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Medway man trapped in Gaza with his family describes conditions as war continues

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

A Medway man who remains trapped in Gaza with his family recently described conditions as the war between Israel and Hamas continues.Abood Okal is with his wife and son in southern Gaza. Okal said the family has been staying in a single-family house with 40 other people including 10 Americans. Recently, Okal said he stood in line for two hours waiting for one gallon of water for the whole house. Okal separately said he waited six hours for bread at a bakery. Okal said there has been an increase in Israeli attacks in Gaza and said he is afraid of what will happen once a potential full ground invasion begins. “There’s been an increase in artillery shelling,” Okal said. “That’s been the most noticeable update.” Okal said the family has run out of water. The family had been relying on a nearby desalination station. But Okal said the station has since run out of fuel to run its generators. “Our frustration continues and builds up every day that we are still stran...

MIAA statewide field hockey pairings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

   MIAA STATEWIDE FIELD HOCKEY TOURNAMENT PAIRINGS DIVISION 1SEEDS: 1. Walpole (17-1-0); 2. Andover (15-2-0); 3. Wachusett Regional (13-1-4); 4. Franklin (17-0-1); 5. Acton-Boxboro (13-4-1); 6. Central Catholic (14-2-1); 7. Algonquin (13-2-3); 8. Bishop Feehan (11-5-1); 9. King Philip Regional (14-4-0); 10. Concord-Carlisle (13-4-1); 11. Belmont (14-3-1); 12. Needham (13-5-0); 13. Winchester (13-5-0); 14. Barnstable (13-3-2); 15. Wellesley (10-4-4); 16. Lincoln-Sudbury (8-5-3); 17. Braintree (9-7-2); 18. Arlington (8-8-2); 19. Shrewsbury (6-9-2); 20. Chelmsford (5-9-3); 21. Newton North (12-5-3); 22. Durfee (12-3-2); 23. Natick (6-7-5); 24. Lexington (8-9-1); 25. Brookline (9-7-2); 26. North Andover (6-8-3); 27. Westford Academy (8-8-2); 28. Essex North Shore (10-6-2); 29. Beverly (8-8-2); 30. Attleboro (5-11-2); 31. Methuen (8-5-5); 32. Marshfield (4-4-8)FIRST ROUND – ThursdayGAME 6 – Chelmsford at Winchester, 4:30GAME 12 – Natick at Concord-Carlisle, 4:30GAME 1...

Patriots sit tight at NFL trade deadline, what’s next?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

No deal.The Patriots did not make any trades before the NFL’s trade deadline Tuesday at 4 p.m., locking them into their current roster for the remainder of the season.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots-Dolphins film review: The simple reason Bill Belichick and Mac Jones lost again at Miami New England Patriots | Source: Josh Uche is Patriots’ most likely trade candidate ahead of deadline New England Patriots | Source: Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne suffers torn ACL, out for the season New England Patriots | Bill Belichick would like to see equal protection for Patriots players New England Patriots | Callahan: Robert Kraft should command Patriots to sell at NFL trade deadline At 2-6, the Patriots reportedly received several calls from other front offices and were expected to entertain selling. Their playoff hopes are virtually shot. Many key starters, including Matt Judon, Kendrick B...

A hot travel trend – the ‘hush’ getaway: Expert tips ahead of holiday season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

Erik J. Martin | (TNS) Bankrate.comYou’ve probably heard of “workcations” that combine work travel with leisure trips, often in desirable locations. But there’s a new twist on this trend: The “hush trip,” in which employees don’t tell their bosses they’re actually working from vacation locales. These secret getaways by remote workers while on the clock seem to be gaining in popularity and frequency, although many companies frown upon this activity.Thinking about taking a hush trip, especially during the upcoming holiday season? Read on to learn more about the benefits and risks of this practice, what employers think of hush trips and ways to pay for your next holiday trip.Understanding the hush trip phenomenonA hush trip can be defined as an excursion where an employee works remotely, usually in a vacation spot, without disclosing to their boss or colleagues where they’re temporarily located, according to Vicki Salemi, a career expert with Monster.“Hush trips are growing more popula...

On Día de los Muertos, sacred altars help reunite the living and the dead

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

Each fall, Maruca Salazar prepares her home for visitors from another realm.The 71-year-old scatters the walkway to her house on Denver’s Northside with the rich, orange petals of the cempasúchil — marigold — flowers. The blossoms, grown by Salazar, are synonymous with the traditional Mexican holiday of Día de los Muertos as they are thought to be fragrant enough to attract the spirits of deceased loved ones to their family’s homes and altars.On Thursday, Day of the Dead, Salazar’s family will pack the matriarch’s home and gather around a sacred altar overflowing with photos of the dead and ofrendas — offerings — made up of the departed’s favorite earthly delights. The day serves as a reunion between the living and the dead when the veil between realms is considered thinnest.“It is really peaceful,” Salazar said. “I am happy to know that when you’re gone, there is a beyond, and that beyond is powerful. It is a nostalgic day to remember where you came from and who you came from.”Lit ...

Gretchen’s table: Mummy baked brie with homemade cranberry jam

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

Gretchen McKay | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (TNS)The best Halloween costumes are usually the ones that sparkle — or scare — with creativity and imagination.The same can be said for the post-trick-or-treat finger foods served at a Fright Night party.Sure, you could set the table with an array of chips and dips or offer a big bowl of pretzels for snacking. But if you really want something that’s scary good, take a few extra minutes and whip up a ghoulish treat that conjures up one of the holiday’s most popular monsters — a mummy?It’s easier than you might think.A “mummy” wrapped baked brie with homemade cranberry jam is the perfect Halloween appetizer. (Gretchen McKay/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/TNS)All you need is a wheel of brie, a sheet of frozen puff pastry, a half-cup or so of your favorite red jam and a sharp knife to cut the rolled-out dough into strips of “cloth” to wrap the cheese up with its telltale bandages.This kid-friendly recipe only takes about a half-...

Kids return to school, plan to trick-or-treat as Maine community starts to heal from mass shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

By DAVID SHARP (Associated Press)LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Children returned to schools and planned to go trick-or-treating Tuesday evening as the community of Lewiston tried to return to normal after sheltering indoors for days while authorities hunted for the man responsible for the deadliest mass shooting in Maine’s history.Hundreds of students were back in class at Lewiston High School, petting therapy dogs and signing a large banner that read “Lewiston Strong” — the community’s new motto. Days earlier, the campus had been transformed into a law enforcement command post with three helicopters utilizing the athletic fields and 300 vehicles filling the parking lot.“Today’s going to be hard,” said Superintendent Jake Langlais. “But I think there’s strength in gathering, in unity, in getting back together.”Jayden Sands, a 15-year-old sophomore, said one of his football coaches lost four friends, one of his best fri...

Massive windfarm project to be built off Virginia coast gains key federal approval

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — A power company’s plans for an enormous offshore wind farm off Virginia’s coast gained key federal approval Tuesday after the Biden Administration evaluated the project’s potential impact on the environment. Dominion Energy received what’s called a favorable “record of decision” from the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The agency considered efforts to minimize effects on marine life, such as endangered North Atlantic right whales, among other factors. The utility will still need federal approval of its construction and operation plans before more pilings rise above the Atlantic Ocean. Two pilot turbines have been in place since 2020. Dominion plans to build 176 turbines more than 20 miles (32 kilometers) off the coast from the hotels and touristy boardwalk of Virginia Beach. Dominion said its project will be the largest offshore wind farm under development in the United States. The project is expected to generate 2.6 giga...

North Carolina’s top elevator official says he’ll no longer include his portrait in every lift

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — After slapping their mug inside every elevator in the state, an elected North Carolina regulator will go back to being faceless.Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson’s face stares at many elevator riders in the state, following a predecessor who started the practice in the mid-2000s of placing her photo on inspection certificates. But he recently put an end to elevating the image of people in his position.Dobson told WRAL-TV on Monday he authorized removing the photo to make space for a new sentence on the elevator safety forms that mark each inspection. Over time, the new forms will make their way into elevators statewide as new inspections are completed.Dobson said he never really embraced the photo op, which made people focus more on him instead of the Department of Labor employees who served under him. He said he wants to focus “on them and the hard work they do,” the TV station reported.Predecessor Cherie Berry — a Republican like Dobson — pioneered the elev...

Connecticut officer who shocked shoplifting suspect 3 times is charged with assault, cruelty

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:25 GMT

NAUGATUCK, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut police officer who shocked a shoplifting suspect three times with a stun gun, including when the man was on the ground apologizing, has been charged with third-degree assault and cruelty.Naugatuck Officer Nicholas Kehoss turned himself in to state police on Monday after an arrest warrant was issued, state police said Tuesday. He is free after posting a $50,000 bond and is due in court on Nov. 8. Kehoss did not return emails Monday or Tuesday seeking comment.The officer became the subject of an investigation after a body camera video showed him chasing Jarell Day, 33, of Waterbury, into a field on Oct. 14 and shocking him three times with a stun gun, including when the man was on the ground apologizing.The video, released Monday also shows Kehoss telling Day to “shut up” and calling him an “idiot” during the arrest.Police said Day was suspected of stealing $200 worth of beer in a robbery at a Naugatuck grocery store and later rammed police cruise...