Northeast
Boston trains get 'googly eyes,' give riders 'joy' on their commutes
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) recently installed “googly eyes” on five of its trains after a public campaign requested the items be added.
“After receiving public suggestions, our team found a safe way to install these ‘googly’ eyes on a limited number of vehicles – five, to be exact – as part of our ongoing efforts to bring moments of joy to our riders’ daily commutes,” Joe Pesaturo, director of communications at the MBTA, told Fox News Digital via email on Friday, June 28.
The new additions to the trains are one of the many “creative ways” the MBTA is seeking to improve the rider experience, Pesaturo said.
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He noted the agency has also staged “in-station musical performances and children’s voice-over announcements.”
“We hope these initiatives, combined with our transit ambassadors’ dedication and our staff’s hard work on infrastructure upgrades, will continue to be a source of community connection and brighten someone’s day,” he said.
The googly eyes were added to five trains, including these two trains on the MBTA’s Green Line. (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority)
The googly eyes are currently on select trains on the MBTA’s Green Line and commuter rail.
The idea to add a most unusual accessory to the MBTA’s trains came as a suggestion from John Sanchez and Arielle Lok, two Massachusetts residents and MBTA riders.
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On April 29, Lok and Sanchez organized “a march to advocate for the installation of googly eyes on the front of MBTA trains,” according to an April 30 blog post on Lok’s website recapping the event.
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“This vision aims to inject a sense of fun into the daily commute. That is the only purpose of the eyes. There is no hidden or underlying message. We simply want googly eyes on the T,” she said.
One of the people who initially campaigned to add googly eyes to the MBTA’s trains said the goal was to “inject a sense of fun into the daily commute.” (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority)
In an email shared with Fox News Digital, Lok called the installation of the googly eyes “the best news we’ve ever received in our inboxes.”
She said, “We’re stoked that there was a safe way to stick the eyes on,” she said.
Lok added that it’s “incredible to see this come to life!”
Fox News Digital reached out to Lok for additional comment about the success of the campaign to add googly eyes to trains.
One person who advocated for the changes said she is “stoked” to see the googly eyes come to life. (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority)
The MBTA’s transit network includes subways, light rail, commuter rail, bus and ferry routes, according to its website.
In 1897, the Tremont Street subway became North America’s first subway tunnel, according to the MBTA.
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This tunnel is still being used in 2024, connecting the Government Center, Park Street and Boylston stations.
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Boston, MA
Chickadee, the popular Mediterranean restaurant in Seaport, is shutting down – The Boston Globe
An Instagram post that announced their closure on Tuesday evening did not point to any reason for the closure, and requests for comment were not immediately returned.
“Eight years ago, we opened our doors at the Innovation and Design Building with a simple hope: to bring you honest, delicious food and a warm place to share it,” read the post. “What we found instead was a community – regulars who became friends, first dates that turned into anniversaries, celebrations, quiet lunches, and everything in between. You made this restaurant so much more than a place to eat.”
Globe Food Critic Devra First awarded Chickadee 3.5 stars in October 2018, where she wrote how some meals “are magic, everything cooked perfectly, making you swoon.”
At the time, it was also considered one of the earliest restaurants to have opened in the still-industrial far reaches of the Seaport, which was home to ship-repair facilities and cutting-edge design firms, seafood wholesalers, and biotech companies. In terms of location, some said it was ahead of its time.
DaSilva, a three-time James Beard Best Chef: Northeast semifinalist, has led some of the top restaurants across the Greater Boston area. Aside from Barbara Lynch’s flagship No. 9 Park, he opened Spoke Wine Bar in Somerville in 2013. During his time at Spoke, he received a number of accolades and was named one of Zagat’s “30 Under 30” for Boston and earned the title “Rising Star Chef” from StarChefs.
Kilpatrick, who also left Lynch’s group in 2014, worked for the team behind O Ya to help open restaurants in New York. According to his LinkedIn, he started a new job as a regional operations manager for Lark, a boutique hotel management company, in April.
Alexa Gagosz can be reached at alexa.gagosz@globe.com. Follow her @alexagagosz and on Instagram @AlexaGagosz.
Pittsburg, PA
Parent group claims Pittsburgh Public Schools’ closure plan violates children’s civil rights
The Pittsburgh Public Schools board of education has been under intense scrutiny since its “Future Ready Plan” was first introduced — and then eventually approved — in late May. But a group of parents has filed a complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Rights Commission in an effort to prevent it from being carried out.
Advancement Project, a national civil rights organization, along with 412 Justice and the Education Rights Network, have filed a complaint against the school board on behalf of five PPS students, claiming the plan, which will close or repurpose several district buildings across the city, violates those students’ civil rights.
Those students represented in the complaint attend Miller Pre K-5 in the Hill District, Manchester Pre K-8 on the North Side and Woolslair Pre K-5 in Bloomfield, all of which would close under the plan, with the students relocating.
“This is part of what we’ve seen across the country, this national school closure crisis,” said Adaku Onyeka-Crawford, a staff attorney and director of education justice for Advancement Project. “We’ve seen it play out in urban, suburban and rural communities, affecting Black and brown children, and it has come to Pittsburgh.”
The complaint is calling for an investigation into the plan and for the district and school board to act in good faith during that investigation. They hope it will lead to a preliminary injunction, allowing the commission to get a court order for the district to stop the implementation of the plan.
One of the main claims in the complaint is that the school board “based school closure decisions on utilization (enrollment divided by building capacity), despite being notified that doing so would disproportionately close schools in Black neighborhoods. Black students make up 62% of students that will lose their schools, but only 49% of students district-wide.”
“Utilization has no ties to education quality at all,” said Onyeka-Crawford. “In fact, smaller class sizes are tied to better outcomes for students. Community members had flagged that relying on this metric would disproportionately harm Black students.”
Onyeka-Crawford said alternatives were presented to the school board, some that have had success in other cities, but the district went forward with their own plan instead.
“We need to ask: who is Pittsburgh Public Schools and the board accountable to?” she said. “It’s the parents and families, and if this is what parents and families are asking for, it’s up to them to be accountable to those communities, and give parents and students the education and resources that they need.”
KDKA reached out to the district, but it said it will not comment on pending litigation.
Connecticut
Connecticut Sun hold off Portland Fire on Camp Day at Mohegan Sun Arena
UNCASVILLE, Conn. (WTNH) — Aaliyah Edwards came off the bench to score a game-high 21 points as the Connecticut Sun defeated the Portland Fire, 90-87, during Camp Day on Tuesday morning at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Thousands of kids were in attendance to watch the Sun hold on to a fourth-quarter lead as the Fire attempted to rally. Connecticut led by 10 at halftime and saw its lead cut to one in the final period.
Brittney Griner added 20 points for the Sun, who ended their three-game homestand with a victory. Olivia Nelson-Ododa went 8-for-8 from the foul line en route to 16 points and Leila Lacan chipped in 14.
Carla Leite led the Fire with 18 points.
The Sun visit Phoenix on Friday for the first of two games with the Mercury.
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