Here are some of the highlights from Melrose Patch's news coverage this past week. This is only a small sample—to see all the coverage, click on the News tab on the navigation bar.

To see your neighbors' news, check out our Announcements section under News.

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Top Three Articles of the Week

After another lengthy meeting filled with strident voices from both residents and city officials, and with an amended proposal to soften the impact this coming year, a second round of increased water and sewer rates received an initial OK from the Melrose Board of Aldermen on Monday night.

Facing a school system still in flux, new Melrose Schools Superintendent Cyndy Taymore is laying out a plan to implement change within the district in four specific areas by the end of October.

Cast your vote by Aug. 17 and help us decide the best of Melrose in the final round of our Readers' Choice contest.

Election 2012

Jeff Semon and Frank Addivinola both want to oust Rep. Ed Markey from his 5th Congressional District seat in Congress and took on one another in a debate for the right to face Markey.

A majority of influential Massachusetts Democrats think Scott Brown's reputation of being a "liberal conservative" will cost Elizabeth Warren votes from those Massachusetts voters who usually vote Democratic: that's the main finding of Patch's Inaugural Blue Commonwealth survey.

Police and Fire

The Middlesex County deputy sheriff who was found dead after an early-morning, single-car crash in Billerica Wednesday died from a self-inflicted gunshot to the head, according to the Lowell Sun.

Knocked over gravestones, a false prescription, report of sexual assault and more in last week's Melrose Police log.

Government

West Nile Virus has been isolated from three mosquito pools in Melrose located on Ravine Road and Swains Pond Avenue, the Melrose Health Department announced in a press release on Thursday.

A bill that toughens sentences for violent repeat-offenders passed the Senate last Thursday after having been approved overwhelmingly in the House Wednesday evening, with Melrose's legislators both voting in favor.

According to numbers from the U.S. Census, 4.7 percent of people in Melrose live below the poverty level—see how our city compares to its neighbors.

Real Estate

While statewide foreclosure activity somewhat abated in June and advertised foreclosure auctions in Melrose fell compared to last year, foreclosure activity in the city last month continued to outpace 2011, according to the latest figures from The Warren Group.

Opinion

Vote for the street in the city that you think is the most dangerous for speeding out the streets suggested by fellow readers.

Patricia Wright takes exception, in a letter to the editor, to city officials' behavior at Monday's aldermen's committee meeting.