We booked a jet blue flight out of providence in January with a 5:30 departure time on a Friday. Two weeks after booking they notified us that the flight schedule had changed and departure was now 9am. We had to reschedule to fly out of Logan, which wasn’t a huge issue but it does mean we have to leave Worcester much earlier than if we were flying out of providence.

We just had ours done. We got quotes in the fall of 2020 and didn’t go forward at that time, so I was really worried about how much more it would be now. We paid $10k all in, which was only $2kmore than our cheapest quote 2 years ago, so not that bad.

The well-known roofing companies were the highest quotes we got (tip top and kid-lukko). We called Seven Hills and they never returned our call.

They post OFTEN about this subject, and always include listings. It makes you wonder if they work in the industry. Otherwise they should just pick a town and buy a place so they can stop asking these same questions every month or so.

Paxton has a fairly high residential property tax rate. They offer a discounted rate to anyone over 65 (and there’s a lot of elderly living in Paxton) and they don’t have much in the way of commercial property to help offset the towns budgetary needs, so buying there is more expensive than the other larger wachusett towns.

Worcester wares sells a magnet and other TB paraphernalia. I bet if there was enough demand they could find a vendor to make mini statues.

Seriously? I’m hoping this is pure sarcasm because I’ve never interacted with more miserable government employees in my life. Even the RMV peeps are happier.

The high school is the same building built in the 50’s. They wanted to build new but the surrounding land is basically all swamp, so they were forced to renovate instead. And I would hardly say it’s one of the best in the state. It’s not bad, but it doesn’t hold a candle to Lexington or Weston or Newton or even Shrewsbury. In fact, one of the best ranked public high schools is in Worcester - MA Academy of Math and Science. It doesn’t traditionally appear on the “best of” lists because it’s only grades 11 and 12, seniors attend classes on WPI’s campus.

Also, OP, you’ve asked twice now, and I’m guessing another poster was also asking on your behalf (either that or it’s just incredibly coincidental that posts from different users seem to be seeking the same info). Asking multiple times won’t get you closer to what you want to hear. You need to talk to parents of kids currently in WRSD and ideally, would talk to them 1:1 rather than in a long post that reveals tons of personal info in a group forum - there’s a wachusett specific FB group for residents of the 5 towns, it’s called Wachu-chat. I would reach out and see if any current parents would be willing to speak you 1:1. Fair warning, that FB group can be nasty so don’t post as much as you included here (which should tell you something about some of the people who live in Holden).

Because math is hard? Subtract $100k from assessed value and then multiply by .015. Not sure where the deception comes into that, but my personal calculator came up with a number that is entirely consistent with the one on the research bureau’s page. Either way I’m looking at $53. Yay basic math!!

We’re talking $50/year on average for most homeowners which then allows the city to access additional state funds to improve our green spaces and provide other community benefits. Many other cities and town in MA have been accessing those funds for 20 years while Worcester has been twiddling its collective thumbs. Worcester redditors are constantly complaining that the city is backwards and small minded (and they’re not wrong bc the elderly voters have long determined the city’s priorities). The CPA is a perfect example of a way to improve Worcester that will likely fail if the elderly voters have their way.

I wouldn’t be surprised if those kids were there thru a DCF voucher. DCF is quick to ignore any hint of neglect or abuse when it’s happening in a contracted facility and MA is arguably the worst state in the country for kids in foster care.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/09/23/metro/mother-12-year-old-girl-who-died-dcf-custody-nobody-has-given-me-an-answer-anything/

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/10/01/governor-baker-discuss-death-child-auburn-foster-home/ZPAl2dSv94tHsTlXIe5bQL/story.html

https://friendsofchildreninc.org/failing-our-kids/

In central MA they investigate EVERYTHING that occurs in poor towns and they put plenty of kids into foster care because their parents are doing things like following doctor prescribed suboxone treatment plans or being too poor to afford daycare.

So long. So many waitlists.

OP - Pediatric Behavioral Health is pretty good. But you didn’t say what kind of insurance you have and that makes a HUGE difference because many of the behavioral health/pediatric OT places in central MA don’t take certain types of insurance. Insurance like United and MassHealth seem to be relegated to some of the worst providers.

Edited for clarity

Greenleaf Terrace!

Private schools are not obligated to take kids with special needs and most won’t even discuss enrolling a child with autism. They lack the resources to properly address their needs.

Why isn’t your cousin doing this research? It’s his life and his kid. No offense, but I wouldn’t dispatch my cousin to who had no knowledge of the area to make these kinds of inquiries on my behalf.

You’ll find plenty of provincially minded folks in the wachusett school district. Diversity isn’t really a thing, but it’s slightly better than when I went to school there. We had one Asian kid in my entire graduating class of 450 kids.

Roots and press is my favorite place to get coffee

I’m second gen and not one member of my family has ever attended that parade or paid any kind of weird tribute to Columbus.

Based on Spectrum News reporting, it was mostly attended by Candy Mero-Carlson, children on floats, and boomers with thick Worcester accents.

They usually recommend 4-7 even on weekdays.

It looks like a blanket of brown. And not pretty brown. Past peak is very blah.

Edited: maaaaybe you’ll have some luck driving her south on 395 into CT. It depends on how quickly things change. Most of the bright maples are popping now in Worcester, so expect a week or two of foliage.

Tidepool

We’ve had many events at o’connors. The best part is that it’s incredibly easy on and off 190.

Just make sure they don’t book you in the long narrow room, the larger square room in the back is much better.

This isn’t uncommon. It could be weather (high cross winds), mechanical issues with the plane, or JetBlue needing that plane in Boston for some reason. Before they installed the landing system fog was the usual reason for a diversion.

https://www.worcestermag.com/story/news/2018/06/01/massport-concerned-about-flight-issues-between-worcester-regional-jfk-airports/10908390007/

They’re a small chain and have locations in Worcester and Holden as well.

Second Berkshire Bank. I have my heat loan with them also and they have been fabulous over the 4 years we’ve been dealing with them.

I generally prefer credit unions, but as far as banks go Berkshire has been great.