A Massachusetts pizza shop is getting attention after its owner asked an allegedly disruptive family to leave the premises — and shared guidance for future patrons on social media.
Dragon Pizza in Somerville was dishing out pizzas as usual on Friday, March 14, when a group of families started “disrespecting” staff and other guests, they said in an Instagram post. The post recounted their decision to ask the “negligent parents” to leave.
“To all our guests with children: Anyone who has visited our restaurant knows we are a pizza shop that loves kids,” the restaurant said in their Saturday, March 15, post.
“Sadly, we had to demand a group of negligent parents Friday to take their families home because they were disrespecting our dining room, other guests, and our team,” they continued. (His pizza spot also features a game-room hangout for all ages next door called Dragon’s Lair, according to its website.)
“Our restaurant, or any restaurant, is not a place for unsupervised children to play,” the restaurant added. “It is here to share dining experiences.”
Dragon Pizza did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Dragon Pizza then listed six “thoughts” on the matter, which ranged from “we welcome all children dining in our restaurant with open arms” to “we do not appreciate parents who treat our pizza as a cheap, simple option to feed their children until they can have their own dinner.” At the end of the post, they emphasized that this was the first time the restaurant had asked a family to leave.
“It makes us very sad, but we refuse to allow entitled, lazy parents to damage our reputation and the overall dining experience for all our guests,” their post said.
TheBoston Globe reported that the social media post came after restaurant owner Charlie Redd was alerted that the family in question shared the experience with local parenting groups.
There have been a range of reactions following their social media post. One commenter said, “We feel this so much.”
Another wrote, “You had me until #6. Why can’t parents give their kids pizza as a cheap, easy option?”
In an interview with Boston.com, Redd, a dad himself, said he wants to make guests with children “comfortable.”
“It’s part of my philosophy to hospitality, for restaurants to engage everyone,” he added. “We’ve been very successful here at Dragon accommodating groups with kids.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
When speaking with TheBoston Globe, the owner also clarified that the parents’ children weren’t the issue.
“The fault lies where the parents had to be spoken to multiple times and were ignoring our requests and our instructions to watch their kids,” he told the outlet. “Kids belong in restaurants. It’s a lot of fun.”
Meanwhile, it’s not the first time Redd’s actions have made headlines. In 2023, he allegedly got into a viral confrontation with Dave Portnoy when the Barstool Sports founder was at the pizza shop filming his “One Bite Pizza Reviews” video series, the paper previously reported.
In Frederick, MD, Crush the cat eagerly waits every day to greet and groom baby Cora.
Talk about the purrfect way to start the day!
Crush, a cat from Frederick Maryland, has an important job every morning when his baby sister Cora wakes up: Bedhead groomer!
“At the slightest sound or movement behind her door, he begins to meow, pacing the hallway with anticipation until someone opens the door, allowing him to burst in and greet her with loving head licks,” said Crush’s owner and Cora’s mother, Heather Mees.
Watch the video below to see how a caring cat greets his baby sister every morning.
This morning ritual leaves Cora ready to start her day with a sleek new hairdo and a couple of cuddles along the way.
After saying adiós to Hollywood, Richard Gere is celebrating his first Spanish Father’s Day.
On Wednesday, the actor’s wife, Alejandra Silva, shared a slew of photos to Instagram in honor of her other half.
Gere, 75, and Silva, 42, who tied the knot in 2018, recently relocated to his wife’s home country of Spain with their two young sons, Alexander, 5, and James, 4, and Silva’s son Albert, 11, from a previous relationship.
Richard and Alejandra Gere and their kids. Instagram/alejandragereRichard Gere’s first Spanish Father’s Day. Instagram/alejandragere
One snap showed the family enjoying a beach day in a black-and-white photo, while another shot captured the kids leaning their heads into the “Pretty Woman” alum’s head.
“Happy 1st Spanish Father’s Day to the dad of the world,” Silva wrote across the first picture.
“Feliz primer día del padre español. Te queremos!!! #fathersday#diadelpadre,” she captioned the carousel, which translates to “Happy First Spanish Father’s Day! We love you!”
Alejandra, Richard and kids. Instagram/alejandragere
Silva also took to her Instagram Story to post a trio of sweet drawings done by her sons. “Happy Father’s Day!” she penned beneath the pic.
“The Agency” star is also father to son Homer, 24, with ex-wife Carey Lowell. The pair split in 2013 after 11 years of marriage. Gere became a stepfather to Lowell’s daughter, Hannah, during their relationship.
He was also previously married to supermodel Cindy Crawford from 1991 to 1995.
Alejandra Gere shares her kids’ art work for their dad. Instagram/alejandragere
“Richard is a very devoted and present father,” she gushed to ELLE España. “He loves to read them stories. It seems like an idyllic photo, but it’s true. He’s a great dad. He doesn’t cook. I do it, but when I cook, he plays the guitar.”
Gere revealed during the joint interview that he has a new sense of fulfillment since relocating.
“The truth is that you are seeing us in our momentum. We are happier than ever,” Gere expressed. “[Alejandra], because she is at home and I because, if she is happy, I am happy.”
Richard Gere and Alejandra Silva. Getty ImagesRichard and Alejandra. Europa Press / MEGA
“We are like soulmates,” Silva quipped. “We have the same values, we see the world in the same way and from the first moment we felt like we have known each other for a long time. And this only happens once, if it happens at all.”
The publicist added: “We were united by the karma of our past lives.”
“The only reason why both Richard and I are here in Madrid is to be part of the board of the NGO Hogar Sí,” Silva continued. “We want to help this country to end homelessness. Our goal is that, within 5 years, no one sleeps on the street.”
Richard and Alejandra Gere. Alejandra Gere / Instagram
Gere also paraphrased a piece of advice he received from the 14th Dalai Lama during their interview, sharing, “Whenever you can, be kind. And it is always possible.”
“My wife is Spanish and she gave me about seven years here, so we’re going to spend some years in Madrid with her family,” Gere said in November while on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”
He added, “Our kids are bilingual so they’re going to flourish there.”
Kim posted a carousel of pictures, text message screenshots, and videos along with a lengthy caption where she spoke on how they became closer over the last decade. “We spent the last nine-10 years strengthening our relationship which if you know our history, that is God’s work,” the Queen Bee wrote.
“But the last four-five years were really special because we started to talk at least once a month. Then eventually once a week then two-three times a week. You would send me beautiful photos of yourself and an update of your garden which had become your life. The flowers and crop you planted would come along nicely except some times those damn peonies”
Kim added that they eventually started referring to each other as mother and daughter.
“Everyone who was close to you called you Meema but I called you mommy like a second mom,” she continued. “Which is why the 11th photo is very special to me because that was the day you showed me your phone and you said ‘look what I have you saved as,’ I said, ‘what?’ You said, ‘daughter.’ I smiled so big it warmed my heart and you began to call me daughter all the time after that.”
However, Kim expressed regret that their schedules wouldn’t allow them to link up in person during Ms. Wallace’s last few months, writing, “This hits different because there’s no hurt and sadness like the hurt and sadness when you crave conversation from someone who is no longer here.”
She ended her tribute by saying she’s finding solace in the fact that Voletta will finally be with her son again. “I’m smiling to myself because I can hear you saying, ‘MY GOD CHRISTOPHER!! Put that smoke down!!’ It makes the sadness a little better knowing that you’re reunited with the other half of ur heart.”
Kim ended her post with: “Rest in heaven Meema. We lost a phenomenal strong Queen but we gained a beautiful warrior angel.”
The government will instead focus on support measures for divorced families.
SING TAO
Cheng Wong
Divorced parents won’t be required to get their ex-partner’s consent or issue prior notification for major child decisions, as Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said the government will not forcibly restart the legislative process on the relevant bill.
At the Legislative Council meeting yesterday, legal sector lawmaker Ambrose Lam San-keung questioned whether the government would begin the legislation of the Children Proceedings (Parental Responsibility) Bill, which seeks to reform parental responsibilities, establish guardian roles and ensure that courts prioritize the “best interests” of a child.
The controversy surrounding the bill centers on introducing the parental responsibility model into Hong Kong family law by legislative means to prioritize both parents’ continuing responsibilities toward their children over individual parental rights after divorce.
Sun said the Labour and Welfare Bureau prepared the draft bill in 2015 to establish a statutory list of parental responsibilities and rights, including requiring parents to obtain the other parent’s consent or notify them ahead of major decisions regarding their child’s upbringing.
However, many stakeholders, including single parents, raised concerns that the bill could exacerbate conflicts for divorced parents, particularly in families with domestic violence issues.
Sun noted that single-parent groups were also worried that the requirement to “obtain the other party’s consent for major decisions concerning the child” would be misused by a vindictive ex-spouse, potentially harming the child. So the government shelved the proposal and is instead focusing on implementing support measures for divorced families.
The Social Welfare Department collected feedback from stakeholders in the second half of 2024, finding that over 61 percent opposed allowing ex-spouses who do not live with their children to participate in major decisions affecting the children’s welfare and future.
Sun noted that there remains a general lack of awareness and misunderstanding of custody orders in the community. “Divorced parents tend to focus on defending their custody rights, which may lead them to overlook the continuous joint parental responsibilities with the other parent,” he said.
Lam expressed anger and disappointment at the government’s stance, adding that it should explain the legislative intent to stakeholders, seek common ground and advance the process based on mutual agreement.
The baby boy was found in Spen Brook, off Carr Lane in Kirkham, 13 years ago, but despite numerous appeals, including on the BBC’s Crimewatch, the baby’s mum has never been found.
Officers were called at about 2pm on Saturday, 1 October 2011, after a dog walker found the baby boy.
The baby’s cause of death remains unknown.
When he was found, the baby boy was dressed in a blue and white striped George ASDA fleece top with a zip on the front.
Detective Chief Inspector Bryony Midgley, said: “This is a really sad case and one which has had a huge impact on the local community and beyond.
“We are still committed to establishing who the baby’s mum is and the full circumstances that led to him being abandoned.
“Our determination to get answers is unrelenting and we ask anyone who may have information which could help us, no matter how small, to come forward to us, as this may provide the key to unlocking the investigation.
“Thanks to advances in DNA technology we have made progress in this case, and we have managed to establish who the baby’s dad is.
“He has been co-operating and helping with our investigation, but we still don’t know who the mum is, and I would appeal to anyone with information to help us identify mum to come forward and speak to us.
“We believe that there is someone out there now who knows what happened.
“You may not have felt confident to come forward before. Your circumstances or loyalties may have changed, but I would urge you to now come forward and speak to our officers who are ready to talk to you.
“We will then be able to use developments in forensic science to confirm who mum is.
“Even the smallest piece of information could be pivotal to our investigation. I appreciate this happened some time ago but please cast your minds back, perhaps you heard something, or saw something that didn’t feel right.
“It may have seemed insignificant at the time, but knowing what you know now, please get in touch. It could be crucial to finding the truth about what happened to this little baby boy.
“This is something Lancashire Police won’t give up on. We have a responsibility to find out who mum was and understand that she might have been vulnerable.
“We need your help to identify her.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting log 0273 of 19 March. Or you can leave on our Major Incident Public Portal: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/0401020111A12-PO1 Alternatively, if you would prefer to remain anonymous, call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Mumbai: Satish Salian, father of Disha Salian, celebrity PR manager of deceased actor Sushant Singh Rajput, will move Bombay High Court seeking a CBI probe into her 2020 death, saying his daughter was brutally raped, murdered, and to demand immediate “custodial interrogation” of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and MLA Aaditya Thackeray. His lawyer Nilesh Ojha said they were still in the process of filing the petition. He said he would get it numbered at the high court registry department on Thursday. Disha died on June 8, 2020, after falling off the 14th floor of a residential building in Malad. City police had registered an accidental death report (ADR) in the case. The petition alleged Disha was “brutally raped, murdered and subjected to a politically orchestrated cover-up”. The petition claimed it seeks to expose the web of lies, corruption and suppression of facts behind the murder to protect certain influential persons. In Feb 2022, her parents had appealed to the media and social media to leave them alone and not to malign their daughter’s image. Salian said in the initial stages he was misled by those in power, and through scrutiny of facts, independent investigations and his personal observations has now uncovered irrefutable evidence that contradicts police’s fabricated narrative. “Mumbai police hastily closed the death as a case of suicide or accidental death without taking into account forensic evidence, circumstantial proofs and eyewitness testimonies,” the plea said. He has cited media interviews which questioned the suicide theory. The plea alleged: “The petitioner contends that Disha’s death was not an accident or a case of suicide, as the authorities have claimed, but rather a premeditated act of violence, wherein she was brutally raped and murdered. The actions of the accused and the immediate political interference in the investigation suggest a deliberate and systematic effort to bury the truth.” The petition also demanded action against some Bollywood actors and former mayor Kishori Pednekar. It said the actors and Aaditya Thackeray were present at the party, which was initially meant to be a private affair comprising Disha’s friends. Disha’s father said Pednekar misled him into lodging a complaint against minister Nitesh Rane who was vocal in demanding justice. Nitesh Rane said Thackeray should speak the truth and resign as MLA. Minister of state for home Yogesh Kadam said the father should submit any proof he has to the home department. “We will follow whatever directions the high court gives.” Sushant Singh was found dead on June 14, 2020. Police said it was a case of suicide.tnn & pti
Back in October, the mother of the pop icon announced her new book, titled Matriarch: A Memoir, with a synopsis billing it as “a multigenerational family saga that carries within it the story of America – and the wisdom that women pass on to each other, mothers to daughters, across generations.”
Matriarch: A Memoir is set for release on April 22, 2025 and is available for pre-order here.
Today (March 19), Knowles shared she’d be hitting the road for a book tour joined by “legends, icons, and friends”, with a nine show trek set to include stops in Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta, New Orleans, Toronto, Chicago, Brooklyn, and London.
While moderators for some dates are yet to be announced, Knowles will kick off the tour by sitting down with former First Lady Michelle Obama for a Q&A in Washington, DC on April 30.
Tickets for the US dates go on sale this Friday (March 21) at 10 am local time here. Tickets for the sole UK date go on sale the same day at 2pm GMT, and you can find yours here.
VIP packages will also be available, with premium tickets, meet and greats and photo opportunities with Knowles available. For more information visit here.
“I’m so excited to take Matriarch on the road and extend the conversation beyond the pages. Storytelling has always been a part of who I am – something I learned from my mother – and now, at 71, I finally understand who I truly am,” Knowles said of the tour in a statement.
“This journey has been about strength motherhood, family pride, and identity, and I hope these conversations help others embrace their own stories and celebrate the power of knowing what we deserve.”
‘Matriarch: An Evening with Tina Knowles, Family and Friends’ 2025 dates are:
April 30 – Washington, DC – The Theater at MGM National Harbor
May 2 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern 5 – Houston, TX – Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land 8 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle 10 – New Orleans, LA – The Fillmore New Orleans 14 – Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall 16 – Chicago, IL – Athenaeum Center 19 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount
June 4 – London, UK – Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall (moderator yet to be announced)
Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Beyoncé will close out the record-breaking, 31-date tour with a performance at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 25.
Tickets for this extra show go on general sale at 12pm local time next Tuesday (March 25) – you’ll be able to buy yours here. Numerous pre-sales are also scheduled to take place, check here for a full list of dates and more information.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson plans to confront the travel industry about the high costs of school holidays amid a crisis of parents taking kids out of school
18:55, 19 Mar 2025Updated 18:57, 19 Mar 2025
Bridget Phillipson said she will ‘look at what the options are’ amid a crisis of parents taking kids out of school(Image: Jeremy Selwyn for the Daily Mirror)
The Education Secretary plans to confront the travel industry about the high costs of school holidays amid a crisis of parents taking kids out of school.
Bridget Phillipson said she will “look at what the options are” in discussions with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. She made the comments as she vowed to crackdown on the number of children missing class which has exploded since the pandemic.
Last year more than 443,000 – a record number – of fines were issued to parents taking their children out of school during term time to go on holiday, a 53% increase since before the Covid pandemic. School absence fines in England went up from £60 to £80 in September, rising to £160 for parents who get a second fine for the same child within a three-year period.
But many parents say they are not deterred by fines as it is still much more cost-effective to pay a fine than take their kids on holiday when prices soar during the school break. Asked if she’ll speak to the travel industry about the high costs, Ms Phillipson told the Mirror: “Yes, I do believe that we need to look at what the options might be.
Bridget Phillipson has vowed to crackdown on the number of children missing class (Image: Jeremy Selwyn for the Daily Mirror)
“They’re not easy, and if they were, action might have followed more rapidly than this. But I do understand that families want the chance to have a holiday, the importance of that time together as a family, but I’m afraid that can’t be during term time.“ Asked if she had spoken to the travel industry yet, she added: “It’s something I intend to discuss with the Transport Secretary.”
Ms Phillipson defended the use of fines when she spoke to the Mirror on Wednesday at an attendance conference at Mulberry Academy Shoreditch in east London. The event was part of nine regional conferences held across the country this month to bring together school staff and education experts to discuss the challenge of attendance.
Some 1.6million – or one in five kids – are persistently absent, meaning they miss roughly one day of school every other week/around 10% or more of possible school sessions. Ms Phillipson said there were some “green shoots of recovery” in recent stats, with persistent absence decreasing from 20.6% to 18.8% compared to the same point last year. She said she did “understand the concerns” that parents have in improving their child’s attendance when they don’t want to go to school.
“I know it can be really hard for parents when they’re supporting children with mental health challenges, or perhaps children with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities),” she said. “The first approach that any school should take is around support for children, where they are struggling.”
The Mirror’s Sophie Huskisson interviewing Bridget Phillipson(Image: Jeremy Selwyn for the Daily Mirror)
But she continued: “When it comes to time out of school for holidays and for non essentials, I’m afraid parents simply shouldn’t be withdrawing their children for holidays during term time and fines do remain an important part of the system. The reason I say it matters is I understand the pressures that families are under but children do need to be regularly in school.
“It’s not just about that individual child, but about our responsibilities to the whole school community, because what I hear from teachers is that when children are in and out of class, or where they’re taken out where it’s not necessary, that damages the learning of all children within the class, because the teacher has to cover all ground, has to cover material again. So it’s not just about the impact on the individual child, it’s about the impact on the whole class as well.”
Ministers have faced calls to introduce limits on how much travel firms can put up their prices in the school holiday. Teaching unions have argued that better regulation could help create more balance in the system and stop parents getting penalised and ripped off during the holidays. A study by the University of Bath last year(2024) found that absence rates are 22% higher on Fridays compared to the rest of the year in secondary schools, and 17% higher in primary schools. Researchers said they found that Friday absences “are more common in weeks leading up to bank holidays or half-term breaks, suggesting that families might be extending their holidays”.
Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, welcomed Ms Phillipson’s comments. “The price hikes families have to fork out for if they want to take a break during the school holidays has long been an issue,” he said. “It is good to hear that Bridget Phillipson is considering tackling travel companies and ending this rip off that penalises those with school age children. This is something that will greatly reduce families taking children out of school for term time holidays.”
Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “Everyone understands the importance of children being in class during term time. At the same time, it is only natural for families to want to go on holiday and the increased prices outside of term time are a barrier for many.
“Schools are caught in the middle through no fault of their own, with leaders often required to issue fines which only result in deepening tensions with parents. We are calling for ministers to engage with the travel industry to address the excessive cost of holidays during school breaks and welcome signs that they intend to do so.”
The Association of British Travel Agents said: “We appreciate that the price of holidays can be more expensive during school breaks than in term time. Our members do strive to provide holidays at competitive prices, as well as offering free child places and other money-saving incentives for early bookers.
“The price, as in most commercial sectors, is a function of supply and demand. Holidays are part of a global market; many other countries have school holiday periods similar to those in the UK, meaning that all these countries are competing for holidays with the same suppliers which affects the price.“
After last month’s hilarious (and mildly chaotic) attempt at capturing baby Sofia’s milestone photos, Alex Drummond finally got the picture-perfect moment she was hoping for. And folks, it was worth the wait.
Alex shared new photos in honor of Sofia hitting the three-month mark, and instead of flailing limbs, frustrated cries, or a full-on protest, we got a baby who was practically smiling for the camera. And, of course, she looked adorable while doing it. Alex dressed Sofia in the sweetest little ruffled set from a boutique brand called Stitchy Fish. The blue floral outfit featured pockets, trim detailing, and her monogram right on the front.
It’s safe to say milestone photo day went much smoother this time around. “Sofia aced the three-month photoshoot,” Alex wrote on Instagram, ever the proud mom. Not only is her baby girl sitting up properly in most of the shots, but she actually seems to be loving the attention. Considering how last month’s attempt ended—with Sofia looking completely over it and Alex wondering how the heck anyone gets these pictures right—this is a major improvement.
Now the real question is: How many prints of these will Ree frame for the ranch? 😂
Shop Sofia’s Milestone Must-Haves
Foliage Frenzy Diaper Set
Sofia is officially three months old, and while it may feel like time is flying by, at least Alex has these adorable photos to remember every stage. And if next month’s pictures are going to be just as cute, we’re already counting down the days!
Kelly O’Sullivan is the senior editor for The Pioneer Woman and manages the website’s social channels, in addition to overseeing content strategy and news.
