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Nearly 50 beaches closed in Massachusetts on Sunday, Aug. 31

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Nearly 50 beaches closed in Massachusetts on Sunday, Aug. 31


Nearly 50 beaches are closed across Massachusetts on Sunday, Aug. 31.

There are 49 beaches closed, most due to excessive bacteria levels, according to the state Department of Public Health.

One of those is the main beach at Walden Pond State Reservation, which will remain closed for the entirety of summer 2025 as a new, state-of-the-art $6.1 million bathhouse is constructed. Red Cross Beach at Walden Pond will remain open, but without lifeguards.

Here is the full list of beach closures and reasons for closing on Sunday:

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  • Ashby: Damon Pond Beach — excess bacteria
  • Ashland: Ashland Reservoir — Main Beach-excess bacteria
  • Beverly: Woodbury — excess bacteria
  • Billerica: Nutting Lake, Micozzi Beach at North and South — excess bacteria
  • Braintree: Smith Beach — excess bacteria
  • Brewster: Cliff Pond at DYS and Main — harmful cyanobacteria bloom
  • Chicopee: Chicopee Beach — harmful cyanobacteria bloom
  • Concord: Walden Pond – Main, due to construction
  • Danvers: Sandy Beach — excess bacteria
  • Essex: Centennial Grove beach — harmful cyanobacteria bloom
  • Franklin: Chilson Beach — excess bacteria
  • Georgetown: American Legion Park — excess bacteria
  • Harwich: Seymour Pond — harmful cyanobacteria bloom
  • Holden: Eagle Lake — excess bacteria
  • Lynn: Kings on Eastern Ave., Kimball Road and Pierce Road — excess bacteria
  • Mashpee: Santuit Pond at Bryants Neck and Town Landing — harmful cyanobacteria bloom
  • Nantucket: Sesachacha Pond — excess bacteria
  • Natick: Memorial Beach (Dug Pond) at Wading — excess bacteria
  • North Andover: Frye Pond Beach and Stevens Pond – Center – due to excess bacteria
  • Oxford: Carbuncle Pond — harmful cyanobacteria bloom
  • Salem: Children’s Island, Back and Wally, and Ocean Avenue — excess bacteria
  • Saugus: Pearce Lake at Breakheart Reservation — excess bacteria
  • Sharon: Community Center Beach and Sharon Town Beach at Central — excess bacteria
  • Sherborn: Farm Pond — harmful cyanobacteria exceedance
  • Southwick: South Pond Beach — bacterial exceedance
  • Springfield: Bass Pond at Right — cyanobacteria bloom, Camp Wilder at Right — excess bacteria and Paddle Club at Right— cyanobacteria bloom
  • Templeton: Beamans Pond closed for campground and day-use activities — excess bacteria
  • Tisbury: Hilman’s Pond — excess bacteria
  • Townsend: Pearl Hill Pond Beach — excess bacteria
  • Upton: Upton Town Beach — harmful cyanobacteria bloom
  • Wareham: Shangri-La — harmful cyanobacteria bloom
  • Westborough: Lake Chauncy Beach — harmful cyanobacteria bloom
  • Wilmington: Wilmington Town Beach at Center and Right — excess bacteria
  • Winchendon: Lake Dennison State Park at North Camp Beach — excess bacteria
  • Winthrop: Donovans and Halford — excess bacteria

What are the risks?

Swimming in beach water that has high levels of bacteria can be risky and can result in illnesses, including:

  • Gastrointestinal symptoms- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain
  • Respiratory symptoms- sore throat, cough, runny nose and sneezing
  • Dermatological symptoms- skin rash and itching
  • Eye and ear symptoms- irritation, earache, itching
  • Flu-like symptoms- fever and chills

Stay aware of any warnings or beach closures that indicate that the water is not safe. Check the weather forecast, avoid swimming after heavy rain, watch for signs of water pollution like discolored, fast flowing and strong smelling water, do not swim near trash or litter floating in the water, avoid swallowing the water and swim in areas designated as “swim beaches.”

Although a beach could be posted, the public can still visit the location and take part in other activities that do not involve contact with the water. This can include anything from playing sports like volleyball or frisbee to sunbathing or collecting seashells or sea glass, DPH stated.

The public can also help to reduce contamination and pollution at the beach by:

  • Cleaning up after pets
  • Not feeding the birds as it encourages them to hang around the beaches, which increases fecal matter
  • Using public restrooms
  • Picking up and throwing away trash using public restrooms or properly disposing of it at home
  • Not entering the water when sick or feeling unwell
  • Changing diapers and putting plastic or rubber pants, known as swim diapers, on diapered children before they enter the water
  • Not dumping anything down storm drains, as water moving through these drains does not get treated at a wastewater facility and flows directly into lakes and streams
  • Avoiding the use of fertilizers and pesticides in yards since these chemicals can easily carry into the surface of waters during rain events and snowmelt
  • Use walkways and avoid walking on dunes to prevent erosion and preserve vegetation that filters out pollutants from runoff before they reach the beach

More details from the DPH can be found here.

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Canadian hydropower line to Massachusetts expected to be running in January

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Canadian hydropower line to Massachusetts expected to be running in January


The long-awaited hydropower line delivering electricity from Québec to New England is expected to be running in January after years of hurdles and delays, the company Hydro Québec stated.

“We have been actively testing the line and the transformers for the past several weeks and are making good progress,” a spokesperson for Hydro Québec said, adding the teams were actively working on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border and “expect to be ready begin energy deliveries in January.”

The New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission line, initiated nearly in 2017 under the Baker administration and under construction since 2021, is set to deliver 1,200 megawatts of hydropower from Québec to New England over 20 years, becoming one of the largest sources of baseload power in the region.

Avangrid, the company behind the NECEC, announced in November it had secured the final permit to get the power line running after years of regulatory and legal hurdles. The company estimated the line would be running by the end of 2025 at the time.

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The project to bring Canadian hydropower to the New England power grid, estimated to cost about $1 billion, is expected to provide Massachusetts with approximately 20% of it overall electricity.

The clean energy line will deliver about $3 billion in net benefits to Massachusetts residents paying for electricity, including “reducing in ratepayer bills by around $50 million each year,” state officials said.

“This transmission line will deliver affordable, stable power from our partners in Canada to our residents and businesses,” Gov. Maura Healey said in November. “More energy means lower costs. The NECEC line is a key part of our all-of-the-above approach to lowering energy costs and delivering the power our economy needs.”

On average, officials estimated, residents can expect to save $18 to $20 a year over the contract term.



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NESN’S Tom Caron, Dave O’Brien Named 2025 NSMA Massachusetts Co-Sportscasters Of The Year

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NESN’S Tom Caron, Dave O’Brien Named 2025 NSMA Massachusetts Co-Sportscasters Of The Year


New England Sports Network (NESN) on Monday announced that Boston Red Sox broadcast leaders Tom Caron and Dave O’Brien have been named 2025 Massachusetts Co-Sportscasters of the Year by the National Sports Media Association (NSMA).

Caron and O’Brien serve as the cornerstone voices of NESN’s Red Sox coverage, leading the network’s studio and game productions, respectively. Together, they anchor NESN’s comprehensive Red Sox broadcasts, delivering in-depth analysis, trusted storytelling and championship-caliber coverage to fans across New England.

“Tom and Dave represent the gold standard of sports broadcasting,” said David Wisnia, President & CEO of NESN. “Their credibility, storytelling, and deep connection to Red Sox fans elevate every broadcast. This recognition by NSMA is a well-deserved honor and a reflection of their impact on New England sports media.”

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This recognition continues NESN’s tradition of broadcast excellence, following Jack Edwards’ selection as the 2024 NSMA Massachusetts Sportscaster of the Year for his work as the play-by-play voice of the Boston Bruins.

Tom Caron joined NESN in 1995, recently celebrating 30 years with the network. For the past 24 seasons, he has been a central figure in NESN’s Red Sox coverage, serving as the network’s first baseball sideline reporter before becoming host of the Red Sox pregame and postgame shows during the club’s historic 2004 championship season. In addition to leading NESN’s Red Sox studio programming and hosting the “310 To Left” VODcast, Caron has served as studio host for Boston Bruins hockey and as play-by-play announcer for premier New England college hockey events, including the Beanpot Tournament and Hockey East Championship. A nine-time New England Emmy Award winner, Caron was inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame in 2021 and is deeply involved in numerous charitable organizations throughout the region, including serving as Co-Chair of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Jimmy Fund.

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Dave O’Brien has served as NESN’s primary play-by-play voice of the Red Sox since 2016, following nine years with the Red Sox Radio Network. In addition to leading NESN’s game broadcasts, O’Brien is also the lead play-by-play announcer for college football and basketball on ESPN’s ACC Network. His career includes Major League Baseball postseason broadcasts, international World Series coverage, and play-by-play roles with the Florida Marlins, New York Mets, and Atlanta Braves. A Boston native, O’Brien is a recipient of multiple national and regional broadcasting honors and is widely respected as one of the sport’s premier voices.

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The National Sports Media Association annually recognizes excellence in sports media across the country, honoring broadcasters who demonstrate outstanding professionalism, longevity, and impact in their markets.

About NESN
NESN is consistently one of the top-rated regional sports networks in the country with award-winning Red Sox and Bruins coverage, and recently named RSN of the Year by Cynopsis. NESN and NESN+ are delivered throughout the six-state New England region and are available anytime, anywhere, on any device on the NESN 360 app via direct subscription or TV authentication. The network is also distributed nationally as NESN National. NESN’s free ad-supported streaming (FAST) channel, NESN NATION, offers 35+ hours of weekly live and original programming, including exclusive sports content, interviews, and behind-the-scenes features, available on Samsung TV Plus, Prime Video, Roku, LG, Twitch, Plex, and TCLtv+. NESN.com is one of the country’s most visited sports websites with dedicated digital video production and always-on news coverage. NESN’s social responsibility program, NESN Connects, is proud to support and connect its employees with charitable organizations in the Greater Boston community. NESN also manages SportsNet Pittsburgh, home of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pittsburgh Pirates for all regionally televised games in and around Pittsburgh, as well as other local sports content. NESN is owned by Fenway Sports Group (owners of the Boston Red Sox) and Delaware North (owners of the Boston Bruins).

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Mass. weather: How much snow is expected across the state on Monday

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Mass. weather: How much snow is expected across the state on Monday


All of Massachusetts is predicted to see some snowfall in the latter half of the day on Monday, with most of the state getting 1 to 2 inches of accumulation, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures are expected to dip into the teens overnight on Sunday before rising into the mid to high 20s on Monday, the weather service said. Clouds are predicted to increase throughout the day before the snow begins in the afternoon.

Berkshire County could see some light snow Sunday night and Monday morning, but heavier precipitation is expected to begin by 1 p.m. Monday, according to the weather service. Most of the rest of the state is predicted to start seeing snow between 3 and 6 p.m., first in western Massachusetts, then spreading across the state.

The snowfall is expected to stop between 10 p.m. Monday and 1 a.m. Tuesday in most of Massachusetts, according to the weather service. Much of the state may also experience patchy fog Monday night.

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The northwestern half of Worcester County and most of Berkshire County is expected to get the most snow — up to 3 inches, according to the weather service. The Cape, Islands and South Coast are predicted to get less than an inch, and the rest of the state is expected to get 1 to 2 inches.

Most of Massachusetts is predicted to get 1 to 2 inches of snow Monday afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service.National Weather Service

Overnight lows on Monday are predicted to drop into the low to mid 20s, according to the weather service. Temperatures on Tuesday are expected to be warmer, reaching the mid 30s to low 40s.

There is a chance of rain in most of Massachusetts Tuesday afternoon, with precipitation more likely after 4 p.m., according to the weather service. Tuesday night is predicted to be rainy across the state, though the precipitation may come down as freezing rain or snow at higher elevations.

Temperatures overnight on Tuesday are expected to dip into the high 20s and low 30s before rising into the mid 40s on Wednesday, according to the weather service. Communities in the central and western parts of the state are predicted to see the rain cease by 10 a.m., while Eastern Massachusetts can expect to experience rain until midday.

Sunny skies are predicted across the state following the rain on Wednesday, according to the weather service.

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