Massachusetts

Natick – November 03, 2026 -- Through the end of November, a $5 donation at any ScrubaDub tunnel location earns a free Simoniz UltraShine wash upgrade and a limited-edition apple pie scented air freshener, while supplies last. The money supports Community Servings, which provides medically tailored meals to people with critical and chronic illnesses.

A $5 donation gets you a wash upgrade and an air freshener

The offer is part of the 34th annual "Pie in the Sky" fundraiser. The car wash chain is marking 60 years of serving New England, and this year's new touch is the co-branded air freshener, given to donors as a thank-you.

Thanksgiving pies fund a week of meals

Customers can also buy or donate a Thanksgiving pie through ScrubaDub's Pie in the Sky fundraising page. Every pie purchase or "Pie for a Client" donation comes with a free ScrubaDub Express Wash and an entry to win a year of unlimited car washes.

United States – November 03, 2026 -- A single adult now needs at least $80,000 a year to live comfortably in every US state, and the threshold tops $100,000 in nearly half of them, according to a new SmartAsset analysis. For a family of four, the required income reaches as high as $329,000.

The estimate builds on MIT living wage data and the 50/30/20 rule

SmartAsset started with the MIT Living Wage Calculator, which shows what a full-time worker must earn to cover minimum basic needs. It then adjusted each figure with the 50/30/20 budgeting rule: 50% of income for necessities such as housing and utilities, 30% for discretionary spending and 20% for savings. The result is the annual pre-tax income needed to live comfortably in each state.

Revere – October 28, 2026 -- If a drain backs up again within days or weeks of a professional cleaning, the problem is probably deeper in the main sewer line than the clog that was removed. That is the message of a HelloNation article featuring Mark Meads, a Sewer and Drain Expert from Revere, Massachusetts.

Standard cleaning clears the surface, not the cause

Drain cleaning removes grease, hair, soap residue, and food debris near the surface of the pipe. When a backup returns quickly, the article explains, the cleared obstruction was likely a symptom of a condition further into the drainage system.

Two backed-up fixtures point to the main line

The main sewer line carries wastewater from every fixture in the home to the municipal sewer connection or a septic system. Backups in two or more fixtures at the same time are a reliable sign that the problem sits in the main line, not in a single branch drain.

New York – October 22, 2026 -- Jos. A. Bank has opened a new 4,442-square-foot store at Northborough Crossing in Northborough, Massachusetts, and shoppers can visit at 8116 Shops Way, Northborough, MA 01532. The menswear retailer is returning to the area with its reimagined store concept.

The store is the second to use the new layout

The Northborough location follows the first redesigned Jos. A. Bank store, which opened in Peachtree City, Georgia, last week. It sits near the intersection of Routes 9 and 20 and serves shoppers from surrounding communities.

The redesign puts product and personal service first. Merchandising is more intentional, sightlines are clearer, and styled displays are meant to help customers browse the assortment and find versatile wardrobe options. Consultants are on hand to help with fit.

Falmouth – October 13, 2026 -- Home buyers who budget only for the down payment and monthly mortgage risk missing several costs that affect affordability, according to a HelloNation article featuring real estate expert Serena LoPiccolo-Smith of The Inspire Team.

Inspections and closing costs arrive before move-in

A professional home inspection can uncover problems with the roof, plumbing, electrical systems, or foundation. Depending on a property's location and age, some buyers add inspections for mold, termites, or sewer lines. These raise upfront costs but give buyers information before they finalize a purchase.

Waltham – – October 11, 2026 -- National Grid is holding free, in-person Customer Assistance events across Massachusetts in October 2026, where customers can get one-on-one help with winter heating bills and learn how to apply for Home Energy Assistance Programs (HEAP).

Trained National Grid Advocates will staff the events. They can explain bill management options, share energy-saving tips and walk customers through the HEAP application. Chief Customer Officer Bill Malee said the company is encouraging customers to "act now" and use the programs available before the heating season starts.

Income-eligible customers can apply for HEAP from October 1, 2026

Gas and electric customers in Massachusetts can check eligibility and application steps for each program. Other options covered at the events include payment assistance, a Budget Plan, the Tiered Discount Rate Program and the Arrears Management Program.

Danvers, Mass. – September 26, 2026 -- Massachusetts homeowners can now access rebates of up to $8,500 through the state's Mass Save energy-efficiency program when upgrading to a heat pump, according to Danvers-based HVAC company Townsend.

The rebates, which range from a few hundred dollars to the $8,500 maximum depending on qualifications, are paired with 0% interest financing through Mass Save's HEAT Loan program and free home energy assessments that identify which upgrades a property needs.

Lawrence, Mass. – September 17, 2026 -- Massachusetts Medicare beneficiaries can now get free, confidential help checking their bills for fraud through the state's Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Program, following National "Report Medicare Fraud" Day on September 12.

Beneficiaries are urged to compare bills against actual care received

The MA SMP Program advises Medicare recipients to cross-check their Medicare Summary Notices (MSNs), Explanations of Benefits (EOBs), and other billing statements against the healthcare services they actually received. Charges for unfamiliar equipment, tests, or services not received are red flags worth reporting.

The program steps in when beneficiaries can't resolve issues alone

When a suspicious charge can't be sorted out directly, MA SMP reviews the situation and determines next steps, including referring suspected fraud or abuse cases to investigative authorities.