Local Businesses Hopeful As Baker's Curfew Lifts: Patch PM

WALTHAM, MA — It's Friday, Jan. 22. The temperature rose above 40 in greater Boston so people could walk their dogs once again without turning into ice pops. Here's what Patch has been covering in greater Boston and across Massachusetts today.

Restaurants across the state will be able to stay open beyond 9:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 25 because the number of positive test cases, positive test rates and coronavirus hospitalizations are “all trending in the right direction," Gov. Charlie Baker said this week.

In response restaurant owners from Waltham to Newton and Brookline sighed a bit - even the ones that won't be directly impacted by the lifting of the curfew.

"As these regulations lift, there are people who will be very happy to get out and go to restaurants and feel a little sense of normalcy after this chaos," the general manager of Waltham's Brelundi Cafe said Friday.

For those who it would impact directly, this reporter heard downright optimism.

"It's going to be awesome," said Gerry Finnegan who owns Washington Square Tavern in Brookline. "It's going to give us the opportunity to have extra seating at night, even though inside the seating will stay at 25 percent capacity. It gives us the opportunity to survive." Read the rest of the story.

Elsewhere in greater Boston

Newton Hate-Related 'Incidents' Increased In 2020: Crime fell in almost all other categories, and police arrested fewer people, but in a year in which racial justice became a rallying cry across the country, including in Newton, hate still showed up in Newton, according to the police 2020 year-end report.

Newton Coronavirus Cases Near 3,000: In the past week, 204 people tested positive for the coronavirus in Newton and another three people died.

Belmont 'Not Immune' From Racial Violence: Henry Tapia Vigil: Hundreds of people packed Cushing Square to commemorate Henry Tapia Thursday night and stand against racial violence.

Also: Arlington Sets Additional Vaccine Clinic For Healthcare Workers

Brookline Town Salaries: Who Made The Most Money In 2020

Across Massachusetts

Somerville Moves To Decriminalize Psychedelics

Somerville became the first Massachusetts community to move toward decriminalizing entheogenic plants, more commonly known as psychedelics. The city said it would not allow driving under the influence of such substances, selling them commercially or distributing them near schools.

MA Loses Progress As Unemployment Rate Back Above U.S. Average

The state's unemployment numbers spent months clawing their way back to the national average. In one month's time, they fell behind again.

1,900 Coronavirus Vaccines Spoiled In Boston VA Freezer Mishap

Nearly 2,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine had to be tossed after someone left accidentally loosed the plug of the freezer they were stored in at the VA Medical Center in Jamaica Plain.

And finally today:

If you thought yesterday's cold, which hovered in the 20s was bad, that's nothing compared to the cold several Shrewsbury firefighters likely experienced on Friday.

The firefighters were called to pond this morning after a dog fell through the ice. Firefighters took a boat out on the water to reach the dog, but at least one had to get into the water to pull the canine to safety. Check out photos of the frigid rescue.

Got a tip? Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a something you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how.