Massachusetts
John Krasinski’s brother in hot water over his Massachusetts nonprofit: ‘Cease and Desist all activities’
Actor John Krasinski’s brother apparently doesn’t have all his office ducks in a row.
Paul Krasinski, who runs The Farmhouse in Plymouth, is in hot water over his nonprofit as the town recently ordered him to stop operations due to building code violations.
The Town of Plymouth sent the Krasinski brother cease-and-desist orders to immediately halt operations at his educational facility for violating fire safety codes and lacking the required permits. The cease-and-desist letters were first reported by the Plymouth Independent over the weekend.
“It has come to our attention that the operation of an educational facility is being operated at 296 Center Hill Rd. Plymouth, MA, and is in violation of the below fire safety codes,” the fire department’s battalion chief wrote to Krasinski.
“During a recent inspection conducted by Plymouth Fire and Building Departments it was also determined that you have failed to secure the proper licenses and permits to operate this type of occupancy at your private residence,” the battalion chief added in the cease-and-desist letter.
Local student programs and meetings have been taking place at The Farmhouse, which has not had the required permits — violating the Massachusetts State Building Code.
The town’s director of inspectional services sent a cease-and-desist order for the building code violation.
“This office has become aware of a change in use of the single-family dwelling to a public/educational use without the benefit of a building permit,” the director wrote.
“Cease and Desist all activities associated with this notice including: Immediately cease all activities and use associated with the public/business/educational activities within any building or structure on the property,” the director added in the cease-and-desist order.
The Herald received copies of the letters through a public records request on Monday.
The Herald reached out to The Farmhouse and Krasinski for a comment, but they did not immediately respond.
The Farmhouse over the weekend, after the Plymouth Independent’s report went live, posted a photo of a rainbow on social media.
“On a rainy day here at The Farmhouse, where a well-intentioned informational article was derailed, allowing the real story to be missed,” The Farmhouse wrote. “This is the story of the transformational work that our team is doing to inspire young adults to find true self and pursue their dreams.
“I asked for a sign that everything was going to be ok and this is how the universe responded!” the post continued. “All will become clear soon and give way to brighter days ahead. Thank you, Farmhouse Family.”
In a video on The Farmhouse’s website, Krasinski talks about the idea behind the nonprofit: A place where everyone can come together.
“So it didn’t matter if you were a young child or the chairman of Microsoft, everyone here was welcome,” he said. “And really it was about letting people connect, communicate and gather, and understand themselves through discovery, but also to create new solutions to things. Rather than waiting for people and institutions and organizations to change the world, why couldn’t we do it?”
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.
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.
Massachusetts
What’s open and closed in Massachusetts on Christmas Day?
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
-
Technology5 days ago
Google’s counteroffer to the government trying to break it up is unbundling Android apps
-
News6 days ago
Novo Nordisk shares tumble as weight-loss drug trial data disappoints
-
Politics6 days ago
Illegal immigrant sexually abused child in the U.S. after being removed from the country five times
-
Entertainment7 days ago
'It's a little holiday gift': Inside the Weeknd's free Santa Monica show for his biggest fans
-
Lifestyle6 days ago
Think you can't dance? Get up and try these tips in our comic. We dare you!
-
Technology1 week ago
Fox News AI Newsletter: OpenAI responds to Elon Musk's lawsuit
-
Technology2 days ago
There’s a reason Metaphor: ReFantanzio’s battle music sounds as cool as it does
-
News3 days ago
France’s new premier selects Eric Lombard as finance minister