Massachusetts
Monson’s Church Manufacturing Dam removed, Chicopee Brook restored
MONSON, Mass. (WWLP) – The Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) has overseen the complete removal of the 170-year-old Church Manufacturing Dam in Monson.
The project, which has resulted in a free-flowing Chicopee Brook, is now in its planting and ecological restoration phase.
This effort represents one of the region’s most significant river-restoration milestones this year. The ongoing work aims to improve flood resilience, water quality and wildlife habitat in the area. It also reduces long-term public safety risks while strengthening climate resilience for the community.
Following the completion of construction, residents can now observe a restored, free-flowing Chicopee Brook. This is where the 170-year-old dam had stood for generations, allowing the brook to run unimpeded.
The area that once comprised the dam’s impoundment, covering 14 acres, is actively transitioning. This space is becoming new wetlands and native habitat, fostering a more natural ecosystem.
Beyond ecological benefits, the dam removal project addresses critical community concerns. It reduces long-term public safety risks and strengthens the overall climate resilience of the Monson area.
All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WWLP. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat information into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WWLP staff before being published.
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Sunday starts off dry with more clouds than sunshine, making for a pleasant start to the day.
Temperatures will climb into the upper 70s to mid 80s during the afternoon, running a few degrees above the normal high of 73.
As the day goes on, scattered showers and a few thunderstorms will develop, especially across eastern Massachusetts. Not everyone will see rain, but it’s worth keeping an eye on the sky if you have outdoor plans later in the day.
By Sunday night, cooler and drier air begins moving in behind the system.
Monday will feel noticeably different, with a sea breeze along the coast keeping temperatures in the 70s. Plenty of sunshine will make for a comfortable start to the workweek before a summer stretch comes in midweek.
Temperatures begin a steady climb Tuesday and continue warming through the second half of the week.
By Wednesday, highs surge into the upper 80s and lower 90s.
There will also be a chance for a few showers or thunderstorms by Thursday.
Rainbows rained on Boston Saturday.
Boston Pride for the People took place in the city, with a parade starting at 11 a.m.
Attendees also took part in a festival beginning at noon headlined by Los Angeles hip hop duo Flyana Boss. The event was emceed by Dr. André Isaacs, a professor of chemistry at Worcester’s College of the Holy Cross where he leads Outfront, the college’s LGBTQ faculty and staff alliance; Amanda Shea, a three-time Boston Music Award-winning spoken word artist; and Curtis Santos, the executive director of the Boston Lesbigay Urban foundation.
The event concluded with a block party from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. emceed by Rocky Graziano, a Revere-based trivia and LGBTQ event host.
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BOSTON, MA – JUNE 6-SATURDAY: Conrad Cardenas, of Roslindale, marches with thousands of participates during the city’s Pride Parade as it wends its way along Clarendon Street Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Connors/Media News Group/Boston Herald)
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BOSTON, MA – JUNE 6-SATURDAY: Conrad Cardenas, of Roslindale, marches with thousands of participates during the city’s Pride Parade as it wends its way along Clarendon Street Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Connors/Media News Group/Boston Herald)
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The number of opioid-related overdose fatalities fell below 1,000 for the first time in more than a decade in 2025, state health officials said Friday, marking a significant improvement since Massachusetts broke a devastating record a few years ago.
There were 978 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths among Massachusetts residents last year, the Department of Public Health said. That represents a nearly 27% decrease over the 1,336 deaths in 2024, which also saw a sharp drop in fatal overdoses.
DPH says the declining trend mirrors data unfolding nationally.
“This progress, experienced by families across the Commonwealth as years of extra joy and life, is the result of a comprehensive and collaborative public health response that has prioritized evidence-based care, community partnership, and compassion,” Health and Human Services Secretary Kiame Mahaniah said. “Data show us that providing access to housing, harm reduction, treatment options, and supportive peer communities works to prevent overdose — and the Commonwealth will continue its commitment to supporting and expanding access to these tools and services.”
A 2024 law expanded access to overdose-reversal drugs like naloxone, installed liability protections for providers and organizations offering drug checking services, and established licensure for recovery coaches. The law did not include a Senate-backed provision to legalize supervised injection sites, and proposals to do so this session are before the House and Senate Ways and Means committees.
Overdose deaths, which claimed more 2,000 lives annually between 2016 and 2023, reached a record high of 2,364 in 2022. The last time Massachusetts recorded less than 1,000 overdose fatalities was in 2013, when the opioid epidemic claimed the lives of 992 Bay Staters.
“While a 27 percent decrease in opioid overdose deaths is encouraging and reflects the impact of sustained investments in prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support, we must never lose sight of the fact that behind every data point is a person — a loved one, a family member, a friend, a neighbor,” Deirdre Calvert, director of DPH’s Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, saidDPH said it is still analyzing the latest data and will release more insights later this summer about how the decrease is reflected across Massachusetts communities.
In its recent report on overdoses in 2024, DPH offered three hypotheses for that year’s decrease, including a potentially safer street drug supply, fewer people at risk of overdoses, and expanded overdose prevention resources and services. DPH says overdose deaths rose from 2013 to 2022 due to the “increasing and erratic fentanyl concentrations in the drug supply.”
But xylazine, a sedative approved for veterinary use, has become increasingly common in the state’s drug supply between 2020 and 2024.
“One hypothesis is that using drugs containing xylazine may protect from fatal overdose by increasing the length of time that people are sedated after using, therefore decreasing the total number of use events,” the report says. “Another hypothesis is that due to the sedative effects of xylazine, suppliers may reduce the amount of fentanyl in their product.”
Alison Kuznitz is a reporter for State House News Service and State Affairs Pro Massachusetts. Reach her at akuznitz@stateaffairs.com.
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