Schools Urge Immediate Teacher Vaccine Eligibility: Patch PM

BEVERLY, MA — Today is Monday, Jan. 22. These are the stories Patch has been covering on the North Shore and across Massachusetts.

A group of 29 superintendents and union presidents from North Shore school districts sent Gov. Charlie Baker a letter on Friday urging him to reclassify educators into phase 1 of the state's coronavirus vaccination rollout.

Moving teachers and other school staff into phase 1 would make them immediately eligible to register for the first shot of vaccination. Currently, teachers are in phase 2 of the vaccination schedule slated to run from February until April.

The North Shore Superintendents' Round Table and Union Presidents cite Gov. Baker's push for all schools to return to in-classroom learning as the reason why educators should be prioritized in the vaccination process along with other front line workers.

Read the full story here.

Also on the North Shore

Peabody Rink Welcomes More Skaters With State Curfew Put On Ice

James McVann-Louis O'Keefe Memorial Skating Rink Manager Paul LoGiudice said his phone started lighting up as soon as word got around that the state business curfew was going down Thursday afternoon.

For several private rental groups, as well as weekly over-40 men's hockey league, that lost their ice time when Gov. Charlie Baker announced a 9:30 p.m. business curfew and stay-at-home advisory amid rising coronavirus rates in November, the puck will drop in the 10:15 p.m. time slot for the first time this season as soon as next week.

North Shore Restaurants Say 'Cheers' To End Of 9:30 P.M. Curfew

Adam Drohan, owner of Paddy Kelly's in Peabody and Sidelines Sports Bar and Grill in Salem, was among the restaurant owners throughout the North Shore who cheered on Thursday when Gov. Baker announced the end of the business curfew and stay-at-home advisory as of Monday morning.

Within hours, Paddy Kelly's and Sidelines Sports Bar & Grill had Facebook posts up proclaiming they will be back open until 1 a.m. every night starting Monday.

"Talking with some industry friends it was a really nice surprise," Drohan said. "Finally."

Swampscott Fire Union Bristles At Vaccination Questions

For the second time in two weeks, a union representing Swampscott first responders issued a public statement against the Board of Selectmen.

The latest letter came from Swampscott Fire Fighters Local 1459 President Jason Snow after the Board of Selectmen took time during Tuesday's meeting to discuss how many first responders in town were willing to be vaccinated against the coronavirus when the Moderna vaccine was made available to them two weeks ago.

Salem Defense Lawyer Held Without Bail On Rape Charge

A criminal defense attorney and former state prosecutor was ordered held without bail on a rape charge following a dangerousness hearing Thursday.

Gary Zerola, 49, of Salem, was arraigned last week in Boston Municipal Court on charges of rape and breaking and entering with felony intent.

Salem Coronavirus Survey: Frequent Testing, Social Health Worries

A city survey revealed most Salem residents say they are getting tested for coronavirus, wearing masks in public, and are generally pleased with how the city and the school system have handled the coronavirus health crisis, while nearly half said their families are in overall poor or fair social and emotional health amid the pandemic.

Marblehead 11-Year-Old Boy Approached In Stramski Park: Police

Marblehead police are seeking information on a man accused of approaching an 11-year-old boy in the area of Stramski Park Thursday afternoon.

Across Massachusetts

MA Loses Progress As Unemployment Rate Back Above U.S. Average

The state's unemployment numbers spent months clawing their way back to the national average. In one month's time, they fell behind again.

The Massachusetts unemployment rate in December increased to 7.4 percent, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Friday, almost 5 percentage points higher than it was in December 2019.

The national average remains at 6.7 percent, which is where Massachusetts was in November.

Amid Pandemic, Flu Cases Remain Unusually Low In Massachusetts

While Massachusetts residents and others around the country continue to mask up and socially distance, these precautions are doing more than just curbing the spread of the coronavirus.

According to the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of influenza cases in Massachusetts and other states remain at unseasonably low levels despite an overall increase in administered tests.

1,900 Coronavirus Vaccines Spoiled In Boston VA Freezer Mishap

A freezer mishap spoiled nearly 2,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine at the VA Medical Center in Jamaica Plain.

The freezer failed Tuesday, ruining 1,900 doses of the Moderna vaccine, according to a VA Boston Healthcare System spokesperson.

The freezer's plug was found loose after a contractor accidentally removed it during a cleaning, spokesperson Kyle Toto said. The freezer's alarm system never went off.

Somerville Moves To Decriminalize Psychedelics

Somerville this month became the first Massachusetts community to move toward decriminalizing entheogenic plants, more commonly known as psychedelics.

At its Jan. 14 meeting, the City Council voted unanimously in favor of a resolution placing a low priority on the enforcement of such substances.