The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) announced recently that Paul Yorkis, broker/owner of Patriot Real Estate, Inc., in Medway was selected as the Massachusetts REALTOR® of the Year for 2011.  Yorkis was presented the award at MAR’s Professional Awards Reception, which was held in conjunction with the Association’s 2011 Conference and Tradeshow at the DCU Center in Worcester. The state’s REALTOR® of the Year is selected annually from among the nominees of the 16 local associations of REALTORS® and more than 18,000 REALTORS® in Massachusetts.  Judging for the award Continue reading >>>

The El Sistema music program at the Conservatory Lab Charter School in Brighton and members of the East Somerville Community School will unite for a joint concert to gain support for an after-school El Sistema music program in Somerville. This concert will be free to the public on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 3 p.m. at the Somerville Public High School Auditorium. El Sistema is an innovative and successful approach to building community through high-quality orchestral music instruction. Originally developed in Venezuela, in recent years this initiative has become highly sought after in the US. In Continue reading >>>

Welcome to Boston, the home of chowder, lobster and ... the world’s best barbecue? That’s right: The Hub is suddenly a hot spot for the traditional style of slow-and-low cooking most closely associated with the American South, from Carolina pulled pork to Texas beef brisket. “We’re determined to prove to the rest of the country and the world that barbecue isn’t just in the South,” said Bill Gillespie, founder of the acclaimed barbecue team Smokin’ Hoggz of Abington. “It’s all over the world and you can come from New England and cook really great barbecue.” Gillespie should Continue reading >>>

Stocks got hammered yesterday while treasury bonds and mortgage backed securities rallied on twin pieces of bad news.  The news? Financial firm MF Global filed for bankruptcy and any Greek acceptance of a proposed bailout is going to be tied to a referendum.  The news out of Greece is still reverberating today because the proposed bailout is extremely unpopular and seems unlikely to pass a referendum.  Stocks are down again in early trading today.  A result of this action is that mortgage rates improved considerably yesterday, and may well do so again today.  If you’re looking to refinance Continue reading >>>

Tenants at Mulhern range in age from the mid-30s to late-60s. Some residents work; others are in the process of job training; and others are still recovering from life on the streets. However, all able residents are expected to contribute to rent, paying about 30 percent of their annual income. According to the city’s 2009 census, there are more than 7,000 people in various stages of homelessness in Boston. While the number of homeless families and children has risen in recent years, rates of individuals who are homeless have actually dropped 30 percent, statistics show. Barbara Trevisan, Continue reading >>>

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following are answers submitted by Councilor-At-Large Diane LeBlanc. Waltham Patch posed the questions and the answers were edited only for clarity and readability. Check out our other election coverage. _________________________________________ Current Employment: National Archives Records Administration - Regional Liaison, Greater Boston Federal Executive Board - Chair Why Are You Running For City Council?: I am running for City Council because I love the city of Waltham and the people of Waltham.  I am committed to issues which have a direct impact on the quality of life Continue reading >>>

Merle B Smith Co. Inc. (Burr Ridge, Ill.) has been named a distributor of Ashawa Bay Hardwood Floors' (Cook, Minn.) solid prefinished white oak flooring. The flooring is available in 2¼-inch and 3¼-inch widths with a smooth finish, and a 5-inch-width with a hand-scraped finish; it is available in several colors. For more information, contact Wayne Jaske at (630) 325-0770 or wjaske@merlebsmith.com.A Pakistan-based company has posted a notice the HF Classifieds section for an available production manager position.CR Flooring's (Needham, Mass.) Chris Zizza has been given Continue reading >>>

(Media-Newswire.com) - Today, Comcast announced that the expansion of its advanced fiber network into Boston’s Innovation District is underway as the result of months of planning between the company, the Mayor’s Office and the Boston Redevelopment Authority.“Increasing the availability of competitive, affordable broadband services across the Innovation District is a crucial objective,” Mayor Menino said. “We are witnessing tremendous growth in the district and broadband is a critical element to the creative business models that are being developed. We appreciate Comcast’s responding Continue reading >>>