Neal McNamara

Aug 20, 2024 | patch.com | Neal McNamara

MARLBOROUGH, MA — A large new center for family entertainment will soon hold its grand opening at the Solomon Pond Mall. Hey Kiddo’s Playtime — billed as a "family edutainment center" — is open now, offering kids between ages 1 and 12 a variety of play and learning activities inside a 26,000 square-foot space. Hey Kiddo's offers a variety of play areas broken up by age. Each space features age-appropriate toys and play equipment. The center also offers classes and hosts children's birthday parties.

Aug 20, 2024 | patch.com | Neal McNamara

WORCESTER, MA — Just over a month after Candice Asare-Yeboah, 5, died in May 2022 after a driver hit her in a crosswalk along Stafford Street, dozens of people turned out to take a walk along the road for a safety audit. The event, organized by District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj, included public works employees, state lawmakers David LeBoeuf and Anne Gobi, and At-Large Councilor Donna Colorio, chair of the council's traffic and parking committee.

Aug 20, 2024 | patch.com | Neal McNamara

WORCESTER, MA — Worcester police are investigating a series of recent robberies of food delivery drivers that share similarities, including occurring all in the same neighborhood. In each case, the delivery drivers traveled to an address where they were confronted by men armed with guns. The robbers left the drivers unharmed, police said. The robberies began on Aug. 12, when a driver went to a Lund Street home in the Vernon Hill neighborhood during the early morning hours.

Aug 20, 2024 | patch.com | Neal McNamara

MILFORD, MA — The state Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission has ordered the suspension of Milford police officer Timothy Brennan, who was fired this year by Hopkinton police for to report sexual assault allegations made against former Hopkinton deputy chief John Porter. Hopkinton fired Brennan in February, finding that he violated the department policy on reporting crimes. The POST Commission in a suspension order on Aug. 15 cited the same reason.

Aug 19, 2024 | patch.com | Neal McNamara

WORCESTER, MA — MassDOT is shutting down the eastbound lanes of the Mass Pike in the Worcester area for several hours Monday to clean up after multiple crashes. The full eastbound closure began before 4 p.m., and transportation officials said the closure would last "several hours." The eastbound closure is in effect between I-84 and the I-290/I-395 exit to Worcester. MassDOT will divert traffic off the highway onto Route 20 at exit 78. I-84 traffic will also be diverted to Route 20.