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Massachusetts
Knights of Columbus in Chicopee provides Thanksgiving meals to western Massachusetts communities
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – This Thanksgiving, the Knights of Columbus in Chicopee embodied the spirit of giving by providing free meals to the western Massachusetts community, during their annual dinner.
Dozens of volunteers came together to prepare and serve meals to families giving them a moment of joy and warmth on this special holiday. The Castle of Knights opened its doors once again to those who may not have a place to go or a meal to eat on Thanksgiving. Families were able to gather around tables, share a delicious meal, and connect with others.
“I love it, I was here last year and I was looking forward to being here this year,” said Butta Wilke of Chicopee.
“It’s real neat because there’s only two of us and it’s just nice to be with other people,” added Jane Parent of West Springfield.
Volunteers put in countless hours in the kitchen at the Knights of Columbus to turn thousands of pounds of turkey into thousands of meals for both at the hall and delivery. It’s been about five days of cooking turkeys, the prep crew gets here about like midnight, 18-hundred takeouts when out this morning, it’s just absolutely insane,” said volunteer, Scott Dubey.
This was all made possible through the amount of fundraisers Knights of Columbus put on throughout the year and comes at a time when families grapple with rising food prices. “People are hurting and that’s what we’re here for. That’s what the Knight of Columbus does year round we do donations to kitchens year round and all that, and everyone that needs it. We help out,” said Grand Knight at Knights of Columbus, Ron Grenier.
By providing free meals, the Knight of Columbus is not only easing the financial burden for families but also spreading kindness and cheer. “People need some help and some friendship and compassion, and I think that’s where we’re missing a lot of things in life we just gotta take a minute, take a breath and remember that’s all people need,” added Dubey.
This event shows that a small act of generosity can make a big impact in someone’s life.
Organizers say they are deeply grateful for the volunteers who’ve generously given their time and efforts, making this a memorable Thanksgiving celebration for all.
Video: Warm midweek, cooler weekend with showers
HE HAD DOWN THERE IN THE STORE THOUGH. PERFECT. WE ARE TRACKING SOME SHOWERS OUT THERE. GOT A LITTLE LOUD A FEW SPOTS. WE DID HAVE SOME THUNDER AND LIGHTNING, ESPECIALLY WEST AND MOVING OUT THROUGH METRO WEST INTO WORCESTER COUNTY AND HEADING NORTH OF BOSTON. NOT SEEING MUCH OF THAT ANYMORE. SO AT THIS POINT, WE’RE JUST TRACKING THESE SHOWERS AND THEY’RE FOLLOWING A TRACK SOUTHWARD. SO SOUTH OF BOSTON WE DIDN’T SEE MUCH ACTION EARLIER THIS EVENING. YOU’RE NOW SEEING YOUR CHANCE. WE HAVE SOME SHOWERS EXTENDING FROM PLYMOUTH RIGHT OUT THROUGH TODD AND TOWARD PROVIDENCE. AND THIS WILL CONTINUE ON A TRACK SOUTHWARD TOWARD THE SOUTH COAST, CAPE AND ISLANDS, WHERE WE DID NOT SEE MUCH IN THE WAY OF RAIN EARLIER. MOVING FROM THE MASS PIKE NORTH. THAT’S WHERE THE FOCUS OF THE HEAVIEST RAIN WAS EARLIER TODAY. WE DID GET CLOSE TO HALF AN INCH MOVING FROM ROUTE TWO NORTHWARD, SO THAT’S OUR HEAVIEST SPOTS. BUT WE DID HAVE SOME THUNDERSTORMS AT THIS POINT. STORMS ARE OVER. SHOWERS CONTINUE TO SHIFT SHOWERS SOUTH. AND AS THEY DO SO WE’LL SEE PARTIAL CLEARING OF THE CLOUDS AS WE MOVE TOWARDS SUNRISE. SO I EXPECT WE’LL SEE A REALLY BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE HERE TOMORROW MORNING. IF YOU’RE A LATE NIGHT TRAVELER THOUGH, HITTING THE ROADS AFTER ALL THIS RAIN THAT MOVED THROUGH, PLEASE BE AWARE THERE IS THAT CHANCE FOR SOME PATCHY FOG AND THAT COULD SLOW YOU DOWN A LITTLE BIT IN A FEW SPOTS. WE’RE LOOKING AHEAD TO A FEW ROUNDS OF SHOWERS IN THE DAYS AHEAD. NEXT THREAT FOR SHOWERS TOMORROW COULD CONTAIN SOME NON-SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. AND THEN WE’RE KEEPING AN EYE ON YOUR WEEKEND. TEMPERATURES ARE GOING TO FLUCTUATE UPPER 50S TO LOW 60S. SATURDAY LITTLE WARMER SUNDAY IN THE MID 60S, BUT THAT COMES WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN. LOOK AT THESE HIGH TEMPERATURES TODAY WE GOT UP TO 78 IN BOSTON. THAT IS THE WARMEST WE HAVE BEEN ALL YEAR. IN FACT, THIS IS THE WARMEST WE HAVE FELT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER OF 2025. SO IT’S BEEN SOME TIME. WE HAD MID 80S FOR OUR INLAND SPOTS. WE GOT TO 86 DEGREES IN FITCHBURG. A REAL FEEL OF SUMMER THIS AFTERNOON. WE’RE NOW FALLING INTO THE UPPER 50S LOW 60S, BUT WITH AVERAGE HIGH AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES IN THE MID 50S FOR US TO SEE AS WE’RE APPROACHING 1030 THIS EVENING, TEMPERATURES THAT ARE ABOVE THAT POINT, THAT IS A VERY WARM EVENING FOR APRIL STANDARDS FOR SURE. SO SHOWERS CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTHWARD. WE’LL SEE THEM MOVING TOWARD THE SOUTH COAST, CAPE AND ISLANDS AS WE TRAVEL TOWARD MIDNIGHT, I THINK SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT WE’LL SEE MOST LOCATIONS DRYING OUT. PARTIAL CLEARING. WE’RE DROPPING INTO THE 50S. WE’RE MOVING INTO TOMORROW WITH SUN TO START, BUT I DO EXPECT THOSE CLOUDS WILL RETURN IN THE AFTERNOON WITH THAT CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND PERHAPS EVEN A FEW RUMBLES OF THUNDER. NOTICE FOR BOSTON FORECAST. WE’RE TOPPING OUT IN THE 60S. TOMORROW IT’S INLAND WHERE WE HAVE THE BEST CHANCE OF HITTING THE UPPER 70S TO LOW 80S AGAIN, A LITTLE BIT COOLER TOWARD THE OUTER CAPE AND NANTUCKET, WHERE 50S WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH A BACKDOOR COLD FRONT. YOU SEE A SHOWER OR TWO AROUND NOON TOMORROW, BUT I’M GOING TO FAST FORWARD TOWARD THE 5:00 HOUR. SO IT’S REALLY BETWEEN 4 TO 8 P.M. WHERE WE SEE THE BEST CHANCE OF SHOWERS. AND YES, THERE IS THAT CHANCE FOR SOME NON-SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME THUNDER. THERE MIGHT BE SOME LIGHTNING, COULD GET WINDY AT TIMES. WE’RE NOT LOOKING AT ANYTHING THAT SHOULD BE DAMAGING AS THAT COMES TO AN END AROUND 8 TO 10 P.M., WE SHOULD SEE THINGS FIZZLING OUT OVERNIGHT. SEVEN DAY FORECAST SHOWS US CLEARING OUT AS WE MOVE TOWARDS SATURDAY, BUT ANOTHER ROUND OF RAIN AS WE MOVE TOWARDS SUNDAY. MARATHON MONDAY. COOL, BUT THE CHANCE OF RAIN DIMINISHES THROUGHOUT THE
Wednesday in the Boston area and across Massachusetts stays unseasonably warm with a mix of clouds and some sun, with highs well above normal for mid-April. Shower chances increase Thursday and Friday, leading into a cooler, more seasonable pattern by the weekend.StormTeam 5’s 7-day forecast:• Wednesday: Mix of sun and clouds, mild with 60s at the coast and northeast Massachusetts. High of 78.• Thursday: Mix of clouds with spot showers. High of 76.• Friday: Chance for showers with mostly cloudy skies. High of 71.• Saturday: Seasonable with a mix of sun and clouds (Boston Marathon weekend). High of 59.• Sunday: Partly sunny with showers likely in the afternoon. High of 65.• Monday: Early showers, then turning cool and breezy. High of 52.• Tuesday: Cool with sunshine. High of 50.
EAST BOSTON, Mass. —
Wednesday in the Boston area and across Massachusetts stays unseasonably warm with a mix of clouds and some sun, with highs well above normal for mid-April.
Shower chances increase Thursday and Friday, leading into a cooler, more seasonable pattern by the weekend.
StormTeam 5’s 7-day forecast:
• Wednesday: Mix of sun and clouds, mild with 60s at the coast and northeast Massachusetts. High of 78.
• Thursday: Mix of clouds with spot showers. High of 76.
• Friday: Chance for showers with mostly cloudy skies. High of 71.
• Saturday: Seasonable with a mix of sun and clouds (Boston Marathon weekend). High of 59.
• Sunday: Partly sunny with showers likely in the afternoon. High of 65.
• Monday: Early showers, then turning cool and breezy. High of 52.
• Tuesday: Cool with sunshine. High of 50.
Ben & Jerry’s cofounder forcibly removed from Senate hearing
Capitol Police was directed to physically remove protesters from a Senate hearing, including Ben Cohen of Ben & Jerry’s.
Ben & Jerry’s is giving out free ice cream on April 14. On that day, ice cream lovers can walk into any participating shop and leave with dessert – no wallet required.
The Vermont-based company is preparing to serve up “1 million and one” scoops across 13 countries on Free Cone Day, a highly anticipated annual giveaway event, according to a Ben & Jerry’s press release.
“Free Cone Day is all about our fans. It’s our way of saying thank you with an international moment of togetherness,” CEO Jochanan Senf said in a statement.
The Free Cone Day tradition began in 1979, after the ice cream company’s first year of business in Burlington, and has continued to grow ever since.
Here’s where to get a free scoop of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream this year in Massachusetts.
When is Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day 2026?
This year, Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day is on Tuesday, April 14. The free ice cream is typically given out at Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops between noon and 8 p.m., though some shops may vary.
How Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day works
Customers can visit any participating Ben & Jerry’s scoop shop to receive a free cup or cone of ice cream, according to the company’s website. You can pick whichever flavor you want. No purchase is required.
“There’s no catch and no fine print,” Ben & Jerry’s said on the website.
While there may be a line outside your local Ben & Jerry’s scoop shop on Free Cone Day, it will likely move quickly because staff don’t need to ring up orders.
And the best part? Customers can get back in line as many times as they’d like. In fact, it’s actually encouraged, according to a Ben & Jerry’s press release.
“So, if fans are stuck choosing between a classic flavor like Chocolate Fudge Brownie and Cookie Dough, or a Scoop Shop exclusive like Marshmallow Sky, Sweet Cream & Cookies or Mint Chocolate Chunk, they needn’t worry. Why choose just one, when they can try them all!” the company said.
Participating Ben & Jerry’s locations in MA
At least 17 Ben & Jerry’s locations in Massachusetts participate in Free Cone Day. Here are their addresses and special Free Cone Day hours:
- Boston – Faneuil Hall: 8 North Market St., Bay 22, North Market, Boston, MA 02109 (12 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
- Boston – Fenway: 61 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215 (12 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
- Boston – Newbury Street: 174 Newbury St.,Boston, MA 02116 (12 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
- Boston – Prudential Center: 800 Boylston St., Prudential Center, Boston, MA 02199 (12 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
- Boston – Quincy Market: 4 South Market St., Boston, MA 02109 (12 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
- Boston – Seaport: 83 Seaport Boulevard,Boston, MA 02110 (12 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
- Braintree – South Shore Plaza: 30 Forbes Road,Braintree, MA 02184 (12 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
- Cambridge – Harvard Square: 35 JFK St., Cambridge, MA 02138 (12 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
- Cambridge – Porter Square: 59 White St., Cambridge, MA 02140 (12 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
- Hingham – Derby Street: 92 Derby St., #113, Hingham, MA 02043 (12 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
- Hyannis: 352 Main St., Hyannis, MA 02601 (12 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
- Marlboro: 187 Boston Post Road West, Marlboro, MA 01752 (12 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
- Natick: 1265 Worcester St., Route 9 West, Natick, MA 01760 (12 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
- North Eastham: 50 Brackett Road, North Eastham, MA 02651 (12 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
- Pittsfield: 79 South St., Pittsfield, MA 01201 (12 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
- South Deerfield – Yankee Candle Company: 25 Greenfield Road, South Deerfield, MA 01373 (12 p.m. to 6 p.m.)
- Watertown – Arsenal Yards: 103 Arsenal Yards Boulevard, Watertown, MA 02472 (12 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
This week marks 20 years since Massachusetts passed a landmark health care reform law that reshaped how residents access medical care and helped pave the way for national changes.Signed on April 12, 2006, the Massachusetts health care reform law — often referred to as “Romneycare” — expanded insurance coverage through a combination of Medicaid expansion, subsidized private plans, and an individual mandate requiring most residents to carry insurance. According to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the law led to one of the highest insured rates in the country, with coverage now exceeding 97% of residents.Two decades later, doctors say the impact is still being felt, especially when it comes to how patients enter and navigate the health system.Dr. Daniel Chandler, a primary care physician and associate chief medical information officer at Tufts Medical Center, says the law fundamentally changed access to care.“Health insurance really allows people to have a primary care doctor and a medical home,” Chandler said. “And the alternative to that is often the emergency department, which can be very expensive.” With expanded coverage, more residents are now able to see primary care providers, allowing for earlier intervention and preventive care.Chandler says that shift can make a significant difference.“You can get some necessary screening done and preventive care when it’s relatively easy to fix and it’s less expensive,” he said.Despite high coverage rates, affordability remains a top issue for many patients.“Patients complain about cost all the time,” Chandler said, noting that premiums are only part of the financial burden. “Often, there’s a lot of co-pays that can add up if you choose the wrong plan.”For patients, navigating insurance options can be overwhelming, especially during limited enrollment periods.“The topic is incredibly complex,” Chandler said. “If you have resources like family members or friends who are knowledgeable, I always recommend that you ask them.” Doctors warn that financial pressure can lead patients to delay or skip treatment — a decision that can have long-term consequences.“It can be really catastrophic to avoid treatment,” Chandler said. “If a problem is easy to fix early, that can get more difficult and more expensive over time if you don’t fix it early.”To help address those challenges, many health systems — including Tufts Medicine — now offer support services such as social workers and pharmacy teams to help patients find lower-cost medications, financial assistance or other resources.
NEEDHAM, Mass. —
This week marks 20 years since Massachusetts passed a landmark health care reform law that reshaped how residents access medical care and helped pave the way for national changes.
Signed on April 12, 2006, the Massachusetts health care reform law — often referred to as “Romneycare” — expanded insurance coverage through a combination of Medicaid expansion, subsidized private plans, and an individual mandate requiring most residents to carry insurance. According to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the law led to one of the highest insured rates in the country, with coverage now exceeding 97% of residents.
Two decades later, doctors say the impact is still being felt, especially when it comes to how patients enter and navigate the health system.
Dr. Daniel Chandler, a primary care physician and associate chief medical information officer at Tufts Medical Center, says the law fundamentally changed access to care.
“Health insurance really allows people to have a primary care doctor and a medical home,” Chandler said. “And the alternative to that is often the emergency department, which can be very expensive.”
With expanded coverage, more residents are now able to see primary care providers, allowing for earlier intervention and preventive care.
Chandler says that shift can make a significant difference.
“You can get some necessary screening done and preventive care when it’s relatively easy to fix and it’s less expensive,” he said.
Despite high coverage rates, affordability remains a top issue for many patients.
“Patients complain about cost all the time,” Chandler said, noting that premiums are only part of the financial burden. “Often, there’s a lot of co-pays that can add up if you choose the wrong plan.”
For patients, navigating insurance options can be overwhelming, especially during limited enrollment periods.
“The topic is incredibly complex,” Chandler said. “If you have resources like family members or friends who are knowledgeable, I always recommend that you ask them.”
Doctors warn that financial pressure can lead patients to delay or skip treatment — a decision that can have long-term consequences.
“It can be really catastrophic to avoid treatment,” Chandler said. “If a problem is easy to fix early, that can get more difficult and more expensive over time if you don’t fix it early.”
To help address those challenges, many health systems — including Tufts Medicine — now offer support services such as social workers and pharmacy teams to help patients find lower-cost medications, financial assistance or other resources.
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