Properly pronouncing Massachusetts towns is a struggle that almost every visitor to the Bay State — and even residents at times — faces.
MARIS, a Montana-born artist who played her first-ever Boston Calling on Friday, May 24, fell victim to this struggle when MassLive asked her how to pronounce “Woburn” after her set.
“Wobber,” she questioned. “I’m not good at pronouncing things in general. I said, ‘Green-witch’ for a really long time and then I went there and people were like, ‘Hmm, okay, you’re not from here.’”
After teaching her some Boston terms like “Packie,” which is slang for the package store, MARIS got into her set which she described as a “full-circle” moment because she saw her mother right before.
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“She has been a supporter since day one, literally,” MARIS told MassLive. “So I feel great.”
MARIS.Courtesy Photo
MARIS wanted to go all out for her first-ever Boston Calling set, but she mentioned how expensive it is to fly out musicians and dancers.
Through the help of her music director, who went to Berklee College of Music, MARIS invited a band of 10 students as well as two background dancers. This made for MARIS’ biggest production yet.
“We had two days of rehearsals and then we just went right into it,” she said. “I think it went pretty amazingly.”
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The singer also donned a customized vintage Wagner ski suit that she thrifted, bedazzled and fitted with rip-off pants and arms to add a theatrical element to her performance.
“I really wanted to have a rip-off legs and rip-off arms because I feel like entertainment and music and comedy kind of go hand-in-hand,” MARIS explained. “It just totally elevates the performance. I kind of want to feel like I’m a superstar from outer space.”
Originally from Montana, MARIS moved to Los Angeles, California in 2021 and decided to stay and become a musician.
Her mission is “to connect with listeners through her candid experiences as a queer and emotionally vulnerable songwriter with an ‘80s-inflected pop universe and beats you can’t help but dance along to,” her biography reads. This sound is evident in her latest single “Julia Roberts,” which MARIS released on May 17.
The song is the latest addition to MARIS’ discography. The singer has been dropping singles since 2022 and put out her 6-son EP, “Gravity” in 2023 along with an accompanying short film called “Gravity: The EP: the Movie (Black House, Best Friends Music).”
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MARIS followed that up with the singles, “Voicemail,” “Hot Guitar Player” and “GOING YET!” the same year. After tackling her first Boston Calling, MARIS will be playing with Kid Sistr in June and at Missoula Pride.
You can learn more about MARIS by going to her website. Click here to check out more MassLive coverage on Boston Calling.
MONTANA Brown has been forced to call in pest control after thousands of “disgusting”, unidentified bugs infested her home.
The former Love Island star initially took to social media to ask her followers if any of them knew what the bugs were – and how to get rid of them.
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Montana Brown has pleaded for help after thousands of bugs infested her homeCredit: tiktok/@montanaShe’s had to call in the pros at pest control as she doesn’t know what the bugs are – or how to get rid of themCredit: tiktok/@montanaPeople in the comments were divided as to what the bugs could be, with Montana joking she’ll give £2 million to the person who got their guess correctCredit: tiktok/@montana
“Can someone tell me what these pests are?” Montana wrote over the top of the video.
“I have cleaned all my cupboards and they will not go away!”
“It’s making me sick,” she added in the video caption.
And people in the comments were divided as to what the bugs could actually be.
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People say my post-holiday cleaning routine freaks them out but I never get dust
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“We had an infestation of book lice, could it be these??” one wrote.
“Dust mites?” another mused.
“We had something similar had to have someone out to gas out the kitchen, had to throw away loads of appliances etc because they live and lay thousands of eggs.
“Get an exterminator ASAP – they breed like mad.”
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“Flour mites, you need to throw everything out in your storage cupboards that is not sealed,” a third insisted.
“Then clean everything with hot soapy water.
“They come from if you have a packet open that is not sealed properly like flour, tortilla chips or any grain – the worst.”
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However, in another video, Montana went on to explain that she’s cleaned out the cupboards “probably about 10 to 15 times”, and has cling film over “all the dried goods”.
“So I have got someone from pest control coming tomorrow and they will identify this little bug,” she explained.
Montana also joked the person who got the bug species right would win “£2 million from me”.
“Because a lot of you have come out with some pretty crazy insects that I have never heard of in my entire life,” she laughed.
“And I’m going to be impressed with whoever wins the competition.
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Common garden pests
Common pests in the garden don’t need to be a cause for alarm. If you can identify them, you can work on getting rid of them and preventing them from returning.
Aphids (Greenfly, Blackfly)
Aphids are extremely common and can impact plant growth. They have tiny soft pear-shaped bodies, and are usually green or black. You may spot them clustered on the stem of soft shoots – look under leaves in particular – or may find a sticky substance on your plants that gives away aphids have been there sucking at the sap.
Whitefly
These small white-winged insects are related to aphids, at just 1 or 2 mm in length, and look very much like white moths as adults. They can be found on the underside of leaves, preferring younger, fresher leaves. They fly in clusters when you disturb them. Their lifecycle is only three weeks long, which means an infestation can occur very rapidly.
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Slugs
An unmissable, squashy-looking body plus small sensory tentacles on its head. Slugs move along on one muscular foot. They range in scale from surprisingly small to terrifyingly large; limax cinereoniger species can grow comfortably beyond 20 cm in length.
Cabbage Moth Caterpillar
Cabbage moth caterpillars happily make their way into the heart of the vegetables, The caterpillars are distinguished in shades of yellow or browny green with no hair.
Mealy Bug
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Mealybugs are tiny oval-shaped insects that have a white, powdery wax coating. There are several different species, many of which have what looks like legs coming from their sides and back end. In their earliest stage of life, it’s entirely possible to mistake them for fungus and not recognise them as insects at all.
“So, stay tuned!”
“Can’t wait for my £2m hehe!” one person commented on that video.
“You have to throw away all the dried goods sadly, the cling film won’t do it.
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“We literally threw out every single thing out of cupboards and had to rebuy it all.”
“Good luck! I hope they go – they made my life hellll!” another said, adding that they think they’re “book lice” aka plaster beetles.
BOULDER, Colo. — Taylee Chirrick’s driving layup with 1.7 seconds left lifted Montana State to a 71-70 women’s basketball victory on the road over Colorado of the Big 12 on Sunday.
With seconds ticking away and MSU trailing 70-69, Chirrick beat two defenders along the near sideline and broke toward the basket to lay in the go-ahead points. A last-ditch heave by the Buffaloes missed, and the Bobcats improved to 5-1 overall.
“This team showed championship toughness and grittiness in the second half,” MSU coach Tricia Binford stated in a press release. “They fought and clawed their way back against a very good team. I’m very proud of everyone’s effort.”
Colorado’s Desiree Wooten gave her team the lead with nine seconds left with a driving three-point play. But Chirrick and Montana State were able to complete a comeback that saw the Bobcats erase a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter.
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A layup by CU’s Anaelle Dutat had the Bobcats down 61-49 with 9:24 remaining; the Cats closed the game on a 22-9 run.
Chirrick, a sophomore from Roberts, finished with a game-high 21 points. She made 6 of 15 from the floor and went 7 for 7 from the foul line. Addison Harris added 19 points, and Heidi Smith scored eight of her 10 in the fourth quarter to boost the Bobcats’ rally.
Harris and Chirrick led MSU with six rebounds apiece. Chirrick also had three assists and four steals. The Bobcats scored 20 points off 23 Colorado turnovers.
Jade Masogayo led the Buffaloes with 16 points while Wooten had 14. Dutat finished with 10 points and a game-best nine rebounds.
Montana State will next travel to Fargo, N.D., to face North Dakota State on Wednesday as part of the Big Sky/Summit League Challenge. The Bobcats will host North Dakota on Saturday.
Carroll College tight end Carson Ochoa caught five passes for 125 yards and three touchdowns in the Saints’ 31-21 NAIA Football Championship Series Round of 16 loss to Montana Tech Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, inside Alumni Coliseum.
Carroll College safety Braeden Orlandi breaks up a pass intended for Montana Tech wide-out Levi Torgerson Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during the Orediggers’ 31-21 NAIA Football Championship Series Round of 16 victory over the Saints.
Montana Tech wide-out Levi Torgerson totaled 124 yards receiving, caught two touchdowns, and tossed a 21-yard score to Orediggers QB Jarrett Wilson in Tech’s 31-21 NAIA Football Championship Series Round of 16 victory over Carroll College Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, inside Alumni Coliseum. Torgerson was selected game offensive MVP.
Montana Tech QB Jarrett Wilson completed 11 of 16 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in the Orediggers’ 31-21 NAIA Football Championship Series Round of 16 victory over Carroll College. Wilson carried the football 15 times for 94 yards. He also caught a 21-yard touchdown.
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Montana Tech QB Jarrett Wilson completed 11 of 16 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in the Orediggers’ 31-21 NAIA Football Championship Series Round of 16 victory over Carroll College. Wilson carried the football 15 times for 94 yards. He also caught a 21-yard touchdown.
Email Daniel Shepard at daniel.shepard@406mtsports.com and find him on X/Twitter @IR_DanielS.
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Montana Tech beat Carroll for the 5th-straight time Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, advancing to the NAIA Football Championship Series Quarterfinals.…
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Montana Tech wide-out Levi Torgerson totaled 124 yards receiving, caught two touchdowns, and tossed a 21-yard score to Orediggers QB Jarrett Wilson in Tech’s 31-21 NAIA Football Championship Series Round of 16 victory over Carroll College Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, inside Alumni Coliseum. Torgerson was selected game offensive MVP.
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Montana Tech QB Jarrett Wilson completed 11 of 16 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in the Orediggers’ 31-21 NAIA Football Championship Series Round of 16 victory over Carroll College. Wilson carried the football 15 times for 94 yards. He also caught a 21-yard touchdown.
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Montana Tech QB Jarrett Wilson completed 11 of 16 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in the Orediggers’ 31-21 NAIA Football Championship Series Round of 16 victory over Carroll College. Wilson carried the football 15 times for 94 yards. He also caught a 21-yard touchdown.
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Carroll College safety Braeden Orlandi breaks up a pass intended for Montana Tech wide-out Levi Torgerson Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during the Orediggers’ 31-21 NAIA Football Championship Series Round of 16 victory over the Saints.
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Carroll College kicker Kai Golan recovered an on-side kick in the third quarter of the Saints’ 31-21 NAIA Football Championship Series Round of 16 loss to Montana Tech Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, inside Alumni Coliseum. Golan’s recovery led to a Saints touchdown that pulled Carroll within three points.
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Montana Tech head football coach Kyle Samson celebrates the Orediggers’ 31-21 NAIA Football Championship Series Round of 16 victory over Carroll College Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, inside Alumni Coliseum.
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Carroll College tight end Carson Ochoa caught five passes for 125 yards and three touchdowns in the Saints’ 31-21 NAIA Football Championship Series Round of 16 loss to Montana Tech Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, inside Alumni Coliseum.