City meetings broadcast LIVE tonight. Tune in to channel 22 on Comcast, channel 37 on Verizon, visit our website, or watch on our Facebook page.

City Council subcommittees & regular meetings start at 4:15pm & the City of Lynn Planning Board meeting will start at 7PM.

Gov. Baker moves all of Massachusetts back to Step 1 of phase 3, effective this Sunday

Today Governor Charlie Baker announced that the entire state will roll back to Phase 3, Step 1 to combat the second surge of COVID-19 in Massachusetts.

These changes take effect on Sunday and will affect mostly restaurants, gyms, offices, places of worship, museums, and other entertainment venues. Governor Baker said the new measures are designed to prevent infection/viral spread (especially indoors), reduce mobility, & to “create stronger mask compliance, more social distancing and limits on the time spent with people outside your immediate household.”

Baker & Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders said since Thanksgiving there has been a rapid increase in new cases of COVID-19 & those that need to be hospitalized. Ambulatory services and preventive care may continue to be available, but some elective surgeries will be stopped at state hospitals starting Friday. A field hospital has been set up in Worcester, with a second being set up in Lowell.

Baker says the state is “going to continue being as aggressive as we can” against COVID-19. Some of the measures include:

• Capacity for outdoor theaters and performance venues is reduced to 25 percent and no more than 50 people.
• Outdoor gatherings limited to 50 people. If above 25 people the host must notify their local board of health.
• 40% capacity for indoor businesses for the following businesses: arcades/indoor and outdoor recreational businesses, driving and flight schools, gyms/health clubs, libraries, museums, retail, offices, places of worship, common areas of lodging businesses, golf and movie theaters.
• Indoor theaters and performance venues, plus a few smaller indoor recreation businesses, will close.
• Restaurants must now have no more than 6 people per table, & a 90-minute limit.
• Diners must wear masks at all times, except when eating and drinking.
• All musical performances are prohibited at restaurants.
• Social clubs are subject to the restaurant rules above.
• Food court seating will be closed.
• Masks required at all times in gyms & fitness centers.
• Everyone must wear a mask while in offices when not alone in their own workspace. Employers are encouraged to close or limit the use of break rooms and offer teleworking when possible.

Read the full update from Governor Charlie Baker’s office by clicking here.

Family & Children’s Service looks to grant 300 wishes for local children

Sponsor a child

Sign up to sponsor a child and shop for their wish list items directly. We will send you a unique link to the wish lists. Purchase the wish list items (or reasonable substitutions), wrap them, and drop them off with the Family Code at our offices at 111 North Common St. in Lynn by December 15th.

Sponsor a child by clicking here.

Make a donation

A gift to Family & Children’s Family Resource Center programs and support groups ensures that families can give their children the best start in life and also build a bright future.

Make a donation by clicking here.

Thank you for stepping up for your neighbors who need you now more than ever. You are a gift!

Family & Children’s Service is a community-based nonprofit organization that supports under-served and socially vulnerable populations to build stable, productive, and healthy lives. We strengthen the life skills of families, children, and individuals of all ages through a range of programs offered directly or in collaboration with other organizations in our community.

The above info. was provided to us by Family & Children’s Service.