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Lesbian Bar Project Co-Founder: Purity Politics Could Destroy Our Remaining Spaces
Subscribe As a professional lesbian and Massachusetts native, I’ve recently been asked by a lot of folks what I think about the saga unfolding at Last Ditch. The now-viral story, first reported by The Boston Globe, centers on a Western Massachusetts lesbian bar that lifted its mask requirement for one night a week to help drum up business. The decision ignited an intra-queer controversy that has been feasted on by media outlets across the political spectrum—from the New York Post to LGBTQ Nation—and is even reportedly being eyed for a Hollywood adaptation. Apparently nothing is more entertaining than a bunch of lesbians and queers fighting with each other over KN-95s. What has been lost in all of the chatter and media coverage is the very real possibility that Last Ditch, which just opened in April 2025, will have to close its doors. The venue’s one remaining founder, Jackie Matellian, revealed in a community Zoom meeting that she’s working four jobs, is now solely responsible for the bar’s $50,000 business loan and is struggling to keep up with the bills. So as we laugh about the controversy’s similarity to a “Portlandia” skit and how one of the bar’s founders left to enroll in clown school, we forget that yet another lesbian bar is facing an existential crisis—and this time the call is coming from inside the house. In 2020, my friend Elina Street and I created The Lesbian Bar Project, an Emmy-, Webby- and GLAAD Media Award-winning docuseries and initiative that tells the stories of lesbian queer bars around the world. We were moved to act because at the time there were only an estimated 16 lesbian bars in the United States, and the pandemic threatened to bring that number down even further. There are now more sapphic bars than there were just before the pandemic—about 36 of them in total—but this is down from approximately 200 in 1980. Maybe that doesn’t mean much to you, but for the millions of sapphics living in the U.S., this number is calamitous. As the world laughs at lesbians and sapphics, I want to take a second and tell you what I feel when I walk into one of these bars, which are all unique and irreplaceable in their own way: I feel seen. Sometimes I think Cubbyhole in New York City’s West Village neighborhood knew I was gay before I did. When I walked in there for the first time, before I was even out, I was transfixed by the colorful array of tchotchkes hanging from the ceiling and how the women standing next to me were completely unafraid to express their desire for one another. I knew the minute I was ready to come out, I had a home. I also felt the joy of a new couple falling in love at Seattle’s Wildrose, the quiet confidence of a short king lining up her shot at the pool table at Ginger’s in Brooklyn and the kick of cayenne pepper in Julie Mabry’s crawfish at Houston’s Pearl Bar. Subscribe Lesbian bars don’t just serve lesbians; they serve queer folks across the spectrum, including bisexual, pansexual and trans people. As Elina and I traveled across the U.S. and Europe and to parts of Latin America to document the bar owners, staff and patrons that make up the ecosystems of these spaces, we also became uniquely acquainted with the factors that threaten their existence: gentrification, wage gaps, sexism, environmental disasters, gun violence, rising insurance premiums and political administrations working to annihilate queer people and their families. Lesbian bar owners, like all leaders and entrepreneurs, are imperfect. There have been significant issues over the years at lesbian bars: employee harassment, racism, lack of accessibility, sexual assault and transphobia. All bar owners should be held accountable and should listen to their communities to evolve into safer and more equitable spaces. I also acknowledge my privilege: I am able-bodied, white, cis and from a family system that loves me for who I am. Not everyone has that. Queer people, especially trans and bisexual people, are suffering from disproportionately high levels of depression, and our mental health system isn’t equipped to support them. Immunocompromised people and long COVID are real, and many of my friends are suffering to this day. The people with the least safety net are often the ones for whom a bar closing costs the most. And yet, as we’re seeing with Last Ditch, the queer community often lashes out at each other. It’s also the mainstream media taking the internal conflict and making a mockery out of it, distracting from the real possibility that this bar could close due to financial pressures. A bar that many people loved and needed is facing extinction. Perhaps it’s safer to dissent with one another than with the larger forces trying to eradicate us, but in doing so, we risk destroying the few spaces we have left. Due to the constraints of purity politics—some in good faith, some not so much—lesbian bar owners, almost all of whom are queer women themselves, are forced to be everything for everyone, similarly to how women are forced to be everything for everyone. By asking these bars to uphold impossible standards—standards very few other third spaces are asked to consider—we all end up losing. I want to move as a community toward dialogue, compassionate dissent and collaboration to make our spaces better with the goal of keeping them OPEN and thriving, rather than destroying them from the inside with expectations that are arguably unattainable. Subscribe While I have your attention—for this fleeting second of the news cycle—may I urge us to spearhead a way to keep these small businesses afloat without attacking our own community along the way? Bar owners are left with an impasse: They want to be community-centered, but they also have to make money to keep their doors open. Sometimes they might make business decisions that don’t work for everyone—and that’s partly because different patrons have different priorities and want different things—but these owners deserve the opportunity for productive dialogue**.** We have to work with them and with each other to keep our spaces open, to keep them growing. Lesbian bars raised me into the queer woman I am today. One thing I think about as I reflect on the six years of work we’ve done to document these spaces is that shared, unspoken language I have with a stranger the moment we both walk into one of these bars: the nod, the ease, the not having to explain ourselves. I don’t want to lose that, and neither should you. If objective, nonpartisan, rigorous, LGBTQ-focused journalism is important to you, please consider making a tax-deductible donation through our 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, Resource Impact, by clicking this button: Donate
Nebraska kids sent out of state when they need serious mental health care
Last year, children received care in such states as Massachusetts, Alabama and Virginia that local facilities either can't or won't provide. For kids, these separations can be jarring, complicating treatment and their return home, experts say.
Massachusetts State Police Celebrate National Forensic Science Week
September 25, 2026MARLBOROUGH – Today, at the conclusion of National Forensic Science Week, the Massachusetts State Police celebrated the “topping off” of its new four-story Crime Lab. The event included state officials from the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM), and the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS), as well as members of the project team from Greatland Realty Partners, Consigli Construction Co., Inc. and Ci Design, Inc. With the final structu
Sun Prairie considers new massage business regulations after police receive complaints
Sun Prairie leaders are considering new regulations for massage establishments following complaints to police about activity at certain businesses.
Finding sisterhood through sports: Kate Burgess’ career as a field hockey goalie
Kate Burgess remembers dodging tennis balls as her older sister, Reanne Burgess, shot them in their backyard in Holden, Massachusetts.
Republican congressional candidate Tom Stalcup on how both parties abuse science for political gain
Scientific American spoke to the candidate for Massachusetts’s fourth congressional district about climate change, misinformation and why, when it comes to health care, some socialism may be required
Massachusetts man charged with cyberstalking conservative podcaster Katie Miller
The Justice Department charged a military veteran Thursday for allegedly making dozens of disturbing texts and calls to Katie Miller, a conservative podcaster married to White House senior adviser Stephen Miller, and her family.
Boston Encourages Residents to Apply for Health Insurance during Open Enrollment Season
Friday, October 23, 2026 – Open Enrollment season begins today, October 23, 2026 and runs through January 23, 2027, and Mayor Michelle Wu, the City of Boston, and Boston Public Health Commission strongly encourage residents to take advantage of the numerous coverage options available in Massachusetts and apply for health insurance through the Massachusetts Health Connector Marketplace. For those who need help navigating
Business Briefs: Oct. 9, 2026
Bank collecting donations to support veterans SHELBURNE FALLS — Greenfield Cooperative Bank invites the community to its Shelburne Falls branch to contribute to a household essentials collection drive supporting veterans through Project New Hope Inc. The drive is offered in partnership with the Northeast Chapter of American Daughters of Conservation and the Massachusetts Bowhunters Association. […]
Republican congressional candidate Tom Stalcup on how both parties abuse science for political gain
Scientific American spoke to the candidate for Massachusetts’s fourth congressional district about climate change, misinformation and why, when it comes to health care, some socialism may be required
Family-run massage businesses fronted California commercial sex operation
Four members of a family-run criminal enterprise that prosecutors say used massage businesses as fronts for commercial sex operations and laundered the proceeds through banks, real estate, casinos …
90 Ideas in 90 Minutes: Blaire Massa
Measure belonging, not just outputCompanies are exceptionally good at measuring transactions. At Ballet Des Moines, we know exactly how many tickets we sell, how many students attend our programs, how many dollars we raise. But those numbers look backward, not forward. We wanted to find out whether people were going to come back. So we…
Pilates, massage: Check out 4 Allen business updates
Pilates Retreat, Relax Myora and 4Ever Young are now open in Allen, and Vital Dental is planning a new location.
Beacon CEO ML Mackey Named to Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Statewide Advisory Council
Beacon Interactive Systems announced today that CEO and Co-founder ML Mackey has been named to the newly formed Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) Statewide Advisory Council.
Massachusetts ballot Question 3 would eliminate political party primaries in state elections
MIT-TASC seeks future tribal leaders with advanced science camp
Applications for the 2027 Tulsa Advanced Sciences Camp, ran by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, opens Oct. 14 for Native American high school students.
Daldrop Opens for Business in Southern Oswego County
$10 Million Facility in the L. Michael Treadwell Oswego County Industrial Park marks the largest expansion outside of Germany in the company’s 73-year history By Stefan Yablonski [caption id=attachment_11076 align=alignright width=450] Daldrop SBB CEO Jens Daldrop addresses attendees at the 2025 groundbreaking for the project. Daldrop also chairs the advisory board of Germany-based Daldrop Group.[/caption] A new era of cleanroom technology is underway in Central New York. The Daldrop Group’s advanced manufacturing facility and U.S. headquarters is physically built within the L. Michael Treadwell Oswego County Industrial Park. This industrial park is located in the town of Schroeppel. It marks the largest expansion outside of Germany in the company’s 73-year history. Daldrop SBB is based in Neckartailfingen, Germany. It is a global supplier of cleanroom technology, primarily to the pharmaceutical industry. It designs and builds advanced cleanroom environments for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical technology industries. It nvested $10 million in the new project. “We broke ground in 2025; we were under construction all winter. We just opened this spring, early spring,” said Benjamin Morrow, operations manager and control. The company consolidated sites in Salina and DeWitt into the industrial park in Schroeppel, Morrow added. “The next move here is to maximize every square inch of this facility and then we are already looking at the expansion. So, it is more capital investment on equipment — definitely higher-end automation in additional equipment so we can produce more components and then to support the ever-growing base in North America,” Morrow continued. “We are the headquarters for service, maintenance and spare parts. So as Daldrop has more and more installations, they need more and more service, maintenance and spare parts. So that will come out of this facility as well — it already is.” “As a global leader in GMP (global manufacturing support) pharmaceutical cleanrooms for decades, I am very proud to bring manufacturing jobs to Upstate New York,” said Mike Sullivan, president of Daldrop US operations. Key to choosing Southern Oswego County [caption id=attachment_11077 align=alignright width=450] Daldrop SBB at the L. Michael Treadwell Oswego County Industrial Park when the company announced the start of construction.[/caption] Sullivan said that the selection of the Schroeppel industrial park was mainly due to the help of Operation Oswego County and two people in the organization. “Prior to being purchased by Daldrop International from the Stuttgart region of Germany, Vince Bongio was a founding partner in SBB Inc. as well as our head of engineering. We based out of Syracuse due to Vince’s skills in HVAC and the manufacturing capabilities found in Syracuse,” said Sullivan. Bongio moved to Syracuse from California in the 1970s to work in Carrier’s Industrial Division of Large-Scale Petrochemical Refrigeration. Next, he advanced to General Electric’s TV Tube Plant where he got into cleanrooms ,leading to his role of head of engineering for Clestra Cleanrooms where he met Sullivan, their New England distributor. “Vince Bongio is a phenomenal engineer. Formerly of Carrier, he grew up in California and went to Cal Poly,” Sullivan explained. “Carrier hired him right out of college and he moved to Syracuse. He is the reason we are in Syracuse today. He is retiring this year. We are very proud and his legacy is having brought Daldrop to Syracuse.” In 2000, Sullivan, Bazinet, Bongio Inc (SBB) was formed with engineering and manufacturing, based in Syracuse, and sales and construction based in Massachusetts as it is today. “SBB Inc. started in Syracuse. I had a design–build contracting firm out of Massachusetts that was primarily doing all the new technologies coming out of MIT,” Sullivan said. “I started a manufacturing side. A big thing for cleanrooms is the HVAC. Most cleanroom suppliers are architecturally focused people. The strength in Syracuse is HVAC. So, SBB developed with me running sales and construction out of Massachusetts and manufacturing out of Syracuse.” “Daldrop wanted to have a relationship in the States and of those who approached us, they were the only ones who really understood HVAC. So, we were the right fit for them. We did a joint venture focused out of Massachusetts from 2012 to 2018 leveraging their technologies,” Sullivan explained. “The commitment was if we brought their product to the States, we would do that if they built it here. “The pieces that had to be in place to make the investment, they wanted to acquire us, we were great with that. If you looked at business recommendations the general guidance was to build in a low labor area — something like North Carolina — but Syracuse had a strong background in HVAC and we chose Syracuse and Oswego County to be our headquarters in the States. So, it is built off of history, technology and the existing supply chain — bringing jobs back to the area.” During the initial discussions with Daldrop about coming to the U.S., SBB agreed to sell under the conditions Daldrop would manufacture in the U.S. There are many areas that offer incentives and economic packages, but the strength of HVAC expertise and skilled manufacturing was a big part of the discussions for site selection. Coming home [caption id=attachment_11078 align=alignright width=451] Construction moves forward in March at the L. Michael Treadwell Oswego County Industrial Park.[/caption] The second key person to building in Oswego County is Ben Morrow, Sullivan added. “Ben has been working with Daldrop SBB for more than 12 years and has advanced to COO of manufacturing and engineering. Ben grew up in Phoenix, so building a factory for the Germany company in Phoenix is a strong success for both his community and the appreciation of Ben’s skills as a team leader,” Sullivan said. “I went to high school in Phoenix. So, this is like full circle for me. It’s a small world,” Morrow said. “I hadn’t been back to Phoenix since graduation. This is one of the properties that John Trimble of C&S, he is the former president of C&S, he just retired, suggested. He and I were very good personal friends. John was from Mexico and I was from Phoenix. We knew each other from high school. And the architect of this building, Ed Smart of smartDESIGN Architecture in Batavia — I went to high school with him. So, this was a project that’s full circle a coming home kind of thing. The three of us knew each other — kind of like it was meant to be. Very serendipitous.” Schroeppel was one option for Daldrop to consider; the original intent was just to get a warehouse to store some product, he added. The facility is Daldrop’s largest outside of their native country. Total payroll at the facility will be approximately $2.4 million once fully staffed. “Here is 32,000 square feet and we plan to expand and put in an additional 10,000 square feet,” Morrow said. “We have 17.5 acres. We can put at least three more facilities here, just on this property. The master plan submitted for the current building is the first of possible three buildings on the campus.” “If we can find the right people and advance the production according to the plan, we should be able to grow for the next decade. One of the first jobs we filled was our new HR manager, with a primary focus posting and filling new positions,” Sullivan said. Stop the exodus, start hiring [caption id=attachment_11080 align=alignright width=452] Principals at the local Daldrop SBB headquarters, from left: Ben Morrow, Mike Sullivan and Jens Daldrop.[/caption] “I have been coming to Syracuse for 30 years. One of the things I had a hard time watching was the exodus of factories. One of the toughest things is to watch it with my partners’ kids who had to move away for jobs. It is important for us to give opportunity where people’s kids don’t have to leave the area to get work,” Sullivan said. “My responsibility is to find people who have skill sets that want to work and then I have to build opportunity for that work to happen. “After years of watching companies and Vince’s three sons all move out of the areas to get jobs, it is important to us to provide opportunities for the Syracuse region and help grow our company. We have been hiring for our new factory and will continue for the next few years.” “We are hiring and will continue to hire. Currently we have about 19 on staff right now,” Morrow said. “We expect to grow that by about 10 to 15 in the next 12 to 18 months or so. We are at 19 currently — one in the wings. It’s been great being able to hire locally. All these folks that we’ve been hiring, they all live within a few miles from here.” “We hired someone this past week (end of August). She grew up in the area, raised a family and is working down in Florida. She just took a job with us so she can move back and be with her family. We will be moving her back and she should be starting in October. We are very happy to see this happen,” Sullivan said. “I feel strongly about having a spot for the kids to not have to move out of the area. It is better to have people moving into the area.” Currently, Daldrop SBB has openings for finance manager, COO of construction and delivery, as well as mechanical, electrical designers and Revit modelers, construction managers, commissioning agents and many other skills that are needed. Along with Daldrop’s reputation in life science cleanrooms, there is a strong history in semiconductor, electronics, glass, photonics, aerospace and other markets. This may be helpful with any new technologies building in the market such as the Micron expansion and the support network, Sullivan said. “We acquired this property and closed on it two months before any announcement from Micron. It is serendipitous that they’re right down the street from us,” Morrow added. “Everybody started thinking ‘you guys are supporting Micron.’ We were here first. That is not a goal of ours. We may or may not … they are talking to us; it is an opportunity.” The long run [caption id=attachment_11079 align=alignright width=450] Benjamin Morrow, operations manager and control at Daldlrop, speaks during a recent ribbon-cutting event in Schroeppel.[/caption] “Long term, we will expand the Phoenix facility,” Sullivan said. “We built our facility with a campus approach. Sustainability is big. We designed our rooms to be more sustainable. Our building has no gas lines for heat. We put geothermal wells in the ground. We put heat pumps in for heating and cooling out of those wells and we put a large layer of solar panels up on the roof. We worked with National Grid for metering. Our building is a high efficiency model. We upgraded all the instillation and the glass filtering. So, it is a very green building. We will have a very minimal carbon footprint. It also adheres to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) construction standards.” “We are a bunch of HVAC engineers. We did a large scale geothermal and spent the money up front because we knew it made sense in the business sense in the environmental sense and sustainability,” Morrow said. “We have insulated metal panels on walls and roof; we are an envelope from the exterior.” Daldrop, as a global player, has a strong culture of sustainability that is found in all its products including the new facility. The building has been designed with (sixteen) 400-foot deep geothermal wells, high efficiency construction methods, approximately 70 kilowatt solar photovoltaic panels, electric vehicle chargers and 26% recycled content. “Daldrop thinks of long-term investing,” Sullivan said. “On the roof, photovoltaic panels supplement our power. Over half the energy that I use is coming from the sun. We have chargers up front for employee electric vehicles. This place is built to last. This slab that we are walking on, normal buildings are four inches, some go to six inches, we are nine inches all the way through — except where the heavy equipment is — that is 10 to 12 inches thick, solid concrete. It allows us to reconfigure for whatever type of equipment we want to bring in,” Morrow said. “We are authorized by Underwriters Laboratory to self-certify so we don’t need to have an inspector come out and recertify. We get audited often, but we certify our own electronics. The control system in this building is rather high-end. Our thermostat in every room is zoned, independent. We analyze the data; incorporate it with our solar panels.” “There is a lot of competition for people to work. It’s not just about how much salary they are going to make — it’s about the work environment, the ability for stability. We want to make sure our employees have the best environment to work in,” Morrow added. Similarities “One of the reasons I believe why Daldrop chose this area, Phoenix in particular, is because it is a village, a river-based village. Neckartailfingen in Germany where Daldrop is based is also a river-based village, manufacturing community. So, there is a lot of similarities — that smalltown feel,” Morrow said. “We have a lot of connections through multiple employees that lead back to Carrier, also. Everything came together, the timing everything.” “We are thankful for all the economic development support. Everyone has been helping make this happen. So, keep it up, it is working, that is all I got to say, Sullivan said. “If you look at historical industrial manufacturing, this region has skills that have been un-utilized. The northern industrial region has a lot of skills that if we can tap before they go away, we can leverage them. That is what we are trying to do. You’d be surprised at the supply chain left behind from Carrier — that supply chain is still there.” “Operation Oswego County has been fantastic,” Morrow added. “I can’t say enough good things about that group.” What Is Cleanroom Technology Cleanroom technology is a system of specialized engineering, filtration and operational controls used to maintain an extremely low concentration of airborne particles, microbes and chemical vapors. How It Works • Air Filtration: Uses HEPA or ULPA filters to remove 99.97% of tiny particles down to 0.3 microns. • Airflow Control: Directs air in a steady, unidirectional (laminar) or filtered turbulent pattern to push dust away from work areas. • Environmental Regulation: Maintains precise control over temperature, humidity and positive air pressure to block outside air leaks. • Specialized Attire: Requires personnel to wear full-body garments (“bunny suits”), gloves and masks to stop human shedding
Over 65? Here's what Massachusetts recommends for flu and COVID vaccines
Here's what to know about the latest flu and COVID-19 vaccine recommendations.
Push for girls flag football as varsity sport in Mass. moves forward
The push to make all-girls flag football a varsity sport in Massachusetts is moving forward.
Immigrant mental health taskforce reports progress after first year
The Massachusetts Behavioral Health and Wellbeing Taskforce was created by the MIRA Coalition and Haitian Mental Health Network.
New webinar series aims to boost western Mass. business
Western Massachusetts nonprofit organization Living Local 413 has launched “The Local Hour,” a new weekly online gathering designed to foster open conversations among the region’s business co…
LEARN Behavioral Entity Sues to Stop MassHealth Medicaid Recoupment
A Massachusetts autism therapy provider has sued 10 public officials and entities to stop a Medicaid recoupment effort that local providers have decried
Montana State students receive prestigious National Environmental Public Health internships
The students will complete projects involving tick-borne illness in Massachusetts and wastewater system mapping in Utah.
Buy your health insurance through the Mass. Connector? Open enrollment starts Friday
The Massachusetts Health Connector has begun its open enrollment period Friday and will run through Jan. 23, 2027. State and Boston officials are urging residents to take advantage of the Connector's assistance program — especially after recent federal changes to healthcare spending.
Massachusetts ranked No. 1 for women’s and children’s health in new report
Massachusetts has been ranked the top state in the nation for the health of women and children, according to America’s Health Rankings 2026 Health of Women and Children Report.
Battenfeld: Maura Healey’s Trump tactic is why Americans hate politics
The incumbent Massachusetts governor was allowed by a weak moderator to dodge every question. The late, legendary Tim Russert would never have tolerated that.
A Utah tech darling’s A.I. business just changed hands. Now, 175 local workers are losing their jobs.
Massachusetts-based Progress Software paid $400 million for almost all of Domo’s assets.
Voters in pre-election poll mixed on state of Massachusetts
Many respondents to a new poll believe Massachusetts has become a worse place to live over the past four years and they still favor keeping incumbent Gov. Maura Healey in
Chicopee business owner talks about effects of theft
CHICOPEE — With recent theft stores happening across the commonwealth, Chicopee business owner Raj Sanghvi is looking for Massachusetts to either get stricter laws or for people to be more fearful of stealing.
Newton for Everyone forum: The Politics of Housing
At Newton for Everyone’s forum, How Housing Scarcity is Costing Massachusetts Political Power, Boston University Professor Maxwell Palmer advocated for statewide zoning to increase housing and...
Governor's Report: Massachusetts, Moving Forward
Governor Maura Healey on the state’s talent, innovation ecosystem and strategy for attracting and growing business.
Boston Mayor Joins Effort to Protect Legal Cannabis in Massachusetts
Mayor Michelle Wu is the latest in a list of a growing number of high-profile figures endorsing the ‘No on 8’ campaign to protect the Commonwealth’s cannabis laws against a prohibitionist-backed ballot Question 8 in the November mid-term election.
Massachusetts GOP lieutenant governor candidate suspends campaign after arrest in car crash
The Republican candidate for lieutenant governor in Massachusetts has dropped out of the race hours after he was arrested in a suspected drunk driving crash.
How Investors May Respond To PENN Entertainment (PENN) Massachusetts Slot Debate
PENN Entertainment has opposed proposed legislation in Massachusetts that would permit historical horse racing devices that function like slot machines. The company argues these terminals could shift up to US$216 million in annual gaming revenue and affect an estimated 1,074 casino jobs across the state. The company has recently reported earnings that exceeded consensus estimates, with an average surprise of 72.86% over the last two quarters. This highlights an operating profile where...
Massachusetts Republican lieutenant governor candidate suspends campaign after OUI arrest
Police said Shawn Oliver’s vehicle overturned after hitting five parked vehicles, two of which were extensively damaged.
Massive raid on Atlanta area massage businesses leads to six arrests
Police say the investigation also resulted in the seizure of more than $400,000 in cash and eight vehicles believed to be connected to the alleged criminal enterprise.
'Looksmaxxing' influencer Clavicular pleads not guilty to rape charge
"Manosphere" streamer Clavicular has pleaded not guilty in his Massachusetts rape case.
At Black business expo, officials urge owners to 'speak up'
Black small business owners are facing economic conditions similar to those they dealt with as a result of COVID-19, Black Economic Council of Massachusetts CEO and President Nicole Obi said
Board of Health wields unusual power, expert tells members
Marblehead’s Board of Health has powers unlike virtually any other local board or commission in Massachusetts, a public health attorney told members Monday night — including the authority to adopt regulations that carry the force of state law. Michael Hugo of the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards spent more than two hours walking the board
Business Starts for Oct. 19, 2026
In June, 1,412 new businesses filed InCorporation paperwork with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, in order to do business in the state. Here is a selection of some of […]
Oasis’ only 2027 Boston shows: How to secure Gillette Stadium tickets
Boston is one of only 2 U.S. stops on the "Oasis Live '27" tour and is the band's first Massachusetts performance in over 30 years.
Healey, Minogue spar over spending, political ties in first Massachusetts governor debate
Data Science Initiative Talk: Dr. Thea Kristensen- Community Observations of Massachusetts Black Bears | Events & Calendars | Data Science Initiative Talk: Dr. Thea Kristensen- Community Observations of Massachusetts Black Bears
As part of the Data Science Initiative Speaker Series, Prof. Thea Kristensen (Biology) presents "Using Community Observations to Ask Questions about Massachusetts Black Bears”.
Massachusetts can protect data privacy without hurting small businesses
As lawmakers debate the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act, they should be careful not to adopt an approach that unintentionally makes it harder and more expensive for local businesses to compete, grow, and innovate online.
Northern Essex’s McCarthy Joins New Small Business Advisory Council
Michael McCarthy, executive vice president and chief financial and operating officer at Northern Essex Community College, was recently appointed to the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center statewide Advisory Council, a new group of business, government, economic development and community leaders helping guide the future of small business support in the state. The Advisory Council was
“We’re in the entertainment business. If someone uses Suno to write a lyric, it’s not a high crime or misdemeanour”: Joe Bonamassa has sympathy for up-and-coming artists using AI to get an edge
But AI ‘artists’ shouldn’t be in the same chart as humans, he says
Mass. business confidence rises in September but remains pessimistic
Massachusetts business confidence rose modestly in September after a sharp decline in August.
mherst Public Health Department Hosting Vaccine Clinic
AMHERST, MA – The Town of Amherst Public Health Department will be hosting a vaccine clinic offering Flu and COVID shots on Thursday, October 22 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at the Bangs Community Center (70 Boltwood Walk). Register here or by going to: northamptonma.gov/2219/vax Registration is highly recommended as there is limited walk-in availability. Vaccines are available for all Massachusetts residents ages 6
2 massage businesses suspected of trafficking shut down in Kennewick sting
The same locations were shut down earlier this year under different names.
Massachusetts Republicans respond to harassment of Cape Cod restaurant
A swath of Massachusetts Republicans are coming together to support a Cape Cod restaurant hit with online threats and harassment, even a hoax 911 call, in retaliation for hosting a GOP fundraiser.
New Study in Health Affairs Documents Rapid Rise in Healthcare Spending in Massachusetts After COVID-19 Pandemic
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California Critical Access Hospital Announces Cybersecurity Incident
Data breaches have been announced by Modoc Medical Center and Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services in California, Park Place Behavioral Healthcare in Modoc Medical Center, a California critical access hospital, has announced a cybersecurity incident and data breach. Data breaches have also been announced by Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services in California, Park Place Behavioral Healthcare in Florida, and Millstone Medical Outsourcing in Massachusetts.
"Ridiculously expensive": Massachusetts computer repair shop seeing uptick in business as costs rise
Zach Bryan breaks Gillette Stadium record in ‘Free Palestine’ shirt
Country singer Zach Bryan broke Gillette Stadium’s all-time attendance record on the second consecutive night he wore a “Free Palestine” T-shirt to perform in Robert Kraft’s Massachusetts venue. “Tonight, Zach
Visited Massachusetts town that's better than Salem: Beverly
Instead of visiting Salem, Massachusetts, I suggest checking out Beverly, a less-crowded alternative with great food and amazing Halloween decor.
Naples woman arrested; accused of running unlicensed massage business
Huiping was charged with practicing a health profession without a license, a third-degree felony, and failing to maintain or provide a customer log, a misdemeanor.
2026 Outstanding Women in Business
The 18th annual Outstanding Women in Business awards recognize a dozen well-accomplished professionals from across the region and in many industries who go above and beyond. The committee selected the winners from more than 80 nominations, all of whom were worthy. The criteria evaluated each nominee’s professional achievements, community impact, ability to break the glass ceiling and mentorship of other professionals, particularly women. In addition to profiling these women in the following pages, the Worcester Business Journal will celebrate this year’s Outstanding Women in Business at a special luncheon on Oct. 28 at the College of the Holy Cross. To join the celebration of these exceptional women, visit WBJournal.com and register. – Mark Conti, editor This Year’s Judges Worcester Business Journal considered 54 Central Massachusetts professionals for the 2026 Outstanding Women in Business awards, based on 83 nominations. These nominees were independently evaluated by two volunteer judges, who scored each on their professional achievements, community contribution and mentorship of young professionals. Samantha P. McDonald is a partner at Bowditch. She is an experienced, client-focused real estate lawyer, concentrating on business and real estate property law. She has been recognized as a WBJ Power 100 in the Class of 2026 and a “Top Women of Law” in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. Dr. Kavita Babu is chief medical officer and vice president of medical affairs at Heywood Healthcare, where she provides strategic and clinical leadership to advance high-quality, patient-centered care across the organization. She is also a member of the WBJ Outstanding Women in Business Class of 2025.
Business confidence held in negative territory in September
Business confidence ticked upwards among Massachusetts employers in September but sentiment remained in negative territory and torn between the impacts of growth and rising costs.
Ipswich woman turns passion for horses into massage business
Melissa “Melly” Cote has turned her passion for horses into her own business, “Mellow Touch,” where she massages horses. The Ipswich resident graduated from Essex Tech in 2005 with a major in horse management and now serves as assistant manager at Labyrinth Farm. When not riding on her horses, her hobbies include singing, songwriting and […]
The Mental Health Association Data Breach Settlement Agreed
The Mental Health Association, a Chicopee, Massachusetts-based human services agency that provides substance use recovery and support services for The Mental Health Association, a Massachusetts-based human services agency, has agreed to a settlement to resolve class action litigation over a November 2024 cyberattack and data breach that affected 12,633 individuals.
Massachusetts GOP ticket rocked by alleged drunken crash as candidate abruptly halts campaign
Massachusetts Republican Shawn Oliver suspended his lieutenant governor campaign after a DUI arrest following a rollover crash in New Bedford.
Open enrollment begins on state's health insurance marketplace amid affordability challenges
Open enrollment has started for the Massachusetts Health Connector, which offers health insurance coverage for those without employer-based health insurance.
Care before crisis
The recent murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts mother accused of killing her three children, focused national attention on maternal mental health and the structures — or lack thereof — we have in place to support it.
Trump administration wants to reconsider permit for Massachusetts offshore wind project
The Trump administration is asking a federal judge to let it reconsider a major federal permit granted for a large offshore wind farm, making it the fourth project the Republican
In Massachusetts, 6 rural hospitals could get upgrades as $162 million health fund opens
Each hospital can request up to $2.5 million.
Massachusetts mom builds healthy muffin business during pandemic
Melissa Bermudez, co-founder and CEO of Unrefined Foods, turned her passion for baking into a business offering frozen, whole-grain muffins made with clean ingredients.
MIT Engineers Design Swimming Robot Powered By Living Muscle Cells
Massachusetts Institute of Technology engineers developed a robot powered by living muscle cells that move in response to flashes of light.
Massanutten operator announces leadership shifts
Charlottesville-based The Resorts Companies names Matthias Smith president as Steve Krohn moves to board vice-chairman
Scientists reveal why some workout recovery tricks can backfire
Ice baths, massages, compression garments, and recovery supplements promise faster muscle recovery, but research suggests their benefits are often overstated, and some techniques may even undermine long-term gains. Scientists say the most effective recovery methods are far simpler and cheaper: getting enough sleep, eating well, and giving muscles time to rebuild.
Massachusetts casinos see tax drop from horse racing machines
State tax revenue from casinos could drop by up to $73 million per year, the operators said.
Worcester strikes back against racist bullying in school sports
Six months after a girls’ high school basketball team in Worcester faced a wave of online racist attacks, schools are collaborating with the Worcester NAACP and YWCA of Central Massachusetts in a Stand Against Racism campaign.
Donor dashboard illuminates utility sector political contributions
A new dashboard from the clean energy coalition Mass Power Forward reveals that current Massachusetts lawmakers have received over $223,000 in campaign donations from high-level utility employees since 2002.
Massachusetts Governor Urges No Vote on Cannabis Prohibition Measure
Gov. Maura Healey said she opposes Question 8, a ballot measure that aims to wipe out the state’s adult-use legalization laws.
BankFive president named Women Who Mean Business honoree
The Boston Business Journal selected BankFive President Anne Tangen as one of 10 honorees in its Women Who Mean Business program.
Business Starts for Oct. 5, 2026
In June, 1,412 new businesses filed InCorporation paperwork with the Massachusetts Secretary of the State in order to do business in the state.
Opinion | Don’t roll the dice on public health
Massachusetts should care less about gambling competition and more about public health guardrails.
Health and Human Services Secretary Mahaniah visits Sharing Kindness
Massachusetts Health and Human Services Secretary Kiame Mahaniah visited Sharing Kindness in Harwich on his statewide tour.
Question 3 would create all-party primary
Ballot Question 3 would eliminate political party primaries in Massachusetts and establish a single, all-party primary.
Ranking Member Markey: SBA Administrator Loeffler, Trump Administration are Refusing to Answer to America’s 36+ Million Small Businesses and Workers, Leaving Main Street Behind
Loeffler canceled her scheduled Sept. 30 appearance before the Senate Small Business Committee, has not appeared before SBC in more than a year (Washington, September 28) – Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today released the following statement after Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Kelly Loeffler canceled her scheduled Wednesday appearance before the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. Administrator Loeffler has not appeared before the committee in more than a year and has consistently refused to provide substantial answers to committee members in person, in writing, or via requested briefings. In June, Ranking Member Markey led every Democratic member of the committee in calling on Administrator Loeffler to appear before the committee to answer for the Trump administration’s cruel attacks on American small businesses, entrepreneurs, and workers. The Democratic lawmakers still have not received a response from Administrator Loeffler. “It is unacceptable that Administrator Loeffler chose to cancel her appearance before the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. The Trump administration is once again ignoring the more than 36 million American small businesses, entrepreneurs, and workers who drive our economy and enrich our communities by refusing to answer questions about this administration’s reckless economic policies. It has been more than a year since Administrator Loeffler has appeared before our committee and answered questions from both Democrats and Republicans. Since then, the Trump administration’s attacks on Main Street have only worsened. “Small businesses are facing record high gas and diesel prices, skyrocketing healthcare costs, and never-ending uncertainty from Trump’s trade war with the world. Trump has terrorized Main Streets across the country with violent ICE raids, destroying families, communities, and local economies. Meanwhile, Administrator Loeffler and the Trump SBA have been in a Witness Protection Program, ignoring the Pain on Main Street that they have created. They have chosen to make drastic cuts to SBA funding and essential, bipartisan programs, including the closure of the SBA office in Springfield and removal of the SBA office from Boston; directly attacked immigrant small business owners and destroyed the promise of the American Dream; and proposed shortsighted small business size rules that would benefit billion-dollar businesses over actual small businesses. “It’s clear that Administrator Loeffler, President Trump, and their CEO billionaire buddies want to turn the Small Business Administration into the Big Business Administration, tear down our economy, and abandon Main Street. If that is indeed this administration’s goal, Administrator Loeffler must answer to the millions of small businesses, workers, and families in Massachusetts and across the country that this administration is leaving behind.” ###
Mass. nail salon workers face low pay, health hazards
A survey of Massachusetts nail technicians found that most earn less than $40,000 and suffer from headaches, asthma, and nausea.
‘One of the ocean’s best-kept secrets’ spotted near Massachusetts
Hint: They have a 12-foot-wide wingspan and can weigh up to 1,100 pounds.
Harvard and Yale miss top 10 for computer science in 2027 US university ranking
Carnegie Mellon University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Stanford University tie for first in U.S. News & World Report's 2027 ranking of undergraduate computer science programs, released Sept. 22.
Suspicious letters sent to political offices in Massachusetts
Does Massachusetts have a ‘real race’ for governor?
The answer may hinge on Republican Mike Minogue’s ability and willingness to pivot to the political center.
Healey awards $40M in tax incentives to life science company, expected to create 1,600 jobs
Nearly $40 million in tax incentives went out to 38 life science companies in Massachusetts, a move state leaders say is expected to create over 1,600 jobs in the industry.
Opioid settlement funds could bridge some health gaps
Back when now-Gov. Maura Healey was the Massachusetts attorney general, in July 2021, she sued opioid distributors, manufacturers, and pharmacies for their prescription practices, which the state argued contributed to a national opioid crisis. What resulted was a settlement of more than $1 billion from opioid-makers Johnson and Johnson and opioid-distributors McKesson, Cardinal, and AmerisourceBergen. […]
Graffiti in Turners Falls causes damage, business owners perplexed by messages
What struck several people in downtown Turners Falls when their businesses were defaced with graffiti is — it seemed targeted, but misplaced. In this western Massachusetts village in the town of Montague, the numerous messages were connected to the violence in Gaza, to children dying, and notably to the eating of brunch.
US Congresswoman Joins Fight to Keep Cannabis Legal in Massachusetts
Rep. Ayanna Pressley is urging Massachusetts voters to reject a ballot measure that aims to repeal the state’s adult-use cannabis laws.
Lucas: What if politics actually worked?
There are some 3.2 million registered independent voters in Massachusetts compared to 1.3 million Democrats and 424,000 Republicans.
LEARN Behavioral Entity Sues to Stop MassHealth Medicaid Recoupment
A Massachusetts autism therapy provider has sued 10 public officials and entities to stop a Medicaid recoupment effort that local providers have decried
Trump cuts have hurt Mass. research labs. Scientists hope midterms can ease the pain
Under the second Trump administration, Massachusetts scientists have lost billions in funding, and curtailed more than a dozen clinical trials in the state. Ahead of the midterms, many scientists hope a new Congress will restore stability to federal support and get grant money out the door.
30 residents of Massachusetts assisted living facility hospitalized in weeks after woman's death, health director says
Hopkinton's health director says 30 residents of Golden Pond Assisted Living Facility have been transported to the hospital in recent weeks as an investigation is ongoing at the facility.
Westfield science teacher is honored as Mass. Project Lead the Way Teacher of the Year
Westfield High School physics teacher Renee Sweeney was surprised with the 2026 Massachusetts PLTW Teacher of the Year award for her engaging, applied-learning engineering courses.
Keller on what happens when all politics is actually national
President Trump's Massachusetts numbers and what they mean for GOP candidates
Business Community Signals Openness to Removing Public Vote on Nuclear
PLYMOUTH — Gov. Maura Healey’s mission to restore nuclear power to Massachusetts has put the local business community at odds with nuclear watchdog groups. Advocates worry that the removal of […]
MetroWest high school football schedule/live scores (Oct. 1-3)
We are in Week 4 of the high school football season in Massachusetts. Here are the scores and top performers from the action in MetroWest.