Falmouth Schools Expected To Make Mask Mandate Decision: Patch PM

Falmouth MA

23 August, 2021

3:23 PM

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MASSACHUSETTS — It's Monday, August 23. Here's what you should know this afternoon: Two suspects accused of kidnapping a 4-day-old baby girl are being held without bail pending dangerousness hearings.Andover is planning a "community-led process" for rebuilding Andover Youth Services after the firing of the longtime director and the subsequent resignations of the full-time staff.Jimmy Hayes, a professional hockey player who played two of his seven NHL seasons with the Bruins, was found dead in his Milton home. Scroll down for more on those and other stories Patch has been covering in Massachusetts today. Today's Top Story A decision on whether Falmouth Public Schools will enact a mask mandate to start the year is expected to come at Tuesday's school committee meeting. A potential mandate was hotly contested by parents, town officials and school staff at last week's meeting, as public comments ranged across both sides.School physician Dr. Gregory Parkinson and town Health Agent Scott McGann both said they recommend the ban, because of low vaccination rates among students and higher COVID-19 transmission rates with the delta variant. "By wearing masks indoors, I think it opens the doors to being able to hopefully be outside, to have sports, to have a lot of the regular things, and most importantly be in person," Parkinson said. Read the full story here. Like this article? Sign up for our newsletter and get it delivered every weekday. It's free! Monday's Other Top StoriesTornado touches down in Marlborough: The National Weather Service says a tornado touched down in Marlborough Monday morning, just after a tornado warning was issued for Worcester and Middlesex counties. The NWS issued the first tornado warning for parts of Worcester and Middlesex counties until 1:30 p.m. A second warning was issued for northern Worcester County until 2:15 p.m. No bail for accused kidnappers: Two suspects accused of kidnapping a 4-day-old baby girl appeared in Worcester court Monday, and officials say they are being held without bail pending dangerousness hearings. A four-day-old newborn baby girl was missing for three hours Saturday before she was left unharmed with "an uninvolved citizen" at a Subway restaurant on Lincoln Street in Shrewsbury. Andover officials deny allegations after mass resignation: Andover is planning a "community-led process" for rebuilding Andover Youth Services after the firing of the longtime director and the subsequent resignations of the full-time staff, the town said Friday. The town also denied rumors of a toxic work environment related to the basis of the group's resignations and asked for public input. The division's four full-time staff members submitted letters of resignation Friday effective Sept. 2, several months after former Director Bill Fahey was fired. Eat fresh: Patch's 2021 Massachusetts Farmers Market Guide Picture This Boston Bruins' Jimmy Hayes looks on during an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers in Philadelphia on Jan. 13, 2016. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek) Ex-Bruin found dead: Jimmy Hayes, a professional hockey player who played two of his seven NHL seasons with the Bruins died unexpectedly Monday morning at the age of 31. Hayes was a Dorchester native who won an NCAA hockey championship at Boston College and moved on to play the remainder of his career for the Chicago Blackhawks. Police and first responders went to Hayes's Milton home where he was pronounced dead at the scene. They said his death is not considered suspicious, but the cause of death has not been made available. By The Numbers 10: The number of Cape Cod towns that now ban the sale of beverages in single-use, plastic bottles. Falmouth's ban, which was adopted in September, goes into effect Sept. 1. In Case You Missed It Town-By-Town rainfall from Henri: In the days leading up to Tropical Storm Henri's arrival in Massachusetts, weather forecasters warned eastern Massachusetts would see two to four inches of rain while the central and western parts of the state were told to expect up to eight inches of rainfall. The weather forecasters were wrong, according to unofficial rainfall totals for several towns and cities in Massachusetts released Monday morning by the National Weather Service. More rain from Henri, however, is on the way, and a flood watch remains in effect for central and western Massachusetts. Survey: Should Massachusetts Mask Up Again? Patch is asking readers what they think about wearing masks. Should Gov. Charlie Baker implement a new mask mandate? Should even those who are vaccinated mask up indoors? Should Massachusetts schools require masks? Take Patch's survey and let us know how you feel. The survey is meant not to be a scientific poll, but only to give a broad idea of public sentiment. Loading…