Stories from surrounding communities, closest first.
Concord Monitor · Dudley, MA
Nearby: Dudley, MAWebster, MA – Jean Knapton DaCosta, 88, passed away peacefully on October 21, 2026, surrounded by family.Born January 13, 1938, in Henniker, New Hampshire, Jean was the daughter of the late Roy and Etta Knapton. She graduated from Henniker High School and attended Colby Junior College.Jean made her home in Dudley, Massachusetts, where she raised her four children with her former husband Dan DaCosta. She had a fulfilling career with Health Awareness Services of Central Massachusetts.Jean was predeceased by her siblings, Richard Knapton, Marilyn Buxton, and Jimmy Knapton; her youngest son, Danny DaCosta; and her grandson, Joey Velardi.She is survived by her children, Bill DaCosta, Jan Velardi, and Suzanne Knapton and her husband, Thomas; her grandchildren, Danny Velardi, Matthew Knapton, his wife Alyssa, Benny Knapton, and Lexi Knapton; and her great-grandchildren, Emma and Ollie Knapton.
The Grafton News · Grafton, MA
Nearby: Grafton, MAStaff Report Grafton dodged a potential hit to school funding, a forced zoning overhaul and a cut to its budget this election, and voters made… Login to continue reading Login Sign up for complimentary access Sign Up Now Close
The Grafton News · Grafton, MA
Nearby: Grafton, MABy Melissa McKeon, Correspondent The select board approved the suggestion from Grafton Recreation Director Adam Lapointe to raise fees at Silver Lake and for the… Login to continue reading Login Sign up for complimentary access Sign Up Now Close
The Grafton News · Grafton, MA
Nearby: Grafton, MABoth the town’s state officials ran unopposed. State Representative, 9th Worcester District: David Muradian Jr., Republican incumbent, unopposed State senator, 2nd Worcester District: Michael Moore,… Login to continue reading Login Sign up for complimentary access Sign Up Now Close
Rockland Review News · Rockland, MA
Nearby: Rockland, MAFebruary break asks a lot of Rockland County parents. Five weekdays, kids home, cold outside, and a budget already tired from the holidays. The good news: a full week of family events near me does not require tickets to anything expensive. It requires a plan that mixes free library programs, low-cost town recreation, and one or two paid outings spaced out so no single day carries the whole week. The trick is treating the break like a small budget line, not a scramble. Families who decide the week's shape before it starts spend less and hear less complaining. That is not a slogan; it is how the county's own event calendar works. Most towns, libraries and the mall publish their schedules weeks ahead, and the parents who read them early get the free slots before they fill. This guide explains how to build that plan: what counts as a family outing, where the free options hide, how to space the paid ones, and what to do when the weather refuses to cooperate.
Vineyard Gazette · Chilmark, MA
Nearby: Chilmark, MAChilmark Jennifer Chun and Daniel Kim purchased 28 Black Point Road and Black Point Beach (Lot 26) in Chilmark for $2,850,000 from Jackbo LLC on Nov. 6. Edgartown 37 Plain Field Way LLC purchased 37 Plain Field Way in Edgartown for $5,300,000 from Christopher D. Charles and Meghan C. Charles on Nov. 5. Brandon Willett and Alexandra Kruse purchased 23 Hamblen Way in Edgartown for $1,147,000 from Daniel G. Garab Trust and Gary Garab & Evelyn E. Garab Family Trust on Nov. 6. Oak Bluffs Helen and Edward Dee purchased 2 Winemack Street in Oak Bluffs for $1,025,000 from Corey Michael Randolph Sr. on Nov. 6. Vineyard Haven John H. Hale III and Nicole Y. Lamb-Hale purchased 21 Woodlawn Avenue in Vineyard Haven for $2,200,000 from Paula M. Lyons on Nov. 5. Debra Phillips and James Murrin purchased 26 Union Court in Vineyard Haven for $1,574,500 from Pieter Pil and Karen Casper on Nov. 6. Stephanie and Michael A.
Vineyard Gazette · Chilmark, MA
Nearby: Chilmark, MASanta is beginning the process of checking his list twice, and Chilmark has some wonderful news to report to the North Pole. Thanks to a mini baby boom, our community has been fortunate to welcome several sweet new faces this year. Lucky us. To ensure the North Pole sorting room has everything perfectly prepped for the Chilmark delivery route, we want to make sure every single one of our town’s newest residents is included. If you have a new bundle of joy to add to Santa’s local roster, please reach out with their name and date of birth. Let’s make sure our littlest neighbors get an extra-warm welcome from the big man in red this December. Maisy Louise Natichioni made her grand entrance on Nov. 1 weighing a perfect 7 pounds 8 ounces. Parents Marc and Hadley (Chapman) Natichioni have officially handed over the keys to the house, as tiny Maisy has instituted a strict new schedule of midnight roll calls and a monopoly on everyone’s hearts.
Vineyard Gazette · West Tisbury, MA
Nearby: West Tisbury, MAI remember what I was wearing 50 years ago. Unlike this year, with its balmy bright fall days, the season I recall was exceptionally chilly on the Vineyard and we were bundled up in woolly winter gear. My heavy coat was from L.L. Bean. It was a man’s navy blue pea jacket, double-breasted, with four big buttons. It was my husband’s old coat, and it was the only thing that wrapped all the way around my big belly. We were temporarily in Boston awaiting the birth of a child. The child took her sweet time but arrived on a raw and cold November day, so long ago. That was Chloe, who looked when she got here as exhausted as I felt. Chloe was born (taking her sweet time) with autism, but she now spends her weekdays in a happy place, the Island Autism Center, and she probably couldn’t be more content. For all of us, there is little that is more satisfying than having grown-up offspring who are content, if not jumping with joy.
Vineyard Gazette · West Tisbury, MA
Nearby: West Tisbury, MAThe “Final Trip” gathering to remember Clarence A. Barnes III will be held on Saturday, Nov. 21 starting at 4 p.m. at the Ag Hall in West Tisbury. Bring a potluck and Trip stories to share. It was postponed from back in September due to stormy weather. I’m sure that as well as you might have known Trip, new information will be revealed on Saturday from unexpected sources. You need not doubt any of them. As I mentioned before, when it comes to Trip stories, he lived a life of “you don’t need to make this stuff up!” I’ll be away on a previously planned journey with my Mrs. to the southwest, but I’ve had my opportunity to tell a couple of Trip stories here already. Hers’s another one. Way back when the Schifter house got moved, Trip was hired to haul the big beams back to the Ferry Point to get loaded on the barge with all of the other paraphernalia used in that project. Two empty flat bed tractor trailers were at the point one evening when I was getting off of a shift driving the ferry.
MV Times · Tisbury, MA
Nearby: Tisbury, MAVirginia (“Ginny”) (“Figa”) Cecilio Gonsalves, 96, was reunited with her beloved daughter, Paula, and her husband, Frank (“Chuck”) Gonsalves, on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. Born and raised in Tisbury, Massachusetts, Virginia was the second youngest of nine children. She graduated from Tisbury School as the valedictorian of her class, with strong aspirations of continuing her education. As a woman of color facing the limited opportunities and barriers of her time, Virginia was ultimately forced to put her educational dreams aside and began working alongside her mother, providing laundry and housekeeping services to local families. She would later take over her mother’s laundry business when her mother became ill. Shortly after high school, Virginia married the love of her life, Chuck. Together, they moved across the street from her childhood home, where they began building a family of their own.
Vineyard Gazette · Oak Bluffs, MA
Nearby: Oak Bluffs, MAHalloween on Circuit avenue around 1 p.m. was full of big kids and little kids in costumes, strollers and wagons parading in and out of stores and businesses offering a variety of packaged candies, lollipops, popcorn and welcome greetings from merchants. My favorite was the Haunted House at Mocha Mott’s. The show was about five minutes long while those waiting in line enjoyed the sunny day. This is a wonderful time of the season when business proprietors can visibly thank local customers who patronize them all year. It was all “treats, no tricks“ on Circuit Ave in 2026! It is traditional to wait for the “October surprise” in the political world as voters contemplate November elections. This year it was the “November surprise,“ and the Vineyard was a big part of the story. Oak Bluffs’ own Keisha Lance Bottoms, who has been a favorite at Union Chapel over the years, became the first Black woman to become a governor in United States history.
