It will be grape leaves and tabouli at The Mideast Kitchen, one of several ethnic-flavored restaurant opening or expanding in Quincy Center. Add an Indian restaurant, too, to the downtown mix and an expansion of Alba, which bills itself as a Mediterranean steak house. In recent years, the downtown area has added places to get falafel, Brazilian barbecue, Korean barbecue, Mexican and multiplying options for sushi and Chinese. Just outside the square, are Filipino, Pakistani and Vietnamese eateries and grocery stores. “It reflects a change in the population of the City of Quincy,” Continue reading >>>

By Lorenzo Recupero, Globe CorrespondentEverett’s Vondell Langston, a Globe All-Scholastic and two-time Super Bowl champion, verbally committed to UMass-Amherst Friday. Langston will be part of the first graduating class of recruits to go into Division 1 play as the Minutemen move to the Mid-American Conference (MAC) next season.Langston was a key player for the top-ranked Crimson Tide, who won their second consecutive Super Bowl in undefeated fashion in the fall. The Greater Boston League All-Star and second leading scorer in Division 1A (15 touchdowns) was a stellar two-way player for the Crimson Continue reading >>>

This is a regular column with items drawn from past editions of the Winchester Star. 1912 Town Elections After struggling to find enough candidates to fill the vacant Board of Selectmen seats two years ago, this year, the town has four candidates eligible for the vacant seats. 1962 Blood Drive The Greater Boston Chapter of the Red Cross made an emergency appeal for blood to offset a "severe shortage" of blood. UNICEF Mrs. William Cusack, a former alternate delegate to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and honorary vice chairman of the Massachusetts Council for UNICEF developed an Continue reading >>>

The Malden Redevelopment Authority, working with National Grid, had issued a request for ideas for the site. Although a few developers inquired, Bok’s group was the only one that submitted a final proposal. The 75-page document, along with last night’s presentation, will be published on the city’s website, www.cityofmalden.org, by Tuesday, Christenson said.

  Editor's note: The following is a press release. West Roxbury resident and Big Sister Marisa Proia and her Little Sister Jessica of Hyde Park, recently celebrated their one-year anniversary.   The Big Sister Association of Greater Boston asks for a minimum commitment of 12 months in their Community-Based Mentoring program, though many of our Big and Little Sister relationships last for several years, and even develop into lifelong friendships as the Little Sister becomes an adult. Big Sister wishes to congratulate Proia on making a difference in the life of her Little Sister as Continue reading >>>

The Training Associates, the largest provider of training delivery solutions and trainers on demand in the United States, recently hired Art Sharkey of Westborough as its human resources manager. His responsibilities consist of planning and directing programs for all human resources areas, including recruiting, employee relations and equal employment opportunity. Sharkey was previously human resources site manager for the Rohm and Haas Co. in Marlborough. He has an MBA degree from Boston College and a bachelor’s degree from John Jay College. The Training Associates in is Continue reading >>>

In 2010, upward of 20 million people (more than three times the number actually resident in Massachusetts) came to visit our state. Many vacationed on Cape Cod or in the Berkshires, while others, here on business, stayed in or around Boston. According to figures compiled by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT), while those 20 million visitors were here, they spent a whopping $15 billion. Not a bad number for local businesses and institutions, when you think about it. While MetroWest had no formal tourism program in 2010 (our new Visitors Bureau was still in formation), Continue reading >>>

Sarah Bertschmann has a new appreciation for the value of a pencil. The Hopkinton Middle School eighth-grader took school supplies for granted until she spent yesterday afternoon assembling packages for children in need at Cradles to Crayons in Brighton. “These kids don’t have them,” Bertschmann said. “It makes me appreciate what we have in Hopkinton more.” Bertschmann and more than 250 other eighth-graders from throughout the Bay State started their Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend by giving back. The students participated in Project 351, an initiative Gov. Continue reading >>>

Speaking at the New Stars for Young Stars event at Jillian's -- which was presented by the Jimmy Fund Council of Greater Boston -- Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine confirmed that he has talked to outfielder Carl Crawford. The phone conversation took place with both Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington and Crawford's agent, Brian Peters, on the line, according to Valentine. "I finally got that call into Carl," the manager said. "Carl sounded great. "He seemed very determined. He seemed very understanding of the fact that things got spinning a little fast for him last year in a new environment. Continue reading >>>

Entertainment significant component of active, urban, mixed-use neighborhood* Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE:FRT) today announced the execution of a 60,000 square foot lease with AMC Theatres (AMC) for a 12-screen theatre at Assembly Row, the 50+ acre mixed-use development in Somerville. Auditoriums at the new AMC Theatres location will feature upgraded seating, premium sound and 100 percent digital projection. AMC is also evaluating additional amenity possibilities including a Marketplace concession area, a MacGuffins bar and lounge area, and an IMAX auditorium. “We’re excited Continue reading >>>