Daily
Worcester
Wednesday, October 1st, 2025
Good morning, Worcester. Here's your local news at a glance for Wednesday, the 1st of October.
ACCIDENTS NEWS
- ➤ A.A.S. Trucking was fined $32K by MassDEP after a crash in September 2020 spilled 65 gallons of diesel on an I-290 ramp in Auburn and the company ignored cleanup notices for over five years, forcing the state to hire a contractor to remove contaminated sand+absorbents. Telegram & Gazette
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Longtime Worcester Magazine columnist Janice Harvey ended her regular column after 30 years and said she will now focus on two new writing projects (including a return to characters from her first novel and research on Depression-era Worcester) while marking the end of her teaching career. Telegram & Gazette
- ➤ On Sunday, Oct. 5, the Shrewsbury Street Italian Heritage Parade will start at Belmont Street by noon and march to Washington Square, featuring around 50 groups such as high school bands, cheer teams, and antique cars—keeping the eastbound lane clear for emergency vehicles. Joseph Falcone, a local business owner with 31 years in the trash disposal business, will serve as grand marshal as he rides on a flatbed truck with his mother. Telegram & Gazette
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Melissa Fischer from UMass Chan won the Alpha Omega Alpha Glaser Award for teaching medical students. She is the first faculty member in over 25 years to earn the honor and will share a $10,000 prize and additional teaching funds—marking a high point in education. UMass Chan Medical School
- ➤ WPI celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Data Science program today as founding director Professor Elke Rundensteiner explained how the program filled a talent gap by blending rigorous math and computer science with industry insights. The program continues to evolve with new courses in natural language processing and machine learning operations — preparing students to meet the demands of today’s data-driven workforce. Worcester Polytechnic Institute
- ➤ Worcester schools retained their status as not requiring assistance on MCAS tests with modest gains in elementary and middle school English scores and a dip in high school performance—likely due to the removal of 10th grade results as a graduation requirement. Thirty schools improved their accountability scores while 14 need intervention as graduation rates rose to 86% and absenteeism declined. Telegram & Gazette
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ District 2 candidate Rob Bilotta joined the Radio Worcester Roundtable to discuss political endorsements, housing affordability, city walkability, and the fare-free WRTA bus system. He emphasized the value of face-to-face contact—while panelists noted that a stronger public awareness of the bus system is needed. Radio Worcester
- ➤ Dr. Mattie Castiel stepped down at the end of September after 10 years as Worcester’s Health and Human Services Commissioner—she worked on addiction, homelessness, mental health, and new housing programs and will remain active in the community by cooking Cuban food at Café Reyes. Radio Worcester
- ➤ Yesterday, the Worcester City Council met with a packed agenda that covered public safety reports on police translation software, Shotspotter costs, gun violence calls, and a proposal for fire department recruitment events. The council also debated a resolution opposing a 287(g) agreement with ICE (this discussion comes ahead of the upcoming election). This Week in Worcester
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ At the 27th UMass Cancer Walk at Polar Park on Sept. 28, more than $450,000 was raised for cancer research and trials at UMass Chan. UMass Chan researcher and patient advocate Jill Zitzewitz—diagnosed with multiple myeloma—is set to begin new CAR T-cell treatment this October as she led her team in the fundraising effort. UMass Chan Medical School
- ➤ The Logan lab at UMass Chan Medical School received three NIH R01 grants totaling nearly $10 million to study opioid use disorder and the role of sleep and circadian rhythms in relapse vulnerability. The team will use single-cell transcriptomics from human and animal brain samples to identify new treatment targets. UMass Chan Medical School
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Jennifer Toland selected the top football performances from the weekend and Littleton's Jake Taglieri led the poll with 9,044 votes — narrowly edging Oakmont's David Roy and Lunenburg's Rory Ferguson in a contest of over 25,000 votes. Voters cast ballots from across Central Mass for standout plays from teams like Narragansett and Auburn. Telegram & Gazette
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Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas and Foghat
7:30-9 p.m. — The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts — Cost info not provided — Experience the legendary voices of Mickey Thomas and the rock sounds of Foghat.
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Scott Heron: Jam Camp North
10 a.m. — Prindle Pond Conference Center — $ — A weekend of jamming in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere featuring old-time and bluegrass music.
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Savage Ga$p, Grim Salvo, and Witchouse 40k Concert
7-8:30 p.m. — Palladium — Tickets available — Experience the electrifying performances of Savage Ga$p and friends live in Worcester.
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Alabama Live In Concert
7-8:30 p.m. — DCU Center — Tickets available — Experience the iconic country music sensation Alabama as they perform live in Worcester.
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Pink Martini Concert
8:00 – 9:30 PM — The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts — Ticket prices range from $87 to $303 — Experience an evening of eclectic music from the beloved Pink Martini.
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Johnny Mathis Concert
7:30-10:30 p.m. — The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts — Ticket prices vary — Experience the timeless voice of Johnny Mathis, an icon of pop music since the 1950s.
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Rock The GazBar
10:30 a.m.–11:59 p.m. — The GazBar Sports Grill — Registration fees apply — Run, walk, or cheer on participants during a fun 5k event for all ages.
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No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
If the path ahead of you is clear, you're probably on someone else's.
~ Joseph Campbell
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