By Tiffany Williams –
A late-night agreement averted a planned nurses strike at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, while Connecticut food organizations warned of Thanksgiving shortages and a longtime Plymouth brewery prepared to close its facility.
Elsewhere in New England, Chick-fil-A announced three additional Maine locations, and crowds in Bangor and Brewer gathered to honor veterans.
Brigham Nurses Reach Tentative Agreement
Negotiators reached a tentative agreement to avoid a strike by approximately 4,000 nurses at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the Massachusetts Nurses Association announced late Wednesday.
The union posted the announcement on Facebook around 11:25 p.m., just hours before nurses were scheduled to begin striking Thursday morning.
The agreement’s terms were not included in the information provided.
Mayflower Closing Plymouth Facility
Mayflower Brewing Company will close its Plymouth facility, including its taproom, after nearly 20 years in the space. Its beer will remain available.
The brewery announced on Instagram that it will hold a “one last sail” farewell party Nov. 28.
Mayflower beers will continue to be brewed at Cape Cod Beer’s facility in Hyannis. Its beer garden at Pinehills in Plymouth will remain open, and the company plans to look for a new taproom home.
The announcement marks the departure from its longtime facility while preserving brewing operations elsewhere and its Pinehills presence.
Connecticut Organizations Seek Thanksgiving Turkeys
Connecticut food pantries and soup kitchens are asking for turkey donations as growing demand strains dwindling supplies ahead of Thanksgiving.
Some organizations report having only half the turkeys they need to serve families this holiday season.
Covenant Soup Kitchen in Willimantic hopes to distribute 600 turkeys to families in the greater Willimantic community. It has collected about 300.
That leaves a shortage of approximately 300 turkeys with roughly two weeks remaining before Thanksgiving.
Chick-fil-A Announces Three Maine Openings
Chick-fil-A plans to open three additional locations in Maine in early 2027, the company announced Tuesday.
The restaurants will be at Biddeford Crossing in Biddeford, in Auburn and in the Maine Mall parking lot in South Portland.
The company already has locations in Westbrook and Bangor. The three announced openings would bring that total to five.
Bangor and Brewer Honor Veterans
Crowds lined streets in Bangor and Brewer on Wednesday to recognize the men and women who have served in the nation’s armed forces.
The Veterans Day parade was organized by Bangor High School’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, whose members also marched.
The event brought veterans, spectators and students together, giving the next generation an opportunity to see the community’s appreciation for military service.