Massachusetts
A fungus for good: How mushrooms are solving problems in Mass.
Inside the historic Printers Building in downtown Worcester, hundreds of edible mushrooms are proliferating in a former storage room.
Oyster, shiitake and lion’s mane species grow out of sawdust “fruiting” blocks under humidity tents, soon to make their way to people’s plates.
Betting big on the urban mushroom enterprise is the Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts. The project, which has received thousands in grant money, aims to combat food insecurity while providing a source of income for the Worcester-based nonprofit that serves Laotian, Cambodian and Vietnamese immigrants and refugees.
Tuyet Tran, the organization’s executive director, is a Vietnam refugee herself. In their native country, her mother was a farmer.
- Read more: A Mass chef’s devotion to mushroom foraging
“I’ve always loved growing things, growing vegetables,” Tran said. “We consider food, especially herbs, as medicine. It comes naturally to us. The idea for the mushrooms really expanded from that notion.”
The coalition’s venture was among two mushroom-centric projects selected in a recent round of grant funding from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. The other is at East Boston’s Eastie Farm, an urban agriculture nonprofit working in food security and climate justice.
A volunteer handles comb tooth mushrooms at Eastie Farm.Courtesy
In both cases, the community organizations wanted to bolster their food offerings to the populations they serve, while also turning a profit by selling the rest to local restaurants and farmers markets.
“There is a lot of interest in mushrooms,” said Kannan Thiruvengadam, Eastie Farm’s director. “They’ve always been of interest to people who do foraging and permaculture because it naturally grows in forests, as long as you know what to harvest and how to harvest it.”
Not all mushrooms are edible, and some are actually poisonous. Others are the psychedelic kind that Massachusetts voters rejected on the November 2024 ballot.
A joke among mushrooms foragers, Thiruvengadam laughed, is that “you can taste any mushroom once.”
‘I want it to grow into a social enterprise’
The fungi-growing catalyst for both Eastie Farm and the Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts was the same: the COVID pandemic made them want to boost food security efforts in the face of deep social and health inequities laid bare.
In Worcester, Tran said food is an incredibly important part of their mission, particularly because of the prominence of refugee and homeless populations.
They were already well-connected with local farms and seasonal produce, but the organization wanted to provide a self-sustaining, year round offering. Tran herself had been learning about edible mushrooms at home during the pandemic.
“We wanted to grow mushrooms because it’s part of the diet of Asian folks,” she said.
Mushrooms grow out of a sawdust block at the Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts in downtown Worcester.Courtesy
The coalition’s website tells visitors, “No, we’re not turning people into zombies and, no, we’re not dabbling in the psychedelic arts. What we’re doing is far more magical: growing nutrient-packed mushrooms to nourish our communities and fight food insecurity.”
Mushrooms are said to have powerful health benefits, including anti-cancer and immune-boosting properties. And because of their ultraviolet light exposure, whether it be sunlight or indoor light, they’re a good source of Vitamin D.
Different mushrooms are known for different benefits. Lion’s mane, for example, is touted for brain health, while reishi is known for anti-stress and relaxation effects.
The endeavor started with a $120,000 grant from the Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts, outfitting an old storage room with water, lights, shelving and growing equipment inside the Portland Street building that houses the Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts.
Between September and December, they harvested more than 800 pounds of mushrooms. Tran said it’s been quite a learning process, but a welcome — and fun — one.
“I had no idea how hard it was to grow mushrooms,” she said. “You really have to control the environment. The humidity, the temperature, the water misting.”
The Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts is growing mushrooms inside a downtown Worcester building.Courtesy
The mushrooms, which are grown organically, are distributed to families, shelters, senior centers and temples. The goal is to also sell them to local restaurants and farmers markets to make a small profit for the organization.
“We want to be able to sell some, to make some money back, to pay the water and electricity bill,” Tran said. “We can grow a lot. It’s all part of the plan. You start small and move up to higher volume. I want it to grow into a social enterprise.”
Tran hopes a workforce development opportunity will come from it, especially if they get a commercial kitchen for high-volume processing and mushroom drying.
‘Food, farming and education’
At Eastie Farm, $40,000 from the Department of Agricultural Resources will support a build-out of a mushroom production center. It certainly helps that two top staff members are “super excited about mushrooms,” Thiruvengadam said.
Eastie Farm has sites around East Boston where they invite neighbors to grow food together, pick up produce boxes and learn more about the natural environment.
East Boston has the highest percentage of immigrants of any Boston neighborhood. And it’s also one of the most vulnerable communities in the state in terms of pollution and climate change impacts.
Mushrooms pictured at Eastie Farm in East Boston.Courtesy
In 2022, Eastie Farm debuted a zero-emissions, geothermal greenhouse, thought to be the first of its kind in Massachusetts. Climate resilience is at the core of the organization’s mission, Thiruvengadam said.
“What we’re trying to do here is empower ourselves so we can not only prepare for what is to come, but also address the needs of our people today,” he said. “Food, farming and education.”
During COVID, Eastie Farm rented kitchens that were closed and served more than 5,000 hot meals every week at the height of the pandemic.
The nutrient-rich mushrooms will be a piece of the farm’s ongoing food security efforts. They’ll be used in meals and CSA boxes, and likely make their way to restaurants at market-rate price.
“Most of what we do really comes from what we hear in the community and what the youth express to us as interest,” Thiruvengadam said. “The mushroom farm will be a space for young people to learn how things work and what does nature grow. How to process safely, how to cook and consume, how to do new things.”
Massachusetts
Seven high school sports takeaways from the final day of the MIAA football regular season – The Boston Globe
Find all the scores here. Final football conference standings live here. We also have final boys’ and girls’ soccer standings. Today’s headlines:
▪ It was the biggest win of the day, and a monumental one for St. John’s Prep coach Brian St. Pierre, who notched his 100th career win with a 43-28 defeat of No. 3 Catholic Memorial. St. Pierre is in his 12th season at the helm of his alma mater, where he was named Gatorade Player of the Year and quarterbacked the Eagles to a 1997 Super Bowl title before going on to play at Boston College and earn a fifth-round draft selection to the NFL, where he played for four teams in an eight-year career.
He is the third coach in Prep history to reach 100 wins, joining Fred Glatz and Jim O’Leary.
▪ Andover senior Naomi Vajda recorded her 100th career block among three rejections in a 3-0 Division 1 first-round girls’ volleyball win over Boston Latin. Vajda added six kills and four aces.
▪ Despite an 0-5 start, Brockton rallied to win the Big Three Conference with a 23-0 blanking of Durfee, which came a week after they destroyed New Bedford, 41-0. Casey Rhodes, Marcio Semedo, and Jarred Mighty scored Saturday as the Boxers (3-5, 2-0) also punched their ticket to the Division 1 tournament.
▪ With a 31-28 win over Loomis Chaffee, Avon Old Farms (Conn.) wrapped up an undefeated season (8-0) and captured the Founders League title.
▪ Nobles boys’ soccer defeated Brooks, 3-1, to secure the Independent School League crown.
▪ Minuteman boys’ soccer dispensed with McCann Tech, 5-1, to win the State Vocational Small School championship. The Greater New Bedford boys defeated Greater Lowell, 3-0, for the Large School title.
Congratulations to our Boys ⚽️ Team for reclaiming the seat a top Vocational Boys Soccer with the 2025 State Vocational Championship. The team defeated Gr Lowell 3-0 pic.twitter.com/8atj06V8kp
— GNBVT Athletics (@GNBVTathletics) November 2, 2025
Ellis Barnes, BB&N — The senior defensive back, who is committed to Columbia, came up big for the Knights in a 17-7 NEPSAC win over St. Paul’s (N.H.), picking off two passes and making seven tackles.
Peter Bourque, Tabor — A regular in this space, the Michigan-bound quarterback showed off his legwork in the second half, rushing for three touchdowns in a come-from-behind 39-21 NEPSAC win over St. Sebastian’s. The junior QB finished with 232 passing yards and five total touchdowns.
Andrew Kiricoples, Bishop Fenwick — The sophomore threw for 192 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for a third score in a 34-6 Catholic Central League road win.
Elai Machado, KIPP — The 6-foot-4-inch junior quarterback ran for touchdowns of 15, 45, and 40 yards, and tossed a 20-yard scoring strike for the Panthers in a 41-6 Commonwealth Conference win over Lowell Catholic.
Jalen Morris, Rivers — The biggest rushing performance of the day belonged to the junior, who took 23 carries for 259 yards and four scores in a 47-6 NEPSAC win over Governor’s.
Brady Shuffain, Sharon — The junior had himself a day, throwing for 381 yards and four touchdowns in a 46-6 win over Fitchburg that featured several big performances, including Matt Khrakovsky’s 207 rushing yards and three scores and Joseph Seaman’s 119 receiving yards and two TDs.
Jake Strojny, Roxbury Latin — The senior quarterback combined three passing TDs with one on the ground to beat St. George’s, 30-0, in NEPSAC action.
Here’s betting Classical (R.I.) senior Bam Adebayo had quite the interesting Saturday morning.
The 6-foot, 160-pound cornerback/safety posted that he got his first preferred walk-on offer from URI. No doubt a big moment. A chance to play Division 1 football in his homestate.
Then Cavaliers All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell took notice, quote-tweeting the post and tagging Miami Heat forward Bam Adebayo, who ironically, uses the X handle @Bam1of1.
“Congrats bro!! Keep working” Mitchell wrote.
Brady Shuffain, Sharon, 381
Chris Vargas, St. John’s Prep, 268
Peter Bourque, Tabor, 232
Andrew Kiricoples, Bishop Fenwick, 192
Brady Shuffain, Sharon, 4
Chris Vargas, St. John’s Prep, 4
Jake Strojny, Roxbury Latin, 3
Peter Bourque, Tabor, 2
Andrew Kiricoples, Bishop Fenwick, 2
Jalen Morris, Rivers, 259
Matt Khrakovsky, Sharon, 207
Dylan Patturelli, Bishop Fenwick, 142
Aavian Peña, KIPP, 116
Zack Deschenes, Nashoba Valley Tech, 4
Jalen Morris, Rivers, 4
Peter Bourque, Tabor, 3
Matt Khrakovsky, Sharon, 3
Elia Machado, KIPP, 3
Ryan Beede, Northeast, 2
Xavier Hairston, Taft, 2
Ziah Herring, Greater Lawrence, 2
Joel LaChapelle, Northbridge, 2
Dylan Patturelli, Bishop Fenwick, 2
Nikki Santos, Cambridge, 130
Riley Selvais, St. John’s Prep, 130
Joseph Seaman, Sharon, 119
Riley Selvais, St. John’s Prep, 2
6. Field hockey leaderboard
Jordi Higgins, Bishop Feehan, 4
Alexa Heller, Wellesley, 2
Sydney Kim, Wellesley, 2
Annie Liebhoff, Rivers, 2
Ciara Maloney, Medway, 2
Lauren Mattia, Lynnfield, 2
Olivia McCormick, Hanover, 2
Natalie McMenamy, Medway, 2
Effie Parsons, St. Mary’s, 2
Caroline Vaughan, Andover, 2
Jordi Higgins, Bishop Feehan, 4
Bridgette McGinnis, Bishop Feehan, 3
7. Volleyball leaderboard
Julie Hall, Central Catholic, 25
Tess Madden, Hanover, 22
Erin Root, Old Rochester, 14
Mia Milani, Bellingham, 13
Lila Arkinstall, Wakefield, 12
Victoria Reposa, Reading, 12
Mia Kenny, Wakefield, 11
Lila Moniz, Marblehead, 11
Anna Fernandez, Westford, 10
Bonnie Politzer, Chelmsford, 10
Sadie Stants, Needham, 10
Jessie Wang, Andover, 10
Kyra Ward, Chelmsford, 10
Elizabeth Willis, East Bridgewater, 10
Madison Blanchet, Central Catholic, 38
Maya Morrison, Old Rochester, 37
Sadie Chadwick, Hanover, 35
Eva Burke, Marblehead, 29
Bella Lee, Needham, 27
Ellen Griswold, Chelmsford, 25
Erin Bigham, Canton, 24
Tori Grace, Wakefield, 18
Gianna Miceli, Reading, 16
Addison Parent, Somerset Berkley, 14
Cara Carangelo, Wakefield, 33
Julie Hall, Central Catholic, 20
Soley Rodriguez Martinez, Canton, 7
Sophia Soto, Bellingham, 14
Sydney Faris, Marblehead, 13
Olivia Lesswing, Haverhill, 10
Ryleigh Brown, Somerset Berkley, 9
Erin Bigham, Canton, 8
Addison Parent, Somerset Berkley, 8
Kaitlyn Pepin, Westford, 6
Kaely Dos Santos, Somerset Berkley, 5
Piper Newell, Old Rochester, 4
Katie Ferrara, Somerset Berkley, 3
Mary Furey, Reading, 3
Norah Schweitzer, Westford, 3
Naomi Vajda, Andover, 3
Ellen Griswold, Chelmsford, 7
Bella Lee, Needham, 7
Bonnie Politzer, Chelmsford, 7
Faith Najem, Whitinsville Christian, 6
Claire Zhang, Andover, 6
Brie Cairns, Chelmsford, 5
Alicia Marcal, Chelmsford, 5
Kaitlyn Pepin, Westford, 5
Dylan Poirier, Hanover, 5
Sophia Soto, Bellingham, 5
Kyra Ward, Chelmsford, 5
Brendan Kurie can be reached at brendan.kurie@globe.com. Follow him on X @BrendanKurie.
Massachusetts
Sewage could be dumped into Charles River under new proposal from Massachusetts water authority
A new proposal by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) to change the Charles River’s water-quality classification is sparking controversy, with advocates saying that sewage dumping could undo decades of cleanup.
The plan announced at a meeting on Wednesday would declassify the Charles River as swimmable and allow sewage to flow into the water.
Advocates were shocked to hear the news.
“There could be more sewage, more trash, more debris, more odors,” she said. “We could be going back to what we worked so hard to improve,” said Laura Jasinski, executive director of the Charles River Conservancy.
The Charles River is now one of the cleanest urban rivers in the country, according to the MWRA. Jasinski says that the state of the river has come a long way.
“There was a time when people used to talk about the stench,” she said. “We used to get a ‘D’ letter grade, like on a report card, from the EPA. Back up to we’re getting a ‘B’, ‘B+’ these days.”
What would this mean for recreational activities?
Visitors like Rangan Gajural worry that the change could make it unsafe for recreational activities.
“I think it’s kind of disgusting,” he said. “I come over here to do paddleboating and canoeing. So this will definitely change my mind if it’s going to stink.”
“It’s a place where people come to make memories. It’s a place where you can come and watch a sunset. People get engaged here,” Jasinski said.
The MWRA says the proposal would not make the river less safe.
In a statement, the agency said, “The draft plan as presented reflects a responsible approach that balances potential environmental benefits with rate impacts to all MWRA customer communities.”
Officials said they are working with the cities of Cambridge and Somerville to reduce sewage overflows. The MWRA Board plans to discuss the proposal at its next meeting on Nov. 19.
Massachusetts
Conference champions, tailback terrors, and more among Thursday’s 10 high school sports takeaways – The Boston Globe
Also Thursday, the girls’ volleyball tournament got started in earnest and field hockey continued with first-round matchups.
And, of course, all the scores live here.
▪ With a 32-0 win over Wakefield, Burlington football completed its first undefeated regular season since 2006.
▪ Cardinal Spellman senior captain Kaylee Perrault reached 500 career kills during a 3-0 preliminary-round win over Pope Francis in the Division 3 girls’ volleyball tournament.
Four conference champions were crowned on the gridiron, as Barnstable won the Southeast Conference outright with a 28-18 win over Bridgewater-Raynham, Amesbury routed Manchester Essex, 40-0, to claim the Cape Ann League crown, Scituate topped Hanover, 21-7, to share the Patriot League Fisher title with the Hawks, Abington shut out East Bridgewater, 20-0, to win the South Shore Sullivan, and Medfield rode another big Brady McCormack performance to a 30-12 victory over Norton and at least a share of the Tri-Valley League Small championship.
▪ Winthrop boys’ soccer finished its season with a 10-4-4 record Monday, marking the best winning percentage in program history and capturing the Northeastern Conference Lynch Division title for the first time.
Wednesday, the first day of the field hockey and girls’ volleyball tournaments, featured very few upsets. Thursday wasn’t much different.
In Division 1 field hockey, 22nd-seeded Wachusett knocked off No. 11 Natick, 1-0, behind a third-quarter goal from Lilli Mitchell and a 22-save shutout from Alyssa Davis.
The highest-seeded team to falter thus far in the girls’ volleyball tournament was Turners Falls, the 14th seed in Division 5. They were eliminated by No. 19 Avon, 3-0.
Ben Atherton, Ashland — The senior did it all, rushing for four touchdowns and throwing another one to Kevin Ozulumba in a 41-13 Tri-Valley League win over Norwood.
Will Bush, Swampscott — The senior captain found the end zone four times, rushing for 124 yards in a 33-0 Northeastern League win over Salem.
Brady McCormack, Medfield — If Takeaways had a loyalty program, McCormack would be racking up the points. Another big week saw the senior rumble for 221 yards and two touchdowns, adding a 95-yard kickoff return TD in a 30-12 Tri-Valley League win against Norton.
Austin Rodenhiser, Holliston — Arguably the night’s top performer, the senior rumbled for five touchdowns and 156 yards on just 13 carries, bulldozing the way for a 33-0 TVL win over Dedham.
Matthew Tasker, Lincoln-Sudbury — Noticing a pattern? This senior running back ran wild, scoring four times and piling up 153 yards on 23 carries in a 35-0 Dual County League win over Wayland.
Duxbury has a new softball coach: Charlie Finn. Previously a volunteer assistant at Marshfield, Finn has been an active member of the South Shore softball community, serving as head coach of the 16U Lady Rams travel team. He is also an assistant basketball and field hockey coach at Marshfield. He takes over a team coming off a 10-9 season and a loss in the second round of the Division 2 tournament under previous coach Mike Barba.
Charlie Finn is the new varsity softball coach at Duxbury High.
Finn, an active member of the South Shore softball community, most recently volunteered with the Marshfield Rams.
“I’m extremely excited and grateful for this opportunity,” Finn said. pic.twitter.com/mMML8bbLAZ
— Trevor Hass (@TrevorHass) October 30, 2025
▪ Dartmouth College freshman women’s soccer player Anna Leschly, a 2025 Brookline graduate, was called up to the US Under-20 Women’s National Team for its fall training camp, which concluded Thursday at the University of Kansas. Leschly was one of 10 college players who joined 12 professionals and two club players.
▪ UMass Dartmouth senior Zuri Walters, a Boston Latin graduate from Dorchester, was named to the All-Little East Conference Second Team Singles for the second straight year. Walters went 6-6 at No. 1 singles, finding her stride midway through the tennis season with a 5-1 stretch starting in September.
Max Morin, Hanover, 170
Tim Durocher, Plymouth South, 141
Justin Dube, Abington, 100
Cole Doyle, North Quincy, 2
Michael Wildfire, Cohasset, 2
Brady McCormack, Medfield, 221
Jayson Dyer, Barnstable, 171
Austin Rodenhiser, Holliston, 156
Matthew Trasker, Lincoln-Sudbury, 153
Cameron Banda, Shawsheen, 137
Will Bush, Swampscott, 124
Erik Knight, Billerica, 120
Ty Holmes, West Bridgewater, 113
Austin Rodenhiser, Holliston, 5
Ben Atherton, Ashland, 4
Will Bush, Swampscott, 4
Matthew Trasker, Lincoln-Sudbury, 4
Noah Allen, Whittier, 3
Cameron Banda, Shawsheen, 3
Gianni DePrimeo, Winchester, 3
Gus Green, Cohasset, 3
Andrew Orphanos, Bishop Feehan, 3
Joe Puleo, Amesbury, 3
Ian Alexion, Fairhaven, 2
Jake Banda, Shawsheen, 2
Jake D’Antonio, Marshfield, 2
Jayson Dyer, Barnstable, 2
Ty Holmes, West Bridgewater, 2
Erik Knight, Billerica, 2
Aaron Lague, Fairhaven, 2
Breydan Lewis, Bridgewater-Raynham, 2
Brady McCormack, Medfield, 2
Nick Rotondi, Winchester, 2
Will Wood, Xaverian, 2
Caiden Blake, Bridgewater-Raynham, 186
Kellen Balducci, Hanover, 89
Shane McDonald, Plymouth South, 85
8. Volleyball leaderboard
Gabby Vigeant, Newburyport, 22
Sophia Jeager, Attleboro, 20
Brooke Braswell, Lynn Classical, 18
Kelsey Dinjian, Nashoba, 16
Francesca Reardon, Shawsheen, 13
Olivia Leonardo, Attleboro, 12
Sydney Lynch, Peabody, 12
Shauna Baker, Dennis-Yarmouth, 11
Lizzy Bettencourt, Peabody, 11
Kendra Marino, Billerica, 11
Haley Carter, Attleboro, 31
Rafaela Prebianchi, Dennis-Yarmouth, 30
Nicky Murphy, Barnstable, 27
Emma Chevalier, Lynn Classical, 22
Siena Torili, Nashoba, 20
Meghan Downs, Billerica, 17
Reese Schaiberger, Swampscott, 14
Ilaisha Taveras, Greater Lawrence, 23
Paige Martin, Shawsheen, 20
Isabella DiSalvo, Shawsheen, 19
Ellie Freeman, Nashoba, 18
Sophia Cantwell, Dennis-Yarmouth, 15
Sophia Jeager, Attleboro, 14
Sage Young, Attleboro, 14
Haley Carter, Attleboro, 13
Lizzy Bettencourt, Peabody, 12
Maria Sirota, Swampscott, 11
Kendra Marino, Billerica, 6
Jaydalise Davila, Greater Lawrence, 5
Carly Deacy, Shawsheen, 5
Brooke Braswell, Lynn Classical, 3
Ellie Freeman, Nashoba, 10
Gabby Vigeant, Newburyport, 8
Jazzy Coyer, Barnstable, 6
Emma Chevalier, Lynn Classical, 5
Maria Rosario, Greater Lawrence, 4
Hector Bermudez, Somerville, 2
Raegan Dillon, St. John Paul II, 5
10. Field hockey leaderboard
Shannon Lane, Canton, 4
Carolyn Schiavo, Canton, 3
Hayden Emerson, Foxborough, 2
Brendan Kurie can be reached at brendan.kurie@globe.com. Follow him on X @BrendanKurie.
The Arkansas River’s Big Timbers region reflects a complex history of Western expansion, Indigenous displacement
The oldest restaurant in CT is more than 200 years old. How to eat there
Delaware not quite up to FBS, Conference USA standards in 59-30 loss at Liberty
‘It’s unfair:’ SNAP cuts leave Central Florida seniors struggling for food
Everything From Brent Key After Georgia Tech’s 48-36 Loss to NC State
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Trump threatens to halt all US aid, conduct ‘vicious’ military attack in Nigeria over Christian persecution
Sandu calls on the EU to provide 'clarity and engagement' for Moldova’s accession
A photographer captures life inside Chicago Public Schools
Grand Egyptian Museum to display tomb paintings bringing ancient Egypt to life • FRANCE 24 English
The Security Brief: Putin provokes Europe with drones and fighter jets | BBC News
-
New York1 week agoVideo: How Mamdani Has Evolved in the Mayoral Race
-
News1 week agoVideo: Inside Our Reporter’s Collection of Guantánamo Portraits
-
Milwaukee, WI4 days agoLongtime anchor Shannon Sims is leaving Milwaukee’s WTMJ-TV (Channel 4)
-
News5 days agoWith food stamps set to dry up Nov. 1, SNAP recipients say they fear what’s next
-
Politics1 week agoAOC, Sanders rake in millions as far-left cements grip on Democrat Party
-
Alabama6 days agoHow did former Alabama basketball star Mark Sears do in NBA debut with Milwaukee Bucks?
-
Politics1 week agoGrassley releases memo showing DOJ ‘unleashed unchecked government power’ on Trump associates
-
News1 week agoMap: Minor Earthquake Strikes Southern California