Massachusetts
Groups ring in 2024 with New Year’s Day guided hikes on Massachusetts trails
MILTON – A decades old tradition continues across Massachusetts as people kick off the New Year with a hike through local state parks. It’s called the First Day Hike.
“Blue Hills is the sight of the original First Day Hike about 33-years-ago, and that phenomenon has taken on a life of it’s own. Now most states have their own First Day Hikes, and it’s even gone international,” said Simon Schreier, a Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) interpreter.
Hundreds of people came to a handful of state parks for guided walks with interpreters like Schreier.
His job is to connect people with the deeper stories and history of the areas that they are hiking, and to foster an understanding of how to keep these areas clean and healthy.
He said their job is also to bring equity and inclusion to the outdoors.
“The outdoors is a space for everyone, but historically it hasn’t always felt that way,” explained Schreier.
“It’s always incumbent on us to be thinking about who doesn’t feel invited? Who doesn’t feel this is their space, and what can we do to say, ‘Hey, we would love to have you here. This is your space.’ That’s not something you do in one day, or one week.”
These walks go a long way to getting new people into enjoying the outdoors.
Some hikers have been taking part in the tradition for decades, but some are doing it for the first time.
Hikers may be taking part in the day for personal or physical reasons.
“It’s kind of my way of saying I am still young enough,” laughed hiker Martine Carroll, “I always try to be hopeful and promising that it will be a good year.”
“I said why not get out of the bed, and bring in the New Year!” smiled Kanoi Hicks, another hiker on the trail.
“It’s a really easy, great way to get physical activity,” said Karen White as she walks along the trail, “I am out here by myself today, taking it all in, and hopefully walking away with a couple of new hiker friends to hike together with on hikes.”
“Every day is about Stanley,” joked Erin Cummings, looking down at her dog as they walk the trails of Blue Hills, “He has already been to Widow’s Walk in Scituate, and hung out with his dog friends. He went for the dog polar plunge, and now we are here. He did fabulous. You can’t keep a lab out of water.”
Schreier suggest new hikers have proper footwear, and that they tell people where they are going if they head out alone.
“Take it small chunks at a time. You don’t have to climb a huge peak right off the bat, and take into account elevation,” urged Schreier.
“Wear appropriate clothing, which means layers, because I bet you feel yourself getting toasty even on a day like today,” Schreier fniished.
Massachusetts
Weather alert for patchy fog and black ice in 9 Massachusetts counties until Friday morning
A report was issued from the National Weather Service on Friday at 3:13 a.m. for patchy fog and black ice until 9 a.m. for Northern Worcester and Southern Worcester as well as Franklin, Middlesex, Essex, Hampshire, Hampden, Norfolk, Suffolk, Bristol and Plymouth counties.
“Patchy fog and isolated black ice are possible this morning across southern New England, especially in areas that typically fog over. As temperatures are at or below freezing, a few slick patches of black ice may form, especially on elevated surfaces; like bridges and overpasses. Please use caution heading out early this morning and allow for extra commuting time,” according to the weather service.
Navigating fog: Safety tips by the weather service
If you must drive in foggy conditions, keep the following safety tips in mind:
Moderate your speed:
- Slow down and allocate extra time for your trip to reach your destination safely.
Visibility priority:
- Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which automatically activate your taillights. Utilize fog lights if your vehicle is equipped with them.
Avoid high-beams:
- Refrain from using high-beam headlights, as they create glare that impairs your visibility on the road.
Keep a safe distance:
- Maintain a significant following distance to account for abrupt stops or shifts in traffic patterns.
Stay in your lane:
- Use the road’s lane markings as a guide to remaining in the correct lane.
Zero visibility strategy:
- In cases of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and seek a safe spot, like a nearby business parking lot, to pull over and stop.
No parking options:
- If no designated parking area is available, pull your vehicle as far off the road as possible. Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights remain unlit, minimizing the chance of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.
By adhering to these precautions from the weather service, you can navigate foggy conditions more safely, reducing the likelihood of accidents and ensuring your personal safety.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Massachusetts
Supermarket chain to open 2 stores in former Christmas Tree Shops, Big Lots locations in Massachusetts
Two shuttered retailers are set to become supermarkets in southeastern Massachusetts.
Big Y announced Thursday that it’s opening grocery stores in Fairhaven and North Dartmouth. The Fairhaven Plaza location used to be a Big Lots, and the Faunce Corner Center store in North Dartmouth was a Christmas Tree Shops.
“These new stores will allow us to better serve families in the South Coast region,” Big Y VP of real estate and development Mathieu L. D’Amour said in a statement.
The supermarkets will open sometime in 2027. Hiring details and a grand opening date will be announced in the next few months. Big Y opened new stores in Westboro and Uxbridge earlier this year.
Big box store closures in Massachusetts and around the country in recent years have created opportunities for other retailers to move into vacant storefronts.
Christmas Tree Shops, the bargain outlet that started on Cape Cod more than 50 years ago, went bankrupt and closed all of its stores in 2023. The old North Dartmouth location is being used temporarily this holiday season as a “Spirit Christmas” pop-up.
Another Christmas Tree Shops in Falmouth has been transformed into an Aldi supermarket. Others have been taken over by Ocean State Job Lot.
Big Lots closed all of its Massachusetts stores last year amid financial turmoil. Just last month, an Ollie’s Bargain Outlet moved into a former Big Lots location in Fitchburg.
It hasn’t always worked out for supermarkets that move into old retail stores. The Fresh Market, which moved into an old Bed Bath & Beyond store on Route 9 in Framingham less than a year ago, is already closing.
A competing grocery store chain, Trader Joe’s, opened two new stores in Newton and West Roxbury this fall.
BOSTON, MA — It was a major day for Boston’s culinary scene on Tuesday as one of the city’s restaurants was finally awarded a Michelin star.
In total, it appears that 26 restaurants were honored by the Michelin Guide.
311 Omakase in the city’s South End was awarded the star at the Michelin Guide Northeast Cities Ceremony, which was held at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia.
The Japanese restaurant known for its sushi offerings won the biggest honor of the night, but 26 Boston-area restaurants were also noted at the ceremony.
According to NBC Boston, Bar Volpe and Fox & The Knife, both in Boston; Sumiao Hunan Kitchen, Pagu and Jahunger in Cambridge and Mahaniyom in Brookline were recognized in the “Bib Gourmand” category, which is awarded for its value for the money spent.
Boston Business Journal shared that a number of other area spots were recognized by the organization for their culinary products, though they were not awarded a star.
See Also:
Fatal crash closes U.S. Route 322 in Lebanon County
Renovations bring new look, new stores to TF Green Airport
GSP airport listed as measles exposure site amid growing Upstate outbreak
Giving Tuesday coming up in South Dakota
5 Keys For Florida to Beat No. 20 Tennessee – WRUF 98.1 FM | 850 AM | 103.7 HD2 ESPN
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Sen. John Fetterman accuses Trump of ‘dangerous rhetoric’
Nathan Gill’s sentencing raises fresh questions over European lawmakers’ Kremlin ties
Rare earths: Federal backing and tech advances aim to help the U.S. catch up to China
Missouri attorney general takes new legal aim at mail-order abortion pills over safety concerns
US judge orders end to Trump’s deployment of troops in Washington, DC
-
Vermont1 week agoNorthern Lights to dazzle skies across these US states tonight – from Washington to Vermont to Maine | Today News
-
Business1 week agoDeveloper plans to add a hotel and hundreds of residences to L.A. Live
-
Business5 days agoFire survivors can use this new portal to rebuild faster and save money
-
Southwest1 week agoFury erupts after accused teen sex predator dodges prison; families swarm courthouse demanding judge’s head
-
Politics1 week agoMajor Pentagon contractor executive caught in child sex sting operation
-
Technology1 week agoAI-powered scams target kids while parents stay silent
-
World1 week agoVideo: Russia’s First A.I. Humanoid Robot Crashes Into the Tech Scene
-
World3 days agoFrance and Germany support simplification push for digital rules