Officials bash Worcester by their silence

Officials bash Worcester by their silence
by Clive McFarland

In trying to explain his decision to upgrade his housing accommodation from a $215,000 ranch in Paxton to a $350,000 colonial in Holden, Worcester Salvation Army Maj. Michael Copeland suggested his new abode was the least he was owed for having to serve the city’s denizens, from whom, for survival sake, it was necessary to separate himself at the end of the day. That in itself was a kick in the teeth of Worcester residents, and the good major went on to suggest that it was not possible to establish a home of rest and relaxation in the city, because its schools were not good enough for the children of Salvation Army officers. Remainder of article

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Best article Clive has ever written in my own less than humble opinion!

CVS Park & May

Sign says open January 24th...

Chandler Street Business Association - meeting with Community Healthlink

The Business Officers of the Chandler Street Business Association had a very productive meeting with Community Healthlink CEO, Deborah Ekstrom last night at Worcester's newest hotbed for food, refreshments & good times with family and friends - EVO Restaurant

The purpose of the meeting was to educate the Village of Piedmont business and resident community leaders on the plans for the new additional human health services being performed at Community Healthlink that pertain to prior human health services provided and not provided at the PIP Shelter on Main Street.

Many thanks to Ms. Ekstrom for taking time to keep the Village of Piedmont business and resident community in the loop and she has pledged to keep us in the loopIn attendance: Deborah Ekstrom - Community Healthlink, Robert Thomas - MLK Business Empowerment Center, Al Maykel - Living Earth & EVO Restaurant, Wm. Randell - Advantage Benefits, Andrew Serrato - Serrato Sign, Paul Collyer - B.A. Event Promotions, Richard Kazarian - Keystone Plaza

Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area accomplishments - Chandler Street Business Association

The Chandler Street Business Association has been working very hard on the NRSA Program....it has had many accomplishments to date.

Chandler Street Business Association - June 2009 Meeting

The Chandler Street Business Association June 2009 monthly meeting will be on June 17th - 10:00 A.M. at EVO Restaurant 232 Chandler Street.

EVO is a new restaurant next door to Living Earth - great new addition to the neighborhood.

NRSA Update

Through the end of the second fiscal year (June 30, 1008), the Chandler NRSA has been awarded some 286,000. As of December 31, 2007, only 43,217.37 has been invested. In other words we have approximately $242,800 left untapped.

Right now we are going to focus on three years to see that these monies are invested:

1. facades
2. cleaning and beautification of Chandler Street
3. traffic islands sponsored by the Chandler Business Group

Does anyone know anyone who can decorate and maintain a traffic island??

Thanks

Bill

The Chandler Street Business Association has a new web site

Please see www.chandlerstreetbusiness.com for more information on this dynamic group:>)

It is under construction but up and running as of today:>)

Lots of great stuff to be going up soon!

Cameras on Chandler Street

I put this blog on my airport blog, but why can's we push for some smart cameras in the Chandler Street area?

Click here

One Year Later

I knew it had been some time since the last post, but over a year? What has transpired? The NRSA has been a complete bust:

1. Three facades: Bahnan, Mark Dumas, Suney
2. Summer Internship Program: Around the Corner
3. One Home Improvement

In total I believe only approximately $50,000 has been spent of the first two years of allocations (think around $280,000). I will get accurate numbers on both of these over the next week. Has there not been any interest? Just the opposite, there is alot of interest.

Why has it stalled? There is nobody to handle the day to day administration of the plan. We have even gone to the point to hire a consultant to help with the daily implementation of the NRSA. Although this was recommended by City Of Worcester Economic Development Office and it is an eligiblue usage of CDBG monies according to HUD, our request has been denied.

What confuses me is that I thought it was up to us (Chandler Business Group and Common Ground) to determine how best to spend the funds, while following the HUD guidelines?