inner city

By Sue Moynagh

I have very few memories of my father, Donald Moynagh. He died in January 1957 at the age of 28 from complications following what should have been a routine operation. I was 4 years old at the time, but I remember saying goodbye as he packed to leave for the hospital. I also remember walking up Harrison Street with my Aunt Helen, heading towards Dirsa’s Funeral Parlor on Providence Street. She asked if I would like to give my father a flower and I said yes. I took the carnation she had plucked from a wreath and placed it in my father’s hand, alongside his rosary. A flag was draped over the coffin. At some level, I understood he would not be coming home again.

Other memories vary in length and clarity, like clips from a video or the grainy black and white snapshots in a photo album. I remember visiting his parents in East Brookfield. Their home was on Lake Lashaway where he loved to swim. I was playing in the shallow water while he swam further out. My mother and grandmother sat nearby, but I decided I wanted to “swim” to him. The next thing I remember was being under the water Click to continue »

By Hannah Payne

The Regional Environmental Council is an environmental justice organization working in Worcester since 1971. This year we are excited to launch a second farmer’s market location as part of our Food Justice Program. The first market has been running since 2008 and is located in the parking lot of the YMCA (766 Main St.) and runs from 10 am - 2 pm every Saturday. The new market is located in Great Brook Valley at the Great Brook Valley Health Center (19 Tacoma St.) and runs from 9 am - 1 pm on Saturdays. This is the first year for the Great Brook Valley market, which had its grand opening June 19. The REC hopes to spread the success of the Main South market to Great Brook Valley. Through the farmer’s markets the REC aims to provide fresh and local produce and food at affordable prices to the Main South and Great Brook Valley communities. With this mission in mind the farmer’s markets accept WIC and senior coupons as well as SNAP (food stamp) benefits.

One of the best things about the REC’s farmer’s markets is that you don’t need cash to shop at the market, credit, debit and EBT cards are all accepted in addition to cash and WIC and senior coupons. One of the most exciting elements is that if you make purchases with your SNAP (food stamp) card all purchases are half price! Local, organic produce is typically expensive in grocery stores but at these farmer’s markets it is accessible to all, thanks to the already reasonable prices and the SNAP deal. Click to continue »

By Rosalie Tirella

Last week I wrote the piece about FHC’s inability to process SNAP (Food Stamp) applications.

First, I got a call from the wonderful Dennis Irish who, in his typical even-handed, thoughtful way, told me yes, the SNAP program had been stopped at FHC. He also told me FHC reapplied for grant $ and got it - so now FHC will once again be able to take Food Stamp applications! This is great!

Dennis also said he would get an email out to me, with more info., which he did:

Here it is:

Hello Rosalie,

Dennis Irish has asked me to follow up with you regarding SNAP outreach happening around the city. In addition to being able to apply at DTA as well as at St. Vincents Hospital and at UMass Memorial Hospital, SNAP application assistance is available at a variety of locations in the city. With the help of Project Bread funding, Family Health now has SNAP application assistance and information available daily from 9:30-2:30. Also, through continued funding from the Health Foundation of Central MA, Hunger-Free & Healthy is able to fund a mobile SNAP Outreach worker that travels to a variety of sites including Jeremiah’s Inn, Friendly House, Click to continue »

By Rosalie Tirella

After reading all the pieces on Joe O’Brien’s inauguration day festivities (I wasn’t invited to the ball and InCity Times was emailed no public announcement about it to post in the paper so our readers could attend - unlike two years ago, when Konnie Lukes became mayor and I got ALL the info and a beautiful invitation to boot), I ask: Will things really change in Worcester with Joe at the helm? Will O’Brien really be any different from a pol who rewards his pals and punishes anyone who doesn’t agree with him? More important: Will things really change/improve in the Worcester Public Schools now that Mayor O’Brien says he wants to make the WPS system the best urban school system in America?

Actions speak louder than words, my momma always told me. This is what I have to go on so far: Click to continue »

By Rosalie Tirella

One day District 4 City Councilor Barbara Haller got a call from a constituent. The person lived in Main South and was annoyed as hell. There was a cleaning company across the street power washing/vacuuming the wall-to-wall carpeting in the apartment building across the street. Trouble was the power vacuum’s big hose was being run up the side of the building - not taken inside to do the job - so all the vacuuming (and crap being sucked up) was whooshing and brrr-brr-ing in the middle of the neighborhood - for everybody to hear.

Haller went to check it out. God! What a racket! The truck and its machine were loud. Haller could see why the neighbors were so upset. Then she made the classic Barbara Haller move - she went up to the truck, poked her head inside its window and yanked the plug out. The noise stopped; the machine stopped. The neighborhood was peaceful again. “I didn’t know I was going to do that until I got there,” Haller says.

The guys running the machinery ran out to see what was going one - and got miffed at hands-on Haller. Haller called Building and Code on her mobile phone - and after some negotiating, the City of Worcester made the company install mufflers on its giant vacuum cleaner. Thank you, Building and Code. Thank you, Barbara Haller.

One autumn day Haller sees a guy - obviously drunk - sprawled out on a Piedmont neighborhood street. He is scrawny, unshaved and sporting an unhealthy complexion. Haller, a dumpling shaped 60 year old, parks her little SUV by the curb and jumps out. She walks up to the guy, looks down on him. The guy - even in his drunken stupor - recognizes Haller. With a sigh he acknowledges this apparition. In an exasperated tone of voice he says, “I’m fine, Barbara Haller. I’m fine.” He waves her away. Haller is uncomfortable with this. But the guy tells her he can stay on the curb if he wants. He is annoyed. “Barbara Haller,” he says again and then falls back on the sidewalk again.

Seems everyone in District 4 knows their city councilor. Click to continue »