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For Massachusetts children, free lunch, at last – The Boston Globe

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For Massachusetts children, free lunch, at last – The Boston Globe


“Family income shouldn’t affect the resources you get at a public school,” said Erin McAleer, the indefatigable head of Project Bread, the antihunger organization that led the effort for free school meals. “We don’t means-test families for books, and school buses, and Band-Aids from the nurse when a kid falls on the playground.”

So why food, when we’ve known forever how much hunger interferes with learning? And how badly the system we’ve had until recently has been working?

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Before the pandemic, a family of four had to make less than $52,000 to get free or reduced price school meals, a ridiculously low cutoff in an expensive state such as ours. Even when families did qualify, not all of their kids were taking advantage because they were embarrassed to be seen as poor. And sorting out who qualifies for subsidized meals, and chasing payments from those who don’t, takes time that schools should spend on improving nutrition, not to mention learning.

“There is so much research out there that shows kids fed at school are less likely to go to the nurse and be tardy, and more likely to get better grades,” McAleer said.

A Syracuse University study found that most dramatic academic improvements among children who did not previously qualify or sign up for subsidized meals. Other research found that school climate improved for everybody in places with universal free meals, as barriers between kids fell.

“The cost of the old way is astronomical,” said Representative Jim McGovern, a Worcester Democrat and antihunger crusader. “Hungry kids don’t learn, [and] lack of good nutrition means more kids getting diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure, leading to costly medical treatments.”

It’s a no-brainer. Still, once Governor Maura Healey signs the bill into law, Massachusetts will be only the eighth state in the nation to provide universal free meals in schools.

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And even here, it has taken years and an army of advocates to make it a reality. The pandemic showed us what was possible, after the federal government funded food for every school kid. The Massachusetts Legislature extended the free school food program for another year. Meantime, advocates set about building a movement, harnessing a growing constituency of families, educators, and health experts. Representative Andy Vargas of Haverhill and state Senator Sal DiDomenico of Cambridge introduced legislation to make the program permanent: Families shared their stories so that those on the fence understood, though one important person needed no convincing. A former public school teacher himself, Speaker Ron Mariano had seen the consequences of hungry school kids firsthand. They all persuaded the holdouts that there would be a political price to pay for returning to the old way.

“Hunger is a political condition,” McGovern said. “We can solve it, but we have lacked the political will. I’m so proud of everybody involved. I wish we could do this on a federal level.”

That will never happen as long as Republicans control the House.

So much of what ails us is a political condition. Our country seems set up to make life needlessly difficult for millions of families. In the richest nation on the planet, solving hunger requires only that most of us agree we can do better, and that we all win when the unluckiest of us get a little help.

And for the politicians who see compassion as a failing to be turned out of office. Until then, it’s good to live in Massachusetts.

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Globe columnist Yvonne Abraham can be reached at yvonne.abraham@globe.com. Follow her @GlobeAbraham.





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Massachusetts

2 seriously hurt in crash on I-495 in Lawrence

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2 seriously hurt in crash on I-495 in Lawrence


A crash on Interstate 495 in Lawrence, Massachusetts, Sunday seriously injured two people, one of whom has life-threatening injuries, state police said.

The highway was temporarily shut as a medical helicopter was flown to the scene, at mile marker 100, after the crash was reported about 9:30 a.m., police said.

One person, identified only as female, was taken in that helicopter to a hospital in Boston with life-threatening injuries, while a woman was rushed to local hospital with serious injuries, according to police.

They were investigating what led to the crash.

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Joann T. Panneton

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Joann T. Panneton



Joann T. Panneton


OBITUARY

Beloved Mother and Wife

Westford, Massachusetts

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Joann T. Panneton passed away peacefully, with her daughter by her side, on January 12, 2025. She was the widow of Robert Panneton, who passed in 1988. Joann was born in Greenwood, WI to the late Jakov Gasparac and Mary (Briski) Gasparac.

She met the love of her life, Robert in Illinois and after a brief courtship, moved to Forge Village where they raised their four children. Joann resided there until her passing.

Joann received her higher education from Wisconsin State College and had several occupations as she journeyed through life. Among her greatest pleasures; aside from spending time with her family, were her hobbies that included dancing, knitting, gardening, crafting, yard sales, antiques collecting, reading, cooking, baking, rug braiding and sewing.

She is survived by her four children: her son Michael and his wife Elaine, her son Rodney and his wife Maura, her son Edward and his wife Sherri and her daughter Lisa and her husband John. She leaves her 7 grandchildren: Mikayla, Mathew, Riley, Conor, Jack, Lindsey and Alex. Joann is also survived by her 3 sisters: Mae, Ann and Kathy and her brother, Jack, and is preceded in death by her brother Frank.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Arrangements under the care of Badger Funeral Home, A Life Celebration Home, Littleton. To share a memory or offer a condolence visit www.badgerfuneral.com

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Cold wind returns this week in Massachusetts – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News

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Cold wind returns this week in Massachusetts – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News


While we had a bit of a break from the wind last week, that’ll change as we usher in a new work week in Massachusetts.

Saturday was chilly and a bit breezy, but the wind will kick back up on Sunday. What’s interesting is high temperatures will actually be pretty mild in the mid to upper 30s, but when you factor in the breezy conditions it’ll still only feel like the mid to upper 20s.

Otherwise, we’ll have more clouds in the morning than in the afternoon.

Monday will be similar but even windier. Morning lows will drop to the mid to upper teens with afternoon highs in the low to mid 30s. Skies will be bright throughout. However, gusts will top 25 mph at times so it’ll feel about 10 degrees colder than it really is.

Tuesday morning will be in the mid to upper 20s. It’ll already be windy in the morning, and at the same time we’re tracking a chance for some snow squalls. Those are short bursts of very heavy snow that can reduce visibility significantly. The rest of the day will be dry with highs in the mid to upper 30s, but again with a whipping wind it’ll feel significantly colder.

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Wednesday we are still tracking a potential Alberta Clipper system which is an area of low pressure that originates from over Alberta, Canada. They typically bring pretty light snowfall totals, and this one is particularly moisture-starved so it won’t be too much of a troublemaker. Highs will reach the mid 30s.

After the Clipper system comes the next outbreak of Arctic air. Thursday and Friday, highs will only get to the 20s with lows in the single digits and the teens. However, with breezy conditions still it’ll feel close to zero degrees in the morning and only in the teens during the warmest part of those days. At least the sun will be out.

Saturday morning will still be frigid but the afternoon will make it back into the 30s.

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