Episode Transcript
[00:00:16] I'm Joe Catalano with an AM Quincy news update for Friday, March 6th. National Grid crews were working on restoring power to a portion of House Neck and Quincy this morning.
[00:00:28] Police say a transformer fire near 59 Spring street just before 2:30 this morning knocked out power in that area. National Grid says 31 customers were impacted and power was expected to be restored this morning.
[00:00:43] A woman suffered a leg injury after being struck by a hit and run driver in Quincy center last evening. Police say the woman was hit by a car at Hancock and Dimmock streets just after 6pm the victim was taken by ambulance to Boston Medical Medical center with minor injuries. Police are searching for a black midsize SUV in connection with that incident.
[00:01:08] The Quincy City Council is looking for an update on the theft of $3.5 million from the Quincy Retirement and Pension Fund that occurred five years ago this week. Ward 6 counselor Deborah Riley, chair of the Finance Committee, issued a resolution asking for members of the board to appear before them with an update. Riley said a similar request for an update was made by the City Council three years ago, but there was never any report. The theft was discovered in October of 2021 where scammers infiltrated a dormant email account of the former retirement system director that had never been closed and then conned an investment manager into transferring the funds, which have never been recovered. The scammers have not been caught.
[00:01:59] The building that housed Sully's Bar in Quincy center for over 80 years has been demolished. Crews this week tore down the brick building on Chestnut street in preparation for a new five story, 100 unit apartment building and parking garage. Quincy Mutual Fire Insurance Company is developing the new project to be called MacArthur Landing. The project will include nine townhouses and 91 apartments and will also be a brick building. Sully's closed in 2018 after 84 years in business operated by the Sullivan family. Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch said the iconic Sully's neon sign will be preserved and may be displayed in a public location in the future.
[00:02:50] One body was recovered yesterday and a search is ongoing for a second person after a fishing vessel overturned off the tip of Cape Cod. First notification about the overturned vessel was received just before noon yesterday, officials said. The report indicated the Yankee rose was about 3 nautical miles northeast of Race Point when it overturned with two people on board. Crews from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod arrived just after noontime to conduct the search. A rescue swimmer reached a fisherman from the overturned vessel. They were brought aboard a Massachusetts environmental police boat. Life saving measures were attempted, but the fisherman died according to the Coast Guard. The search for the second fisherman from the Yankee Rose is continuing. A photo of the vessel showed it still overturned in the water as of last night. The owner of the New Bedford based vessel said the Yankee Rose often docked in Provincetown, where the day boat looks for scallops.
[00:03:54] A former Stoughton police officer accused of killing 23 year old Sandra Birchmore and her unborn baby appeared in federal court in South Boston yesterday where his defense attorneys asked to have the charges against him thrown out. Matthew Farwell appeared wearing a tan jail jumpsuit with shackles around his hands and legs and watching as his attorneys argued that the government failed to explain a federal offense and lacked specificity. Farwell is accused of strangling and killing 23 year old Sandra Birchmore, who was pregnant at the time, in her Canton apartment in 2021. Federal prosecutors argue he then staged her death to make it look like she committed suicide. He was arrested in August of 2024 and and later indicted in the death of Birchmore's unborn baby. Authorities said Farwell began a sexual relationship with Birchmore when she was 15 years old and a student in his class. For young people interested in law enforcement careers, the judge took the motion under advisement. Trial is set to begin in October.
[00:05:07] Stonehill College is purchasing the Easton country Club, a 150 acre golf course in Easton. Easton Country Club will remain a semi private venue open to Stonehill students, faculty, staff and alumni as well as the broader local golfing community.
[00:05:27] Current operations are expected to remain largely unchanged. General Manager Mark Lombardi will continue overseeing the club and league play. Public tee times and existing club programming will still be offered. The purchase aligns with goals outlined in Stonehill 2030 building together the college's five year strategic plan focused on student growth. The course will also serve as a home for Stonehill Athletics. College says it will support the women's golf team and help launch a new men's golf program during the 202728 season in NCAA Division 1. School officials at the property will create hands on learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, including coursework, case studies and student employment opportunities.
[00:06:18] Gillette Stadium announced yesterday that Kraft Sports and Entertainment committed to helping cover the security costs of hosting seven World cup games at the venue this summer. The announcement comes after Foxborough Town officials and the Boston host committee went back and forth over who would cover the costs of security during the games. The security bill, estimated to be $7.8 million, was the cause of concern after the Foxborough Select Board threatened in February that they would not sign off on the games until they knew who was paying the security tab. In a commitment letter, Craft Sports and Entertainment said payments would not exceed $1.5 million and that payments to Boston Soccer 26 would be made in minimum amounts of $100,000 from time to time upon request. However, the chair of the Foxborough Select Board responded to the announcement saying the town had not reached an agreement with respect to the Kraft Group and Boston Soccer 2026's proposed to funding arrangement. The Foxborough Select Board would still have to vote on approving the license.
[00:07:33] Governor Healey announced a $1.2 billion project to replace and expand the North Station drawbridge over the Charles river, which will create thousands of jobs for union workers in the state. The bridge, a vital connection for commuters traveling to the TD Garden for events, sees 1100 trains and over 80,000 passengers daily. It is aging and in need of repair. The state has secured $472 million from the federal government to replace the Depression era drawbridge. Governor announced a labor agreement between the MBTA and the Greater Boston Building Trades which will undertake the project.
[00:08:17] MBTA General Manager Phil Ang said commuters will have the opportunity to observe the work as it progresses. Healy said work is slated to begin immediately and the project is scheduled to be done by 2032 Quincy Public School nurses will be honored during this year's annual Remember the Ladies event in honor of Women's History Month. Mayor Thomas Koch says the city will recognize the essential role school nurses play in the health, safety and well being of Quincy's students and and families. The event is scheduled for March 28 from noon to 2 at the auditorium at Quincy High School. City has held a Remember the Ladies celebration for the past several years to celebrate the legacy of First Lady Abigail Adams. This year the city will also honor the life and legacy of Grace Eng Toy, a Chinese American nurse from Quincy. Toy served as an army nurse during World War II, then became the first Asian American hired as a nurse in the Quincy Public Schools. Toy died in 1998. The event is free and open to the public. Partial funding for the event is being provided by a state grant.
[00:09:34] A blood drive is being held at the Kennedy center in quincy today from 9am to 3:30pm The Kraft family Blood Donor center will conduct the drive for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital.
[00:09:49] Each donor will receive their choice of a $15 target or Amazon gift card. You can call 617-632-3206 to schedule an appointment. Walk ins are welcome as time allows. All donors must present a photo ID.
[00:10:08] Save the Harbor Save the Bay will hold their 16th annual Shamrock Splash fundraiser Sunday from noon to 3pm at Constitution beach in East Boston. The event raises money to provide for free events on state run beaches from Nahant to Nantasket, including Wollaston beach in Quincy. Visit savetheharbor.org or friendsofwallaston.com for more information.
[00:10:36] A check of business news this morning and stocks are down. The Dow plummeted 784 points. The Nasdaq lost 58. The S&P dropped 38. Asian stocks were mixed. The dollar rose, the euro was flat. Oil is now over $80 a barrel and sports Bruins lost to Nashville six to three. They're hosting the Washington Capitals tomorrow at 12:30. Tonight the Celtics host Dallas at seven.
[00:11:10] The forecast from the National Weather Service today spotty rain and drizzle, the high of 36 degrees. Slow clearing tonight and lows drop off to the lower 30s. Tomorrow, mainly cloudy, the high of 48. Sunday, partial sunshine at a high 60 and then Monday, partly sunny with a high of 64 degrees.
[00:11:34] The marine forecast calls for 2 to 3 foot waves. Northeast winds at 10 to 15, gusting to 25 knots. High tide 1:18pm Sunrise 611 sets at 5:39. Traffic note the Four River Bridge is scheduled to open at 9 o' clock this morning.
[00:11:53] Also a note this is the weekend that we spring ahead. Daylight Saving Time Begins Sunday at 2am Set your clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed on Saturday night. I'm Joe Catalano with an AEM Quincy news update for Friday, March 6th.
