Massachusetts
Massachusetts ice cream trail leads to sweet hot summer relief
By Sharon Oliver, Contributing Writer
REGION – The people of Massachusetts are serious about their ice cream. From chasing down ice cream trucks as a kid to licking the wooden spoon of a Hoodsie cup to trying their first gelato, cooling off with a frozen treat has long been a summer ritual. For some, it is a year-long love affair.
July is National Ice Cream Month, and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) has teamed up with nearly 100 state dairy farms in an effort to introduce visitors to various ice cream stands that source local dairy for their delectable desserts.
Encouraging travel and tourism
Phu Mai, director of communications for the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, told MassLive, “This project will not only promote the consumption of Massachusetts dairy and encourage visitors to discover new dairy farms and local ice cream stands, but it will also support travel and tourism and celebrate the hard-working cows and farmers of the Massachusetts dairy industry, support travel and tourism, and excite ice cream enthusiasts everywhere.”
These farms supply the state with money and milk that helps produce millions of pounds of butter, cheese, ice cream and yogurt. There will be a digital and print map available listing participating dairy farms and ice cream parlors featuring some very dope flavors. Historically, the Bay State has not been afraid of featuring some interesting tastes. For example, located in the western part of the state, in the town of Hadley is a fifth-generation family-owned business called Flayvors of Cook Farm. Asparagus ice cream may sound like a joke, but customers have been coming to Flayvors for 20 years for their “Hadley Grass,” a green seasonal concoction made with fresh spears that is often topped with a caramel sauce.
Steve’s was an early pioneer
As for the die-hard lovers of ice cream, many can recall lining up around and down the block from Steve’s Ice Cream shop in Somerville for a nice hefty scoop. Perhaps lining up is an understatement. Surround and converge upon may be more like it. Established in 1973, owner Steve Herrell’s pioneering business concept of cookie and candy mix-ins inspired chains like Ben & Jerry’s and Cold Stone Creamery, and products like Dairy Queen’s Blizzard and Wendy’s Twisted Frosty. MSNBC’s travel/leisure journalist Tom Austin credits Herrell with creating “modern gourmet ice cream.”
Steve’s Ice Cream, along with a few other local shops made lasting impressions evident by the following comments on Facebook.
Lawrence Lavigne:
“Kinda interesting to think about all the regional ice cream names that made it big…Ben & Jerry’s, Steve’s, Herrell’s, Brigham’s, Friendly…And now JP Licks. New England sure does love a sundae.”
Allen Lomax:
“Awe, I remember Steve’s Ice Cream. They even opened a store in Washington, D.C. Sad it’s gone like Bailey’s Ice Cream and Brigham’s.”
Christina Coleman:
“I remember waiting in line for over an hour just to get to the front door! Delicious ice cream.”
Don Burchelt:
“I was often in that line, with my late wife. Once you got in the door, the line continued all the way around the inside wall. The ice cream freezer was in the window, working continuously.”
The state is a hotbed for serving up delicious satisfaction for some cold cravings. Toscanini’s would be another firm yes, as far as local favorites go. The busy ice cream parlor and café won the Best of Boston award for best ice cream in 1997, 2009, and 2010.
Massachusetts has about 95 dairy farms that contribute about $61 million to the state’s economy. The ice cream trail is one of many trail projects the state offers but this one is sure to please all those ice cream enthusiasts with a very discerning sweet tooth. Stay tuned this month for more details about the ice cream trail.
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Massachusetts
Weather alert for fog in 6 Massachusetts counties until early Monday morning
A report from the National Weather Service was issued on Sunday at 4:27 p.m. for fog until Monday at 5 a.m. for Southern Worcester as well as Norfolk, Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties.
“The very humid conditions continue overnight, and will lead to more areas of fog. Patchy dense fog is expected, reducing visibility to one quarter mile or less in spots. Travelers should be prepared for rapid drops in visibility. Slow down and allow extra time to reach your destination safely,” according to the weather service.
Guidance from the weather service for navigating foggy conditions
If you must venture out in foggy conditions, keep these safety tips from the weather service 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 also activate your taillights. If available, employ your fog lights.
Avoid high-beams:
- Refrain from using high-beam lights, as they create glare, making it more difficult for you to see what’s ahead of you on the road.
Keep a safe distance:
- Maintain a generous following distance to account for abrupt stops or shifting traffic patterns.
Stay in your lane:
- To ensure you are staying in the correct lane, use the road’s lane markings as a guide.
Zero visibility protocol:
- In situations of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and seek a secure location, such as a nearby business’s parking lot, to pull over and come to a stop.
Limited parking options:
- If no parking area is available, pull your vehicle as far to the roadside as possible. Once stationary, turn off all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights are not illuminated, reducing the risk of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.
By adhering to these weather service recommendations, you can navigate foggy conditions more safely, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring your well-being.
Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.
Massachusetts
Police investigating deadly crash on I-495 in Bridgewater
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (WWLP) – A woman is dead after a car rolled over on I-495 in Bridgewater on Saturday.
According to the Massachusetts State Police, troopers were sent to a single-vehicle crash on I-495 southbound in Bridgewater that left one passenger dead. After a preliminary investigation, it was determined that a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu was driving on I-495 when they drove into the wooded median of the road.
The car rolled over and the driver, a 79-year-old Mashpee man, was taken to the hospital for his injuries. The passenger, 74-year-old Lana Testa, died in the crash.
The left lane of 1-495 was closed for almost four and a half hours. The crash is being investigated by the Massachusetts State Police, the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, the State Police Crime Scene Services Section, and investigators from the Plymouth County State Police Detective Unit.
Local News
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Massachusetts
Prepare for dense fog in 6 Massachusetts counties until early Sunday morning
A report from the National Weather Service was issued on Sunday at 12:05 a.m. for dense fog until 5 a.m. for Norfolk, Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties.
“Patchy fog is developing across southern New England in areas south of I-90. Visibilities between 1-2 miles are reported, with locally dense fog of less than 1/4 mile. Potential remains for areas of fog to become widespread through early Sunday morning. If so, a Dense Fog Advisory will be considered. Fog may be a hazard to motorist. Dense fog makes it difficult to see what’s ahead, turn on your low-beam lights, drive slowly and with caution,” according to the weather service.
Fog safety: Tips from the weather service for safe travels
If you must drive in foggy conditions, keep the following safety tips in mind:
Moderate your speed:
- Slow down and allow extra travel time to reach your destination safely.
Visibility matters:
- 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 staying in the correct lane.
Visibility near zero:
- 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.
Limited parking options:
- If there is no parking lot or driveway to pull into, pull your vehicle off to the side of the road as far as possible. Once you come to a stop, turn off all lights except your hazard flashing lights, set the emergency brake, and take your foot off of the brake pedal to be sure the tail lights are not illuminated so that other drivers don’t mistakenly run into you.
By adhering to these weather service recommendations, you can navigate foggy conditions more safely, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring your well-being.
Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.
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