Clouds and a few leftover sprinkles will quickly scoot out of the picture this morning. We’re in a for a quieter weekend – and a cool start to Father’s Day.
Highs today still manage the mid and upper 70s, but with a dry airmass in place, and a bubb…
Massachusetts
Black bear removed from downtown Worcester, ‘literally in our backyard’
A black bear was safely removed from the backyard of a home in downtown Worcester on Friday, authorities said.
Eyewitness video showed a MassWildlife team carry the bear to a waiting pickup truck, where it was laid on ice, its head in a wrap. Someo…
Boston mayor, police commish discuss Celtics Game 4 plans, road closures
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Police Commissioner Michael Cox discussed plans Friday for dealing with potential crowds from Game 4 of the Celtics-Mavericks series and any celebrations that might occur if Boston clinches their first NBA championship since 2008.
The Celtics lead the series 3-0 heading into Game 4 on Friday at 8:30 p.m. in Dallas.
“As the team’s been saying, as long as it takes, but they have looked so good and there’s such an undeniable depth of talent,” Wu said. “We are keeping our fingers crossed tonight.”
“It seemed to have worked for Game 3 to have the home team energy bundled in at TD Garden. That’s going to happen again tonight with the watch party.”
Celtics Game 4 watch party
For the second straight game, a watch party is being held at TD Garden, where fans were able to purchase tickets for $18.
Wu, wearing a black-and-green outfit and a Celtics pin Friday, said she attended the Game 3 watch party, but isn’t sure she’ll be there on Friday night.
“The kids were quite tired, even by halftime,” Wu said. “It was an incredible experience. There were families, it was a packed house.”
“I think it was a combination of people being able to cheer on the team together, plus having a really reasonable ticket price at $18 a ticket,” she added. “It opened up access. It really felt like being at a home game except the players weren’t there. In some ways it felt like everyone was more into it because you could also watch all the replays together, and boo at the right time and cheer at the right time.”
Celtics parade preps?
Asked when the city might hold a parade if the Celtics win the series on Friday night, Wu said it’s too soon to discuss that.
“OK, we don’t use the ‘P-word’ ahead of time in Boston,” the mayor said. “But should there be something huge to celebrate, we will be prepared and have announcements in the days ahead, just to make sure we are carefully planning for and mapping out all the logistics.”
Road closures planned near TD Garden
Friday night is expected to be a busy night in Boston, Wu said.
“There’s a lot happening in the city today, with a Red Sox game this evening as well,” she said. “I’m so grateful to our first responders. They’re ready with the safety plan. Commissioner Cox and the Police Department will be out in full force making sure everybody is safe and taking care of any measures needed for crowd control.”
Some roads in the area of TD Garden will be shut down at halftime of Friday’s Celtics game, she said, “to make sure everybody can have a safe time.”
Causeway Street from North Washington to Merrimac Street and all feeder streets of Causeway to New Chardon Street will be shut down to vehicles and pedestrians. There will also be no re-entry to any restaurants, bars or other establishments in that area after that time.
Traffic Advisory: Causeway Street from N. Washington to Merrimac St., and all feeder streets off Causeway to New Chardon St. will be shut down to vehicles and pedestrian at halftime of the Celtics game. There will also be no re-entry to any establishments w/ in that area.
— Boston Police Dept. (@bostonpolice) June 14, 2024
Cox said Boston’s entire police force will be working Friday due to how much there is going on in the city.
“We want our Celtics to win,” he said, “but we also want to remind folks if we celebrate, celebrate responsibly if we happen to win today.”
South Coast Rail delayed again: Here’s when service is now expected to start
The South Coast Rail — a highly-anticipated project that will bring direct commuter rail service to southeastern Massachusetts — isn’t expected to open to passengers until spring 2025, marking another delay for an initiative that has been decades in the making.
The MBTA held two community meetings Thursday in New Bedford and Fall River to give the public an update, and says that it will begin running test trains on Monday.
The South Coast Rail’s first phase extends the Middleboro/Lakeville Line of the commuter rail further south, connecting it to Taunton, Freetown, Fall River and New Bedford. These communities have not had direct rail access to Boston in over 70 years.
MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng “determined that new project leadership was needed to ensure the success and safety of the project,” according to a news release Friday morning. Karen Antion is now the executive of the project.
Test trains will travel up to 79 mph when test trains start running on Monday.
The T said that four locomotives have been overhauled and are ready to operate. The transit agency said it’s acquired 16 two-level coaches specifically for the South Coast region. Construction at four stations — Middleboro, Freetown, Fall River and Church Street — has been completed, and work is nearing completion at New Bedford and East Taunton.
Once construction and safety systems are finalized, the MBTA will need to have final inspections done through the Federal Railroad Administration.
Amid testing, the MBTA will also be busy getting maintenance staff and train operators up to speed.
All South Coast Rail stations will be included in Zone 8, the T also announced, meaning that a one-way fare will run $12.75. A reduced fare will cost $6.
Eng spoke with NBC10 Boston about the project in December, when service was slated to begin this summer.
“It’s going to be safe; it’s going to be reliable,” Eng said in December. “And it’s just another component as we continue to build out the system and even rebuild the other parts of the system that we know we have to do.”
Transportation officials issued a warning for people to use caution around tracks as test trains start running on Monday.
“It’s clear how important South Coast Rail is to southeastern Mass. communities, and since taking over the Program, I’m more determined than ever to deliver on that commitment,” MBTA South Coast Rail Program Executive Karen Antion said in a news release. “Safety is our top priority for the project. Test trains, which start on Monday, will travel up to 79 miles per hour, and I urge our Taunton, New Bedford, and Fall River neighbors to stay clear of track areas and abide by all warning lights and signs at grade crossings.”
A full build of the South Coast Rail will extend service past Stoughton, and connect more communities by train to Boston.
Here’s where the next Mamaleh’s deli will open in the Boston area
[This story first appeared on Boston Restaurant Talk.]
A growing group of Jewish delis will be expanding once again, with a new location coming to a mixed-use life science complex just outside of Boston.
According to its social media, Mamal…
Afternoon scattered showers, strong thunderstorms possible in New England
Showers and thunderstorms will work their way in, in waves Friday.
The early afternoon will have the first round and what’ll likely be the most impactful with lightning. It’s a quick mover with downpours lasting across the Metro until …
