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Experience nature in comfort as Flamingo Lodge at Everglades National Park reopens

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:23 GMT

Aside from a gas station or two, the Florida Everglades have remained virtually unchanged for thousands of years. But one change coming to the river of grass, is a serious upgrade in sleeping accommodations.For more, we’re joined by Deco’s travel, leisure, and poultry editor, Alex Miranda.The old 1960s Flamingo Lodge is no more. Storms beat it to the ground, literally. But the new hotel build in its place isn’t going anywhere, at least not for now. And it also promises to be a good time. We’ve got a new staycation idea for you.Alex Miranda: “They live in Miami, they live in Fort Lauderdale, and they kinda forget to come out the Everglades.”J.J Condella : “Oh, you feel like you’re submerged in nature again, yeah. You’re out of the big city. You’re back in its natural state. It’s just wonderful.”Actually, it’s a pretty old one, but hear me out.Alex Miranda: “And I think for a lot of people it’s b...

Eddie Murphy makes a pact with an elf to win annual Christmas decoration contest in comedy ‘Candy Cane Lane’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:23 GMT

Every city and town seems to have a “candy cane lane,” where home-owners go all-out decorating for Christmas. Funny you should say that.It’s the setting for the new holiday film “Candy Cane Lane.”Eddie Murphy stars as a man on a mission to win his neighborhood’s annual Christmas decoration’s contest.Yule be happy to know, Eddie Murphy is ready for Christmas in the new movie “Candy Cane Lane.”Reggie Hudlin/director: “‘Candy Cane Lane’ is everything we love about Christmas. It starts with that sense of community and competition.”Eddie is so obsessed with winning, he’s willing to sell his soul to be number one.Be careful what you wish for.His deal with the elf brings the lyrics of the “12 days of Christmas” to life, And it’s ain’t pretty.Director Reggie Hudlin let Eddie, Tracee Ellis Ross and co-stars do their thing on set.Reggie Hudlin: “You encourage everyone to get in th...

Migrants join volunteers to rake leaves for senior citizens in Woburn

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:23 GMT

Dozens of migrants recently lent a helping hand in Woburn, joining volunteers to rake leaves for senior citizens. A total of more than 200 volunteers took to driveways, sidewalks and lawns in Woburn as part of the raking effort on Sunday. Fifty Haitian migrants who have been calling the city home were among the group. “It was a great pleasure to participate in this activity,” said one migrant, Thomas Junior, through a translator. “It was nothing compared to what the people have been doing for us in this country.” Junior was forced to leave Haiti and flee to Chile four years ago with his wife and child. In Chile, though, he said their lives came under threat, forcing them to flee again. While in Woburn, Junior and his family have been able to find some peace, a warm place to sleep, food and a school for their child. “Here, we have found people helping us with everything including bringing the kids to school,” Junior said. “They give us a place to stay. They give u...

Unidentified skeleton connected to missing Rhode Island man after 40 years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:23 GMT

DNA evidence and genealogical data have finally led investigators to positively identify a skeleton found off the interstate near Fairhaven as a Rhode Island man who went missing in 1981, the Bristol County DA’s Office announced.“After connecting this individual to a family tree, investigators were able to positively identify the recovered remains as Keith Olson of Cranston, RI,” the DA’s Office stated. “Mr. Olson was last seen in April of 1981 and had been reported missing from Cranston.”The identification comes nearly 40 years after Olson’s remains were found on April 8, 1985. That day, a driver traveling on Interstate 195 stopped in the breakdown lane in Fairhaven, just over the Mattapoisett border.In the brush about 45 feet from the roadway, the release states, the driver spotted a human skeleton.Police were notified and searched the area, the DA continued, finding no information on the identity of the body.The FBI judged that the victim...

Gun control bills bring heated testimony to Beacon Hill

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:23 GMT

Dozens of gun control measures under consideration by the state Legislature are plainly at odds with recent rulings by the Supreme Court and wouldn’t actually prevent gun violence or crime, firearms advocates told a legislative joint committee.However, some of the would-be gun laws might make Massachusetts safer and potentially save lives, if advanced to the full Legislature and given the governor’s signature, gun safety advocates told the same group of lawmakers.Through four hours of occasionally heated and emotional testimony during a hearing held Tuesday morning, the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security heard from both gun owners and victims of gun violence over 56 firearms-related bills, consideration of which comes just weeks after the state House passed an omnibus gun policy proposal and while the Senate considers a similar measure.“A majority of the bills have already been incorporated, in one fashion or another, into the omnibus gun bill t...

Cambridge ban on gas-powered leaf blowers could go into effect a year earlier than first proposed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:23 GMT

Landscaping businesses in Cambridge may have to trade in their gas-powered leaf blowers for electric alternatives a year sooner than the City Council initially targeted, depending on a vote looming in December.The council’s Ordinance Committee voted unanimously on Tuesday to shorten the gradual phase-out of gas-powered leaf blowers for commercial and municipal uses to 2026 from 2027.Residents would be prohibited from using the lawn equipment starting in March 2025 under the request which the City Council is likely to vote on by the end of the year – the same timeline first proposed.Councilor Patricia Nolan, who has spearheaded the proposal on the Health and Environment Committee, highlighted how the 2025-26 timeframe is being followed in Arlington, Belmont and Lexington, nearby municipalities that have voted for bans on gas-powered leaf blowers.“If I’m a landscaping company I’m already going to have to service Lexington, Arlington and Belmont by 2026, so why wouldn’t I be able to do...

Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis gives progress update on injured left calf

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:23 GMT

Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis said Tuesday that he’s feeling good and making progress in his recovery from the left calf strain he suffered in last Friday’s loss to the Magic and emphasized that he has no big concerns about the injury.Porzingis left last Friday’s game during the third quarter and missed his second game since suffering the injury on Tuesday against the Bulls. He said an MRI on Saturday revealed that he had a “low-level, low grade strain,” which confirmed his belief that the injury wasn’t serious.“I knew it wasn’t anything, but just a confirmation that something of course happened,” Porzingis said. “I felt something a little bit. But that it was just gonna be a short recovery. That’s what I was hoping for, and that’s it. …“This is the NBA, you play every other day and some small things can happen like this. So no big worries, but just looking forward to getting back out there as soon as possible.”Porzingis suggested that he could get back on a court soon. Celtics...

An expanded deer hunt is coming to a Massachusetts park where the deer population has jumped

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:23 GMT

The state will be shutting down a park for an expanded deer hunt in a part of the Bay State where the deer population has ballooned in recent years.The Department of Conservation and Recreation will close Quabbin Park in western Massachusetts for the expanded two-day controlled deer hunt next week. DCR said it’s shutting down the park “in the interest of public safety” on Monday and Tuesday (Dec. 4 and 5).Two-day controlled hunting began in the Quabbin Reservation more than 30 years ago — with the goal of cutting the deer population in the area, and then population maintenance. An overpopulation of deer can negatively impact the long-term health of the forest and watershed.Then in 2019, DCR proposed expanding the hunt into Quabbin Park, where the deer population had jumped. As part of this program, hunters received permits in 2019 through a lottery process.But due to the COVID pandemic, plans for this expansion of the Quabbin hunt were put on hold. Meanwhile,...

Boston vandal caused more than $10,000 in damage to historic sites during alleged rampage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:23 GMT

The rampage a Boston man went on overnight Saturday at historic and religious sites across the city that included damage to graves has left officials facing a $10,000-plus bill for repairs.A historic masonry company will start work on the Paul Revere monument at the Granary Burying Ground this week, with work expected to be completed by the end of next week, a city spokesperson told the Herald on Tuesday.The spokesperson expects the cost to fix the grave to be just under $10,000 which the city will cover with capital improvement funding. For now, the capstone and stone slab have been picked up and replaced on their respective bases while the monument’s three grave markers await repairs.Down the road on Tremont Street, damaged headstones in the King’s Chapel Burying Ground will need to wait longer to be repaired due to the cold temperatures, the spokesperson said. A stone conservator will reset them next spring when the “weather breaks,” with the cost estimated to be in the “several ...

SDSU to hire ex-Colorado offensive coordinator Sean Lewis as head coach, AP source says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:53:23 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Sean Lewis, who was stripped of his play-calling duties as Colorado's offensive coordinator late in the season, is being hired as head coach at San Diego State, a person with knowledge of the situation said Tuesday.The person spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the hiring hasn't been made official. Lewis, who was head coach at Kent State from 2018-2022, is expected to be introduced at a news conference Wednesday, the person said.Lewis replaces Brady Hoke, who was allowed to finish the season after the school announced his retirement with two games to go. The Aztecs (4-8) finished tied for last in the Mountain West and played in front of thousands of empty seats in their new 35,000-seat stadium. Hoke had three seasons left on his contract when the school announced his retirement.The defensive-minded Hoke failed to develop potent offenses, even when the Aztecs won a school-record 12 games in 2021.Lewis was demoted into a co-offe...