Category: Podcasts

508 is a show about Worcester. Today’s panel includes Brendan Melican and (briefly) Bruce Russell.

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A Worcester county court officer is being investigated for leaking info to crooks; a Barre police officer who shot a dog in the leg is back to work. Worcester Peace Works has submitted an antiwar/PILOT resolution to the City Council.

We talk about how City Councilor Rick Rushton has bucked some of his political patrons by becoming an Obama delegate. Brendan explains state taxes to Mike. Brendan complains about the schools. Mike describes the Transgender Emergency Fund fundraiser. We speculate about the whole Volcanoboy/Worcesterite web forum transition, which seems to be a work in progress. (Nice to see Worcesterite is running Drupal, in my opinion the least-bad CMS out there.)

Bruce kinda promises to be at Art Attack on May 1 if any listeners want a photo with him; the event would be a nice beginning to a night on the town, which you could end with some of the Turtle Boy shows at area bars.

Of course, we also talk about guns.

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508 is a show about Worcester. This week’s show includes Brendan Melican.

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The Transgender Emergency Fund, previously announced on 508, has a fundraiser Saturday night at the Hotel Vernon. The Antiquarian Society has settled its feud with neighbors; Brendan and Mike don’t like the precedent that has been set. Brendan says people like his idea of a green grid for North Main Street, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to happen.

Worcester Magazine’s best-of issue hands awards to both Alec Lopez of the Dive Bar and a runner-up to Happy Birthday Mike Leslie.

Brendan and Mike talk for a really long time about Gary Rosen and Kate Toomey’s hair. The powers-that-be are proposing new regulations on scrap dealers that Mike doesn’t think will solve the problem of metal theft. Brendan likes Rosalie Tirella’s article on sidewalks in the InCity Times.

This article about skateboarding in Sterling provides almost no information.

Brendan will start appearing on Mike Messina’s radio show Monday nights.

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508 is a show about Worcester. This week’s episode is a tribute to late Worcester resident Tom Lewis.
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1990 photo of Tom from the magazine Inside Worcester.

508 is a show about Worcester. Today’s panel includes Brendan Melican and Charles Washburn.

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Charles talks about an event he’s organizing Saturday: “Nuclear Power is Not Green. Stand Out at the Obama Caucus to nominate delegates to the Democratic Convention Forest Grove Jr. High School, Worcester, MA, 12:30 PM Saturday April 5th 2008.” Brendan offers some defense of nuclear power.

Today is the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Charles remembers the first march he attended, which was a response to King’s death.

In Worcester, a police officer shot a dog.

The InCity Times printed a hilarious pull-quote this week.

Chief Dio and Councilor Germain made intemperate comments at recent City Council meetings.

The show finishes with a long interview with Jacob Berendes about the state of his visionary junk shoppe, HBML.

You, too can leave a voice message to be played on the show. Just call 508-471-3897.

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To get an e-mail each week alerting you of the new episode of 508, join the e-mail list:

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508 is a show about Worcester. This week’s panel includes Brendan “Buck Paxton” Melican and Bruce “Snow Ghost” Russell.

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Ralph “Ralph’s” Moberly has died. People worldwide have fond memories of that bar, but it doesn’t get a lot of respect in Worcester.

The building HBML rents in is getting foreclosed. Read their blog for the latest updates on finding a new location (or making do with the current one). The hip literary enterprise McSweeney’s is encouraging people worldwide to help them. Despite this kind of attention, HBML doesn’t get a lot of respect in Worcester.

Bruce used to think this was a picture of Mike Leslie:

Here is the real deal:

The Dive Bar isn’t moving to its new location/name till at least June.

Our friend Dave is on the cover of Worcester Magazine; he doesn’t like the photo.

Artigo/Ajemian Films continues to raise money for their project “We Got the Beat.”

Nothing much happened at this week’s hearing about the American Antiquarian Society vs. the Montvale Historical District. (You might listen to the opening for a detailed explanation of the issues.) The AAS is asking supportive Worcester residents to sign a petition against the expansion of the historical district.

Mike has been unable to entice people to public hearings with offers of free beer; asking people to trade printouts of Jacob Berendes e-mails for beer has worked great, though.

You, too can leave a voice message to be played on the show. Just call 508-471-3897.

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508 is a show about Worcester. This week Mike talks with Brendan Melican.

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After comparing the philosophies of Joff Smith, Dr. Dre, and Thomas Jefferson, we talk about the City Council’s salary debate. (Audio of the debate at archive.org.) We also revisit last week’s discussion of the Antiquarian Society and Dianne Williamson’s similar take.

Mike and others were arrested for praying this week, but the US marshalls let them finish the prayer before arresting them, perhaps a sign that their hearts were softened by the 43-day vigil of prayer and fasting that preceeded the event. We also talk about a recent anti-war march, last year’s big anti-war rally, and the time Worcester police let activists install 2,000 crosses on the Commons without a permit.

Monday at 10:30AM is the Economic Development hearing at City Hall about the whole AAS parking lot thing. (Mentioned in passing: meet the new Dive Bar.)

You, too can leave a voice message to be played on the show. Just call 508-471-3897.

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Continue reading “508 #27: Lockup”

508 is a show about Worcester. This week’s panel includes Kevin Ksen and Brendan Melican.

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Worcester Indymedia is filing several public records requests to mark Sunshine Week; we’ll follow up on a future show and see if government is responding as the law requires.

Brendan defends the American Antiquarian Society against a proposed expansion of a nearby historical district. (More about the founder of the AAS.) Today is the birthday of one of Mike’s Facebook friends. Former City Council candidate John Mahoney still seems to be spamming people.

The Hanover Theater opens in Worcester tonight; check the WCCA TV13 website for a video clip shortly after the festivities begin. (Brendan mentions David Copperfield in connection with this.)

Census forms are finally out. If there aren’t any changes to be made on your form, you can let the city know via the web.

Mike will be at a prayer service next week that might turn into civil disobedience. And it might not.

Tracy Novick talks about the current crisis in local school funding; she’s been blogging about it.

You, too can leave a voice message to be played on the show. Just call 508-471-3897.

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To get an e-mail each week alerting you of the new episode of 508, join the e-mail list:

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508 is a show about Worcester. Today’s panelists are Brendan Melican and Scott Zoback.

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We start off by discussing Worcester’s new contract with Charter for cable services. Scott talks about printing City Councilor Toomey’s Facebook updates in Worcester Magazine.

Worcester commuters may take trains to Boston via Fitchburg. Brendan talks about the Worcester police shooting a man. T&G has an mp3 recording of police radio of the incident.)

Mike talks with Election Commissioner John Stewart about the city census.

Kevin Ksen phones in about the successful Stop Unwanted Trash campaign.

You, too can leave a voice message to be played on the show. Just call 508-471-3897.

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To get an e-mail each week alerting you of the new episode of 508, join the e-mail list:

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508 is a show about Worcester. This week’s panel includes Bruce Russell and Brendan Melican.

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Brendan talks about the impending layoffs at Worcester’s daily paper, the Telegram & Gazette. City census forms are out; for people who haven’t changed their address there will soon be a web-based form on the city’s website. You can save a stamp by dropping your form off in the yellow mailbox in front of the library.

Bruce talks about the bus.

Brendan continues his critique of the coverage of a local college promo video.

Mike praises the Toxic Soil Busters, part of the Worcester Roots Project that can help you with toxins in your yard.

Mike talks to Kevin Ksen about a project to stop unwanted T&G sales circulars from accumulating on the city’s sidewalks.

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If you’d like to leave a recorded message to be played on the show, call 508.471.3897.

To get an e-mail each week alerting you of the new episode of 508, join the e-mail list:

Email:

We won’t share this list with others.