Weekly Recap: YMCA Merger, Redistricting and Local Aid

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.

Top Three Articles of the Week

The into a single organization after more than a year of working together under formal management agreement.

Residents in Wards 6 and 7 would no longer be represented in the state Senate by Sen. Tom McGee, D-Lynn, according to , but instead by Sen. Katherine Clark, D-Melrose, who currently represents the rest of Melrose.

this fiscal year, the city's state delegation has announced, a move expected due to a clause included in the fiscal 2012 Massachusetts budget passed earlier this summer that sends unspent state funds back to cities and towns.

Opinion

Aware of the high numbers of decency-challenged riders, this week the MBTA rolled out its new Onion-like courtesy campaign, designed to encourage a little common consideration. We want to know: ?

For this week's Patch Picks, we want to know: Where's the best roast beef sandwich in Melrose? , and don't forget to tell us what you want on your sandwich! Do you take it with sauce? Cheese? Mayo? Three-way? Naked?

Half of Americans now support legalizing marijuana, according to a new Gallup poll. But we're wondering what Americans in this community think. .

Melrose Patch wanted to know what readers thought of the .

For last week's Patch Picks, we asked: Who are the top student-athletes in Melrose? .

The Neighborhood Files

in the pumpkin patch? That's what we intend to find out with your photos and the help of celebrity judge Heidi Klum, who will select the Grand Prize winner. The Grand Prize? Patch will whisk the winner to New York or Los Angeles for a two day, three night trip for two that includes a meet and greet with Heidi, plus a donation of $1031 to a local charity of the winner's choice.

porch, your front door, your desk at work—whatever you've gussied up for the holiday—to our slideshow.

Brad Hutchinson Real Estate supplied the pumpkins and snacks and Mother nature supplied the warm day on Saturday for the .

Government

Sen. Katherine Clark, D-Melrose, that would give millions of dollars in casino money to some of the state's wealthiest communities, including Wellesley, Lexington and Dover, according to an article in today's Boston Globe. 

Schools

Melrose High School football players were originally going to break in their new home field at the annual Thanksgiving Day tilt against rival Wakefield. Now, cleat will meet turf a few weeks earlier. The will be played on Friday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. against Arlington.

Police and Fire

An attempted house break, an assault and battery arrest and more in .