Thursday, April 18, 2013
From the starting line in Hopkinton to the midway point in Wellesley and the finish line downtown, the community has taken a step toward closure during an extremely trying week.
The two blasts that rocked the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon caused physical damage to Boylston Street and killed or injured hundreds of innocent people. News of the bombing traveled backward along the 26.2-mile course instantaneously, affecting every inch of the annual race. Three days later in a new, high-security Boston, local dignitaries, political officials, families of the three people who were killed in the bombings, hundreds of Boston Athletic Association volunteers, Boston Police, fire and medical personnel and The First Family gathered at the Church of the Holy Cross for an interfaith service in Boston’s South End to pray for the victims and to attempt to close this dark chapter of the marathon’s 117 year history. …
Friday, April 5, 2013
Gusty northwest winds are expected Friday afternoon.
The National Weather Service is warning of elevated fire weather conditions developing Friday afternoon and continuing into Saturday for Massachusetts. Gusty northwest winds are expected Friday afternoon. The winds plus dry conditions will create a fire hazard, according to the NWS. Elevated fire conditions will continue through mid-day Saturday, but winds should diminish in the afternoon. There is a “low probability” that southwest winds on Sunday will cause a wind advisory.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
While foreclosure activity decreased in Massachusetts in February, completed foreclosures in Melrose increased during the same time period, according to a Warren Group press statement.
While foreclosure activity decreased in Massachusetts in February, completed foreclosures in Melrose increased during the same time period, according to a Warren Group press statement. There were four foreclosure deeds, which represent completed foreclosures, recorded in Melrose during February, while there were none in February 2012. In February, 240 foreclosure deeds were filed statewide, down almost 69 percent from 767 in February 2012, reads the statement. Melrose's year-to-date foreclosure deeds total four, compared to three filed in 2012 during the same time period. Statewide year-to-date foreclosure deeds are down 66 percent, according to the statement. A total of 532 deeds have been filed so far this year, compared to 1,566 during …
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
The program aims to keep a closer look at who is using welfare, how it is being used and to restore public trust in the office.
A month after the head of the state welfare office resigned amid allegations of squandering millions of dollars, the department announced a new 100-day plan to reign in waste and fraud. "Our mission is to strengthen our programs to ensure that only those who are eligible for benefits receive them," Stacey Monahan, interim commissioner of the Department of Transitional Assistance, said Thursday. “This plan will help us reach those goals, while ensuring that our precious taxpayer resources are used appropriately and only as intended.” Reports surfaced in January that the agency may have overpaid federal food stamp recipients by almost $28 million since 2010 and given millions to people who weren't eligible for welfare. The 100-day plan, …
Monday, March 25, 2013
The answer may surprise you.
A family of four in Massachusetts needs to earn nearly $74,000 to make ends meet without public or private assistance, according to a study released Thursday by the Crittenton Women's Union. In Melrose, that number is higher—$81,576. This amount includes rent, utilities, food, transportation, healthcare and personal needs. According to the Boston Globe, the gap between earnings and cost of living is increasing because of increased costs, no raises at work and a higher required level of education. Although the cost of living for a single-mother-headed household is high, they are not the only ones having trouble. Crittendon Women's Union's study noted four in 10 two-parent homes also struggle to succeed in the state. “You get into what our …
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
The commonwealth joins eight other states in restricting carbon dioxide emissions.
Massachusetts has signed an agreement with eight other states to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 90 million tons over the next six years. As part of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) – the nation’s first mandatory “cap-and-trade” program for carbon dioxide emissions – Massachusetts, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont are lowering the current cap on power plant emissions from the 165 to 91 million tons per year, starting in 2014. After 2020, the cap will continue to lower by 2.5 percent per year. “This is one of the largest greenhouse gas reduction measures that we have seen,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan. The RGGI Board of Directors …
Monday, February 25, 2013
A White House report gives examples of where federal aid would be cut in Massachusetts. Mayor of Melrose Rob Dolan discusses his concerns related to the sequester.
Massachusetts would see more than $91 million in federal funds cut from a myriad of programs if Congress fails to act this week to avoid the sequester, the Obama Administration said Sunday. In a move designed to pressure Republicans into accepting new taxes on the wealthy as part of a deal to prevent the sequester from taking effect on Friday, the White House released reports that outlined how those cuts would impact individual states, The Huffington Post reported. Here are some examples of what's on the chopping block for us here in Massachusetts, according to the report: After the reports were released, congressional Republicans criticized the Obama administration for the PR move, The Huffington Post reported. “Rather than issuing last-…
Friday, January 4, 2013
Massachusetts has some old, sometimes funny morality laws about cursing and other no-nos. But sometimes those laws play havoc with modern-day living. Is it time to clear the books?
Massachusetts is famous for its out-of-date laws. The Boston Globe cites a few, like a cursing ban at sporting events. But there are other laws, passed over 100 years ago, which could complicate present-day political and legal dilemmas. But these old laws sometimes have a major effect on modern day issues. Representative Byron Rushing, D-South End, reminded the Globe that Governor Mitt Romney used a 1913 law about residency rules to prevent out-of-state gay couples from marrying in Massachusetts. That old law was scrubbed from the books in 2008, five years after it was cited by Romney. The 19th-century anti-abortion laws are a particularly thorny issue, according to the Globe. They may be relics of a time past, but that didn't stop the …
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Here is how Massachusetts residents' donations can aid victim's in the most affected areas.
Massachusetts was largely spared from catastrophic damage from Superstorm Sandy, but residents in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and other coastal areas were not so lucky. Patch has gathered some local resources if you want to help in relief efforts. Volunteers in New Jersey are being coordinated through an emergency response hotline, 1-800-JERSEY-7 (1-800-537-7397). Alternate numbers, for when the hotline isn’t staffed, include 609-775-5236 and 908-303-0471 or emails can be sent to Rowena.Madden@sos.state.nj.us. The New York City agency NYC Service is coordinating volunteers for various relief projects in New York City. Go to its Facebook page or email nycservice@cityhall.nyc.gov with your name and email address. The American Red Cross…
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Gov. Deval Patrick signed a bill proclaiming the third week in October as Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week.
Breast cancer: Guys get it too. That's the message of The Blue Wave, a group created to spread awareness about breast cancer in men, and the message that will be sent the week of Oct. 21-27 in Massachusetts after Gov. Deval Patrick signed a bill proclaiming the third week in October as Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week. Last month, Patrick signed the bill that says the week aims "to raise awareness of the occurrence of breast cancer in men and to encourage regular testing for breast cancer amongst all citizens of the Commonwealth." According to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure, one of the most well-known breast cancer awareness groups, breast cancer in men is rare but still happens: The overall ratio of female to male breast …
Myron Dittmer
12:22 am on Thursday, April 4, 2013
Good points made, Josh. But why should anyone be surprised about hearing about this waste and fraud given that this is a one party state…..controlled, operated and of course bought by democrats. Votes are paid for by these “hand-outs” to their constituency and the last thing they want to do is upset them. The current focus is on smoke and mirrors so don’t look for any major changes in the program… more ›