Weekly Recap: Police Audits, Home for the Holidays

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

Top Articles of the Week

If Monday night is any indication, Mayor Rob Dolan and the Melrose Police unions are headed toward combative collective bargaining negotiations this coming year. Melrose Police officers and some of their family members filled the Aldermanic Chambers on Monday in a show of union solidarity as the Melrose Board of Aldermen .

We brought you two photos galleries from Home for the Holidays: to .

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to win a $100,000 gift to the Melrose Public Schools. Patch.com is launching a nationwide contest to find the best dressed home in its Patch communities, and the .

Police and Fire

Melrose public safety officials closed off Essex Street at Main Street near Shaw's Supermarket at rush hour on Monday evening .

A student brought a round of ammunition to school, an overdose and a fight in CVS in .

With recent changes to the Ravine Road in the name of traffic safety, we want to know: ?

The Neighborhood Files

Going out to brunch on New Year's Day is a tradition for many people who celebrated late into the night. So tell us: ?

Last week, we asked you if knew someone who has spent hours working for free at a local non-profit organization, mentoring children after work or picking up trash—and to nominate that person as a Melrose Patch Volunteer of the Year. .

Government

Are you concerned about ?

Holidays

Bruce Lomas shared some photos from .

Each week until the end of the year, we're running a shopping tip contest. Here's a list of the from Patch readers.

People love ugly Christmas sweaters; we throw holiday parties just to wear them, give them as gag gifts and go searching through our families' basements and attics in search of them.  Put on that pilling sweater covered in reindeer and tinsel and .

Still have shopping to do? The perfect gift may be just around the corner. To help you out, Melrose Patch asked local shopkeepers to share great gift ideas in their stores.

Last Thursday, we asked you what your favorite Christmas song was. .

Opinion

The Milwaukee Health Department put out a shocking ad showing an infant sleeping next to a meat cleaver to warn parents about the risks of co-sleeping. Do you think that the advertisement goes too far? Do you co-sleep with your baby or do you believe that bed sharing is dangerous?