What does Craigslist’s “free” section say about a city?

Posted by Jeremy Shulkin

I’ve been playing with this idea that you can learn a lot about a city/town by what gets posted on the “free” section of its craigslist page. I scanned through the last week of postings and here are some highlights:

National Grid wants to green your house

Posted by Jeremy Shulkin

National Grid is looking to be a greener, more energy efficient company (according to their press release). Most of the time press releases don’t capture my attention, but they’re creating some new or enhanced services that can potentially save a lot of people a lot of money as part of a statewide initiative through the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities. Here’s what they’re now offering:

Mayor launches “Locally Owned Locally Made” campaign today

Posted by Jeremy Shulkin

Today at 2:00 Mayor Joe O’Brien will be at Guertin Graphics as part of a campaign to highlight local manufacturing. This is the first in a monthly series of stops to highlight the importance of local business and manufacturing on Worcester’s economy.

Noted in the press release is that Guertin Graphics makes the official keys to the city. Apparently, Mayor O’Brien has already given out 11 in little over a month. He’ll be making key number 12 himself during his visit.

For more information, contact Isabel Gonzalez at the Mayor’s office.

Are your kids bored at home?

Posted by Jeremy Shulkin

Over 80 Worcester teens are traveling to Boston tomorrow to protest cuts to the state’s youth job funding, but first they’ll be meeting today from 2:00 to 4:00 at the Worcester Youth Center for a “pre-rally” to make signs and hear speakers.

Tomorrow’s rally starts at 1:30 at the Park St. station, and will proceed to the State House. Meetings with representatives are also slated.

Local groups involved in this are the Oak Hill CDC (508-754-2858) and the Pleasant St. Neighborhood Center (508-754-7793). We’re still waiting for word on how Worcester teens will get to Boston tomorrow. There will be a bus leaving Worcester tomorrow at 12:00 and returning at 6:00. Contact Patricia Mallios (pmallios@oakhillcdc.org) at the Oak Hill CDC for more details.

Blog Log Digital 2/17/10

Posted by Tim O’Keefe

Posted by “Bill Randell” on worcesterma.blogspot.com

Last week I ran into a friend that I went to high school with that works for one of the major cigarette companies, who told me about the stores on the New Hampshire border selling 5,000 cartons per week. He also commented how baldy the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has killed the cigarette business. Not only has the Commonwealth taxed cigarettes to the point of pushing people into other states, but there are alot of little things. Remember all the Philip Morris that you would see around (coats, jackets, hats, etc). All of this is illegal in Massachusetts including coupons. Many times I have had people come in with coupons, only to tell them that we can not accept to which the customer says I will just save them for when I go to New Hampshire. It would be one thing if all 50 states were doing the same thing, but Massachusetts acting alone has hurt many Massachusetts businesses and themselves through lower tax collections.

Posted by “SFD” on unfashionablesentiments.blogspot.com

Listed at #10 on Baseball Prospectus’ prospect list for the Toronto Blue Jays is Worcester’s own Tim Collins.  Tim was born and raised in Worcester, and played for Ted Williams Little League, West Side Babe Ruth, Main South Legion and Worcester Voke.   He was signed as an undrafted minor league free agent in 2007 by Worcester native and former Blue Jays GM J.P. Riccardi. Tim finished the season last year with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Double A) in Mancherster, NH.  He was the youngest player on the Fisher Cats, and will probably spend the season there.  It’s a great ballpark, so take a trip up north to see a local baseball player working his way up the minor leagues.

No City Council tonight

Posted by Jeremy Shulkin

Like a jilted date, my heart sunk when I found out there would be no 2/16 council meeting

There’s no City Council meeting tonight, and all subcommittee activity is off until Traffic and Parking meets on March 1st. Of all the meetings, City of Worcester, you pick two days after Valentine’s Day to cancel our weekly date? There had better not be an “it’s not you, it’s me” around the corner.

New look for Diversions

Posted by Jeremy Shulkin

Our A&E blog, WorcesterDiversions, has a totally revamped look. I’ve been exploring the new, easy to use tabs while sitting around the office on President’s Day waiting for someone–anyone–to return my phone calls.

The internet is great

Posted by Jeremy Shulkin, passed along by Brittany Durgin

I wish I could say this old advertisement for Worcester Magazine was “from our vault,” but we don’t have one. It’s just floating out there on the internet, thanks to Blair Media.

Here’s another one, this time for the Common Outlets.

There’s more time-warping at www.blairmedia.tv. Make sure you see the Maurice the Pants Man spot.