Massachusetts
First responders look back on 2011 tornado 11 years later
WORCESTER COUNTY, Mass. – June 1 marks 11 years since a strong twister tore by Central and Western Massachusetts.
The EF-3 twister killed three individuals and injured many extra and prompted over $100 million price of harm.
Sturbridge was amongst one of many hardest hit cities, and police Chief Earl Dessert remembers June 1, 2011 properly.
“Effectively, I used to be a reasonably newly promoted sergeant and I bear in mind my chief calling me on the time saying ‘Hey, there’s a twister in Springfield. Would you like me to move again?” Chief Dessert stated. “I stated ‘Twister, chief? Come on, I’ve obtained this underneath management.’ He stated ‘Okay, I believe I’ll take a journey again in any case.’ And I used to be very grateful he did take a journey again.”
It proved to be an all palms on deck mission when the twister hit. Photographs of the aftermath present downed timber, indicators and energy traces all throughout city. Barbara Boiteau, a dispatcher on the time, went into work instantly when she noticed the twister warning.
“You possibly can all the time be skilled for that, however in the case of the purpose, you simply go along with it, go along with the motion and the circulate of the calls,” Boiteau stated.
Previous to the warning, there was skepticism the twister would show to be a lot of something.
“On the time, lots of people didn’t consider it {that a} twister was truly coming by the city,” stated Lt. Joseph Lombardi. “I believe it was in Springfield on the time, and that’s once we thought ‘Wow, that is actually coming our approach.’”
For the Sturbridge Police Division, the aftermath prolonged past cleanup. Scammers took benefit of the state of affairs.
“Being within the occupation so long as I’ve been, I wasn’t shocked there was individuals on the market making an attempt to earn a living off this tragedy, as a result of I’ve seen it all through my profession with completely different tragedies,” Chief Dessert stated. “It was nonetheless alarming to me that individuals could be out making an attempt to benefit from older individuals, making an attempt to take cash from them, providing providers, asking for pay up entrance, not doing the providers, and issues like that.”
Nonetheless, the sharpest reminiscences are ones of unity, each amongst residents of the city and close by neighbors.
“We noticed an outpouring of help from our neighboring group of Southbridge, the proprietor of eating places bringing in meals to the general public security advanced, ensuring firefighters and cops and all first responders had been taken care of when it got here to meals and water,” Chief Dessert stated. “Whereas they had been doing this for us, on the identical time, we had been doing it for the group.”
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.
Massachusetts
Search underway for missing woman Owen Kasozi in Beverly, last seen walking dog on Christmas Eve
BEVERLY – A search is underway in Massachusetts for missing woman Owen Kasozi, who police say is “possibly endangered.” Police said she was last seen on Tuesday at about 3 p.m. near the JC Phillips Nature Preserve in Beverly.
Her family tells WBZ-TV she was walking her dog at the time.
I-Team sources say police are looking into reports that Kasozi was walking or running after her dog when she went missing. A dog believed to be Kasozi’s was found wet in Topsfield, and her car was found nearby.
A Massachusetts State Police helicopter was helping to search the area around 801 Cabot St. in Beverly on Wednesday. Anyone who has seen Kasozi or has information is asked to call Beverly police at 978-922-1212.
It’s Christmas Day! Time to open presents, be with loved ones and celebrate the beauty of giving. Even on Christmas, there are still a few places you can go for last-minute provisions. But can you go to the bank or post office or catch a bus?
Here’s what is open and closed on Dec. 25, 2024.
Government
City and town offices: Closed
State offices: Closed
Registry of Motor Vehicles: Closed
State and local courts: Closed
Federal courts: Closed
Finance
Banks: Closed. Most ATMs will remain open.
Stock market: Both the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are closed.
Alcohol and recreational drugs
Liquor stores: Open
Cannabis dispensaries: Massachusetts regulators don’t identify specific holidays when cannabis dispensaries must close, according to the Cannabis Control Commission. It’s up to the respective cannabis store as to whether they choose to be open or closed on Christmas Day.
Convenience stores and gas stations
Gas stations are allowed to be open on holidays, according to Massachusetts labor laws.
The following gas stations and adjoining convenience stores should be open on Christmas:
- BP
- Citgo
- Circle K
- Cumberland Farms
- Exxon Mobil
- Gulf
- Irving Oil
- Neon Marketplace
- Season’s Corner Market
- Sunoco
- Shell
- Speedway
- 7-Eleven
Shopping
Auburn Mall: Closed
Holyoke Mall: Closed
Hampshire Mall: Closed
Eastfield Mall: Closed
Natick Mall: Closed
Big Y: Closed
Stop & Shop: Closed
Market Basket: Closed
Price Rite: Closed
Star Market: Closed
Walmart: Closed
Target: Closed
Wegmans: Closed
Safeway: Open
Costco: Closed
CVS: Open
Walgreens: Closed
Aldi: Closed
Whole Foods: Closed
Trader Joe’s: Closed
Parcel services
Post offices: Closed
FedEx: Closed
UPS: Closed
Transportation
Lowell RTA: Lowell RTA will be closed
MBTA: Subway, bus and The RIDE will run on a Sunday schedule. Meanwhile, the Commuter Rail will run on a weekend schedule.
Merrimack Valley RTA: Buses won’t be running
MetroWest RTA: Buses won’t be running
Pioneer Valley Transit Authority: Buses won’t be running
Worcester RTA: Buses won’t be running
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