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On June 22, you kindly published my letter (”How would you redesign the Massachusetts flag?” Opinion) commenting on what I consider the folly (and in my career experience, frustration) of designing anything — let alone a new Massachusetts flag — by government committees.
On Friday, I chuckled and mumbled, “Oh great!” seeing Jeff Jacoby’s follow-up column with the collection of ideas (”Readers offer their designs for a new Massachusetts flag,” Opinion, July 12) by the scariest design committee of all: Everybody!
Andy Spiegel
Winchester
Jeff Jacoby’s earlier flag column (“A simple fix for the Massachusetts flag,” Opinion, June 20) and my letter on the subject generated a lot of discussion locally, which led me to think the flag redesign should start with a revised motto. Outside of its original context of 1775, when our Commonwealth was in armed rebellion against British Occupation, our current motto is a little hard to understand. It’s long, and it’s in Latin, which makes it meaningless to most people without translation.
An alternative I proposed in local discussion was “Leaders in Liberty.” I think the motto should include the word liberty because the concept of American liberty is one thing most Americans can agree on. It’s probably our most important contribution to the world, and its birthplace is right here in Massachusetts.
My motto fits on a license plate and is both historically powerful and aspirational. Imagine if we asked with each discussion of a given problem, “How can greater freedom help fix this problem?” Imagine if over time, our Commonwealth became the state known for fostering the development of modern leadership in liberty as we did historically. And imagine if our pantheon of leaders was enriched with people once ignored who we now recognize as contributing to the concept and practice of American liberty.
Roger Wilson
Winchester
Thanks to Jeff Jacoby for his illustrated column. I vote for number 4, the design by Cal Nez and Mark Wagner. It keeps the best design elements of the old flag and removes everything distasteful about it. The implied message of respect and cooperation between races is most welcome. This new design for a new flag is a clear winner. Nothing else on the page comes close.
Tim Parker
Marblehead
Some excellent concrete suggestions were made in Jeff Jacoby’s July 12 column, which the Commonwealth should use in making a decision on a new state flag. They are well thought out, and if we are going to change the flag, any one of them would work.
Because the Commonwealth previously spent $100,000 (that’s a lot of lobster rolls for lunch!) on a committee that was unable to come up with a decision they were tasked to make, and now wants a new committee, it seems only right that the governor instead send a check for $100,000 to Jeff since his “committee” has already saved time with reasonable ideas, and the governor can choose one of them. Next decision.
Charles Martel
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.
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.
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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.”
“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.
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.”
Local News
Massachusetts lawmakers are considering a measure that would allow cities and towns to temporarily extend bar and restaurant hours during the summer, as the state prepares to host FIFA World Cup matches and celebrations marking the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The legislation (H.5465) filed by state Rep. Carole Fiola, would allow licensed establishments to sell alcohol one hour later than their normal closing time, up to 3 a.m., between June 1 and Aug. 31, 2026. The bill would also allow communities to establish designated public consumption districts where alcohol could be consumed in approved public spaces.
In a press release announcing the bill, Fiola said the summer’s threefold events lineup — the World Cup, Tall Ships, and July 4th — is an economically significant moment that the state should take advantage of.
“We should capitalize on these events that will generate economic benefits for small businesses and the state as a whole. It’s a local opt-in idea worth exploring that’s being done in other states,” Fiola said.
The proposal has received support from Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and most recently Gov. Maura Healey, who submitted written testimony Monday to the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies urging lawmakers to advance the measure.
“Massachusetts is planning for a once-in-a-generation summer,” Healey wrote, according to the Boston Globe. “In 2026, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, welcome tall ships from around the world to Boston Harbor for Sail Boston, and host seven FIFA World Cup matches in Foxborough, along with watch parties across the Commonwealth.”
The governor argued that the added flexibility could help local economies benefit from an influx of visitors.
“That flexibility can help communities capture more visitor spending, support jobs, keep downtowns active, and strengthen Massachusetts’ image as a dynamic destination ready to host the world and a place our residents, including our young professionals, are proud to call home,” Healey wrote.
She also urged lawmakers to move the legislation forward, saying it will “help Massachusetts meet the full economic and cultural opportunities for the summer ahead.”
In Rhode Island, a similar bill to allow bars and restaurants to remain open until 4 a.m. during the World Cup was signed into law on Friday.
Fiola’s bill remains before the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. Any final version would require approval from both the House and Senate before reaching Healey’s desk.
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