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State Democrats begin meetings today to choose delegates for the June convention

Massachusetts Democrats turned out today to start sorting through a host of candidates for statewide office, meeting in caucuses that will shape the outcome of...

Boston.comment

Replay: The 2014 Gubernatorial #LabDebates

If you missed it, or just can't get enough, here's your chance to replay the #LabDebate between the democratic candidates for governor of Massachusetts....

The Big Picture

2014 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in Sochi

The Opening Ceremony kicked off the start of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia today. The torch was lit after a dazzling display of...

Innovation Economy

What happened when Boloco founder John Pepper became an Uber driver

Last October, Boloco co-founder and CEO John Pepper resigned his job after a tussle with directors about the restaurant chain's direction. In that situation, lots...

MetroDesk

Walsh said the city will hold a gun buyback

One day after a 9-year-old boy was shot to death by his brother in an apparent tragic accident in Mattapan, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh said the city will partner with the police department on a gun buyback program, in an effort to reduce the high number of guns circulating in the city. “The message for me is clear,” said Walsh. “We need help from the community to find out where these guns are. Let us know, alert police, so we can work to get these guns off the streets.”On Friday morning, a 14-year-old boy was playing with a loaded gun inside his family’s three-decker on Morton Street when the gun went off, according to police, and the bullet struck the boy’s 9-year-old brother in the chest, killing him.

State Democrats begin meetings today to choose delegates for the June convention

Massachusetts Democrats turned out today to start sorting through a host of candidates for statewide office, meeting in caucuses that will shape the outcome of the June party convention. With Governor Deval Patrick planning to step down in January, Democratic activists are fervently hoping to retain the Corner Office for their party, but none of the five candidates vying for the seat has captured the imagination of the grassroots that propelled Patrick to victory in 2006. Leading Democrats said early indications of today’s turnout showed enthusiasm waning from previous years, when candidates like Patrick and now-Senator Elizabeth Warren had excited the party’s progressive base.

State Senate President Therese Murray will not seek re-election

State Senate President Therese Murray, the chamber’s first woman president, said today she will not run for re-election.“I have reached the decision that I will not be a candidate for re-election to the state Senate. It has been the greatest honor to serve the Commonwealth and I am forever thankful to the people of the Plymouth and Barnstable District for electing me to this seat time and time again,” the Plymouth Democrat said in a statement this morning.

Amtrak launches first of fleet of new locomotives

Amtrak launched the first of a new fleet of locomotives out of Boston’s South Station this morning.The 70 new locomotives, which were designed by global technology company Siemens, were commissioned as replacements for the current fleet, which is about 25 to 35 years old, said Amtrak chief executive Joe Boardman.“How many people do you know that have the same car for 30 years?” joked Boardman. “It’s the same kind of thing.”

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News north of Boston

Scholarship applications available

The Scholarship Foundation of Wakefield is accepting applications through March 31 for the scholarships it will award for the 2014-15 academic year. The organization, formerly known as the Citizens Scholarship Foundation of Wakefield, provides financial assistance in the form of annual scholarships to deserving students of Wakefield to use in their full-time pursuit of higher education. In 2013, its awards totaled $435,000. The group recently voted to become an independent organization after operating as an affiliated chapter of a national umbrella organization for most of its 53-year history. The name change was the result of that decision. Anyone regardless of age who is a Wakefield resident and full-time student is eligible to apply for a scholarship. Applications are available on the foundation’s website, www.tsfofwakefield.org. They can also be picked up in the guidance offices at Wakefield Memorial High School, Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School, and area parochial schools, as well as at Beebe Library and the Americal Civic Center. For more information, contact Roberta DiNitto at 781-245-4890 or tsfofwakefield@earthlink.net

Annual town census underway

The town clerk’s office recently mailed census forms to all households in town. Residents who have not already done so are asked to complete their census forms and return them as soon as possible. Residents need to be included in the census to maintain their active voter status, and to qualify for veterans’ and housing benefits, and in-state tuition at state colleges and universities. The town also uses census data for planning purposes and to apply for state and federal grants. For the convenience of dog owners, 2014 dog registration forms were attached to the census forms. By state law, all dogs 6 months or older must be registered annually. Anyone who is new to town or has not received a census form is asked to contact the clerk’s office at 978-640-4355 or at townclerk@tewksbury-ma.gov

City to consider funding proposals for anticrime package

The City Council at its meeting on Monday plans to consider a series of funding requests to pay for initial portions of a proposed multiyear anticrime package. The combined $929,480 in appropriations would pay for staff needed to begin implementing the plan in the current fiscal year, according to City Manager Jay Ash. He said he would include the balance of the plan’s first-year funding in his fiscal 2015 budget. Drafted by Ash, council president Dan Cortell, and Police Chief Brian Kyes, the Ten Point Public Safety Plan calls for matching federal funds to hire five additional police officers; making permanent the Police Department’s street robbery task force; increasing police foot patrols and visibility; and hiring two “navigators” — or public health outreach workers — to expand the city’s fight against drug abuse. Other features include hiring a Police Department civilian crime watch manager, funding a Prostitution Prevention and Intervention Task Force, and extending a joint program of the Police Department, Roca, and the North Suffolk Mental Health Association that works with 17- to 24-year-old high-risk males to steer them away from criminal activity and toward obtaining education and employment.

Mayor wants to accept law allowing city to revamp health plans without union agreement

Mayor Scott D. Galvin is proposing that the city accept a state law that allows municipalities to revamp their health plans without union agreement. Galvin this past week submitted the proposal to the City Council, which was expected to refer it to committee for review. The 2011 local option law sets out a process for cities and towns to make changes to their deductibles, copays, or other health plan features provided they are comparable to those offered by the state’s Group Insurance Commission system. The law also allows communities to transfer to the Group Insurance Commission system. In a letter to the council, Galvin said the law is “one of the most beneficial tools afforded to cities and towns in decades, and has achieved substantial savings for communities and has helped preserve essential government jobs and services.” He said based on conservative estimates, adoption of the law would save Woburn more than $1.5 million in the first year alone.

Residents asked to guide city investments in arts, recreation

Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone is inviting residents to guide city investments in several key parts of the city budget, including recreation and arts. The city is holding three public meetings for residents to give their input on what should be included in the fiscal year 2015 budget for recreation, public health, arts and culture, and civic engagement. Ideas from the public meetings and through additional community outreach will be put to a vote in a community survey. The first meeting is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 24, at 6:30 p.m. at the Capuano Early Childhood Center at 150 Glen St. Meetings will also be held Thursday, Feb. 27, in the West Somerville Neighborhood School at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 1, at 11 a.m. in City Hall.

Hoover school windows need replacing

Hoover Elementary School could be in line for new windows. The Board of Aldermen on Jan. 27 voted to authorize the city to apply to the accelerated repair program of the Massachusetts School Building Authority. Applications are due by Feb. 14. There is not yet a cost estimate for the project. “It’s an older school, built in the 1950s,” Mayor Robert J. Dolan said. “We’re hoping to get some state assistance to put in modern windows.”

MassDOT to hold public hearings

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing on two recently released transportation planning documents on Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. at the Lynn City Council chambers in City Hall. One of the documents is the first draft of MassDOT’s $12.4 billion Capital Investment Plan for fiscal 2014-2018. The other is a long-range transportation plan, weMove Massachusetts Planning for Performance, which offers a tool to calculate the performance outcomes that would result from different funding levels available to MassDOT. Both plans can be viewed on MassDOT’s website, www.massdot.state.ma.us

Town census is underway

The 2014 annual town census forms were mailed Jan. 11. The census mailing also included an application for permits for the town’s transfer station. Residents are encouraged to complete and return their census forms by Feb. 15. State law mandates that every municipality complete an annual census during January, so the census form should be signed and returned even if no changes are necessary. Information on the census form is used to aid in projecting school enrollments, protect veterans’ and elderly housing benefits, and maintain a current voting list. The annual town election is scheduled for April 1. To remain on the active voter list for the local election, the census form must be returned. To make the process as convenient as possible, return envelopes were provided. Residents may mail their census form back to the town clerk’s office using the envelope provided or drop the form off in a red census box at Town Hall or the public library. For more information, contact the town clerk’s office at 781-721-7130.

City seeks input on how to improve central business district

The city is seeking input from residents about how to improve the central business district. As part of an effort to bring new vitality to the area, Mayor Daniel Rizzo and the Broadway Advisory Committee are conducting a survey. The intent is get feedback from residents on what stores they frequent on Broadway and what new businesses, if any, they would like to see. “As a business owner on Broadway and past president of the Chamber of Commerce, I know how important a bustling and vibrant downtown is to our community. Beyond promoting job growth, this revitalization of the Broadway business district will serve as a catalyst to future community-led public-private partnerships throughout all of Revere,” Rizzo said in a prepared statement. To take the survey, go to www.revere.org, and follow links from that page or go directly to www.surveymonkey.com/s/S872P5W.

News south of Boston

Quilt show’s grand finale

After 20 years, the Second Congregational Church will hold its final benefit quilt show and luncheon on March 1. “It’s been a great tradition, but we decided it’s run its course,” said organizer Annette Sawchuck. She said it’s been increasingly difficult to find quilts to display “because we’ve never had the same one twice.” More than 1,000 quilts have been displayed over the years and $39,000 donated to charity, she said. All proceeds benefit the Spark Center in Mattapan, which serves children with complicated medical issues and significant family or social problems, she said. Tickets to this year’s “grand finale” are available for $15 by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope, and check payable to Second Congregational Church, to 100 Pond St. #16, Cohasset 02025. Reservations for groups of six or more are accepted for specific luncheon seatings by contacting DeeDee Perry at 781-383-9474.

Crime rate continues to drop

The number of serious crimes in Brookline dropped by about 12 percent in 2013 from 2012, according to a report released by police. While Brookline police said the six rapes reported in the town in 2013 was up from three in 2012, there were no murders, robberies were down by 54 percent to 13, and the number of assaults fell by 26 percent to 131. The Brookline police year-end review of serious crimes states that violent crimes fell from 208 in 2012 to 150 last year, a drop of 28 percent. Overall, the police reported that crime is down by 61 percent since 1994. Among property crimes, there was a slight uptick in the number of motor vehicle thefts, which increased from 18 in 2012 to 20 during 2013. But larcenies fell from 640 in 2012 to 609 last year, and the number of burglaries fell from 129 to 100 during the same period.

LaFond gets good review

The Abington Board of Selectmen gave Town Manager Richard LaFond good marks in his first review. Michael Franey, chairman of the board, said in an interview that he and his fellow members were pleased with LaFond and the work he has done in his first six months on the job. He said they appreciate his calm demeanor and the way he handles issues in a timely fashion. The review was held according to his contract and did not include any raise or change in the contract, Franey said.

Bike path to be repaved

The crumbling, 30-year-old bike path in Pond Meadow Park is set to receive extensive repairs after the Town Council voted Tuesday to fund a repaving project. The commissioners who oversee the popular park, which is run jointly with neighboring Weymouth, told the council that the rehabilitation was urgently needed because of safety and liability concerns. To help offset the $150,000 cost of the work, the two towns have applied for a competitive grant from the state Division of Conservation Services. If the grant is not awarded, the towns will contribute $25,000 each to repair the most heavily damaged section of the trail. Work could begin as early as this summer, but may be delayed because the trail runs near protected wetlands, officials said. Commissioners for the park said the project would repair about half of the trail’s total length. Councilor Chuck Kokoros urged park officials to consider repairing the entire trail in the future. “I'd like to see this approved first,’’ he said, “but I’d also like to see you come back as soon as you can with requests for additional funding so we can finish the entire pathway and eliminate dangers for bicyclists.”

Voting will be at middle school

Voting for the March 22 town election is back at the Duxbury Middle School. The Board of Selectmen reversed an earlier vote to have the poll location changed to the new Lieutenant Timothy J. Steele Building, located behind the high school. After having taken that vote, selectmen learned that the Annual Duxbury Antiques Show was scheduled for the same day at the high school, which would make parking difficult and could deter people from voting, said selectmen chairman David Madigan in an interview. Madigan said it will be the last vote held at the Duxbury Middle School. The building is set to be torn down once the co-located Duxbury High School/Middle School is opened in the fall. All six precincts vote in the same polling location.

State of the Town talks Feb. 12

Local officials will host a State of the Town event Wednesday at which they’ll update residents on the community’s progress and upcoming developments. The event will feature speeches from Town Manager Troy Clarkson and Board of Selectmen chairman Joe Salvucci, as well as representatives from the Hanover School Department and from the Hanover Chamber of Commerce. Town officials set a series of goals last year that included improved communication with residents — which prompted a new, award-winning website — and strengthening the town’s partnership with local businesses through the Chamber of Commerce, which is cosponsoring the State of the Town breakfast. The event will be held at Hanover Town Hall at 7:30 a.m. It costs $10, and residents are encouraged to RSVP to Ann Lee at 781-826-5000, ext. 1033.

Pre-K through 12 project selected

The Permanent School Building Committee voted Jan. 29 to proceed with a grade configuration of prekindergarten through Grade 12 for a proposed new school, according to Barbara Davis, chairwoman of the Holbrook School Committee. The decision will be sent to the Massachusetts School Building Authority as part of Holbrook’s application for state funding; the authority is expected to discuss the project in March. The committee also considered options of grades 6 through 12, 7 through 12, and pre-K through 8, and how each would affect possible future regionalization with Avon. A recent study determined that a pre-K through 12 building was the only option that could accommodate the regionalization. “This is the furthest we’ve ever been on a building project, and there’s a lot of momentum to keep going,” Davis said in an interview.

Hall Swamp dig extended

The Kingston Community Preservation Committee has approved an application for $180,000 in town funding to extend the Hall Swamp Site dig for a second year. The field work recently completed at the Hall Property has revealed an extensive settlement area that produced a large trove of artifacts and other data unearthed throughout the 4.4-acre site, according to Chris Hofmann, committee chairman. Conducted by Public Archaeology Lab, the dig discovered that Native American occupation of the area dates back to the Middle Archaic period (7,000 to 8,000 years ago) and continued through later periods. The Archaeology Lab’s Dianna Doucette told the committee the dig is of landmark quality, Hofmann said, and the committee also discussed seeking historic preservation status for the site. Last year’s archeological dig at the Hall Swamp Site was also funded by a Community Preservation Act grant.

New Boys and Girls Club director

The board of directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield appointed Kathleen Newcomb as executive director Jan. 23 after a national search that drew more than 100 applicants, said William Bowers, president of the club. Newcomb previously served as the club’s director of programming and operations and has worked there for about eight years, he said. The board interviewed applicants from as far away as Wyoming. “We were determined to find the best person for the role. While we were thrilled to promote from within, that was not a given,” he said. Bowers said Newcomb has a unique understanding of the club, cares deeply about it, and has a solid vision for its future. The club has 488 youth members, and many additional youths from the community use the facility, he said.

News west of Boston

Arlington Community Education presenting conversation on Evangelism

Arlington Community Education is presenting a public discussion on Evangelism in the United States Wednesday at 7 p.m. According to a press release from Arlington Community Education, the purpose of the discussion will be to spell out the differences between Fundamentalism and Evangelism, and to explain that most Evangelists are supportive of secular higher education, social justice, and modern science. David Swaim, pastor of Arlington’s Highrock Church, and David Hall , a Harvard University professor of New England church history, will speak at the event, while David Whitford, editor-at-large at Fortune magazine, will moderate. The audience will have the opportunity to ask questions. The event will take place at Arlington High School, 869 Massachusetts Ave. Admission is $10. Pre-registration is available at www.ArlingtonCommunityEd.org or by calling 781-316-3568.

Snow bylaw goes into effect

Belmont’s new snow bylaw, which was approved at last November’s Town Meeting, went into effect on Thursday. Although the town approved the bylaw months ago, officials had to wait for state Attorney General Martha Coakley to sign off on it. The bylaw states that residents must shovel a 36-inch path and treat ice on sidewalks in front of their house by 8 p.m. the day after a snowstorm. If residents are on vacation during snowstorms, they must shovel and treat their sidewalks by 8 p.m. the day after they return from vacation. First-time offenders will receive a written warning, second-time offenders will receive a $50 fine, and third-time offenders will receive a $100 fine, with a maximum of $350 in fines per winter season. Visit www.belmont-ma.gov/Public_Documents/index for more information about the bylaw and for tips on how to cope with winter storms.

Workshop will teach how to run for local office

The League of Women Voters of Brookline is co-sponsoring a workshop Wednesday to teach people how to run for local office. The workshop will also discuss the duties of local elected officials, from selectmen and School Committee members to Town Meeting members. Speakers will include Town Clerk Pat Ward, Selectman Ken Goldstein, and School Committee member Abby Cox. School Committee member Barbara Scotto will moderate the workshop. This year’s town election on May 6 will elect two selectmen, three School Committee members, four library trustees, a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Brookline Housing Authority, and Town Meeting members. Brookline’s Sara K. Wallace Fund for Voter Education is also co-sponsoring the workshop with the Brookline Neighborhood Alliance and the Town Meeting Members Association. It will run from 7 to 9 p.m. in room 103 at Brookline Town Hall.

BATV becomes BIG

Brookline Access Television has changed its name to Brookline Interactive Group, or BIG, to emphasize the breadth of its media services, from original programing to media classes and personalized technology help. Executive director Peter Zawadzki announced the name change in a press release Feb. 1, saying that the 30-year-old nonprofit organization is also launching a new website, www.brooklineinteractive.org. Founded in 1984 as part of an agreement to support community television and locally produced content, Brookline Interactive Group broadcasts original programs and documentaries along with town government meetings and sporting events.

Brookline eases changes in new borderline policy

Brookline school officials have approved drastic changes to a controversial proposal that would have excluded a number of homes straddling the town line from the public school district. The Brookline School Committee approved a new policy in late January requiring that at least 25 percent of a dwelling be in Brookline to qualify as part of the town’s school district. But the new policy will grandfather all single-family dwelling units on the town line that have been considered part of the school district and were purchased on or before the new policy was approved, said School Committee member Rebecca Stone. Brookline had been considering a new policy that would exclude dwelling units at more than 30 different addresses from remaining in the school district if the homes were sold and the town didn’t assess property taxes on at least 50 percent of the property. The proposal drew a backlash from a number of homeowners who said it would decrease the values of their homes. Stone said under the revised policy that has been approved, homes purchased before the policy change will still be considered part of the school district when they are sold unless they are developed in a way that more than a single family will live in the dwelling.

Lexington Education Foundation planning “Lex Vegas” night

The Lexington Education Foundation is planning a fund-raising casino-themed night as its annual Celebration for Education. The event, called Lex Vegas, will feature casino-style gambling, dancing, food, and live and silent auctions. It will take place May 3 at the Double Tree Bedford Glen Hotel in Bedford. Attendees will be able to try their hand at blackjack, craps tables, roulette wheels, and Texas hold ’em, although the event is for fund-raising and entertainment only, and no cash will be awarded or won. The Lexington Education Foundation is a nonprofit founded in 1989 to fund curriculum and technological innovations at the Lexington public schools. Since that time, it has awarded more than $4 million in grants to the schools. Anyone interested in volunteering to plan the event or donate auction items should contact Jean Kurien in the Lexington Education Foundation office at 781-372-3288.

League of Women Voters sponsoring candidates’ night

The Lexington League of Women Voters is sponsoring a candidates’ night Thursdayfrom 7 to 9:30 p.m. to give Town Meeting and town office candidates a chance to present their views on issues and field questions from residents. The event will take place at Clarke Middle School at 17 Stedman Road. Voters will meet with Town Meeting candidates to discuss ideas at 7:15 p.m. in assigned classrooms. At 8 p.m., those candidates will gather in the school cafeteria to further discuss ideas over refreshments. At 7:45 p.m., candidates for Board of Selectmen, Planning Board, School Committee, Housing Authority, and Town Moderator will share their views in the school auditorium, followed by a question-and-answer session. A snow date is scheduled for Feb. 27. For more information, contact Peggy Enders of the League of Women Voters at 781-863-0474.

Scholarship applications available

The Newton-Needham Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for two $1,500 scholarships given to high school seniors in Newton or Needham who succeed in school and give back to the community, according to the organization. Each award will be given to a senior headed to an accredited college in the fall of 2014, and will be applied toward his or her college tuition after their first semester, according to an announcement from the organization. Completed applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on March 31. A panel of local business leaders will select the winners, basing their decision on the application’s completeness and accuracy, the student’s transcript, letters of recommendation, and an essay response. For more information, visit www.nnchamber.com/scholarship, or contact Kevin Ruddyat 781-370-5450 or info@nnchamber.com.

Newton Schools Foundation looking for award nominees

The Newton Schools Foundation is looking for nominees who have made a positive impact on the city’s public schools to be honored at its Celebration of Excellence spring benefit gala on May 3. The nominees may include employees and alumni of the Newton public schools as well as business or community leaders. The nomination deadline is March 15. Submissions of 150 words or less explaining the positive impact the nominee has made on the schools must include the name and e-mail address of both the person writing the nomination and the nominee. Nominations for current or former school employees should also include the name and address of the school where they work or worked. Nominations for alumni should include the name of the school they attended, and the name of a business should be included if applicable. The gala and benefit will feature a performance by comedian Jimmy Tingle, gourmet food, and music by Loose Change, a band of Newton educators.

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