Latest news with #JonathanWiggs
CTV News
18 hours ago
- CTV News
Charges dropped against more than 120 defendants in Massachusetts because they can't get attorney
Boston Municipal Court Chief Justice Tracy -Lee Lyons during court proceedings to dismiss cases in which the defendant has been unrepresented for more than 45 days Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in Boston. (Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) BOSTON — More than 120 cases, including some for assault on family members and police, were dismissed Tuesday in Boston, the latest fallout from a monthslong dispute over pay that has led public defenders to stop taking new clients. At a mostly empty courtroom, Boston Municipal Court Chief Justice Tracy-Lee Lyons invoked the Lavallee protocol in dismissing case after case. It requires cases be dropped if a defendant hasn't had an attorney for 45 days and released from custody if they haven't had one for seven days. Tuesday was the first time it was invoked to drop cases, while suspects in custody have been released in recent weeks. Most were for minor crimes like shoplifting, drug possession and motor vehicle violations. But several involved cases of assault on police officers and domestic violence. One suspect allegedly punched his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach and slapped her in the face. Another case involved a woman who was allegedly assaulted by the father of her child, who threatened to kill her and tried to strangle her. A third case involved a suspect who allegedly hit a police officer and threated to shoot him. The judge, repeatedly invoking the Lavallee protocol, dismissed almost all of the cases after being convinced public defenders had made a good-faith effort to find the defendants an attorney. No defendants were in court to hear their cases being dismissed. 'This case will be dismissed without prejudice,' Lyons said repeatedly, noting that all fines and fees would be waived. Frustration from prosecutors over dropped cases Prosecutors unsuccessfully objected to the dismissal of many of the cases, especially the most serious being dismissed. 'The case dismissals today, with many more expected in coming days and weeks, present a clear and continuing threat to public safety,' James Borghesani, a spokesperson for the Suffolk County district attorney's office, said in a statement. They vowed to re-prosecute all the cases. 'Our prosecutors and victim witness advocates are working extremely hard to keep victims and other impacted persons updated on what's happening with their cases,' he continued. 'These are difficult conversations. We remain hopeful that a structural solution will be found to address the causal issues here and prevent any repeat.' Democratic Gov. Maura Healey, speaking to reporters in Fall River, said the situation needed to be resolved. 'This is a public safety issue and also a due process issue as people need representation,' she said. 'I know the parties are talking. They have got to find a way to work this out. We need lawyers in court ... and certainly they need to be paid fairly.' Dispute revolves around pay Public defenders, who argue they are the lowest paid in New England, launched a work stoppage at the end of May in hopes of pressuring the legislature to increase their hourly pay. The state agency representing public defenders had proposed a pay increase from US$65 an hour to $73 an hour over the next two fiscal years for lawyers in district court, an increase from $85 an hour to $105 an hour for lawyers in Superior Court and $120 an hour to $150 an hour for lawyers handling murder cases. But the 2026 fiscal year budget of $60.9 billion signed early this month by Healey didn't include any increase. 'The dismissal of cases today under the Lavallee protocols is what needs to be done for those individuals charged with crimes but with no lawyer to vindicate their constitution rights,' said Shira Diner, a lecturer at the Boston University School of Law and the immediate past president of the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. 'It is, however, not a solution to the deep crisis of inadequate pay for bar advocates. Until there are enough qualified lawyers in courts to fulfill the constitutional obligation of the right to counsel this crisis will only intensify.' The pay of public defenders is a national issue Massachusetts is the latest state struggling to adequately fund its public defender system. In New York City, legal aid attorneys are demanding better pay and working conditions. Earlier this month, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed a two-year state budget into law that increases the pay of public defenders and district attorneys in each of the next two years. That comes after the Legislature in 2023 also increased the pay to address rising caseloads, high turnover and low salaries. Public defenders in Minnesota averted a walkout in 2022 that threatened to bring the court system to a standstill. A year later, the legislature came up with more funding for the state Board of Public Defense so it could meet what the American Bar Association recommends for manageable caseload standards. Oregon, meanwhile, has struggled for years with a critical shortage of court-provided attorneys for low-income defendants. As of Tuesday, nearly 3,500 defendants did not have a public defender, a dashboard from the Oregon Judicial Department showed. Of those, about 143 people were in custody, some for longer than seven days. Amid the state's public defense crisis, lawmakers last month approved over $2 million for defense attorneys to take more caseloads in the counties most affected by the shortage and over $3 million for Oregon law schools to train and supervise law students to take on misdemeanor cases. Michael Casey, The Associated Press
Boston Globe
16-07-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
New Hampshire takes a tiny step in the right direction
But a new bill poised to become law could make building small one way to chip away at this big problem. New Hampshire House Bill While there is no universal definition of what constitutes a tiny home, the state observes Advertisement Housing needs are changing, said state Representative Joe Alexander Jr., a Republican from Goffstown who heads the Housing Committee in the House and is also a sponsor of the bill. Especially for younger people and an aging population, a large single-family home may not be the answer, he said. Advertisement 'Tiny homes are just another piece of the puzzle,' said Alexander, who noted the units could be used to house aging family members who want to downsize but stay close, or caretakers. In Dover, a tiny home experiment is already underway. Architect Maggie Randolph and her contractor husband, John Randolph, who own a group of local senior care facilities called One of the 44 tiny homes at the Cottages at Back River Road. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff The duo saw their 80 employees struggling to find affordable local housing during the pandemic and shopped the idea around to local towns, finding flexible and receptive allies in Dover. Unit rents are capped at the Advertisement Maggie and John Randolph at the Cottages at Back River Road. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff About 70 people live in the cottages, about a quarter of them employees, where turnover is low, the Randolphs said. Other members of the local workforce have moved in, including teachers and first responders, building an occupancy that John Randolph called 'the backbone of our communities.' The Randolphs said they aim to keep rent at about 30 percent to 33 percent of renters' incomes. 'I philosophically have a problem with saying, 'Come to my city and work in it, but you can't afford to live in it,'' John Randolph said. 'We're big on the people that are making our communities work, the people that plow our roads, the people that respond to our fires or emergencies or anything else, can have a chance to live in the community.' A porch on one of the tiny homes in Dover, N.H. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff The units have garden spaces and porches, and the Randolphs tout age diversity as a community-building bonus, with 19-year-olds living alongside 72-year-olds. 'We have teachers that were commuting nearly an hour a day to teach, and are now riding their bike to work,' he said. 'That's more time with their kids, more time with the family, more time for their own personal health.' Why not build an affordable multiunit apartment building instead? Maggie Randolph said freestanding cottages — even while including more units — received less community resistance because they fit seamlessly into the neighborhood, even resembling the aesthetics of larger nearby homes. 'It was much easier getting through the Planning Board and [to] work with our neighbors and be respectful of them, than if we had tried to come in again and say, 'All right, let's get a variance, and let's do a five-story building,'' she said. Advertisement Sarah Clark, 24, has lived in her Dover cottage for six months. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff The state Housing Committee recently visited with Danis created a model tiny home in his workshop, which he said could create a custom tiny home in 12 weeks. A unit would cost around $150,000. While Danis builds the homes to be portable, they're not the same as a camper, he said. They are built at a scale that allows them to be transported without special permits, but aren't meant to be moved regularly. That's an important distinction, because some who oppose the style associate them with mobile home stigma, Danis said. 'What I'm advocating for is to legitimize tiny houses as a home.' It's not for everyone, such as those with many belongings, advocates agree. But Danis said in building for primary residence usage, design makes a difference. 'I try to design them so that they feel big inside, so that there's windows and it feels open,' he said. 'We're trying to maximize the space and make them really comfortable.' Varied reception across counties has limited widespread implementation, but Danis hopes that by raising their profile — such as through the recent legislative visit — he can make tiny homes more appealing. Advertisement 'When you approach towns and they say … 'We don't want these in our town, it's going to devalue everybody's property.' You know, it's like, give people a chance to try to find an alternate to an $800,000 house,' said Danis, who added that he hopes local mortgage companies can provide associated financing models. Sarah Wrightsman, manager of community engagement and Education at New Hampshire Housing, said that 'pocket neighborhoods' — small, grouped developments such as the one in Dover — are something the organization discusses frequently as one potential solution to the state's affordable housing crisis. But in a place where agriculture and conservation rank high among land use priorities, density fears may stoke opposition. Wrightsman brought up a study by the 'I think there's confusion about what that looks like and what that means in New Hampshire,' she said. Excessive anti-density zoning may actually backfire; more density in some places, and not others, may be the best way to protect conservation areas. 'We know that increasing density, but being smart about where we put that density, is the best way to sort of achieve both goals: conservation and housing,' she said. While no single format will solve the housing problem, tiny homes may be one helpful tool in New Hampshire's kit. Wrightsman gave another local example: the historic New Hampshire farm community. More flexible zoning could allow for sprawling farmhouses to be split into smaller units, while preserving the deeply traditional structures. Advertisement And while not every individual can construct a village, HB577's expanded flexibility could extend that problem-solving capacity into residents' backyards. 'We feel pretty strongly about there being a good mix, not just because we need a mix of housing, because people all have sort of different preferences and lifestyles and priorities,' Wrightsman said.
Boston Globe
15-07-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Is this the CSA model of the future?
Andrew Rodgers, owner of Clark Farm, delivers endive to Family Dinner's Woburn facility. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff This is the headquarters for Get Winter Soup Club A six-week series featuring soup recipes and cozy vibes, plus side dishes and toppings, to get us all through the winter. Enter Email Sign Up Instead, customers sign up online (Family Dinner is primarily subscription-based, although one can also order a la carte), choosing a half, whole, or double share according to dietary preference: omnivore, pescatarian, vegetarian, vegan, paleo, gluten-free. In addition to the local produce, meat, and fish, shares might include eggs, baked goods, or prepared foods; customers can add on dairy, bread, fresh pasta, mezze, and more. Don't like beets? Make a note of it, and you won't get them. Ever. The order will be delivered to your front door on Saturday or Tuesday, your choice. Advertisement "A couple nerds at the helm make a few things easier,' says Family Dinner owner Erin Baumgartner, who uses data science to strengthen the local food system. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff Family Dinner owner Erin Baumgartner, currently at the eye of the delivery storm in black T-shirt and clogs, long brown hair pulled up in a ponytail, pauses between hoisting boxes in the sweltering heat to check spreadsheets and route maps on a laptop. She speaks as passionately about perfect summer tomatoes and the importance of local food as she does about tech stacks and data analytics. Baumgartner and husband Tim Fu founded Family Dinner in 2017. He was at MIT's Sloan School of Management; she helped lead MIT's Senseable City Lab, using data science to understand and find solutions for complex urban issues — everything from waste management to opioid use. They were also passionate about food. Why not use a data lab approach to begin tackling some of the issues around the way we distribute, access, and consume it? 'We started Family Dinner because nothing is more broken and complex than the food system,' Baumgartner says. Small family farms are shutting down across the country, facing challenges from rising costs to changing weather patterns. According to the USDA's most recent Advertisement The way we distribute food, across countries and continents, is bad for the planet: Transportation accounts for nearly 20 percent of the worldwide food system's total carbon emissions, found a And much of the food then goes to waste. The USDA estimates the country wastes more than 30 percent of its food supply annually, approximately 133 billion pounds. Family Dinner uses data science and software to support local farmers and transport food efficiently while minimizing waste. Its reach gives farmers access to a greater geographical range and market share. The refrigerator at Family Dinner's Woburn headquarters contains crops and goods from producers all over Massachusetts, plus a few from the rest of New England. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff 'This is one stop for me, and we have a bunch of produce,' says Rodgers of Clark Farm, a fairly small-scale operation with 10 to 12 acres of crops. 'Just to be able to drop it here — there's no way I'd be able to sell a bunch of turnips and cilantro to someone. It's not happening. This is our biggest wholesale. If you add up all of our other wholesale customers, then they equal Erin.' Family Dinner also showcases its purveyors on social media, which draws new people to visit the farm in person. 'We're all just tiny, small companies, right,' Baumgartner says. 'We can't be competitive on a larger scale without working together. In some ways, people would think us advertising their CSA or their events would look like competition. That's not how we view it.' Advertisement When customers sign up, they input their aversions and allergies, metadata that helps direct Family Dinner's orders each week. If 10 customers don't like mushrooms, the system places 10 fewer orders, replacing the offending fungi with something they find more palatable. Knowing how much is needed of each item means there is no waste on Family Dinner's end: Supply meets demand exactly. Tracking what customers order also allows the company to forecast future demand; farmers can then plan, plant, and harvest knowing there will be a buyer at the other end. Route optimization software allows Family Dinner to maximize each driver's time and minimize their miles. The company now delivers CSA shares for Skylar Howes delivers CSA shares from Red Fire Farm. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff 'A couple nerds at the helm make a few things easier,' Baumgartner says. 'When we can automate things, it becomes so much more efficient. As we automate, it becomes more scalable. How do we scale something like this to work for 2,000 people? It's no more complicated, because all the systems are already there.' Family Dinner started with 10 weekly customers. It now delivers to almost 700, working with more than 80 local producers. The company recently joined forces with 'It's a unique opportunity to be able to partner with somebody with the same mission and same goal to fix the food system and create access for everybody to this food that's good for the environment,' says Farmers to You CEO Andrew Kay. 'How do we become more 21st century in our operational processes? This is what that move does. Being as efficient and tech-forward as we can be and scaling on a sustainable level, and to be able to repeat that and bring in more farmers, that's really the goal here — to build a New England food shed that everybody has access to but that's not cost-prohibitive to run and operate.' Advertisement Most subscription shares at Family Dinner range from $62-$148 each week, delivery included. Farmers to You has a $40 weekly minimum. Scaling up can help make these services more accessible to more people, Kay says: 'To become truly affordable on both sides of things, it's how much volume can you offer people. When you build a strong and deep customer base, you're able to control operating costs better and order more from your vendors, which creates a more sustainable pricing system.' It is a good time for growth. During COVID's peak, when supply chains were threatened and people didn't want to go to the store, there was a surge of interest in food delivery; Family Dinner had a 900-person waitlist. Now we are in another uncertain time, with ICE raids that threaten the immigrants who make the food system run, tariffs potentially raising food prices, government cuts that could affect food safety, and a developing dietary agenda for the country via the Make America Healthy Again movement. Consumer behavior has shifted, too. Red Fire Farm once had waitlists for its CSA, launched in 2001. 'CSA was really a hot, relatively new concept that was just catching on and there was a tremendous amount of demand that allowed our farm to grow quite a bit,' says co-owner Ryan Voiland. 'That lasted during the 2000s, and then I'd say by around 2012 or so things started to get weaker with the market. Especially the last 10 years or so it has gotten harder to find sales.' Advertisement Changing times call for changing models. As Baumgartner says in a For more information, go to . Iron Ox Farm radishes, ready for delivery to Family Dinner subscribers. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff Devra First can be reached at
Boston Globe
10-07-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
These 11 ice cream shops are churning out greatness
.bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Crescent Ridge Crescent Ridge Jonathan Wiggs/Globe staff For a taste of a roadside ice cream stand in the heart of the city, head to the Crescent Ridge stall at Boston Public Market, where the longtime Sharon dairy company serves up its famous family recipes. Don't miss the award-winning cherry ridge ripple — cherry ice cream with cherry halves and fudge. Best of all, unlike many rural roadside stands, this location is open year round. Address: Boston Public Market, 100 Hanover Street, Downtown Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Delini Gelato Delini Gelato Ice cream is a summertime staple, but one taste of the gelato from this tiny shop in West Roxbury might tempt you to make the switch forever. Made in small batches, the richly flavored offerings here are a masterclass in the Italian treat. The constantly rotating menu, which can include flavors such as tiramisu, chocolate hazelnut, and baklava, will keep you on your toes. A few seats can be found inside, or you can just eat in your car — either way, you won't want to wait. Address: 5 Bellevue Street, West Roxbury Phone: Not available Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Far Out Ice Cream Far Out Ice Cream Harrison Seiler Made to order is the name of the game at Far Out Ice Cream, a Brookline-based chain that crafts New Zealand-style ice cream (it's a thing) from regional ingredients. Select a chocolate or vanilla base – vegan, frozen yogurt, or small-batch ice cream – then take your pick of flash-frozen fruit, including Maine blueberries. Blended together in a machine, the result is a fruit-forward treat with soft-serve consistency. Add toppings such as wildflower honey, dark chocolate flakes, or matcha, and have it in a fresh, house-made waffle cone. It's New Zealand meets New England. Multiple locations in the Boston area. Address: 419 Harvard Street, Brookline, and other locations Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Forge Baking Co. & Ice Cream Bar Forge Baking Co. & Ice Cream Bar Harrison Seiler Tucked in an unassuming strip mall between Porter and Union squares, this shop features small-batch ice cream with some deep local roots: its founders years ago honed their churning skills at Herrell's, the iconic chain. The ice cream here is dense but smooth with the sweet malted vanilla being a highlight, and while you're there you can also sample baked goods and pastries from the bakery. Address: 626 Somerville Avenue, Somerville Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Honeycomb Creamery Honeycomb Creamery At this popular ice cream shop between Harvard and Porter squares, owners strive to source every possible ingredient — strawberries, rhubarb, blueberries, raspberries, and more — from local farms, and you can taste it in exceptional, ripe flavors. Look for Taco Tuesdays (made with ice cream), vegan options, and fresh fruit sorbets — the most appealing lineup of frozen treats. Address: 1702 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } The Ice Creamsmith The Ice Creamsmith Summer nights in Dorchester's Lower Mills neighborhood wouldn't be complete without the smell of The Ice Creamsmith's sweet treats wafting in the air. Featuring store-baked cookies, ice cream cakes and pies, and of course delicious scoops and sundaes, it's no wonder the lines can get long at this nearly 50-year-old neighborhood spot. Locals return for flavors such as banana, which includes banana chunks, and the classic maple walnut. Address: 2295 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } New City Microcreamery On top of inventive, rotating dairy flavors — options can include chipotle mezcal, olive oil, horchata, and baklava — New City Microcreamery in Central Square is a surprisingly great choice for vegans. Skip the vanilla and opt for seasonal flavors like the dreamy chocolate avocado – silky, chocolaty, and just a touch earthy – or the refreshing lime avocado. The cherry on top: The sprinkles are vegan, too. (Additional locations in Hudson and Sudbury.) Address: 403 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } The Scoop N Scootery The Scoop N Scootery Responsible for felling many a pandemic diet, this delivery ice cream service is a creamy Mad Libs: Make your own zany creation with dozens of toppings ranging from sugar-cookie bites, to apple pie, to a fluffy hardened armor of whipped cream — a must — or trust shop employees' expertise. Who could resist, much less dream up, German chocolate cake ice cream piped with frosted red velvet cake? It's part dessert, part mad science experiment, all available without having to pause Netflix. The original location is on Mass. Ave. in Arlington. Address: 75 Linden Street, Allston, and other locations Phone: Find online: Related : .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Taiyaki Taiyaki Tom Yang Taiyaki NYC offers flavors of soft serve ranging from vanilla to yuzu, but it isn't the ice cream that's made this spot Instagram-famous. The trendy chain with locations in the Seaport and Harvard Square specializes in cones made of taiyaki, the waffle-like Japanese treat shaped like a fish; here, it comes with ice cream spiraling out of an open mouth. Choose one filled with red bean paste or custard and top it with sprinkles or a mini unicorn horn. If you're not in the mood for ice cream, you can also order a standalone taiyaki — always made fresh, with a golden crust and gooey center. Address: 119 Seaport Boulevard, Suite B, Seaport, and another location Phone: Find online: .bofbpic img { width: 100%; height: auto; } Toscanini's Toscanini's ice cream Green Tean and Mango Ice Cream. Jonathan Wiggs /Globe Staff It's no exaggeration to say that Toscanini's is a Cambridge institution. Gus and Mimi Rancatore's ice cream parlors have been serving rich, creamy scoops of burnt caramel, kulfi, and B3 (brown butter, brown sugar, and brownies) for years. With an ever-changing roster of creative flavors and a deeply Cantabrigian vibe, Toscanini's has won plentiful accolades and a loyal tribe of regulars. Address: 899 Main Street, Cambridge Phone: Find online: Boston Globe Best of the Best were selected by Globe newsroom staff and correspondents, and limited to Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and Brookline. We want to hear from you: ? 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Boston Globe
03-07-2025
- Boston Globe
These are some of the best beaches around New England, according to Globe staffers
Ogunquit Beach, Maine If I had to pick my favorite New England beach, Ogunquit Beach in Maine would take first place. This gorgeous stretch of shoreline is only an hour and a half drive from Boston but feels like a different world. The white powdery sand is the softest around and the water is wonderful. On one side of the peninsula you have the ocean surf, and the other side is a lazy river that rises and falls with the tides, making it a favorite spot for families with young kids. After the beach, head over to Marginal Way, which is a paved walking path that hugs the rocky coastline — the perfect place to stroll and take in views of the ocean. The town also hosts an array of events throughout the year, like the annual Mr. Gay Ogunquit Speedo contest (on Labor Day weekend) and the High Heel Dash (held every October, during OgunquitFest). EMILY SWEENEY Beachgoers relaxed at the M Street Beach in South Boston on June 19, 2025. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff Advertisement M Street Beach, South Boston The cold makes my bones ache. I wear many layers of clothing, drink cup after cup of scalding ginger tea, and try not to drown in the darkness of winter. Then summer arrives. The sun burns my bare arms, turning my pale skin a salmon pink. I wear shorts and sandals. I hop on a Bluebike and make my way to M Street Beach. Everyone is sweaty, there are no layers of heavy clothing. A short bike ride away is Castle Island, with its stunning city views and the fried food at Sullivan's. Yes, I have been to prettier beaches in Massachusetts, Maine, and Rhode Island, but they are not in Boston, with its glittering skyline and the clanging of the city all around you. I blast reggaeton music and stretch out across my blanket. I disappear into my book. This is it, this is the perfect beach day in the city. Easy. Hot. Loud. Just the way I want it. CRISTINA SILVA Advertisement Mohegan Bluffs, Block Island This is more for the beachside adventurer than beachside slug. These are cliffs that provide a nice little hike and offer great views of the ocean. You can climb down (safely) to the small beach below, which is a nice little hideaway. The only problem is that the wind can get pretty strong there in the afternoon. KEN MAHAN Crystal Lake in Gilmanton Iron Works in New Hampshire. Alexa Gagosz/Globe Staff Crystal Lake, Gilmanton Iron Works, N.H. With a backdrop of rolling farmland and in the shadows of bustling Winnipesaukee, Crystal Lake lives up to its name — a glimmering, glass-clear stretch of water that feels untouched. Locals and 'lakers,' as the summer families are called, gather for crisp morning swims, loons calling in the distance, and small-town serenity that modern life in the city rarely offers. Historically home to iron-mining enterprises, the village of Gilmanton Iron Works has nothing more than a general store, post office, and clapboard cottages, but you can pick out fresh eggs, corn, and homemade jams from stands that run on the honor system at nearly every curve of the road. At Crystal Lake, summer still feels sacred. ALEXA GAGOSZ Advertisement Scarborough State Beach, Narragansett, R.I. If you're looking to add 401 charm to your sun-and-sand experience you could do far worse than Scarborough Beach. It's got decent waves. It's got snack bars. It's got radios blarin' the Fenway action and the local deals at the preowned vehicle lots in Johnston, or wherevah. Ample, affordable parking, too — plus restrooms and showers if you have to meet family at Twin Oaks right away. Really the best beach in Rhode Island to take a family. TRAVIS ANDERSEN Beachgoers took advantage of the low tide at Breakwater Beach in Brewster. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Brewster tidal flats, Cape Cod I'm more of a walking-on-the-beach person than a swimming-at-the-beach person and the region's best beaches for walking are on Cape Cod Bay in Brewster. When the tide goes out, there are miles of walkable tidal flats accessible from PETER BAILEY WELLS East Beach, Chappaquiddick Island, Martha's Vineyard It takes a lot of effort to get to this part of Chappy, and you need a truck with 4WD for the deep sand if you're to venture out farther, but once you're out here you have your own private slice of the Vineyard. The fishing here is incredible, the water's clear and warm, and on a bluebird day you can see all the way to Nantucket. MARC CHOQUETTE Advertisement A boy celebrated after building a sand castle at Carson Beach on June 5. Heather Diehl for the Boston Globe Carson Beach, South Boston If you haven't been to Carson Beach recently, this is your sign to go. As a born-and-raised Southern Californian, my hopes weren't high when I set out on a mission to find my favorite Massachusetts beach. My only requirements were that the water be clean and safe to swim in (apparently SARAH MESDJIAN People watched the sunrise The Pier at Old Orchard Beach on June 22. Old Orchard Beach, Maine There's a beach up north that can't be beat. Seven miles of pristine sand and water that is often bone chilling to the feet and soul. I make a pilgrimage at least two times a year to a land called OOB: Old Orchard Beach in Maine. On a clear day with the sun beaming down on you, the water beckons. Plunging into massive waves and heavy surf sends endorphins soaring and your heart racing. A walk along the water at low tide to an ancient pier at sunset provides a respite from the burdens of modern life. MIKE BELLO Advertisement Vecchitto's Italian Ice on Hartford Avenue in Old Lyme, Conn. Jack Vecchitto Miami Beach, Old Lyme, Conn. At Miami Beach in Old Lyme, Conn., summer arrives each year with the scent of salt air; the dinging of bicycle bells ringing on their way to the water along Long Island Sound; and the many flavors of Italian ice from ALEXA GAGOSZ Winthrop Beach, Winthrop Winthrop Beach is my favorite near-city beach. There is plenty of room and even on the busiest days, you can find space to lay out. The sand is super fine and comfortable, and the five breakwaters, known as 'The Five Sisters,' make the water calmer for swimming while protecting the shoreline. Pick any time during the day and you'll be happy. KEN MAHAN A couple walked along the shore of Narragansett Town Beach on Sept. 15, 2021. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff Narragansett Town Beach, Naragansett, R.I. It's hot, it's crowded, but it's always a good time. This is where I spent most of my youth, and on any given summer day you'd run into at least five people you knew (this is Rhode Island, after all). The soft sand, the right break near The Towers for the surfers, some Del's Lemonade? Can't beat it. MARC CHOQUETTE Beachgoers walked along the shore at Crane Beach on Oct. 1, 2024 in Ipswich, MA. Kayla Bartkowski For The Boston Crane Beach, Ipswich Favorite beach? Definitely not Crane Beach, which is terrible and please don't go. It's five minutes from home and I wouldn't want to have to apologize in person for how awful it is as I spend entire days there, lamenting the horribleness of its miles of soft sand, gentle waves, and refreshing (however brisk) waters. You really should steer clear of it. Leave me to my misery. MURRAY WHYTE Advertisement A young boy carried his beach chair and umbrella as he arrived to Pleasure Bay early with his mom in an effort to beat the heat. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff Pleasure Bay, South Boston As a new Boston resident, I made my first pilgrimage to Sullivan's Castle Island on Sunday, June 29. Park on Farragut Road for easy access to the storied food stand while avoiding the worst of the traffic jams. Order cheese fries and a lobster roll! On Sunday, my sister and I walked south along the bay and took advantage of plentiful shade under gazebos and leafy trees near the Pleasure Bay Flag Pole. I'd recommend taking a dip in the bay just north of the flag. From there, we biked past M Street Beach and L Street Beach, all the way to Carson Beach. You can't beat the people watching and harbor views, all without having to leave Boston! CLAIRE THORNTON A girl went barefoot on the beach while working on her sculpture at Revere Beach on July 18, 2024. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff Revere Beach, Revere For my beach days, I prioritize food. And there is simply nothing better than a steaming hot, gooey slice of cheese pizza. That's why Revere Beach, just a few Blue Line stops away from the city, is my go-to on a sweltering day. It's not only that my family has been going to the beach since before the pink apartment building sprang up or that I can remember wave surfing when I was 5, but it's also Bianchi's Pizza. Once a counter-service pizzeria, AVA BERGER Roger Wheeler State Beach, Narragansett, R.I. With a CHRISTOPHER GAVIN Meh, skip the beach. Head out on a pontoon boat instead. My favorite beach is the one I never go to. I am not a fan of sitting in the sun, with greasy sun protection dripping into my eyes, stinging my baby blues as it melts. I am not a fan of slowly starting the growth of a melanoma, or a basal cell carcinoma that one day will have to be excavated with a scalpel from my balding scalp. I am not a fan of standing ankle deep in the Atlantic Ocean while scanning the waves for a black basketball, i.e. the head of a seal as it swims parallel to my location, inviting one of the numerous great white sharks into shallow waters for a snack — i.e., me. I am in favor of boating on the ocean and fresh water. I am a fan of whale watching, and I am a fan of captaining a pontoon boat on a freshwater lake — in both cases while wearing a hat, a long sleeve shirt, and protected by a bimini boat top. JOHN ELLEMENT John R. Ellement can be reached at
