Category: Worcester

Items

Worcester election items
I’m really impressed at the job Scott Zoback did liveblogging the election for Worcester Magazine. Much more about the internet & the election on this Friday’s podcast.

Here’s a chart of the results, which I originally posted at Worcester Activist.

Your Pettys and Rushtons rocketed up since the prelims; not so for your Colemans, Perottos, Rosses, and Irishes.

The T&G screws up again

Good grief: “A chart in today’s Telegram & Gazette had incorrect totals for Ms. Ross, Mr. Irish and Mr. Coleman.”

They also screwed up in the prelims.
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508 #7: disco entertainment and other sleaze

508 is a show about Worcester.

This week, Mike is joined by Bruce Russell and Brendan Melican.

You can download the mp3, subscribe to the feed, or see other formats.

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The criminal complaint against Sarah Loy was dropped; gay marriage opponents exchange e-mails with Richard Nangle and the T&G; Brendan thinks that the illegal disclosure of City Council candidate Michael Germain’s financial records won’t hurt his campaign; Worcester Magazine thinks that candidate Grace Ross has “weathered the storm of her Green Party’s international posturing”; the candidates’ junk mail has often been junk; we interview Michael Boover at last week’s anti-war rally in Boston; a new Snow Ghost show premieres tonight; and finally, we talk to Kevin Ksen about Worcester’s “disco entertainment license.”

Zombie
Candidate/zombie Rick Rushton: I want your vote . . . and . . . brainsssssss . . .

To complain about the show, call 508.471.3897.

Loy charges dropped

Shari Worthington, the woman behind the complaint:

Bottom line, the ruling in the Commonwealth vs Cirignano trial proves Sarah Loy had no right to disrupt the “Let the People Vote” rally on December 16, 2006. Therefore, there is no reason to pursue the criminal complaint against her.

Know Thy Neighbor:

KnowThyNeighbor received a telephone call from former Catholic Citizenship Director Larry Cirignano, last evening to tell me that late Friday afternoon, Shari Worthington officially pulled the papers ending her criminal complaint which accused Sarah Loy of “Disturbing a Lawful Assembly.” By Cirignano’s account, Worthington did this as an act of good grace on her way to bringing her teenage daughter to Children’s Hospital for a serious back problem.

508 #6: Beer, guns, and Wal-Mart

508 is a show about Worcester.

This week, Mike is joined by Bruce Russell and Brendan Melican.

You can download the mp3, subscribe to the feed, or see other formats.

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The mayoral forum at the Dive Bar went great, though many were dissatisfied with the candidates’ answers. Brendan recaps his blog post about the rhetoric Worcester State College officials are using to argue that their security should be armed. Opposition to a Worcester Wal-Mart has ended; Wal-Mart itself is slowing down the spread of SuperCenters. Sarah Loy returns to court Monday for a hearing regarding a criminal complaint against her. Bruce plugs his cable access show, and Mike and Brendan praise the Dive Bar.

Cirignano trial: not guily

A jury of 6 men and women found Larry Cirignano not guilty of misdemeanor assault and battery in Worcester today.

There were no strong emotions on anyone’s face as the verdict was announced. Cirignano was mostly impassive, with the occasional mild smile. Loy and her supporters frowned a bit, but then everyone was frowning as the jury’s deliberation dragged on for its second day, and a hung jury looked increasingly likely.

Sarah Loy had no comment. Bay Windows has a statement from Cirignano’s lawyer. I’m hoping either they or the T&G can get some comments from jurors.
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Cirignano trial: day 3

I’m 40 minutes late. Celebrity blogger Michael Ball, who was there on time, later told me that the prosecution asked Shari Worthington why, when she was able to take care of all sorts of other business, she declined to file a criminal complaint against Loy until just before the Cirignano trial. Ball of course didn’t like her testimony.

When I arrive, on the stand is…

Larry Cirignano

An elections “advance man,” govt and politics work, worked with various Republican presidents. Got “roped into the gay marriage issue” following some events in 2003.

Describes the work of an advance man. Deals with all details for a VIP at an event. Coordinates with law enforcement and private security.

Describes “catch and release.” When someone approaches a speaker or unfurls a banner you get them out of there right away and release them. “‘Catch’ is to get them off the stage.” Describes it as “shock and awe.” (I have no idea what he’s thinking of, but this seems like precisely the wrong metaphor for the use of minimal force.) You talk to them first. Never put your hands on someone. You can guide them but never physically get involved in an altercation.
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508 #5: Drinking and Cirignano

508 is a show about Worcester.

This week, Mike is joined by Brendan Melican.

You can download the mp3, subscribe to the feed, or see other formats.

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First: Worcester has been attacked by winged invaders. Then: If you’re reading this, then you know Mike’s been sitting in on the Cirignano trial this week. Brendan is excited about his upcoming Mayoral Candidate Forum at the Dive Bar. No word if the candidates will be drinking, but Brendan will. Talk about casinos in Massachusetts, and Mike gets spammed by City Council Candidate John Mahoney.

Correction: I say Bill McCarthy in the podcast, but this was a mixup on my part. McCarthy is no longer running, which is why Mahoney was able to re-enter the race. Many apologies.

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Cirignano trial: morning 2

Bay Windows report on day 1.

T&G’s Dianne Williamson does her thing:

At another point, Mr. Gilleran claimed that Mr. Nangle was “very interested” in the story, as though a news account about a protester who bruised her elbow at a rally would catapult a reporter to the editorial pages of The New York Times.

A guy was fixing the courtroom doors this morning, while the lawyers and judge were discussing things inside.

Me, looking at the doors: “Yesterday they were so loud.”

Workman: “Well, they’re not anymore!”
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Cirignano trial: afternoon 1

Channel 3 was gone, but the T&G’s Dianne Williamson was there this afternoon.

The T&G lawyer again tries to get Nangle to not have to testify.

Christopher Robarge

Another witness for the prosecution. 25 year old Worcesterite and counter-demonstrator. Was at the back of the main demonstration.

Saw someone moving fast through the crowd & then fall. Went to help her. (He was a certified EMT-B in Connecticut, and worked for volunteer ambulance services.)

“She was on the ground, she was upset, she was crying.”

“I did see hands on her shoulders.”
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