COVID-19: Nearly 80 Massachusetts Towns Are 'High-Risk' For Infection COVID-19: Nearly 80 Massachusetts Towns Are 'High-Risk' For Infection
Covid-19: Nearly 80 Massachusetts Towns Are 'High-Risk' For Infection Nearly 80 Massachusetts communities are at “high-risk” for the spread of COVID-19, according to the most recent state data. COVID-19 incidents have spiked across the state leading to clusters of coronavirus incidents in nearly every corner of Massachusetts. The overall daily average infection rate is 1.4 per 100,000 residents as of Friday, Oct. 22. Among the 77 communities that are high-risk or “red” (so-named due to the state’s color-coded incident map), there are 19 in Hampshire, Hampden, and Worcester counties. Communities newly added to the high-risk category include Holyoke, Hudson, a…
Rural WMass City Has Second Most FID-Carrying Gun-Owners In State - Top 10 List Rural WMass City Has Second Most FID-Carrying Gun-Owners In State - Top 10 List
Rural WMass City Has Second Most Fid-carrying Gun-Owners In State - Top 10 List A rural Western Massachusetts city is second only to Boston in the number of residents authorized to carry rifles and shotguns. As of July, the Massachusetts Department of Criminal Justice Information Services reported that there are 390 people with active Firearms Identification Cards (FID Cards) in Westfield. Boston has 620 registered FID cardholders. To own a rifle or shotgun in Massachusetts, you need an FID card. To carry a handgun, you need a *license to carry (LTC). The FID card allows a person, age 15 or older, to carry non-large capacity rifles, shotguns, and ammunition. The card…
COVID-19 Won't Stop The Westfield Air Show COVID-19 Won't Stop The Westfield Air Show
Covid-19 Won't Stop The Westfield Air Show COVID-19 can’t keep the Westfield Air Show down. As Massachusetts continues to fight the virus’ spread, organizers for the Westfield Air Show at Barnes Air National Guard Base are planning an aerial spectacular for the coming summer.  “Right now we are scheduled to move forward with the August 2021 Air Show,” organizers posted to the show’s Facebook page on Tuesday, Oct. 6. The weekend-long event at Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield is a regional favorite, attracting 92,000 people when it was last held in 2017. An air show was also held in 2010. The upcoming Westfield Air S…
Is The Drought Over Yet? Southern Part Of State Drier Than The Rest Is The Drought Over Yet? Southern Part Of State Drier Than The Rest
Is The Drought Over Yet? Southern Part Of State Drier Than The Rest The downpour that soaked the region on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 29-30, deposited 1.5-2 inches of rain, but still, much of southern Massachusetts is experiencing extreme drought. According to state data released Thursday, Oct.1, nearly 30 percent of the state is experiencing “extreme” drought - the second highest degree of drought tracked by the state. The worst degree of drought is “exceptional.” The ranking goes, from least to most drought-like conditions, are None, Abnormallly Dry, Moderate Drought, Severe Drought, Extreme Drought, and Exceptional Drought. In…
New Bagel Delivery Service Now Available In West Side And Nearby Area New Bagel Delivery Service Now Available In West Side And Nearby Area
New Bagel Delivery Service Now Available In West Side And Nearby Area Fresh bagels delivered to your home is a new service available in the West Springfield area. Comfort Bagel in West Springfield just opened and is delivering to parts of Westfield, Agawam, Holyoke, and Chicopee - as well as all of West Side. Owner Janet Blake, an Upstate New York native, said she has been waiting for a fresh bagel place to open near West Springfield for a while now. When that didn’t happen, the jewelry and graphic arts designed decided to take the dough into her own hands. With COVID-19 still going strong, Comfort Bagel doesn’t have a storefront yet, Blake said, but the…
The Wait Is Over: MA Highway Exit Numbers Changing In October The Wait Is Over: MA Highway Exit Numbers Changing In October
The Wait Is Over: MA Highway Exit Numbers Changing In October It's been a long time coming, but exit numbers on Massachusetts' highways are set to change in October. Announced a year ago, the plan to get Massachusetts’ highways in-line with the federal exit numbering strategy - a “milepost-based system” - will soon be visible to motorists, WCVB reports. Massachusetts Department of Transportation has created an interactive map - newmassexits.com - showing the new highway exit numbers. Almost all Massachusetts highways, interstates, freeways that have exit numbers will be impacted. There are a few spots in Lowell that will remain the same.  Driver…
Nostalgic Sweets Shop Closes As Elm Street Businesses Hang In There Nostalgic Sweets Shop Closes As Elm Street Businesses Hang In There
Nostalgic Sweets Shop Closes As Elm Street Businesses Hang In There Munchy’s Malt Shop has closed for good. The nostalgic sweets shop on North Elm Street in Westfield had its last day on Sunday, Sept. 20, according to the company’s Facebook. The owners did not give a reason for closing and in late July were looking to make a hire. Elm Street, Westfield's downtown strip, has lost few if any, businesses due to COVID-19. The city's small businesses seem to be weathering the storm, though it's difficult.  Munchy’s opened in 2019. It is now co-owned by Deborah Schultz and Al Bonyeau. The restaurant sold sweets including ice cream, milkshakes, hand-poured …
Viral Western Mass Gender Reveal Video Brings The Funny Viral Western Mass Gender Reveal Video Brings The Funny
Viral Western Mass Gender Reveal Video Brings The Funny A gender reveal party gone-wrong has put one Western Massachusetts couple in the national spotlight. There were two gender reveals that made the news this past weekend, Sept. 5-7: one that started a wildfire in California and the funny one the Cressottis made. Tom and Kristin Cressotti’s gender reveal party went viral when the Today Show did a segment on it earlier in the month. The video shows Tom and Kristin with their young daughter standing in a backyard holding large poppers - the kind where you pull a string and stuff explodes out of the top. Unfortunately for the Cressottis, they …
BBB Accredited: Local Businesses Make List Of 'Trustworthy' Services BBB Accredited: Local Businesses Make List Of 'Trustworthy' Services
BBB Accredited: Local Businesses Make List Of 'Trustworthy' Services A local florist, construction company, and catering service are among the most recent firms to achieve Better Business Bureau accreditation. The Better Business Bureau is a private nonprofit that tracks customer satisfaction and work quality. The BBB promotes accredited businesses that meet its standards. According to the BBB's regional chapter, local companies that recently received BBB accreditation include: A Cut Above Florist, Chicopee Bramucci Construction, Hadley Boost Construction, Chicopee C&M Tree and Landscaping, Auburn Done Right Mechanics, Central Massachusetts Haul of…
COVID-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Trends, Rates - Hampden County (Aug.) COVID-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Trends, Rates - Hampden County (Aug.)
Covid-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Trends, Rates - Hampden County (Aug.) Hampden County’s largest cities continue to steadily reduce the number of positive COVID-19 tests among its residents, according to the most recent information from the Baker Administration. Springfield’s 14-day positive COVID-19 test rate was 2.3 percent - down from a high of 3.4 percent on July 17. West Springfield’s positive test rate dropped to 0.9 percent - it was at 1.7 percent just last week. Westfield also saw a decrease with the positive test rate ow at 0.9 percent. Meanwhile, Holyoke is holding steady at 2.4 percent positive. Palmer has increased to a 2.3 percent positive test…
COVID-19, Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates And Trends - Hampden County,  Aug. COVID-19, Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates And Trends - Hampden County,  Aug.
Covid-19, Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates And Trends - Hampden County, Aug. Hampden County has a lot to celebrate in this week’s COVID-19 positive test results - a lot of cities were able to bring their rates down, according to the most recent information from the Baker Administration. This week, the update contains a new community, Longmeadow, that had been previously missing from the report. Positive test rates have gone down in Agawam, Brimfield, Chicopee, Springfield, West Springfield, and Westfield. Meanwhile, Holyoke positive test rate has held mostly steady over the last three weeks and rates in East Longmeadow and Wilbraham went up a bit. In Massachusetts…
YMCA Camp Staffer Allegedly Filmed Females, Is Under Investigation YMCA Camp Staffer Allegedly Filmed Females, Is Under Investigation
YMCA Camp Staffer Allegedly Filmed Females, Is Under Investigation A former employee at YMCA Camp Shepard in Westfield is under investigation for taking locker room-type videos. Westfield Police are investigating a report, that came in on Aug. 3, which claimed a male employee had allegedly recorded female workers with his cell phone while they were dressing. The alleged perpetrator has been fired and banned from all YMCA properties, said Andrea Allard, CEO of YMCA of Greater Westfield. “That members of our staff may have been subjected to such an appalling invasion of their privacy is inexcusable,” Allard said. “The safety and wellbeing of our campers and…