Springfield, MA
News
COVID-19: Cases Skyrocket In Amherst As UMass Reigns In Partying, Shuts Down Campus COVID-19: Cases Skyrocket In Amherst As UMass Reigns In Partying, Shuts Down Campus
Covid-19: Cases Skyrocket In Amherst As UMass Reigns In Partying, Shuts Down Campus The COVID-19 incident rate shot up dramatically in Amherst where UMass is attempting to tamp down on the virus’s spread. The daily average COVID-19 rate in Amherst per 100,000 people was 26.6 last week, Feb. 4. As of Thursday, Feb. 11, Amherst’s COVID-19 rate is 78.8. The uptick in infections comes on the heels of the University of Massachusetts Amherst shutting down its campus to stop the virus’ spread. The roughly 13,000-member student body has been asked to self-quarantine. A spike in COVID-19 cases in Amherst has been linked to one or more “massive” frat parties thrown over the Feb. 6 w…

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by Kristin Palpini
Worcester, MA
Weather
Who Got The Most Snow? Snowfall Totals In Central, Western, Berkshire, MA Who Got The Most Snow? Snowfall Totals In Central, Western, Berkshire, MA
Who Got The Most Snow? Snowfall Totals In Central, Western, Berkshire, MA A passing Nor'Easter left about 3-17 inches of snow across the region with snowfall totals varying greatly in communities all over Central or Western Massachusetts. The National Weather Service has put a winter weather advisory into place until Tuesday, Feb. 2, at 4 p.m. Before the late afternoon, people can expect to see light snow showers and pockets of freezing drizzle. A glaze of ice developing on top of the snow is possible. Wind gusts may reach as fast as 40 mph. Below are snowfall totals from the Monday, Feb. 1 winter storm. The totals are reported as inches are as of 8 a.m. Tuesday,…

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by Kristin Palpini
Worcester, MA
Weather
Updated Snowfall Forecast - Up To 15 Inches Predicted For Parts Of Western, Central MA Updated Snowfall Forecast - Up To 15 Inches Predicted For Parts Of Western, Central MA
Updated Snowfall Forecast - Up To 15 Inches Predicted For Parts Of Western, Central MA When this Nor’easter is over, some communities in Central and Western Massachusetts are expected to be covered in more than 1 foot of snow. A Winter Storm Warning by the National Weather Service is in effect until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 2. Heavy snow is expected with total snow accumulations of 7 to 15 inches and winds gusting as high as 45 mph. The communities that are expected to see the most snow are across the Worcester Hills and the east slopes of the Berkshires. The following are forecast snowfall totals including the smallest amount predicted, the most likely amount to fall…

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by Kristin Palpini
Springfield, MA
News
Death Of Street Musician 'Bucket Man,' aka 'Motown Man,' Mourned In Pioneer Valley Death Of Street Musician 'Bucket Man,' aka 'Motown Man,' Mourned In Pioneer Valley
Death Of Street Musician 'Bucket Man,' aka 'Motown Man,' Mourned In Pioneer Valley Bennie M. Johnson wasn’t in the movies or politics, but he certainly was famous. Johnson, also known as the Bucket Man, recently died. As the Bucket Man Johnson was well-known in the area for his percussive performances on a white, plastic contractor’s bucket he’d carry around. Some people knew Johnson as “Motown Man” or “Motown Benne.” Johnson was a talented musician playing jazz, classic rock and Motown with a bucket and kazoo. He’d often dress the part of a rockstar wearing a shimmery scarf like a cape and wearing brightly-colored Mardi Gras beads. He’d play on the streets, but people …

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by Kristin Palpini
Worcester, MA
News
COVID-19: How Many Miles Will You Travel To Get Vaccinated? Check This Map COVID-19: How Many Miles Will You Travel To Get Vaccinated? Check This Map
Covid-19: How Many Miles Will You Travel To Get Vaccinated? Check This Map A new map of where you can get vaccinated against COVID-19 in Massachusetts shows 20 locations in Central and Western Massachusetts. If you’re eligible to get a vaccine, Mass.gov has created an interactive map of vaccination sites you can use to learn more about the facilities and how to book appointments.  It appears that most people live within 10-12 miles of a vaccination center, but for the more far-flung communities, including North Adams and Sutton, the trek could be 20 miles or more. The closest vaccination center to Williamstown, which is located in the most northwest…

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by Kristin Palpini
Worcester, MA
News
COVID-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Infection Rates Down In Most Central/Western MA Big Cities COVID-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Infection Rates Down In Most Central/Western MA Big Cities
Covid-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Infection Rates Down In Most Central/Western MA Big Cities COVID-19 rates went down in 7 out of 10 of Massachusetts’ largest cities west of I-495. The COVID-19 infection rates per 100,000 people went down in Worcester, Springfield, Chicopee, Leominster, Fitchburg, Amherst, and Shrewsbury, according to town-level data released by Massachusetts’ Department of Public Health on Thursday, Jan. 21. All of these communities, except for Amherst, are in the “red” - meaning they are at the highest risk for the spread of the virus. Amherst is in the yellow category. Massachusetts's color-coded risk system has four levels. They are, from most to least risk, …

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by Kristin Palpini
Worcester, MA
Police & Fire
COVID-19: Face-Mask-Fog Solution Developed In Western Mass COVID-19: Face-Mask-Fog Solution Developed In Western Mass
Covid-19: Face-Mask-Fog Solution Developed In Western Mass Since the start of the pandemic, people with glasses have had a legitimate problem with face masks - wearing them fogs up eyewear. But a Western Massachusetts company thinks it has come up with a solution - literally and figuratively. Kyttarinic Technologies is working to get an updated version of its premier product FogKicker out to the glasses-wearing public. With a new office in Springfield, the formerly Amherst-based company has been selling vials of the spray and has tested a new product, wipes, that clean and prevent fog on glasses and dive masks. FogKicker is not the first anti-f…

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by Kristin Palpini
Worcester, MA
Weather
How Much Snow Did You Get? Regional Snowfall Totals, Monday, Jan. 4 How Much Snow Did You Get? Regional Snowfall Totals, Monday, Jan. 4
How Much Snow Did You Get? Regional Snowfall Totals, Monday, Jan. 4 We're starting off the first workweek of 2021 waking up to a light blanket of snow. In the Central and Western areas of Massachusetts as well as the Berkshires, the place that received the most snow appears to be North Granby with 2.2 inches and Noth Adams with 2.4 inches. Chicopee also reached 2 inches of snow accumulation. After that, Holden came the closest to joining the 2-inch club with an accumulation of 1.7 inches of snow. Meanwhile, Worcester, Holyoke, Amherst, and Westfield got 1 inch of snow each. Some of the area's largest communities received less than an inch of snow: Springfi…

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by Kristin Palpini
Amherst, MA
Lifestyle
Who Has The Best Pizza In Hampshire County? Top Slices According To Yelp Who Has The Best Pizza In Hampshire County? Top Slices According To Yelp
Who Has The Best Pizza In Hampshire County? Top Slices According To Yelp Are you seeking out the best pizza slices and pies in Hampshire County? COVID-19 has made great take-out and delivery more important than ever. With more than 30 percent of all delivery orders being placed at pizzerias, it seems like a good time to present the top 3 pizza shops in Hampshire County, according to Yelp reviews. Did Yelp get it right? Put the name of your favorite pizza shop in the comments. Hillside Pizza, 173 Russell St., Hadley With vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free options, Hillside Pizza is a perfect choice for a group with diverse dietary needs. Boasting all loca…

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by Christina Coulter
Amherst, MA
News
Snow Plowing - How Much Does Your Town Spend On Snow Removal? Snow Plowing - How Much Does Your Town Spend On Snow Removal?
Snow Plowing - How Much Does Your Town Spend On Snow Removal? Snow plowing is among the most important services a city or town can provide in the winter - but it’s more of a priority in some places than others. In a review of snowplow/snow removal expenditures per community, differences in how much a town is willing to pay for the service quickly emerge. Among the 10 largest communities in Central and Western Massachusetts, it’s hard to beat Worcester. The city spent $8,530 per mile of city roadway on plowing services in 2019. The biggest city spending the least amount of money per mile to plow its streets is Chicopee - which spent $2,635 per mile in…

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by Kristin Palpini
Worcester, MA
News
Snow Plowing - See How Much Your Town Spends On Snow Removal Snow Plowing - See How Much Your Town Spends On Snow Removal
Snow Plowing - See How Much Your Town Spends On Snow Removal Snow plowing is among the most important services a city or town can provide in the winter - but it’s more of a priority in some places than others. In a review of snowplow/snow removal expenditures per community, differences in how much a town is willing to pay for the service quickly emerge. Among the 10 largest communities in Central and Western Massachusetts, it’s hard to beat Worcester. The city spent $8,530 per mile of city roadway on plowing services in 2019. The biggest city spending the least amount of money per mile to plow its streets is Chicopee - which spent $2,635 per mile in…

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by Kristin Palpini
Springfield, MA
News
City Pays $8,000 Per Mile For Snow/Ice Removal - See How Your Town's Plowing Budget Compares City Pays $8,000 Per Mile For Snow/Ice Removal - See How Your Town's Plowing Budget Compares
City Pays $8,000 Per Mile For Snow/Ice Removal - See How Your Town's Plowing Budget Compares Snow plowing is among the most important services a city or town can provide in the winter - but it’s more of a priority in some places than others. In a review of snowplow/snow removal expenditures per community, differences in how much a town is willing to pay for the service quickly emerge. Among the 10 largest communities in Central and Western Massachusetts, it’s hard to beat Worcester. The city spent $8,530 per mile of city roadway on plowing services in 2019. The biggest city spending the least amount of money per mile to plow its streets is Chicopee - which spent $2,635 per mile i…

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by Kristin Palpini