Over the years, the Boston Public Library has had all kinds of designs for their cards, but now, they're looking to add a few more. These designs, however, will be coming directly from the public. The BPL is running a contest, asking patrons to submit art that showcases what "Free to All", the mission of the Library, means to you. Bailey Watroba, Senior Public Relations Associate at the BPL, returns to the show with details on this contest, which is underway through June 15.

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There's more interest in train travel these days, thanks to higher gas prices, but the efforts to expand access to passenger rail around the Commonwealth have been going on for many years now. Several improvement and expansion projects are already underway through MassDOT's "Compass Rail" initiative, with a significant focus on Central and Western Massachusetts. Meredith Slesinger, MassDOT's Rail and Transit Administrator, joins Nichole to talk about their expansion efforts and the benefits of access to passenger rail services.

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When you make your way to Boston and stop by the 1965 Freedom Plaza, near the Embrace statue, you'll find dozens of names etched in the tiles. Those names honor icons in Boston's history who may not be as well known, including Harry Hom Dow. He was known for breaking barriers in the legal world and through his civic life, and it was because of that work that Embrace Boston and Everyone250 chose to name this year's "Embrace Honors" after him. Nichole talks with one of the honorees, Suzanne Lee, President Emeritus of the Chinese Progressive Association, along with Embrace Boston's President and CEO, Imari Paris Jeffries.

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For years, Merrimack Valley residents haven't been able to go to LeLacheur Field in Lowell and cheer on their beloved Spinners, as the team folded during the MLB's restructuring of the minor league system. That's all about to change, as the team's under new ownership and in a new league. What won't be changing is the family fun, food, and everything else that makes up the Lowell Spinners experience. Opening Day is May 29th, and this weekend, Nichole talks with Principal Owner/CBO Marc Deschenes and Chairman/CEO John Croteau to learn about what they have in store.

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Here in Massachusetts, members of the team at Samaritans Southcoast in Westport are often the ones you connect with when you call, text, or chat the 988 Lifeline. They recently secured a major contract from the state to provide those services for not just southeastern Massachusetts, but the entire Commonwealth 24/7 by the end of the year! It's a challenge Executive Director Darcy Lee says they're ready for. She talks with Nichole about how they're preparing for this new responsibility.

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Looking for a new car? Get ready to pay up. We're seeing record high prices for new vehicles around the country, including here in New England. It's rare to find one that comes in under $30,000, with more luxury vehicles, SUV's, and pickup trucks on the lots than affordable sedans. Why the change, especially when so many Americans are struggling to get by? Nichole spoke with John Marthinsen, Professor of Economics and International Business at Babson College in Wellesley, to get insight and answers.

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Sometimes, for those living paycheck to paycheck, just a couple extra hundred dollars a month can make a major difference when it comes to quality of life and staying afloat. The city of Salem teamed up with UpTogether and Salem State University to run an experiment: what would happen if dozens of lower-income residents and families received an extra $500 each month for a year, no questions asked? Early analysis shows encouraging results. Mayor Domenic Pangallo and Professor Thomas Piñeros Shields from the North Shore Policy Lab join the show this week to share what they learned.

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Since 1920, when it opened up as a three-room settlement house on Wall Street in Worcester, Friendly House's mission has stayed the same: do everything they can, in any way they can, to ensure residents have the resources they need to not just get by, but thrive. In many ways, the need for Friendly House and its programs is more dire than ever, and the team is ready to help. Executive Director Trish Appert and Director of Social Services Josefina Velez join Nichole on the show this week to tell their century-old story of community service and detail the programs they have available for those in need.

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It takes just seconds for a dog to escape - an accidentally unlocked door, a slightly-too-loose harness - and it can be absolutely devastating when you realize your beloved pet is gone. Hundreds of volunteers at Missing Dogs Massachusetts are ready and waiting to help, with flyers for social media, trapping services, and much more, all at no cost. Kris Ericson, President of Missing Dogs Massachusetts, talks with Nichole about their work and why it's so important for these volunteers to ensure as many pups as possible return home to their family.

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High-speed internet is critical for work, school, shopping, and many other ways we engage in everyday life. While most Massachusetts residents utilize broadband internet connections each and every day, there are still thousands of people who don't have access, both in rural and urban areas. New federal funding is giving Massachusetts the boost it needs to lay the groundwork to get everyone connected. Michael Baldino, the Director of the Massachusetts Broadband Institute at MassTech in Westborough, talks with Nichole about the state's efforts to get everyone online and how this new federal funding will help.

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