Massachusetts
Early-week floods leave Western Mass. crops ‘a total loss’ for some farmers
Jon Galenski’s land in South Deerfield was no exception to the widespread damage torrential rains inflicted on farms across Western Massachusetts earlier this week.
The farm, which butts up against the Connecticut and Deerfield Rivers, lost about 120 acres of sweet corn, cabbage, winter squash, and pumpkins. That damage, Galenski said, accounts for about a fifth or sixth of all the crops he planted with his brother on their operation.
“All the fields are in a lot of low-lying areas, and it just flooded everything out,” Galenski told the Herald by phone on Saturday.
Severe storms inundated at least 75 farms this week and destroyed more than 1,000 acres of crops throughout the state, according to state officials. But the true extent of the pain from the rainfall and floods is still being determined, and long-term crop loss could make the financial impact even worse.
Rainfall totals for the Berkshires and north of Springfield ranged from two inches near Worcester County up to six inches further west, said Bill Leatham, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Norton. Farmers have been left anxiously waiting to see what they can save, if anything, with more rain expected Sunday.
Farmers have reported damage on the scale of a few acres to hundreds, said Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioners Ashley Randle. It led some in the community to recall Hurricane Irene in August 2011.
“Because of that timing, most of their crops had already been harvested, because that was in August, or at least a good portion of their crops,” Randle told the Herald. “And with this, the July timeframe is just really tricky because you’re right in the middle, getting close to harvest, but many of the farms haven’t reached that point yet.”
Galenski’s fields along the Deerfield River — a tributary to the Connecticut River — were hit hard. Aerial photos shared with the Herald show flooded fields, including some that are almost entirely covered in water.
“When the Connecticut fills up like it did, the Deerfield starts to back up because it’s not allowed to keep dumping into the Connecticut,” he said. “It kind of gets moving so fast going downstream. So what happens is it starts backing up and it backs up into the fields.”
A respite from the rain looks unlikely, forecasters said Saturday. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for most of Massachusetts, including counties out west, for late Saturday night into Sunday night.
Leatham said weather across the state this week will feature daily chances for showers and thunderstorms. That comes after heavy downpours soaked most of the state, damaging farms and leaving many in New England in dangerous situations.
Sunday could bring “widespread” showers and thunderstorms that could produce some flooding, Leatham said. A National Weather Service advisory said excessive runoff could result in the flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
Leatham said Wednesday might be the only day where there is the possibility for “completely dry weather.”
“But most of the days, there’s at least going to be chances for showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon,” he told the Herald Saturday morning. “We’re just still kind of stuck in that same pattern that we’ve been stuck in for a while here.”
Rep. Natalie Blais, a Sunderland Democrat, visited Galenski’s farm Saturday morning with Sen. Jo Comerford, a Northampton Democrat. Some farmers like Galenski may not know the total damage from the earlier rainfalls for some time, Blais said.
“We don’t know what’s coming down the road in terms of mold growth,” Blais told the Herald. “I think we’re in a wait-and-see game in terms of how much the actual financial losses are here.”
Galenski said he has not “come close” to figuring out the total financial damage to his farm.
“Everything’s up in the air,” he said. “There could be more added on to kind of what you’re actually seeing right now.”
The short-term impact is immediate crop loss, Randle said, but long-term, farmers could see the loss of feed crops for livestock like hay and corn, which isn’t harvested until later in the season.
“It is because of mold,” Randle said. “They could harvest it, but then once they test it, the feed quality may not be good and there may be mold that does develop. And some of the farmers just aren’t taking the chance with harvesting it because there is that great chance of mold developing. And then you get into the aspect of mycotoxins, potentially, which are toxic to the animals.”
As for assistance, the U.S. Department of Agriculture could make loan programs available to the farming community if Secretary Tom Vilsack declares a disaster, Randle said. USDA’s Massachusetts office is working with state officials to collect data in part to determine if a disaster declaration should be made, Randle said.
But Randle said loans may not be helpful to farmers because of the timing of the floods.
“A lot of the farmers were getting ready in the next few weeks to harvest their crop so they’re not able to replant for this year,” she said. “And so a loan would just add additional debt to their bottom line without being able to bring in income for the rest of the year.”
Massachusetts
Roof collapses as massive fire tears through Massachusetts mansion
BROOKLINE – A massive fire tore through a mansion in Brookline, Massachusetts Thursday morning which resulted in part of the home’s roof collapsing.
It happened at 10:40 a.m. at a home on Sargent Road. Firefighters said they received a 911 call about smoke coming from the home’s attic. Heavy smoke could be seen coming from the attic when firefighters arrived.
The fire spread and part of the roof collapsed at one point. Firefighters from several departments, including Boston, Brookline, Cambridge and Newton ended up responding and were on the scene for more than two hours.
All five people in the home got out safely and no one was hurt.
The cause of the fire is under investigation but firefighters said it does not appear to be suspicious.
Massachusetts
Police investigating shooting that left a man injured in Chelsea
A police investigation is underway in after a shooting in Chelsea, Massachusetts.
Overnight, police had blocked off the sidewalk outside of the MGH Chelsea HealthCare Center on Everett Avenue.
Police say the victim was identified as a 30-year-old man who was shot twice.
The man has non life-threatening injuries, according to authorities.
Yellow crime scene tape was seen marking the area, and what appeared to be shattered glass was on the pavement nearby.
The incident is under investigation.
Massachusetts
Bay State museums make great winter excursions
It’s cold and gray and the idea of heading outside is literally chilling. You need beauty, history, intrigue and warmth.
Fortunately the Bay State is blessed with fantastic museums, both major institutions and small, unique versions.
Consider adding these museums to your cold winter venture list.
The One With the Heist
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston (https://www.gardnermuseum.org) is worth a winter visit for its beautiful indoor courtyard, lovely café and intimate art display rooms.
But there’s so much more. First, the story behind how the museum was founded is told via photos and written word along one wall of the museum. It’s a great story with a female lead: Isabella herself commissioned it all after the art collector inherited just under $2 million back in the late 1800s.
But then there’s The Heist: the largest and still-unsolved art theft that went down in the wee hours of March 18, 1990 is the stuff of legend – and documentaries. Read up – or watch up – on it before a visit.
The One With the Murder Mystery
Did Lizzie Borden take an ax? Head down to Fall River and spend some time in the home where the infamous murders took place on Aug. 4, 1892. The Lizzie Borden House (https://lizzie-borden.com) offers property tours, ghost tours, cemetery tours and even a 10 p.m. -midnight ghost hunt.
The day tours are the only time you get access to every room, including the one that Abby Borden, Lizzie’s stepmother, was murdered in.
You can stay overnight should you wish, sleeping (or staying awake listening for ghostly creaks) where it all happened.
Hosts share facts and encourage opinion and speculation about the murders, the existence of ghosts and more.
“The Trial of Lizzie Borden” by Cara Robinson is a perfect fireside read, and will get you up to speed on all the nuances of the case before you visit.
The One with the Cat in the Hat
You never grow out of Dr. Seuss, and a winter visit to The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum in Springfield (https://seussinspringfield.org) is a great place to celebrate Theodor Geisel – his childhood in Springfield, creativity, success and more.
There are family friendly games, amazing displays and a setting that warms your heart. You’re treated to kid-friendly biographical information, and a Seuss trivia quiz.
The One With the Heroes
The Hull Lifesaving Museum isn’t big, but it packs a huge and amazing story.
Located in the former Point Allerton US Lifesaving Station on Nantasket Avenue (https://www.hulllifesavingmuseum.org) which opened in 1889 under the leadership of Joshua James who is considered a “father” of the US Coast Guard, the museum celebrates not just the founding of the Coast Guard, but “skills, courage and caring,” the hallmarks of sea lifesaving programs,
You’ll learn about the history of these lifesaving skills, the people who helped innovate those programs and more about the sea, ships and more.
The Museum has a standing collection as well as special exhibits and is open year-round. Before your visit, read up on the deadly Great Blizzard of 1888 in which more than 200 ships were either grounded or wrecked on the East Coast.
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