North Shore Kids 5-11 Could Get Vaccine By Christmas: Patch PM

SALEM, MA — It's Wednesday, Oct. 20. Here's what you should know this afternoon:

• Swampscott voters decisively approved a $98 million debt exclusion for a new twin K-4 elementary school on Tuesday.
• The Cabot Theater's Blues Festival 2021 will include a documentary debut from a renowned filmmaker and a concert of legendary New England blues acts.
• The Wellesley High School students accused of viciously attacking a classmate over the summer are back in school, prompting members of the community and peers to come together Wednesday morning to show support for the victim.
• Tufts University officials offered few details on an accident at an off-campus charity fundraiser that left a student dead.
• Acting Mayor Kim Janey issued an executive order Tuesday after declaring substance use disorder and homelessness a public health crisis in Boston.

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

Today's Top Story

Young children on the North Shore could be fully vaccinated by Christmas if the federal government's plan stays on track.

The White House said Wednesday it is working with states to be ready to hit the ground running after regulators give an expected green light to Pfizer's vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a meeting scheduled for Nov. 2-3, and millions of doses are ready to be shipped around the country — including to Massachusetts — within hours of approval.

Massachusetts officials plan to speak about the rollout Thursday after a joint oversight committee hearing. The CDC approval would instantly make nearly 900,000 Massachusetts children eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. The government's plan would make the vaccine available at doctor offices, pharmacies and potentially even schools.

Read the full story.

Previously on Patch:

• Most MA Parents Will Vaccinate Younger Kids After FDA OK: Survey
• MA Could Vaccinate Younger Children Within A Month
• National Guard Activated For School Covid Testing In MA

Wednesday's Other Top Stories

Swampscott voters pick "Yes" on new school: Swampscott voters overwhelmingly passed plans to build the town's first new elementary school in nearly 70 years on Tuesday. Proponents of the new $98 million K-4 twin elementary school began celebrating the victory shortly after polls closed Tuesday night with 65 percent of the approximately 4,200 residents voting choosing in favor of the debt exclusion.

The blues are back in Beverly: The Cabot Street Cinema Theater will host a unique Blues Festival 2021 on Nov. 6 with a documentary debut screening followed by an All-Star concert of regional blues legends.

Attackers return to school: The Wellesley High School students accused of viciously attacking a classmate over the summer are back in school, prompting members of the community and peers to come together Wednesday morning to show support for the victim. Over the summer, Sean Ade, 15, says a group of classmates he thought were his friends lured him into an attack where he says he was punched, kicked, and urinated on. Some of the teens were charged with conspiracy and assault and battery and sent to juvenile court, according to a police report filed over the summer, but now some of them are allowed to return to school.

Tufts student dies in accident: Madie Nicpon, a member of the Class of 2023, was a biopsychology major and women's lacrosse player. Tufts officials did not elaborate on the nature of the accident, but a university spokesperson confirmed to the Boston Herald the accident happened at a charity fundraiser at an off-campus residence in Somerville.

Hunter's Moon over MA: The Orionid meteor shower and the October full hunter's moon have lead roles on the skywatching marquee this month, but the full moon gets top billing and is likely to blot out all but the brightest shooting stars across Massachusetts Wednesday night and Thursday morning. And all that depends on the weather.

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Picture This: Boston's Public Health Crisis

Acting Boston Mayor Kim Janey issued an executive order Tuesday after declaring substance use disorder and unsheltered homelessness in the City of Boston a public health crisis, citing Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard in particular. Often referred to as the "Methadone Mile" or "Mass & Cass," tent after tent line both sides of the street leading up to the McDonalds at the Mass Ave and Melnea Cass intersection, one of Boston's busiest areas.

Election 2021

Newton Mayor picks up more endorsements: The Chairs of each Newton City Council committee have endorsed Mayor Ruthanne Fuller in her run for re-election as Mayor of Newton. The endorsement from the City Council Chairs come after Newton City Council leadership come after Fuller's endorsement from several other groups and officials, including former Mayor of Newton and State Representative from the 11th Middlesex District David Cohen, Newton City Council President Susan Albright and Vice President Rick Lipof, Rep. Kay Khan, Congressman Jake Auchincloss, and former Rep. Joe Kennedy.

Do Something Nice Today

In recognition of the fourth anniversary of the death of Framingham resident Devin Suau, locals are being encouraged to commit an act of kindness in the boy's memory.

This week, Framingham Mayor Yvonne Spicer, Superintendent Robert Tremblay and the City Council and School Committee joined to declare a "week of kindness" in the city. Wednesday has also been named "Devin's Day."

Suau died on Oct. 20, 2017 at age 7 after a battle with a form of cancer called diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). Devin's illness inspired his mother to start the #WhyNotDevin movement, which aimed to make Devin the first to survive the rare disease.

In Case You Missed It

MA's most expensive home listings: Sometimes it's just nice to fantasize, and there's no shame in that. On that note, allow us to offer the 10 priciest home listings in Massachusetts. The list, curated from our pals at Redfin, has everything from island getaways to big-city behemoths. Something for everyone, as long as you have at least $15 million and want to stay inside I-495.