Somebody's watching!

Due to my fellow bloggers, I've been paying more attention to the "traffic cams" in Worcester.

Well, I guess this means that all the folks that have the bad habit of "creeping" through crosswalks while sitting at red lights will receive a ticket in the mail? I sure hope so because I'm tired of seeing pedestrians getting clipped.

And, if the cameras just so happen to spot me dancing to Otis or some other Motown greats, that's alright. But if the City chooses to make some extra money by submitting the video to "America's Funniest Home Videos", please make sure my check is made payable to my legal name.

Thank you!

Road trippin': How often do you venture to Boston?

I was speaking with a neighbor the other day. After the usual topics about family, work, the weather and the economy, we started discussing the fact that, George, rarely goes to Boston.

I had to ask him when was the last time he'd been to Boston; he said it had probably been 2-years. "Wow", was my response.

Now, I used to live in Boston, and whenever I had to venture West of 495, I thought there was very little "life" beyond that major highway (I'm just being honest).

I venture to Boston about every 4-weeks, and it's usually to meet someone who's visiting or on my way to Logan airport.

I remember when my family and I moved to Worcester and we used to spend our weekends in Boston because we knew the city, had our favorite restaurants to dine at, and we had friends that lived there still.

That has since changed with many friends opting to move to Georgia, North Carolina and Florida to be closer to family and to raise their families.

With the debate percolating regarding the commuter train expansion of their service, I wonder if we can expect a few technological companies calling Worcester their home?

So, that belies the question: How often do you visit Boston?

Local Heroes: UMASS Injury Prevention Team

As a continuation of the series entitled "Local Heroes", today we learn about the UMASS Injury Prevention Team was honored, but, particularly, 4 individuals were highlighted: Dr. Michael Hirsch, Dr. Mariann Manno, Esther Borer, and Allison Rook.

The UMASS Injury Prevention Team focuses on caring for children as well as educating children on such topics and safe pedestrian, bicycle and car safety, teenager smart driving rules, and overall safety to prevent falls or accidents.

On March 24, 2011, the American Red Cross of Central and Western Massachusetts recognized a number of people in the community as "local heroes".  The list included:

• Dr. Michael Hirsh and Dr. Mariann Manno of UMASS Memorial Medical Center Injury Prevention Office.
• Worcester Firefighters Local 1009 Ramp Gang.
• Brenda Jenkins
• Joseph Deranamie
• The Belmont Street Baptist Church Haiti Team

Here's a short video that was put together by the American Red Cross of Central and Western Massachusetts, and filmed by Ryan Hughes.

Intersecting Life

I know some people that avoid Kelly Square as if it were the the plague.

Whenever someone who isn't familiar with Worcester and happens to drive through Kelly Square, I love hearing their comments such as,"That intersection is CRAZY and people drive through there like they've lost their mind!" Yeah, that sounds about right.

Wormtown Fleet: Lake Avenue

It's been some 10-years that someone showed me a brilliant cut-through to get to Lincoln Street without getting on the highway.  Finding little 'shortcuts' like this are what make living in a town or city alot of fun and, at the same time, frustrating.

The pluses are too numerous to mention and I won't bore you with the details.

The minuses are as follows:

•  Whoever decided to install a stop light on this single lane road, in either direction, is a (you fill in the blank).

• The people that live along this stretch of road are probably tired of cars treating this road as their own person drag strip.
• The people that live along this stretch of road are probably sick and tired of the plethora of cars that stop at the light and are blaring their music.

 So, the next time your 'cutting through' on Lake Avenue please be mindful of the residents that live there and turn down your Whitesnake.  Thank you!

Follow the Wormtown Fleet by clicking here.

Text while driving......Where they do that?

For the handful of folks that actually read the Worcester Is MAJOR! blog know that I'm a BIG advocate for Massachusetts banning texting while driving.  So far it looks like that day is coming and, of course, there are a number of companies that have been developing "apps" to handle your text messages while driving.

Back in November 2009, I was riding with a friend in New York City and he was using a program called Voice on the Go, which he could "speak" his text message to send it to someone, but the messed up thing was that it didn't read the replies back to him.  I thought, "You pay how much a month for this service?" It cost him an additional $6 per month.

I wonder how long it will take Google or similar start-up to corner the market and create an app that can be used on a number of cellphones and work properly?

I'm just holding out for cochlear-like cellphone that we'll be able to make calls through a voice-activated system and they'll be paired with some cool ass glasses/ sunglasses that we'll be able to read our emails and text messages right on the lenses.  Hey, don't call me crazy.  It's already being developed and I'm sure I'll see it and use it in my lifetime.

Bus Says STOP

The Cracker Jack Drivers (yeah, that's what they are & what I've now
labeled them) were in full-effect mode on Granite Street this afternoon.

I saw two cars drive right by this bus while it's lights were flashing and
the STOP sign was visible.

I wish I had the presence of mind to write down their license plate
numbers because I would have listed them on WIM and then shared them
with WPD.

Worcester Traffic

Want to know what the traffic is like in Worcester, then you have to take a look at the "Beat the Traffic" website that gives you up-to-the-minute updates about accidents, road delays and construction site.

Just make sure to smile, because that way people will wonder what you're up to.

Fix your Mirrors

I think this should be mandatory reading for all drivers in Massachusetts. Maybe, just maybe, it'll eliminate some of the blind-spot caused accidents I've seen on the Mass Turnpike.

Adjust your Mirrors!

Driving in Worcester

I've been meaning to set-up my car web camera, but I've been sidetracked by my mother's hip surgery, but I finally got around to it today and decided to do some testing while making my way through Kelly Square.

This is just the beginning.

New Law: No Texting while Driving

I hope this law is passed and then, hopefully, we'll see a law banning holding a cellphone to your ear while driving in Massachusetts as well?

I'm tired of drivers almost running over pedestrians or slamming into my vehicle while trying to turn a corner while attempting not to drop their cellphone.

Walking Honestly

The man dubbed "The Last Honest Man In Worcester" by Jeff of Wormtowntaxi.com and other fellow bloggers in Worcester, I happened to have spotted The Man walking on Main Street and snapped this picture while I was waiting at the light.

I was trying to read his sign, but couldn't because he was spinning it
on some homemade rotational device! Props for creativity!

Walk GOOD Honest Man!

Driving in The Woo!

This picture was taken on Hammond Street heading towards Main Street
at 8:50 am.

I have always said that driving in Massachusetts is a true test in
'defensive driving', but it takes a special person to drive in The Woo!

Driving in Worcester, well, you have to account for the random
person stopping in the middle of the road to 'hail up' (read: say
hello) someone or, on occassion, reach around to smack the ish out of
kid or sorry back-seat driver.

Thank goodness I had the best driving instructor a person could
have.....my mother and the rolling, steep, cliff-lined roads of St.
John a/k/a/ Love City!

The Delay

Worcester area schools are delayed for two hours this morning due to ice on the roads, this all after many being out of school since December 11th.

While at a soccer game yesterday, I overheard a few parents talking about the NEED for their children to go to school and how it's been difficult for some to keep their children busy.

Y'all be safe on the roads and please remember to take it slow.

No. 4477: It's time to Enforce it!

From Drop Box

Living in a city such as Worcester causes folks such as myself, who have lived in various parts of New England and the world, to shake my head in amazement and oftentimes will induce a chuckle or smile that warrants an "odd" look by those standing near me. Well, from this point going forward, I will no longer chuckle, smile or shake my head! There I wrote it and I'm sticking to it.

You may be asking, what's got Dee in such a fuss? Well, it's very easy and it's all the darn folks that drive around the City of Worcester with their cellphone plastered to their ear!!

Earlier today, while driving through the down pour on Route 20, I was almost side- swiped by a tobacco chewing, confederate flag sticker affixed to the rear bumper driving, while talking on a cellphone driver who couldn't slow down or get off the cellphone long enough to properly check their side-view mirrors. Thank goodness Mother taught me to be a "defensive" driver and to, "watch out for all the horrible drivers that happen to be on the road." Mother is always right.

If you're not familiar with No. 4477, the law was passed by the House on January 23, 2008, and in a nutshell the law regulates the use of certain communication devices while operating a motor vehicle.

While the law may have garnered attention due to dissuading teenagers from texting while driving, by being hit with fines, it does ban the use of hand-held cellphones and other electronic devices.

So, the next time you see me coming and you're talking on your cellphone, do like the New Yorkers do and quickly put away the cellphone!

Be safe out there!

School is back in session so please be safe out there and to the fools driving around doing 55 MPH in a 20 MPH zone, Stop IT!

School is back in session!

It's no longer 'Beat LA' it's....

Worcester catches an "L", as in LOSER!



Stay tuned!

Snow Days

If you look out your window in Worcester County or any other area throughout New England, it appears that we're living in the world of the "snow globe" and it's causing some folks to get heated.

With the snow storm that struck New England on Thursday(12/13), it seems like the clock struck 12 o'clock and it slowly started to flurry and the flurries led to an all-out snow storm.

Worcester Public Schools were released between 12:15 PM and 1PM and all the parents/ guardians that were picking up the snowbound tikes, were not only battling mother nature, but they also had to contend with folks who either forgot how to drive in the snow or didn't know in the first place. My money is on the latter.

Well, as folks hit the roadways and some ventured on the Massachusetts Turnpike, either East or West bound, they had to deal with a number of cars driving too fast or the occasional 18-wheeler that jack-knifed due to an errant driving going too fast and slamming on the brakes, thus causing a chain reaction of brakes being slammed on cars swerving all over the road.


So, as you prepare for round 2 of the snow, please take your time on the roads and if you don't have to venture out for something "important"......stay your ass at home, please!

Beauty in the City

For a city that has been down on itself for more years than I can remember, what strikes me as beautiful and inviting, may strike some folks as a downright pain in the ass.

Take for instance, Union Station. Have you ever tried driving by the station around 6:45 PM? Well, not only is the station buzzing with people returning from a long day of work in Boston or Framingham, it’s the site of the infamously known Washington Square.
I’ve lived in Worcester for 7-years and there has not been a year that goes by when there hasn’t been some type of construction taking place in the area. I think someone can’t make up their mind on the area is decides to dig up the circle and roads in order to afford their expensive bottles of Vino or pay for a child’s college education.

What I’ve found is there are a number of drivers that avoid Washington Square like the plague, similarly to Kelly Square. You know Kelly Square, the 7-headed beast of an intersection that will leave a driver with whiplash from having to looking back-and-forth checking and double-checking for oncoming traffic.

I might have to speak with Commissioner Robert Moylan, Jr. about the continued construction and the promise that, “The majority of the work will be done this year,” as he was quoted in the Telegram &Gazette on August 25, 2007.

Well, I certainly hope we’re past the “rough patch” of the construction phase and the roundabout will be completed in early 2008.

I know, I’m asking for a lot when old-man winter is around the corner and construction workers don’t enjoy working outdoors when the weather plays foul. Well, I take consolation in, if the weather is anything like the fall of 2006, the weather won’t get bad until after Three Kings Day.

You're Kidding Me!

Thursday is off to an odd start, but still a good one nonetheless.

While driving this morning, taking my daughter to school, I come to an intersection where I see the above car with the driver, who just so happens to be hanging his arm out the driver's side window while holding a bottle of Poland Spring water. Well, the next thing I see is the driver toss the plastic bottle to the ground! Now, I'm thinking, "No he didn't!" But sure enough he did just litter.

So I decided to pulled over & attempted to get his attention, but I had to make a turn to take my daughter to school before the dreaded "first bell" ringing. Well, I was able to get right behind him and snap the picture you see above.

Now, we at Worcester Is MAJOR! will begin the search for who the driver was & we'll be sure to post their name as a litter bug!

So, the morale of the story is....be careful on the roads & don't be a Litter BUG! We're watching!