One way to go green on Black Friday

Also: North shore kids officially back in school; an update on wildfire season [❤️ Donate]( [View in Browser](   November 27, 2024  ☀️ Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Good Morning Boston, Most people - [including us]( - have Thanksgiving feast prep on the mind today, but have you thought about what you're doing the day after Thanksgiving? The state Department of Conservation and Recreation suggests taking a hike. - Black Friday shopping strolling: DCR is hosting six free guided hikes called "Go Green on Black Friday." DCR's Amy Wilmot told WBUR's Dan Guzman that with so many folks off work or school it's a fantastic time to get outside with family. "They might be looking for opportunities other than some of the traditional Black Friday activities, like shopping or decorating for the next holiday," Wilmot said. "Also people may have eaten a couple extra slices of pie the day before and are looking for an opportunity to do a little exercise." - Where: Head to Blackstone River and Canal State Park, Blue Hills Reservation, Borderland State Park, Great Falls Discovery Center, Lawrence Heritage State Park or Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. All six hikes are billed as family-friendly, with lengths that vary from 1-5 miles. No advance registration needed. [You can see the full schedule and start times here.]( - What to bring: Wilmot suggests folks bring water, and wear appropriate layers and footwear. "But they don't have to worry about getting lost... because they will have a DCR staff person leading the way," she added. If the weather is looking iffy, call DCR ahead of time to make sure the hike is still on. - Back to school: Kids in Beverley and Marblehead are back in their classrooms for a (half) day today after more than two weeks of teacher strikes. School leaders reached tentative contract agreements with their respective unions last night. The deals include higher wages for teachers and paraprofessionals, as well as longer paid parental leave, according to the unions. [More details here.]( - Zoom in: Teacher strikes are illegal in Massachusetts. Instructors on strike in Gloucester [reached a deal last week](. All three striking North Shore communities racked up more than $1.5 million in fines, court documents show. - Little fires everywhere: State fire officials plan to give their final wildfire season update today. More than 600 blazes were recorded across Massachusetts over the last two months. Although much of the state is [still experiencing severe to extreme dryness or drought conditions]( nearly all of the brush fires were contained following last week's rain. - So are they all out? Not quite. Mass. Chief Fire Warden Dave Celino told WBUR's John Bender it will take snowfall to fully extinguish them. "Many of them are going to continue to smolder well interior of the perimeter," he said. "They will not pose any threats to growing outside of the perimeter boundary. They're just going to continue to smolder simply because they're burning deep." One 1,700-acre fire in Great Barrington is only 40% contained. - More festive fun: The Trustees of Reservations is opening its annual WinterLights display on Friday in North Andover, Canton and Stockbridge. You can see three historic houses decked out in holiday decorations while enjoying hot cocoa and music. There will also be two new sensory-friendly events this year. - Mark your calendars: This weekend also kicks off the first winter [Open Newbury Street]( dates. The pedestrian-only walkway will be closed to traffic on Sunday, extending from Berkeley Street to Massachusetts Avenue. The second holiday season day is Dec. 8. - PSA: Doing some holiday shopping in Worcester on a Saturday? Don't feed that meter. The city will offer [free parking]( at all on-street metered spots, as well as at the municipal lots on Green Street, Water Street and Millbury Street, every Saturday through Dec. 28. - 'Tis the season ... for women's hockey. The Boston Fleet of the PWHL will hold its first game of the 2024-2025 season this Saturday against the Toronto Sceptres at 2 p.m. The game will stream on CBCSports.ca, CBC Gem and CBC Sports App. - The home opener is a little later, on Wednesday, Dec. 4. It will be a Walter Cup Final rematch against the Minnesota Frost at Lowell's Tsongas Center. P.S.- If you're worried that breaking bread may turn into breaking ties with family members tomorrow, give [this Endless Thread episode a listen.]( The podcast's listeners shared how they're talking to their families about politics this holiday season, if they're talking about it at all. Meagan McGinnes Managing Editor, Digital Audience & Community Engagement The Rundown ['Ringleader' in harassment scheme targeting NHPR journalists sentenced to 46 months in prison]( Eric Labarge was sentenced to more than three years in prison, plus ordered to pay a fine and restitution for his role in vandalizing the homes of two New Hampshire Public Radio journalists. [Read more.]( ['Ringleader' in harassment scheme targeting NHPR journalists sentenced to 46 months in prison]( Eric Labarge was sentenced to more than three years in prison, plus ordered to pay a fine and restitution for his role in vandalizing the homes of two New Hampshire Public Radio journalists. [Read more.]( [Ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah militants has begun]( A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect at 4 a.m. Wednesday local time. Israel agreed Tuesday to the ceasefire to stop the war it's been fighting with the Iran-backed militant group for over a year. [Read more.]( [Ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah militants has begun]( A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah went into effect at 4 a.m. Wednesday local time. Israel agreed Tuesday to the ceasefire to stop the war it's been fighting with the Iran-backed militant group for over a year. [Read more.]( [Trump is promising big cuts. Impoundment is one axe he wants to wield]( President-elect Donald Trump wants to roll back spending that Congress has already approved. But a 1974 law may stand in his way. [Read more.]( [Trump is promising big cuts. Impoundment is one axe he wants to wield]( President-elect Donald Trump wants to roll back spending that Congress has already approved. But a 1974 law may stand in his way. [Read more.]( [Mass. man who spent decades in prison for a murder he didn't commit is awarded $13 million]( Michael Sullivan was convicted of murder and armed robbery in 1987. But the 64-year-old was released in 2013 after DNA evidence raised questions about his involvement. A jury last week found Sullivan wasn't involved in the murder and awarded him $13 million - though state law caps awards for wrongful conviction at $1 million. [Read more.]( [Mass. man who spent decades in prison for a murder he didn't commit is awarded $13 million]( Michael Sullivan was convicted of murder and armed robbery in 1987. But the 64-year-old was released in 2013 after DNA evidence raised questions about his involvement. A jury last week found Sullivan wasn't involved in the murder and awarded him $13 million - though state law caps awards for wrongful conviction at $1 million. [Read more.]( [Massachusetts man pleads guilty to threatening Jewish community members and to bomb synagogues]( "This defendant's threats to bomb synagogues and kill Jewish children stoked fear in the hearts of congregants at a time when Jews are already facing a disturbing increase in threats," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. [Read more.]( [Massachusetts man pleads guilty to threatening Jewish community members and to bomb synagogues]( "This defendant's threats to bomb synagogues and kill Jewish children stoked fear in the hearts of congregants at a time when Jews are already facing a disturbing increase in threats," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Consider taking a ["fart walk"]( tomorrow (or rather, a post-dinner stroll for anyone who may not giggle at potty humor like me). [NPR explains]( why walking after dinner is so good for your health - and gut. - Looking for something to do with friends and family this weekend? From the final weekend of "Sojourners" at the Huntington to a holiday musical revue, our [arts and culture team has you covered with these recommendations](. - And if you need even more choices for the rest of the year, check out [our guide to holiday arts events around Greater Boston](. - In the stadium, we ride an emotional roller coaster with tens of thousands of like-minded strangers, writes Laura McTaggart. [In this love letter to the Michigan Wolverines]( she captures the heart behind football rivalries, saying everyone knows it's only a game and doesn't really matter, but also that nothing is more important. Both are somehow true. What We're Reading 📚 - LGBTQ+ advocates met with Seth Moulton after his comments on trans athletes, hoping for an apology. Here's how it went. ([The Boston Globe]( - Why cranberry country is turning into wetlands ([The Washington Post]( - Denver gave people experiencing homelessness $1,000 a month. A year later, nearly half of participants said they had housing. ([Business Insider](   Tell Me Something Good [A dream for 'every marching band kid,' UMass sends more than 400 to perform in Macy's Parade]( The University of Massachusetts Amherst marching band is headed to New York this week to perform in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The UMass band is one of 11 chosen for the huge televised event. [Read more.]( [A dream for 'every marching band kid,' UMass sends more than 400 to perform in Macy's Parade]( The University of Massachusetts Amherst marching band is headed to New York this week to perform in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The UMass band is one of 11 chosen for the huge televised event. [Read more.]( Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? 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