New England Weekend

As the snow and winter conditions settle in, many children here in Massachusetts simply don't have the proper clothing to stay warm in the cold as families struggle to find enough money to go around to pay for essentials. Cradles to Crayons Boston is based in Newtonville, and they work with agencies and non-profits around the Commonwealth to get comfortable, warm clothing and other personal supplies out to as many children as possible. Executive Director Alicia Kabir, who recently joined the team, talks with Nichole about their "Gear Up for Winter" initiative and her plans for the non-profit's future.

If you still have some gifts to pick up for the holidays and you want to support local small businesses, the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce says it's got you covered! The Chamber's new gift guide is out for the 2024 holiday season, highlighting LGBTQIA+ owned businesses all over the Commonwealth. From snacks to sweaters and beyond, Executive Director Alexandria Eberhardt says shoppers can get all kinds of ideas. She's on the show this week with Nichole to talk about the guide.

Some new data from the Boston Public Health Commission's "Health of Boston Mental Health Report" shows a concerning trend with young people in the city: more than 40% of Boston Public Schools students say they experience persistent sadness or hopelessness. That number is higher in students from marginalized communities, such as young women, those who identify as LGBTQ, or those who are Black or Latino. In response, the City of Boston has launched a new program called "Heads Up Boston", where trusted adults help young people become more comfortable with opening up to their peers about what can be a very difficult subject. Samara Grossman, Director of the Boston Public Health Commission's Center for Behavioral health and Wellness, talks with Nichole about the program and its impact.

Here in New England, we haven't had a really bad cold snap yet this winter, but if we did, our power grid would be ready to handle it. That's the word from ISO New England, our regional power grid operator, which says it has more than enough juice to keep our lights and heaters going throughout the coldest winter months. Spokesman Randy Burlingame joins Nichole this week to talk about all the work going on behind the scenes to shore up the grid, forecast our demand, and keep the juice flowing.

With so many families already struggling to cover monthly expenses, it can be even more complicated to try and stretch the paycheck to ensure kids get some special presents for the holidays. Action Boston Community Development, a non-profit helping people in the Greater Boston area connect to resources to get them out of poverty, says it's received thousands of requests for help with toys, but they have been struggling to meet demand. They are also collecting donations for their Winter Fund to keep families warm with winter clothing, heating assistance, and home winterization. President and CEO Sharon Scott-Chandler talks with Nichole about their efforts and shares important information about how you can help, or access assistance if necessary.

While we often feel the urge during the holiday season to donate more to charity than we usually would, food insecurity doesn’t care what time of the year it is. It’s a major issue here in Massachusetts, and food banks around the Commonwealth are really feeling the stretch. Thousands of families in Western Massachusetts alone are struggling to put healthy food on the table each and every day, and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts in Chicopee is a crucial part of the pipeline to make sure as many people as possible get access to nutritious meals. Executive Director Andrew Morehouse talks with Nichole about their efforts and shares details about how you can help them keep going.

For generations, audiences around the world have cherished “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens on the stage and screen. It’s a staple of holiday celebrations, and over at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester, they’ve taken the classic story of the miserly, curmudgeonly Ebenezer Scrooge and re-imagined it with a modern twist while preserving its core message of hope and redemption. Associate Director Annie Kerins joins the show to share details about this year’s performances, which run from December 15-22, 2024.

Boston is beautiful this time of year, celebrating the holidays with decorations and lights adorning our generations-old historic homes and businesses. Visitors and residents alike have a chance over the coming weeks to see the city’s historic sights through the lens of the past, and learn how holiday traditions here have evolved through the centuries. Jeremiah Poope, a tour guide with the Freedom Trail Foundation in Boston, chats with Nichole about their Historic Holiday Strolls that are running until the end of the year, and shares some fun facts you may not have known about our city’s past!

November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, and here in Massachusetts, thousands of young people find themselves struggling to find a safe space to lay their head each night, something that's becoming even more difficult as we make our way into the winter months. Bridge Over Troubled Waters in Boston is a non-profit working with young people experiencing homelessness in Greater Boston to ensure they have a safer, brighter future ahead. President and CEO Elisabeth Jackson returns to the show to talk with Nichole about the factors fueling this trend, and how you can help them assist these young people as they turn their lives around.

Most people have a cell phone and digital presence these days, and it's hard to avoid using banking, communication, and travel online platforms. For survivors of domestic violence, these phones and digital connections can also serve as critical lifelines, but they are often compromised and manipulated by abusers who are trying to force them to stay in dangerous relationships. A first-in-the-nation program in Rhode Island hopes to educate and promote digital safety for survivors. Nichole speaks with AT&T's Atlantic States President, John R. Emra, Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center VP Gina Scordino, and Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association Executive Director Sid Wordell about their efforts to keep people safe online.

Since the 1980's, demand has been growing for the comprehensive assistance that Women's Lunch Place on Newbury Street in Boston offers women experiencing homelessness. As more and more women find themselves without a place to call home, the day shelter opens its doors to offer a warm meal, clean clothes, a fresh shower, and much more. They're now asking for help to get some critical repairs done so they can keep offering this help for decades more. CEO Jennifer Hanlon Wigon joins Nichole on the show this week to talk about their mission and need.

While we have yet to see some snow, that's not stopping many of us from decorating and getting into the holiday spirit! The city of Peabody is working with local businesses, including Granite Coast Brewing Company, to hold their annual Holiday Stroll on Saturday, November 30th. Plenty of fun activities are planned, and there will be all kinds of snacks to enjoy, too! Granite Coast Marketing Manager Amy Luckiewicz shares details about the event with Nichole on this week's show.

Food safety is all over the headlines right now, and not just because we're getting ready to make our Thanksgiving feast. Not one, but three E. coli outbreaks have been making the news, and there are a lot of questions about how these outbreaks happen. Dr. Shira Doron, Chief Infection Control Officer at Tufts Medicine, returns to the show to talk with Nichole about the outbreaks and offer advice on food safety through the holidays.

If you haven't started your holiday shopping yet, you are ceretainly not alone. We're getting into peak shopping season, but you may not be as willing to shell out cash this year on presents due to high prices and inflation. Each year, Boston-based Deloitte does a survey on our spending trends, and the results may be surprising. Anthony Jardim, a Principal at Deloitte, joins Nichole to break down the numbers and trends.

When you hear talk about hospice, you're usually talking about humans, not pachyderms. However, on the South Coast, Ruth the elephant, who's been living for decades at the Buttonwood Park Zoo, is entering hospice as she nears the end of her life. Ruth has been a highlight at the zoo for generations, with residents from all over the South Coast and beyond coming to spend time with her. Zoo Director Gary Lunsford talks with Nichole about her health conditions and the decision to transition her care.

November is National Entrepreneurship Month, and this is the time when we shout out all our small business owners working hard in our communities to chase their dreams. It's difficult work and comes with a lot of challenges, but many owners say it is just as rewarding and completely worth it. Steven M. Stroum of Framingham has had quite a bit of experience and is sharing his dynamic story through his memoir, "Success and Self-Discovery". He talks with Nichole about his journey and offers up some advice for those who want to start on their own entrepreneurial path.

With so many veterans facing mental health challenges and isolation stemming from their time in service, they often find they can't access the meaningful connections they need to stay in a healthy place. Sunday, November 17th is National Warrior Call Day, a time when we take a few minutes to reach out to the veterans and service members in our lives and ask them how they are really doing. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) is a co-sponsor of the Senate Resolution marking the day, and she joins Nichole on this week's show to talk about it.

New Bedford's fishing industry has been a cornerstone of the South Coast economy for centuries. It's also led the city to become a melting pot of traditions and culture, as people from all over the world come to the city to find their way into the industry. This month, the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center is opening a new exhibit to focus on those workers' stories called "Casting a Wider Net". NBFHC Director Laura Orleans and Project Manager Emma York join the show this week to share the details of this comprehensive exhibit.

Whether you're taking part in Medicare Open Enrollment for the first time or reviewing your current plan, there are plenty of changes that can be difficult to navigate. Renee McInnes, CEO of NVNA and Hospice in Norwell, is here on the show share valuable insights on how to maximize your benefits, avoid common pitfalls, and make informed decisions on coverage for the upcoming year.

Girl Scout cookies can be incredibly addictive right out of the box, but imagine them transformed into a completely different type of tasty dessert! That's the assignment for a group of local bakers and chefs who are coming together in Boston's Seaport later this month for the "Cookies and Cocktails" event to benefit the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts. Valerie Nin, Executive Pastry Chef at Grill 23 in Boston, is one of the chefs competing in this tasty event. She joins Nichole on this week's episode to talk about the event, her idea for the competition, and the Girl Scouts.