Nelson Place School Principal on Leave after Parent Opposition

WORCESTER – Superintendent of Public Schools (WPS) Brian Allen wrote to parents and guardians of students at Nelson Place School, at 35 Nelson Pl., informing them that school Principal Mary Sealey has taken a temporary leave of absence.

Ellen Moynihan, a former principal at West Tatnuck Elementary School, will fill in as principal at Nelson Place for the remainder of the school year, according to Allen’s email.

Sealey has faced a torrent of criticism from some parents and guardians of students at Nelson Place since her appointment at the beginning of this school year. Parents told This Week in Worcester that the concerns originate from Sealey’s appointment as principal at the school and what they say is a lack of special education experience in Sealey’s career history.

Nelson Place School serves a high number of students who require special education programs. According to information from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) of the 86 kindergarten students currently at Nelson Place, 49 have high needs, and 30 of those are students with disabilities.

One person familiar with the search process for a principal at Nelson Place School says the search committee unanimously selected another candidate. Then-Superintendent Rachel Monarrez instead selected Sealey.

Search committees make recommendations, but the appointing authority belongs to the superintendent.

On October 7, 2025, Worcester Public Schools announced Nelson Place Vice-Principal Cindy Homan’s transfer to another school in the city. WPS said the move was a mutual decision. Two days later, some parents held a standout in front of the school, protesting Homan’s transfer and seeking the school administration to intervene at Nelson Place.

Allen expressed support for Sealey.

One parent of a student at Nelson Place received a letter from the private attorney representing Sealey in November, alleging the parent made defamatory statements and threatening civil litigation.

Other parents said that those involved in organizing against Sealey had requests for voluntary transfers, to keep their students attending Nelson Place, rejected.

On Dec. 22, 2025, Educational Association of Worcester (EAW) members at the school took a vote of no confidence in Sealey. Of those who voted, 98 percent voted to support the vote of no confidence.

On Jan. 8, parents involved in organizing against Sealey attended the Worcester School Committee meeting to express their concerns, but were told that the item wasn’t on the agenda, so no one could speak about it at the meeting

Since January, parents have continued to express concerns about staffing instability and leadership at the school.

It is unclear what led to Sealey’s leave.

New York Islanders Drop Worcester Railers as Affiliate

WORCESTER – The Worcester Railers announced on Wednesday, May 20, that its affiliation with the National Hockey League’s New York Islanders has ended.

The Railers affiliation with the Islanders began in the 2017-18 season, the Railers’ first.

The Railers say the team has a new affiliate for the 2026/27 season and will make an announcement at a later date. It also said that the team is not moving or changing its identity.

Currently, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Utah Mammoth are the only two NHL teams without an ECHL affiliate.

The Islanders announced today that they reached an agreement with the Trenton Ironhawks of the ECHL, the same league the Railers compete in, as their new affiliate. The upcoming 2026/27 season will be the Ironhawks’ first year.

Trenton is roughly 85 miles from the Islanders’ home location in Elmont, New York. Worcester is roughly 173 miles from the Islanders’ facility.

The ECHL is a minor league level two levels below the NHL. The AHL, one level below the NHL, and the ECHL are the only two leagues recognized in the collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and the NHL Players Association.

 

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Lawsuit Alleges Mass. Maintains Segregated School Districts

BOSTON – Nine students and four community organizations filed a lawsuit in Massachusetts, at Suffolk County Superior Court on Wednesday, May 20, alleging that Massachusetts actively violates its own constitution by maintaining racially segregated school districts that concentrate poverty, deny Black and Latino students an adequate and equal education, and threaten the state’s civic and economic future.

The four community organizations joining the eight students named as plaintiffs are Essex County Community Organization, Worcester Interfaith, YWCA of Central Massachusetts, and Out Now.

The defendants named in the lawsuit are the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and its commissioner, Pedro Martinez; the Executive Office of Education and its secretary, Stephen Zrike, Jr.; and the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and its chair, Katherine Craven.

The lawsuit argues that the state’s public school system violates the students’ constitutional rights and requires the state to provide Black and Latino students with adequate and equal educational opportunities.

The plaintiffs have called on the state to adopt a comprehensive plan to ensure that Massachusetts public schools are integrated.

Lawyers for Civil Rights, Brown’s Promise, and Wilmer Hale are representing the plaintiffs.

“It’s time to end mass segregation,” said Juanita Batchelor, grandmother and legal guardian of the lead plaintiff in the case, a student in the Springfield Public School District. “The system isn’t preparing any of our kids for the real world if it’s not preparing them to learn, play, live, and work together. Especially not if Black and Latino communities like ours get the short end of the stick year after year, generation after generation, while wealthy white school districts right next to us get access to a great education and plenty of resources. Separate is not equal.”

A 2024 report by the DESE Racial Imbalance Advisory Council (RAIC) said 63 percent of public schools in Massachusetts meet its definition of segregated.

A statement by the plaintiffs announcing the lawsuit alleges that Massachusetts is operating a two-tiered school system. They say that alongside some of the best public schools in the United States, Massachusetts has school districts “serving primarily Black and Latino students that are characterized by high concentrations of poverty and are not providing the educational opportunities all students deserve.”

“It’s time to end mass segregation,” said Juanita Batchelor, grandmother and legal guardian of the lead plaintiff in the case, who is enrolled in the Springfield Public School District. “The system isn’t preparing any of our kids for the real world if it’s not preparing them to learn, play, live, and work together. Especially not if Black and Latino communities like ours get the short end of the stick year after year, generation after generation, while wealthy white school districts right next to us get access to a great education and plenty of resources. Separate is not equal.”

High School Teens Can Work Out Free at Planet Fitness

WORCESTER – High school teens ages 14 to 19 can work out free from June 1 to Aug. 31 at any of the over 2900 Planet Fitness locations in the U.S. or Canada.

The 2026 High School Summer Pass program is the sixth consecutive year Planet Fitness has offered the program.

Registration is required. Pre-registration is open.

The company says the program has helped millions of teens establish healthy fitness habits during the summer months over the previous five years of the program. It says that when schools are not in session, many teens find maintaining fitness goals more difficult, which contributes to 10.8 percent of teens in Massachusetts being classified as obese or overweight.

Planet Fitness has three locations in Worcester and locations in Auburn, Shrewsbury, West Boylston, Sturbridge, Webster, and Milford. See the company website to find locations near you.

Image courtesy of Planet Fitness

45 Million Americans Expected to Travel for Memorial Day

WORCESTER – The American Auto Club (AAA) forecasts 45 million Americans to travel at least 50 miles from home between Thursday, May 21, and Monday, May 25, the Memorial Day weekend.

The forecast is slightly higher than the 44.8 million AAA forecasted to travel during the holiday weekend in 2025.

Most of those travelers, 39.1 million (87 percent) will travel by auto, while 3.66 million (8 percent) will travel by air and 2.22 million (five percent) t0 will travel using other means.

The most popular destinations in the United States are:

1. Orlando
2. Seattle
3. New York

The most popular international destinations are:

1. Rome
2. Vancouver
3. Paris

AAA also provides the best and worst times to travel by car. The best are:

• Thursday, May 21: after 9 PM
• Friday May 22 – before 11 AM
• Saturday, May 23 – Before 11 AM
• Monday, May 25  – Before 10 AM

The worst times to travel by car are:

• Thursday, May 21: 12 PM to 9 PM
• Friday May 22 – 11 AM to 8 PM
• Saturday, May 23 – 12 PM to 5 PM
• Monday, May 25  – 12 PM to 5 PM

According to AAA, traffic on Sunday should be minimal.

See the full AAA travel forecast on the AAA website.

Volunteers to Place 5,000 Flags at Graves of Veteran’s For Memorial Day

WORCESTER – Over 165 volunteers plan to place over 5,000 flags on the graves of veterans buried at Worcester’s Saint Johns’s Cemetary on Wednesday, May 20, starting at 9 AM.

Prior to the placing of flags, there will be a Memorial Day observance ceremony which includes:

• The National Anthem;
• Posting of the Colors;
• Blessing of the Flags;
• Brief remarks by organizers.

“Our Annual Flag Day event continues to inspire me year after year,” said Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis. “The incredible support from our community is a powerful reflection of the patriotism and respect for service members that runs deep throughout Worcester County. Seeing thousands of flags displayed across the cemetery serves as a moving tribute to the men and women who served our nation.”

Volunteers will honor veterans laid to rest at Saint John’s Cemetery for the fourth consecutive year by laying flags on Wednesday. Those volunteers are from several organizations, including:

• The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office;
• Worcester County Reserve Deputy Sheriff’s Association;
• East Side Post 201 American Legion;
• Main South Post 341;
• Civil Air Patrol; and
• Blue Star Mothers of America

Image Credit: 2022 flag placing volunteers, courtesy of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office

Weekly Farmers Market in Worcester Opens May 17

WORCESTER – Market on Exchange (formerly Market on Brussels) kicks off its second season on Sunday, May 17, from 11 AM to 2 PM. The farmers’ market, which called Brussels Street its home last season, takes place on Exchange Street between Main Street and Commercial Street every Sunday through October 25.

The market will feature a rotating lineup of local farms, bakers, food trucks, artisan food vendors, live music, craft beer, and family-friendly and dog-friendly activities.

The market also launches its 2026 SNAP Match Program this season, which allows SNAP recipients to increase their spending power up to $25 above their EBT benefits each week.

“As a city, Worcester is filled with passionate small businesses and incredible food producers. Our goal is to create a consistent and welcoming space where residents can shop fresh, support local, and spend time together,” said Julia Moriconi, Market Manager for Market on Exchange. “We see this market as a way to build connections—between neighbors, between businesses, and between the community and the food we eat.”

Visit the Market on Exchange website or follow on Instagram for more information.

Gardner Woman Pleads Guilty to Social Security Fraud

WORCESTER – A local woman pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday, May 12, to charges for fraudulently receiving Social Security benefits.

Leidy E. Otero, 43, of Gardner pleaded guilty to single counts of receipt of stolen government money or property and Social Security fraud – concealment.

In July 2014, Otero reported that she was married but not living with her husband. After making that report, Otero’s husband moved into the same residence as her.

Eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) includes the income of the spouse if they live in the same home. Her husband’s income exceeded the eligibility standards, but she failed to report the change in living conditions as required.

The charge of receipt of stolen government money or property provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of Social Security fraud – concealment provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater.

The judge scheduled sentencing for Aug. 27, 2026.

Webster Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Distribution

WORCESTER – A federal judge sentenced a local man to prison for drug distribution on Friday, May 8.

Giang Tran, 36, of Webster, received a sentence of 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release. Tran entered a guilty plea in January to charges of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances (50 grams or more of methamphetamine) and distribution of methamphetamine.

A federal grand jury indicted Tran on June 10, 2025.

A cooperating witness told law enforcement officials that Tran supplied pounds of crystal methamphetamine in December 2024. On Jan. 2, 2025, Jan. 8, 2025, and Jan. 21, 2025, Tran delivered to undercover law enforcement at a commercial plaza in Everett. He also arranged delivery by an associate to Worcester.

Tran delivered or arranged the delivery of around 1 kilogram of methamphetamine through those deliveries.

23-Year-Old Woman Arraigned for Fatal Crash in Southborough

WESTBOROUGH – A Massachusetts woman appeared in court in Westborough for arraignment on Friday, May 8, facing charges related to a fatal crash in February on Turnpike Road in Southborough.

Abigail Throckmorton, 22, of Ashland, faced arraignment for charges of motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, driving the wrong way on a state highway, marked lanes violation, and speeding.

According to the office of Worcester County District Attorney Joe Early Jr., the Southborough Police Department responded to Route 9 East on Feb. 20, at around 3 AM after receiving reports of a two-vehicle crash.

A preliminary investigation found that Throckmorton drove a vehicle travelling the wrong way prior to the collision. Crystal Johnson Clementi, 37, the driver of the second vehicle, died from injuries sustained in the crash.

The judge in the case released Throckmorton on personal recognizance with restrictions that she not operate a motor vehicle, face random drug and alcohol screening, and not leave the state.

The judge scheduled the next hearing in the case for June 30.