was lifted at 1PM on Jan. 22

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WORCESTER – A declared winter parking ban in Worcester goes into effect at 9 PM on Wednesday, Jan. 21. The National Weather Service (NWS) reports a potential snowfall over one to two inches overnight Wednesday and into Thursday.

During the Declared Winter Parking Ban, parking is prohibited on either side of primary 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 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.

According to the City of Worcester, sand pick-up and recycling drop-off will be available at 1065 Millbury St. Sand pick-up is also available at 22 Albany St. and 299 Clark St. prior to and following plowing operations.

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

Local Students to Contact International Space Station

WORCESTER – The EcoTarium Museum of Science and Nature, at 222 Harrington Way, announced on Monday, Jan. 19, that 10 local students will speak live with an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in March. The museum will also invite hundreds of students to participate in the event and related education programs.

The students and the astronaut will communicate via the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) system.

“The ARISS contact is an exciting opportunity for museum visitors and school children from across the region,” said Jason Gurtman, manager of educational programs at the EcoTarium. “By giving students the chance to speak directly with an astronaut aboard the ISS, we’re sparking wonder and affirming that there is a place for everyone in space science. This project will serve as a catalyst for curiosity, equity, and lifelong engagement with STEM learning.”

The contact with ARISS will take place during the week of March 9. NASA will confirm the exact date and time in late February or early March.

ARISS is a joint venture by NASA, the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), and the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) to facilitate communication via Amateur Radio between astronauts aboard the International Space Station and schools and communities around the world

The EcoTarium will host a public community celebration of the event on Saturday, March 14, at the museum. That event will include hands-on activities and educational experiences focused on amateur radio and space exploration.

Parents, guardians, and educators of students from age four to 16 may submit students’ questions for the astronaut by Jan. 21.

According to the museum, this program advances the EcoTarium’s mission of igniting curiosity and inspiring a passion for science, technology, engineering, and math.

Astronomy is a staple of the EcoTarium’s programming, including the new NASA-funded permanent exhibit Lift Off! Space Explorers, fulldome shows in the Alden Planetarium, a newly renovated observatory, and a monthly Astrophysics Speaker Series.

The call to the ISS is a collaboration with the Central Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association (CMARA) and North High School.

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, Jan. 21

• Indian Lake Neighborhood Meeting, Worcester Business Center, 67 Millbrook St. – 6 PM

Thursday, Jan. 22

• Columbus Park Neighborhood Meeting, Stearns Tavern, 140 Mill St. – 6 PM
• Union Hill Neighborhood Meeting, Worcester Academy Fieldhouse, 121 Providence St. – 6 PM

Podcast: Dead of Winter, Role of the Post Commission, City Council Preview

This Week in Worcester Podcast on:

• Update on the Dead of Winter Horror Film Festival.
• The Role of the Post Commission in local police oversight.
• Preview of the second meeting of the Worcester City Council on Tuesday.

Old Grumbly Fan’s Divisional Playoff Patriots Preview vs. the Texans

Pats got it done against the Chargers 16-3. There were some surprises in this game, and some trends from mid-season that came back. Let’s break it down.

Mike Vrabel got his first win in the playoffs as Patriots head coach out of the way. The team was prepared, and other than some miscues from the offense, the team dominated the Chargers start to finish. The game was not as close as the score. Old Grumbly’s prediction that it would be the most boring of the wild card weekend games came true.

Drake Maye came out in the first half of his first playoff game, and he had plays that did not resemble the MVP case that he has made all year. The interception was off a tipped pass, but thrown into a lot of traffic. I think you will see him read through that progression this upcoming week and go to the next guy.

In the playoffs, a 70% completion is not a normal thing, windows are smaller and tighter. People used to complain about Brady throwing the ball away, or into the ground, but he avoided turnovers. In the playoffs, turnovers are the easiest way, outside of big special teams plays, for an inferior team to advance.

He also had a fumble from a sack that was a straight doorway by Will Campbell. I think we have forgotten that Campbell is a rookie left tackle. It was a good play by former Raven Odafe Oweh, who had three sacks for the game. He is a multiyear veteran from many playoff teams. Campbell will learn from this and improve.

Maye also had a bad running game supporting him for most of the first three quarters other than himself, with a ton of plays into the line. When he got into a rhythm in the second half, and they needed a touchdown, he drove right down the field.

McDaniels hopefully knocked the playoff rust off as well. Some trends from during the year popped up here, with at least 10 plays that were straight ahead runs into the line that went nowhere. While Stevenson is a big back, Henderson is a speed guy, and McDaniels needs to get him back out into space.

The defense was tremendous from start to finish. They punished Herbert through a porous o-line, sacking him 6 times. When he completed passes, talking by the Patriots limited the run after catch all night. There was no room for the Chargers, who looked lost most of the night.

One big surprise was the dominance of Milton Williams, who looked like he did during the Eagles Super Bowl run. Huge interior pushes cause every quarterback ever to move. This is an element that the Patriots have lacked in the postseason for quite a few years, even going back to the Brady years. The last player similar to this player was Vince Wilfork. If he remains healthy during this postseason, it could elevate the Patriots’ championship chances.

Stefon Diggs was quiet, with an uncharacteristic drop, and only 2 catches. I think a big part of Diggs is getting him involved early and allowing him to find his rhythm. I expect him to come out strongly against the Texans, where he played last year. Maye’s slow start also contributed to this.

Old Grumbly Divisional Playoff Predictions

Houston comes to town with one of the best defenses in the NFL, and having throttled the Pittsburgh Steelers so badly that Mike Tomlin stepped down after 18 seasons. Tomlin was a long-time Patriots foil, whose Steeler teams would talk and get crushed by the Brady-era teams. That said, he was a tremendous coach, and Pittsburgh has its work cut out finding his replacement.

The Steelers just were not that good. Yes they beat the Patriots early in Week 3 in the most annoying game of the year. One, the Pats had five terrible turnovers in that game, and the Steelers only had 203 yards of offense. In every measure other than turnovers, the Patriots dominated that game. In fact, the Patriots only had 16 turnovers all year, and 5 were in that game. That means that over 16 games, they only turned the ball over 11 times!

Houston’s defense thrives on turnovers. It had 4 defensive touchdowns, 47 sacks, and the fewest yards allowed in the NFL. They have won 10 straight games, including the regular season. Finding negative trends when a team is on a run like that is difficult. The Patriots have won 13 of their last 14, so the same applies.

When you look at how Houston gives up yards, that is where the Patriots may have an advantage. In December, both the Chiefs and the Raiders gained some yards on the ground with big chunk plays. This is where Henderson might give the Patriots the elements they need. Both the Chargers and the Cardinals had success in the air, but both relied on big chunk plays as well.

The Patriots have thrived in long plays all year, and Maye in particular is great both under pressure (he leads all NFL QBS in yds, completion percentage, touchdowns and rating) and going long. McDaniels has had a long, long playoff career, and when winning in the first round, he often moves on. I think you will see an aggressive game plan against the Texans.

Demeco Ryans has led the Texans to 3 straight playoffs, and last week was his third playoff win as a head coach. In each of the first two years, the Texans won the wild card and lost in the divisional round on the road. I think that trend holds.

The Texans offense still struggled against the Steelers for three quarters. The score was 7-6 going into the fourth, and the aforementioned Texans turnover hunters got two different touchdowns in the fourth. Stroud gave the Steelers three turnovers, and all of them were his fault. While still leading his team back to the playoffs again, Stroud has been uneven at best this year, with injuries plaguing him (his backup Davis Mills is not very good).

With the Patriots defense in prime form, and with the home crowd behind them, I don’t see Houston scoring enough to match the Patriots. With star receiver Nico Collins potentially out with a concussion, I don’t see how they get to the end zone. It will be field goal city, and that plays into the Patriots’ hands.

Old Grumbly Prediction

Patriots 27 – Houston 12

Leominster Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud, Money Laundering

LEOMINSTER – A local man pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston on Thursday, Jan. 15, to federal charges related to a scheme to steal over $1.3 million by depositing a forged check and laundering the money using cashier’s checks and shell companies.

Jesse El-Ghoul, 31, of Leominster, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds, one count of bank fraud and four counts of money laundering.

According to federal prosecutors, El-Ghoul owned and operated Affordable Motor Group in Leominster and owed back business taxes. In March 2024, El-Ghoul deposited a tax refund check for over $1.3 million into his business bank account.

Prosecutors say the U.S. Treasury issued that check to a Canadian company, but the check was forged and altered to be payable to El-Ghoul’s company.

Days later, El-Ghoul bought cashier’s checks in various amounts and deposited those checks into the accounts of shell companies and a law firm in connection with a third-party real estate transaction.

The charge of theft of government funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charges of money laundering each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the amount of money involved in the laundering transactions, whichever is greater.

The judge in the case, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper, set sentencing for April 16 at the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse in Boston.