post

New England’s largest day shelter has been cooking up a delicious Christmas meal for those less fortunate this year. 

The true spirit of Christmas is in full swing at St. Francis House on the 25th of December.

This is the 40th year this Christmas meal is being served. 

“Last year I was sleeping on the floor across the street during the day, while I slept at the park at night. And just to be able to come in here and be in a safe environment.”, said Kelly Corson.

Baked stuffed chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, squash, salad, and more, served to those who normally struggle to put a roof over their heads. 

“Christmas is one of the most special days of the year at st Francis house but it’s also somewhat bittersweet. A lot of our guests are remembering Christmas’ past when the days were better for them.” said Karen LaFracia, president and CEO of St. Francis House.

These 40 volunteers are dishing out far more than just a hot meal. 

A sense of belonging and hopefulness to those who could use the extra love this time of year. 

Events like this are dependent on volunteers not just during the holidays, but every day.

You can find more information here.

A fire early Christmas morning killed two people and injured two others, one a firefighter, in Acushnet, Massachusetts, officials said.

Flames and smoke were pouring from the building, a two-and-a-half story multifamily home, on Garfield Street when firefighters and police arrived after being called about 1:50 a.m. Wednesday, according to state and local fire and police officials.

Two people were found dead inside — they haven’t been publicly identified but are believed to be a man and woman in their 80s, the officials said. Another resident of the building was able to get out after a neighbor, seeing the fire, banged on his door.

“On behalf of the Acushnet Fire Department, I want to express our heartfelt condolences to the victims’ family and loved ones,” Acushnet Fire Chief Thomas Farland said in a statement. “This is a heartbreaking day for them and our community.”

Investigators were looking into the cause of the fire, but noted that firefighters didn’t hear smoke alarms as they battled the blaze for about an hour.

The firefighter who was taken to the hospitalized was being monitored and is expected to recover.

Police in Beverly, Massachusetts, are looking for a missing person they say is possibly endangered.

Authorities say Owen Kasozi was last seen around 3 p.m. Tuesday near the J.C. Philips nature preserve on Cabot Street.

Beverly police did no…

Many traveled on Christmas Eve as they planned to reunite with loved ones for the holidays.

Some of those plans got disrupted early Tuesday morning by snowy wintery weather.

“This morning, it was bad, so it delayed my travel,” said Arthur Dunn, who was driving from Worcester to Boston.

Dunn had been putting off holiday shopping until Tuesday.

“Everything is situated in the last minute, you know, you go to refine your search, you know, it comes out right,” he said confidently.

AAA Northeast said 90% of all travel this season is on roads.

“The reality is, is that there’s always a chance of something going wrong along the way,” said Mark Scheildrop of AAA.

He said AAA has recently been getting a lot of calls for road assistance after a number of car batteries died.

“If you’ve been putting off regular maintenance, if you’ve been skipping oil changes, if you’ve got a check engine light on, that’s a recipe for a breakdown,” he explained.

At Logan Airport in Boston, those on early flights with American Airlines had to deal with unexpected delays.

The airline announced it had technical problems and grounded all its planes for a few hours on Tuesday.

“We returned our rental car and we saw the notification and we’re like, ‘Oh, no,’” said customer Adrianne Groff.

In Natick, the Kapitulik family stopped at a gas station along Interstate 90 to refuel before continuing their journey from Connecticut to Boston.

“Dec. 24, we do my favorite holiday tradition,” said Eric Kapitulik.

Years ago, Kapitulik’s son, Axel, burned his hand on a heater as a baby and was treated at Shriners Children’s hospital.

“Going there and seeing some of the other children, just sobering, to say the least,” said Kapitulik.

Every year on Christmas Eve, the family drives to Shriners to donate toys and money for children.

“It’s always fun just come here,” said Axel. “We always get ready for it, we always get excited.”

He also talked about the importance of being with loved ones during the holidays.

“It’s really important, always,” he said. “You got to stay close to home, stay close to your family make great memories with them.”

Police are looking for a man seen wearing Grinch pajamas as he used a debit card stolen from a parking complex in Stoughton, Massachusetts, at a CVS, officials said Tuesday.

The man, identified as Elvis Andrade, is suspected of several vehicle break-ins in Stoughton, as well as one in Avon, according to Stoughton police. They said the 32-year-old from Brockton is wanted on five active arrest warrants.

On Tuesday, Stoughton police obtained one arrest warrant on charges including eight counts of breaking and entering a vehicle and five counts of larceny, officials said.

The Grinch incident was reported Dec. 4, when a person reported their car, parked at their apartment complex, was broken into and that their wallet was stolen, police said. A debit card inside was used at a CVS, and investigators obtained footage of a man who used the stolen debit card wearing Grinch pajamas.

Investigators also found that the man was the same person who’d broken into a vehicle and used a stolen credit card at a Walmart in Avon, according to police.

Through further investigation, police found the same person was involved in vehicle thefts and break-ins on Dec. 1, 4, 9 and 11, according to officials. And they identified im as Andrade on Dec. 13.

Anyone with information about where Andrade is was asked to call police at 781-344-2424.

Deadlines, rules and ballot questions differ in every state. Here’s what you need to know to plan your vote if you live in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island or Vermont.

Massachusetts election deadlines

Timeline of important election deadlines:

How can I register to vote in Massachusetts?

How to register to vote in Massachusetts

How to vote by mail in Massachusetts

How does early voting work in Massachusetts?

You may also consider voting early in person. The early voting period offers voters the ability to vote before Election Day and usually in a less crowded location. Currently, 47 states, including Massachusetts, allow early in-person voting. 

The early voting period in Massachusetts begins on Oct. 19 and ends on Nov. 1. There is no appointment or application required to vote early in person, you can just visit your local early voting location.

Lines may be longer on the first and last days of early voting, so Galvin’s office recommends going on off hours.

Each city and town in the state must offer at least one early voting location. The locations will be posted on the website of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at least one week before the early voting period begins.

Massachusetts ballot questions

Connecticut

Timeline of important election deadlines:

How can I register to vote in Connecticut?

You can register to vote through the Office of the Secretary of State’s website. The online registration and by-mail registration deadlines are Oct. 18, while the in-person registration deadline is Nov. 5.

How can I vote by mail in Connecticut?

How does early voting work in Connecticut?

Maine

Timeline of important election deadlines:

How can I register to vote in Maine?

To vote by mail in Maine, you must request an absentee ballot which can be done online via this request form. Absentee ballots may be requested as early as three months before Election Day and must be submitted before Oct. 31.

How does early voting work in Maine?

In Maine, dates and times to vote early in person vary by where you live.

Maine ballot questions

Timeline of important election deadlines:

How can I register to vote in New Hampshire?

You may register to vote in New Hampshire in person, by mail under certain conditions, or on Election Day at your polling place. You can also register at your town hall before Nov. 5. Deadlines vary by town, generally six to 13 days before the election.

You can find a full list of clerks and polling places on the New Hampshire Secretary of State website.

How can I vote by mail in New Hampshire?

How does early voting work in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire does not offer early in-person voting before Election Day.

What is the proposed change to the New Hampshire constitution?

Voters in New Hampshire will be asked to weigh in on raising the mandatory retirement age for judges:

• “Are you in favor of amending article 78 of the second part of the constitution to read as follows: [Art.] 78. [Judges and Sheriffs, when Disqualified by Age.] No person shall hold the office of sheriff of any county, after the person has attained the age of seventy years. No person shall hold the office of judge of any court after the person has attained the age of seventy-five years.” (Passed by the N.H. House 321 Yes 27 No; Passed by the Senate 22 Yes 1 No) CACR 6

What is the key race to look out for in New Hampshire?

Voters in New Hampshire will elect a new governor on Nov. 5. The seat is open for the first time since 2016 as incumbent Gov. Chris Sununu, a Republican, did not seek reelection.

The three candidates are former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R), Joyce Craig (D) and Stephen Villee (L).

Ayotte previously served as New Hampshire’s first female attorney general and is backed by Sununu. She wants to follow in the previous governor’s footsteps.

Craig has served as Manchester’s first female mayor. She said serving the state’s third-largest city for three terms has prepared her to be governor.

Libertarian candidate Villee runs on a platform for smaller government and greater individual freedom, according to his website.

Rhode Island

Timeline of important election deadlines:

How can I register to vote in Rhode Island?

You can register to vote in Rhode Island online through the Secretary of State’s website, in person, or by mail. You need a driver’s license or state identification number, your name and date of birth to register. You can register online through the Secretary of State’s website.  

How can I vote by mail in Rhode Island?

How does early voting work in Rhode Island?

In Rhode Island, you can vote early in person between Oct. 16 and Nov. 4. Schedules and locations vary by city or town.

What are the key ballot questions in Rhode Island?

Vermont

Timeline of important election deadlines:

How can I register to vote in Vermont?

You can register to vote online, in person, or by mail in Vermont. If you are registering for the first time, you must include an acceptable form of photo identification. 

How can I vote by mail in Vermont?