Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Foreign.
[00:00:16] I'm Joe Catalano with an AM Quincy news update for Friday, April 17. While fewer students at North Quincy High School are joining the Raiders football team, leading to concern that there may not be enough students to have a team during a recent school committee meeting, committeeman Paul Bregoli said if the numbers continue to dwindle, it may not be possible to have a crosstown rivalry Thanksgiving Day game between Quincy and North Quincy high schools in two years. Quincy Public Schools Athletic Director Kevin Mahoney said only eight freshmen joined the Raiders team at North Quincy High School this year, whereas Quincy High School had a full complement of freshmen join the presidents. Mahoney said parents of North Quincy High School students are wary of letting their children play football and hockey due to the chance for injuries. Recently, hockey teams at both high schools combined into one team due to declining numbers of students joining both teams. There are five combined teams at both high schools. On the flip side, though, Mahoney said many students are joining the boys soccer team. Mahoney said another issue is private schools recruiting the best players at the sophomore level, depleting team membership. Bregoli said the most important thing is that students who want to play a sport have that opportunity. Mahoney said he would try to get a sense for the numbers of incoming freshman football players next year by working with the Quincy United Youth League.
[00:01:51] The new Squantum Elementary School in Quincy is on its way to becoming a Net zero building, meaning it will generate its own power. Quincy Building Commissioner Paul Hines told the City Council recently that the building was recently awarded Net zero certification from the Passive House Institute of the United States. The new building will achieve Net zero status by generating energy from solar panels on the roof and a geothermal field being installed under the park behind the school.
[00:02:24] The City Council recently approved the solar panel lease agreement with Select Energy. The new Squantum school is slated for completion in the fall of 2027.
[00:02:37] A woman has been sentenced to 15 to 17 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death of her roommate in Weymouth two years ago.
[00:02:49] 46 year old Kelly Shaw agreed to plead guilty to the manslaughter charge after a murder charge was dropped in connection with the death of 56 year old Christine Mello. Mello's body was found in the basement of her Lake street home in Weymouth covered in debris. Investigators believe Mello had been dead for a number of days before she was found. Court records show that Shaw and Mello got into a fight and that Shaw struck mellow with a teapot. An autopsy determined Mello had 17 cuts and blunt force wounds on her body. Investigators believe Shaw targeted Mello because she had inherited her mother's estate and had accessed Mello's bank accounts. A male accomplice in the case has not yet gone to trial.
[00:03:39] Governor Healey announcing yesterday a long awaited economic development bill that proposes $305 million in capital authorizations and among other provisions, would lower the fee for starting a business in Massachusetts and incentivize companies to hire in state students.
[00:03:57] Dubbed the Mass Wins act, an act relative to Massachusetts winning global investment, talent and innovation, governor said the bill emphasizes the state's place in the global ecosystem where Massachusetts most prized industries face increased competition.
[00:04:15] While the state yearns to attract more companies here. The 305 million in capital authorizations are offset by about $254 million in deauthorizations, according to the bill, and the legislation contains more than 150 policy sections. The administration organized the bill around five pillars addressing the global economy, lowering costs, supporting the workforce and economic competitiveness and equity reforms. The Bill proposes a $50 million seed investment through a new Global Mass Innovation Access Fund to attract global capital into Massachusetts based companies. It'll be directed through the state's Pension Reserves Investment Management Board and a fund of funds, according to the bill. Under the provision, $20 million would also be put towards site development and infrastructure to attract international companies to the Bay State. Healey said the fee for starting a new business would drop 80% from 500 to $100 under her bill. The Legislature has yet to review the proposal.
[00:05:26] Boston's about to get really crowded. From the Boston Marathon and Patriots Day celebrations to packed sports schedules and Historic America 250 events this weekend shaping up to be one of the busiest of the year, travelers are already feeling it. From road closures to Logan Airport, thousands of runners and visitors are arriving in the city ahead of the 130th Boston Marathon, and officials are urging everyone to plan ahead before heading out. For many, the weekend begins even before marathon Monday with the BAA 5K, an invitational mile taking place Saturday morning. Those races alone will trigger road closures across parts of Boston, especially in the Back Bay. At the same time, Boston's turning back the clock. America's 250th anniversary events are bringing Revolutionary War history to life across downtown Boston and the North End. The lineup includes a midnight ride walking tour on Saturday, reenactments of Paul Revere's and William Dawes historic rides on Monday, the annual Patriots Day Parade. The Red Sox are hosting a four game series against the Detroit Tigers at Fenway park from today through Monday.
[00:06:42] On Sunday, the Celtics open their playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers at the TD Garden. Parking restrictions and road closures will be in effect across large sections of Boston all weekend. It's Instead, officials recommend using public transportation blue bikes or rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, and the T advises riders to purchase round trip fares ahead of time to make getting home easier. Riders should also be aware that Copley Station will be closed all day on Monday for public safety reasons.
[00:07:19] The City of Quincy presents Roads and Rivers, an American Songbook soft rock concert on Saturday from 1 to 5:45pm on the Hancock Adams Common and inside the United First Parish Church in Quincy Center. The music of Gordon Lightfoot, Cat Stevens, Harry Chapin, Creedence Clearwater Revival and more will be performed by live bands. The concert is free.
[00:07:45] City of Quincy Department of Natural Resources Environmental Treasures program presents Picnic in the Park Extravaganza on Saturday and from 10am to 1:30pm at Faxson Park. Participants will explore two miles of wooded paths and play disc golf, ping pong and basketball. Attendees may also bring their own lunch and eat at the new picnic pavilion. No registration is required.
[00:08:13] The United First Parish Church, the Church of Presidents and Quincy center will hold an Opening Day Historic Tour program on Sunday from noon to 4pm the church will then be open for tours Monday through Saturday from 11am to 4pm and on Sundays from noon to 4pm the Blue Hill Observatory and Science center in Milton will hold a Climb for a Better Tomorrow fundraiser on Saturday from 10am to 3pm Participants will hike Great Blue Hill, then enjoy entertainment, refreshments, an event T shirt and goodie bag and a free tour of the Weather Observatory as part of Earth day and visit bluehill.org for more information.
[00:09:00] North Quincy High School baseball will honor past league championship teams from 1979, 1989, 2009 and 2025 next Tuesday at 5:30pm at Adams Field.
[00:09:16] At 6pm North Quincy will play Quincy in the opening round of the Stephen J. Sullivan Tournament. Players and their families are invited to Malachi Saloon in Quincy center for a celebration after that game.
[00:09:30] Visiting hours for retired Quincy Fire Department Captain Tom Lyons are being held today from 4 to 8pm at Kohane Funeral Home in Quincy. An 11am Mass will be held Saturday at Sacred Heart Church in North Quincy, with burial at a later date. The Mass will also be live streamed on Kohane.com donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Croix Health Hospice Care.
[00:09:58] Check of business news this morning and stocks are higher. The Dow rose 115. The Nasdaq's up 86. The S&P added 18.
[00:10:07] Asian stocks mostly lower, even after Wall street set another record as investors watch for signs of more US Iran talks and an extension of the ceasefire of the Iran war that's expiring next week.
[00:10:22] The dollar rose, the euro was up and oil at $98 a barrel.
[00:10:27] In sports, Red Sox do host Detroit tonight at 7:15.
[00:10:33] There's the Celtics and Sixers Sunday at 1:00', clock, first round of the NBA playoffs and then the Bruins at Buffalo Sunday night at 7:30 for the Stanley cup playoffs. Game 1 forecast from the National Weather Service today, scattered showers high of 69 tonight, cloudy low 58. Tomorrow, mostly cloudy, high of 53.
[00:10:57] Rain on Sunday high 55.
[00:10:59] Partly cloudy Monday, high 48 for the boater, waves 1 to 2ft. Northwest winds at 5 to 10 knots, becoming northeast 10 to 15 at a high tide. 11:58am Sunrise 5:59 sets at 7:27.
[00:11:16] I'm Joe Catalano with an AM Quincy news update for Friday, April 17th.
