By Alli Knothe, Zachary T. Sampson and Amanda Cedrone, Globe Correspondents Powerful thunderstorms swept through the state Friday afternoon, bringing the sweltering heat wave to an end with a bang — and plenty of booms. The storms moved into Greater Boston shortly after 5 p.m., said Eleanor Vallier-Talbot, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Taunton. She said the storms blew through the state at 15 to 20 miles per hour and struck hardest in Central Massachusetts and the MetroWest area. Vallier-Talbot also said the heaviest rain and strongest systems Continue reading >>>

For instance, according to monthly data collected by Northeastern University economics professor Alan Clayton-Matthews, nearly 183,000 people in Massachusetts were working part-time jobs because they couldn’t find full-time work in April, the latest statistics available. In addition, 30,000 had given up looking for work. (Only those who actively seek work are counted as unemployed.)

John “Jack” Buckley is now a member of the Board of Directors of Needham Bank, a regional bank with five branches in greater Boston.

Friday, June 22, 2012, 11:20am   The commercial real estate market in Greater Boston continues to show improvement, according to a new report from Cushman Wakefield in Boston.Mid-year statistics reflect continued improving fundamentals in most markets, the report indicates. Vacancy rates in the second quarter fell in the Financial District and continue to hover near equilibrium in the already tight Back Continue reading >>>

Friday, June 22, 2012, 11:20am   The commercial real estate market in Greater Boston continues to show improvement, according to a new report from Cushman Wakefield in Boston.Mid-year statistics reflect continued improving fundamentals in most markets, the report indicates. Vacancy rates in the second quarter fell in the Financial District and continue to hover near equilibrium in the already tight Back Continue reading >>>

The state's unemployment rate ticked down another tenth of a percentage point last month and Medford kept up with the pace, according to figures released by the state's Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. The May rate is 5.8 percent, down from 5.9 percent in April. The state gained 17,000 jobs over the month. Medford's rate dropped from 5 percent in April to 4.8 percent in May, according to figures released Tuesday by Workforce Development. In the greater Boston area, the trends vary. Boston and Cambridge saw a slight uptick in unemployment. The table below shows the unemployment Continue reading >>>

Somerville kicks off Fourth of July fireworks celebrations in, well, June. If you're looking for other fireworks displays near Somerville, here's a list. Click on the links for more information about each event: Thursday, June 28 Somerville: Trum Field. Live entertainment beginning at 6 p.m. Fireworks at 9:15 p.m. (Rain date July 5.)  Saturday, June 30 Wilmington: Town Common. 7 a.m.-10 p.m. "Family Day." Fireworks at 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 3 Andover: High School. Fireworks at dusk. Lynn: Red Rock Park. Fireworks at 9 p.m. Danvers: Plains Park. 5-10 p.m. Fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Gloucester: The Continue reading >>>

Joseph J. Giuffrida of Dorchester, a retired music instructor and musician, died Monday at Carney Hospital in Dorchester. He was 83. Born in Boston, Mr. Giuffrida moved to Dorchester in 1946. Mr. Giuffrida served in the Massachusetts National Guard. He was a music instructor in the Greater Boston area for more than 40 years. Husband of the late Theresa, Mr. Giuffrida is survived by a daughter, Maria Alcala-Herrera of Texas; two sisters, Rose of Dorchester and Josephine Harney of Roslindale; two grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow at Continue reading >>>

PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Hub employees are partnering with 14 nonprofits today at the Seaport World Trade Center to try to help the state’s foster child and under-served populations. More than 1,600 PwC workers will help tackle such activities as resume-building with Chelsea High School students; making snack bags for the Greater Boston Food Bank; and assembling 250 back-to-school backpacks for the Foster Kids of the Merrimack Valley. “What I see us trying to do is help these kids know other people do care about them. As cruel and as hard as their life may be ... it’s easy for these kids Continue reading >>>