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Parents urged to be cautious when buying toys for children during Black Friday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:54 GMT

While you’re out shopping during the holiday hustle, it’s important to be mindful of your child’s safety.Before parents head out to shop for Black Friday deals, the Consumer Product Safety Commission is reminding them to keep a few things in mind for toys and kid safety.“Toys, while fun, are still a risk for kids, about 145,000 trips to the emergency room last year,” said Alexander Hoehn-Saric, Consumer Product Safety Commission chairman. “The number one was actually non-motorized scooters. 35,000 of those, trips to the emergency room.”The CPSC recommends adding safety gear to your shopping list if you’re looking for scooters or bicycles. Another product they want parents to be careful with are water beads, especially for families with young children.“We’ve been seeing a lot of issues with water beads recently,” Hoehn-Saric said. “There are these toys that are tiny, tiny, but you put them in water, and they exp...

Napoléon returns to the scene of defeat — and British troops are still waiting for him

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:54 GMT

WATERLOO, Belgium — Napoléon Bonaparte is back at Waterloo! After a string of military conquests placed much of Europe under his control, the French emperor was notoriously defeated by an alliance of European nations, including British forces commanded by the Duke of Wellington, in a field on the outskirts of Waterloo in 1815.If Napoleon had won that battle, he may have had the cinema in Waterloo named after him. But he didn’t, and so, on a quiet Wednesday evening, a small crowd of military history buffs showed up at the Wellington Cinema for the premiere of “Napoléon,” a much-hyped Hollywood blockbuster on the military leader’s rise to power.Gilles Doignon, 48, is a biologist and works at the European Commission. But at the cinema in Waterloo, he’s dressed in a red British army uniform with (fake) rifle in hand, slightly out of breath after quickly climbing the stairs of the dimly lit theater. Doignon has taken part in several reenactments of the Battl...

Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy, local leaders continue tradition of giving back on Thanksgiving at Pine Street Inn

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:54 GMT

Dawning aprons and carving up turkeys, Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy and local leaders returned to the Pine Street Inn in Boston for Thanksgiving to give back to the community.Dropping off some 50 pies beforehand and dawning a festive turkey cap, McAvoy, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Boston City Council President Ed Flynn, and other officials helped carve turkeys for nearly 2,000 holiday dinners.“It’s just a great time – we get to come here, we get to meet a lot of nice people, a lot of people who are volunteering their time as well and it’s awesome,” McAvoy told reporters.“This organization and all of our partners across the city do so much every single day of the year,” Wu said. “For all of the staff, for all of the supporters, everyone who comes here to volunteer – it’s life-changing.”The volunteers worked to serve meals at a time Pine Street Inn Executive Director Lyndia Downie said the shelter is over-capacity. Sh...

Evacuees face Thanksgiving away from home after train derails spilling chemicals in Kentucky town

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:54 GMT

LIVINGSTON, Ky. (AP) — Cindy Bradley had just finished cooking for Thanksgiving when an official knocking loudly urged her to leave her small Kentucky home as soon as possible because a train had derailed, catching fire and spilling chemicals.She ended up at Rockcastle County Middle School in Livingston — unsure what was next as at least two train cars containing potentially harmful chemicals continued to burn Thursday.“It’s just really scary. We don’t know how long this is,” Bradley told WTVQ-TV on Wednesday night, surrounded by dozens of cots. “This could be tonight, this could be three weeks, Who knows.”The CSX train derailed around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday near Livingston, a remote town with about 200 people in Rockcastle County.Two of the 16 cars that derailed carried molten sulfur, which caught fire after the cars were breached, CSX said in a statement.Crews were still working to extinguish the fire Thursday morning, the company said.It’s believed that the fire is releasing sulfur ...

Stoneham blanks Reading, captures Middlesex League Freedom title

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:54 GMT

STONEHAM — Less than a week after Salem dashed Stoneham’s hopes of returning to the MIAA Division 6 state finals, the Spartans took out whatever frustrations they had on Reading.Stoneham (7-5) closed out its season with a 39-0 victory in its annual Thanksgiving Day game on Thursday.“We felt we didn’t perform as well as we could against Salem,” said Stoneham coach Bob Almeida, whose team won seven of its last eight games after an 0-4 start. “This rivalry means a lot to us and this is the last game on this field. It was just as complete a team effort as we’ve had against Reading in all three phases.”Said Stoneham quarterback Matt Tran, who threw three touchdown passes, “The coaches always talked about Thanksgiving being more important than the Super Bowl. To end the season this way means a lot.”After the game, the Spartans received news that Wakefield defeated Melrose, giving them sole possession of the Middlesex League Freedom title at 4-1 in the league. Stoneham’s league season was ...

Last surge propels Foxboro past Mansfield

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:54 GMT

MANSFIELD — In the 93rd all-time matchup between Foxboro and Mansfield, Foxboro was able to use an explosive fourth quarter to pull away from the Hornets to win 30-17.The Warriors (10-1) had only trailed in one game thus far in the 2023 season, but the score flipped multiple times in this holiday contest and coach Jack Martinelli said the chance to play with adversity was huge for the team, especially with a Div. 5 Super Bowl matchup against Hanover looming for next week.“We haven’t really trailed in a game other than King Philip in Week 6,” Martinelli said. “This was another chance for these kids to see that you can’t bury yourself when you get down.”The Hornets opened with a nearly seven-minute drive that was derailed by penalties. Foxboro senior Brandon Mazenkas-O’Grady then blocked the punt and returned it for a TD, something Martinelli said he has been able to do multiple times in his career.“There’s a big reward and to me there’s not a huge risk with trying to block a punt,” M...

Thanksgiving meal served at Pine Street Inn ‘bittersweet’ among rise in need

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:54 GMT

It took 120 turkeys, 280 gallons of cranberry sauce, a 1,000 pounds of peeled and mashed potatoes, 580 pounds of mixed vegetables, 500 gallons of gravy, and hundreds of pies to make Thanksgiving dinner for the thousands gathered who gathered for a feast at the Pine Street Inn.The annual event draws community leaders and celebrities alike to lend a hand, and provides a traditional Thanksgiving meal for 2,000 people who otherwise do not have a place to go, Pine Street President and Executive Director Lyndia Downie said.The meal is also a yearly reminder that, for some, the holiday season’s arrival cannot be met with celebration.“It’s a really bittersweet day here, especially in the shelter,” Downie said.For the millions of Americans gathering with family across the country, and the 940 people the Pine Street Inn has helped into housing, Downie said, this season should be something to celebrate: a roof over their heads and a place to make their dinner alongside loved ones.“But I would ...

Luke Bell’s last-second kick gives Xaverian share of the Catholic Conference title

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:54 GMT

WESTWOOD — If the sequel is anywhere near as good as the original, Wednesday’s D1 state title game between Xaverian and St. John’s Prep will be another blockbuster.On Thursday morning, Xaverian kicker Luke Bell booted a field goal as time ran out to give his team a 23-21 victory over Thanksgiving rival St. John’s Prep.With the victory, Xaverian improves to 10-2 overall and earns a share of the Catholic Conference title. The Prep suffers its first loss of the season and stands at 11-1.“It’s fantastic,” Xaverian coach Al Fornaro said of having to play the Prep twice. “I was talking to (St. John’s Prep assistant) coach (Mike) Barbati, who has been at St. John’s for a number of years. We were reminiscing about having to play at Boston College one year, where Zack Asack was our quarterback, and Nick Borseti was their linebacker. We played here (one year), we had the snow plows come out. We played one year where we lost Kenny Kern and ...

Lynn Classical holds off Lynn English

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:54 GMT

LYNN — The 110th meeting between Lynn Classical and Lynn English won’t be remembered for its beauty. But for the Rams and coach Brian Vaughan, it’s a game that they won’t forget.In a physical battle, the Rams used a clock-killing run game and a staunch defense to beat the archrival Bulldogs, 8-6, in front of a large crowd at Manning Field.“We knew that it was going to be a grind it out type of game,” Vaughan said. “I know what happens in this game as a player (at Lynn English) and now as a coach.”The Rams gained only 213 yards of total offense on Thursday but they did it well enough at times to keep English’s offense off the field for long periods.But it was the defense that came up with what ultimately was the winning score as they recorded a safety late in the first quarter to take a 2-0 lead.The Classical offense also converted off the ensuing free kick thanks to a 55-yard drive in six plays. Brian Vaughan Jr.’s keeper from a yard out capped the march and made it 8-0 at the half....

Thanksgiving Day high school football scoreboard

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:54 GMT

FOOTBALLTUESDAY’S RESULTSBrighton 20, Tech Boston 14King Philip 35, Franklin 0WEDNESDAY’S RESULTSArchbishop Williams 42, Cardinal Spellman 14Barnstable 54, Falmouth 8Billerica 27, Chelmsford 13Bishop Feehan 31, Bishop Stang 6Blue Hills 22, Bristol-Plymouth 6Cathedral 20, Chelsea 0Everett 56, St. Mary’s (L) 28Gardner 31, Quabbin 18Greater Lawrence 30, Whittier 20Greater Lowell 42, Lowell Catholic 6KIPP 45, Lynn Tech 19Leominster 59, Fitchburg 7Methuen 48, Dracut/Innovation 16Monomoy 42, St. John Paul II 0Nashoba Tech 26, Monty Tech 22 (2 ot)Oakmont 40, Lunenburg 7Old Colony 43, Tri-County 8St. John’s (Shrewsbury) 33, Malden Catholic 14Shawsheen 41, Arlington Catholic 7Somerset Berkley 26, Central (RI) 22South Shore 41, Holbrook/Avon 30THURSDAY’S GAMESAbington 46, Whitman-Hanson 6Andover 27, North Andover 13Apponequet 36, Old Rochester 21Arlington 27, Waltham 7Ashland 35, Hopkinton 0Barnstable 54, Falmouth 8Bedford 34, Burlington 19Bellingham 20, Norton 13Belmo...