Advertisement
Boston's Morning Newsletter
Skip shopping and stroll: Mass. offers 6 free guided hikes on Black Friday
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
Most people — including us — have Thanksgiving feast prep on the mind today, but have you thought about what you're doing the day after Thanksgiving? The state Department of Conservation and Recreation suggests taking a hike.
Black Friday shopping strolling: DCR is hosting six free guided hikes called "Go Green on Black Friday." DCR's Amy Wilmot told WBUR's Dan Guzman that with so many folks off work or school it's a fantastic time to get outside with family. "They might be looking for opportunities other than some of the traditional Black Friday activities, like shopping or decorating for the next holiday," Wilmot said. "Also people may have eaten a couple extra slices of pie the day before and are looking for an opportunity to do a little exercise."
- Where: Head to Blackstone River and Canal State Park, Blue Hills Reservation, Borderland State Park, Great Falls Discovery Center, Lawrence Heritage State Park or Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. All six hikes are billed as family-friendly, with lengths that vary from 1-5 miles. No advance registration needed. You can see the full schedule and start times here.
- What to bring: Wilmot suggests folks bring water, and wear appropriate layers and footwear. "But they don't have to worry about getting lost... because they will have a DCR staff person leading the way," she added. If the weather is looking iffy, call DCR ahead of time to make sure the hike is still on.
Back to school: Kids in Beverley and Marblehead are back in their classrooms for a (half) day today after more than two weeks of teacher strikes. School leaders reached tentative contract agreements with their respective unions last night. The deals include higher wages for teachers and paraprofessionals, as well as longer paid parental leave, according to the unions. More details here.
- Zoom in: Teacher strikes are illegal in Massachusetts. Instructors on strike in Gloucester reached a deal last week. All three striking North Shore communities racked up more than $1.5 million in fines, court documents show.
Little fires everywhere: State fire officials plan to give their final wildfire season update today. More than 600 blazes were recorded across Massachusetts over the last two months. Although much of the state is still experiencing severe to extreme dryness or drought conditions, nearly all of the brush fires were contained following last week's rain.
- So are they all out? Not quite. Mass. Chief Fire Warden Dave Celino told WBUR's John Bender it will take snowfall to fully extinguish them. "Many of them are going to continue to smolder well interior of the perimeter," he said. "They will not pose any threats to growing outside of the perimeter boundary. They're just going to continue to smolder simply because they're burning deep." One 1,700-acre fire in Great Barrington is only 40% contained.
More festive fun: The Trustees of Reservations is opening its annual WinterLights display on Friday in North Andover, Canton and Stockbridge. You can see three historic houses decked out in holiday decorations while enjoying hot cocoa and music. There will also be two new sensory-friendly events this year.
- Mark your calendars: This weekend also kicks off the first winter Open Newbury Street dates. The pedestrian-only walkway will be closed to traffic on Sunday, extending from Berkeley Street to Massachusetts Avenue. The second holiday season day is Dec. 8.
PSA: Doing some holiday shopping in Worcester on a Saturday? Don't feed that meter. The city will offer free parking at all on-street metered spots, as well as at the municipal lots on Green Street, Water Street and Millbury Street, every Saturday through Dec. 28.
'Tis the season ... for women's hockey. The Boston Fleet of the PWHL will hold its first game of the 2024-2025 season this Saturday against the Toronto Sceptres at 2 p.m. The game will stream on CBCSports.ca, CBC Gem and CBC Sports App.
- The home opener is a little later, on Wednesday, Dec. 4. It will be a Walter Cup Final rematch against the Minnesota Frost at Lowell’s Tsongas Center.
P.S.— If you're worried that breaking bread may turn into breaking ties with family members tomorrow, give this Endless Thread episode a listen. The podcast's listeners shared how they're talking to their families about politics this holiday season, if they're talking about it at all.
