Springfield, MA
News
COVID-19: Mass Seeing Red As Each County Now At High Risk For Spread COVID-19: Mass Seeing Red As Each County Now At High Risk For Spread
Covid-19: Mass Seeing Red As Each County Now At High Risk For Spread Each of Massachusetts’ 14 counties has now been designated within the “high transmission” category for COVID-19 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). With variants of the virus surging through the region, the CDC no counties in Massachusetts fall under the “substantial” or “low” designation. "Substantial” transmission means the county has seen between 50 and 99.99 total new cases per 100,000 persons in the past seven days, according to the CDC. However, “High” transmission includes anything above that number. Here’s the breakdown of new COVID-19 in Massachusetts over t…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Brookfield, CT
Weather
Brand-New Forecast Has Henri Tracking Farther West, Enhancing Potential Risk For Region Brand-New Forecast Has Henri Tracking Farther West, Enhancing Potential Risk For Region
Brand-New Forecast Has Henri Tracking Farther West, Enhancing Potential Risk For Region A brand-new projected track for Tropical Storm Henri has shifted it even farther to the west, enhancing the risk of power outages and flashing flooding for the region. The latest models were released Friday afternoon, Aug. 20 by the National Weather Service NOAA National Hurricane Center. If it strengthens to hurricane status as expected, Henri could be the first hurricane to make landfall in New England since Bob in 1991. A Hurricane Watch has now been issued for portions of Long Island, Connecticut, and southeastern Massachusetts. Additional warnings and watches may be required later, th…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Pittsfield, MA
News
COVID-19: Nine Massachusetts Counties Reach CDC Level For Indoor Mask Use In Public Settings COVID-19: Nine Massachusetts Counties Reach CDC Level For Indoor Mask Use In Public Settings
Covid-19: Nine Massachusetts Counties Reach CDC Level For Indoor Mask Use In Public Settings The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has named nearly a dozen counties in Massachusetts where masks should be worn in indoor settings due to the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant, according to new guidance from the agency. Last week, the CDC announced that people should return to mask-wearing indoors in areas where there is “substantial” or “high” COVID-19 transmission. “Substantial” transmission means the county has seen between 50 and 99.99 total new cases per 100,000 persons in the past seven days, according to the CDC. “High” transmission includes anything above that …

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Mt. Kisco, NY
Weather
Here Comes Elsa: Tropical Storm Will Bring Heavy Rain, Gusty Winds To Region Here Comes Elsa: Tropical Storm Will Bring Heavy Rain, Gusty Winds To Region
Here Comes Elsa: Tropical Storm Will Bring Heavy Rain, Gusty Winds To Region Tropical Storm Watches have been upgraded to Tropical Storm Warnings along parts of the East Coast as Elsa treks toward the Northeast. It will arrive in this region starting overnight Thursday, July 8, and bring tropical-storm conditions to portions of New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, mainly along and near the coast, into Friday, July 9. The storm will be out of the area by around midday Friday. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are possible, including the possibility of flash flooding, though the fast-forward movement of the storm is expected to prevent widespread flooding. …

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
Springfield, MA
Business
COVID-19: Businesses Forced To Close - Again - In 13 'High-Risk' Communities COVID-19: Businesses Forced To Close - Again - In 13 'High-Risk' Communities
Covid-19: Businesses Forced To Close - Again - In 13 'High-Risk' Communities Some businesses that opened just a few weeks ago will be closed as 13 Massachusetts cities and towns take a step back in reopening their local economies. COVID-19 rates that have spiked over the last several weeks are forcing 13 cities and towns to rollback their local economies to Step 1 of Phase 3. The closures and restrictions are temporary until the community can bring its COVID-19 positive test rate down. There are 26 other Massachusetts municipalities that were sent back to Step 1 of Phase 3 earlier. In total, that's 38 cities and towns with additional economic restrictions due to COV…

SHARE

by Kristin Palpini
Worcester, MA
Business
These 21 Communities Can't Take Next Step To Reopen State Economy These 21 Communities Can't Take Next Step To Reopen State Economy
These 21 Communities Can't Take Next Step To Reopen State Economy There are 21 communities, including several in Western and Central Massachusetts, that won’t be moving on to the next step in the state economy’s reopening. On Monday, Oct. 5, communities will be able to move onto Step 2 of Phase 3 in Massachusetts re-opening plan if they are considered low-risk for COVID-19 infection. On Tuesday, Sept. 29, Gov. Charlie Baker said commonwealth communities that have not been “red” for the last three weeks can proceed to Step 2. Being a “red” community refers to the state’s COVID-19 infection, color-coded maps. Communities in the red have the highest rate of…

SHARE

by Kristin Palpini
Worcester, MA
News
COVID-19: Worcester Is On Newest List Of 'High-Risk' Communities COVID-19: Worcester Is On Newest List Of 'High-Risk' Communities
Covid-19: Worcester Is On Newest List Of 'High-Risk' Communities The people of Worcester are at high-risk of catching COVID-19, according to new information from the state. On Wednesday, Sept. 16, Massachusetts released an updated COVID-19 map showing where the “hot-spots” or areas with high infection rates are located. Worcester has made the state's “red” list, so named for the state’s color-coded risk assessment. Red is reserved for the communities with the highest risk of COVID-19 infection. Worcester's infection rate is 9.5 COVID-19 infections per 100,000 people. The most recently listed high-risk communities in Massachusetts are: Chelsea Dedham …

SHARE

by Kristin Palpini
Mahwah-Ramsey, NJ
Obituaries
TRIBUTE: Mahwah Mom, 55, Traveled World, Adored Her Children TRIBUTE: Mahwah Mom, 55, Traveled World, Adored Her Children
Tribute: Mahwah Mom, 55, Traveled World, Adored Her Children She traveled the world and was married in Napa, but Diane Pallokat of Mahwah most cherished summer vacations with family and friends in Nantucket, loved ones said. Yet the greatest joys for Pallokat, who died suddenly this past weekend at 55, were her two children. Pallokat was graduated from the University of Georgia in 1986 before becoming a flight attendant with Delta Airlines. That's how she met Rick Pallokat, whom she married in 1998. "Diane will be remembered for her selflessness and infectious smile that lit up every room," her obituary says. "One of her pleasures was hosting her ma…

SHARE

by Jerry DeMarco
Fairfield, CT
Obituaries
Steven Della Rocca, Area Attorney Who Raced Sailboats, Dies At 64 Steven Della Rocca, Area Attorney Who Raced Sailboats, Dies At 64
Steven Della Rocca, Area Attorney Who Raced Sailboats, Dies At 64 A Fairfield County attorney who grew up on Long Island, raced sailboats and liked to golf and ski, and is being remembered as a "gentleman" with a "dry sense of humor." Steven Della Rocca of Southport died Monday, May 27 surrounded by his family and friends. He was 64. Rocca was born in Brooklyn on March 17, 1955, to Joan and Dominick Della Rocca. He grew up in Upper Brookville and attended Locust Valley High School.  He was a Benjamin Franklin Scholar at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, earning his B.S. in 1977 and his J.D. from the New York University School of …

SHARE

by Donna Christopher
Mount Pleasant, NY
News
50-Year-Old Seriously Injured In Northern Westchester Bicycling Accident 50-Year-Old Seriously Injured In Northern Westchester Bicycling Accident
50-Year-Old Seriously Injured In Northern Westchester Bicycling Accident A 50-year-old man was seriously injured early Saturday morning in a bicycling accident in Northern Westchester. At approximately 8:15 a.m. Saturday, Pound Ridge Police, Pound Ridge Fire, Pound Ridge Volunteer Ambulance and Westchester EMS ALS paramedics were dispatched to Lower Shad Road for a bicyclist down in the roadway.  Pound Ridge Police arrived on the scene and began rendering aid to a semi-conscious male identified as Gerald Lynch of Cos Cob. Pound Ridge VAC and Westchester EMS arrived and the patient was transported to Stamford Hospital with numerous injuries, including a serious h…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi