Braintree Food Pantry Readies For Holiday Season: Patch PM

BRAINTREE, MA — It's Monday, Nov. 8. Here's what you should know this afternoon:

• Two people were arrested at a right-wing group's protest against vaccine mandates, which turned aggressive when demonstrators clashed with counterprotesters on Boston Common on Sunday.
• An Andover elementary school is a coronavirus cluster after 24 people tested positive for COVID-19 in the week ended Friday.
• Hundreds of nurses on strike in Worcester marked eight months on the picket line Monday as a return-to-work agreement continues to be at issue.

Scroll down for more on those and other stories Patch has been covering in Massachusetts today.

Today's Top Story

The Marge Crispin Center hosted a food drive last weekend to get ready to help Braintree families in need this holiday season. The pantry is hosting another one Saturday to keep the momentum going.

The drive is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon at Town Hall. Donations will be made through a drive up and drop off system. Specifically, the Marge Crispin Center is in need of toilet paper, dry stuffing mix, cranberry sauce, turkey gravy and all non-perishable food items. Residents are asked to check expiration dates on all food items before donating.

Last year amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Marge Crispin Center delivered 175 Thanksgiving and 224 Christmas meals to Braintree residents, as well as 400 toys and gifts for children. Marge Crispin Center Director Ann Toland told the Town Council on Wednesday that she expects even more meals to be distributed this holiday season.

"They help us to be able to help so many people in Braintree, and we're all appreciative of that," Toland said.

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Monday's Other Top Stories

Two arrested at anti-vaccine rally: Two people were arrested at a right-wing group's protest against vaccine mandates, which turned aggressive when demonstrators clashed with counterprotesters on Boston Common on Sunday. At Super Happy Fun America's "Rise Against Tyranny" rally, the opposing sides fought for several hours in confrontations that became "heated and at times violent." Though there was a heavy police presence in the area and officers had set up metal barricades, participants still confronted each other and some tore the barricades down.

Strike hits 'sad milestone': Hundreds of nurses on strike in Worcester marked eight months on the picket line Monday as a return-to-work agreement continues to be at issue. Nurses at St. Vincent Hospital walked off the job in March, demanding new staffing levels inside the hospital and a new employment contract. Over eight months, the nurses and hospital executives have waged a bitter public battle over the strike.

Waltham carjacking: Police are investigating an armed carjacking that took place in Waltham early Thursday morning. Officers responded to a reported armed robbery on Adams Street and found that a man had his car and cash stolen, said police in a Facebook post. The vehicle made a stop in Woburn shortly after the theft, according to police. It was later abandoned in Manchester New Hampshire.

Massachusetts: Tell Someone You're Grateful For Them This Holiday Season

Picture This: Full Blood Lunar Eclipse

Mark Thursday and Friday, Nov. 18-19, on your calendar. You may want to plan a lunar eclipse party in Massachusetts and watch the full frost moon turn red. It's an overnight party, so get your paid time-off requests in — you may not want to drag your tired self to work.

They Said It

"From the moment I landed the emotional overload I have felt from being back in this beautiful city has been nothing short of overwhelming. I've only been here 24 hours, but New York has always had my heart."

• Marblehead's Shalane Flanagan completed her remarkable personal challenge ofrunning six marathons in six weeks when she finished the NYC Marathon in 2 hours, 33 minutes, 32 seconds on Sunday.

In Case You Missed It

'Political ambush' after election: Less than a week after Newton's local election, a light has been shined on some "dirty tricks" used to sway Ward 3 voters in the race between Jim Cote and incumbent Julia Malakie, including an email sent out by a fake political group and the dispersal of fliers labeling Cote a Trump Republican. "In a liberal bastion like Newton, no charge is more explosive than 'he's a Trumper'," the blogger who first broke the story wrote.

By The Numbers

24: The number of confirmed coronavirus cases at the South Elementary School in Andover. The school was given "a deep clean" over the weekend, according to a note sent to parents.