Worcester brief: Thursday, October 1, 2026

Worcester earns 3-star Certified Welcoming designation for its immigrant inclusion policies and programs

Worcester earns 3-star Certified Welcoming designation for its immigrant inclusion policies and programs.

Council panel presses Spectrum, backs WCCA-TV funding help. Worcester's Public Service and Transportation Committee took up a funding lifeline for WCCA-TV after hearing the public-access station could run out of money within a year and a half, as a long-sought senior cable discount remains stuck in an unfinished Spectrum contract.Worcester News
Parks Commission files updates on four park projects. Worcester's Parks Commission filed updates on four park projects nearing final design or construction, while a yearlong records request from a parkland watchdog group and a renaming push for Great Brook Valley Playground remain unresolved.Worcester News
Panel backs push for first charter review in decades. Worcester's Municipal and Legislative Operations Committee took up a push to trigger the city's first charter review in nearly 40 years, as members debated how strongly to encourage the roughly 17,000 voter signatures needed and whether the city's manager-based structure lacks accountability.Worcester News
Health chief: opioid deaths fell amid settlement windfall. Worcester's health commissioner told the Senior Center Committee that opioid overdose deaths have fallen as a pharmaceutical settlement pours tens of millions into harm-reduction work, even as the city faces rising homelessness among seniors and a push to open a winter shelter by late November.Worcester News

City earns 3-star Certified Welcoming designation. The City of Worcester announced Thursday it earned a 3-star Certified Welcoming designation from Welcoming America, recognizing immigrant-inclusion policies citywide. City Manager Eric D. Batista credited community partners, saying refugees and immigrants are part of what makes Worcester strong and diverse.City of Worcester
Queer advocates raise alarm over Worcester conference. An unofficial group of trans and queer community members in Worcester is raising concerns about a radical feminist organization's conference being held in the city, assignedmedia.org reports.Assigned Media
Union Station garage bid seeks $1.7 million in repairs. The city opened bidding Thursday for about $1.7 million in waterproofing and repairs at the Union Station parking garage, including a new sump pump, partial roof replacement and fire-alarm and electrical upgrades, with a pre-bid meeting set for October 13.City of Worcester
UMass Memorial Health names new chief financial officer. UMass Memorial Health has hired Jeff Biesczat as its next chief financial officer, Worcester Patch reports, succeeding longtime CFO Sergio Melgar, who plans to retire in January 2027.Worcester Patch
Bri's Sweet Treats marks five years in business. Bri's Sweet Treats, a Worcester candy shop specializing in handcrafted treats, marked five years in business Thursday with free candy, merchandise and raffles, Worcester Patch reports.Worcester Patch

Mon, Oct 5, 4:00 p.m.: Doherty hosts Westborough in JV football Monday. Doherty Memorial's boys junior varsity football team hosts Westborough on Monday, October 5, at Doherty Field, with coverage streaming live on the NFHS Network, per the network's schedule.NFHS Network
Wed, Oct 7, 3:30 p.m.: Doherty JV soccer travels to Burncoat Wednesday. Doherty Memorial's junior varsity soccer team plays an away conference match at Burncoat on Wednesday, October 7, at 3:30 p.m., according to MaxPreps' schedule.MaxPreps
Wed, Oct 7, 5:15 p.m.: Tantasqua JV soccer visits Worcester's North High Wednesday. Tantasqua Regional's junior varsity soccer team plays a nonconference road match at Worcester's North High School on Wednesday, October 7, at 5:15 p.m., MaxPreps reports.MaxPreps