Off-Duty Cop Saves 3 From Fire [AUDIO]: Patch PM

It's Tuesday, Dec. 8. Here's what Patch has been covering in Middlesex County and across Massachusetts today.

LISTEN: 911 Call Details North Reading House Fire Rescue

Audio of the 9-1-1 call and dispatcher recordings of a fire rescue on Tuesday morning was released. In the audio, you can hear the off-duty police sergeant who rescued the residents talking North Reading dispatchers and first responders through his actions so that they could respond accordingly when they arrived.

Early Tuesday morning, North Reading Police Sgt. Thomas Encarnacao had just finished his shift and was on his way home when he noticed flames coming from the side of the house at 30 Lowell Road.

He radioed to North Reading dispatch his location and informed them that there were flames coming from the home.

Read more here.

Elsewhere in Middlesex County

'Bittersweet': China Moon's Waning Days In Stoneham

Most Stoneham residents can't remember a time when there wasn't China Moon. For 67 years, and across three generations, the Route 28 restaurant has been host to birthday parties, weddings, team dinners, reunions and many a family meal.

Soon those memories will be all that remain of China Moon. The restaurant will close Dec. 14, as the property is in the beginning stages of being sold. Barry Tse, whose mother, Jane, is one of the restaurant's owners, said the final weeks have been "bittersweet."

"Many have stopped by to get one more meal, say goodbye, and share their own story about their memories of the restaurant," Tse said. "We are so appreciative of the love and support the community has given us all these years."

Malden Buying Food Truck To Deliver Meals To Struggling Families

The Malden Public Schools has been awarded a Food Security Infrastructure grant for $110,309 to buy a food truck. The district will use the truck to give Malden students in need free and nutritious meals on a regular basis.

Administrators applied for the grant in early August, as families faced the challenge of traveling to schools to pick up meals while balancing work and remote learning.

The pandemic has led to a rise in food insecurity across the country, and the Malden Public Schools wanted to ensure that students would have access to free meals both during the school year and in the summer.

Somerville Letter: Shopping Local 'Vital' This Holiday Season

The following letter to the editor was submitted by Mayor Joseph Curtatone.

Every year we put out a call for Somerville residents to shop local during the holiday season. It's a good practice that keeps your money circulating inside your community. Directing our spending money to local businesses is something each of us can do to make the world around us a better place. The local economy plays a big role in our quality of life.

Yet, in a year where we have been gripped by a pandemic, it is vital that we seek out ways to spend locally and to donate to local charities. For those of us who have some money in our pockets, keeping our spending local has never been more important.

Mystic Coffee Roaster Closing Medford Café

A local coffee roastery will close its café this month as it struggles to generate business during the pandemic. Mystic Coffee Roaster will remain in business as a wholesaler, but the hit to its café has been "insurmountable," owner Sharon Hepburn said.

"All restaurants are suffering, and for us, the decrease in foot traffic and sales has been unsurmountable," Hepburn wrote on the business's website. "I realize the situation is temporary and a vaccine is in sight but realistically, it's not going to get rolled out in time to make much of a difference for 2021. I've tried to offset the decrease is sales by cost-cutting measures as much as I possibly can, but at this point, the café just isn't sustainable under these conditions."

Across Massachusetts

5 MA Republicans Who Lost Sue To Nullify November Election

The suit asks for 2 million votes to be tossed and echoes claims made in lawsuits filed in other states by Donald Trump's campaign.

MA Rolls Back Reopening As COVID-19 Threatens Hospital Capacity

Massachusetts is moving back to the first step of phase three of the reopening plan and instituting additional restaurant restrictions.

Baker's Coronavirus Rollback Already In Effect In Worcester

The Worcester City Manager has declined to advance the city to the next phase of reopening citing a high number of local cases.

Long-Vacant Downtown Framingham Site Gets Tenant

One of the most noticeable vacant properties in downtown Framingham may soon be getting a tenant.