WORCESTER – They said it with flowers, messages and their presence as the community showed its support to the Worcester Public Library Saturday at the main branch’s fourth annual street festival at 3 Salem Square downtown.
The street party, which began at 11:30 a.m. and was scheduled to last until 3:30 p.m., came less than two days after a patron hit a library employee with a skateboard at the main branch on Thursday afternoon. The library closed an hour early on Thursday afternoon and remained closed on Friday after the unprovoked attack, but reopened on Saturday.
It was also decided to hold the street festival, which had been planned long in advance for August 10th.
“We talked to staff to see what they thought about it,” said Jason L. Homer, executive director of the Worcester Public Library.
“I think everyone is happy. I think the community is behind us,” he said. Homer said the victim is doing well and the library will stay true to its goal of being a place that cares for the larger community.
Just before 11:30 a.m. on a bright and sunny day in mid-August, Salem Street was lined with tents where over 60 vendors were selling their wares, and a bounce house for children was already in operation. Families and individuals enjoyed the sights and sounds, which included a dance party, a live mix by DJ Chuck Chillin, and a book sale. Children had the opportunity to meet Bluey and Bingo (from the animated movie “Bluey”) and Pat Patriot (from Gillette Stadium).
The first song to play over the speakers was “Still the One” by Orleans.
“I’m happy to see how many people are out and about here. Our community has definitely fought back,” said Homer.
The suspect in Thursday’s incident, Harry Frotman, 31, of 26 Preston St., Apt. 2, was charged with assault Friday. He pleaded not guilty and bail was set at $10,000. In court documents, police wrote that the victim was “left unconscious on the ground with a large hematoma on the back of his head.” The man was bleeding, police said, and witnesses said he immediately fell to the ground.
The victim of the incident was “in a great mood. At home,” said Homer. The victim was “not just an employee, but an important person to all of us.”
Inside, the library was bustling with visitors. There were several bouquets of flowers on the reception desk.
Homer said the library has received several bouquets of flowers from well-wishers since Thursday. There have also been supportive messages and posts on Facebook and Instagram, as well as in emails and letters, he said.
“We really appreciate that. People may not think that a quick message means the world to us, but that’s not the case,” Homer said.
One of the vendors was Simply Delight Baked Goods, co-owned by husband and wife Shannon P. Smith and Tayla C. Smith.
Shannon Smith said they were vendors at the community fair last year and were looking forward to coming back this year. “We had a great time last year,” he said.
After learning of the incident on Thursday, Smith said, “We reached out to Jason (Homer) and let him know that we are here for any support… When I was a kid, I would go to the library and it was huge to me and everyone should be welcome.”
Andrew Davidson of Worcester stood on Salem Street while his wife and two children stood at one of the vendor tents. They were making a trip to the community’s street fair. “I like the library,” said Davidson, who added that he has always been a regular.
The library and its branches will be open during regular days and times starting Monday.
“We’re going to make changes. Many of those changes will be led by our employees,” Homer said.
However, “we will never change as a community that cares about the larger community. And we will stick with that no matter what happens,” he said.
The library has been working on a “strategic roadmap” that includes the mission of lifelong learning and intellectual freedom. It was appropriate that this mission be unveiled on Saturday, he said.
In the meantime, “we are doing everything we can to make our library as safe as possible,” Homer said, noting that he has had “amazing” conversations with Worcester’s acting police chief Paul Saucier, city manager Eric Batista and the library board.
Most importantly, however, “all I can think about is how grateful I am for the recovery of a co-worker and nothing else,” he said.
