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Tag: WCVB

  • NICU nurse gifted Patriots playoff, Super Bowl tickets amid cancer battle

    Regardless of the outcome of Sunday’s game, the New England Patriots are already making dreams come true.Shelly Sepulveda, a local NICU nurse, has been battling cancer for the last two years. The mother of six, five of whom were adopted, has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer three times since 2024.”I know I have limited time here on this Earth, so I created a bucket list and one of the things on that bucket list was to go to a Pats game,” she said.Sepulveda didn’t go to just any game; she went to last week’s playoff game against the Los Angeles Chargers.”I got to go on the field, I got to go in and see the players up close and personal,” she said. “I cried when I went on the field. It was just an amazing experience.”The game was a highlight for Sepulveda in what has been an unimaginable two years.The Kraft Foundation heard she was a fan and invited her to the game. And the excitement didn’t stop there.Kraft gifted her a ticket to the Super Bowl. “I’ve been on Cloud Nine ever since, even though I had some unfortunate news,” Sepulveda said.This past Tuesday, she found out her body is no longer responding to chemotherapy.She’s now trying to get into a clinical trial.The Super Bowl ticket is giving her hope and inspiration as she fights this disease.”I know that it’s a gift from them, but I don’t know really if they really understand how much it impacts me mentally, physically,” she said. “I want them to know how much this is keeping me going. And I have the Pats to thank for that.”

    Regardless of the outcome of Sunday’s game, the New England Patriots are already making dreams come true.

    Shelly Sepulveda, a local NICU nurse, has been battling cancer for the last two years.

    The mother of six, five of whom were adopted, has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer three times since 2024.

    “I know I have limited time here on this Earth, so I created a bucket list and one of the things on that bucket list was to go to a Pats game,” she said.

    Sepulveda didn’t go to just any game; she went to last week’s playoff game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

    “I got to go on the field, I got to go in and see the players up close and personal,” she said. “I cried when I went on the field. It was just an amazing experience.”

    The game was a highlight for Sepulveda in what has been an unimaginable two years.

    The Kraft Foundation heard she was a fan and invited her to the game.

    And the excitement didn’t stop there.

    Kraft gifted her a ticket to the Super Bowl.

    “I’ve been on Cloud Nine ever since, even though I had some unfortunate news,” Sepulveda said.

    This past Tuesday, she found out her body is no longer responding to chemotherapy.

    She’s now trying to get into a clinical trial.

    The Super Bowl ticket is giving her hope and inspiration as she fights this disease.

    “I know that it’s a gift from them, but I don’t know really if they really understand how much it impacts me mentally, physically,” she said. “I want them to know how much this is keeping me going. And I have the Pats to thank for that.”

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  • Authorities examine possible connection between Brown shooting, MIT professor’s slaying

    Police have identified a person they believe is connected to the mass shooting at Brown University and the killing of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor in Brookline, Massachusetts, earlier this week, sources tell Boston sister station WCVB.Multiple media outlets, including CNN, ABC News, and CBS News, have reported that a search warrant for an individual has been signed and that investigators are actively seeking that person. The Associated Press and the New York Times also report that police are actively seeking an individual.No name has been released. Hundreds of investigators are involved in the region-wide search for the person. Sources tell WCVB the search for the suspect now includes New Hampshire.Related video below: Former FBI Assistant Director details agencies’ work in identifying person of interest in MIT professor, Brown shootingsNuno F.G. Loureiro, 47, was shot Monday night at his home on Gibbs Street at about 9 p.m. He was taken to an area hospital with apparent gunshot wounds and died the next morning, according to the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office.Loureiro was an MIT faculty member in the departments of Nuclear Science & Engineering and Physics, as well as the Director of MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center. On Saturday, two Brown University students were killed and nine others were wounded when a gunman opened fire in the Barus & Holley engineering building, where exams were scheduled. “We don’t know the motive of either one of these shootings, but from an investigative standpoint, what could possibly match? Shell casings from the scene, he left those at MIT, it could also be from surveillance cameras in and around the professor’s house or on the campus,” former FBI agent Brad Garrett said.The two students killed in the shooting shooting at Brown were identified as Ella Cook, a Birmingham, Alabama, native and leader of the College Republicans at Brown, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, a freshman who was studying to become a doctor. The gunman in both slayings remains unidentified and at large. In the days since the Brown shooting, investigators have released a series of images from area security cameras of a person of interest. They describe the person as wearing a two-tone coat and about 5 feet 8 inches tall. In all the images, however, the person’s face is partially covered by a mask and hair is covered by a winter hat. The person spent hours in the neighborhood around the university on Saturday.Video below: Former Rhode Island AG on FBI investigation into Brown, MIT shootingsIn Brookline, Loureiro’s neighbors reported hearing multiple gunshots Monday night. “We heard a really loud noise. I thought it sounded like a crashing noise, but my husband heard it, and he said it sounded like gunshots,” neighbor Anne Greenwald said.No images of a suspected gunman or vehicle in that case have been released to the public. Loureiro, who grew up in Portugal and joined MIT in 2016, was named last year to lead MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center, where he aimed to advance clean energy technology and other research. Brookline is about 50 miles north of Providence.Anyone with information about the case is asked to submit tips to investigators through the FBI’s website or by calling 401-272-3121. A reward of up to $50,000 is offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

    BROOKLINE, Mass. —

    Police have identified a person they believe is connected to the mass shooting at Brown University and the killing of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor in Brookline, Massachusetts, earlier this week, sources tell Boston sister station WCVB.

    Multiple media outlets, including CNN, ABC News, and CBS News, have reported that a search warrant for an individual has been signed and that investigators are actively seeking that person. The Associated Press and the New York Times also report that police are actively seeking an individual.

    No name has been released. Hundreds of investigators are involved in the region-wide search for the person. Sources tell WCVB the search for the suspect now includes New Hampshire.

    Related video below: Former FBI Assistant Director details agencies’ work in identifying person of interest in MIT professor, Brown shootings

    Nuno F.G. Loureiro, 47, was shot Monday night at his home on Gibbs Street at about 9 p.m. He was taken to an area hospital with apparent gunshot wounds and died the next morning, according to the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office.

    Loureiro was an MIT faculty member in the departments of Nuclear Science & Engineering and Physics, as well as the Director of MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center.

    On Saturday, two Brown University students were killed and nine others were wounded when a gunman opened fire in the Barus & Holley engineering building, where exams were scheduled.

    “We don’t know the motive of either one of these shootings, but from an investigative standpoint, what could possibly match? Shell casings from the scene, he left those at MIT, it could also be from surveillance cameras in and around the professor’s house or on the campus,” former FBI agent Brad Garrett said.

    The two students killed in the shooting shooting at Brown were identified as Ella Cook, a Birmingham, Alabama, native and leader of the College Republicans at Brown, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, a freshman who was studying to become a doctor.

    The gunman in both slayings remains unidentified and at large.

    In the days since the Brown shooting, investigators have released a series of images from area security cameras of a person of interest. They describe the person as wearing a two-tone coat and about 5 feet 8 inches tall. In all the images, however, the person’s face is partially covered by a mask and hair is covered by a winter hat. The person spent hours in the neighborhood around the university on Saturday.

    Video below: Former Rhode Island AG on FBI investigation into Brown, MIT shootings

    In Brookline, Loureiro’s neighbors reported hearing multiple gunshots Monday night.

    “We heard a really loud noise. I thought it sounded like a crashing noise, but my husband heard it, and he said it sounded like gunshots,” neighbor Anne Greenwald said.

    No images of a suspected gunman or vehicle in that case have been released to the public.

    Loureiro, who grew up in Portugal and joined MIT in 2016, was named last year to lead MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center, where he aimed to advance clean energy technology and other research.

    Brookline is about 50 miles north of Providence.

    Anyone with information about the case is asked to submit tips to investigators through the FBI’s website or by calling 401-272-3121. A reward of up to $50,000 is offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

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  • Former Massachusetts mayor shares harrowing story of surviving near-fatal stabbing

    NewsCenter 5 sat down with former Fall River, Massachusetts, Mayor Will Flanagan on Thursday as he shared his experience of surviving a near-fatal stabbing attack.On Oct. 20, 2025, Flanagan, who served as mayor from 2010 to 2014, was walking on Hartwell Street when he was stabbed several times by an unknown assailant.Surveillance video showed the moment the suspect ran up to Flanagan from behind before making striking motions toward his head and neck. Flanagan said he never saw the attack coming. “I pop up to my feet, I walk over to wear … the seniors told me I was stabbed,” Flanagan told NewsCenter 5. “They convinced me to call 911 because I’m confused, I’m not sure what’s happening.”Flanagan said he got on the phone with 911 dispatch and told them his location. “I told the operator, ‘Please send rescue, I think I’m dying.’”The former Fall River mayor describes being in the ambulance within minutes and being transported to St. Luke’s Hospital.He says the EMTs reassured him to stay awake because of the amount of blood he was losing.After arriving at St. Luke’s, Flanagan said he was taken in for imaging and continued to spit up blood.”The doctor said, ‘We need to put him on a ventilator, we don’t have much time,’” Flanagan said.At that point, Flanagan asked to briefly see his family.Hospital staff then worked diligently to repair the deep lacerations to his head and neck.”Next thing I knew, I woke up on the ventilator,” he said.Flanagan said the near-death experience has changed him.”I feel it definitely will change how I go out into the world, but the more I think about it, the more I think as a society we have to focus more on mental health,” he said. “My attacker should not have been on the streets; he should’ve been in some facility where he was getting the help he needed.”Flanagan says society needs to put more emphasis on mental health and getting potentially violent offenders off the street and into the correct institutions.”I think of the Ukrainian girl who was stabbed on the train who was killed … her attacker fits the same description as my attacker,” he said. “People like that cannot be on the streets of America.”Flanagan said he thought about what it would take to get people like his attacker the help they needed while lying in his hospital bed.He says President Trump should revisit the idea of opening institutions and asylums.Beyond that, Flanagan says the experience brought him closer to his faith.”I do believe God saved my life,” the former mayor said.His goal is to be “independent and back to normal life” by Christmas, and he credits his children as powerful motivators to getting him healthier and stronger every day. “When I spoke to the eye doctor yesterday he looked me in the face and said, ‘Do you know how lucky you are?’ I said, ‘I believe I do.’ And he goes, ‘No, you’re like Powerball lucky,’” Flanagan said. Despite the life-altering experience, Flanagan says he will still continue to walk around Fall River, but will be much more aware of his surroundings.”It’s my city,” he said.Corree Gonzales, 31, was arrested in connection with the stabbing just days after the attack. He was charged with two felonies in the attack on Flanagan, including armed assault to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury.Flanagan says neither he nor the police know what weapon was used or why Gonzales allegedly committed the crime.According to Fall River police, Gonzales has an extensive criminal record.He was ordered to undergo further mental health evaluations at Bridgewater State Hospital after pleading not guilty in his arraignment on Oct. 22. Gonzales has an extensive criminal record and court paperwork from arrests in 2024 have listed him as homeless.In one incident, Gonzales allegedly threatened his mother and sister. A police report stated that his mother told officers that Gonzales had suffered from mental illness since he was 15 years old.

    NewsCenter 5 sat down with former Fall River, Massachusetts, Mayor Will Flanagan on Thursday as he shared his experience of surviving a near-fatal stabbing attack.

    On Oct. 20, 2025, Flanagan, who served as mayor from 2010 to 2014, was walking on Hartwell Street when he was stabbed several times by an unknown assailant.

    Surveillance video showed the moment the suspect ran up to Flanagan from behind before making striking motions toward his head and neck.

    Flanagan said he never saw the attack coming.

    “I pop up to my feet, I walk over to wear [the senior housing facility is] … the seniors told me I was stabbed,” Flanagan told NewsCenter 5. “They convinced me to call 911 because I’m confused, I’m not sure what’s happening.”

    Flanagan said he got on the phone with 911 dispatch and told them his location. “I told the operator, ‘Please send rescue, I think I’m dying.’”

    The former Fall River mayor describes being in the ambulance within minutes and being transported to St. Luke’s Hospital.

    He says the EMTs reassured him to stay awake because of the amount of blood he was losing.

    After arriving at St. Luke’s, Flanagan said he was taken in for imaging and continued to spit up blood.

    “The doctor said, ‘We need to put him on a ventilator, we don’t have much time,’” Flanagan said.

    At that point, Flanagan asked to briefly see his family.

    Hospital staff then worked diligently to repair the deep lacerations to his head and neck.

    “Next thing I knew, I woke up on the ventilator,” he said.

    Flanagan said the near-death experience has changed him.

    “I feel it definitely will change how I go out into the world, but the more I think about it, the more I think as a society we have to focus more on mental health,” he said. “My attacker should not have been on the streets; he should’ve been in some facility where he was getting the help he needed.”

    Flanagan says society needs to put more emphasis on mental health and getting potentially violent offenders off the street and into the correct institutions.

    “I think of the Ukrainian girl who was stabbed on the train who was killed … her attacker fits the same description as my attacker,” he said. “People like that cannot be on the streets of America.”

    Flanagan said he thought about what it would take to get people like his attacker the help they needed while lying in his hospital bed.

    He says President Trump should revisit the idea of opening institutions and asylums.

    Beyond that, Flanagan says the experience brought him closer to his faith.

    “I do believe God saved my life,” the former mayor said.

    His goal is to be “independent and back to normal life” by Christmas, and he credits his children as powerful motivators to getting him healthier and stronger every day.

    “When I spoke to the eye doctor yesterday he looked me in the face and said, ‘Do you know how lucky you are?’ I said, ‘I believe I do.’ And he goes, ‘No, you’re like Powerball lucky,’” Flanagan said.

    Despite the life-altering experience, Flanagan says he will still continue to walk around Fall River, but will be much more aware of his surroundings.

    “It’s my city,” he said.

    Corree Gonzales, 31, was arrested in connection with the stabbing just days after the attack. He was charged with two felonies in the attack on Flanagan, including armed assault to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury.

    Flanagan says neither he nor the police know what weapon was used or why Gonzales allegedly committed the crime.

    According to Fall River police, Gonzales has an extensive criminal record.

    He was ordered to undergo further mental health evaluations at Bridgewater State Hospital after pleading not guilty in his arraignment on Oct. 22.

    Gonzales has an extensive criminal record and court paperwork from arrests in 2024 have listed him as homeless.

    In one incident, Gonzales allegedly threatened his mother and sister. A police report stated that his mother told officers that Gonzales had suffered from mental illness since he was 15 years old.

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  • Investigation underway into suspected intentional explosion at Harvard University medical campus

    Overnight explosion at Harvard University’s medical campus believed to be intentional, police say

    Updated: 12:56 PM PDT Nov 1, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    The Harvard University Police Department is investigating what it is calling an intentional explosion inside a building on the medical campus early Saturday morning.Police say the explosion occurred around 2:48 a.m. on the fourth floor of the Goldenson Building at 220 Longwood Ave.There were no reports of any injuries.A responding officer saw two people fleeing the scene and tried stopping them, but was unsuccessful, according to police.Investigators from the Boston Fire Department Arson Unit made an initial assessment that the explosion appeared to be intentional.Boston police officers conducted a sweep of the building to check for additional devices.The Harvard University Police Department is actively investigating the incident, as well as the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. No further information was immediately available.

    The Harvard University Police Department is investigating what it is calling an intentional explosion inside a building on the medical campus early Saturday morning.

    Police say the explosion occurred around 2:48 a.m. on the fourth floor of the Goldenson Building at 220 Longwood Ave.

    There were no reports of any injuries.

    A responding officer saw two people fleeing the scene and tried stopping them, but was unsuccessful, according to police.

    Investigators from the Boston Fire Department Arson Unit made an initial assessment that the explosion appeared to be intentional.

    Boston police officers conducted a sweep of the building to check for additional devices.

    The Harvard University Police Department is actively investigating the incident, as well as the FBI and other law enforcement agencies.

    No further information was immediately available.

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  • Kendama enthusiasts bring ancient game to life in Boston

    Kendama enthusiasts bring ancient game to life in Boston

    BOSTON PUBLIC GARDEN WITHOUT STUMBLING UPON SOMETHING TRULY FASCINATING. OH YEAH, TODAY, KENDAMA. THERE ARE SEPARATE PARTS, RIGHT? THIS IS CALLED SOMETHING. IT’S THE KEN AND THE TAMA, WHICH TRANSLATES TO SWORD AND BALL. KEN. THE SWORD AND THE TAMA. THE BALL. KENDAMA MEANS BALL AND SWORD GAME. THE GAME’S ORIGINS ARE SOMEWHAT MYSTERIOUS. SOME TRACE IT TO THE FRENCH BALL AND CUP GAME POPULAR ACROSS EUROPE IN THE 16TH AND 17TH CENTURIES. HOWEVER, IT ARRIVED, THE TOY JOURNEYED ACROSS CONTINENTS AND CENTURIES BEFORE EVOLVING INTO THE GAME. WE’RE LEARNING ABOUT TODAY. WHEN I PICK UP THIS OBJECT AND I JUST START PLAYING WITH IT, I GO, IT’S NOT LIKE SOMEWHERE ELSE, BUT I’M JUST MORE KIND OF HERE. I’M JUST PLAYING WITH THE KENDAMA. THAT’S THAT’S ALL MY BRAIN IS THINKING ABOUT. I’M USING MY HANDS A LITTLE HAND-EYE. I’M THINKING ABOUT WHAT TRICKS I WANT TO DO. SOMETIMES YOU REALLY GET DOWN TO MOVE TO LIKE, CATCH SOMETHING, AND THAT FEELS GOOD TO MOVE YOUR BODY. A RARE BUT FAST GROWING PURSUIT THAT BLENDS THE PRECISION OF JUGGLING THE INTENSITY OF SWORD FIGHTING, AND THE FLAIR OF A DANCE BATTLE ALL WITHIN A POCKET SIZED TOY. BUT IS IT A GAME OR A SPORT? KENDAMA IS A VERY NEW SPORT, SO THERE AREN’T A LOT OF RULES AND REGULATIONS ON WHAT THE RIGHT WAY TO PLAY IS. AND WE KIND OF, AS A COMMUNITY, ARE FIGURING IT OUT OURSELVES. IT’S FREESTYLE WHERE PEOPLE GO HEAD TO HEAD AND THEY GET LIKE 45 SECONDS TO A MINUTE ON STAGE, AND THEN A SET OF JUDGES DETERMINES WHICH TRICKS THEY LIKED MORE. YEAH, WE MAY NOT ALL BE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE GRACEFUL FLOW OF BRANT DUFFY AND FINN POUNDS, BOTH LEADERS IN MASS KENDAMA, A GROUP THAT MEETS EVERY SUNDAY AT THE QUINCY QUARRY TO SESH. IT’S A WOODEN STICK WITH CUPS AND A SPIKE, PLUS A BALL ON A STRING. SIMPLE, RIGHT? SO YOU CAN SPIN THE BALL AND KEEP YOUR EYE RIGHT ON THAT CENTER HOLE. A NICE GRIP ON THE KEN. THE REAL MAGIC IS IN THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE BALL AND GRAVITY. DO YOU THINK I’LL EVER GET IT ON THERE, GUYS? YES. OH! MILLIMETERS. I HAVE FOUND MY KRYPTONITE. YOU SWING, YOU MISS, YOU TRY AGAIN. BUT WHEN THE BALL FINALLY LANDS IN A CUP OR SPIKES PERFECTLY, WHEN YOU GET YOUR FIRST SPIKE, YOU SEE PEOPLE’S EYES LIGHT UP IMMEDIATELY. IT’S JUST LIKE WORLD CHANGING. AT LEAST IT WAS FOR ME. AND PRACTICE, AS THEY SAY, MAKES PERFECT ISH. OH, THANK GOODNESS, THANK GOODNESS. OK

    Visitors to the Boston Public Garden are discovering the captivating world of Kendama, a centuries-old toy that combines elements of juggling, sword fighting, and dance. The origins of Kendama are somewhat mysterious, with some tracing it to the French ball-and-cup toy popular in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries. It is believed to have reached Japan around the same time, possibly traveling along the Silk Road from China.”When I pick this up, I am just here, all I am thinking about is Kendama,” said one enthusiast. “Sometimes you really get down and that feels good to move the body, so it is body and mind and spirit.”Kendama is a fast-growing pursuit that blends precision, intensity, and flair within a pocket-sized toy. While some consider it a game, others view it as a sport. “Kendama is kind of a new sport, so there are not a lot of rules on how to play, so as a community we are figuring it out ourselves,” said a participant. The Kendama Boston Group meets every Sunday at the Quincy Quarry to “jam” or “sesh.”

    Visitors to the Boston Public Garden are discovering the captivating world of Kendama, a centuries-old toy that combines elements of juggling, sword fighting, and dance. The origins of Kendama are somewhat mysterious, with some tracing it to the French ball-and-cup toy popular in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries. It is believed to have reached Japan around the same time, possibly traveling along the Silk Road from China.

    “When I pick this up, I am just here, all I am thinking about is Kendama,” said one enthusiast. “Sometimes you really get down and that feels good to move the body, so it is body and mind and spirit.”

    Kendama is a fast-growing pursuit that blends precision, intensity, and flair within a pocket-sized toy. While some consider it a game, others view it as a sport. “Kendama is kind of a new sport, so there are not a lot of rules on how to play, so as a community we are figuring it out ourselves,” said a participant.

    The Kendama Boston Group meets every Sunday at the Quincy Quarry to “jam” or “sesh.”

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  • ‘Like a tanning bed for your nails’: Doctor sounds alarm over gel manicures

    One of the most popular ways to get your nails done is now banned in parts of Europe. And an expert says that should give everyone pause. “I was counseling patients or trying to steer them in other directions or alternatives,” said Dr. Farah Moustafa, a dermatologist and the director of Laser and Cosmetics at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts.That included Yara, who has been getting gel manicures regularly for about a decade. “I get them done every two or three weeks,” she said. “It makes my nails look very shiny and hardens them. It also lasts longer.”But when she noticed her nails getting really weak, she turned to Moustafa for advice.”She recommended that I stop getting gel nail polish done,” Yara said. Moustafa said she’s been worried about gel manicures for years, before the European Union banned the polish because of a chemical that may raise concerns about fertility. “The ban was based on some animal studies in which rats were fed large quantities of TPO and they were found to have fertility issues, and it was reproductively toxic,” Moustafa said. TPO stands for trimenthylbenzoyl diphenylphoshine oxide — a long name for a chemical agent that allows the nail polish to harden when exposed to UV light. That’s long been the appeal of gel polish: the shiny seal that makes the color last for weeks instead of days. There have been no scientific studies that definitively establish a link between TPO and health risks in humans. And a ban in the United States is seen as unlikely. Moustafa said, the chemical aside, the UV exposure has always worried her when it comes to gel. “The UV exposure is not good for your hands long-term and does increase your risk of skin cancer of the nail bed,” she said. “It’s like a tanning bed for your nails.”Moustafa suggests patients look at the labels before picking their polish or consider alternatives like dip powder or dazzle dry. For Yara, it was enough to make her hit pause, even though she admits she loves gel polish.”I’m going to try my best to stick with it,” she said. “I’ll probably do it occasionally when I have a wedding or something. But for now, day to day, I think I’m going to stick to regular nail polish.”

    BOSTON —

    One of the most popular ways to get your nails done is now banned in parts of Europe. And an expert says that should give everyone pause.

    “I was counseling patients or trying to steer them in other directions or alternatives,” said Dr. Farah Moustafa, a dermatologist and the director of Laser and Cosmetics at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts.

    That included Yara, who has been getting gel manicures regularly for about a decade.

    “I get them done every two or three weeks,” she said. “It makes my nails look very shiny and hardens them. It also lasts longer.”

    But when she noticed her nails getting really weak, she turned to Moustafa for advice.

    “She recommended that I stop getting gel nail polish done,” Yara said.

    Moustafa said she’s been worried about gel manicures for years, before the European Union banned the polish because of a chemical that may raise concerns about fertility.

    “The ban was based on some animal studies in which rats were fed large quantities of TPO and they were found to have fertility issues, and it was reproductively toxic,” Moustafa said.

    TPO stands for trimenthylbenzoyl diphenylphoshine oxide — a long name for a chemical agent that allows the nail polish to harden when exposed to UV light. That’s long been the appeal of gel polish: the shiny seal that makes the color last for weeks instead of days.

    There have been no scientific studies that definitively establish a link between TPO and health risks in humans. And a ban in the United States is seen as unlikely.

    Moustafa said, the chemical aside, the UV exposure has always worried her when it comes to gel.

    “The UV exposure is not good for your hands long-term and does increase your risk of skin cancer of the nail bed,” she said. “It’s like a tanning bed for your nails.”

    Moustafa suggests patients look at the labels before picking their polish or consider alternatives like dip powder or dazzle dry.

    For Yara, it was enough to make her hit pause, even though she admits she loves gel polish.

    “I’m going to try my best to stick with it,” she said. “I’ll probably do it occasionally when I have a wedding or something. But for now, day to day, I think I’m going to stick to regular nail polish.”

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  • WATCH: Young humpback whale soars into the air

    WATCH: Young humpback whale soars into the air

    SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN 2026. YOU GOT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS VIDEO HERE. AN AMAZING SIGHT. LOOK AT THAT IN THE BOSTON HARBOR, BOATERS CAPTURING THE WHALE, BREACHING A LITTLE TOO CLOSE TO THEM. HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE O

    A young humpback whale continues to be spotted by boaters in Boston Harbor, with videos showing the juvenile soaring into the air as it feeds on fish.New video from Wednesday showed the young humpback whale beaching very close to a boat fishing near Spectacle Island, about 1.5 miles from Castle Island in South Boston. The presence of the whale in a corridor busy with boat traffic prompted the MBTA to share a bulletin about its ferry service. “Ferry service may experience minor delays,” the MBTA warned on Wednesday, “due to the presence of a juvenile humpback whale in Boston Harbor.”The young whale is believed to be the same one that has been hanging around since late July in the harbor, where they have been seen in the past, but typically depart after just a few days. According to NOAA, large whales can be a safety hazard for recreational boaters and fishermen because they can surface unexpectedly and are hard to detect. As whales feed at the surface and close to shore, the chances of encountering one increase.

    A young humpback whale continues to be spotted by boaters in Boston Harbor, with videos showing the juvenile soaring into the air as it feeds on fish.

    New video from Wednesday showed the young humpback whale beaching very close to a boat fishing near Spectacle Island, about 1.5 miles from Castle Island in South Boston.

    The presence of the whale in a corridor busy with boat traffic prompted the MBTA to share a bulletin about its ferry service.

    “Ferry service may experience minor delays,” the MBTA warned on Wednesday, “due to the presence of a juvenile humpback whale in Boston Harbor.”

    The young whale is believed to be the same one that has been hanging around since late July in the harbor, where they have been seen in the past, but typically depart after just a few days.

    According to NOAA, large whales can be a safety hazard for recreational boaters and fishermen because they can surface unexpectedly and are hard to detect.

    As whales feed at the surface and close to shore, the chances of encountering one increase.

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  • Woman loses $12,000 in ‘sleight of hand’ scam at ATM

    Woman loses $12,000 in ‘sleight of hand’ scam at ATM

    A Boston woman says she was scammed out of thousands of dollars by a man who claimed to be helping her at an automated teller machine.Megan Bates said Friday afternoon she decided to take out cash for lunch from a walk-up Bank of America ATM.Bates said that about ten seconds after she started walking away from the ATM following her withdrawal, a man called her over to the machine. According to Bates, the man said there was still money in the ATM’s cash dispenser slot and she saw a $10 bill sticking out of it. She also said the man stated there was something wrong with the ATM and pointed out a blinking red light on the machine.”He said: ‘Give me your card,’ and he took my card out of my hand and put it in the machine. He’s like: ‘Put your PIN number in.’ He’s like: ‘You have to close the transaction because it’s still open,’” Bates said. “It happened so fast, I didn’t even really think about it.”Bates thought the man was being very nice by trying to help her out until the next day when she looked at her bank statement and saw three withdrawals of $4,000 each had been made from her account.According to Bates, one withdrawal was made from the Bank of America at 60 State St., which is across from City Hall, and the other two were made from a Hanover Street location in the North End.Bates later realized that the debit card she had in her pocket was not her own, but a card that belonged to someone named Victor.”Somehow, between when the card came out (of the ATM) again, he switched the cards,” Bates said. “I don’t even know how he did it. Sleight of hand? I mean, the guy was a magician.”Bates reported what happened to the Boston Police Department and Bank of America, but she said she is left wondering how this could have happened because she said she has safeguards in place that prevent ATM withdrawals of more than $500 being made from her account at one time.”It’s frustrating to me that they can’t tell me why this happened, like why someone was able to withdraw that much money out of my account in one day,” Bates said.Bank of America told sister station NewsCenter 5 that this is a possible case of identity theft because the scammer made the withdrawals through a teller.Bates said the scam has left her in disbelief.”You feel really violated, right? That someone can suck you in,” she said. “I fell for it. I don’t know why I fell for it.”Bates said she is very embarrassed about what happened to her, but she spoke with sister station NewsCenter 5 in hopes of raising awareness of ATM scams so that something like this does not happen to anyone else.

    A Boston woman says she was scammed out of thousands of dollars by a man who claimed to be helping her at an automated teller machine.

    Megan Bates said Friday afternoon she decided to take out cash for lunch from a walk-up Bank of America ATM.

    Bates said that about ten seconds after she started walking away from the ATM following her withdrawal, a man called her over to the machine. According to Bates, the man said there was still money in the ATM’s cash dispenser slot and she saw a $10 bill sticking out of it. She also said the man stated there was something wrong with the ATM and pointed out a blinking red light on the machine.

    “He said: ‘Give me your card,’ and he took my card out of my hand and put it in the machine. He’s like: ‘Put your PIN number in.’ He’s like: ‘You have to close the transaction because it’s still open,’” Bates said. “It happened so fast, I didn’t even really think about it.”

    Bates thought the man was being very nice by trying to help her out until the next day when she looked at her bank statement and saw three withdrawals of $4,000 each had been made from her account.

    According to Bates, one withdrawal was made from the Bank of America at 60 State St., which is across from City Hall, and the other two were made from a Hanover Street location in the North End.

    Bates later realized that the debit card she had in her pocket was not her own, but a card that belonged to someone named Victor.

    “Somehow, between when the card came out (of the ATM) again, he switched the cards,” Bates said. “I don’t even know how he did it. Sleight of hand? I mean, the guy was a magician.”

    Bates reported what happened to the Boston Police Department and Bank of America, but she said she is left wondering how this could have happened because she said she has safeguards in place that prevent ATM withdrawals of more than $500 being made from her account at one time.

    “It’s frustrating to me that they can’t tell me why this happened, like why someone was able to withdraw that much money out of my account in one day,” Bates said.

    Bank of America told sister station NewsCenter 5 that this is a possible case of identity theft because the scammer made the withdrawals through a teller.

    Bates said the scam has left her in disbelief.

    “You feel really violated, right? That someone can suck you in,” she said. “I fell for it. I don’t know why I fell for it.”

    Bates said she is very embarrassed about what happened to her, but she spoke with sister station NewsCenter 5 in hopes of raising awareness of ATM scams so that something like this does not happen to anyone else.

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  • Woman loses hundreds of dollars trying to get Savannah Bananas tickets

    Woman loses hundreds of dollars trying to get Savannah Bananas tickets

    GAME. TED. WELL, MARIA THIS WEEKEND, NO DOUBT BOSTON POLICE ARE WARNING PEOPLE TO STEER CLEAR OF FAKE 2020 FOR GAME TWO. TICKETS AROUND TOWN. BUT THERE WAS ANOTHER GAME THIS WEEKEND AND A SOLD OUT EVENT. IT’S A SOLD OUT FENWAY PARK SATURDAY NIGHT. NOT FOR THE RED SOX, BUT FOR THE SAVANNAH BANANAS WORLD TOUR THIS TRAVELING BASEBALL SHOW IS HUGE WITH KIDS AND ADULTS. HOW AM I THE IDIOT THAT GETS SCAMMED? I SHOULD KNOW BETTER. CHERYL FROM WEYMOUTH SHARED HER STORY WITH US IN JANUARY. SHE WENT ONLINE LOOKING FOR BANANA TICKETS FOR JUNE 8TH AT FENWAY, ASKING A WOMAN ON FACEBOOK, HOW MUCH ARE YOU ASKING FOR THEM? THE SELLER SAYS $50 EACH. EVEN SHOWS THE SECTION, ROW AND SEATS SHE’S WILLING TO SELL. CHERYL WANTS UP TO EIGHT SEATS IN THE ONLINE SCAMMER SAYS MY UNCLE WORKS IN THE BANANAS OFFICE, SO IT WAS SUPER EASY TO GET THE TICKETS. WE WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO A FUN NIGHT. WE WERE GOING OUT, YOU KNOW, HAVING DINNER. CHERYL AND THE SCAMMER AGREE TO USE VENMO AS A PAYMENT OPTION. EIGHT TICKETS FOR $500. CHERYL THINKS SHE HAS THE ONLINE TICKETS IN HAND WITH A BARCODE. THEY LOOK LEGIT, RIGHT? UNTIL SHE TRIES TO GET INTO FENWAY TO SEE THE WORLD FAMOUS SAVANNAH BANANAS. AND CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS BAD NEWS FOR HER. JUST BEFORE GAME TIME, SHE’S TOLD ME THAT THEY’RE NOT REAL, LEGITIMATE SECONDARY TICKET BROKERS LIKE JOHN HIGGINS FROM HIGGS TICKETS HAS THIS ADVICE FOR ALL TICKET BUYERS, ESPECIALLY THE NBA FINALS. GET YOUR TICKETS FROM A REPUTABLE COMPANY. DON’T BE GOING TO CRAIGSLIST. THERE’S A LOT OF SCAMMERS OUT THERE. WHEN THE NBA FINALS COME IN TOWN. UH, DEFINITELY USE YOUR CREDIT CARD AND, UM, BUY FROM A REPUTABLE COMPANY. GO BACK LIVE. NOW YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE DIGITAL TICKET THAT CHERYL GOT IN THE STORY WE’RE TALKING ABOUT. BUT YOU SE

    Woman scammed out of $500 trying to get Savannah Bananas tickets

    The fun-loving, barnstorming baseball team played in front of a sold-out crowd at Fenway Park

    A Massachusetts woman says she spent hundreds of dollars on tickets to Saturday’s sold-out Savannah Bananas game at Fenway Park in Boston that wound up being counterfeits.A Weymouth, Massachusetts, resident named Cheryl said that when she was searching for tickets, she encountered a woman on Facebook who was initially offering tickets at $50 each.When Cheryl indicated she wanted up to eight seats, the Facebook user wrote: “My uncle works in the Bananas office, so it was super easy to get the tickets.””We were looking forward to a fun night and going out, having dinner,” Cheryl said.Cheryl said she agreed to use Venmo as a payment option and wound up getting the eight tickets for $500.The digital tickets Cheryl received had a QR code that looked legitimate, but she and her guests were unable to get into the Bananas game. The customer service team at Fenway Park then informed her that the QR codes on her tickets were bogus.”She’s the one that told me they’re not real,” Cheryl said. “How am I the idiot that gets scammed? I should know better.”Cheryl said she is now working with her bank and Venmo to get the $500 she spent on the fake tickets back.Legitimate secondary ticket brokers like John Higgins, of Higs Tickets, suggest that fans get their tickets from a reputable company, especially during big events like the Bananas game at Fenway Park and NBA Finals games at TD Garden.”Don’t be going to Craigslist. There’s a lot of scammers out there when the NBA Finals come in town,” Higgins said. “Definitely use your credit card and buy from a reputable company.”Before the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks faced off in the NBA Finals, the Boston Police Department issued a warning to fans about counterfeit tickets in the secondary market. They issued a similar warning before the Celtics and Boston Bruins started their playoff runs this spring.

    A Massachusetts woman says she spent hundreds of dollars on tickets to Saturday’s sold-out Savannah Bananas game at Fenway Park in Boston that wound up being counterfeits.

    A Weymouth, Massachusetts, resident named Cheryl said that when she was searching for tickets, she encountered a woman on Facebook who was initially offering tickets at $50 each.

    When Cheryl indicated she wanted up to eight seats, the Facebook user wrote: “My uncle works in the Bananas office, so it was super easy to get the tickets.”

    “We were looking forward to a fun night and going out, having dinner,” Cheryl said.

    Cheryl said she agreed to use Venmo as a payment option and wound up getting the eight tickets for $500.

    The digital tickets Cheryl received had a QR code that looked legitimate, but she and her guests were unable to get into the Bananas game. The customer service team at Fenway Park then informed her that the QR codes on her tickets were bogus.

    “She’s the one that told me they’re not real,” Cheryl said. “How am I the idiot that gets scammed? I should know better.”

    Cheryl said she is now working with her bank and Venmo to get the $500 she spent on the fake tickets back.

    Legitimate secondary ticket brokers like John Higgins, of Higs Tickets, suggest that fans get their tickets from a reputable company, especially during big events like the Bananas game at Fenway Park and NBA Finals games at TD Garden.

    “Don’t be going to Craigslist. There’s a lot of scammers out there when the NBA Finals come in town,” Higgins said. “Definitely use your credit card and buy from a reputable company.”

    Before the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks faced off in the NBA Finals, the Boston Police Department issued a warning to fans about counterfeit tickets in the secondary market. They issued a similar warning before the Celtics and Boston Bruins started their playoff runs this spring.

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  • Man stabs 4 girls inside Mass. movie theater, police say

    Man stabs 4 girls inside Mass. movie theater, police say

    Four girls between the ages of 9 and 17 years old were stabbed inside a Braintree, Massachusetts, movie theater on Saturday evening, police said.The suspect, who state police in Connecticut say was wanted in connection with the death of a person, was taken into custody after a police chase and crash on Cape Cod. Police said the man came into AMC Braintree 10 at 121 Grandview Ave. around 6 p.m. on Saturday. According to police, the man proceeded past the ticket counter without paying and entered one of the theaters. Police said he encountered four young females inside one of the theaters. “Without saying anything and without any warning, he suddenly attacked and stabbed the four young females,” police said. “The attack appeared to be unprovoked. After the attack, the man ran out of the theater and left in a vehicle. Police said the young women all sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to Boston area hospitals for treatment.A source told NewsCenter 5 that one of the victims suffered a serious arm laceration, but it appears all four are expected to survive their injuries.Police said the man left the area in what appeared to be a black SUV, and investigators determined he was no longer in the area. Braintree police said the license plate of the video was shared with police across other parts of Massachusetts.Braintree police said a vehicle matching the description was reportedly involved in a similar assault in Plymouth. Braintree police said the vehicle was pursued by Massachusetts State Police which ended in a crash in Sandwich.Braintree police said the driver, who was not immediately identified, was taken into custody. “It appears as though the crimes are related,” Braintree police said. Stabbing inside Plymouth Park & Ride McDonaldsMassachusetts State Police said it received 911 calls about a stabbing inside the McDonalds inside the Plymouth Park & Ride just after 7 p.m. on Saturday. Inside, state troopers found a 21-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man with apparent stab wounds. Police said both were transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.Police said a description of the suspect’s vehicle was given, which helped troopers locate the vehicle in Sandwich. State police said troopers attempted to pull the vehicle over, but it failed to stop. Police said the suspect crashed the vehicle and was taken into custody shortly thereafter by Sandwich and state police. Police said the man, whose name was not released, was being treated at an area hospital.Connection to Connecticut homicideConnecticut State Police said the man is connected to a deceased individual who was discovered at an address in Deep River, a small town about six miles north of the Connecticut coastline. “A suspect in this investigation has been taken into custody in the state of Massachusetts, and there is no active threat to the public,” Connecticut State Police said in a news release. The AMC Braintree 10 was closed after the stabbing incident. Witnesses who were inside the AMC said the movies they were watching suddenly stopped, and they were told to leave the theater.

    Four girls between the ages of 9 and 17 years old were stabbed inside a Braintree, Massachusetts, movie theater on Saturday evening, police said.

    The suspect, who state police in Connecticut say was wanted in connection with the death of a person, was taken into custody after a police chase and crash on Cape Cod.

    Police said the man came into AMC Braintree 10 at 121 Grandview Ave. around 6 p.m. on Saturday.

    According to police, the man proceeded past the ticket counter without paying and entered one of the theaters. Police said he encountered four young females inside one of the theaters.

    “Without saying anything and without any warning, he suddenly attacked and stabbed the four young females,” police said. “The attack appeared to be unprovoked. After the attack, the man ran out of the theater and left in a vehicle.

    Police said the young women all sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to Boston area hospitals for treatment.

    A source told NewsCenter 5 that one of the victims suffered a serious arm laceration, but it appears all four are expected to survive their injuries.

    Police said the man left the area in what appeared to be a black SUV, and investigators determined he was no longer in the area.

    Braintree police said the license plate of the video was shared with police across other parts of Massachusetts.

    Braintree police said a vehicle matching the description was reportedly involved in a similar assault in Plymouth.

    Braintree police said the vehicle was pursued by Massachusetts State Police which ended in a crash in Sandwich.

    Braintree police said the driver, who was not immediately identified, was taken into custody. “It appears as though the crimes are related,” Braintree police said.

    Stabbing inside Plymouth Park & Ride McDonalds

    Massachusetts State Police said it received 911 calls about a stabbing inside the McDonalds inside the Plymouth Park & Ride just after 7 p.m. on Saturday.

    Inside, state troopers found a 21-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man with apparent stab wounds. Police said both were transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

    Police said a description of the suspect’s vehicle was given, which helped troopers locate the vehicle in Sandwich.

    State police said troopers attempted to pull the vehicle over, but it failed to stop.

    Police said the suspect crashed the vehicle and was taken into custody shortly thereafter by Sandwich and state police.

    Police said the man, whose name was not released, was being treated at an area hospital.

    deep river ct homicide

    Connection to Connecticut homicide

    Connecticut State Police said the man is connected to a deceased individual who was discovered at an address in Deep River, a small town about six miles north of the Connecticut coastline.

    “A suspect in this investigation has been taken into custody in the state of Massachusetts, and there is no active threat to the public,” Connecticut State Police said in a news release.

    The AMC Braintree 10 was closed after the stabbing incident.

    Witnesses who were inside the AMC said the movies they were watching suddenly stopped, and they were told to leave the theater.

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  • 16-year-old girl overcomes adversity, earns Eagle Scout badge

    16-year-old girl overcomes adversity, earns Eagle Scout badge

    ACHIEVE THE HIGHEST RANK IN SCOUTING AT THE MASS AUDUBON CENTER IN SANCTUARY IN BELMONT, A RAINY DAY DELIVERS A WELCOME DRINK TO PROMISING BLOOMS. IT’S A LITTLE BARREN AFTER A LONG WINTER, BUT CLEAR, GREAT CARE WAS TAKEN IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THESE COMMUNITY GARDENS. I HAD TO DO A LOT OF FUNDRAISING, 16 YEAR OLD EMILY GREEN SAYS. THE RAISED BEDS WERE IN DISREPAIR BEFORE SHE LED A TEAM IN REBUILDING THEM. WE PLANTED SOME SOME BULBS WITH THEM TO THE BIG SERVICE EFFORT WAS THE PINNACLE PROJECT THAT EARNED EMILY THE RANK OF EAGLE SCOUT, THE HIGHEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SCOUTING. IT’S LESS THAN 5% OF SCOUTS THAT ACTUALLY ATTAIN THE EAGLE BADGE, AND RIGHT NOW IT’S ABOUT 14% OF THOSE EAGLE SCOUTS NATION WIDE ARE WOMEN. THE SCOUTS WENT COED IN 2019. EMILY SAYS SHE WAS INSPIRED BY HER OLDER BROTHER, JEFFREY, WHO’S ALSO AN EAGLE SCOUT MOM. LIZBETH, WHO MOVED TO THE U.S. FROM COSTA RICA, GOT HER KIDS INVOLVED WITH THE SCOUTS EARLY ON. WE STARTED. GOING TO CUB SCOUTS AND SHE ALWAYS JOINED THE TRIPS AND SHE STARTED LIKING IT, YOU KNOW, PUMPKIN FEST AND LITTLE CAMPING OVERNIGHT TRIPS. SCOUTING BUILDS CONFIDENCE IN THEM AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS TRAITS THE FAMILY WOULD COME TO RELY ON. WHEN EMILY WAS ABOUT TEN AND JEFFREY, 15, THERE WAS A PERIOD OF TIME THAT WE WERE LIVING IN A SHELTER AND WE WERE HAVING A REALLY HARD TIME. THE SCOUTS STEPPED IN, OFFERING THE FAMILY A BASE CAMP LIKE THIS TO STAY IN WHILE GETTING BACK ON THEIR FEET. DEFINITELY DEPRESSION WAS SETTING IN AND IT WAS A REALLY DIFFICULT, TRAUMATIC TIME. SO BEING ABLE TO BE IN A SUMMER CAMP AND ENJOYING IT AND AT LEAST NOT FEELING THAT LIFE WAS SO HARD AT THAT MOMENT. FAST FORWARD SIX YEARS, JEFFREY IS IN COLLEGE AND LIZBETH, WHO WORKS AS A TRANSLATOR, IS PROUD TO LIST EMILY’S MANY ACHIEVEMENTS AS ONE OF THE VERY FIRST FEW EAGLE SCOUTS FEMALE IN THE COUNTRY. SHE’S ALSO A CAPTAIN FOR THE CHEERLEADING TEAM. SHE’S ALSO A YOUTH UMPIRE. SHE ALSO JUST BECAME INDUCTED INTO THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY AND DON’T FORGET MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN HER COMMUNITY. I KNEW I WANTED TO HELP GIVE BACK IN SOME SORT OF WAY WITH NATURE. EAGLE IS 21 MERIT BADGES, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF LEADERSHIP LIKE EMILY HAD A NUMBER OF LEADERSHIP ROLES. IT’S REALLY A WONDERFUL STORY ABOUT HOW A FAMILY SAID, OKAY, WE’RE GOING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. OH, HOW AMAZING IS SHE? INCREDIBLE. THE WHOLE FAMILY TO KIND OF RISE ABOVE, WRITE A WONDERFUL STORY ABOUT THE SCOUTS HELPING EMILY’S FAMILY EMILY THEN HELPING WRITE BACK. AS FOR THE BASE CAMP WHERE THEY STAYED FOR A TIME, THAT’S NOT TYPICAL, BUT IT DOES SER

    16-year-old girl overcomes adversity, earns Eagle Scout badge

    Emily Green, 16, leads rebuilding effort of community gardens with help of Scouts BSA

    At the Mass Audubon Center’s Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary in Belmont, Massachusetts, new raised garden beds are ready for spring planting, thanks in large part to 16-year-old Emily Green.”I had to do a lot of fundraising,” Green said.She said the beds, part of the property’s community gardens, were in disrepair before she led a team in rebuilding them.The big service effort was the pinnacle project that earned Green the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest achievement in Scouts BSA.John Judge, CEO of the regional Spirit of Adventure Council — which oversees Massachusetts scouting programs, said less than 5% of scouts attain the Eagle badge.“Right now, about 14% of those Eagle Scouts nationwide are women,” he said.The Scouts BSA went co-ed in 2019. Green said she was inspired by her older brother to start scouting. He is also an Eagle Scout. Green’s mother, Lizbeth Valerio, who moved to the U.S. from Costa Rica, said she got her kids involved early on.”We started going to Cub Scouts, and (Emily) always joined the trips, and she started liking it,” Valerio said. “Scouting builds confidence in them and leadership skills.”Traits the family would come to rely on when, about six years ago, they had to resort to living in a shelter.The Scouts stepped in, offering the family a base camp in Blue Hills Reservation to stay in while getting back on their feet.”Definitely depression was setting in, and it was a really difficult traumatic time,” Valerio said.She said being at the base camp helped. Fast forward to today, and Valerio, who works as a translator, said she is proud to list her daughter’s many achievements that extend beyond the community work she’s done with the Mass Audubon Society, which, according to its website, protects over 41,000 acres of land throughout Massachusetts.”(She’s) one of the very first few Eagle Scout females in the country,” Valerio said. “She’s also a captain for the cheerleading team … a youth umpire … (and) also just became inducted into the National Honor Society.””It’s really a wonderful story about how a family said, ‘Okay, we’re going to make this happen’,” Judge said.

    At the Mass Audubon Center’s Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary in Belmont, Massachusetts, new raised garden beds are ready for spring planting, thanks in large part to 16-year-old Emily Green.

    “I had to do a lot of fundraising,” Green said.

    She said the beds, part of the property’s community gardens, were in disrepair before she led a team in rebuilding them.

    The big service effort was the pinnacle project that earned Green the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest achievement in Scouts BSA.

    John Judge, CEO of the regional Spirit of Adventure Council — which oversees Massachusetts scouting programs, said less than 5% of scouts attain the Eagle badge.

    “Right now, about 14% of those Eagle Scouts nationwide are women,” he said.

    The Scouts BSA went co-ed in 2019. Green said she was inspired by her older brother to start scouting. He is also an Eagle Scout. Green’s mother, Lizbeth Valerio, who moved to the U.S. from Costa Rica, said she got her kids involved early on.

    “We started going to Cub Scouts, and (Emily) always joined the trips, and she started liking it,” Valerio said. “Scouting builds confidence in them and leadership skills.”

    Traits the family would come to rely on when, about six years ago, they had to resort to living in a shelter.

    The Scouts stepped in, offering the family a base camp in Blue Hills Reservation to stay in while getting back on their feet.

    “Definitely depression was setting in, and it was a really difficult traumatic time,” Valerio said.

    She said being at the base camp helped. Fast forward to today, and Valerio, who works as a translator, said she is proud to list her daughter’s many achievements that extend beyond the community work she’s done with the Mass Audubon Society, which, according to its website, protects over 41,000 acres of land throughout Massachusetts.

    “(She’s) one of the very first few Eagle Scout females in the country,” Valerio said. “She’s also a captain for the cheerleading team … a youth umpire … (and) also just became inducted into the National Honor Society.”

    “It’s really a wonderful story about how a family said, ‘Okay, we’re going to make this happen’,” Judge said.

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  • Puppy spotted along interstate on-ramp in Boston quickly finds new home

    Puppy spotted along interstate on-ramp in Boston quickly finds new home

    A young puppy that was recently found along an on-ramp heading toward Interstate 93 in Boston, Massachusetts, did not take long to find a new place to call home.Mike DeFina, media relations manager for the Animal Rescue League of Boston, said Sunday that the 10-week-old Chihuahua named Sparkle was first spotted about a week and a half ago.DeFina said a person who lives at the Pine Street Inn saw Sparkle wandering the Neponset Circle area for a couple of days before they spotted the dog wandering up an on-ramp for the part of I-93. The road is known as the Southeast Expressway.Given that Sparkle weighs just 3 pounds and is an all-black dog, it would have been very hard for drivers to spot her on the highway. The good Samaritan was able to scoop her up and brought her back to the Pine Street Inn, where the staff then took her to the ARL’s Boston Animal Care and Adoption Center.”With Sparkle, I think it’s always a wonderful thing to see people stopping what they’re doing and have the consideration and the compassion when they see an animal in need to take action and do something about it,” DeFina said. “That’s why Sparkle is here today. I think if she would have found her way onto the Expressway, the outcome for her probably would not have been good. So we really, really want to thank both the resident of Pine Street Inn and their staff for taking her off the street and bringing her to us.”DeFina said the ARL does not know exactly how Sparkle ended up near the highway or how long she had been living on the streets, but they believe she was likely abandoned.Sparkle was a bit frightened when she was brought to the ARL facility, had a bit of an abnormal gait, and was on a seven-day stray weight, but she was determined to be in good overall health for her age, according to DeFina.DeFina said the ARL then contacted Boston Animal Control and other outlets that deal with lost animals, but no one stepped up to claim Sparkle as their dog. After doing the due diligence, the ARL put Sparkle up for adoption on Sunday — and that’s where Joe and Tesla Chafins come in.Joe Chafins works for the Pine Street Inn, which is a nonprofit organization that provides services for people experiencing homelessness. One of Joe’s co-workers and friends had told him and his wife about how Sparkle was found by one of the center’s residents and that the dog would need a new home.”My birthday was Friday and we were just kind of celebrating my birthday and she started telling my wife and I the story, showing us some photos she had of her,” Chafins said. “We just heard the story and we’re like: ‘We’ve got to go meet her.’ So we’ve been trying to call since and they said she was here today, so we’re here to meet her and take her home.”The couple already has three cats, including one that they adopted from the ARL of Boston seven years ago, as well as a few lizards.”Our friends kind of make fun of us because we are huge animal lovers,” Tesla Chafins said.”We have a little bit of everything. We’ve got a zoo at home,” Joe Chafins said. “This will be our first dog, though, but we’re excited to take her and to give her the best life that we can possibly give her.”So thanks to the Pine Street Inn, ARL of Boston and Chafins family, Sparkle now has a new forever home. Meet Sparkle and her family in the video player above.

    BOSTON —

    A young puppy that was recently found along an on-ramp heading toward Interstate 93 in Boston, Massachusetts, did not take long to find a new place to call home.

    Mike DeFina, media relations manager for the Animal Rescue League of Boston, said Sunday that the 10-week-old Chihuahua named Sparkle was first spotted about a week and a half ago.

    DeFina said a person who lives at the Pine Street Inn saw Sparkle wandering the Neponset Circle area for a couple of days before they spotted the dog wandering up an on-ramp for the part of I-93. The road is known as the Southeast Expressway.

    Given that Sparkle weighs just 3 pounds and is an all-black dog, it would have been very hard for drivers to spot her on the highway. The good Samaritan was able to scoop her up and brought her back to the Pine Street Inn, where the staff then took her to the ARL’s Boston Animal Care and Adoption Center.

    “With Sparkle, I think it’s always a wonderful thing to see people stopping what they’re doing and have the consideration and the compassion when they see an animal in need to take action and do something about it,” DeFina said. “That’s why Sparkle is here today. I think if she would have found her way onto the Expressway, the outcome for her probably would not have been good. So we really, really want to thank both the resident of Pine Street Inn and their staff for taking her off the street and bringing her to us.”

    DeFina said the ARL does not know exactly how Sparkle ended up near the highway or how long she had been living on the streets, but they believe she was likely abandoned.

    Sparkle was a bit frightened when she was brought to the ARL facility, had a bit of an abnormal gait, and was on a seven-day stray weight, but she was determined to be in good overall health for her age, according to DeFina.

    DeFina said the ARL then contacted Boston Animal Control and other outlets that deal with lost animals, but no one stepped up to claim Sparkle as their dog. After doing the due diligence, the ARL put Sparkle up for adoption on Sunday — and that’s where Joe and Tesla Chafins come in.

    Joe Chafins works for the Pine Street Inn, which is a nonprofit organization that provides services for people experiencing homelessness. One of Joe’s co-workers and friends had told him and his wife about how Sparkle was found by one of the center’s residents and that the dog would need a new home.

    “My birthday was Friday and we were just kind of celebrating my birthday and she started telling my wife and I the story, showing us some photos she had of her,” Chafins said. “We just heard the story and we’re like: ‘We’ve got to go meet her.’ So we’ve been trying to call since and they said she was here today, so we’re here to meet her and take her home.”

    Hearst Owned

    Tesla and Joe Chafins, of Brighton, Massachusetts, adopted Sparkle, a 10-week-old Chihuahua, on Feb. 25, 2024, the same day the Animal Rescue League of Boston had put her up for adoption.

    The couple already has three cats, including one that they adopted from the ARL of Boston seven years ago, as well as a few lizards.

    “Our friends kind of make fun of us because we are huge animal lovers,” Tesla Chafins said.

    “We have a little bit of everything. We’ve got a zoo at home,” Joe Chafins said. “This will be our first dog, though, but we’re excited to take her and to give her the best life that we can possibly give her.”

    So thanks to the Pine Street Inn, ARL of Boston and Chafins family, Sparkle now has a new forever home.

    Meet Sparkle and her family in the video player above.

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  • Who are they? Unanswered questions after remains of 4 infants found in Boston home

    Who are they? Unanswered questions after remains of 4 infants found in Boston home

    The Boston Police Department says the remains that were recently discovered inside a South Boston apartment are those of four infant children.On Nov. 17, officers were called to investigate a large brick building at 838 East Broadway that is separated into several apartments.Boston police said those officers found what appeared to be a human fetus or the remains of an infant. The following day, homicide detectives found what appeared to be additional human remains, which were removed by personnel from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for further investigation.On Monday, Boston police said further examination revealed that the remains are those of two infant boys and two infant girls. The results of the autopsies are still pending, according to police.Neighbors are left unsettled by the discovery. “Finding child remains in the freezer is something that keeps you up at night. You think about it when you’re coming home,” said neighbor Brandon Bowers. “I hope we can uncover more information about it because with all the questions, it just doesn’t feel quite right,” said neighbor Kimberly Mallozzi.BPD homicide detectives and members of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office continue to investigate the incident.Anyone with information is asked to call 617-343-4470. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-800-494-8477 or by texting the word “TIP” to 27463.At the time the remains were discovered, 5 Investigates learned police located four boxes as part of their investigation. All of those boxes were roughly the size of a shoebox wrapped in foil.Sources told 5 Investigates that one of those boxes had been opened and that’s when the remains were discovered.A neighbor said the building where the remains were discovered has several condominium units with different owners.

    BOSTON —

    The Boston Police Department says the remains that were recently discovered inside a South Boston apartment are those of four infant children.

    On Nov. 17, officers were called to investigate a large brick building at 838 East Broadway that is separated into several apartments.

    Boston police said those officers found what appeared to be a human fetus or the remains of an infant. The following day, homicide detectives found what appeared to be additional human remains, which were removed by personnel from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for further investigation.

    On Monday, Boston police said further examination revealed that the remains are those of two infant boys and two infant girls. The results of the autopsies are still pending, according to police.

    Neighbors are left unsettled by the discovery.

    “Finding child remains in the freezer is something that keeps you up at night. You think about it when you’re coming home,” said neighbor Brandon Bowers.

    “I hope we can uncover more information about it because with all the questions, it just doesn’t feel quite right,” said neighbor Kimberly Mallozzi.

    BPD homicide detectives and members of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office continue to investigate the incident.

    Anyone with information is asked to call 617-343-4470. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-800-494-8477 or by texting the word “TIP” to 27463.

    At the time the remains were discovered, 5 Investigates learned police located four boxes as part of their investigation. All of those boxes were roughly the size of a shoebox wrapped in foil.

    Sources told 5 Investigates that one of those boxes had been opened and that’s when the remains were discovered.

    A neighbor said the building where the remains were discovered has several condominium units with different owners.

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