Connect with us

Massachusetts

6 Most Eccentric Towns In Massachusetts

Published

on

6 Most Eccentric Towns In Massachusetts


Massachusetts’s history has allowed it to develop into one of the most culturally rich states in the country. Home to century-old art communities, glass-blowing galleries, and live outdoor museums, the state’s small towns contain a fascinating mixture of attractions. Looking to plan a vacation that will shake things up? Check out these six towns with personalities that are sure to leave a lasting impression.

Sandwich

A walkway through the marshland in Sandwich, Massachusetts.

Sometimes referred to as “The Town that Glass Built,” the small town of Sandwich went through a major transformation in the early 19th century when Deming Jarves established a bustling glass factory in town, which grew to be one of the most important parts of Sandwich’s economy. Although the glass factory later closed in the 1880s, glass still holds a cultural significance in Sandwich, which visitors can experience at the Sandwich Glass Museum, which exhibits original pieces from the 19th century and traditional glass-blowing techniques. A number of glass blowers and glass artists lie around town as well for those wanting a souvenir.

Located along a coastal marsh, visitors have plenty of outdoor recreational activities, such as kayaking through the salt marshes or hiking to the top of the Maple Swamp ridge. Visitors can also appreciate the coastal views by strolling along the historic and wooden Sandwich Boardwalk, which stretches out into the bay.

Provincetown

The waterfront at Provincetown, Massachusetts
The waterfront at Provincetown, Massachusetts.

Provincetown is the oldest continuous art colony in the United States, having welcomed artists, playwrights, writers, and poets for more than a hundred years into its community. As a result, art museums and art galleries are abundant throughout town. Visitors must check out Provincetown’s East End and Commerical Street districts, both of which have high concentrations of art galleries to explore. The Provincetown Art Association and Museum is another creative space to check out, operating for more than 100 years and showcasing both local and regional art. To see more contemporary art, The Provincetown Fine Arts Works Center focuses on the work of emerging artists and writers.

Visitors wanting to head to the beach have several options in Provincetown. Lying along Cape Cod National Seashore Park, travelers can appreciate pristine, wild beaches, such as Race Point Beach and Herring Cove. Those wanting a bird’s eye view of the town can climb up The Race Point Lighthouse, a historic lighthouse dating back more than 200 years.

Advertisement

Williamstown

Aerial view of the Thompson Memorial Chapel on the campus of Williams College in Williamstown,
Aerial view of the Thompson Memorial Chapel in Williamstown. Editorial credit: pics721 / Shutterstock.com.

Williamstown, a town with a population of a little over 7,000, has worked in recent years to develop a lively cultural district. Images Cinema, Greylock Gallery, and The Spring Street Market and Café are just a few of the businesses and institutions located in this cultural district that will allow visitors to appreciate its cozy arts scene. Williamstown’s “Eyes on Art Town” initiative supports local artists by showcasing their work on banners displayed along streetlight posts. Those interested in theater and plays can visit during the town’s annual Williamstown Theater Festival, which takes place in July and August each year and encourages the work of emerging and professional theater artists.

In the winter months, travelers can enjoy snowshoeing along some of Williamtown’s nearby trails, such as Torrey Woods Road Trailhead, Berlin Pass Trailhead, and the Rockwell Road Appalachian Trail Trailhead.

Rockport

A feel of summer in Rockport harbor. Editorial credit: Keith J Finks / Shutterstock.com.

Rockport is popular among outdoor enthusiasts, populated by old lighthouses and sandy beaches. There are three lighthouses to explore in the area: The Straightsmouth Lighthouse and the Thatcher Island Twin Lighthouses. The Thacher Island Twin Lighthouses are a historic landmark, with the original towers constructed in 1771, making them some of the oldest lighthouses in the country. The present brick structure of the Straightsmouth Lighthouse is historic as well, dating back to 1896 and towering 37 feet. Some of the town’s best beaches include Pebble Beach, Front Beach, and Back Beach.

December is packed with holiday activities in Rockport. On December 7th, Santa arrives by boat, followed by a tree-lighting ceremony. The month continues with a Christmas pageant, caroling, a last-minute stocking stuffer shopping event, and a Menorah lighting on December 26th.

Sturbridge

Sturbridge, Massachusetts
Fourth of July celebrations at Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Editorial credit: Emma’sPhotos / Shutterstock.com.

Sturbridge, in southern Massachusetts, is home to New England’s largest outdoor museum. Old Sturbridge Village spans 20 acres and features over 400 historic buildings. Visitors can step into 19th-century rural New England by chatting with live actors portraying trades such as blacksmithing, printing, pottery, and cabinetmaking or visit farms with pigs, cattle, chickens, and sheep. To see more of New England farm life, travelers can stop by Hyland Orchard, a 150-acre farm open each fall for apple picking at fall-themed activities.

Travelers wanting to get some exercise can try out axe throwing at Into The Grain Axe Throwing or pick up a bow and arrow at Bay Path Archers Inc. For more traditional recreational activities, consider a hike at Opacum Woods and Trails and Grand Trunk Trail.

Falmouth

Nobska Light in Falmouth, Massachusetts.
Nobska Light in Falmouth, Massachusetts.

For a festive coastal holiday escape, Falmouth transforms into a seasonal haven after Thanksgiving. Highlights include the Nobska Lighthouse Holiday Open House, Caroling in Woods Hole Village, and the appearance of Seafaring Santa in Falmouth Harbor. This year, the town will also host its 61st Annual Falmouth Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade on December 8th.

To take advantage of the town’s position along the water, visitors can relax by embarking on a Cape Cod Canal Cruise, where they can sightsee and learn about the canal’s history. Those who prefer to be more active can book a kayak tour with Great Marsh Kayak Tours, who will take travelers down the Parkers River and Nauset Marsh. For fresh seafood or premium steak, head to Water Street Kitchen, located near the coastline and known for its dishes crafted with high-quality ingredients.

Final Thoughts

Although Massachusetts is well-known for its history, its vibrant, modern culture stands proudly on its own. From holiday events to theater festivals, these towns celebrate their communities and art scenes through one-of-a-kind events. Surrounded by a wide range of natural attractions, these destinations are also perfect for anyone eager to explore the great outdoors. Whatever your ideal vacation calls for, count on one of these towns to make it a memorable one.

Advertisement



Source link

Massachusetts

Mass. House votes to set new rules for DiZoglio’s audit

Published

on

Mass. House votes to set new rules for DiZoglio’s audit


Twenty-eight lawmakers dissented Wednesday as the Massachusetts House voted to set new terms around what state Auditor Diana DiZoglio would be able to review in the legislative audit voters authorized her to carry out in 2024.

Almost all House Democrats voted for the measure, which also proposes to make more state government records accessible to the public. Three Democrats — Cambridge Rep. Mike Connolly, Attleboro Rep. Jim Hawkins and Fall River Rep. Alan Silvia — joined the body’s 25 Republicans in voting no.

Speaker Ron Mariano said the bill responds to an ongoing call from voters for more transparency out of Beacon Hill and provides a path forward in lieu of a what he called “politically motivated audit conducted in violation of the Constitution.”

Leaders of the House and Senate have resisted DiZoglio’s audit push, arguing that a probe by the auditor’s office would run afoul of the separation of powers laid out in the state Constitution, bringing the legislative branch under the review of a piece of the executive branch.

Advertisement

“We are not accountable to any constitutional officer,” said Rep. Mindy Domb, an Amherst Democrat. “We are only accountable to our constituents.”

Taunton Rep. Lisa Field, a Democrat in her first term, said she was among the 72% of Massachusetts voters who backed the audit ballot question in 2024.

“Due to legitimate concerns and questions about constitutional privileges and separation of powers, we have been stuck on this audit issue for more than a year,” Field said. “Let’s not be like Washington, D.C. and accept such gridlock — not about the audit and not about public records. Let’s not let perfect be the enemy of good progress.”

The House’s bill would authorize DiZoglio to review what it defines as the “administrative functions” of the Legislature, going back to the 2021 fiscal year. Those areas include the adoption of annual budgets, official audits of the House and Senate by independent firms, spending by both chambers, and the execution of any financial settlements with lawmakers and employees.

It would also newly apply the state’s public records law to the governor’s office, and create a process by which people could request and receive certain legislative files.

Advertisement

Massachusetts is currently the only state where the Legislature, governor and judiciary all claim to be exempt from the public records law.

Warren Republican Rep. Todd Smola described the process that led up to Wednesday’s vote as opaque in and of itself. Mariano last week said the House would take up what he called comprehensive transparency legislation, but did not say when or what, specifically, the bill would do.

The bill was circulated to members of the House Ways and Means Committee around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, and committee members had a little over a half hour to vote on whether to advance it. Smola, the ranking Republican on the committee, said during that 34-minute window, “we had members on both sides of the political aisle that were calling each other back and forth to say, ‘Can you explain this portion to me?’”

“We are so much better than the process that has unfolded,” he said. “And for the sake of people that are asking us for transparency, that is not transparency. That’s the opposite of transparency.”

Rep. Michael Soter, a Bellingham Republican, said he was particularly concerned with a part of the bill that removes the courts from settling disputes between the auditor and the Legislature.

Advertisement

He said that by setting its own rules around an audit, the House would be “ensuring the auditor can only see exactly what we allow her to see and nothing more.”

It’s not clear yet if the Senate will pass the bill. Last week, state senators voted to turn over a limited set of documents to DiZoglio. The documents the Senate plans to provide mirror the records she would be allowed to review under the House bill.

Asked if he expected the Senate to agree to the legislation, Mariano on Tuesday said only, “I talked to the Senate.”



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Massachusetts

French-Mediterranean Eatery Charts Opening In Boston

Published

on

French-Mediterranean Eatery Charts Opening In Boston


BOSTON, MA — An international restaurant group with locations across the globe is preparing to open its first Massachusetts restaurant this year.

LPM Restaurant & Bar, a French Riviera-inspired restaurant founded in London, is set to open on the second floor of the Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street in Back Bay, according to Four Seasons. The hotel lists the restaurant as “Opening Summer 2026,” while the Boston Business Journal reported the restaurant plans to open in September.

The Boston restaurant will mark LPM’s debut in the Northeast and its third U.S. outpost, following locations in Miami and Las Vegas, according to a Four Seasons announcement.

LPM, also known as La Petite Maison, was founded in London in 2007 and is known for French-Mediterranean food, Mediterranean ingredients and dining rooms influenced by Belle Époque design.

Advertisement

The business operates locations in London, Dubai, Miami, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Riyadh, Limassol, Doha, Mykonos, Kuwait, Boston, Maldives and Bangkok.

Four Seasons said LPM will take over the space that formerly housed One Dalton’s breakfast concept, One + One. The restaurant will join other dining options at the hotel, including Zuma and Trifecta.

See Also:





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Massachusetts

Massachusetts high school under investigation after teachers diagnosed with breast cancer

Published

on

Massachusetts high school under investigation after teachers diagnosed with breast cancer


A Massachusetts high school is under investigation after “several” teachers have been diagnosed with breast cancer or precancerous conditions.

The state Department of Public Health is set to visit Uxbridge High School on Thursday to “conduct a series of air quality tests,” to determine whether the multiple cases are potentially connected.

Superintendent David Ljungberg and Principal Michael Rubin alerted families and district staff on Monday of the “sombering news,” after Uxbridge High School’s graduation over the weekend.

“We are writing to inform you about a concern we are investigating at Uxbridge High School,” Ljungberg and Rubin stated in the letter. “Several female teachers have been diagnosed with breast cancer or precancerous conditions over the past few years.”

Advertisement

“It is, of course, possible that these multiple cases are not connected to one another,” the leaders added, “but out of abundance of caution, we are looking into any environmental factors at the school that may be a factor in their diagnoses.”

The 123,000-square-foot school, with an enrollment of roughly 600, was constructed in 2012 at a cost of $45 million, including a $22-million state reimbursement.

Uxbridge school leaders say they notified the state Department of Health and local health board as soon as they became aware of the cases, seeking “counsel about how best to proceed.”

“Massachusetts DPH officials have indicated that there is no evidence of immediate danger in the building and no reason to limit access to or use of the facility at this time,” they wrote in their letter. “In fact, the public health officials have commended our decision to approach them with these concerns, our readiness to partner with them in support of the evaluation process.”

Health officials are assessing the school’s interior and exterior to “ensure there are no issues with the infrastructure that would present risks (including electrical, plumbing, mechanical, HVAC, and other systems)” and the indoor and outdoor air quality on campus.

Advertisement

The superintendent and principal said that state officials have ruled out water supply as a “risk factor” after “thorough testing.”

“The team has reached out to the women who have been diagnosed, requesting data to evaluate whether there may be a connection among their cases,” Ljungberg and Rubin wrote. “We are grateful for their cooperation.”

They added that the state has said discovering an environmental “smoking gun” is “rare” in workplace investigations.

“However, even if a direct causal link is not established,” the leaders wrote, “the administration is utilizing this process to rigorously test the building and guarantee that it meets all safety standards moving forward.”

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending