Lifestyle

The last time a North Carolina family saw their beloved cat, Blanco, he was clinging to power lines above raging flood waters -- before the animal fell into the waters below. Blanco's loved ones feared the worst, as they worried he drowned, was seriously hurt, or would be lost forever.

The new Doherty Memorial High School in Worcester has opened for students this year, but items from the old school, built in the 1960s, are available at auction. Those items include bricks, lockers, auditorium chairs, and even a scoreboard from the high school’s gymnasium. If you purchase a product...

Massachusetts’ online lottery is getting off to a much slower start than lawmakers forecasted, which is creating some budgetary headaches. When the Legislature passed a $58 billion state budget in July – nearly a month late in arriving on Gov. Maura Healey’s desk – top lawmakers touted the iLottery as a new funding source for child care providers, with sales estimated at $100 million in fiscal year 2025, which ends next June 30.

Drew Day, winner of the Iron Chef Competition and the Stanley J. Nicas Trophy at the 13th annual Worcester’s Best Competition in 2020, recently opened Ruby Doo’s at the Worcester Public Market. Day of Leominster, a first-time restaurateur, brings “a Korean American culinary experience and crafted global cuisine...

A heartfelt mission sparked by tragedy has led to new protections for dogs across the state. Governor Maura Healy signed Ollie’s Law, a bill dedicated to improving the safety and oversight for kennels and daycare facilities across Massachusetts, on Oct. 10. The legislation was named in honor of a...

In October, walls of verdant green leaves transform into shades of yellow, red and orange, signifying that it’s time to prepare your garden for colder months ahead. The first fall gardening task I do is turn my compost. I use a three-bin system that I made from reused pallets, and the bins are usually very full in the fall as I’ve filled them with kitchen scraps and plant material from my garden all summer. I use my finished compost as a natural fertilizer to topdress my lawn and fill in holes from dividing perennials. I also try to use it at this time of year because I need to make room in the bins for excess leaves!

Photo Courtesy Hanover Theatre) “Physical strength in a woman - that's what I am." "TINA - THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL!" Book by Katori Hall, Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins. Cast Includes: Jayna Elise as “Tina Turner,” Mona Swain as “Tina Turner” (At Certain Performances), Sterling Baker-McClary as “Ike Turner, Ronnie Turner,” Elaina Walton as “Zelma Bullock,” Deidre Lang as “Gran Georgeanna,” Bear Manescalchi as “Phil Spector,” Maurice Alpharicio as “Raymond Earl King, Craig Turner,” Mya Bryant, Charis Michelle Gullage, Daniyah Jezel, Morgan Lewis as “Ikettes,” Joe Hornberger as “Roger Davies,” Darius J. Manuel as “Richard Bullock,” Steven Sawan as “Erwin Bach,” Hunter Torr as “John Carpenter,” Taylor Brice, Natalia Nappo as “Young Anna-Mae Bullock, Young Craig Turner, Young Alline,” Mya Bryant as “Alline,” Kristen Daniels as “Rhonda Graam, Toni Basil.” Ensemble: Maurice Alpharicio, Catrina Brenae, Mya Bryant, Charis Michelle Gullage, Joe Hornberger, Daniyah Jezel, Morgan Lewis, Ashley D. Lyles, Bear Manescalchi, Darius J. Manuel, Pharaoh Mouton, Steven Sawan, Hunter Torr. Understudies: For Tina - Charis Michelle Gullage, Ashley D. Lyles; For Ike - Jeffrey May Hyche, Pharaoh Mouton; For Zelma - Catrina Brenae, Audrey Taylor Floyd; For Gran Georgeanna - Catrina Brenae; For Raymond - Jeffrey May Hyche, Ephraim Takyi; For Richard - Jeffrey May Hyche, Ephraim Takyi; For Young Alline - Callie Holley, Morgan Lewis; For Rhonda - Morgan Lewis. Swings: Audrey Taylor Floyd, Chelsea Nicole Green, Callie Holley, Jeffrey May Hyche, Albert Sterner, Ephraim Takyi, Paul Watt-Morse.

Recently, visitors flocked to the 138th annual New England Fall Flower Show. The event took place at The Garden at Elm Bank, the 36-acre home of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society (MHS). This year’s show boasted quite an array of activities, demonstrations, vendors, and, of course, stunning plants and flowers.

Try though they might, not every season opener qualifies as a bona fide “event.” But Music Worcester’s did on Friday night. With the Philip Glass Ensemble on hand to curate a selection of the iconic American composer’s early works at Mechanics Hall, how could it have turned out otherwise?

Every Friday at 8:30 The Pike Morning Show plays the best of your voice messages left during the week on The Pike Breakdown Lane. This week: Sports Team Names, Horror Movies, and stealing things from the work place!

DC Lottery launched Jackpot USA, a new Fast Play game with a $1 million starting jackpot, offering instant-win excitement with multi-state progressive gameplay. Available in both D.C. and Idaho, players can win cash prizes up to $100,000 or take a shot at the growing jackpot. AD. The launch of Massachusetts’...

Underdog Sports, PrizePicks, and Yahoo Fantasy Sports are facing a lawsuit in Massachusetts for offering traditional pick’em peer-to-house games earlier this year in the commonwealth, which the plaintiff alleges were actually illegal sports bets. Plaintiff Joseph P. Curran filed a lawsuit against the three companies in Essex County Superior...

If you’re a nature lover, come visit the Greater Merrimack Valley for the local wildlife. With parks and nature trails where you can hike, bike, and birdwatch, you’ll find an abundance of New England creatures throughout the year. Massachusetts has many state parks and nature sanctuaries to protect the native flora and fauna, so the next time you come to the Greater Merrimack Valley, bring your hiking boots, binoculars, and camera so you can hit the trails and discover the wildlife that calls the Valley home.

Meg Wilkes, archaeologist and coordinator of the National Park Service (NPS)’s Northeast Archaeological Resources Program (NARP), presented a lecture on inventory management and NARP’s archaeological projects. Hosted by the Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology on October 15, the talk served as the second meeting of the Massachusetts Archaeological Society (MAS) Northeast Winter Chapter.

WORCESTER — The ambitious and much anticipated "The Complete Bach" project kicks off with the first-ever BACHtoberfestOct. 25 to 27 consisting of five performances. The project will see all of 18th century German Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach's more than1,000 known compositions performed during the course of 132 concerts over the next 11 years in Worcester as part of Music Worcester’s annual season schedule. This will be one of the first occasions, if not the first, that all of Bach's works have been been scheduled to be performed live and in-person in a complete cycle, and organizers say the project is attracting international attention.

NORTHBOROUGH – Looking to get a start on your holiday shopping? The Friends of the Northborough Library will hold their annual Children’s Book and Media sale in the Children’s Room of Requirement. It will be held Oct. 23 to 26 between 3 to 8 p.m. Oct 23,...

WESTBOROUGH – The ABA Trio – Adrianna Baltimore, Bill Cotten and Andrew Alper – will perform in a benefit for the Congregational Church of Westborough, 57 Main St., on Sunday, Oct. 20, at 2:30 p.m. Their concert is entitled Memories 2. Tickets are $10, free for children...