New England Weekend

Usually, when you hear of treatments for substance abuse, you think of rehab, therapy, and support groups, and you don't think of the dentist. However, many people who are struggling with addiction are also dealing with a major hurdle to recovery: poor dental health that's caused by the use of substances like drugs or alcohol. Dr. Hugh Silk and his team at UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester ju...

With the wet, snowy, gray, dreary weather we've been having lately, a session in a steamy sauna would be the perfect thing to warm up! Unfortunately, access to saunas can be out of reach for many, but CultureHouse in Somerville's changing that with its new pop-up Winter City Sauna on Boston's City Hall Plaza, which is open until early March. Aaron Greiner of CultureHouse has all the details about...

Get ready, chocolate lovers! The Chocolate Expo is coming into town, and no matter how you like your chocolate, they promise you'll find something you can't get enough of. Not only will there be dozens of vendors offering tastes of chocolate-laced products and special giveaways, but attendees will also have a chance to meet some Hollywood stars from the original Wonka movie. Larry Rosenberg, Assoc...

After years in business, Jim Stevens realized it was time to make a massive career change, a change that would lead to thousands of children on the South Coast of Massachusetts getting assistance they desperately needed. He's the founder and CEO of Gifts to Give, an organization that relies on community volunteers of all ages to process and donate much-needed hygiene items, clothing, outerwear, an...

Recently, Connie Merigo from the National Marine Life Center in Buzzards Bay joined the show to talk about a little seal named Cuyahoga that was in terrible shape, struggling with parasites, lice, digestive issues, and many other maladies. Connie returns to the show with a big update on Cuyahoga, and the two also talk about how the back-to-back winter storms we're struggling with are impacting mar...

Each year for almost two decades, members of the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra's Intensive Community Program have collaborated with the Museum of African-American History to hold a special tribute to civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The ensemble performs spiritual and classical pieces which complement readings of some of Dr. King's powerful speeches and thoughts. This year's event is...

Did you resolve to make 2024 the year you'd get out there more often and volunteer? Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts could use you as a mentor. For 75 years, the organization has been connecting adults with young people who need support and guidance, even just a few hours a month, and as we segue out of the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, experts say that mentorship is more criti...

Winter has arrived, and even though much of the region is about to get a fresh blanket of snow, the greenhouses at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill in Boylston are still full of lush, green plants! The garden has opportunities for you to embrace nature all year long, no matter the weather, on their 170+ acres of manicured grounds. Grace Elton, CEO of the Garden, talks with Nichole about al...

This time of year, we hear all kinds of bells - jingle bells, sleigh bells, so on and so forth - but handbells are a beautiful instrument that never goes out of season. The Back Bay Ringers have had a busy holiday season, but they're gearing up for something big in 2024: their 20th anniversary! Griff Gall, the group's Artistic Director, joins Nichole on the show this week to explain this dynamic i...

Thousands of people here in Massachusetts who live with autism or other disabilities connect each and every day with Northeast Arc! It's a non-profit based in Danvers that works to link people with disabilities to new opportunities, like job training, social gatherings, early intervention, and long-term family support. Tim Brown, Northeast Arc's Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer, joins the sho...

Here in Massachusetts, almost a third of people who find themselves in prison for a crime eventually re-offend and find themselves back behind bars. Experts say a major contributing factor is a lack of support for people leaving prison, something that My Brother's Keeper 617 is working to change in the city of Boston. Mario Rodrigues and Satero DaVeiga are part of a team that's launched a new prog...

The Portsmouth Historical Society is celebrating the season with its annual gingerbread house exhibition, and these aren't your everyday cookie creations! The city's celebrating a special anniversary by honoring their neighbors through gingerbread, lovingly piecing together replicas of some of the city's most iconic buildings - and some you may not know about. Kait Smith chairs the event committee...

With 2024 at our doorstep, your thoughts might turn to setting one, or several, New Year's resolutions. Whatever your goals - losing weight, getting a new job, setting a personal best in a race, or making your bed every day - it's important to make sure you're putting yourself in a position to succeed mentally, physically and emotionally. Professor Julie K. Norem from Wellesley College joins Nicho...

Almost 20 years ago, Cherylann Walsh decided to make a change in her community, serving residents right out of her own home. That desire to help others has grown into Project Just Because, an organization in Hopkinton that makes sure everyone who needs a meal can get it, regardless of allergies, dietary restrictions, or family size. Project Just Because also works to keep residents safe, healthy,...

Earlier this month, a little harbor seal named Cuyahoga was rescued off the shores of Cape Ann. This small seal was in awful shape and is getting some much needed TLC at the National Marine Life Center in Buzzards Bay. Cuyahoga is one of many animals that find themselves stranded each year along the shores of New England. What do you do if you find a turtle or seal that's struggling? NMLC Executiv...

When you think of robots, you may not necessarily think of them inside your body. A research team at Tufts University teamed up with Harvard researchers to do just that. They've discovered "anthrobots", tiny living robots made from human cells, and they say this could lead to major developments in modern medicine and healthcare. Prof. Michael Levin and Gizem Gumuskaya talk with Nichole about their...

Beautiful banners have been installed along Blue Hill Avenue in Dorchester, Roxbury and Mattapan. Each banner highlights one of Boston's Black female leaders - some you may know well, others you have yet to learn about. The public art project is the brainchild of Ed Gaskin, the Executive Director of Greater Grove Hall Main Streets. It's a labor of love, and he talks with Nichole this week about ho...

The holiday season is here, and while this is normally a time full of joy and togetherness, it can also be a time of extreme loneliness for seniors who may not be able to get out and about as much as they used to, or aren't receiving as many visits from family and friends. Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly in Boston engage with seniors in public and affordable housing all year long, helping...

The early winter darkness is here in New England, and that's got a lot of us settling in for the season. It's easy to sit at home, take more naps, get cozy... but it's also easy to slip into what's called Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. It's not just a bad mood or the blues. Dr. Michelle DiBlasi, psychiatrist at Tufts Medical Center, talks with Nichole about what SAD is, how you can tell when...

As more companies look ahead to a more sustainable future, researchers are taking a closer look at how non-recyclable materials like plastic can become greener for their work. Xheme, a startup in Newton at UMass Amherst's Mount Ida Campus, has been working for years on special additives that are getting the job done, and could eventually revolutionize how we store substances like blood. Founder, P...

The Massachusetts emergency shelter system is officially overburdened, according to state data, and officials say they have to turn away families while putting them on a waitlist. While the ongoing migrant crisis is contributing to this, there are other factors forcing residents onto the streets, including inflation and the skyrocketing cost of housing. Pine Street Inn in Boston has been working f...

It seems like each trip to the store these days is getting more and more expensive, no matter what it is you're buying. That's likely to become even more amplified as we enter the most expensive time of the year: holiday shopping season, which is also starting earlier than ever. Deloitte Global recently released its forecast on holiday spending, and Evan Sheehan, Deloitte's Retail, Wholesale and D...

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra has been wowing audiences with its unique blend of metal and holiday music for decades, and their work has become a classic Christmas music choice in many homes. The band is heading back out on tour this month to put on another round of shows that they hope will continue to break artistic boundaries. Jeff Plate, the original drummer for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, ta...

Millions of Americans suffer from at least one chronic condition, and the physical, mental, and emotional impacts of those illnesses can make it very difficult to navigate the fast-paced world of business. Lilly Stairs is a "serial entrepreneur" who knows about these difficulties first-hand, as she has multiple chronic conditions. Now, she's offering a space for other ambitious women in business t...

Fall's here, and it's the perfect time to get out and explore the diverse beauty of our region in nature and on your plate! Marc Hurwitz of Boston's Hidden Restaurants and Boston Restaurant Talk returns to the show with his latest recommendations on fun fall hikes and restaurants to visit to fill up after. He also talks with Nichole about the latest restaurant openings and closings around the Bost...