July 2011 – Pie and Coffee

The Catholic Radical, Aug/Sept 2011

A new issue of The Catholic Radical, the oldest continuously-published progressive paper in Worcester, is online (PDF).

Topics include ROTC at Holy Cross, technology, the death of Michael Webster, Obama and militarism, the death of Robert Talib Douglas, mercy, the rule of law, and homelessness in Worcester.

508 #162: Back to the Future

508 is a show about Worcester. This week’s panel is Gabe Rollins and Brendan Melican.

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Gabe isn’t running for City Council, but he joined us before a screening of “Back to the Future” on the Common to go over the questions we’re using to frame this year’s Council race.

Music: Flock of Assholes.

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You can watch 508 Fridays at 7pm on WCCA TV13.

Here’s what we have of the 1.0 list of “what do you want the candidates to be discussing as they compete for votes in this year’s election?” (Thanks, Jay Rosen). We’ll be fleshing out the questions in the coming weeks, and redrafting the list once a month till the election. We’re trying to keep the questions/framing to 50 words or less.

What’s your position on school privitization?
City departments, particularly the police department, have information that can help the public make good decisions about running the city. That information is hard to access, some would say impossible. What would you do to change that?
What is local government’s role in regulating the day-to-day lives of citizens? Is there a limit?
What’s your personal vision for the city of Worcester?
Sustainability (we’re hashing this one out on Google+). [23:30]
Something about the relationship between the City Council and City Manager. (We’re hashing this one out on Facebook.)
Why do you oppose neighborhood councils? (Or, what is your position on neighborhood councils?)
Where should the city draw the line in taking responsibility for development? Where should the city draw the line when selling off existing assets? How should the city of Worcester be making its money? What is the correct tax rate for Worcester homeowners?

Also: Nice feature in Womag.

Audio: mp3 download link, other formats, feed

Subscribe with iTunes

Video: mp4 download link, other formats

Contact info.

You can watch 508 Fridays at 7pm on WCCA TV13.

508 #160: Take the beer by the horns

508 is a show about Worcester. This week’s panel is Adrienne LaPierre and Brendan Melican.

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Audio: mp3 download link, other formats, feed

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Video: mp4 download link, other formats

Contact info.

You can watch 508 Fridays at 7pm on WCCA TV13.

Continue reading “508 #160: Take the beer by the horns”

Remembering Father Bernie July 10

Claire writes to remind us: “The SS. Francis and Therese Catholic Worker is hosting an informal gathering to commemorate the wonderful, holy life of Father Bernie Gilgun, friend of the poor and spiritual advisor to many Catholic Workers.”

Sunday, July 10 (Father Bernie’s birthday)
2:00 pm
SS Francis and Therese Catholic Worker
52 Mason Street
Worcester, MA

“Bring your favorite stories and photos of Bernie.” There will be light refreshments.

Apropos of this, here’s a video of me menacing Fr. Bernie with an accordion at a mass at the 2006 Worcester Catholic Worker gathering, which also doubled as a birthday celebration for him that year: