September 18, 2024 • 36 mins
We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about!
Dana Gerber – Boston Globe Reporter brought us the story of who is leaving Massachusetts? And why? Here’s what a report reveals.
Amy Laramie from the Killington Ski Resort told us about an upcoming event - the Stifel Killington Cup.
Rich Allen – Author of Keep Calm and Cope With Grief: 9 Chapters for Managing Fear and Grief When Losing a Parent or Loved One.
Chris Van Buskirk – Boston Herald Reporter told us about the Revolution in the air: Massachusetts 250 initiative poised to be economic driver.
Ask Alexa to play WBZ NewsRadio on #iHeartRadio!
Dana Gerber – Boston Globe Reporter brought us the story of who is leaving Massachusetts? And why? Here’s what a report reveals.
Amy Laramie from the Killington Ski Resort told us about an upcoming event - the Stifel Killington Cup.
Rich Allen – Author of Keep Calm and Cope With Grief: 9 Chapters for Managing Fear and Grief When Losing a Parent or Loved One.
Chris Van Buskirk – Boston Herald Reporter told us about the Revolution in the air: Massachusetts 250 initiative poised to be economic driver.
Ask Alexa to play WBZ NewsRadio on #iHeartRadio!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ Cast Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Thank you so much, Nicole. As we moved through the
final week of summer. Boy, that's what happened to summer,
it seemed like a Memorial Day yesterday. My name is
Dan Ray. You know what your name is, so I
need no introduction, but thank you very much for being
here tonight, and thank you very much for being with
us every night. I am always astonished and as sounded
(00:30):
and astounded and appreciative of all of you who will
take the time any weeknight or every weeknight and tune
us in here on WBZ on Nightside. We will soon
be starting our eighteenth year in this format and in
this program, and again, I just can't tell you much
I appreciate the loyalty of all of you. Whether you're
(00:51):
a first time listener, happened to maybe pick us up
on the radio driving somewhere in Illinois, Wisconsin We're at
WBZ ten thirty and or am Island again. If you
aren't able to get us on the radio, you can
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to iHeart Radio to the iHeart Radio app. It's free.
(01:11):
You can download it for free, and you can listen
to us anywhere in the world. And we do have
people around the world listening to us. So you're not
alone anyone. Well, I'm alone because I'm remote. However, Rob
Brooks he's back in the control room in the big
broadcast studio and he's all set to take your phone
call nine o'clock. But first we deal with news stories
(01:36):
and topics of general interest, sometimes culture, sometimes entertainment, sometimes sports,
sometimes whether, sometimes traffic. You just never know what you're
going to get. And we'll start it off tonight at
eight oh well it's actually now about eight oh nine
with Boston Globe reporter Dana Gerber. Dana Gerber, Welcome to
Night's Side. I'm not sure we've had the pleasure of
(01:58):
your company before. How are you tonight?
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Once before? But I'm not offended, don't worry.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Well, you know what, and I apologize. I always like
to welcome people. So now you are a regular as
far as I'm concerned on Nightside.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Feels like the firs time.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Dan, I'm no problem. Thank you so much. And so
you're right for the Globe and you have written a
very interesting piece that was. I'm not sure if it's
in the Globe today. I read the Globe today and
I'm not sure I saw it or if it's posted today.
But the piece is who is leaving Massachusetts and why.
(02:37):
Here's what the report reveals. I'm guessing this is going
to hit the print version tomorrow morning. Is that correct?
Speaker 3 (02:43):
I believe it was in print today, but you'll have
to fact check me on that. It was a pretty
short story, so, oh god, I've.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Read it, but I didn't read it in the in
the print version. So the report came out yesterday for
the Massachu's Budget and Policy sent which, as you say,
is a progressive think tank. Who's leaving for our beautiful state?
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Yeah, so it's it's a pretty interesting report in that,
you know, obviously as a progressive thing tank, mass budget
supported question one which a lot of the listeners might
know is the millionaire's tax. So they are putting together
research pretty regularly to indicate that, you know, the millionaires
tax isn't having the effects folks were worried it might that,
(03:27):
you know, high earners would be leaving the state. And
the way they put together these reports this through census
data I r S data and and similar stuff, and
its reports sort of indicates the same vat same argument
that you know, high owners aren't the folks leaving Massachusetts,
and the highest numbers that's actually working age adults who
(03:47):
are lower middle income. That was what they found. It
really bears noting that the data they were looking at
does not reflect the time period in which the millionaire's
taxes had taken effect yet, so that those numbers are
still to come. But so far it seems like, you know,
it's not there's not a massive exile of the state's
highest earners. But again, we will see what new numbers
(04:10):
bear out in the coming months and years.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Well, for example, you make three points in the article.
I guess three points that we're made, and it says,
according to most recent measure the Massachusetts population is still growing.
So we are up by eighteen thousand year to year
July first, twenty twenty two to July first, twenty twenty three,
(04:35):
we're up by a quarter of one percent. I guess
a quarter percent tick. That is encouraging, but it's also
paul free compared to the population growth in other states.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Correct, Yeah, I mean, it's just it's hard to compare
you know, apples and oranges. Massachusetts has a lot of
its own quirks. You know, there's it's not as fast
a growing state as like you said, other states. But
you know we're still you know, in the black, which
is which is what you know, politicians and business leaders
and everyone do look for.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Oh sure, but we're The point I'm trying to make
is I think that the migration the states that seem
to be picking up population and also, by the way,
picking up seats in congress because as your population grows,
every ten years, they recalibrate the census around the country
and all of a sudden you'll see Texas has picked
up two, you know, two congressional seats, in California has
(05:35):
lost three congressional seats. And you know, we see that
every ten years or so. So the people who are
leading says fifty five percent of the people who left
between twenty twenty one and twenty twenty two, which I
guess this is based on prior to the implementation of
the millionaires tax. We're working age adults twenty six to
(05:56):
forty five. Those are people who contributing to the tax.
I would be really worried about them.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Yeah, No, it's certainly concerning, and that lines up with
you know, figures we've reported before that you know, this
is the group leaving at the highest rate, and that
you know, it's anyone's guess why that is. It could
be that, you know, they want to start a family
and they need a bigger house and really can't afford
what's available around here. It could be that, you know,
they want to live closer to family. It's it's hard
(06:25):
to sort of opining about what's why these folks are leaving.
But you're absolutely right that, you know, not only for
the tax base, but for the labor force. You know,
this is really not the age group you want the
parting a state.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Yeah, and it says the majority of those leaving are
not high income earners. That's the point three, which is
kind of an interesting point. It says about one in
six of the residents who left Massachusetts between twenty twenty
one and twenty two, and it's important that's the time
have incomes exceeding two hundred k. That's not bad, but
(07:02):
it says, yeah, a larger group, eighty percent had incomes
below two hundred k. Well, so that was a little
bit below two hundred k. Yeah, yeah, it's a weird
it's a weird cutoff they picked. I'd love to know
what the median income was of the mean income of
(07:23):
those leaving Massachusetts. They're all contributing if they're working and
earning money.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Yeah, no, it's that's that's a good question. I don't
have that off the top of my head, but I
just want to make it clear that the so it's
of the twenty six to forty five year old who
are leaving, so that's the only group they're looking at.
More than eighty percent of those people had incomes below
two hundred thousands, so that they're looking at a subset
of a subset.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
No, I get that. But what I'm saying is if
you're twenty six and you lay twenties and you make
you make in two hundred k, or if you're in
your thirties and you're making two hundred k, that's not
bad coin. I don't know. Yeah, I mean no, it's go.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Ahead to say no, no, no, I was just gonna
say it's tough one. You know, two hundred thousand really
doesn't pack the punch here that it does. And like
you said, maybe Texas or elsewhere in the country. So
it's you know, it's the math in Massachusetts isn't always
the same as the math elsewhere.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
So I get that. But there are parts of the
state outside the one twenty eighth belt where housing is
much more reasonable. And of course now we have the
other development that a lot of people can work from home.
The zoomsters, if you will. Companies have found out that
they can have very employable people who don't have to
trek into the office every day put on the jacket
(08:43):
and tie. They can do they can do their work
from home, which is always really you know, there's my
phone ringing Rob. Get that next guest on the line,
which anyway, bottom line is it's an interesting study. I'm
going to look at it more closely. Uh thanks for
for breaking these studies down, because all too often we
(09:05):
read about them and and we kind of go past them.
It did say that the majority of people who are
leaving Massachusetts, the majority of people who are leaving Massachusetts
are going to Florida in New Hampshire to look to Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
Yeah, again, those I just want to say that that's
it's not the majority, it's the those are the top
states where people are going so it's, oh.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Yeah, no, I understand that. But it's but it's not
like they're going to New York. In California, Yeah, certainly no.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
I mean those those two states have no income tax there. Yeah,
it's it's certainly.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
They're not going. They're not going as they would say
in New York. They're not not going to go to
New York in Jersey. They're looking at Florida, and Governors
Sonunu and Governor DeSantis must be very pleased with with
with the that that pattern. Anyway, I love the column,
I love your enthusiasm for your stories, and we got
(10:01):
to have you back more often. Dana, thank you so
much for joining us tonight. I really appreciate you.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
Thanks so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Absolutely talk soon when we get back. I think that
was my next guest calling me on my cell phone,
but that's a story for another night. In a moment,
we'll be talking with Amy Laramie. She's the director of
brand marketing and events from Killington Resort up in Killington,
New Hampshire. They are about to have a great women's
(10:28):
ski event on Thanksgiving weekend, So if you're looking to
spend Thanksgiving in Vermont and go to a great ski event.
We'll get you all the details coming up with Amy
Laramie on the other side of this quick commercial break
here on Nightside. My name's Dan Ray.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Now back to Dan Ray live from the Window World
Nightside Studios on WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Well, I am delighted to welcome Amy Laramie. She is
at the Killington Ski Resort up in I think all
of us know Killington Mount and the Killington Ski Resort.
She's the director of brand Marketing and Events from the
Killington Resort. And Amy's going to tell us about a
great event coming up Thanksgiving weekend, the twenty twenty four
(11:13):
and it's called the Stifle. I hope I pronounced that correctly. Amy,
Stifle Killington Cup. Tell us about it.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
Yeah, thank you for having me. So it's the Steephel
Killington Cup.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Stepel like a George Steeple. Okay, thank you. I was
thinking of the Eiffel Tower. This this Stiefel. I got it.
Speaker 4 (11:31):
Go ahead, No, that's fine. So it's the eighth year
we've been hosting this event, and we're very excited to
have Mikayla Schiffrin, Paula Moltsen, aj Her Nina O'Brien come
back to Killington for another race this year. Mikhayla Schiffrin
might be actually getting her historic one hundredth victory at
(11:54):
Killington when we host this event this year. It all
depends on how she does in races before comes to Killington.
But tickets are available and they're on sale. So we
have general admission tickets available for ten dollars and then
there's different ticket options if you wanted to do premiere
Premiere grand stand tickets are just sitting in the grand
(12:16):
stands as well as VIP tickets.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
You know this is these are women's racers, what sort
of events? It's obviously all downhill is it's all slalom?
Tell us, I'm not an expert in skiing. I got
to be honest with you. I enjoy watching it and
with the greatest women's skiers, downhill scheme racers in the world,
(12:40):
I mean, this is going to be a huge success
for you guys.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
I'm sure, yes, awesome. Over the course of the weekend,
we have upwards of more than thirty thousand fans visiting
Killington on the World Cup weekend and we are very
excited to host this once again. We see giant slalom
and the slalom events here at Killington.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
And how many women will compete, how many competitors will
will be trying for this price money.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
We have about one hundred competitors coming to Killington from all.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
Over the world.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
There's about the two countries.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Yeah, these are professionals skiers who are representing their countries
in the Olympics. It's like a skiing Olympics, is what
it sounds like to me, which which is fabulous. Killington.
You said this is Thanksgiving weekend, and as they said
earlier tonight, what's better than to spend Thanksgiving in Vermont,
particularly with family, and then go watch the ski races.
(13:44):
Is it Saturday Sunday or Friday Saturday Sunday?
Speaker 4 (13:48):
So the races are Friday and Saturday, or sorry, the
races are Saturday and Sunday. And on Friday we kick
off the weekend with a athlete, big presentation, fireworks and
stay tuned because next weekend we plan to announce all
of our entertainment acts. And so this is more than
just a ski race, is actually a party over Thanksgiving
(14:10):
weekend at Killington, and we have some great entertainment acts
every year that we plan to announce next week.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Well, that's faculous. Now this is part we need to
put in some context here. This is part of a
world tour of these fabulous female skiers. Give us a
sense as to where the Killington event sits within the
world tour. Obviously it's early in the ski season, and
you told me earlier tonight that Killington opens the earliest
(14:40):
and stays open the latest into the spring because of
your snowmaking capacity.
Speaker 4 (14:46):
Correct, that's correct. Yes, it's the Audi FIS Ski World
Cup circuit that this event is on. And we host
this Thanksgiving weekend and not many East Coast well, I
should say no other East Coast ski resort could probably
host this events on Thanksgiving weekend. But we have a
great snowmaking capacity here at Killington. We have the longest
(15:09):
season in the East. Many times we're doing multi sport
weekends where we're mountain biking as well as skiing and
snowboarding at the same exact time over the course of
the weekend.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
This is fabulous. You've done this now, you said several years,
so you know how it runs. And are there do
you guys adequate accommodations up there? People want to stay
at the resort as well. I assume the tickets are available,
but there is lodging available as well.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
Yeah, there's many local lodging facilities across Killington as well
as into Rutland as well as the Woodstock communities. So
if you want to come up and stay for the weekend,
which we would encourage you to do, there's many accommodations available.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Oh, that's great. And the skiers, what percentage of them?
And I know I'm asking a couple of questions that
you probably aren't prepared to answer, but approximately what percentage
of them do you think have skied internationally representing their
own country in Olympics? In the Olympics.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
Oh, I'm actually not sure. That's a great question though, Okay, but.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
I'll bet it's been a lot. I bet it's a
lot of them.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
I bet it is, Yes, So I'm.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Sure there's not that they're going to bring their gold
medals and their silver medals and their bronze medals to display.
But I'm sure there's a lot of great skiers and
great with great records and accomplishments. And it sounds like
to me a perfect way to start the winter, perfect
way to end the fall. And a perfect way to
spend a Thanksgiving weekend. Amy, I appreciate you being available tonight.
(16:46):
I very much appreciate that. And whenever you're doing up something,
whenever you're doing something up in Killington, you let us
know and we'll give you a little bit of publicity
on her.
Speaker 4 (16:55):
Okay, that sounds great. Thank you for having me tonight.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Welcome again. Give us the website one more time so
that people, uh direct them to where they get the tickets.
What's what is the specific.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
Website Killington Killington dot com. Backslash World cup Boys.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
That's pretty easy. That's that's good. Thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
We try and make things easy.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Well, absolutely, Amy Laramie, the director of Brand Marketing and
Events from the Killington Resort in Killington, Vermont. And when
you think about it, I mean, we're getting close to
the end of September. There's only a couple of months away,
so get your up here. Oh I wish I hadn't
said that. Oh no, no, that's okay, No, No, it's
(17:41):
just that it's like, I'm a summer guy. My brother
and his wife are great skiers, uh, and they're up
up there in New Hampshire and Vermont. You know, most
of the winter I like to kind of sit by
the fire in the lodge, and that's that's the most
that's the that's my best wind. Yeah, that's my winter activity.
(18:05):
Thanks again, Amy, enjoyed you very much.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
Thank you for talking again.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
You're very welcome. Okay, when we get back, we're going
to talk about a little bit more serious subject, and
that is keeping Calm and Coping with Grief. Nine chapters
for managing fear and grief for losing a parent or
a loved one. We'll talk with an author coming up,
Richard Allen. He'll have a lot to say. It will
(18:29):
not be as much fun as a Killington ski event,
but it's something we all need to at some point
in our lives cope with. Back on Nightside right after
the News at the bottom.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
Of the hour, it's night Side.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
News Radio. All right. My next guest is Richard John Allen.
He's a published author specializing in grief books. Richard, how
do you become an author specializing in grief books? There
must have been a story or how you came to
write about a pretty tough subject.
Speaker 5 (19:06):
That's a great question, Dan Well Sadly, for me, it
was because I lost my father to cancer, and my
dad died in twenty twenty, and at the time, I
was waiting for one of America's largest insurance companies. I've
been there fifteen years. I believe I had a successful
career there. But when I lost my father, I was gutted.
(19:27):
I was devastated. And it was my wife, Alison who
suggested that I should write a book about grief, about
what I was going through. And fortunately for me, Dan,
I'd never lost anybody so close to me like my dad,
and I'd never suffered grief before, so this was a
new emotion for me. I didn't know what to do.
(19:49):
I didn't know how to handle it, cop with it.
I didn't know how to arrange the funeral, how to
read the will. There were so many things that were
foreign to me, and I was terrified. And of course,
throughout all of that, I was in so much pain
because I just lost my dad.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
So how old was your dad when he passed.
Speaker 5 (20:07):
He was seventy nine, which wasn't too old, I guess right.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
I don't think that sounds young to me. That sounds
young to me, Richard. I obviously you were close with
your dad, so out of that horrific experience came this book,
Keep Calm and Cope with Grief, nine chapters for managing
fear and grief when losing a parent or a loved one.
(20:33):
I know you can't tell us all of the secrets
of the book in a relatively brief interview, but give
us either an overview or tell us a couple of
things that people might learn from the book. I hope
some of them will buy it so when grief does
hit their family, they'll be able to have this as
a as a guide through and coping with grief.
Speaker 5 (20:55):
Actually, Dan, you just summed it up. It is a guide.
I have written five books, you know, and again my
wife has put me on this path. I'm on a janey.
It's like a quest I wanted answers. You know, I'm
a Catholic. I've got strong faith, but believe it or not,
I wanted to proof on it. Doesn't know where my
dad was. So looking back now at my first book,
(21:16):
Keep Calm and Cope with Grief, as you just said,
it really is a guide. It's a guide for somebody
who has just lost a loved one, and it's also
a guide for somebody who is about to lose a
loved one. So whether it's you personally, or whether it's
a friend or somebody else that you know who may
be about to lose a loved one, I believe this
is a great guide for them because, as I mentioned before,
(21:39):
I'd never gone through this before, and there's so much
to deal with. My mother is still alive, and when
we lost our dad, she was left with paying the
bills for the house, organizing everything, and it was traumatic
for him that of course too, So in my book
I touch on that too. I mean, we suddenly realize
(22:00):
is that losing a loved one doesn't just affect you,
it affects everybody around you, right, And this book is
a guide to help you go through that step by step.
I also put you on signs from loved ones, because
to this day, I still get signs for my dad,
which is a whole other story. We could talk for
hours about that and about life.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Touched on that just briefly, you obviously, and I do believe.
I happen to be a believer as well and never
ashamed to talk about my belief. And it sounds like
you're not ashamed to talk about your belief. I would
hope that there is something beyond this mortal coil for
(22:40):
us to find. And yeah, you know again, we won't
know until we leave here. No one can convince me
there isn't, and I can't go no do I try
to convince people there is. But tell us what your
experience has been with your dad, because I've had those
sources of experiences, and I suspect many people in the
(23:01):
audience have had similar experiences. Give us an example exactly.
Speaker 5 (23:05):
I've had thousands of people contact me now in the
last three or four years since my dad's passing with
stories and examples. But for me, I've got dozens of
instances now. Just to put this out there, my wife
is a scientist and she believes in data proof and facts,
and now she believes she's convinced that these are signs
from my dad. And one quick example, when my dad
(23:27):
told me back in February twenty twenty he had cancer,
my wife and I jumped on the first flight over there,
and we stayed in a hotel close to the house
because I didn't want to be there and cramp my
dad because he was going through so much anyway. But
in the hotel at two o'clock in the morning, there
was a man outside the hotel playing Sweet Cattle Line
(23:48):
by Neil Diamond, and for some reason down that song
is stuck with me now and every time I hear
that song, I break down. It just reminds me of
my dad. Well, my dad passed away in November twenty twenty.
Fast forward two years. I'm back home in America. I
live in the States and my family's in Liverpool. So
when me and my wife go to bed, and I
(24:11):
always put my phone on the bedside table and plug
it into charge at night. But once, yeah, and I
think most people do that. At one sixteen am, my
cell phone goes off and it's playing Sweet Catline by
Neil Diamond, and it plays it from the chorus, not
from the started song, and it's on loud. I jumped
(24:32):
up in bed. I looked around the room and I
shouted out, Dad, you know is that you? And Allison
wakes up and she's like, what's going on Richard? And
I was like, I don't know, And I picked up
my phone and I couldn't get the song to stop.
Now that song is not on my phone. You know,
I have Pandora, but Pandora wasn't open YouTube wasn't open.
(24:53):
There's nothing on my phone but that that song is
not on my phone. So how did that play at
once sixteen and wake me up? And I couldn't. I
had to switch off my cell phone. I could not
get that song to stop. And my dad knows because
of it it several times since its passing that it
upsets me and it's my song for my dad. And
there it was playing on my phone at one sixteen
(25:14):
in the morning. So I can't explain it.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Yeah, and you've had other experiences like that, so that
that has to help you. That experience has to help you.
You said there are nine chapters in the book. Is
the book currently available? I assume it's on Amazon and
at the traditional bookstores that most people go for books.
Speaker 5 (25:36):
I assume, yep, right right now, Dan, it's on Amazon.
All my books are on Amazon. I actually use my
dad's name as my author name, so it's John Allen.
My full name is Richard John Allen, but my author
name is John Allen and that that was my dad's name,
So in love and respect for my dad, he used
that name. But all my books are on Amazon, and
if you go to my website, Richardjohnallen dot com. You'll
(26:00):
see a bio one may All my podcasts and my
books are there too.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Well. Again, I think it gives hope to people, whether
they believe or not. Every every family has been through this,
uh and and I'm sure that if you read this
in advance uh and, before you'll lose someone, you'll be
a little better prepared. And maybe can I can pull
(26:28):
some papers together and be prepared and ready if, if,
and when, as inevitably it comes for all of us,
that day comes and exactly John Allen formerly Richard John
Allen for when I say formally, I mean formally full name,
but John Allen, the author, thanks for joining us tonight.
And I hope your dad, wherever he is, had a
(26:50):
chance to listen to this interview, because you have to
come away from this interview knowing how close you and
your dad were. And I'm sure that if he was
able to hear this tonight he he's once again pretty
proud of you.
Speaker 5 (27:02):
Thank you so much, John, Thank you, don thank you.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Are good night. All Right, We're going to lighten it
up a little bit on the other side. But that's
an interesting book again. It's called Keep Calm and Cope
with Grief. Nine chapters for managing fear and grief when
losing a parent or a loved one. And again, all
of us have been through that, but it wouldn't be
bad to have this as a guide, so I'd suggest
(27:25):
to you different book stores and also of course at
Amazon dot Com. When we get back, we're going to
be talking about Massachusetts two fifty. Massachusetts, we were in
the middle of the Great Revolution of seventeen seventy six,
but kind of started here in Massachusetts with the Tea
(27:49):
Party in December of seventeen seventy four. Maybe we didn't
learn as much about this in history classes in school
of the Revolution in Massachusetts' role, but we're going to
learn a lot about it. And there's a new program
that has just started. It's called the Massachusetts two fifty Initiative,
and we're going to talk with Boston Herald reporter Chris
van Buskirk about it and about what we all will
(28:12):
be experiencing in the next few months, in the next
couple of years here in Massachusetts, as we move up
to the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the signing
of the Declaration of Independence in July of twenty twenty six.
It's not that far away. We'll be back on Nightside
right after this.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
Now back to Dan ray Line from the Window World
night Side Studios on WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
Well, there's some big events coming up in the next
two and a half years or so. Next well really
the next a little less now than two and a
half years. July of twenty twenty six will be upon
us less than two and a half years, and we're
going to talk about it with Chris van Buskirk of
the Boston Herald. He is a great reporter at the
(29:00):
Boston Herald. And Chris, I know you covered some of
this activity at the State House yesterday. I guess we're
all going to be living through this, just as our
four bears lived through the actual Revolution two and a
half centuries ago. How are you.
Speaker 6 (29:14):
Tonight, Joe, Well, Dan, thanks for having me. Yes, I
suppose over the next two years we will be living
through this two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of American Independence
that Governor Kewley and her administration kicked off with quite
a show yesterday in front of the State House, including
a direction descendant of Paul Revere riding up Bacon Street
(29:35):
on a horse and delivering her a warning that the
British were coming, albeit maybe a bit late at this point.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
Yeah, so there was Look, all of us who have
been around remember the VI Centennial and the Vice Centennial
in nineteen seventy six was a great event for Boston.
I mean it was it was glorious. Elizabeth came to Boston,
the tall ships came to Boston. What are some of
(30:04):
the things, I mean, obviously as we go by the dates,
we got the tea party coming up in December, I'm
sure there's going to big be a big event with
all of that activity, tell us some of the things
that we should be anticipating.
Speaker 6 (30:17):
Yeah, well, it's kicking off pretty quick here, I mean
just in the next just this month, I mean, there's
celebrations in Conquered reflecting on the Revolutionary War itself, more
celebrations in Marblehead as well, and then there's the Chelsea
four hundredth anniversary parade later this month. And I think
(30:38):
we'll learn more exactly, you know, more about what exactly
will happened, you know, this upcoming in July later on,
but certainly the governor is pitching this as a likely
economic driver for the state. As you said, you know,
not too long ago, it was a boon from Boston,
a boone from Massachusetts. Governor Healey thinks that will be
(30:59):
the same thing this time around, and Mayor Michelle who
was also on hand, just pretty much echo the same comments.
This is going to be good for the city, good
for the state.
Speaker 2 (31:09):
Did did all of the political leaders who were there yesterday,
did they feel that we're ready for whatever my coming.
I mean, obviously, back at the time of the Vice centennial,
it was all celebration. I don't think any of us
even had heard the term terrorism at that time. And
now it's fifty years later, and we all know what
(31:30):
happened on nine to eleven. We know what has happened.
I have to assume that the security for the two
fiftieth is going to be immense. Was there any conversation
or discussion about that yesterday?
Speaker 6 (31:43):
No discussion during their speaking program about security. But I
have to agree with you that I would imagine the administration,
the city, the state Police, Boston Police, you know, all
those law enforcement partners are prepared and ready for the
events that will happen, the upcoming events. I think yesterday
was really focused on just outing this is really just
(32:06):
an opportunity for the state to bring in people from
all over the world to come celebrate both American independence,
but of course where this country of ours started, where
democracy was formed. And how amazing of an opportunity that
our state has right now to kind of capture the
line light.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
Well, I'm sure the Philadelphia is going to be in
a friendly competition with us, particularly as we get towards
twenty twenty six. What sort of an economic boom? I
always hear these figures quoted Chris and you know, let's say, well,
it's going to be a billion dollars or five hundred
million dollars, And I always think they picked those numbers
out of the year. But do they really believe that
(32:48):
there'll be a lot of people who are going to
be interested and come to Massachusetts, I know, who've never
been here before from all over the United States. We
are we ready for the traffic and all. What they
did they talk about that issue, the whole issue of
capacity and being able to accommodate people and accommodate them comfortably.
Speaker 6 (33:12):
Well, you know, I mean Boston obviously a city well
used to tourists, well used to the massive amount of
college kids they come in during the academic year. I
think the administration certainly believes it's ready to handle both
the both the influx in Boston and statewide. As far
as numbers, no specific numbers yesterday, but Heally did say
(33:35):
that this would be quite an opportunity for our hospitality industry,
for our restaurants to really pull in people, for some
of our academic institutions to show themselves off our museums.
And you can go down the list of just kind
of the attractions in Boston and across the rest of
the state that they might pick up, you know, anywhere
(33:55):
from a few extra guests to maybe quite a bit more.
Speaker 2 (33:59):
Yeah. The other than the Paul Revere like it was
Paul Revered, the third a direct descended rode that horse yesterday,
so a quick shot. The governor was astride or horse
as well. I only saw the still shots, I assume,
And if I'm incorrect, were you there at the event yesterday?
Speaker 6 (34:20):
Yes, Yet Heally did take a quick stin on a horse.
She told me that there was an empty one with
the lancers there, and she just said, oh, there's a horse,
it's empty. She got on. Healey told US reporters that
she grew up with horses in New Hampshire. Wasn't her
first time on a horse, you know. She obviously knew
what she was doing and really commended them for being
(34:42):
beautiful creatures there.
Speaker 2 (34:44):
Well, that's great, Chris, I appreciate it very much. Always
love to have you here on Night's side, and thanks
for bringing us up to day in this. It's going
to be a very interesting time to be here. None
of us were, well, very few of us were around
at the h hundred and fiftieth anniversary in nineteen twenty six,
but you probably weren't even born. I was here, and
(35:07):
I remember as a young reporter covering some of the events.
The tall ships were here and as they said, the
Queen and Prince Philip, it was an exciting time. Kevin
White was the mayor, he was in his glory at
that time. And now we have an entirely different set
of characters. So looks looks like it's going to be
a good time. Let's hope it all goes without any
sort of incident that we might come to regret. Let's
(35:33):
just hope it goes off flawlessly and good planning are involved.
Thanks again, Chris, I appreciate your time.
Speaker 6 (35:39):
Thanks for having Dan.
Speaker 5 (35:40):
You're welcome.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
All right, we come back. I would like to go
back to the story that we talked about on Monday night,
and I want to hear from the State Police what
happened to this young recruit, Enrique Delgado Garcia, and I
hope you will join the chorus there, because the longer
that we go without getting any information in to the
(36:03):
best of my knowledge, there has been no specific information
given but officially as to what happened. So with that said,
we're going to go to the nine o'clock news. We
come back. We're going to talk about this horrific loss
to a family, but also again another black eye to
the Massachusetts State Police that just seemed to have problems
(36:26):
after problems, and I think we need some transparency, We
need a full investigation. But somehow we should be given
this week what we know or what we don't know
about this terrible loss. Back on night Side, right after
the nine o'clock news,
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ Cast Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Thank you so much, Nicole. As we moved through the
final week of summer. Boy, that's what happened to summer,
it seemed like a Memorial Day yesterday. My name is
Dan Ray. You know what your name is, so I
need no introduction, but thank you very much for being
here tonight, and thank you very much for being with
us every night. I am always astonished and as sounded
(00:30):
and astounded and appreciative of all of you who will
take the time any weeknight or every weeknight and tune
us in here on WBZ on Nightside. We will soon
be starting our eighteenth year in this format and in
this program, and again, I just can't tell you much
I appreciate the loyalty of all of you. Whether you're
(00:51):
a first time listener, happened to maybe pick us up
on the radio driving somewhere in Illinois, Wisconsin We're at
WBZ ten thirty and or am Island again. If you
aren't able to get us on the radio, you can
always listen to WBZ News Radio twenty four to seven,
three hundred and sixty five days a year. Just go
to iHeart Radio to the iHeart Radio app. It's free.
(01:11):
You can download it for free, and you can listen
to us anywhere in the world. And we do have
people around the world listening to us. So you're not
alone anyone. Well, I'm alone because I'm remote. However, Rob
Brooks he's back in the control room in the big
broadcast studio and he's all set to take your phone
call nine o'clock. But first we deal with news stories
(01:36):
and topics of general interest, sometimes culture, sometimes entertainment, sometimes sports,
sometimes whether, sometimes traffic. You just never know what you're
going to get. And we'll start it off tonight at
eight oh well it's actually now about eight oh nine
with Boston Globe reporter Dana Gerber. Dana Gerber, Welcome to
Night's Side. I'm not sure we've had the pleasure of
(01:58):
your company before. How are you tonight?
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Once before? But I'm not offended, don't worry.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Well, you know what, and I apologize. I always like
to welcome people. So now you are a regular as
far as I'm concerned on Nightside.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Feels like the firs time.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Dan, I'm no problem. Thank you so much. And so
you're right for the Globe and you have written a
very interesting piece that was. I'm not sure if it's
in the Globe today. I read the Globe today and
I'm not sure I saw it or if it's posted today.
But the piece is who is leaving Massachusetts and why.
(02:37):
Here's what the report reveals. I'm guessing this is going
to hit the print version tomorrow morning. Is that correct?
Speaker 3 (02:43):
I believe it was in print today, but you'll have
to fact check me on that. It was a pretty
short story, so, oh god, I've.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Read it, but I didn't read it in the in
the print version. So the report came out yesterday for
the Massachu's Budget and Policy sent which, as you say,
is a progressive think tank. Who's leaving for our beautiful state?
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Yeah, so it's it's a pretty interesting report in that,
you know, obviously as a progressive thing tank, mass budget
supported question one which a lot of the listeners might
know is the millionaire's tax. So they are putting together
research pretty regularly to indicate that, you know, the millionaires
tax isn't having the effects folks were worried it might that,
(03:27):
you know, high earners would be leaving the state. And
the way they put together these reports this through census
data I r S data and and similar stuff, and
its reports sort of indicates the same vat same argument
that you know, high owners aren't the folks leaving Massachusetts,
and the highest numbers that's actually working age adults who
(03:47):
are lower middle income. That was what they found. It
really bears noting that the data they were looking at
does not reflect the time period in which the millionaire's
taxes had taken effect yet, so that those numbers are
still to come. But so far it seems like, you know,
it's not there's not a massive exile of the state's
highest earners. But again, we will see what new numbers
(04:10):
bear out in the coming months and years.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Well, for example, you make three points in the article.
I guess three points that we're made, and it says,
according to most recent measure the Massachusetts population is still growing.
So we are up by eighteen thousand year to year
July first, twenty twenty two to July first, twenty twenty three,
(04:35):
we're up by a quarter of one percent. I guess
a quarter percent tick. That is encouraging, but it's also
paul free compared to the population growth in other states.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Correct, Yeah, I mean, it's just it's hard to compare
you know, apples and oranges. Massachusetts has a lot of
its own quirks. You know, there's it's not as fast
a growing state as like you said, other states. But
you know we're still you know, in the black, which
is which is what you know, politicians and business leaders
and everyone do look for.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Oh sure, but we're The point I'm trying to make
is I think that the migration the states that seem
to be picking up population and also, by the way,
picking up seats in congress because as your population grows,
every ten years, they recalibrate the census around the country
and all of a sudden you'll see Texas has picked
up two, you know, two congressional seats, in California has
(05:35):
lost three congressional seats. And you know, we see that
every ten years or so. So the people who are
leading says fifty five percent of the people who left
between twenty twenty one and twenty twenty two, which I
guess this is based on prior to the implementation of
the millionaires tax. We're working age adults twenty six to
(05:56):
forty five. Those are people who contributing to the tax.
I would be really worried about them.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Yeah, No, it's certainly concerning, and that lines up with
you know, figures we've reported before that you know, this
is the group leaving at the highest rate, and that
you know, it's anyone's guess why that is. It could
be that, you know, they want to start a family
and they need a bigger house and really can't afford
what's available around here. It could be that, you know,
they want to live closer to family. It's it's hard
(06:25):
to sort of opining about what's why these folks are leaving.
But you're absolutely right that, you know, not only for
the tax base, but for the labor force. You know,
this is really not the age group you want the
parting a state.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Yeah, and it says the majority of those leaving are
not high income earners. That's the point three, which is
kind of an interesting point. It says about one in
six of the residents who left Massachusetts between twenty twenty
one and twenty two, and it's important that's the time
have incomes exceeding two hundred k. That's not bad, but
(07:02):
it says, yeah, a larger group, eighty percent had incomes
below two hundred k. Well, so that was a little
bit below two hundred k. Yeah, yeah, it's a weird
it's a weird cutoff they picked. I'd love to know
what the median income was of the mean income of
(07:23):
those leaving Massachusetts. They're all contributing if they're working and
earning money.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Yeah, no, it's that's that's a good question. I don't
have that off the top of my head, but I
just want to make it clear that the so it's
of the twenty six to forty five year old who
are leaving, so that's the only group they're looking at.
More than eighty percent of those people had incomes below
two hundred thousands, so that they're looking at a subset
of a subset.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
No, I get that. But what I'm saying is if
you're twenty six and you lay twenties and you make
you make in two hundred k, or if you're in
your thirties and you're making two hundred k, that's not
bad coin. I don't know. Yeah, I mean no, it's go.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Ahead to say no, no, no, I was just gonna
say it's tough one. You know, two hundred thousand really
doesn't pack the punch here that it does. And like
you said, maybe Texas or elsewhere in the country. So
it's you know, it's the math in Massachusetts isn't always
the same as the math elsewhere.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
So I get that. But there are parts of the
state outside the one twenty eighth belt where housing is
much more reasonable. And of course now we have the
other development that a lot of people can work from home.
The zoomsters, if you will. Companies have found out that
they can have very employable people who don't have to
trek into the office every day put on the jacket
(08:43):
and tie. They can do they can do their work
from home, which is always really you know, there's my
phone ringing Rob. Get that next guest on the line,
which anyway, bottom line is it's an interesting study. I'm
going to look at it more closely. Uh thanks for
for breaking these studies down, because all too often we
(09:05):
read about them and and we kind of go past them.
It did say that the majority of people who are
leaving Massachusetts, the majority of people who are leaving Massachusetts
are going to Florida in New Hampshire to look to Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
Yeah, again, those I just want to say that that's
it's not the majority, it's the those are the top
states where people are going so it's, oh.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Yeah, no, I understand that. But it's but it's not
like they're going to New York. In California, Yeah, certainly no.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
I mean those those two states have no income tax there. Yeah,
it's it's certainly.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
They're not going. They're not going as they would say
in New York. They're not not going to go to
New York in Jersey. They're looking at Florida, and Governors
Sonunu and Governor DeSantis must be very pleased with with
with the that that pattern. Anyway, I love the column,
I love your enthusiasm for your stories, and we got
(10:01):
to have you back more often. Dana, thank you so
much for joining us tonight. I really appreciate you.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
Thanks so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Absolutely talk soon when we get back. I think that
was my next guest calling me on my cell phone,
but that's a story for another night. In a moment,
we'll be talking with Amy Laramie. She's the director of
brand marketing and events from Killington Resort up in Killington,
New Hampshire. They are about to have a great women's
(10:28):
ski event on Thanksgiving weekend, So if you're looking to
spend Thanksgiving in Vermont and go to a great ski event.
We'll get you all the details coming up with Amy
Laramie on the other side of this quick commercial break
here on Nightside. My name's Dan Ray.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Now back to Dan Ray live from the Window World
Nightside Studios on WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Well, I am delighted to welcome Amy Laramie. She is
at the Killington Ski Resort up in I think all
of us know Killington Mount and the Killington Ski Resort.
She's the director of brand Marketing and Events from the
Killington Resort. And Amy's going to tell us about a
great event coming up Thanksgiving weekend, the twenty twenty four
(11:13):
and it's called the Stifle. I hope I pronounced that correctly. Amy,
Stifle Killington Cup. Tell us about it.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
Yeah, thank you for having me. So it's the Steephel
Killington Cup.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Stepel like a George Steeple. Okay, thank you. I was
thinking of the Eiffel Tower. This this Stiefel. I got it.
Speaker 4 (11:31):
Go ahead, No, that's fine. So it's the eighth year
we've been hosting this event, and we're very excited to
have Mikayla Schiffrin, Paula Moltsen, aj Her Nina O'Brien come
back to Killington for another race this year. Mikhayla Schiffrin
might be actually getting her historic one hundredth victory at
(11:54):
Killington when we host this event this year. It all
depends on how she does in races before comes to Killington.
But tickets are available and they're on sale. So we
have general admission tickets available for ten dollars and then
there's different ticket options if you wanted to do premiere
Premiere grand stand tickets are just sitting in the grand
(12:16):
stands as well as VIP tickets.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
You know this is these are women's racers, what sort
of events? It's obviously all downhill is it's all slalom?
Tell us, I'm not an expert in skiing. I got
to be honest with you. I enjoy watching it and
with the greatest women's skiers, downhill scheme racers in the world,
(12:40):
I mean, this is going to be a huge success
for you guys.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
I'm sure, yes, awesome. Over the course of the weekend,
we have upwards of more than thirty thousand fans visiting
Killington on the World Cup weekend and we are very
excited to host this once again. We see giant slalom
and the slalom events here at Killington.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
And how many women will compete, how many competitors will
will be trying for this price money.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
We have about one hundred competitors coming to Killington from all.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
Over the world.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
There's about the two countries.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Yeah, these are professionals skiers who are representing their countries
in the Olympics. It's like a skiing Olympics, is what
it sounds like to me, which which is fabulous. Killington.
You said this is Thanksgiving weekend, and as they said
earlier tonight, what's better than to spend Thanksgiving in Vermont,
particularly with family, and then go watch the ski races.
(13:44):
Is it Saturday Sunday or Friday Saturday Sunday?
Speaker 4 (13:48):
So the races are Friday and Saturday, or sorry, the
races are Saturday and Sunday. And on Friday we kick
off the weekend with a athlete, big presentation, fireworks and
stay tuned because next weekend we plan to announce all
of our entertainment acts. And so this is more than
just a ski race, is actually a party over Thanksgiving
(14:10):
weekend at Killington, and we have some great entertainment acts
every year that we plan to announce next week.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Well, that's faculous. Now this is part we need to
put in some context here. This is part of a
world tour of these fabulous female skiers. Give us a
sense as to where the Killington event sits within the
world tour. Obviously it's early in the ski season, and
you told me earlier tonight that Killington opens the earliest
(14:40):
and stays open the latest into the spring because of
your snowmaking capacity.
Speaker 4 (14:46):
Correct, that's correct. Yes, it's the Audi FIS Ski World
Cup circuit that this event is on. And we host
this Thanksgiving weekend and not many East Coast well, I
should say no other East Coast ski resort could probably
host this events on Thanksgiving weekend. But we have a
great snowmaking capacity here at Killington. We have the longest
(15:09):
season in the East. Many times we're doing multi sport
weekends where we're mountain biking as well as skiing and
snowboarding at the same exact time over the course of
the weekend.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
This is fabulous. You've done this now, you said several years,
so you know how it runs. And are there do
you guys adequate accommodations up there? People want to stay
at the resort as well. I assume the tickets are available,
but there is lodging available as well.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
Yeah, there's many local lodging facilities across Killington as well
as into Rutland as well as the Woodstock communities. So
if you want to come up and stay for the weekend,
which we would encourage you to do, there's many accommodations available.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Oh, that's great. And the skiers, what percentage of them?
And I know I'm asking a couple of questions that
you probably aren't prepared to answer, but approximately what percentage
of them do you think have skied internationally representing their
own country in Olympics? In the Olympics.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
Oh, I'm actually not sure. That's a great question though, Okay, but.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
I'll bet it's been a lot. I bet it's a
lot of them.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
I bet it is, Yes, So I'm.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Sure there's not that they're going to bring their gold
medals and their silver medals and their bronze medals to display.
But I'm sure there's a lot of great skiers and
great with great records and accomplishments. And it sounds like
to me a perfect way to start the winter, perfect
way to end the fall. And a perfect way to
spend a Thanksgiving weekend. Amy, I appreciate you being available tonight.
(16:46):
I very much appreciate that. And whenever you're doing up something,
whenever you're doing something up in Killington, you let us
know and we'll give you a little bit of publicity
on her.
Speaker 4 (16:55):
Okay, that sounds great. Thank you for having me tonight.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
Welcome again. Give us the website one more time so
that people, uh direct them to where they get the tickets.
What's what is the specific.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
Website Killington Killington dot com. Backslash World cup Boys.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
That's pretty easy. That's that's good. Thank you so much.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
We try and make things easy.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Well, absolutely, Amy Laramie, the director of Brand Marketing and
Events from the Killington Resort in Killington, Vermont. And when
you think about it, I mean, we're getting close to
the end of September. There's only a couple of months away,
so get your up here. Oh I wish I hadn't
said that. Oh no, no, that's okay, No, No, it's
(17:41):
just that it's like, I'm a summer guy. My brother
and his wife are great skiers, uh, and they're up
up there in New Hampshire and Vermont. You know, most
of the winter I like to kind of sit by
the fire in the lodge, and that's that's the most
that's the that's my best wind. Yeah, that's my winter activity.
(18:05):
Thanks again, Amy, enjoyed you very much.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
Thank you for talking again.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
You're very welcome. Okay, when we get back, we're going
to talk about a little bit more serious subject, and
that is keeping Calm and Coping with Grief. Nine chapters
for managing fear and grief for losing a parent or
a loved one. We'll talk with an author coming up,
Richard Allen. He'll have a lot to say. It will
(18:29):
not be as much fun as a Killington ski event,
but it's something we all need to at some point
in our lives cope with. Back on Nightside right after
the News at the bottom.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
Of the hour, it's night Side.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
News Radio. All right. My next guest is Richard John Allen.
He's a published author specializing in grief books. Richard, how
do you become an author specializing in grief books? There
must have been a story or how you came to
write about a pretty tough subject.
Speaker 5 (19:06):
That's a great question, Dan Well Sadly, for me, it
was because I lost my father to cancer, and my
dad died in twenty twenty, and at the time, I
was waiting for one of America's largest insurance companies. I've
been there fifteen years. I believe I had a successful
career there. But when I lost my father, I was gutted.
(19:27):
I was devastated. And it was my wife, Alison who
suggested that I should write a book about grief, about
what I was going through. And fortunately for me, Dan,
I'd never lost anybody so close to me like my dad,
and I'd never suffered grief before, so this was a
new emotion for me. I didn't know what to do.
(19:49):
I didn't know how to handle it, cop with it.
I didn't know how to arrange the funeral, how to
read the will. There were so many things that were
foreign to me, and I was terrified. And of course,
throughout all of that, I was in so much pain
because I just lost my dad.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
So how old was your dad when he passed.
Speaker 5 (20:07):
He was seventy nine, which wasn't too old, I guess right.
Speaker 2 (20:11):
I don't think that sounds young to me. That sounds
young to me, Richard. I obviously you were close with
your dad, so out of that horrific experience came this book,
Keep Calm and Cope with Grief, nine chapters for managing
fear and grief when losing a parent or a loved one.
(20:33):
I know you can't tell us all of the secrets
of the book in a relatively brief interview, but give
us either an overview or tell us a couple of
things that people might learn from the book. I hope
some of them will buy it so when grief does
hit their family, they'll be able to have this as
a as a guide through and coping with grief.
Speaker 5 (20:55):
Actually, Dan, you just summed it up. It is a guide.
I have written five books, you know, and again my
wife has put me on this path. I'm on a janey.
It's like a quest I wanted answers. You know, I'm
a Catholic. I've got strong faith, but believe it or not,
I wanted to proof on it. Doesn't know where my
dad was. So looking back now at my first book,
(21:16):
Keep Calm and Cope with Grief, as you just said,
it really is a guide. It's a guide for somebody
who has just lost a loved one, and it's also
a guide for somebody who is about to lose a
loved one. So whether it's you personally, or whether it's
a friend or somebody else that you know who may
be about to lose a loved one, I believe this
is a great guide for them because, as I mentioned before,
(21:39):
I'd never gone through this before, and there's so much
to deal with. My mother is still alive, and when
we lost our dad, she was left with paying the
bills for the house, organizing everything, and it was traumatic
for him that of course too, So in my book
I touch on that too. I mean, we suddenly realize
(22:00):
is that losing a loved one doesn't just affect you,
it affects everybody around you, right, And this book is
a guide to help you go through that step by step.
I also put you on signs from loved ones, because
to this day, I still get signs for my dad,
which is a whole other story. We could talk for
hours about that and about life.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Touched on that just briefly, you obviously, and I do believe.
I happen to be a believer as well and never
ashamed to talk about my belief. And it sounds like
you're not ashamed to talk about your belief. I would
hope that there is something beyond this mortal coil for
(22:40):
us to find. And yeah, you know again, we won't
know until we leave here. No one can convince me
there isn't, and I can't go no do I try
to convince people there is. But tell us what your
experience has been with your dad, because I've had those
sources of experiences, and I suspect many people in the
(23:01):
audience have had similar experiences. Give us an example exactly.
Speaker 5 (23:05):
I've had thousands of people contact me now in the
last three or four years since my dad's passing with
stories and examples. But for me, I've got dozens of
instances now. Just to put this out there, my wife
is a scientist and she believes in data proof and facts,
and now she believes she's convinced that these are signs
from my dad. And one quick example, when my dad
(23:27):
told me back in February twenty twenty he had cancer,
my wife and I jumped on the first flight over there,
and we stayed in a hotel close to the house
because I didn't want to be there and cramp my
dad because he was going through so much anyway. But
in the hotel at two o'clock in the morning, there
was a man outside the hotel playing Sweet Cattle Line
(23:48):
by Neil Diamond, and for some reason down that song
is stuck with me now and every time I hear
that song, I break down. It just reminds me of
my dad. Well, my dad passed away in November twenty twenty.
Fast forward two years. I'm back home in America. I
live in the States and my family's in Liverpool. So
when me and my wife go to bed, and I
(24:11):
always put my phone on the bedside table and plug
it into charge at night. But once, yeah, and I
think most people do that. At one sixteen am, my
cell phone goes off and it's playing Sweet Catline by
Neil Diamond, and it plays it from the chorus, not
from the started song, and it's on loud. I jumped
(24:32):
up in bed. I looked around the room and I
shouted out, Dad, you know is that you? And Allison
wakes up and she's like, what's going on Richard? And
I was like, I don't know, And I picked up
my phone and I couldn't get the song to stop.
Now that song is not on my phone. You know,
I have Pandora, but Pandora wasn't open YouTube wasn't open.
(24:53):
There's nothing on my phone but that that song is
not on my phone. So how did that play at
once sixteen and wake me up? And I couldn't. I
had to switch off my cell phone. I could not
get that song to stop. And my dad knows because
of it it several times since its passing that it
upsets me and it's my song for my dad. And
there it was playing on my phone at one sixteen
(25:14):
in the morning. So I can't explain it.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Yeah, and you've had other experiences like that, so that
that has to help you. That experience has to help you.
You said there are nine chapters in the book. Is
the book currently available? I assume it's on Amazon and
at the traditional bookstores that most people go for books.
Speaker 5 (25:36):
I assume, yep, right right now, Dan, it's on Amazon.
All my books are on Amazon. I actually use my
dad's name as my author name, so it's John Allen.
My full name is Richard John Allen, but my author
name is John Allen and that that was my dad's name,
So in love and respect for my dad, he used
that name. But all my books are on Amazon, and
if you go to my website, Richardjohnallen dot com. You'll
(26:00):
see a bio one may All my podcasts and my
books are there too.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Well. Again, I think it gives hope to people, whether
they believe or not. Every every family has been through this,
uh and and I'm sure that if you read this
in advance uh and, before you'll lose someone, you'll be
a little better prepared. And maybe can I can pull
(26:28):
some papers together and be prepared and ready if, if,
and when, as inevitably it comes for all of us,
that day comes and exactly John Allen formerly Richard John
Allen for when I say formally, I mean formally full name,
but John Allen, the author, thanks for joining us tonight.
And I hope your dad, wherever he is, had a
(26:50):
chance to listen to this interview, because you have to
come away from this interview knowing how close you and
your dad were. And I'm sure that if he was
able to hear this tonight he he's once again pretty
proud of you.
Speaker 5 (27:02):
Thank you so much, John, Thank you, don thank you.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Are good night. All Right, We're going to lighten it
up a little bit on the other side. But that's
an interesting book again. It's called Keep Calm and Cope
with Grief. Nine chapters for managing fear and grief when
losing a parent or a loved one. And again, all
of us have been through that, but it wouldn't be
bad to have this as a guide, so I'd suggest
(27:25):
to you different book stores and also of course at
Amazon dot Com. When we get back, we're going to
be talking about Massachusetts two fifty. Massachusetts, we were in
the middle of the Great Revolution of seventeen seventy six,
but kind of started here in Massachusetts with the Tea
(27:49):
Party in December of seventeen seventy four. Maybe we didn't
learn as much about this in history classes in school
of the Revolution in Massachusetts' role, but we're going to
learn a lot about it. And there's a new program
that has just started. It's called the Massachusetts two fifty Initiative,
and we're going to talk with Boston Herald reporter Chris
van Buskirk about it and about what we all will
(28:12):
be experiencing in the next few months, in the next
couple of years here in Massachusetts, as we move up
to the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the signing
of the Declaration of Independence in July of twenty twenty six.
It's not that far away. We'll be back on Nightside
right after this.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
Now back to Dan ray Line from the Window World
night Side Studios on WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
Well, there's some big events coming up in the next
two and a half years or so. Next well really
the next a little less now than two and a
half years. July of twenty twenty six will be upon
us less than two and a half years, and we're
going to talk about it with Chris van Buskirk of
the Boston Herald. He is a great reporter at the
(29:00):
Boston Herald. And Chris, I know you covered some of
this activity at the State House yesterday. I guess we're
all going to be living through this, just as our
four bears lived through the actual Revolution two and a
half centuries ago. How are you.
Speaker 6 (29:14):
Tonight, Joe, Well, Dan, thanks for having me. Yes, I
suppose over the next two years we will be living
through this two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of American Independence
that Governor Kewley and her administration kicked off with quite
a show yesterday in front of the State House, including
a direction descendant of Paul Revere riding up Bacon Street
(29:35):
on a horse and delivering her a warning that the
British were coming, albeit maybe a bit late at this point.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
Yeah, so there was Look, all of us who have
been around remember the VI Centennial and the Vice Centennial
in nineteen seventy six was a great event for Boston.
I mean it was it was glorious. Elizabeth came to Boston,
the tall ships came to Boston. What are some of
(30:04):
the things, I mean, obviously as we go by the dates,
we got the tea party coming up in December, I'm
sure there's going to big be a big event with
all of that activity, tell us some of the things
that we should be anticipating.
Speaker 6 (30:17):
Yeah, well, it's kicking off pretty quick here, I mean
just in the next just this month, I mean, there's
celebrations in Conquered reflecting on the Revolutionary War itself, more
celebrations in Marblehead as well, and then there's the Chelsea
four hundredth anniversary parade later this month. And I think
(30:38):
we'll learn more exactly, you know, more about what exactly
will happened, you know, this upcoming in July later on,
but certainly the governor is pitching this as a likely
economic driver for the state. As you said, you know,
not too long ago, it was a boon from Boston,
a boone from Massachusetts. Governor Healey thinks that will be
(30:59):
the same thing this time around, and Mayor Michelle who
was also on hand, just pretty much echo the same comments.
This is going to be good for the city, good
for the state.
Speaker 2 (31:09):
Did did all of the political leaders who were there yesterday,
did they feel that we're ready for whatever my coming.
I mean, obviously, back at the time of the Vice centennial,
it was all celebration. I don't think any of us
even had heard the term terrorism at that time. And
now it's fifty years later, and we all know what
(31:30):
happened on nine to eleven. We know what has happened.
I have to assume that the security for the two
fiftieth is going to be immense. Was there any conversation
or discussion about that yesterday?
Speaker 6 (31:43):
No discussion during their speaking program about security. But I
have to agree with you that I would imagine the administration,
the city, the state Police, Boston Police, you know, all
those law enforcement partners are prepared and ready for the
events that will happen, the upcoming events. I think yesterday
was really focused on just outing this is really just
(32:06):
an opportunity for the state to bring in people from
all over the world to come celebrate both American independence,
but of course where this country of ours started, where
democracy was formed. And how amazing of an opportunity that
our state has right now to kind of capture the
line light.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
Well, I'm sure the Philadelphia is going to be in
a friendly competition with us, particularly as we get towards
twenty twenty six. What sort of an economic boom? I
always hear these figures quoted Chris and you know, let's say, well,
it's going to be a billion dollars or five hundred
million dollars, And I always think they picked those numbers
out of the year. But do they really believe that
(32:48):
there'll be a lot of people who are going to
be interested and come to Massachusetts, I know, who've never
been here before from all over the United States. We
are we ready for the traffic and all. What they
did they talk about that issue, the whole issue of
capacity and being able to accommodate people and accommodate them comfortably.
Speaker 6 (33:12):
Well, you know, I mean Boston obviously a city well
used to tourists, well used to the massive amount of
college kids they come in during the academic year. I
think the administration certainly believes it's ready to handle both
the both the influx in Boston and statewide. As far
as numbers, no specific numbers yesterday, but Heally did say
(33:35):
that this would be quite an opportunity for our hospitality industry,
for our restaurants to really pull in people, for some
of our academic institutions to show themselves off our museums.
And you can go down the list of just kind
of the attractions in Boston and across the rest of
the state that they might pick up, you know, anywhere
(33:55):
from a few extra guests to maybe quite a bit more.
Speaker 2 (33:59):
Yeah. The other than the Paul Revere like it was
Paul Revered, the third a direct descended rode that horse yesterday,
so a quick shot. The governor was astride or horse
as well. I only saw the still shots, I assume,
And if I'm incorrect, were you there at the event yesterday?
Speaker 6 (34:20):
Yes, Yet Heally did take a quick stin on a horse.
She told me that there was an empty one with
the lancers there, and she just said, oh, there's a horse,
it's empty. She got on. Healey told US reporters that
she grew up with horses in New Hampshire. Wasn't her
first time on a horse, you know. She obviously knew
what she was doing and really commended them for being
(34:42):
beautiful creatures there.
Speaker 2 (34:44):
Well, that's great, Chris, I appreciate it very much. Always
love to have you here on Night's side, and thanks
for bringing us up to day in this. It's going
to be a very interesting time to be here. None
of us were, well, very few of us were around
at the h hundred and fiftieth anniversary in nineteen twenty six,
but you probably weren't even born. I was here, and
(35:07):
I remember as a young reporter covering some of the events.
The tall ships were here and as they said, the
Queen and Prince Philip, it was an exciting time. Kevin
White was the mayor, he was in his glory at
that time. And now we have an entirely different set
of characters. So looks looks like it's going to be
a good time. Let's hope it all goes without any
sort of incident that we might come to regret. Let's
(35:33):
just hope it goes off flawlessly and good planning are involved.
Thanks again, Chris, I appreciate your time.
Speaker 6 (35:39):
Thanks for having Dan.
Speaker 5 (35:40):
You're welcome.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
All right, we come back. I would like to go
back to the story that we talked about on Monday night,
and I want to hear from the State Police what
happened to this young recruit, Enrique Delgado Garcia, and I
hope you will join the chorus there, because the longer
that we go without getting any information in to the
(36:03):
best of my knowledge, there has been no specific information
given but officially as to what happened. So with that said,
we're going to go to the nine o'clock news. We
come back. We're going to talk about this horrific loss
to a family, but also again another black eye to
the Massachusetts State Police that just seemed to have problems
(36:26):
after problems, and I think we need some transparency, We
need a full investigation. But somehow we should be given
this week what we know or what we don't know
about this terrible loss. Back on night Side, right after
the nine o'clock news,
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