Springfield, MA
News
Trick-Or-Treat? Nope. Springfield Nixes Door-to-Door Halloween Tradition Trick-Or-Treat? Nope. Springfield Nixes Door-to-Door Halloween Tradition
Trick-Or-Treat? Nope. Springfield Nixes Door-to-Door Halloween Tradition There will be no door-to-door trick-or-treating in Springfield this Halloween. It was a difficult decision, said Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, but amid the COVID-19 pandemic, crowded streets are a way for the virus to spread.  “We’re still feeling and defeating a pandemic right now,” Sarno said. Springfield isn't the first community to call of trick-or-treating, but it is one of the earlier decision-makers. Salem, a community where much of the economy is based on Halloween and spooky activities, decided in August to draw down on activities.  Springfield is not banning Hallowe…

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by Kristin Palpini
Springfield, MA
News
Start-Stop-Start: At These Schools, COVID-19 Infections Have Temporarily Halted Class Start-Stop-Start: At These Schools, COVID-19 Infections Have Temporarily Halted Class
Start-Stop-Start: At These Schools, Covid-19 Infections Have Temporarily Halted Class Another school has been temporarily closed for deep cleaning following the discovery of staff infected with COVID-19. This time Ludlow’s East Street Elementary school closed the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 9, when a staff member was found to have caught the virus. As children started to go back to school in Massachusetts and Connecticut this month, a handful of schools have had to temporarily halt learning and disinfect the buildings to rid the places of any possible COVID-19 viruses. Each district seems to have a different approach to the discovery of COVID-19 among the faculty, staff…

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by Kristin Palpini
Worcester, MA
News
Will COVID-19 Cancel Halloween This Year? Will COVID-19 Cancel Halloween This Year?
Will Covid-19 Cancel Halloween This Year? COVID-19 has upended people’s health, the economy, and soon - possibly - the holidays. Halloween may be on the chopping block for fall 2020. Communities across Massachusetts are starting to have conversations about how best to accommodate the holiday - if it will be celebrated at all. Already Salem has canceled a host of Halloween-related activities including the Kids’ Costume Parade, outdoor food vending, the Salem Food Truck Festival, and the Mayor’s Night Out. The community, which was the site of the Salem Witch Trials, attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each October. Other big…

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by Kristin Palpini
Springfield, MA
News
High-Risk City: All Holyoke Residents Encouraged To Get Free COVID-19 Tests High-Risk City: All Holyoke Residents Encouraged To Get Free COVID-19 Tests
High-Risk City: All Holyoke Residents Encouraged To Get Free Covid-19 Tests Holyoke will soon have free COVID-19 testing sites for residents as the city is added to the growing list of “Stop the Spread” communities. Gov. Charlie Baker said, on Tuesday, Aug. 18, that facilities offering free COVID-19 testing will be added to Holyoke as well as Salem and Saugus. Several days ago, Holyoke and Granby were identified by state public health officials as Western Massachusetts communities with the highest risk of COVID-19 infection. The Stop the Spread initiative supports free COVID-19 testing of asymptomatic people in communities where there is a high risk of infection…

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by Kristin Palpini