The National Electrical Contractors Association of Greater Boston (NECA), a trade group covering the region, says that "unlicensed, unqualified" temporary workers are allegedly installing conductive solar electric components at a project site in Southbridge, Mass. According to NECA, this is a violation of state law, which requires licensed electricians to do such work.NECA has filed complaints with the Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure against Michigan-based Patriot Solar, Worcester's Absolute Staffing and Commonwealth Electrical Technologies of Worcester.The group says Absolute Continue reading >>>

SOUTHBRIDGE —  A regional trade group has questioned the qualifications of subcontractors helping to build a solar farm at 236 Blackmer Road. “Unlicensed, unqualified temporary workers” were used to install conductive solar electric components, in violation of state law, alleges the National Electrical Contractors Association of Greater Boston, which represents more than 80 electrical and telecom contractors in Eastern Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire. NECA said it filed complaints to the state Division of Professional Licensure against subcontractor Patriot Solar of Michigan, Continue reading >>>

Prosecutors don’t want him to do it, but Kevin J. Weeks, the former South Boston gangster who climbed the mob ladder of success to become one of James “Whitey” Bulger’s top lieutenants, will make a “special appearance” at Sunday night’s Jewish Community Centers of Greater Boston Book Fair. Weeks, 56, went from having the feds throw the book at him to becoming a best-selling author writing about his years outsmarting them in, “Brutal: The Untold Story of My Life Inside Whitey Bulger’s Irish Mob.” His next star turn will be as a witness for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, when Bulger, Continue reading >>>

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Governor Deval Patrick is headlining the launch of hack/reduce, Boston’s Big Data hacker space, tonight. hack/reduce is a unique collaboration between industry, government, academia and venture capital that will help Boston foster the talent and technologies necessary to galvanize the Bay State’s leadership in the Big Data sector. “Hackathons get the community involved and engaged in mining interesting and useful information from large data sets” “To lead in the Big Data revolution, Massachusetts Continue reading >>>

A new cancer drug developed by Cambridge-based Ariad Pharmaceuticals could receive federal approval by early next year, offering new hope in some of the toughest cases, the company’s CEO said today. Ponatinib is designed for patients who have failed other therapies for chronic myeloid leukemia, or CML, Harvey Berger said. “Resistance to targeted cancer medicines is becoming common,” Berger said at a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce innovation forum. “Our focus became: How do we overcome the resistance?” In clinical trials, 54 percent of patients with CML responded favorably to Continue reading >>>

Governor Deval Patrick is headlining the launch of hack/reduce, Boston’s Big Data hacker space, tonight. hack/reduce is a unique collaboration between industry, government, academia and venture capital that will help Boston foster the talent and technologies necessary to galvanize the Bay State’s leadership in the Big Data sector. “To lead in the Big Data revolution, Massachusetts is cultivating the best talent, the most cutting-edge technology, and the best environment for spurring future innovation,” Continue reading >>>

SUNDAY: Lois McMaster Bujold (“Captain Vorpatril's Alliance”) reads at 2 p.m. at the Harvard Coop … Kitty Martin (“Kitty Literature, Volume One”) reads at 2 p.m. at Wellesley Books, 82 Central St., Wellesley … Maria Mazziotti-Gillan (“The Place I Call Home”) and Vivian Shipley (“All Your Messages Have Been Erased”) read at 3 p.m. at Yenching Library, 2 Divinity Ave., Cambridge … Kevin Weeks and Phyllis Karas (“Where’s Whitey?”) read at 7 p.m. at the Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community Center, 333 Nahanton St., Newton ($8 tickets at www.bostonjcc.org/bookfair or 617-965-5226) Continue reading >>>

1. S.O.U.L.S. on Beacon Hill: Suffolk University's S.O.U.L.S. Center is collecting items this month that local food pantries and Greater Boston area organizations that serve the hungry and homeless need. The Beacon Hill Civic Association is helping this effort by collecting donations. It has placed a donation box in the office where you can drop off non-perishable food (canned goods, pasta, etc.) warm clothing (all sizes, new or gently used), and new adult size white socks. Office hours are Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  2. The 24th Annual Boston Jewish Film Festival: The MFA, Continue reading >>>

Carolyn J. Sidor joined Cassidy Turley as the new senior managing director of market development.Sidor will head brokerage operations and the firm’s practice groups which involve data center solutions, health care, law firms, hospitality, food and beverage facilities, net lease investment properties and life sciences. She is also responsible for the ongoing development and implementation of the company’s CRM team.The seasoned professional was with Colliers International for four years, most recently as president of operations, USA, where she oversaw Continue reading >>>

Home prices in Greater Boston fell in the third quarter.  Thomas Grillo Real Estate Editor- Boston Business Journal Email The median price of a single-family home rose in 120 of 149 metropolitan statistical areas in the third quarter compared to last year, while 29 areas — including Greater Continue reading >>>