Weekly Recap: Sunday Morning Drinks; Main Street Brainstorming, and MCAS

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 Melrose Board of Aldermen approved the adoption of a new state law that gives cities and towns the option to . Before the law changed last year, Massachusetts restaurants couldn't serve alcohol before noon on Sundays.

On Wednesday night, members of the public were invited to a brainstorming session with Melrose City Hall representatives and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), which in May awarded a grant to Melrose, Wakefield and Reading to study the approximately over the border in Malden.

The results of the 2011 MCAS exams were released this week and Melrose Patch picked out .

Election 2011

The deadline to take out nomination papers for and there's only one contested aldermen's race this year, and four candidates for three School Committee seats.

In our weekly poll, we asked: ?

Police and Fire

A Melrose man pleaded not guilty to charges he at his arraignment Monday morning.

A phone scam going around Melrose and surrounding communities this week is targeting Eastern Bank customers in trying to obtain personal information from those customers. Melrose Patch .

A kinda wacky week for Melrose Police , including a complaint about a couple that moved into apartment with no agreement.

Arts

After making music off and on since the early 1980s, folk singer, guitarist and comedian . You Shoulda Been There includes four new songs, an old one and a cover of The Lovin’ Spoonful’s 1965 hit, “Do You Believe in Magic?”  

The Neighborhood Files

Faith Evangelical Church and A Servant's Heart Food Pantry at Dunton Park to celebrate 15 years of A Servant's Heart Food Pantry and to say thank you to the greater community, for its support of Faith Church and the food pantry. Click through the photos above to see scenes from the celebration.

Government

Last week's poll asked: Do you support the casino bill? , but leans slightly against expanded gambling.

Sports

An aggressive and physical Melrose ground attack spoiled Wally Dembowski’s home opener as coach of the Winchester High football team, as the visiting at Knowlton Stadium.

Melrose High School took on Wakefield Memorial in a varsity soccer contest Tuesday at The Knoll. Melrose jumped to a 1-0 lead early in the game and didn't look back, ending with a .

We also had a