WORCESTER, MA — Worcester is targeting a July opening date for the city’s four beaches and the Crompton Park pool, but aquatic activities will look a little different for summer 2024.

Worcester has had trouble hiring lifeguards to staff swimming areas in recent years — a period that saw several drownings, although none at city swimming areas proper — and so this summer will use the YMCA of Central Massachusetts for staffing.

“The YMCA will recruit, train, and staff the beaches and pool from the beginning of July until mid-August,” the city said in a news release this week. “The YMCA will use its access to indoor pool facilities and training programs to assist in staffing the program. Additionally, because the YMCA has year-round facilities, the trained lifeguards will be able to transfer into year-round positions at its facilities.”

Rob Antonelli, Worcester’s parks director, told city councilors on Tuesday the department is on track to open swimming areas by July 1. The beaches are located at Bell Hill Park, Coes Pond and two at Indian Lake. Worcester will still manage the city’s two spray parks at East Park and Greenwood Park, plus activities like trash removal and testing water quality.

The state Department of Conservation and Recreation will open its freshwater and saltwater beaches over Memorial Day weekend, including the two Lake Quinsigamond State Park beaches. DCR’s Bennett Field and Dennis F. Shine Memorial pools typically open in late June.

Trying to figure out where to retire in Massachusetts? Forbes Magazine has two suggestions.

Forbes has just released a state-by-state list of the best places to retire in the United States, with a runner-up and a first-place winner for best place to retire in the state.

To make their selections, Forbes looked at factors like home prices, health care, the cultural scene and how likely people are to experience a natural disaster.

Here’s the top pick and runner up.

Northampton rated best MA city to retire to by Forbes

If you’re looking to retire, head to Western Mass.

Northampton’s median home price is $285,000. It also has no state income tax on Social Security earnings and has a high rank on the Milken Institute’s list of best cities for successful aging, according to Forbes.

With a population of 28,000, Northampton has good air quality and a high number of doctors per capita, the website said. It is also somewhat walkable and very much bikeable.

However, Northampton also has a crime rate above the national average. It also has a state estate and inheritance tax.

Thinking about retiring? World Atlas lists these 8 New England towns as ‘perfect’

Pittsfield named second best MA city to retire to by Forbes

The runner-up for best place to retire in Massachusetts is another Western Mass city, Pittsfield.

Pittsfield has a good ratio of primary care physicians, a large culture scene in the summer and a very low FEMA natural hazard, according to Forbes.

Forbes also said Pittsfield’s median home price is $283,000, which is 28% below the national median, and the city is pretty walkable and bikeable with good air quality and a population of 43,000.

However, Forbes says Pittsfield does have its demerits. It has a severe crime rate that is above the national average and a millionaire’s surtax of 4% that includes capital gains from the sale of a house.

Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@gannett.com.

A Massachusetts man attending college is among 4 killed in a fiery wrong-way highway crash.

According to Connecticut State Police, on Thursday at approximately 1:45 a.m., Troop G dispatch received 911 calls of a wrong way driver traveling on RT. 15 South, south of exit 53. Troop G dispatch was then notified the vehicle was involved in a head on collision and was engulfed in flames.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a vehicle occupied by Steven Rowland, 65, Thomas Lucian Vitale, 80, and Olga Vitale, 81 (all from Easton), was traveling on Route 15 South, in the right lane. 21-year-old Alexander Dennis of Wayland, MA was traveling northbound in the southbound travel lanes (wrong way), resulting in a head on collision. The vehicle being driven by Dennis became fully engulfed in flames.

All 4 occupants died at the scene. Dennis’ body was so unrecognizable, he wasn’t identified until today.

According to Fairfield University, Dennis had just completed his junior year on campus and was traveling home to Massachusetts for the summer when the car accident occurred. As a student in the College of Arts and Sciences, Alex was a visual and performing arts major with a special interest in film.

“At a time of year when we are actively engaged in the celebration of our students and their accomplishments, a loss like this seems inconceivable. Those who knew and loved Alex will be especially impacted by his passing, and his loss will be felt across campus. Our Jesuit colleagues are available to our community, as are staff members from Campus Ministry and the Counseling Center. For employees, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) may also be a helpful resource at this time.” -President Mark R. Nemec PhD

C.A.R.S., Stratford Fire Department, Trumbull Fire Department, Stratford E.M.S. and D.O.T. assisted on scene.

Route 15 South was closed for approximately seven hours.

The case is currently being investigated. Contact Troop G at (203) 696-2500 if you witnessed this collision.