New England Weekend

A new public art project in Boston's Dorchester and Roxbury neighborhoods is showing off some special works of art by nine Black photographers. It's a collaboration between Greater Grove Hall Main Streets and WHERE ARE ALL THE BLACK PEOPLE AT, a grassroots organization dedicated to boosting representation of Black and Brown artists in art museums' permanent collections. Photographer and activist A...

After delays connected to COVID-19, a first-of-its-kind program is finally up and running for women incarcerated at the New Hampshire Correctional Facility for Women in Concord, NH. This "Prison Outreach Program" connects woodworkers with inmates to teach them important skills that can translate into a career, or hobby, once they leave custody and start over. Leah Woods and Lynn Szymanski join Nic...

Since the late 1990's, National Consumer Protection Week has been a time for Americans to learn about how we can make more educated decisions when it comes to how, where, and why we spend our money. Bill O'Hearn, Chief of the Consumer Advocacy and Response Division at the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, joins Nichole this week to offer some insight into your rights as a consumer, and how...

This week's episode is the second in a two-part series on human trafficking. For this portion of the series, we are focusing on the impacts of sexual and labor exploitation right here in New England. Julie Dahlstrom, Director of the Immigrants' Rights and Human Trafficking program at the Boston University School of Law, talks with Nichole about what's being done from Beacon Hill to local police de...

Human trafficking affects millions of people not just around the world, but also right here in New England. So many cases go unreported each and every year, and it's incredibly easy for trafficking to take place right under our noses without most of us even realizing it. This week's episode is the first in a two part series on human trafficking. Victor Boutros, the CEO and co-founder of Human Traf...

When he was young, Jesse Setaro of North End Fitness spent many years in the foster care system. With the help of a very special mentor, he was able to rise above poverty, homelessness, and instability to build a happy and successful life. Now, Jesse wants to give back to foster kids in Boston through "Project F", a special gym and mentoring program that would give orphans and foster children a sa...

Sitting on Route 2 or the Mass Pike in traffic is no one's idea of a good time. There's a new study underway to take a closer look at how Massachusetts could be connected by rail along the Northern Tier, between North Adams and Boston. State Senator Paul Mark joins Nichole to talk about why it's critical to beef up infrastructure in western Massachusetts, what constituents have to say about it, an...

Each year, the "Winter Walk" brings members of the Boston community together to end the stigma surrounding homelessness, amplify the stories of the unhoused, and find solutions to work toward substantive change. Executive Director Ari Barbanell joins Nichole this week to talk about the event, their expansion to western Massachusetts, and how you can get involved. PLUS: Volunteering can be a bit da...

NEADS, based in Princeton, helps all kinds of good dogs live to their fullest potential by training them to be service and therapy dogs. Before they can go through that training, they need a solid upbringing. Heather Romanoff, the Manager of Raiser Operations at NEADS, talks with Nichole about their search for puppy raisers in Worcester County, and what volunteers can do to set these puppies up fo...

Happy New Year! As we kick off 2023, many of us are taking the first few weeks of the year to take a closer look at our personal finances. Ryan Davies, Chair of the Finance Department at Babson College, joins Nichole on this week's show to offer some insight and advice on budgeting, savings, and much more as we all try to navigate this volatile economy. PLUS: Making a New Year's resolution is one...

It's a festive time over at the Stone Zoo in Stoneham, as the resident animals are surrounded by thousands of tiny, bright lights. "Zoo Lights" has been going on for years at the Zoo, and Zoo New England President John Linehan returns to the show to talk about how it all came together, how you can enjoy the gorgeous displays, and what's new at the zoo. PLUS : Now that winter's officially here, we'...

Beautiful handmade glass ornaments are glistening this Christmas over at the Sandwich Glass Museum! The "Glassblower's Christmas" event at the museum on Cape Cod is a fun way to learn all about the historic art of glassblowing while celebrating the season. Andrew Snell, Retail Manager at the Museum, talks with Nichole about this family-friendly Christmas experience. || This Christmas, you can step...

The Festival of Lights is coming up, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston will be filled with light, hope, cheer, and joy on Thursday, December 15th. That's because the Museum, in collaboration with the Jewish Arts Collaborative and Combined Jewish Philanthropies, is once again hosting their very special Hanukkah at the MFA event! Laura Mandel, the Executive Director of the Jewish Arts Collaborat...

Beth Sobiloff and Marcia Rothwell are having the time of their lives exploring each and every city and town around the Commonwealth! The "Two Grannies on the Road" are changing the narrative about what it means to be a senior as they eat ice cream, learn Bay State history, and generally have a blast. Beth and Marcia talk about their adventures, what led them to document their travels, and where th...

During the holidays, food banks and other services helping to fight food insecurity get huge boosts in donations. With more than 20% of Massachusetts residents struggling to put food on the table, the work continues year-round with Project Bread. Erin MacAleer, President of Project Bread, joins Nichole to talk about their work with municipalities, lawmakers, food banks and other non-profits to try...

Electric vehicles are becoming more commonplace and accessible. While that's good, there's another side to the story - do we have enough electricity to power them? And can our infrastructure handle the demand? Colette Lamontagne, Director of Energy Storage and Transportation Development at National Grid, joins Nichole to break down the data of a new study that takes a closer look at how Massachuse...

Have you ever noticed squirrels gliding around your backyard? CJ Wong, a University of New Hampshire graduate student, is spearheading a citizen science effort to build nest boxes in hopes of learning more about these cute little creatures all over our region. CJ joins Nichole to talk about the project, why it's important, and how you can help. For more than 20 years, families on the South Shore h...

In just a matter of weeks, the "Embrace" statue honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King will be unveiled on Boston Common. It was spearheaded by King Boston, a group working in connection with the Boston Foundation to promote racial and economic justice in the city. Recently, the group changed its name to Embrace Boston to better encompass their efforts. Gregory Ball, the Direc...

It's almost opening night for Season 105 at the Melrose Symphony Orchestra, the oldest continuously performing volunteer orchestra in the entire country! Conductor Yoichi Udagawa returns to the show to talk about their show on November 5th, which celebrates Black composers. Pine Street Inn is well known around the Boston area for the work they do to help those who are unhoused or otherwise in need...

Fall's a busy time over at the North Shore Music Theater, with the new production of "Kinky Boots" about to get underway! Owner Bill Hanney talks with Nichole about the preps for the limited run of the classic show, this year's run of "A Christmas Carol", and how the theater's fighting back against ticket scalpers. We also get a sneak peek at the theater's 2023 lineup! Millions of children around...

We've got another New England winter on the way, and the bitter cold we have around here can cause our heating systems to fail at the most inopportune moments. The city of Boston has a program to make sure seniors living in the Hub are able to either get their system tuned up before the chill hits, or get it replaced completely, oftentimes without cost. Richard O'Brien from the Boston Home Center...

With the height of the pandemic behind us, how many people in Massachusetts are still choosing to stick to their home office as opposed to battling the usual commute? David Turcotte, an economics professor at UMass Lowell, joins Nichole to talk about the trends we are seeing when it comes to remote working, how working from home is changing neighborhoods, and what it means for local businesses tha...

Have you noticed local businesses are starting to roll out the holiday shopping deals, even though we just got through Back to School? Jon Hurst, President of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, joins Nichole on the show to talk about why that's happening. Jon also has an update on how businesses are faring through high inflation and threats of an upcoming recession. September is National...

It's been a busy summer for Special Olympics New Hampshire as they work to help kids and adults with intellectual disabilities enjoy the wide world of sports. Mark Ericson, the Senior Manager of Communications for SONH, joins Nichole to talk about their upcoming events, their "Pick Your Prize" raffle that's underway, and the return of a very special (and chilly) fundraiser! Imagine if you could go...

Suffolk Construction in Boston is teaming up with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts to help inspire young girls to enter STEM fields, especially construction! Libby Murphy, Project Executive at Suffolk, talks with Nichole about the special camp they held recently, and their plans to help young women embrace science, technology, engineering, and math careers. Scott Snider, the CEO of Proven...