‘When We Were Trees’ on display at Hopkinton Center for the Arts
Community ContentHOPKINTON — The exhibit “When We Were Trees” is now on display to the public through Aug. 27 in The Lotvin Family Gallery at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts, 98 Hayden Rowe St., Hopkinton. In “When We Were Trees,” Linda Hoffman and her daughter Ariel Matisse demonstrate, through the mutuality and interconnectedness of their art, how women empower each other when they connect with nature, trees, and their own bodies. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Linda Hoffman is an artist, writer, and the apple orchardist at Old Frog Pond Farm & Studio in Harvard. A competitive rider in the horse world for 12 years, Ariel returned to art creating small wire sculptures mounted on beautifully finished pieces of wood.
Source:MetroXpress
July 15, 2021 21:22 UTC
E. coli detected in water sample in Natick; officials stress water is safe to drink
NATICK – One source of Natick’s public drinking water is shut down after a sample tested positive for E. coli, according to a statement issued by town officials. This development follows PFAS contamination detected earlier this year in one of the town’s public water sources – the Springvale H & T water treatment plant. E. coli - short for Escherichia coli microbes in water traced to human waste can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea and headaches. More:Drinking water is safe in Natick; work continues to find source of PFASSubsequent water samples taken in May at Springvale fell within the state’s range for safe drinking water. Results showed 16 parts per trillion for PFAS6,More:Natick faces PFAS water contamination; so does WaylandNatick Town Meeting approved $3 million to fight PFAS.
Source:MetroXpress
July 15, 2021 21:22 UTC
MassBay EMT student helps deliver baby six hours into internship
MARLBOROUGH — Just six hours into her daylong internship with Patriot Ambulance, Corinna Kent, 18, got some unique on-the-job training. 20) in Marlborough and began prepping for the baby's birth, heating up the truck and collecting all blankets and towels available. After about five pushes, the baby was out, sporting a head of hair, "a happy smile and beautiful eyes," said Kent. By chance, she and her classmates had trained on "Victoria," the school's pregnancy simulation mannequin the day before the baby boy's delivery. After the delivery of the baby boy, everything felt right," said Kent.
Source:MetroXpress
July 15, 2021 20:15 UTC
Ashland 'Tip-a-Cop' fundraiser to benefit Massachusetts Special Olympics
ASHLAND — Police officers on Wednesday will emphasize the “serve” part of their motto — “to protect and to serve” — when they act as wait staff at TJ’s Food and Spirits. Police officers and other department staff members will take part in the “Tip-a-Cop” program from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at the 355 West Union St., restaurant. The event is a fundraiser for the Special Olympics of Massachusetts. Officers and Special Olympians will act as servers, assisted by T.J.’s staff, and take orders and deliver food to people who come in. All tips and donations from each table will be donated to the Massachusetts Special Olympics.
Source:MetroXpress
July 15, 2021 18:56 UTC
Former Framingham health director Sam Wong takes job with state DPH
FRAMINGHAM — Sam Wong, who cited exhaustion on the job when he resigned earlier this year as Framingham’s public health director, has taken a job with the state Department of Public Health. The DPH announced Wong's appointment at Wednesday's meeting of the Public Health Council. More:Wong resignation becomes official on Friday; had led Framingham Health Department since 2017Wong officially resigned in February. More:Framingham council nixes mayor's pick for health director; Spicer disappointed by decisionFramingham is still without a permanent public health director. Wong's former assistant, Alexandra DePalo, has served as Framigham’s interim public health director since Wong’s departure.
Source:MetroXpress
July 15, 2021 18:30 UTC
Framingham police seek suspect in downtown convenience store robbery
FRAMINGHAM — Police are searching for a man they say robbed a downtown store on Wednesday at gunpoint. The robbery occurred at Downtown Convenience, 130 Kendall St., at 9:59 p.m., police spokeswoman Lt. Rachel Mickens said Thursday. Mickens said the suspect went into the store and pointed a gun at the clerk, demanding money. At the time of the robbery, he was wearing a dark-hooded sweatshirt, gray pants and a dark face mask. Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call the Framingham Police Department at 508-872-1212.
Source:MetroXpress
July 15, 2021 16:41 UTC
Trahan touts expanded child tax credit, small business aid in Marlborough visit
MARLBOROUGH — Congresswoman Lori Trahan stopped by the newly renovated Marlborough Community Cupboard on Wednesday to help spread the word about a newly expanded federal child tax credit that goes into effect Thursday. The child tax credit previously maxed out at $2,000 annually per qualifying child. The expanded tax credit is nothing but good news for the people who take advantage of the pantry, she explained. She said she was thankful that Trahan visited to check out the renovations and promote the expanded tax program. Those who completed their 2019 and 2020 tax returns, as well as those who signed up to receive direct payments from the IRS, will receive child tax credit payments automatically.
Source:MetroXpress
July 14, 2021 20:15 UTC
UK-based cybersecurity firm Avast in merger talks with NortonLifeLock
(Reuters) -UK-based cybersecurity firm Avast Plc said on Wednesday it was in advanced talks over a merger with peer NortonLifeLock Inc. If the deal goes through, it will be a cash-and-share offer, Avast said. Avast makes free and premium security software for desktop and mobile devices under the Avast and AVG brands. The deal would help Tempe, Arizona-based NortonLifeLock, which primarily deals with consumer cyber safety, expand its focus to consumer software. Shares of NortonLifeLock fell as much as 4% after the Wall Street Journal first reported NortonLifeLock plans to buy Avast.
Source:MetroXpress
July 14, 2021 19:22 UTC
Beaumont Police seeking information about transgender woman found dead in Port Arthur Canal
A police department in Texas is asking for the public’s help with any information related to the suspicious death of a transgender woman who was found dead in the Port Arthur Canal in March. The Beaumont Police Department has taken over the investigation into the death of Aidelen Evans, a 24-year-old trans woman who was known to be a transient, and frequented the area around College and Fourth Streets in Beaumont. Police now believe that Evans may have been the victim of foul play and may have been killed in Beaumont, reports CBS affiliate KDFM. She also questions whether Evans’ identity as a trans woman may have played a role in her death. “When you have state leadership, and local municipalities, and people in power that are constantly sort of saying, ‘Trans people don’t belong here, trans people shouldn’t be here.
Source:MetroXpress
July 14, 2021 19:18 UTC
Neros Law Massachusetts police officers protect police dogs
"If Kitt wasn't there that day, we would have lost three officers, most likely," Cahoon said. Because he was there and because of his efforts, two officers were wounded, but they're going to be OK. Last session, the committee redrafted the bill and referred it to the Health Care Financing Committee. "I will never forget the sight of K9 Nero being carried out, covered in blood, and gasping for air," Xiharos said. "Despite the paramedics present wanting to help save him, they could not legally touch K9 Nero as current Massachusetts law prohibits helping a police animal wounded in the line of duty.
Source:MetroXpress
July 14, 2021 16:49 UTC
'Just human impulse.' Framingham woman lauded for work feeding homebound seniors
“It really is something you can find all over the world,” Park said, of feeding those in need, particularly through the international program Meals on Wheels. Park recalled a time when her job included intake interviews for Meals on Wheels participants. “They may depend on the television and the telephone and the Meals on Wheels driver for their social contact. After noticing a large number of people of Chinese descent eligible for the home-delivery service, Baypath created the Chinese cultural meal program. Park said Meals on Wheels needs volunteers, but warned that volunteering requires commitment to the routes and the time it takes to drive them regularly.
Source:MetroXpress
July 14, 2021 15:33 UTC
Hudson, companies responsible for elevated PFAS levels in drinking water reach settlement
HUDSON — The town has reached a settlement with the three companies deemed responsible for causing elevated levels of a contaminant in the town’s drinking water last year. The state Department of Environmental Protection last year attributed high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the town’s drinking water supply to Precision Coating Co. Inc., Boyd Coating Research Co. Inc. and Dylan, LLC. The contaminant was introduced into the town’s water system through the groundwater via the companies’ septic system and the air through the heating, ventilating and air conditioning system. The three companies will also provide $1.6 million toward Hudson’s ongoing maintenance and operation of the municipal drinking water systems. The town initially shut down the Cranberry Bog Well after learning of the elevated PFAS levels in the water, which reduced the levels.
Source:MetroXpress
July 14, 2021 13:41 UTC
Gay lawmakers want to block Chick-fil-A from New York's highway rest areas
But gay Democrats in the State Assembly balked at the announcement, pointing to Chick-fil-A’s history of donating to “organizations hostile to LGBTQ+ rights,” as Assemblyman Harry Bronson wrote on Twitter. Bronson, along with Assemblymembers Danny O’Donnell and Deborah Glick, wrote a letter to New York State Thruway Authority Executive Director Matthew Driscoll urging him to reexamine the decision to allow Chick-fil-A to open restaurants in its rest areas. “Chick-fil-A is excited about the partnership and the opportunity to further serve the residents of New York,” the company said. NCF actively seeks to block the Equality Act, a landmark piece of LGBTQ rights legislation that would enshrine nondiscrimination protections into federal law. In 2019, Chick-fil-A was found to have funneled millions of dollars to anti-LGBTQ organizations, including the Salvation Army and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Source:MetroXpress
July 14, 2021 13:16 UTC
Massachusetts lags other states in adopting college athlete compensation laws
In October 2019, the NCAA's board voted to drop its longstanding opposition to compensation for the use of an athlete's name, image or likeness. At the start of this month, after a handful of states took matters into their own hands, the NCAA began to allow its college athletes to benefit financially. Howitt said 24 states have already passed name, image and likeness legislation. Finegold's bill would require prospective agents for college athletes to go through a "comprehensive public registration process" and would lay out specific standards for contracts between agents and student athletes. Chairwoman Sen. Anne Gobi said Tuesday that the committee "will absolutely take a look at what some other states are doing."
Source:MetroXpress
July 14, 2021 10:30 UTC
Framingham woman accused of raping teen
FRAMINGHAM — Police say a local woman is being charged with raping a teenager. Police arrested Ashley Diaz-Rodriguez, 29, at 8:49 p.m. Monday at her 90A Second St. apartment, Deputy Police Chief Ron Brandolini said Tuesday. He said the victim is a teenager and that the victim and Diaz-Rodriguez are known to one another. He did not say the nature of their relationship, other than they are not related. Police charged Diaz-Rodriguez with rape of a child; drugging a person for sex; and providing alcohol to a minor.
Source:MetroXpress
July 13, 2021 19:30 UTC