Still writing checks to pay your bills?  Melrose offers residents the opportunity to make electronic payments for real estate, excise, water/sewer taxes and more. To register, fill out this form on the city's website.  Once you have an account, you can log-in and pay your bills with electronic transfers or via credit card.  For more information, check out the service's FAQ. 

Wondering what the city has in store for Memorial Day 2013? Check out a schedule of events planned in Melrose around the holiday: Melrose Veteran Services' Memorial Day 2013 Schedule of Events Veterans Breakfast and Assembly: Friday, May 24 at 8 a.m. at Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School Decoration of Veteran Graves Flag Retirement Ceremony: Saturday, May 25 at 10 a.m. at Wyoming Cemetery Memorial Day Breakfast: Sunday, May 26 at 9 a.m. at Memorial Hall Veterans Memorial Tour: Sunday, May 26 at 10 a.m. at World War II-Korea, Vietnam and World War I Memorials Memorial Day Religiou …

The polls are open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday during the Senate primary. Check out our Election Guide before you vote. Polling Places Melrose has seven wards and two precincts per ward—find out which ward and precinct you live in—and eight polling places:  Ward 1 Precinct 1: Roosevelt School, Brunswick Park, 253 Vinton St. (enter at Brunswick Park) Precinct 2: Steele House, 1 Nason Dr. Ward 2 Precinct 1: Horace Mann School, 40 Damon Ave. (entrance at rear of Damon Street) Precinct 2: Horace Mann School, 40 Damon Ave. (entrance at rear of Damon Street) Ward 3 Precinct 1: Beebe School, 263 West…

After reading our story about Melrose kids looking to raise money from a lemonade and lollipop sale to help the Boston Marathon bombing victims, a reader asked, "How much money did they raise?" So, Melrose Patch found out. "The girls raised $238 to give to (OneFundBoston)," wrote Melrose resident Melissa Cunningham in an email to Melrose Patch. All proceeds will go to OneFundBoston, which is a city-established account where donations can be made to support the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings.  Three people died and more than 100 were injured in the bombings during the race on Patriots…

Still need to register to vote for the Senate primary? Today is the deadline to register. If you want to vote in the April 30 Senate primary election, you must register to vote by Wednesday, April 10.  Voter registration normally can be done through the mail, but not if you do it today since it is the last day to register to vote. To register in person, visit the Melrose City Clerk's Office or the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV).  Visit Town Hall You can register at the City Clerk's office. Register at RMV You can fill out a voter registration form at the RMV.  Moving? If you relocated city …

Still have not filed your 2013 tax return and looking for a tax preparer in Melrose? Check out a sampling of Melrose-based tax offices that can handle your tax preparation: Melrose Accounting & Tax Specialists, 543 Main St., 781-662-2950 Hughes and Company, 1 West Foster St., 781-665-7100 Mcavoy & Mcavoy, 723 Main St., 781-662-7900

With several snowstorms hitting the city this winter, Melrose golf courses are opening about a month later than last year.  Mount Hood Golf Course Opened Wednesday With temperatures rising and conditions at the course looking good, Mount Hood Golf Course opened on Wednesday, according to Joan Bell, superintendent of Mount Hood and Public Open Space. "With the snow and the water we had to deal with afterwards with the soft greens and soft grass, we had to wait until we could handle having carts and equipment out there," Bell said. "But now that the ground has firmed up, we have the crews out …

For our latest "You Ask, Patch Answers," column, a reader asked us: When is Melrose's last day of school? We reached out to Superintendent Cyndy Taymore's office to find out what the tentative last day of school is for Melrose Public Schools after having to cancel school a handful of times due to poor weather. "Right now, the last day of school is scheduled for Thursday, June 20," wrote Diane Hogan, who works in the superintendent's office, in an email to Melrose Patch Wednesday. "This is subject to change as we will have to add days should we have to close school for any reason between now …

Superintendent Cyndy Taymore announced Thursday that Marianne Farrell will be the new principal at Melrose High School. "I believe Marianne has both the depth and the vision that Melrose High School needs," Taymore said in a press statement. "I appointed her interim principal during the summer in order to have continuity and consistency at the high school. Since then, Marianne has shown true leadership in many ways. She has created positive relationships with staff, parents, and students. I feel that the building has a better culture as a result of her leadership. "Marianne has an incredible …

Drivers who are considering a switch to electric vehicles or current vehicle owners looking for a place nearby to charge their rides have a couple of places to find their outlet. Charging stations in the Melrose region include 4 Grant St. in Lexington, and Alewife Transit Station and Porter Square Shopping Center in Cambridge, according to crowd-sourced CarStations website. Carstations allows users to upload new car charging locations to a Google map and (when applicable) provides details on the station. According to the site's About section, "This website is designed to encourage …

A reader recently submitted a "You Ask Patch Answers" question about when the Oak Grove bike cage would be opening. So, we found out where things currently stand with the project. With the majority of work done at the Oak Grove “Pedal & Park” site, the bike cage is expected to open this spring, according to a MBTA spokeswoman. "The Oak Grove 'Pedal & Park' construction is substantially complete," wrote Kelly Smith, spokeswoman for the MBTA, in an email to Melrose Patch. "However, we are awaiting final approval from the state building inspector before it can be officially opened to the public…

You know the old saying "Fall back, spring forward." Well, it's almost time to spring forward. So, when does Daylight Saving 2013 begin? This year we move the clocks overnight on Sunday, March 10. Don't forget to move your clocks ahead one hour before going to bed Saturday night (Don't worry, we'll remind you again). Officially Daylight Saving is 2 a.m. on Sunday. Yes, moving the clocks ahead does mean we all lose an hour of sleep, but in return it will be light later in the day. Besides, the lost hour falls on Saturday night, so just sleep in a bit on Sunday before getting up and starting …

"You Ask, Patch Answers" is where we strive to find answers to your local questions. Whether it’s something you’ve always wanted to know, some information you just can’t seem to find anywhere or a sudden curiosity, we want to hear it. To submit a question for consideration, post it in the comments section below. [Editor's note: We can't guarantee all questions asked will be able to be answered, but we'll try to answer at least one per week.]

With a special election slated for this spring to fill the Senate seat formerly occupied by Secretary of State John Kerry, local election departments across the state are scrambling to organize. Some have asked how much the special election will cost Melrose. I asked Melrose City Clerk Mary Rita O'Shea about the situation in Melrose. O'Shea said special elections cost the city about $31,500. So, with a primary scheduled for April 30 and the state election scheduled for June 25, this year's special election will cost Melrose about $63,000. That money pays for things like staffing the polls, …

For our latest "You Ask, Melrose Patch Answers," a reader wanted to know this: When is the last day of school for Melrose Public Schools? We contacted the superintendent's office to find out the answer. After having three no-school days, the last day of school was pushed back to June 18, according to the superintendent's office. However, with winter not over yet there is a possibility the date could be changed should more school days be canceled. Meanwhile, the Melrose High School graduation is slated for May 31, according to the superintendent's office.

"You Ask, Melrose Patch Answers" is where we strive to find answers to your local questions. Whether it’s something you’ve always wanted to know, some information you just can’t seem to find anywhere or a sudden curiosity, we want to hear it. To submit a question for consideration, post it in the comments section below. [Editor's note: We can't guarantee all questions asked will be able to be answered, but we'll try to answer at least one per week.]

"You Ask, Melrose Patch Answers" is where we strive to find answers to your local questions. Whether it’s something you’ve always wanted to know, some information you just can’t seem to find anywhere or a sudden curiosity, we want to hear it. To submit a question for consideration, post it in the comments section below. [Editor's note: We can't guarantee all questions asked will be able to be answered, but we'll try to answer at least one per week.]

Melrose Patch received questions about what places would be open and closed during the blizzard. Here is a sampling of places that will be open and closed in the city during the blizzard: Open Police Station in City Hall will be open throughout the blizzard. Municipal buildings, including Memorial Hall, Milano Senior Center and Melrose Public Library, will close at noon on Friday until 7 a.m. Monday. All MBTA services will be suspended at 3 p.m. Friday.  Dogwood Cottage will be accepting walk-ins from 7 a.m. to noon on Friday; transportation service is closed. YMCA's Childcare facilities in …

"You Ask, Melrose Patch Answers" is where we strive to find answers to your local questions. Whether it’s something you’ve always wanted to know, some information you just can’t seem to find anywhere or a sudden curiosity, we want to hear it. To submit a question for consideration, post it in the comments section below. [Editor's note: We can't guarantee all questions asked will be able to be answered, but we'll try to answer at least one per week.]

"You Ask, Melrose Patch Answers" is where we strive to find answers to your local questions. Whether it’s something you’ve always wanted to know, some information you just can’t seem to find anywhere or a sudden curiosity, we want to hear it. To submit a question for consideration, post it in the comments section below. [Editor's note: We can't guarantee all questions asked will be able to be answered, but we'll try to answer at least one per week.]