Picturing Worcester

This is my favorite time of the year; the air is crisp, the leaves are changing and the colors are magnificent. 

I can see the natural beauty that has made New England and Massachusetts a key destination for many southerners to visit to see the foliage and even pick a few apples.

When I read the Telegram & Gazette's ad looking for folks to, "Take your best shot!", I smiled and thought this contest could be fun.

The T&G is looking for folks to take pictures of Worcester, telling what makes Worcester special.  It can be a person, place or thing.....they just want you to capture it and on film (OK, I know, not many people shoot film in this digital-era, but there are some folks that still do).

Head over to Take Your Best Shot to read the rules and how you can submit your pictures.  The deadline is October 12, 2010.

Going Mobile

I don't know how long the function has been available, but I just noticed today that the Worcester Telegram & Gazette has a "mobile" version of their website found at MobileTG.com.

So, now when I want to read the T&G from my iPhone, I don't have to worry about all the "fluff", I can just get the good stuff.  Thank you!

Listen to Me!

In reading this article about Dariusz Nurzynsk, who was stabbed last night by two teenagers near Seymour Street, I couldn't help but look at this picture and shake my head.

I  guess Karol Wojtowicz, who's originally from Poland and visiting his family on vacation, wasn't sure what the officer was saying and the Office made it a point to make Karol got the point.

Read the signs

The trash along Granite Street, just past Holy Name High School, comes and goes and I wonder if the Department of Public Works & Parks has caught anyone dumping their trash along the roadside?

I have a suggestion: Post the video or pictures on the Telegram's website and then that way folks will feel compelled to pay for "local news" and put the abusers on BLAST!

From Worcester Is MAJOR!™

Kweisi Mfume: The Conversation

I guess the Former NAACP President and U.S. Congressman had some interesting things to say, and I wonder if those that attended got some "gems" from his speech?

If you read the 2 comments that have been posted on the article on the T&G, it leads me to believe that people aren't open to listening, and, while disagreeing, realizing that LIFE is political.

Well, let's see how a speaker such as David Wilson is received when he visits WSC on Feb. 25th to talk about race in America.

Planned Parenthood Ads

I guess smarter heads prevailed and the WRTA realized that they can't pick and choose who they want to advertise on the buses?

Also, I'm surprised this hasn't been BIGGER news in Worcester. The best reporting I've read has been by Jeff at Wormtowntaxi.com. Keep up the great work Jeff.

Newspapers, take note!

News is news, is news. Yes it is, but many folks don't feel the need to pay for it. Many folks, myself included, get most of their news from the Internet and, frankly, I subscribe to The Boston Globe Sunday edition for the sole fact of receiving the coupons and keeping with a family tradition of reading the Sunday newspaper with my 9-year-old.

Some people say newspapers like the Telegram & Gazette are a dieing breed, while others think that there's always going to be a need for them. My thinking is the former.

"I have my homie's backs"-Mike O'Brien

No matter what you read or what others say about City Manager Michael
O'Brien, you can't deny that he supports the people within the "Circle
of Trust".

When Mike told the folks at the T&G and others that he supports
Sheriff Glodis, he meant it 100%.

Hey, with homie's like Mike O'Brien, Glodis has nothing to worry about
as he takes on the "haters".

In the present day Millennial Generation (read: children born between
1990 & 1995) there's a saying that's used frequently and it goes like
this,"use the naysayers and haters as motivation, and keep it moving."
And that is exactly want Sheriff Glodis is doing.....keeping it
moving; namely the bullshit.

Worcester Pools: Michael O'Brien Running Things

I guess folks at the City Council meeting got upset by an item that was supposed to have been tabled, but it was voted on, and passed with an 8 to 3 vote in favor of a $2.5 million pool at Crompton Park.

I told y'all last week what City Manager Michael O'Brien believes wholeheartedly.....I RUN this City!

Updates & Goingons

It's been a few days since I've updated WIM since the hit and run accident. In those days alot has taken place and all good things, I must say.

I was able to teach some GED students about social media and how they play a vital role in the iterations and what the future holds. Yes, GED students are important and we know that our President is calling on everyone to "Get Busy" like Sean Paul. They're 'getting it' and I'll be sure to post more news about their projects.

On Saturday night, two St. John's alums invited me to catch the St. John's versus Lynn English High School, which St. John's won 80-62. The game was well played and I have to tip my hat to the Pioneers' cheering section that cheered and hyped their team to victory with an energy that I haven't witnessed since traveling to Morgan Town, WV to witness Boston College take on the Mountaineers.

Who says there's nothing to do in The WOO?

And, even though I wasn't able to take in the St. Patrick's Day parade in person, I was able to catch a bit of it on Channel 3. It looks like it was a good time, and I hope to attend next year, God willing.

More to come, or should I say more "goingson"? Either way, the news will be written about here no matter what Mayor Lukes or Dianne Williamson says or writes.

T&G: You know it's bad when...

A traditional print newspaper realizes, too late, that it's time to change and embrace new technology.

I officially give the T&G the "Late Pass of the Year" Award!

Operation Falcon in WORC

Operation Falcon touched down in Worcester for a week and from the looks of things, made the streets of Worcester a little bit safer.

Hat-tip to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette.

Smart Spending

After reading today's article in the T&G about Mr. Airin Roso and his desire to help build a skateboarding park in Oxford, MA that doesn't have to cost $100k, it just confirms that if you plan properly and get people involved who will use the park, you can build them for well under the $100k.

Hopefully with more people like Airin, Central Massachusetts's Department of Public Works can join forces to get more children to play outside safe and purposeful areas.

WIM!!!!

Snow & Whiners: An odd combination

If you live in Worcester or New England for that matter, you know that there are winters where we get alot of snow, and when I say alot of snow--I mean a foot or more in a 24-hour time span. Well, early Monday morning Worcester got hit with the first Nor'easter for 2008 and got blessed with 10 inches of snow.

The previous day, Sunday, all people were talking about was the snow and, more importantly, the lack of specifics from the various meteorologist on the amount of snow Worcester and Worcester County would receive.

This has become acceptable as its often that the Weather Channel or others get it wrong, but with this storm making its way through Green Bay, WI, as seen during the Packers vs. Seahawks's game on Saturday, I knew we were in for a "good one".

In reading the Telegram and Gazette's website today, I read the story written by Shaun Sutner, Worcester’s late call angers school parents, and was amazed by the frustration that parents had with Superintendent James A. Caradonio’s decision to cancel school at 4:15 AM, Monday morning.

What do you think about the Superintendent making the call at 4:15 AM to cancel school? Post a comment here or feel free to email us at WorcesterIsMajor@gmail.com.

Worcesterites Can't Count?

I'm not sure when exactly when a child learns to count to 10, but I would say that it usually takes place around 14 to 16 months. Well, it seems as if the good folks at the Telegram & Gazette can't seem to get their numbers straight or at least transcribe them properly for the next day's local newspaper.

We know it's one thing to do it once, but it happened for a second time, this time for the BIG one....the municipal elections. When it happened after the preliminary elections, held September 11th, we brushed it off and said, mistakes happen. When it took place again after the municipal elections, held on November 6th, I scratched my head in amazement and wondered out loud, "What is going on?"

We hope that the Telegram & Gazette's inability to count or print the final numbers doesn't spread rampant throughout the City? Let's all say a few prayers......because prayer does help.

Primary results: And then there were 12

Primary: Is it coming to this?

It seems as if the incumbents running for re-election are doing some back peddling and wondering if the tide of change will be upon them come next week when the primary takes place on Tuesday, September 11, 2007.

Word from City Clerk Rushton is that the word "incumbent" will not be listed on the ballot because the Sept. 11th election is only a primary and serves as a nomination to run in the November 6, 2007, final election.

Take a moment to read Shaun Sutner's article in today's T&G.

The Haters are out!

It seems like the beloved Haters were in full effect this weekend about the 17th Annual Latin American Festival that took place this past weekend.

The festivities appeared to be doomed by some bad weather late Friday night into early Saturday morning, but the WoMan above stepped in and treated us to some unseasonably cool and sunny weather.

There were a myriad of flags representing the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia to name a few. From mere appearance, it could have been mistaken for a United Nations gathering and not a gathering filled with music, food and lots of fun.

As a city where the Latino population represents 15.2% (as of July 2006), there are still few whites that attend the 2-day festivities, even though it is free and open to the public.

Is this a sign that Worcester, with its “every man’s city” appearance is still a city racially divided? Some may argue that that is still the case where 70.8% (as of July 2006) is White Non-Hispanic.

Worcester is a city that has direct ties to the Underground Railroad and it’s known as a city that is welcoming to people of all backgrounds, but that doesn’t nullify that the city has long struggled with the influx of immigrants.

As the city deals with the increase in immigrants and, in many cases non-English-speaking people, residents are having a hard time with the changes the city continues to go through. Coupled with the changing landscape throughout the city, it’s not hard to tell that Worcester has realized that it must change if the city is to continue to thrive for generations.

After reading the Worcester Telegram and Gazette article Excelente!, it was refreshing to read what one reporter’s take was on the festivities. The next thing that caught my attention was the number of reader comments, which as of 2 PM today stood at 18, many of which seemed to display a level of animosity and downright Haterade. Read the article and the comments for yourself here.

Knowing what I know about Worcester, it still comes as a surprise that so many people would take issue with folks celebrating their dual heritages by waving a flag from their country.

Issues of ignorance and a lack of depth come through in many of the comments that some seem to justify with sweeping remarks such as, “WE Fly the American Flag in this country. We Speak English, you need to learn it as well. Deport all Illegal Aliens now.......” as one poster known as Citizen of Worcester wrote.

I can write for hours about this topic, but I will surmise it as, “Ignorance breeds fear, fear fuels hatred and hatred feeds the ignorance”. Walk good, please!