Fitchburg Leominster News Magazine - Local News, Articles, Sports - Fitchburg Leominster MA

A woman who allegedly stole a purse from the Allston-Brighton Toy Drive last weekend has been arrested, according to Boston police, who had asked earlier this week for the public’s help identifying her. Ji Li was taken into custody around 1 p.m. Friday after detectives saw her walking on Massachusetts Avenue towards St. Botolph Street in the South End, police said. The 44-year-old Boston resident was wanted for larceny from a building and attempt to commit a crime in connection to an incident that occurred on Sunday, Dec. 15 between 6:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Corrib Pub, located at 396 Market Street in Brighton. According to police, it was Li who was seen searching through patrons’ personal belongings before stealing a purse during the Allston-Brighton Toy Drive. Police had released several photos of the suspect, who they wanted to identify. There was no word Saturday if any tips from the public may have helped with the investigation, or how detectives narrowed in on Li. Li is expected to be arraigned in Brighton District Court. It wasn’t immediately clear if she had obtained an attorney who could speak to the charges she’s facing.

The North End is one of the most charming sections of Boston. It has the feel of a European neighborhood within a city that looks more European than perhaps any other major city in the United States. Within the North End are endless dining options, including touristy restaurants as well as old-fashioned local favorites. The wonderful Caffé Vittoria is one of the latter, an Italian café with a ton of character that visitors to Boston who read up a bit on the city’s food scene frequent along with Italian Americans who have lived in this very old section of the city for much or all of their lives. Hanover Street is the main drag of the North End, and it is lined with countless restaurants, cafes and food shops, most of which are Italian, though more and more options for other types of cuisine can be found these days both on Hanover, Salem and other streets within the neighborhood. There are indeed so many places for food on Hanover that it can be pretty overwhelming, making it easy to walk right by some must-visit spots. Caffé Vittoria’s block is a perfect example of this, as the cafe is one of approximately 10 dining options on just one side of a two-block stretch of road, and plenty more are across the street as well (not to mention, it sits next to Mike’s Pastry, one of the most popular places in all of the North End). But once you take a step inside, you’ll realize that Vittoria is a particularly unique spot that oozes character, with its tin ceiling, mosaic tile floor, marble tables, metal-rimmed chairs, old-fashioned hanging lights and walls adorned with all kinds of knick-knacks, artwork and old photos. The cafe is made up of several different sections, including two front rooms that have their own entrances (they are connected by a walkway in the back) a few more dining areas out back, and a cigar bar in the basement. While not really a place to get a full meal (unless you’re a fan of having dessert for dinner, not the worst of ideas), Caffé Vittoria is a great option for those who want to grab a sweet treat and a drink after going to one of the many nearby restaurants in the North End or as a last stop late in the evening before heading back home. The food options include classic Italian pastries and baked goods such as biscotti, cannoli, sfogliatella, tiramisu, lobster tails, cheesecake, limoncello cake, chocolate ganache, ricotta pie, napoletana and gelato, the last of which includes spumoni, a colorful and delicious treat that includes layers of different flavors. Biscotti options include one covered with chocolate and another with a mix of almond and anisette that is perfect to dip into a cup of hot coffee. Speaking of coffee, Caffé Vittoria has several coffee options, each of which is well worth trying. The espresso is a good one to get if you need a quick jolt from the extra caffeine, while the more mellow and creamier cappuccino goes very nicely with the aforementioned biscotti, as does the caffe mocha, which gets an added richness from chocolate. And yes, hot chocolate is also available here, while other coffee options include caffe latte, Americano and macchiato. Cafes and desserts places tend not to serve alcohol, but Caffé Vittoria does have a liquor license, offering a number of cocktails, special coffee drinks and liqueurs, with some options including martinis, cosmopolitans, Italian and Irish coffees, grappa and cognac. A limited selection of beer and wine is available as well. Boston has seen a lot of its classic old-school dining and drinking spots close over the past ten years or so, icons like Durgin-Park, Doyle’s Café, Anthony’s Pier 4, the No Name and Marliave now just a memory. With the legendary German restaurant Jacob Wirth’s return up in the air after a devastating fire this past summer, it is indeed tough times for those who love historic restaurants and bars. But Caffé Vittoria continues to thrive in its North End space, attracting crowds on weekends and weeknights alike in part because of its combination of history, atmosphere and excellent food and drink. You’d be hard-pressed to find a place that’s even remotely like this in the Greater Boston area, or anywhere in New England for that matter, with New York City perhaps being the closest place that has cafes similar to this North End landmark. Caffé Vittoria, 290-296 Hanover Street, Boston, MA, 02113. caffevittoria.com

Roadways were slick Friday as a winter storm brought more snow than originally expected, leading to 200 crashes across the state, more than half of which were considered serious. Massachusetts State Police say of the 200 crashes they responded to Friday, 106 of them were serious, meaning they resulted in more than $1,000 in damage or injury. Many were out on the road Friday, as the holiday travel rush got underway, and driving conditions became more difficult as the day went on. Further information on the crashes wasn’t immediately available. Boston Dec 20 Snowfall totals: 6 inches in Boston, nearly 3 in Providence Boston 20 hours ago Holiday travel troubles after snowstorm in New England Weather 20 hours ago Bundle up!: Chilly Saturday after Friday snowstorm

With more than 200 car crashes on the state’s roads Friday and over 400 flight cancellations or delays Saturday, this winter weather is really throwing a wrench into people’s holiday plans. State police say of the 200 crashes they responded to across the state Friday, more than half were serious. “Thank god it wasn’t me. It could have been 201 but thank god you know,” Boston resident David Bing said. Travel troubles extended from the roads to the ski, with hundreds of delays at Boston Logan Airport on Saturday. “We have forty-five minutes delay yeah,” said Angelica Ferrera. “UGH!” The weather had everyone feeling a little rough, but they weren’t letting it burst their balloon this holiday season. “I’m looking forward to opening my presents,” 7-year-old Elena Bing said, as she welcomed her grandparents from Florida with a balloon and some roses. “I like that we all come together to say thanks for everything that happened.” The Bings were one of many waiting in traffic to get to Logan Airport under a fresh blanket of snow, but David Bing said it’s not the worst he’s seen on the roads recently. “Yesterday was actually way worse when I was trying to get home from work I almost got in a car accident,” he said of Friday’s difficult travel. Officials at Logan are expecting a busy but not record-breaking weekend, as they expect 62,000 going through security checkpoints Saturday. “We usually stay at home the four of us and just have a chill Christmas but the school break because of how the holidays fell this year was longer so we thought if we’re going to do the trip, this year is the year to do it” said Joel Collins, whose family’s flight to Hawaii was delayed, setting them up to possibly miss their connecting flight. If you plan on flying out this weekend, here’s a few things to keep in mind: Arrive with plenty of time to spare, around two hours for domestic flights. TSA recommends using gift bags instead of wrapping. Put liquid or spreadable foods in a checked bag.

Two elementary schools in Boston’s Roslindale neighborhood are merging, but parents and teachers are frustrated by plans to move students around during the school year. The Philbrick School and the Sumner School will join to become a single school serving pre-kindergarten through sixth grade, with a new setting in the former Washington Irving School on Cummins Highway. Fifth- and sixth-graders from Sumner have already moved to the Irving building, but it is undergoing a massive renovation project to be ready for everyone in fall of 2025. Those students will now move out, with some relocating to the Roslindale Community Center in late January. Get top local stories in Boston delivered to you every morning. Sign up for NBC Boston’s News Headlines newsletter. In an email to parents, school officials say the general contractor has shared that the renovation project is at risk of significant timeline delays, and the students have to go elsewhere so that renovations can move more quickly. “Are people going to be buzzed in? Are they going to sign in? Is there going to be a secretary here from BPS?” asked Jennifer Dines, a Boston Public Schools teacher and parent who lives in Roslindale. She’s concerned about safety and security, worried about the public having access to the community center while school is also operating inside. “They haven’t even said it’s going to be secured,” said Dines. “They said nothing about that, just said, ‘Oh, there’s going to be this transition.’ I saw nothing in that email that this is how we’re going to keep children safe and secure.” “Due to construction that can be, at times, disruptive for teachers and students and in an effort to open the renovated building as close to on schedule as possible, it is in the best interest of our students in grades 5 and 6 to temporarily relocate,” Boston Public Schools said in a statement. “The three relocated classrooms in the BCYF Roslindale Community Center will be in a single, secure area with restricted access, which will allow them to continue their learning.” A community meeting is scheduled to take place after the holidays but before the relocation. It’ll be a chance for parents to learn more about the move and how it’ll work. “Moving students and educators mid-year is disruptive to the learning process,” said Erik Berg, president of the Boston Teachers Union. “It’s really not ideal, and we think this whole thing could have been avoided with adequate prior planning.” More on Boston Public Schools Massachusetts Dec 19 Woman accused of posing as Boston student in court. Is a plea deal near? Boston Dec 17 High school basketball opener canceled due to Boston school bus delay Dorchester Dec 13 6-year-old boy severely burned at Boston school