Community Corner
School Changes Mascot After Student Petition: Patch PM
Plus: 76-year-old business owner facing eviction | Milford vandalism spree | Worcester firefighters quarantined | More
ACTON, MA — Congratulations on making it to another Friday, even if it's a rainy one.
This morning, students in the Acton-Boxborough school district awoke to news that the high school mascot, a man in colonial garb, will be changed. A group of students petitioned the school committee to change the mascot, arguing he reflected an era when indigenous people were abused by colonists.
"One way to affirm the Black Lives Matter movement in our own Acton-Boxborough community is to refuse to celebrate colonialism, a social system that harmed native peoples physically and culturally," the student petition read.
A rival petition sprang up to oppose the change, but those students did not bring it to the school committee.
Here's what else is going on today:
Around MetroWest
Needham Shop Owner Faces Uncertainty As Eviction Ban Expires
Maria Mavrogiannis, 76, hadn't missed a rent payment in 30 years before the coronavirus pandemic hit. The state's eviction ban ends on Saturday.
Multiple Cars Damaged In Milford Vandalism Spree
Cars in the vicinity of Water Street were tagged with orange spray paint, and police made a separate arrest for a series of tire-slashings.
Woman Crashes On Pike In Framingham During Police Pursuit
The 20-year-old Dorchester woman was taken by helicopter to UMass Medical Center in Worcester.
Around Worcester
7 Worcester Firefighters Quarantined For Coronavirus
The outbreak was contained to a single fire station, Worcester city officials said.
Coolidge and Paton Schools along with Sherwood and Oak Middle Schools have all reported positive COVID-19 cases.
