New England Weekend

Long-time residents of the South Coast of Massachusetts, especially New Bedford, grew up with Silmo syrup in their milkshakes, frappes and other treats. Decades ago, the business closed down, but New Bedford City Councilor Ian Abreu is bringing it back to life, while keeping it all in the family. He talks with Nichole on this week's show about how he's re-introducing his grandfather's recipes to a...

Toy Burton, a longtime Roxbury resident with deep ties to the neighborhood, realized one day that her community was missing something: resources to help them open up and be vulnerable about mental health problems and thoughts of suicide. Enter "DeeDee's Cry": a nonprofit she founded in 2017 to connect BIPOC residents of Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan and beyond to mental health and counseling resou...

In just a few weeks, a new store's going to be opening up in Dorchester's Bowdoin/Geneva neighborhood, but it's not your typical grocery store. It's a food co-op, owned collectively by the members of the surrounding community and the store's employees. John Santos, the General Manager and CEO of the Dorchester Food Co-Op, joins Nichole this week to talk about the benefits of a cooperative for a ne...

It started as something you could find behind the doors at the veterinarian's office: xylazine, a drug that's most frequently used to sedate animals so they can be treated. Now, it's found its way into the illicit drug market far faster than anyone expected, and combined with fentanyl and other opioids, it's proving to be especially deadly. Julie Burns, President and CEO of Rize Massachusetts, tal...

The heavy rains have been seemingly non-stop throughout much of western New England, especially in Vermont, a state which has made national headlines for the devastation suffered through the recent floods. David Bonanno is a longtime actor at the Weston Theatre Company in Weston, Vermont, a short drive north of Brattleboro. He talks with Nichole about the impact of the floods and the resilience of...

In just a few weeks, the world premiere of a rock opera is coming to the Company Theatre in Norwell, and it's a production that tells the story of a strong young woman you may have learned about in your history books: Joan of Arc. "Born To Do This" is the brainchild of Zoe Bradford, a playwright and co-founder of the Company Theatre. She returns to the show to talk about the show and her creative...

Summertime is the perfect time for hikes, picnics, BBQ's, days at the beach - all sorts of outdoor excursions. We often bring a lot of single-use plastics like water bottles, food wrappers, and utensils with us, and a good amount of that plastic doesn't end up in the trash bin. It ends up in the ocean. Dr. Anja Brandon, the Associate Director of U.S. Plastics Policy at Ocean Conservancy, joins Nic...

You've been seeing billboards, ads, and news reports about it. The Sumner Tunnel that brings traffic from East Boston into downtown Boston is closing for almost two months straight. But why now? And what do crews have to do that will take two whole months, sparking some serious traffic troubles? MassDOT Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver gives us a behind-the-scenes rundown of what's getting...

After stints in the military, FBI, and the private sector, John Petrozzelli is taking the reins at the Mass Cyber Center, helping direct policy and education efforts when it comes to cybersecurity here in Massachusetts. He spent time this week with Nichole to talk about his ideas for his time at the Center, his background, and the Center's efforts to help protect people online. See omnystudio.com/...

Dialup internet access just doesn't cut it these days. We have so much to stream, send, and create! Reliable high-speed internet is a critical tool not just for socializing, but also for work and health care access, among many other areas. Rural areas have struggled to keep pace with the infrastructure, but that's changing in western Massachusetts. State Sen. Paul Mark (D-Becket) returns to the sh...

While rare diseases often get left behind in the race for cures, a new approach from the National Institutes of Health hopes to make clinical trials more efficient, less expensive, and more accessible to patients who are suffering from rare genetic diseases. WBZ's Laurie Kirby spoke with Dr. Julie Gerberding, CEO of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, about the new "Bespoke" Cons...

Both the state and federal COVID-19 public health emergencies recently expired, as vaccination rates rise and infection rates decline. Health officials say this doesn't mean COVID is no longer a concern - merely that it's made its way into an endemic phase. The Massachusetts Coalition for Health Equity says many people who have disabilities or are immunocompromised feel like they're being overlook...

Getting your first bike as a kid opens up a whole world of freedom and fun, but it's not always easy for parents who are struggling to get by to provide one for their children. Mutt Society, a local group dedicated to promoting physical and emotional well-being through bikes, is teaming up with Pathways in Lynn to gift dozens of bikes to the children of Pathways students. Trent Sanders, Co-Founder...

MASSPIRG recently teamed up with Environment Massachusetts to conduct the annual "Get The Lead Out" survey, and it appears the Bay State has a lot of work to do. Massachusetts received a C- in this report card, which took a closer look at what's being done to provide safe drinking water to students in schools around the Commonwealth. Deirdre Cummings, Legislative Director at MASSPIRG, joins the sh...

In the days leading up to this year's Juneteenth holiday, Embrace Boston is returning with its "Embrace Ideas Festival". It's a celebration of Black culture, art, music, and thought-provoking ideas from the community about anti-racism work, equity, and Boston's future. This year's event is three days long, packed with events sure to inspire change and foster dialogue (and delight your taste buds,...

The Boston Planning and Development Agency recently approved a plan for the Comfort Inn on Morrissey Boulevard in Dorchester to be transformed into permanent supportive housing for seniors. The project got some blowback from neighborhood groups and lawmakers, but Pine Street Inn says it's a critical step to help unhoused seniors make their way off the streets and rebuild their lives. Lyndia Downie...

Gaming can be a very beneficial tool when it comes to learning life skills. Guild Chronicles, based in Lexington, have created a special roleplaying game and educational program to help autistic and neurodivergent kids learn social-emotional skills. Andrew Harris, CEO and Founder of Guild Chronicles, joins Nichole this week to talk about the game and how Guild Chronicles works with schools and the...

School's almost out for summer, and the City of Boston says it has more jobs available for young people than ever before! Their SuccessLink program connects young people with opportunities all over the city, including non-profits and at City Hall. Rashad Cope, Deputy Chief of the Worker Empowerment Cabinet and the Office of Youth Employment and Opportunity, joins Nichole this week to talk about th...

With the cost of utilities so high, it seems like it would be a dream come true for someone to reach out at random and tell you they can help you lower your utility bills. The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office says many of these "competitive energy suppliers" are anything but a dream, and, in fact, over time, they can turn your budget into a nightmare. Nathan Forster and Elizabeth Anderson f...

While pregnancy and childbirth can be a joyous time full of excitement and exhiliration, that's not the case for every parent. Post-partum depression isn't just "baby blues", and it can turn very serious very quickly. The MassPPD Fund's mission is to provide resources and support for parents finding themselves in this scary place, and they're holding their annual "Flourishing" event May 13th. Form...

Naloxone (aka Narcan) has proven to be a powerful tool in fighting the opioid epidemic. State officials in New Hampshire are launching a new program to make sure it's publicly available for anyone who needs it in a time of crisis. Jennifer Sabin, New Hampshire's Opioid Response Director, joins the show with details on the NaloxBoxes that are going up all over the Granite State. PLUS: The nation's...

Community is everything, especially when you're living far from home. Drawing from the love they have for their Irish backgrounds, the founders of Mná Mheiriceá are working to create a new women's networking group in Boston not just for the Irish diaspora, but for all women. Megan Greeley joins the show with all the details. PLUS: Spring is here, and that means baby animals are coming into the wor...

Young people often feel left out of the conversations around recovery from substance abuse, even though more and more are finding themselves caught up in the grips of addiction. They need support and validation from people who "get it" and understand what they are going through. Enter Massachusetts Young People in Recovery, who's working hard to show people recovery is possible. Haley Barbieri, Pr...

Imagine calling 911 for a serious emergency, only to be told it could be 30, 45... even 60 minutes before help could get to you. There's a significant ambulance workforce shortage here in New England, and around the country, too - but it didn't develop right away. Rich Raymond, CEO of Armstrong Ambulance in Arlington, joins Nichole on the show this week to talk about how it's impacted not just his...

Now that spring's here, we're starting to make our way outdoors and travel around the region again, trying fun new foods and enjoying new experiences... but the regional restaurant scene looks very different now than it did before the pandemic. Marc Hurwitz of Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants returns to the show to talk with Nichole about outdoor dining, ghost kitchens, staff...