Massachusetts
Voting today in Massachusetts’ primary election throughout Greater Westfield
Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. today throughout Greater Westfield for the state primary election.
There aren’t many decisions for voters to make, however. Republicans have a three-way race for their party’s nomination for U.S. Senate, among Robert J. Antonellis of Medford, Ian Cain of Quincy and John Deaton of Swansea. Other than that one contested race, the only other names on local Republican ballots will be the incumbent state representatives running for re-election: Nicholas Boldyga (R-Southwick) on ballots in Southwick, Montgomery and Russell; and Kelly Pease (R-Westfield) on ballots in most precincts of Westfield. Neither Boldyga nor Pease has a primary election challenger. In the small section of Westfield that shares a House district with West Springfield, there is no Republican candidate for representative.
Democratic ballots feature more candidates, but no contested races. Incumbent U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Cambridge) is the only person seeking nomination for that six-year seat; she will face the Republican nominee in November. Others seeking the nomination for their current seats are U.S. Rep. Richard Neal (D-Springfield), Governor’s Councilor Tara Jacobs (D-North Adams), Clerk of Courts Laura Gentile (D-East Longmeadow) and Register of Deeds Cheryl Coakley-Rivera (D-Springfield). The region’s two incumbent state senators are running for reelection with no opponents: John Velis (D-Westfield) on ballots in Westfield, Montgomery and Russell; and Paul Mark (D-Becket) on ballots in Southwick.
There are no candidates for any offices on the Libertarian Party ballots in Greater Westfield.
Early voting was available by mail and in person in all communities. Any registered voter who has not already voted can cast a ballot at the traditional Election Day polls today. Registered members of the Democratic, Libertarian or Republican parties can vote in their party’s primary election only. Voters who are registered but unenrolled in a party — also called “independent” — can choose any one of the three party ballots.
Residents of Southwick, Montgomery and Russell vote at their respective town halls: 454 College Highway, Southwick; 161 Main Road, Montgomery; and 65 Main St., Russell.
Polling places in Westfield are the same as in the presidential primary election earlier this year:
- Ward 1: Precinct A at Southampton Road Elementary School, 330 Southampton Road; Precinct B at Westfield High School, 177 Montgomery Road.
- Ward 2: Both precincts at Westfield Senior Center, 45 Noble St.
- Ward 3: Precinct A at Franklin Avenue Elementary School, 22 Franklin Ave. Precinct B at Westfield Technical Academy, Lower Campus, 33 Smith Ave.
- Ward 4: Precinct A at Second Congregational Church, 487 Western Ave. Precinct B at Highland Elementary School, 34 Western Ave.
- Ward 5: Both precincts at Munger Hill Elementary School, 33 Mallard Lane.
- Ward 6: Both precincts at Paper Mill Elementary School, 148 Paper Mill Road.
Westfield voters who are not sure which ward and precinct is theirs can enter their address at www.sec.state.ma.us/wheredoivotema to find their polling place. Voters from any community can enter their information at www.sec.state.ma.us/VoterRegistrationSearch to confirm that they are registered to vote.
Massachusetts
A magical holiday village is tucked inside Massachusetts’ most famous candle store
Yankee Candle is a staple in the Bay State, famous for its colorful jars full of fragrance and warm light.
And while its candles can essentially be bought from anywhere, the mothership of the iconic candles lies in South Deerfield at Yankee Candle Village.
The flagship store, known for its ginormous collection of Yankee Candle scents and retail goods, is a winter holiday destination for those in New England.
- This is the most popular candle scent in Massachusetts, according to The Loupe
Leading up to Christmas, the store turns into a complete holiday stop.
Now on prominent display are the brand’s many different winter scents, including such classics as Red Apple Wreath and Balsam & Cedar, and such holiday scents as Christmas Cookie and North Pole Greetings.
Bavarian Christmas Village, arguably the most festive room in Yankee Candle Village, is Christmas all year. Guests will stroll through an enchanted forest featuring a 25-foot-tall Christmas tree, nutcrackers, winter village displays and even indoor snow that falls every 4 minutes.
- ‘Disneyland’ Leverett estate of Yankee Candle founder Michael J. Kittredge II for sale at $23 million
But scattered throughout the flagship store are hints of Christmas and a winter wonderland — from the home section filled with holiday kitchen decor to the Toy Shop filled with jolly trinkets.
Santa even pays a visit to the Yankee Candle Village, hosting a storytime with kids every Monday through Thursday at 11:30 a.m.
And if the shopping and holiday joy become overwhelming, the store even has cafes that offer a bite to eat. Guests can also indulge in sweet treats in its candy store or try freshly made fudge.
Yankee Candle Village is located at 25 Greenfield Road in South Deerfield. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Yankee Candle will close 20 stores; parent to lay off 900 employees
Massachusetts
Two stranded dolphins rescued from Massachusetts marsh
It swims in the family.
A mother and calf wandered off the beaten path and got stranded in a Massachusetts marsh, forcing an emergency mammal rescue crew to save the wayward dolphin pair.
On Dec. 8, the Wareham Department of Natural Resources responded to a report of two stranded dolphins in the area of Beaverdam Creek off of the Weweantic River, a 17-mile tributary that drains into Buzzards Bay, which directly connects to the Atlantic Ocean.
When crews arrived, two common dolphins were located alive and active, but partially out of the water stranded in the marsh, according to the Wareham Department of Natural Resources.
Responding authorities alerted the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) Marine Mammal Stranding Response Team, based in Cape Cod.
IFAW team members put the dolphins on stretchers and brought them to safety, where they conducted preliminary tests on the wayward dolphins.
“Our teams were easily able to extract the animals and transport them via our custom-built rescue vehicle,” Stacey Hedman, senior director of communications for IFAW, said.
The dolphins were weighed; the smaller of the two weighed approximately 90 lbs, and the larger mammal around 150 lbs.
Upon further analysis, it was revealed that the dolphins were an adult female and a socially-dependent juvenile female, a mother and calf pair.
According to Hedman, IFAW had some concerns over the mother’s decreased responsiveness and abnormal blood work, though it was deemed the pair was healthy enough to release back into the ocean at West Dennis Beach in Dennis, Mass.
“By releasing them into an area with many other dolphins around, this would hopefully increase their chances of socialization and survival. Both animals have satellite tags that are still successfully tracking,” Hedman said.
Massachusetts
Man seriously injured after being thrown from moving vehicle during domestic dispute
A 19-year-old Massachusetts man was seriously injured after he was thrown from a moving vehicle he had grabbed onto during a domestic dispute Thursday morning.
Duxbury police said they responded to a report of an injured male who might have been struck by a vehicle on Chandler Street around 5:22 a.m. and found a 19-year-old Pembroke man lying in the roadway with serious injuries.
Through interviews with witnesses, officers learned that the man had gone to his ex-girlfriend’s residence on Chandler Street to confront her current boyfriend. An altercation ensued, during which police said the 19-year-old appears to have jumped on the hood of a vehicle and was then thrown from the moving vehicle.
The incident remains under investigation, police said. At this time, they said no charges have been filed.
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