New England Weekend

King's Chapel is a must-see stop on the Freedom Trail in Boston. It's been an active church for hundreds of years, and there's so much history to take in, including the stories of the families buried in their crypt. The church is embracing the eerier side of history through the Halloween season, offering special after-hours crypt tours where you'll be led by candlelight. Gianna Russi, History Program Director at the Chapel, joins Nichole to talk about all the spooky details.

Hundreds of people in recovery are expected to gather at Carson Beach in South Boston on October 5 for the Shatterproof Walk. Shatterproof is a Connecticut-based non-profit that works to stop the stigma surrounding substance abuse and addiction by bringing people together in community. They also provide critical resources for people who want to find help and get on the road to recovery. Kirsten Seckler, Marketing Director for Shatterproof, shares information about the upcoming walk and Shatterproof's mission.

Next week, Pine Street Inn in Boston will be holding a special voter registration drive at their 140 Clarendon complex. This drive is all about challenging misconceptions about the rights of those who are unhoused to cast votes in the upcoming election, and helping everyone who wants to vote get registered to do so. Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll is also scheduled to make an appearance! Lyndia Downie, Executive Director at Pine Street Inn, is back on the show with all the details.

The heat of the summer is starting to fade, and now that autumn has arrived, we're getting into a season full of foliage, apple picking, and hiking - complete with tasty warm meals to keep you going throughout the day! Marc Hurwitz of Boston Restaurant Talk leads hikes around New England for the Appalachian Mountain Club, and he returns to the show this week to talk about his recent trips, recommendations, the state of the restaurant industry, and bar pizza.

Each and every holiday season, the Dover, NH Fire Department is able to hand out toys to hundreds of families thanks to the generous gifts to the department's Toy Bank, which has been running for decades. Now, this year's holiday mission is in jeopardy due to a devastating flood. Firefighter and paramedic Mike Kilday joins the show this week to talk about how you can help.

For more than 40 years, King Richard's Faire in Carver has been the place for Renaissance lovers to step back in time to sixteenth century living, complete with jousting, artisans, costumes, performers, musicians, and those big turkey legs you can snack on. Aimée Shapiro Sedley, the Chief Operating Officer of the Faire, joins Nichole to talk about what's in store for this year's event.

The crisp days of fall are starting to settle in, and that means it's time to celebrate the cranberry harvest! Each year in Harwich, the community comes together for the Harwich Cranberry Arts and Music Festival, where you can find unique arts and crafts from local artisans, performances from New England bands, and all the tasty food you can eat. Kathy Kirch and Bob Weiser share all the details on this week's show.

While Salem's usually known this time of year for getting a bit spooky, there's a lot of excitement for another big festival, and this one's all for the lovers of the written word! This year's Salem Literary Festival runs from September 4-8, both online and in-person, with all sorts of fun and informative events for bibliophiles and aspiring writers. Nichole speaks with Jean Marie Procious, Executive Director of the Salem Athenaeum, author Betty Cayouette, and WBZ-AM alum/Salem Lit Fest Committee Member Diane Stern about this family-friendly event!

Late summer is a great time to enjoy an evening walk on the beach, a campfire after dinner, Friday Night Lights, or grilling on the back porch. Unfortunately, mosquitoes and the viruses some of them are carrying are making it a lot harder to enjoy those simple pleasures these days. West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis have been in the headlines lately, and Nichole talks with Massachusetts State Epidemiologist Dr. Catherine Brown to answer some of the big questions surrounding this growing public health problem.

In the coming weeks, 18 men who are incarcerated at the Norfolk County Correctional Center will be learning some serious kitchen skills through a new collaboration between the Snapchef Foundation and the Norfolk County Sheriff's Office. The aim is to help these justice-involved individuals get on the right path after they're released with these culinary skills under their belt and a clear path to a new career. Norfolk County Sheriff Patrick McDermott and Carley Snopkowski at SnapChef talk with Nichole about this new program and why it's so important to set these people up for success.