Category Archives: Neighborhood Roundup

Go, Gordon Davis, go!!!!!!!!

STOP Arresting Kids at School! … and THE REAL RACE DIALOGUES

By Gordon Davis

In September 2015 there were reports of two fights between kids at North High School in Worcester. The details of the fights are sketchy, but it appears that the first fight was between two female students. That fight was broken up and the students taken to the office where while still upset they refused to comply with instructions given to them. Instead of being sent home and having them return with their parents, the two girls were arrested. Something similar happened with two male students.

When I went to high school I got into fights, but the police were never called and the disputes were handled administratively.

In both cases at North High School there were charges that nine staffers were assaulted but not injured or harmed when they tried to break up the respective fights. How the staffers were assaulted was not described in the news story. An assault is defined as a threat or an attempt to injury without actually injury. Battery is the charge for injury or harm intentionally inflicted.

It might have been better for all concerned for the students not to have been arrested at school. Arresting kids in the heat of the moment when there is no immediate clear and present danger will, more likely than not, lead to bad decisions by the staff and the police, as well as be harmful to the kids. The schools know who the kids are and where they live; there is no chance that they will flee the state. There is no need for arrests.

Should there be a need for legal actions then this should be decided after the emotions of the event have passed. The child and parent could be summoned to court. The whole concept of putting children in handcuffs and having them booked  at the police is not good pedagogy.

On September 19, 2015, a new group called Men of Color Think Tank organized what it called “Real Race Dialogues.” The Men of Color Think Tank seems to be an outgrowth of the BlackLives Matter new civil rights movement.  Its membership is multi-racial, but some people are called “white allies” instead of members.

Michael Jerry one of the organizers of the event and apparent spokes person for Men of Color Think Tank gave an inspirational introduction to the Real Race Dialogues.

Although enthusiastic, many of the things he spoke about have a history in Worcester. For example, Mr. Jerry thought the best way to get a person of color elected was to have a slate of candidates. It is generally accepted that bullet voting is the better way to get a candidate elected. It is bullet voting that is thought to allow the top vote getters to get the most votes. Mr. Jerry’s enthusiasm and seeming ability to look at new ideas will go a long way to help the organization and its goals.

At the so called Real Race dialogues there was a table at which the participants discussed education. My impression is that there was honest and creative talk about racial issues in Worcester. Our table included parents, teachers, students, and other people sincere in their desire to end racial disparities in schools.  

Several issues came to be discussed: the development of a school to job pipeline, the coordinating of organizations working with children to ensure that each child at risk has a mentor, alternative curriculum and after school programs, and the ways of reversing the false perception of North High Schools as “bad” kids.

The issue of North High School took up most of the discussion time and some concrete plans were made including changing school policies such that no kids are arrested at school. Although this no arresting kids at school policy makes good pedagogy and common sense,  expelling the  criminal justice system out of the  schools will be a difficult task as many people still fear Black and Latino and poor kids . These misguided people, some of whom are racists, want to use the power of the state to “control” the dark skin people they fear.

From the Worcester Tree Initiative

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Dodge Park Cleanup!

Join us on Wednesday, Sept 9, at Dodge Park on Randolph Road, in the Burncoat neighborhood!

5:30 p.m.- 7:30 p.m.

We provide the rakes, bags, etc. You provide the people power!

Be there, tree lovers!

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From CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF WORCESTER …

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(you can learn so much American history – and Worcester history! – at the magnificent Worcester Historical Museum, located at 30 Elm St. One of the many history books they sell … pic: R.T.)

Free 2015 Citizenship Classes!

Are you ready and eligible to become a U.S. Citizen?

Starting September 24, Catholic Charities is providing citizenship classes at 10 Hammond St.

Thursdays from 6:00 – 8:00 pm or Fridays from 9:00 – 11:00 am.

Ongoing registration through November.

For more information please call Maddy Hennessy at 508 860 2261 or email  mhennessy@ccworc.org.

Youth and Gang Violence: Current efforts by the Worcester Police Department

Worcester Community Connections Coalition’s Family Needs Committee
and the Spanish Parent Education Workshop
of YOU Inc.
Invite you to attend a discussion on …
 
Youth and Gang Violence

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Current efforts by the Worcester Police Department
&
What parents can do to help
 
Provided by
Sargent Miguel Lopez of
The Worcester Police Department

A Forum for Worcester Parents
 
Tuesday, September 8

5:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.

At 484 Main St., Suite 450
Worcester
 
Dinner and Supervision for Children will be provided.

Translation in Spanish available.

Please call 508-796-1411 to RSVP

Tomorrow! Buy some fresh, local produce and other goodies at Beaver Brook!

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Tomorrow! FRIDAY!

Every Friday ’til mid-October!

It’s the REC Beaver Brook Farmers Market!

9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

At Beaver Brook Park

306 Chandler St, Worcester
(across from Foley Stadium)

Fresh from WORCESTER COUNTY FARMS: vegetables, fruit, bread, plants … and more!

Check it out!

Plenty of free off-street parking!

Cash, credit, debit …

… WIC and Senior Citizen coupons …

… and EBT/SNAP all accepted!

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Today! Veggies, fruit, bread and other goodies for sale! Plus FREE YOGA! It’s all happening at the REC Farmers Market at Fuller Family Park

… in Main South!

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REC Main South Farmer’s Market!

Today!

Saturday, July 25!

… behind the Central Branch YMCA in Main South – at Fuller Family Park!

9:30 am – 1 pm

FREE yoga!

Arts and crafts for sale!

Free live music!

Free kids activities!

Purchase …

fresh, AFFORDABLE veggies!

fresh, AFFORDABLE fruit!

Fresh eggs!

Bread!

And other Worcester County home-grown goodies!

SNAP, WIC, Senior Citizen farmers market coupons accepted!

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FROM REC:

At REC we offer farmers’ markets six days each week at locations throughout Worcester now through the end of October.

In addition to our Main South farmers market, join our farmers on:

Mondays & Fridays at our Beaver Brook Market

And Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays join our Mobile Farmers Market at 15 different locations throughout Worcester!

What makes REC Community Farmers Markets different?

When you shop REC Community Farmers Markets, you are not only enjoying the freshest local food, you are supporting local farmers, supporting jobs for local youth, and helping your neighbors gain access to healthy, fresh & affordable food! Shop REC & Support Our Community!

Interns needed for REC mobile farmers market!

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REC is looking for some great young folks to learn about FOOD JUSTICE, BRINGING FRESH LOCAL PRODUCE AND MORE TO INNER-CITY WOO NEIGHBORHOODS and more! Learn about farming, gardening, sales, customer service, navigating the streets of Worcester!

For more information, call REC at (508) 799-9139

To learn more about REC’s mobile farmers market and its Beaver Brook farmers market AND its Saturday Main South farmers market, CLICK HERE! 

– pic + text – R.T.

Harlow Street neighborhood happening!

From the Greenhill Neighborhood Association and the Harlow Safe Streets Neighborhood Watch:

You are invited to join us for our annual PICNIC at the PARK!

Saturday, August 1

Rain date: Sunday, August 2

At the new/improved Grant Square Park, off  Lincoln Street –  corner of Northampton & Windsor streets

1 pm – 4 pm

Join us for our annual get together at our newly renovated park! Bring your own lawn chair/blanket!

FUN ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS!

Come meet with our State Rep, Mayor, City Councilor and other Government Officials!

EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

(Pups, too?  Jett, below, about 1 wk ago. – R.T.)

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Wednesday and Thursday! Worcester Farmers’ Market Coupon Distribution Kickoff!

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Elder Services of Worcester Area’s Nutrition Program and Friendly House wish to announce the MA Dept. of Agricultural Resources Farmers’ Market Coupon Kick Off Events

Wednesday, July 22

10 am – 12noon

Worcester Youth Center
(Beaver Brook)
306 Chandler St.

&

Thursday, July 23

10 am – 12noon
Worcester Senior Center
128 Providence St.

As available, first come, first served.
Distribution will begin July 22, and coupons must be redeemed by October 31, 2015.

Eligibility requirements:

Recipients must be at least 60 years old
Must meet income requirement; be at or below  185% of Federal Poverty Line (Single$ 21,774.50 annual/ $1,814.54 month ; Couple $29,470.50 annual/ $2,455.88)

Picture ID, proof of address, and recipient signature required.

A few days ago I spied …

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… me, Rosalie!, visiting Unique Finds Antique and Vintage Gifts Shop, at 1329 Main St., Worcester.

What was I doing there?

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Checking out some vintage tools for the OIF (it’s his birthday next month) …

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But I should have walked away with a bit of lovely Italia!

American style!

Visit Unique Finds Antique and Vintage gifts shop in the Webster Square area of Worcester (1329 Main St., by Henshaw Street) TODAY!

Fun weekend treasure-hunting!

Open every day until 7 p.m.

Great stuff! For not a lot of $!

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Today’s also a great day to HEAD OUT TO REC FARMERS MARKET at FULLER FAMILY PARK, behind the Main South YMCA.

FRESH, STRAIGHT FROM WORCESTER COUNTY FARMS: Veggies, fruit, bread and other yummies for sale. BEST PRICES in town!

PLUS A FREE YOGA CLASS!

Plus LIVE MUSIC!

Plus local artists selling their arts and crafts!

HAPPY SUMMER SATURDAY!

– Rosalie Tirella

Tomorrow! Free Music! Farmers Market! CITY HALL common and Elm Park

11:30 am – 2 pm

Farmers Market and live band and artisans selling their crafts!

Worcester City Hall Common

Free parking underneath City Hall parking garage

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Then …

Starting at 6:30 pm

FREE LIVE MUSIC

ELM PARK

ELM PARK CONCERT SERIES BEGINS!

Great rock, blues, folk, jazz bands every Thursday eve, into August!

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One of my fave WOO Summer Concert SERIES!

FREE!

– R. Tirella