News Articles – YMCA of Central Massachusetts https://www.ymcaofcm.org The YMCA of Central Massachusetts is a cause-driven organization that is for youth development, for healthy living and for social responsibility. Mon, 31 Aug 2026 15:01:46 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.4 https://www.ymcaofcm.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2025-YMCA-favicon-150x150.png News Articles – YMCA of Central Massachusetts https://www.ymcaofcm.org 32 32 2026 Communitys Choice Awards Vote https://www.ymcaofcm.org/news/2026-communitys-choice-awards/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 12:01:44 +0000 https://www.ymcaofcm.org/?p=28375 Support the Y! The YMCA of Central Massachusetts is thrilled to be nominated for Best Fitness Center/Gym and Best After School/Summer Camp Program in Central Massachusetts!

Cast your vote for us today by clicking the link below and help us secure the victory! ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ†

Vote the Y for Best Fitness Center/Gym(opens in new tab)

Vote the Y for Best Afterschool/Summer Camp(opens in new tab)

Voting closes on August 31, 2026, and the winners and finalists in each category will be revealed in November. For complete information, visit:ย  YourChoiceAwards.com/centralmass(opens in new tab)

]]> Cooling Centers Open for Heat Wave https://www.ymcaofcm.org/news/cooling-centers/ Tue, 14 Jul 2026 18:51:40 +0000 https://www.ymcaofcm.org/?p=28110 Worcester opens cooling centers during heat advisory

Worcester Telegram & Gazette
July 13, 2026 (Updated July 14, 2026, 8:07 a.m. ET)

Worcester is opening cooling centers as the National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for a short stretch of this week.

The advisory runs from 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 14 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 15. High temperatures will fall in the mid 90s both days. Factoring in humidity, Wednesday, July 15 will be the hotter of the two days, with a “feels-like” temperature of 100.

Locations and hours for both days include the Worcester Public Library main branch downtown from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Worcester Senior Center from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and the YMCA of Central Massachusetts (Central Community Branch at 766 Main Street) from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Cooling centers also opened during the July 1-3 heat wave.

Areas of high pressure this time of year are causing the elevated heat, said Andrea LaRocca, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service.

Temperatures in the mid- to upper-80s are expected for Thursday, July 16 and Friday, July 17, with lower humidity. LaRocca is calling for the weekend to be “much more seasonable,” with a high temperature of 82.

Read the full article on telegram.com

]]> 2026 Fitness in the Parks https://www.ymcaofcm.org/news/2026-fitness-in-the-parks/ Sun, 14 Jun 2026 17:38:01 +0000 https://www.ymcaofcm.org/?p=28032 Join us for a series of Group Exercise Classes in Worcester Parks. FREE and Open to the Public!

Worcester Fitness in the Parks is a free, 11-week program presented by the City of Worcester Department of Health & Human Services and Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA in partnership with the YWCA Central Massachusetts and YMCA of Central Massachusetts. The program runs from June 15 through August 29, Mondays through Saturdays at 7 locations.

The goal of this program is to provide Worcester residents with opportunities to engage in healthy eating, active living, community building and spending the Summer becoming a healthier Worcester. We hope to see you there!

Schedules, Locations, and Registration

Download Fitness in the Parks flyer

Highlights:ย 

  • 11ย Week Program
  • 13 Classes Each Week
  • 7 Sites Throughout Worcester
  • Classes for Everyone in the Family
  • Free Fitness Programย 

Group of adults exercising outside with dumbbells

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