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Courage under fire and grace after it. What Americans learned from a firefighter and a first lady

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Courage under fire and grace after it. What Americans learned from a firefighter and a first lady

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In his spiritual autobiography “Confessions,” St. Augustine of Hippo wrote that “evil is nothing but the removal of good until finally no good remains.” In his later work “The Enchiridion,” he observed that God, who is supremely good, can bring good even out of evil.

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I recalled these timeless thoughts on the nature of evil and the reason for its persistence as I read the words of one person intimately close to the horrific tragedy in Butler, Pennsylvania last weekend, and reflected on the actions of another.

In her first statement after the assassination attempt on her husband’s life, former first lady Melania Trump said something profoundly beautiful: “political games are inferior to love.” Those last three words – inferior to love – resonated, for so much was said with so little.

HERO TRUMP RALLY VICTIM COREY COMPERATORE DIED SHIELDING FAMILY AND ‘WOULD’VE DONE IT AGAIN,’ FRIEND SAYS

Even though likely still in shock, she was able to see unadulterated evil, terrifying and ugly as it may appear up close, for what it is. It is the presence of nothing, only the absence of goodness. This is an important insight at a precarious moment in the great American experiment.

Every husband and father prays he has that valor within him, that he would choose the greatest love – to lay down his life for his family – if ever the time came.

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Mrs. Trump’s words show how to lower the temperature of our national discourse. If evil, like a shadow to light, is the absence of the good, then goodness, while still so much more, is at the very least the absence of evil. This means evil is defeatable by displacement.

MELANIA TRUMP’S CALL TO ‘ASCEND ABOVE THE HATE’ SHOULD BE RALLYING CRY FOR ALL AMERICANS

In a finite world, every act of goodness crowds out the space for evil in a zero-sum sense. Choosing good halts the diminishment of the transcendent that, by definition, is evil. And the greatest restorative good of all is love, as the former first lady so succinctly suggested.

FILE – Former first Lady Melania Trump speaks at the National Archives Naturalization Ceremony. (CSPAN )

As befits a firefighter, Corey Comperatore’s loving choice came not in words, for he had no time to reflect, only action. As soon as shots were fired, he used his own body to shield his family from a barrage of deadly gunfire. In the end, he traded his own life to save the ones he loved most dearly.

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Perhaps Mr. Comperatore thought about it a thousand times before, so at the time of choosing it was muscle memory. Every husband and father prays he has that valor within him, that he would choose the greatest love – to lay down his life for his family – if ever the time came.

Corey Comperatore was the Trump rally goer who was killed on Saturday in an assassination attempt on former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.  (Facebook)

The Comperatore family need not wonder whom their father and husband loved, or how greatly. Love, a volitional act, is willing the good of the other; the more selfless the act, the more pure the love. In the end, Mr. Comperatore loved with a self-emptying heart, as purely as any mortal man can do.

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In a tragedy’s aftermath, Mrs. Trump counseled a nation on how to avoid future evil. When evil is inevitable, a hero firefighter showed his countrymen how to make greater good out of it. 

St. Augustine is proud of both of them, a fact he can share directly with Mr. Comperatore. 

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Boston, MA

Best of Boston Weddings 2026

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Best of Boston Weddings 2026


Best Stationery, Gus & Ruby / Photo by Lindsay Hackney

Stationery

GUS & RUBY

At Gus & Ruby, stationery isn’t just paper—it’s personality, pressed and printed to perfection. Beloved for their inventive designs, hand-rendered illustrations, and luxurious letterpress, this New England favorite crafts suites that tell your story from the very first envelope. Founders and longtime friends Samantha Finigan and Whitney Swaffield lead their team to infuse every project with warmth, wit, and impeccable taste, making each invitation a true keepsake. gusandruby.com.

Photographer

CITYLUX STUDIOS

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CityLux Studios captures weddings with the cinematic flair of a Vogue spread and the heart of a love story. Known for luminous tones, modern composition, and effortlessly emotive moments, this Boston-based team turns real life into high art. Married couple and founders Sarah and Peter blend editorial precision with genuine connection to create luminous imagery that feels as timeless as the love it celebrates. citylux.studio.

Videographer

STOPGOLOVE

Founded by filmmakers Jared Haskell and Jason McCutchen, StopGoLove turns real moments into modern, cinematic stories. Their style is clean, intentional, and emotionally honest—beautiful composition, smart pacing, and an instinct for the in-between beats that make a film feel alive. The result is wedding cinema with editorial polish and zero pretense: story first, style built in. stopgolove.com.

Floral Studio

ORLY KHON

Orly Khon doesn’t just arrange flowers; she composes living art. Known for her moody, romantic designs that balance wildness with refinement, Khon approaches each event like a painter at her canvas, blending texture, color, and movement into unforgettable floral moments. Whether it’s a delicate tablescape or a lush, architectural ceremony design, her work feels both timeless and a touch rebellious—much like the modern couples she designs for. orlykhon.com.

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A wooden serving board holding a row of ten pieces of sushi, each wrapped in seaweed and topped with a crispy fried item, creamy sauce, red fish roe, and small green garnishes. A hand is holding the board.

Best Catering, Max Ultimate Food / Photo by Person Killian Photography

Catering

MAX ULTIMATE FOOD

Turning culinary imagination into edible art, this Boston-based team delivers restaurant-level dining with the precision of a luxury event planner. Creative tasting menus, impeccable service, and presentation that’s anything but predictable make every celebration unforgettable. From passed hors d’oeuvres to late-night bites, every detail is, well, ultimate. maxultimatefood.com.

Three-tiered cream-colored cake decorated with intricate piped icing swags and floral patterns, topped with small green berries and a few pastel flower petals. The cake is placed on a beige tablecloth, flanked by two framed vintage wedding photos and a silver cake server.

Best Cakes, Lizzie’s Bakery / Photo by Lushi Song

Cakes

LIZZIE’S BAKERY

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Whimsical yet sophisticated, these confections are as delicious as they are striking—think handpainted details, sculptural sugar florals, and modern, clean-lined tiers. Behind the magic is Lizzie Johnson, a Food Network alum with a fine-art eye and a love of bold flavor, crafting designs that feel personal, polished, and picture perfect. Sweet beauty, inside and out. lizziesbakery.com.

A formal group portrait of nine people dressed in elegant evening attire. Eight individuals stand in a row, with two women wearing sparkly teal dresses and six men in black suits with patterned jackets and dark green ties. One man sits in front on a chair, wearing a shiny blue and green patterned tuxedo jacket with black pants, a white shirt, and a black bow tie. The background features a large framed landscape painting on a green wall, and the floor is wooden with a patterned rug in the foreground.

Best Band, Hot Mess / Photo by Shannon Bialy Photography

Band

HOT MESS

No cookie-cutter wedding playlists here. This Boston-based band is known for turning every crowd into a dance-floor frenzy, thanks to powerhouse vocals, magnetic stage presence, and an uncanny ability to read the room. Whether it’s a soulful slow jam or a pop anthem that gets Grandma on her feet, they bring the perfect blend of polish and pure fun. Simply put: They don’t just play the party, they are the party. hotmessrocks.com.

DJ

C-ZONE ENTERTAINMENT

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For couples who want a packed dance floor and a soundtrack that feels uniquely theirs, this Boston-based team delivers. With decades of experience, seamless mixing, and an intuitive sense for what the crowd craves, these DJs curate moments that move effortlessly from first dance to final encore. Sophisticated, high-energy, and always in tune with the couple’s style—this is music done right. czonemusic.com.

Photo Booth

ENTERTAINMENT SPECIALISTS

A photo booth should be as stylish as the celebration itself, and this team delivers just that. With sleek setups, creative backdrops, and instant share options, they turn snapshots into unforgettable keepsakes. Whether it’s a glam booth worthy of the red carpet or a playful setup packed with props, they make every moment memorable and a whole lot of fun. entertainmentspecialists.com.

Outdoor wedding reception setup under a white tent with draped fabric and string lights. Round tables are covered with green and white floral tablecloths, each surrounded by wooden chairs with white cushions. Hanging gold geometric lanterns adorned with white and green floral arrangements are suspended from the tent ceiling. The floor is polished wood, and the background shows green grass and a stone wall.

Best Wedding Planner, Baciare Events / Photo by Constance Schiano

Wedding Planner

BACIARE EVENTS

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Founders Ashley Saffer and Renée Sabo are masters of turning dream days into beautifully lived experiences. With a blend of creativity, calm precision, and genuine care, they craft weddings that feel effortless, elegant, and deeply personal. Whether it’s an intimate coastal gathering, a grand ballroom affair, or a celebration halfway across the world, their team ensures every detail is seamless. baciareevents.com.

Event Designer

TYGER EVENT DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Founded by principal Ty Kuppig, this design and production studio brings a couture sensibility to every celebration. With an architect’s eye and a storyteller’s instinct, Kuppig transforms venues into cinematic settings layered with texture, light, and mood. From sculptural floral moments to bold, modern palettes, each event feels elevated, expressive, and entirely one of a kind. tygerproductions.com.

Hairstylist

MONIKA RAMIZI, SALON MARIO RUSSO

Known for her “try-anything” attitude and calming presence, Monika Ramizi approaches bridal beauty with both artistry and ease. Whether it’s soft, romantic waves, a sleek modern updo, or something entirely unexpected, she tailors each look to the bride’s personality and vision. The result is hair that feels fresh, confident, and camera-ready from the first look to the final dance. mariorusso.com.

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Makeup Artist

BEAUTY BY NELSE

For Nelse Karini, makeup is more than artistry; it’s empowerment. A self-taught talent with a passion for helping women look and feel their best, she’s known for her luminous, skin-first approach and ability to create a flawless finish that still feels like you. Brides love her mix of precision and personality—equal parts perfectionist and hype woman—and the confidence that comes with her chair-side magic. beautybynelse.com.

Bridal Boutique

L’ÉLITE BRIDAL

A destination for the fashion-forward bride, this Newbury Street institution curates an elite roster of global designers—from Oscar de la Renta and Monique Lhuillier to Berta and Ines Di Santo. With more than three decades of experience, the boutique’s expert stylists and in-house tailoring team deliver a couture-level experience that feels as personal as it is polished. Every gown is chosen for its artistry, craftsmanship, and that unforgettable moment when a bride sees herself and knows: This is the one. lelite.com.

Five women are posing in an elegant room with ornate gold-trimmed walls and a patterned carpet. Four women wear intricate white bridal gowns with lace and sheer details, each with unique designs including off-shoulder, high neck, and embellished sleeves. One woman stands out in the center wearing a bold red pantsuit with a tailored blazer. The woman seated on the floor wears a long-sleeved lace gown and a matching lace headpiece. The overall scene conveys a high-fashion bridal theme.

Best Wedding Dress Designer, Candice Wu Couture / Photo by Reinhardt Kenneth

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Wedding Dress Designer

CANDICE WU COUTURE

With a couture sensibility and a flair for the unexpected, Candice Wu redefines modern bridal style. Her gowns balance romance and edge, featuring exquisite craftsmanship, sculptural silhouettes, and intricate detailing that make every look unforgettable. Whether ethereal and whimsical or sleek and daring, each design embodies her signature blend of elegance, confidence, and artistry. candicewucouture.com.

A hand wearing seven diamond rings, each with a different cut and setting. The rings feature round, oval, and rectangular diamonds set in silver or gold bands, with some bands adorned with smaller diamonds. The nails are painted pink with one nail having a white stripe. The background is blurred greenery.

Best Engagement Rings, Boston Diamond Company / Photo courtesy of Boston Diamond Company

Engagement Rings

BOSTON DIAMOND COMPANY

Discerning brides and grooms turn to this Newbury Street jeweler for more than sparkle—they come for expertise. Owner Stephanie Binder and her team of certified gemologists offer a refreshingly educated approach to fine jewelry, guiding clients through every facet of diamond selection with honesty, precision, and an impeccable eye for design. Whether sourcing an exceptional natural stone or creating something from the boutique’s Pure Luxe Lab collection of lab-grown diamonds, each piece reflects the brand’s unwavering commitment to quality and craftsmanship. Because true luxury isn’t loud; it’s brilliantly, quietly flawless. bostondiamond.com.

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Wedding Bands

LONG’S JEWELERS

For more than a century, Long’s Jewelers has been synonymous with craftsmanship, integrity, and enduring style. This fifthgeneration, family-owned jeweler bridges heritage and modernity with a collection of wedding bands that balance artistry and intention. Each piece is designed to feel as effortless as it is enduring—refined in form, rich in meaning, and unmistakably elevated. A modern icon of lasting love and impeccable taste. longsjewelers.com.

Rentals

DEZ COLLECTIVE

At Dez Collective, design lives in the details. This Boston-based studio curates a thoughtful collection of furniture, tabletop, and décor that elevates weddings from stylish to unforgettable. With a deeply honed instinct for atmosphere, the team creates layered environments that feel intentional, artful, and entirely now: the kind of spaces that photograph as beautifully as they feel. dezcollective.com.

Urban Venue

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

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A landmark of art and architecture, the Boston Public Library offers one of the city’s most breathtaking backdrops for a wedding. Beneath vaulted ceilings and along marble corridors, history and grandeur converge in a way that feels both timeless and distinctly Boston. Partnering exclusively with the Catered Affair, the venue hosts some of the city’s most luxurious celebrations, yet it’s also possible to exchange vows here in a one-hour ceremony that costs little more than a library card. Either way, the setting is unforgettable. bpl.org.

Historic Venue

THE GREAT HOUSE AT THE CRANE ESTATE

High above the Ipswich coast, the Great House at the Crane Estate feels like stepping into another era. Designed in 1928 by architect David Adler for industrialist Richard T. Crane Jr., the 59-room Stuart-style mansion crowns a 165-acre National Historic Landmark surrounded by salt marshes, barrier beaches, and sweeping ocean views. The property’s showstopper, the Grand Allée, a 2,060-foot lawn that stretches from the mansion to the water’s edge, offers a photo backdrop worthy of royalty. craneestateevents.com.

A large, multi-story white building with a gray roof is situated near a sandy beach and ocean. The building has many windows and a covered entrance supported by columns. There is a paved walkway and some greenery around the building, with sand dunes and a wooden path leading to the beach nearby. The ocean is calm and blue in the background.

Best Coastal Venue, Wychmere Beach Club / Photo by Alex Paul

Coastal Venue

WYCHMERE BEACH CLUB

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If it’s possible to have glamour on the beach, this is where it lives. In Harwich, Wychmere Beach Club merges Cape Cod’s oceanfront ease with a distinctly polished edge. Expansive water views, clean architectural lines, and light-filled spaces create a setting that feels both elevated and elemental: seaside sophistication, perfected. wychmerebeachclub.com.

Rustic Venue

THE BARN AT GIBBET HILL

If “rustic” makes you think of mason jars, think again. The Barn at Gibbet Hill redefines the genre with its soaring post-and-beam architecture, polished wood interiors, and panoramic views of rolling pastureland. Set on a working farm in Groton, the venue blends country character with refined hospitality: think firefly evenings, farm-to-table menus, and sunsets that wash the hills in gold. barnatgibbethill.com.

A woman in a white, one-shoulder gown holding a bouquet stands in an ornate hallway with a golden arched ceiling and chandeliers. She faces two women in elegant dresses, one in a dark brown strapless gown and the other in a lavender tiered dress. The hallway features large mirrors, framed artwork, and intricate tile flooring.

Best Ballroom Venue, Fairmont Copley Plaza / Courtesy photo

Ballroom Venue

FAIRMONT COPLEY PLAZA

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In the heart of the Back Bay,  the Fairmont Copley Plaza is Boston’s grande dame—all gilded ceilings, marble columns, and chandeliers that seem to glow from another century. A Beaux Arts masterpiece with unmistakable presence, it brings drama to the classic ballroom wedding. Yet behind the opulence is a pulse of modern sophistication: flawless service, effortless style, and a setting that never goes out of fashion. fairmont-copley-plaza.com.

Getting married? Start and end your wedding planning journey with Boston Weddings’ guide to the best wedding vendors in the city.



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Pittsburg, PA

Light rain is expected to arrive in the Pittsburgh area this afternoon

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Light rain is expected to arrive in the Pittsburgh area this afternoon



Light rain is expected to arrive in the Pittsburgh area this afternoon with the best chance for rain coming later in the week. 

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Any Alert Days Ahead?  No

Aware: Snow continues to melt, with yesterday’s snow depth measuring 2″ still. Thursday will be a good day for most to ‘clean the yard’.

Snow continues to slowly melt off.  Today should be a big day with light rain and warm temperatures helping to bring snow depth totals in Pittsburgh down from yesterday’s 2″ down to an inch or less by Wednesday morning.  By Wednesday evening, most of the snow will be off the ground, with exceptions for shaded areas. 

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KDKA Weather Center


If you have dogs, Thursday is going to be the best time to get outside to ‘clean the yard’. Our best chance for rain this week comes Friday through Saturday, with rain and some rumbles expected.

For today, rain chances arrive right at noon and stick around through 7 a.m. on Wednesday. Rain totals will not be very impressive.  I am only expecting five hundredths of an inch or less for most places. The best chance for rain will probably occur around 7 p.m this evening through around 10 p.m.  A lot of your afternoon will be dry.

When it comes to temperatures, morning lows dipped to the low 30s this morning and highs today should be around 50 degrees.  Yesterday’s high of 47 degrees was a good four degrees warmer than what I forecast for our daily high. It felt amazing outside. We will see more ‘mild’ weather this week with highs in the mid-40s on Wednesday behind the rain. Thursday highs should hit the mid-50s. I still have Friday highs near 60 degrees.

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KDKA Weather Center


Before wrapping things up, I do want to quickly talk about Sunday morning’s weather with rain, snow, & sleet all expected over just a couple of hours. Travel in some spots will be slowed with the rapid drop in temperatures, slick conditions, and windy conditions. At this point, the usual suspects of the Ridges, Laurel Highlands, places north of I-80, and the snowbelt of Armstrong and Indiana counties will be most impacted. We will continue to have more on timing and what to expect for the rest of the week, but at least for now, I wanted to give an early warning about what is heading our way.

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Connecticut

Made in Connecticut: Rochambeau Memorial Monument

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Made in Connecticut: Rochambeau Memorial Monument


This year, the U.S. celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The French were instrumental in our fight for freedom, and their march through Connecticut is being memorialized in a new sculpture. News 12 met with the artist in this week’s Made in Connecticut.



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