1895: The Federation of Jewish Charities of Boston is established April 25. It soon renames itself Federated Jewish Charities to indicate a broader mission, then switches to Associated Jewish Philanthropies in 1930, and becomes Combined Jewish Philanthropies in 1960. Original member organizations include the United Hebrew Benevolent Society, the Hebrew Ladies Sewing Society, and the Leopold Morse Home for the Aged and Infirm Hebrews and Orphanage.

In 1975, Boston’s Jewish population was 195,000, with demographic studies showing a migration to the suburbs, including Sharon, along with a drop in synagogue membership and a rise in intermarriage among those under 30. By 1985, the Jewish population in all of Greater Boston, including the southern suburbs, had dropped to 170,000. However, a 2006 Brandeis University study found that a high percentage of children in mixed-faith households were being raised in the faith, bringing the number of Jews in the Boston area to about 210,000, or 7.2 percent of the population, four times the percentage Continue reading >>>

1. Time is running out: If you haven't done so yet, make sure to file your taxes by Dec. 17. Need a place to get your taxes done? Check out the best tax preparers in Greater Boston, according to you, our readers. 2. Want to buy a home? Check out the latest "House Hunt" column for our sampling of open houses slated for Sunday in Stoneham. 3. Top off the tank: Scope out current gas prices and traffic updates for the Stoneham area in our "Commute" section. 4. Place an ad: Have a business in the Stoneham area and want to get the word out about it? Contact Ad Manager Jonathan Phillips at jonathan.phillips@patch.com Continue reading >>>

Works by Misha Lenn, whose watercolor “Joy of the Finish’’ is being featured on ornaments, boxes, and mirrors to commemorate this year’s Boston Marathon, will also be displayed.

The Bruins [team stats]’ overtime playoff win against the Capitals on Thursday marked the start of a week-long sportsapalooza for Boston fans and a big run on the registers for Hub businesses. The Sox home opener Friday marked the start of a nine-game homestand; the B’s battled the Capitals at TD Garden again yesterday; Celtics [team stats] fans are gearing up for playoff action with a game Wednesday; and runners and spectators will hit the streets tomorrow for the Boston Marathon. “It’s amazing what’s happening this weekend,” said Pat Moscaritolo, CEO of the Greater Boston Convention Continue reading >>>

Jason Robert Brown's new classic Songs for a New World plays May 4-12 at the Cambridge YMCA Theater, presented by The Longwood Players. Be transported from the deck of a 1492 Spanish sailing ship to a ledge 57 stories above Fifth Avenue, and meet a startling array of characters ranging from a young man who has determined that basketball is his ticket out of the ghetto to a woman whose dream of marrying rich nabs her the man of her dreams and a soulless marriage. Come see why Songs for a New World is one of Jason Robert Brown's most beloved contemporary classics. Songs for a New World is written Continue reading >>>

Portuguese American resident community of Greater Boston is organizing the 7th Boston Portuguese Festival to celebrate their ethnic pride with a series of cultural events during the course of May and June. Started in 2006, the annual festival will promote and disseminate the Portuguese culture and heritage in Massachusetts’ main city, not only to the Portuguese-American public, but also to the American community at large, namely in the fields of Literature, Music, Cinema, History Current Affairs, Science Technology and Heritage. This year’s festival will feature some of the Continue reading >>>

Today's photo comes from Dunkin' Donuts. Here's what a spokesperson for the company had to say about it: "The Charlestown and Chelsea units of the Boys Girls Clubs of Boston were surprised with tickets to yesterday’s Bruins Stanley Cup Playoffs game by the Dunkin’ Donuts KidZone. The youth found out they would be attending only a day before the game and ultimately had the time of their lives watching the Bruins win in OT." -- Would you like to participate in our Photo of the Day feature? E-mail your photo to mattc@patch.com (or text it to 781.715.3584 or upload it to our community gallery), Continue reading >>>

Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston announces a trio of Tony Award-winning musicals for its 44th consecutive summer season. A Chorus Line, the ground-breaking 1970s musical about unsung Broadway dancers putting everything on the line at an audition to be in a show, opens the season June 15-24. Bye Bye Birdie, the jubilant 1960s rock ‘n’ roll inspired parody of what happens to a small Midwestern community when an Elvis-like musical star swings through town looking for one last kiss before entering the Army, runs July 13-22. My Fair Lady, the timeless 1950s Lerner and Loewe classic Continue reading >>>

CSD Staff | Apr 13, 2012 | Comments 0 After an oil supply disruption leaves stations without gasoline, BP looks for new distributors. BP has terminated regional distributor Green Valley Oil’s contract, effective Friday, April 13, after some 218 BP stations faced supply disruptions in the greater Boston area. The 218 sites supplied by Green Valley Oil are in Massachusetts (122), Connecticut (55), New Hampshire (22) and Rhode Island (19). BP noted supply and logistics staff are working around the clock to identify new distributors and make the necessary changes to Continue reading >>>