GateHouse News Service New England Budget • April 7, 2008
Here are the top New England regional stories coming today from GateHouse News Service. Stories are available at gatehousenewsservice.com. Please submit stories below no later than 6 p.m. local time, unless you have breaking news that is changing significantly. Questions?
Contact: Chris Biondi, (508) 626-4343, cbiondi@gatehousemedia.com
At ghnewsroom.com: The Patriot Ledger's new 'green' pub
News
LEXINGTON SUPERINTEDENT THREATENED BY RADIO HOST - Lexington superintendent Paul Ash and his family are under the protection of the Lexington Police Department after a New Jersey radio host urged listerners to "use threats and violence" against him for the school district's new diversity curriculum.
Lexington, Murphy and Mahoney, on wire now
Will be updated
EVERGREEN GROWTH - Gov. Patrick announces that Evergreen Solar of Marlborough plans to double the size of a manufacturing plant it is building in Devens and triple to 1,000 its workforce.
MetroWest, Turner, 15 inches 6 p.m.
RED SOX OPENER - With the Sox home opener today, what were fans without tickets planning to do? Set up a TV at work? Play hooky and watch the game at a bar? Listen on the radio? Do local companies cut employees some slack to listen to the game during work hours?
MetroWest, McDonald, 15 inches, 6 p.m.
With photos
THE SEARCH FOR LIZZIE BORDEN ARTIFACTS IS BRANCHING OUT - Stefani Koorey, who discovered the photograph believed to be of a young Lizzie Borden at 8 or 9 years old, was back in town last week conducting more research into the history of the infamous and wealthy Victorian family.
Herald News, Allard, 15 inches, on wire now
With photos
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TOWN MEETING PACKAGE FROM HERALD NEWS:
TOWN MEETINGS: ARE THEY OUTDATED? - As dozens of Maine and New Hampshire communities convert their centuries-old tradition of open town meeting to a referendum ballot vote due to lagging attendance and failure to meet quorums, what kind of future do Bay State town meetings have with many towns struggling with the same issues?
Welker and Pateakos
CREATIVE APPROACHES CAN KEEP TOWN MEETINGS LIVELY - The town meeting has been the form of government in many towns throughout their history, but some officials have ideas for how to make participation more appealing.
Welker and Pateakos
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PINK HATS: WOMEN GO TO BAT FOR THEIR FAVORITE SPORT - Studies show that 47 percent of baseball fans are women, making it the most gender-balanced of the four major sports. Around here, some folks call female fans "pink hats," a nod to the Red Sox caps favored by many girls and women.
Enterprise, Stern, 18 inches, on wire now
With photos and sidebars
STATUE WILL HONOR FAMOUS RACE STARTER AND ATHLETICS PIONEER - On Sunday, Boston Marathon officials will unveil a statue of George V. Brown, a seminal figure in the race and American sports history.
MetroWest, Culler, 18 inches, on wire now
With photo
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DOLLAR DRAIN PACKAGE FROM PATRIOT LEDGER (Parts I and II of IV)
FAMILIES STRUGGLE WITH CLIMBING FOOD PRICES - Residents finding themselves pinched by higher food prices are hunting for sales, doing more meal planning and avoiding expensive foods.
Ledger, Reardon, 18 inches, on wire now
With photos
COST OF GASOLINE FORCES DRIVERS TO PINCH THEIR PENNIES - Rising gas prices are affecting not only people's wallets but their daily routines.
Ledger, Conkey, 20 inches, on wire now
With graphic and how to save mileage info box
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STUDENTS HEAR SOBERING WORDS FROM DRUNKEN DRIVER - April is designated "Alcohol Awareness Month," and April 8 marks the annual observance of National Alcohol Screening Day. At locations across the United States, people can be screened - anonymously - to see if their drinking habits may be risky.
Ledger, Campenella, 15 inches, with photo
POLICE RESIST PUSH FOR FLAGMEN AT ROAD CONSTRUCTION SITES - Lawmakers across the state were bombarded this week with angry phone calls and e-mails after Senate President Therese Murray, D-Plymouth, and other legislative leaders announced a plan to limit police details to save the state money.
Ledger, Kelly, 15 inches, on wire now
With photos
Business
TIVERTON DESIGNER'S PATIO FURNITURE A HIT AT TARGET STORES - Sitting on an all-weather resin patio chair he designed for Target department stores, Sean Conway picks up his garden gnome and explains that it was inspired by a German replica.
Herald News, Allard, 15 inches, on wire now
With photo
DEMAND FOR OFFICE SPACE STAYS STRONG SOUTH OF BOSTON - Boston's southern suburbs have become the most popular new address for corporate tenants in 2008.
Ledger, Adams, 18 inches, on wire now
CANAL PLANT HAS MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC UTILITIES FUMING - If you live in nearly any community south of Boston, you're paying at least 5 percent more each month for just one purpose: Running the oil-fueled power plant on the south side of the Cape Cod Canal.
Ledger, Chesto, 22 inches, on wire now
LAWSUIT SEEKING CLASS-ACTION STATUS FILED AGAINST HANNAFORD BROS. - A lawsuit seeking class-action status has been filed against Hannaford Bros. on behalf of a Braintree, Mass., man whose debit card information was stolen in a security breach involving 4.2 million credit and debit cards.
Ledger, Reardon, 12 inches, on wire now
With photo
WANTED SEX OFFENDER TRACKED TO VEGAS - A Framingham man on the state's Most Wanted Sex Offender List and considered extremely dangerous by authorities was arrested Thursday in Las Vegas.
MetroWest, Miller, 12 inches, on wire now
BODY FOUND ON ROUTE 138 IN CANTON - Police say the body of a black male was found on Route 138, off Route 93, in Canton about 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
Ledger, Sutton, 5 inches, on wire now
LEGISLATORS STUMP FOR PLYMOUTH MOVIE STUDIO PROJECT - Jobs, tax revenues, and a recession-proof industry make state Senate President Therese Murray and state Rep. Vinnie deMacedo bullish on Plymouth Rock Studios.
Ledger, Race, 18 inches, on wire now
NEW BRAINTREE FURNITURE STORE TO HAVE JOB FAIR - Cardi's Furniture wants to hire 100 people immediately for its new super store at Ivory Plaza in Braintree.
Ledger, Tatz, 15 inches, on wire now
With photo
Opinions
EDITORIAL: VOTING - Mass. should join other states in making it possible to register to vote on election day.
MetroWest, 6 p.m.
EDITORIAL: RECYCLING A VERY GOOD IDEA - Change is always hard, so it's no surprise there is so much resistance to the decision in Plymouth to convert the trash disposal system for residents to the so-called "pay-as-you-throw."
Ledger, on wire now
GRANLUND: BIG BROTHER ILLUSTRATION
MetroWest, on wire now
GRANLUND: CHARLTON HESTON'S DEATH AND WHAT HE'S TAKING WITH HIM.
MetroWest, on wire now
JEFF ADAIR: ONE MAN'S EXPERIENCE LIVING UNDER ZIMBABWE'S DICTATOR - So another African country is in the news. Surprise, surprise. This time it's Zimbabwe, which for the first time in 28 years could soon have a new leader.
MetroWest, on wire now
Sports
LOOK FOR PRO SPORTS at prosports@gatehousemediane.com
Lifestyles
SUREFIRE HIT: GALLERY IN WEYMOUTH CELEBRATES BASEBALL WITH 'OPENING DAY' - The Dickinson Gallery in Weymouth features "Opening Day," an appealing exhibition of 25 works devoted to the national pastime.
Ledger, Jackman, 20 inches, on wire now
With photos
WITH SIDEBAR: CATCH RED SOX EXHIBITS AT NEWBURY FINE ARTS, MFA
VIDEO: MICHAEL FREDERICK PAINTS METROWEIRD - Michael Frederick paints the daylight phobias and night sweats that Norman Rockwell glossed over in his wholesome portrayals of suburban life.
MetroWest, Bergeron, 25 inches, on wire now
With photos
VIDEO: 'SUPER MODELS' ON DISPLAY IN BOSTON'S BROMFIELD GALLERY - For artist and feminist Betsyann Duval, creativity is the sincerest form of admiration.
MetroWest, Bergeron, 25 inches, on wire now
With photos
A.S. MAULUCCI: SEMANTIC LINE EXISTS BETWEEN INSANITY, INSPIRATION - If Shakespeare were right, poets and madmen have much in common. The all-important difference being what in madmen is called insanity, in poets is said to be inspiration. What distinguishes poets from their mad brothers and sisters is the ability to put their visions down on paper, thus rendering them legitimate in the eyes of society.
Norwich, on wire now
TOM YATES WILL TAKE YOUR BLUES AWAY - It was the golden days of country, rock and blues joints in this area, even before it was labeled MetroWest. The Tom Yates Group plays at the Colonial Inn, 48 Monument Square, Concord, on Friday, April 18 at 8 p.m.
MetroWest, Megliola, 20 inches, on wire now
With photo
PLYMOUTH PHILHARMONIC INTRODUCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - Ford has been appointed to the permanent position of executive director of the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra. His appointment was to be announced Saturday at the Phil's Classical III concert by board of directors President Paula Harris.
CNC, Smith, 22 inches, on wire now
With photo
FIVE COHASSET HOMES ARE THE MAIN COURSE IN UPCOMING KITCHEN TOUR - The South Shore Community Center will hold its annual kitchen tour on Friday, April 11. All proceeds will go toward expanding and renovating a kitchen at the community center for the nursery school children.
Ledger, Gerdeman, 18 inches, on wire now
With photos