COVID-19: Two Western Mass Communities Placed In Red Zone; New Rundown Of 20 High-Risk Areas COVID-19: Two Western Mass Communities Placed In Red Zone; New Rundown Of 20 High-Risk Areas
Covid-19: Two Western Mass Communities Placed In Red Zone; New Rundown Of 20 High-Risk Areas Two communities in western Massachusetts are in the COVID-19 “red zone,” while nearly two dozen more have also seen an uptick in cases and have been placed into “yellow zones.” The Massachusetts Department of Public Health released its weekly COVID-19 health report on Thursday, March 18, highlighting the areas of the state that have seen an increase in new cases in relation to the area's population. Under the state’s new criteria, the Department of Public Health is taking population size into account when determining which are deemed “high-risk,” “medium-risk,” or “low-risk.” In the late…
COVID-19: Virus Outbreaks Recorded In 11 School Districts Last Week COVID-19: Virus Outbreaks Recorded In 11 School Districts Last Week
Covid-19: Virus Outbreaks Recorded In 11 School Districts Last Week This past week, 11 Massachusetts public schools experienced COVID-19 outbreaks of 9 or more students and staff coming down with the virus. The largest outbreak was recorded in Leominster. From March 4-10, 21 of the school district’s students (15) and staff (6) reported positive cases. The Massachusetts Department of Secondary and Elementary Education produces weekly reports on positive COVID-19 cases reported in each school district. The Thursday, March 11 report found about 140 school districts - out of more than 350 - had at least one student or staff member test positive for COVID-19. C…
COVID-19: Four 'Red' Western Mass Cities At High Risk, Town-By-Town Trends, Rates COVID-19: Four 'Red' Western Mass Cities At High Risk, Town-By-Town Trends, Rates
Covid-19: Four 'Red' Western Mass Cities At High Risk, Town-By-Town Trends, Rates Keeping with the trend of declining COVID-19 infections, the Pioneer Valley has only 4 “red” communities - cities and towns with the highest risk of virus transmission. On Thursday, March 4, Massachusetts unveiled its latest weekly update on COVID-19 incidents by the municipality.  Red communities in Western Massachusetts for the week of March 4 are: Chicopee with a rate of 33.4, Hadley, 32 Ludlow, 33.4, and Springfield, 40.3. Springfield was the only city out of the four that was in the red but experienced a decline in COVID-19 incidents, according to state data. Statewide, the…
Suspect In 'Magic Lantern' Strip Club Shooting Is Arrested Suspect In 'Magic Lantern' Strip Club Shooting Is Arrested
Suspect In 'Magic Lantern' Strip Club Shooting Is Arrested An arrest has been made in connection with a February shooting at a rural strip club. On Sunday, Feb. 21, gunfire broke out in the parking lot of the Magic Lantern, a topless bar on Route 20 in Monson by the Palmer town line, at around 1 a.m. The incident wasn’t reported until at least 12 hours later. Now Ethan Fitzgerald, 25, of Ludlow, has been arrested in connection with the shooting, Monson Police said. Fitzgerald was arrested Monday, March 1, on the charges of possession of a firearm without an FID card or license to carry, possession of ammunition with no FID card or license to …
City Spends $8,000 Per Mile On Snow/Ice Removal - How Does Your Town's Spending Compare? City Spends $8,000 Per Mile On Snow/Ice Removal - How Does Your Town's Spending Compare?
City Spends $8,000 Per Mile On Snow/Ice Removal - How Does Your Town's Spending Compare? 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…
COVID-19 Cases Spike In 2 School Districts; See District-By-District Incident Rates COVID-19 Cases Spike In 2 School Districts; See District-By-District Incident Rates
Covid-19 Cases Spike In 2 School Districts; See District-By-District Incident Rates Two local school districts experienced COVID-19 flare-ups over the last week, according to the most recent state data. On Thursday, Jan. 28, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released how many COVID-19 incidents were reported by students and staff from Jan. 21-27. Most of the Central and Western Massachusetts, as well as the Berkshires, had school districts where no COVID-19 incidents were reported that week. However, Shrewsbury and Hampden-Wilbraham school districts each reported 12-15 students and faculty that had become il…
Rintala: EMT Seeks To Appeal Murder Conviction 11 Years After Wife's Death Rintala: EMT Seeks To Appeal Murder Conviction 11 Years After Wife's Death
Rintala: EMT Seeks To Appeal Murder Conviction 11 Years After Wife's Death The case of whether Cara Rintala killed her wife that twice ended in a hung jury, may get another airing. Rintala, 53, is seeking to appeal her 2016 murder conviction over the 2010 death of her wife Annamarie Cochrane Rintala. Her lawyer sought to have Rintala released from prison while she waits for an appeal hearing, but on Tuesday, Jan. 26, a Hampshire Superior Court judge denied the release request, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. Rintala is seeking to appeal on the belief that the state should not have been able to call an expert paint witness to explain the scene o…
COVID-19: See How Many Students, Staff Have The Virus In Your School District COVID-19: See How Many Students, Staff Have The Virus In Your School District
Covid-19: See How Many Students, Staff Have The Virus In Your School District The school district with the most faculty and staff suffering from COVID-19 is Worcester, according to the most recent COVID-19 tracking data from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Between Dec. 24 and Jan. 6, 12 Worcester School District employees, who had district building access, reported positive COVID-19 cases, said the state’s weekly school-based pandemic tracker. Among the top 10 school districts across Massachusetts with the most faculty and staff reporting COVID-19 infections are Ludlow and Holyoke. Both districts are each reporting 5 fa…
Where Are The Hotspots? COVID-19 Town-By-Town Trends, Rates - Hampden County Where Are The Hotspots? COVID-19 Town-By-Town Trends, Rates - Hampden County
Where Are The Hotspots? Covid-19 Town-By-Town Trends, Rates - Hampden County Good news! The COVID-19 rate in most Hampden County cities and towns has gone down, according to the most recent information from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Hampden County now has a “green” community as well - a term for communities with a low risk for the spread of the virus - it’s Holland. Other Hampden County communities where the risk is low include Montgomery, Wales, Blanford, Granville, Tolland, and Russell. While the daily COVID-19 infection rate went down in most Hampden County communities, there are four that saw their rates rise: Agawam, Longmeadow, Montgomery…
Route 20 Bank Branch Seeks Permission To Close/Consolidate Route 20 Bank Branch Seeks Permission To Close/Consolidate
Route 20 Bank Branch Seeks Permission To Close/Consolidate Berkshire Bank has started the process to close 16 regional branches -a a key part of the financial institution's plan to do more business online instead of in-person. Parent company Berkshire Hills Bancorp has petitioned the Massachusetts Division of Banks for permission to close a branch office at 2005 Boston Road (Route 20) in Wilbraham and to consolidate the closing office with an existing branch on Center Street in Ludlow, according to a recent public notice. Any objections to this plan must be made in writing to the Commissioner of Banks in Boston no later than two weeks from Dec. 24…
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…
COVID-19: Town-By-Town Rates And Trends, Hampden County - Dec. 18 COVID-19: Town-By-Town Rates And Trends, Hampden County - Dec. 18
Covid-19: Town-By-Town Rates And Trends, Hampden County - Dec. 18 Two communities in Hampden County lowered their COVID-19 incident rate and nearly a dozen are below the highest risk category - red, according to the most recent state data. On Thursday, Dec. 17, Massachusetts Public Health Department released weekly town-by-town datasets that include how many COVID-19 incidents there are per 100,000 residents - the incident rate. The communities where the rate went down are Southwick and Belchertown. HIGHEST Meanwhile, Springfield, Ludlow, Holyoke, Wilbraham, Chicopee, and West Springfield had the highest COVID-19 rates per 100,000 residents. The rates…