Hundreds left without power as wet snow falls

Some residents of Boston and Cambridge lost power for more than an hour Saturday afternoon as wet, heavy snow fell across the region. About 280 NStar customers in Roslindale were without power until just after 5 p.m. after a car struck a utility pole this afternoon. The accident, an NStar spokesman said, is believed to have been weather-related. Another 93 NStar customers in Cambridge were without power after one transformer went down due to the wet snow, said Paul Fraser, an NStar spokesman. According to the National Weather Service, 2 inches of snow had fallen in Boston through midnight. Other Continue reading >>>

Chorus featuring Waltham residents to hold winter concert

The Greater Boston Intergenerational Chorus, which features Waltham residents, will hold its winter concert in Watertown Square on Jan. 21.  Sixty-five singers from 23 towns, including Waltham's Robin Esterberg, Steve Hersey, Sean Crookes and Janet Sachs, and directed by Joanne Hammil, will present an eclectic array of music from 7 to 8 p.m. at the First Parish Church of Watertown, 35 Church St. A $10 suggested donation is payable at the door.  The show will feature songs in many styles (contemporary folk, oldies, multi-cultural, classical, novelty, etc.), in multi-part Continue reading >>>

Guest Column: Absolutely Fabulous serves up delights with new brunch menu

Friends of the Greater Boston area, pack your bags, because we are about to take a trip to the “True South.” The only thing that you will need, however, is your appetite. Absolutely Fabulous is paying true homage to the city of Yellow, Green and Purple with their weekend Mardi Gras Brunch. It features music, cocktails, décor and of course more amazing bites, courtesy of restaurant proprietor and executive chef Lori Muse. This new feature is offered at Ab Fab on Saturdays and Sundays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The inspiration came from Gary Parmenter, restaurant creative and Continue reading >>>

Engagement: Littlefield – Chelak

Rob Littlefield and Lara Chelak of the greater Boston area are engaged to be married in September 2014 in the Hudson Valley region of New York.

Rob is the son of Josh and Suzy Littlefield of Wellesley, and Lara is the daughter of Russ and Karen Chelak of Mendham, N.J.

Rob and Lara both graduated from Columbia University where Rob received his master’s degree and Lara her bachelor’s degree.

Rob is a biomedical engineer and Lara is the founder of a digital growth agency.

Looking to the region

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh enters office with the good will and encouragement of mayors and municipal managers throughout Metro Boston. We are eager to work with him to improve the quality of life for the people we all serve and bring people together from throughout Greater Boston for a truly regional approach to problem solving. Bostonians work, play and study in communities across the region, and many non-Bostonians work, play and study in the city. Boston is the anchor and hub of the region, but its boundaries are porous. Most people cross municipal boundaries without giving it a thought. They Continue reading >>>

Transwestern RBJ: Busiest Quarter Since 2000 For Greater Boston Industrial …

Friday, January 17, 2014, 12:06pm The Greater Boston industrial real estate market absorbed four million square feet of space in the fourth quarter of 2013, according to a research report released by Transwestern RBJ. The fourth quarter was the busiest for absorption since 2000. It was the 11th consecutive quarter in which the region’s industrial market had positive absorption, according Continue reading >>>

Greater Boston Needs Thousands of New Homes to Keep Economy on Track

By Matt PerkinsUp to 435,000 new housing units would need to be created in the Metro Boston area by the year 2040 to keep the region's economy growing, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) said in a new report released Thursday.The units would comprise mostly multifamily homes and be located, primarily, in urban areas, the MAPC said. The aim of the additional units is to attract younger workers to the region from elsewhere in the country to keep the economy growing in the Greater Boston area. The 435,000 new units are greater than the 305,000 new units needed in a Continue reading >>>

Report: More housing needed

A "for sale" sign hangs in front of a house in Walpole last year. The Metropolitan Area Planning Council reported Greater Boston will need up to 435,000 new housing units by 2040 to keep pace with expected population growth. AP FILE PHOTO Sun staff photos can be ordered by visiting our Smugmug site. By Michael Norton State House News Service BOSTON -- Massachusetts must significantly boost its housing supply to attract the younger workers needed to increase its labor force and help drive economic growth in the next 25 years, according to a new report. The Metropolitan Area Planning Continue reading >>>

Greater Boston housing needs: Huge

(NECN: Peter Howe, Boston) - We’re always known super-expensive Greater Boston needs way more affordable housing. But Thursday regional planning experts put an astonishing new number on just how many new housing units the region will need by 2040 to keep the economy growing and accommodating new workers to replace retiring Baby Boomers: 300,000 to 435,000 more houses, apartments, condos, townhouses and micro-units."We have a lot of baby boomers who are likely to retire at an increasing pace over the course of the next few decades," said Continue reading >>>