Possible Frost Friday Night Could Quell EEE Threat

The National Weather Service released a freeze watch for this week in Southeastern Massachusetts, warning that temperatures could fall below freezing late Friday night and early Saturday morning.

In Easton, the first hard frost of the season may mean the end of a Eastern Equine Encephalitis threat: something that has spurred warnings from officials since it was first found in a positive mosquito pool last July.

While the board of health enacted a regulation giving it the authority to ban night-time activities, it did not put the regulation into action. Instead, it strongly recommended that organizations around town curtail activity times.

Heath Agent Mark Taylor said that after a frost, however, the recommendation would be lifted.

For Oliver Ames Athletic Director Bill Matthews, that could mean some scheduling changes.

Matthews said that Saturday's football game time, which is set for 2:30 p.m., wouldn't change in the event of a frost. However, he would look to make a "handful" of adjustments in the coming days.

With the current schedule, the first home night game is scheduled for next Friday when the OA girls' soccer team takes on Stoughton at 5:30 p.m. The first Friday night football game is scheduled for Oct. 26 when the football team hosts Stoughton.

Patch will continue to update readers on weather changes relating to a frost and any scheduling changes.