Furlough Fight At Salem State University: Patch PM

SALEM, MA - Today is Friday, Nov. 13. Here are the stories Patch has been covering on the North Shore and across Massachusetts.

The union representing Salem State University faculty members and librarians is fighting a forced three-week furlough the university hopes will help cut into a projected $26 million budget gap.

The Massachusetts State College Association has said it is planning to file an unfair labor practices complaint to the state Department of Labor Relations to protest the furloughs, while the university said in a statement to Patch that the three weeks are in line with furloughs that were negotiated with other unions at the school, and that the MSCA "declined numerous official requests to meet between June and October."

Read the full story here.

Also on the North Shore

Holiday Warnings From Salem Coronavirus Virtual Town Hall

In a virtual town hall meeting with Salem municipal leaders and health officials Thursday night, North Shore Medical Center President and cardiologist Dr. David Roberts said that while hospitalizations are way down compared to the spring, despite the recent steady rise in coronavirus rates, if younger people infect their older relatives during the holidays "these
hospital rates will take off like a shot."

"Young people are the carriers of COVID in our community," said Roberts, classifying "young people" as those under 40. "They are the ones who are going around without masks, and partying and drinking.

"You are the Typhoid Mary of our community, so you should be super careful."

Peabody Coronavirus Rates Rise Sharply

Danvers Coronavirus Case Rate Surges Higher

Beverly Coronavirus Cases Push Higher Once Again

"We all need to think of our neighbors and loved ones who have gotten sick or died from COVID-19 already," Beverly Mayor Mike Cahill said in a recent message to the community on rising coronavirus rates. "We all need to think of those people we right now can act to prevent from getting sick or dying, and we all need to think of those on the front lines, those fighting the virus and those providing critical services — our police and firefighters, our nurses and doctors, our teachers, our food service and cleaning and other essential service employees — and all of their family members.

"This is the time to think of others and of our whole community."

Beverly 'Fixins For The Feast' Food Drive Fills Up

With the coronavirus health crisis exacerbating food insecurity concerns this year the Beverly Bootstraps community outreach group organized a "Fixins for the Feast" food drive with the goal
of filling 450 bags with holiday meals.

Through the generosity of city residents, the group reached its goal of committed donations well ahead of Saturday's drop off.

Free Peabody Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinic

With residents urged to get flu shots amid the coronavirus health crisis— and all students in the state required to have them by Dec. 31 whether they are in-classroom or remote learning — the Peabody Health Department is offering a free influenza vaccine clinic.

Across Massachusetts

DCU Center Coronavirus Field Hospital Reopening: Gov. Baker

The field hospital at Worcester's DCU Center will reopen in December to house coronavirus patients, an indication that increasing cases are close to overwhelming local hospitals.

The DCU Center hospital will reopen in the first week of December, Gov. Charlie Baker announced on Friday. The hospital will have capacity for 240 patients. The first iteration of the hospital had 250 beds.

Boston Marathon Runner Sculpture Takes Shape In Newton

A couple near the corner of Grant and Commonwealth avenues, halfway up Heartbreak Hill, had to take down a large tree on their front lawn.

Rather than grind the trunk to dust, they decided to have an artist turn it into a sculpture for the community. So what does a homeowner along a key part of the Boston Marathon route choose for a sculpture?

That's not a hard call.

For the past couple of days, Ken Packie of Berkshire Mountain Sculpture has been working to transform the old maple tree into the form of a marathon runner. He's attracted quite the response.

Tribal Leader, RI Man Accused Of Casino Bribery Scheme

The chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and a Rhode Island business owner were indicted on federal bribery charges in connection with plans to build a casino in Taunton.

David DeQuattro, 54, a Warwick resident and the owner of an architecture firm, and Cedric Cromwell, 55, of Attleboro, the tribe's chairman, were each indicted on two counts of accepting or paying bribes as an agent or to an agent of an Indian tribal government and one count of conspiring to commit bribery.

Cromwell was additionally charged with four counts of extortion under color of official right and one count of conspiring to commit extortion. Both are set to appear in court via videoconference on Friday afternoon.

Donnie Wahlberg Leaves $2,020 Tip At Cape Cod Restaurant

Actor Donnie Wahlberg made a server's day when he tipped more than $2,000 on a $35 lunch tab at a Cape Cod restaurant.

Last Saturday, the Boston actor visited Marshland Restaurants and Bakery in Sandwich for a meal. Before leaving, Wahlberg gave a $2,020 tip, writing at the bottom of the receipt, "#2020tipchallenge."