Category Archives: Quick Hits

The Ghosts of the Omni Parker House

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Two people in formal wedding attire stand in front of the ornate gold‑and‑black entrance of the Omni Parker House hotel. The bride’s long white veil trails across the ground as they pose beneath the illuminated sign reading “Omni Parker House,” framed by decorative lights and three arched doorways.

 Three Spirits, One Legendary Boston Hotel

Boston has no shortage of haunted corners, but few places pack as much ghostly star‑power into one building as the Omni Parker House. If you’ve ever walked through its lobby, you’ve stepped into a place where history lingers — and sometimes checks in for the night.

Here are three of the hotel’s most famous spectral guests.

Sepia‑toned 19th‑century portrait of a bearded man in formal Victorian attire, standing beside a small stack of books or papers. He rests one hand on the stack while the other sits on his hip, posing confidently against a plain studio backdrop.👻 Charles Dickens — The Restless Writer

Yes, that Charles Dickens. When Dickens stayed at the Parker House during his American reading tour, he rehearsed A Christmas Carol in front of the mirror in his suite. Staff and guests have reported seeing a man in Victorian clothing pacing the hallway on the third floor, muttering lines under his breath — as if he’s still practicing for a performance long finished.

👻 Harvey Parker — The Watchful Founder Sepia‑toned 19th‑century portrait of Harvey Parker, shown from the chest up. He has a full beard and neatly combed hair, and wears a formal suit with a bow tie and vest, posed against a plain background in classic Victorian photographic style.

Harvey Parker opened the hotel in 1855 and poured his life into it. Guests staying on the 10th floor have reported a kindly older man checking on them at night — asking if they’re comfortable, if they need anything, and then vanishing before they can answer.

👻 Charlotte Cushman — The Stage Legend

Charlotte Cushman was one of America’s most celebrated actresses, known for her powerful stage presence. She stayed at the Parker House often, and some say she still does. Guests have heard footsteps in empty hallways, felt sudden cold spots, and even caught glimpses of a tall woman in period dress near the elevators.

Sepia‑toned profile portrait of Charlotte Cushman, shown facing left with wavy hair pinned up and decorated with flowers. She wears a high‑collared garment fastened with a brooch, captured in the elegant, formal photographic style of the 19th century.

 

 

WMEO News Commentary- Daylight Savings Time

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Two cats sit behind a WMEO 9 news desk for a “DST Debate” segment. The orange cat on the left wears a black bow tie, while the black cat on the right sits beside a toy mouse and small teddy bear. A microphone is centered between them. Behind the desk is a festive fall backdrop featuring pumpkins, leaves, coffee cups, and a large clock reading 2:00 with a wooden “FALL BACK” sign above it.

Live from Taunton, this is a WMEO 9 news update – Daylight Savings Time bill stalled in Senate

WMEO News Commentary – Daylight Savings Time

Banner (serious, calm): “Only weeks to go before the clocks fall back and Daylight Saving Time ends for another year. And despite years of debate, nothing has changed.”

Banner continues: “The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act to make Daylight Saving Time permanent year‑round. However, the proposal stalled in the Senate, with no vote scheduled. Nineteen states have already approved measures supporting permanent DST, but federal law prevents any of them from taking effect until Congress acts.”

Balboa (outraged): “So basically… nobody can agree on what time it is?”

Banner (deadpan): “That is correct. As a result, it appears we have another year of changing our clocks.”

Balboa (panicking): “FALLING BACK MEANS BREAKFAST WILL BE LATE.”

Pumpkin Spice, an orange tabby cat dressed as a WMEO field reporter, stands in a cranberry bog surrounded by floating red cranberries. He wears a white “Boogie in the Bog” T‑shirt and a black WMEO press hat decorated with an orange leaf. He holds a WMEO‑branded microphone in one paw and looks directly at the camera with a serious expression. Behind him are water, trees, and a partly cloudy sky.Pumpkin Spice (remote, exhausted): “I’ve survived storms, bogs, and bears. Now I have to survive a government‑mandated time shift? This job is hazardous.”

Balboa (dramatic): “I CAN’T LIVE LIKE THIS.”

Banner (closing, dry): “With only weeks to go, it’s not looking good for the Sunshine Protection Act. Viewers are advised to prepare for the annual confusion. You may also need to look up how to adjust the time on your stove, microwave, and other appliances. Those are notoriously difficult to change, and we expect widespread frustration.”

Banner (final reminder):Cartoon illustration of a large clock showing 12:00, with a cartoon person hanging onto the minute hand as it lifts them off the ground. The clock face is light blue, and the scene humorously suggests someone trying to hold onto time.

So remember folks, on November 1 at 2 am you’ll once again be turning your clocks back 1 Hour. Forewarned is forarmed. 

Two cats sit behind a WMEO 9 news desk as if hosting a broadcast. The orange cat on the left wears a dark blue bow tie, while the black cat on the right sits beside a small gray mouse toy and a brown teddy bear. A sheet of paper with red markings lies on the desk. The front of the desk displays the text “WMEO 9” in large yellow letters and “Thank you for watching” in white. The blurred newsroom background features blue and red tones.

This Has Been A WMEO  9 Public Service announcement. We Meow- You Listen

 

 

 

 

WMEO News Update — October Declared Massachusetts Cranberry Month

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Two cats sit behind a WMEO 9 news desk as if hosting a broadcast. On the left, an orange long‑haired cat wearing a black bow tie sits upright with a serious expression. On the right, a black short‑haired cat looks toward the camera with bright green eyes. A microphone stands between them on the desk, along with papers featuring paw prints and two small plush toys — a gray mouse and a brown teddy bear. Behind them, a large studio screen displays a photo of a cranberry bog filled with floating red cranberries under a blue sky, along with the headline “WMEO 9 October Is Cranberry Month.”

Live from the Nature Desk at WMEO 9, We bring you the latest Cranberry update

WMEO 9- We Meow-You Listen

Banner: Governor Maura Healey has officially proclaimed October as “Massachusetts Cranberry Month,” honoring the state’s official berry and the many multi‑generational farming families that grow them. Moreover, it’s a nod to the deep agricultural roots that keep the Commonwealth colorful every fall.

Balboa: Cranberries? Those are tart little red berries that float. Naturally, they make me think of Thanksgiving — cranberry sauce, muffins, maybe pie.

Banner: Massachusetts is home to the nation’s oldest continuous cranberry cultivation. Therefore, even without the Governor’s declaration, October is a big month for cranberries. The harvest is in full swing.

Meanwhile, we go now to our roving reporter, Pumpkin Spice, who is currently enjoying a cranberry bog.

Pumpkin Spice, an orange tabby cat dressed as a WMEO field reporter, stands in a cranberry bog surrounded by floating red cranberries. He wears a white “Boogie in the Bog” T‑shirt and a black WMEO press hat decorated with an orange leaf. He holds a WMEO‑branded microphone in one paw and looks directly at the camera with a serious expression. Behind him are water, trees, and a partly cloudy sky.Pumpkin Spice: “Pumpkin Spice reporting live from the cranberry bogs of Massachusetts — where apparently the entire state is just… fruit water. Lots and lots of fruit. And lots and lots of cold water.”

“In the last week I’ve been soaked in a storm, chased by bears, and now I’m wading through berries. Consequently, this job is a hazard.”

Balboa (from off‑camera): “PUMPKIN THEY’RE GONNA COME BACK FOR YOU YOU’RE SMALL AND SNACK‑SIZED!”

Pumpkin Spice : “Balboa, please. I’m a professional. At least, I got this cool shirt out of it.”

A white T‑shirt featuring a playful design of three cartoon red cranberries dancing on a musical staff with a treble clef and music notes. Below the illustration, the text reads “Boogie in the Bog.”

Banner: “Thank you, Pumpkin. Please return safely. Otherwise, we cannot afford another bear‑related incident.”

Pumpkin (muttering): “They were surprisingly fast.”

Finally, Banner closes: “And just a reminder, folks — Ocean Spray’s 15th Annual Fall Harvest Celebration will be held at Patriot Place in Foxboro on Saturday, October 24 from 10 AM to 4 PM. This free, family‑friendly autumn tradition features seasonal activities throughout Patriot Place and behind Bass Pro Shop.”

Two cats sit behind a WMEO 9 news desk as if hosting a broadcast. The orange cat on the left wears a dark blue bow tie, while the black cat on the right sits beside a small gray mouse toy and a brown teddy bear. A sheet of paper with red markings lies on the desk. The front of the desk displays the text “WMEO 9” in large yellow letters and “Thank you for watching” in white. The blurred newsroom background features blue and red tones.

 

 

 

 

 

WMEO Fall Foliage Update — October 2026

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Two cats sit behind a WMEO 9 news desk delivering a “Fall Foliage Update.” Banner, an orange tabby wearing a black bow tie, and Balboa, a sleek black cat, face the camera with a microphone between them. A teddy bear and toy mouse rest on the desk beside their WMEO press badge. Behind them, a large screen shows a vivid autumn landscape of trees with red, orange, and yellow leaves along a riverbank under a blue sky.

🍁 Live From the WMEO 9 Weather Desk, This is your Fall Foliage Update

WMEO 9   We Meow- You Listen

Banner (Weather Desk): “Good morning, New England! Banner here with your official WMEO Fall Foliage Update. Peak color has exploded across New Hampshire and Vermont, and experts say this is the most vibrant season in over a decade. Reds, oranges, yellows — the whole region looks like it’s been set on ‘autumn mode.’”

A calm pond reflects a dense forest of trees in peak autumn color, with bright red, orange, yellow, and green foliage lining the water’s edge under soft natural light.

Balboa (Anchor Desk): “Well, that explains why the humans keep stopping in the middle of the road to stare at trees. Personally, I prefer indoor foliage — specifically the houseplants I’m not supposed to chew. But yes, the mountains are glowing, and leaf‑peepers are already out in full force. Brace yourselves.”

Banner: “Thank you, Balboa. For on‑location coverage, we now go live to our Autumn Correspondent, Pumpkin Spice, reporting from somewhere inside a leaf pile.”

Pumpkin Spice (Leaf Pile Reporter)

Pumpkin Spice, an orange tabby cat dressed as a WMEO field reporter, sits partially buried in a pile of colorful autumn leaves. He wears a black hat with an orange band and small leaves tucked into it, and holds a WMEO microphone in his paw. A WMEO press badge hangs from a blue lanyard around his neck. Behind him, New England mountains covered in peak fall foliage rise under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.

Pumpkin Spice (Leaf Pile Reporter): “Pumpkin Spice reporting LIVE from Leaf Central! As you can see, I am fully immersed in the situation — literally. Experts say this is the best foliage season in over ten years, and judging by the amount of leaves currently stuck to my hat, I can confirm the data is accurate.

Up north, the White Mountains are glowing. Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom is showing off. Northern Maine is basically a postcard. Sunny skies, temps in the low 60s… perfect conditions for leaf‑peepers and terrible conditions for anyone who dislikes raking.

A curving paved road winds through a dense forest of trees in peak autumn color, with bright red, orange, yellow, and green foliage lining both sides under a partly cloudy blue sky.

Peak color will last about a week in the mountains before drifting south. Translation: more leaves for me to sit in, and more tourists for Banner to yell at from the Weather Desk.

…and with peak color expected to drift south over the next week, leaf‑peepers should prepare for maximum crunch conditions. I’ll remain on location — mostly because I’m stuck — but for now, this is Pumpkin Spice reporting LIVE from the leaf pile.

Banner, Balboa… back to you at the desk.”

Banner (Weather Desk): “Thank you, Pumpkin Spice. Please try not to sink any deeper — HR says we’re out of replacement microphones.”

Balboa (Anchor Desk): “And if anyone sees a small orange reporter buried in leaves, please do not attempt to rake him. He is part of the broadcast.”

Banner: “That’s your WMEO Fall Foliage Update for today. Stay safe, enjoy the colors, and remember — if you’re stopping suddenly to admire a tree, maybe use your blinker.”

Balboa: “We’ll be back tomorrow with more WMEO coverage. Until then, keep your paws warm and your leaf piles cat‑free.”

Two cats sit behind a WMEO 9 news desk as if hosting a broadcast. The orange cat on the left wears a dark blue bow tie, while the black cat on the right sits beside a small gray mouse toy and a brown teddy bear. A sheet of paper with red markings lies on the desk. The front of the desk displays the text “WMEO 9” in large yellow letters and “Thank you for watching” in white. The blurred newsroom background features blue and red tones.

 

A Halloween Caution

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Black cat sitting in a pumpkin patch

Halloween brings spooky stories, ghostly wanderings, and old superstitions. But black cats are not evil. They are loving companions and symbols of good luck.

Sadly, black cats are often the last to be adopted from shelters. And during this season, some people target free‑roaming black cats. It’s cruel and heartbreaking.

A sleek black cat lounges on a dark wooden mantel in front of a fireplace, front paws stretched out as he gazes calmly to the side. A TV and small digital clock sit behind him, with a blue wall and plants adding a cozy backdrop.

Please keep your black cats indoors and safe. They deserve protection, love, and a world that sees their beauty — not outdated fear.