Boston’s new hack/reduce collaborative is looking for big data hackers. The goal of this non-profit organization is to foster a bigger, um, big data community in the Cambridge-Boston nexus. Applications to join are due Oct. 14. “We want to build a community and innovation around big data to make Boston a leader there,” founding executive director Abby Fichtner told me. Hackers with expertise in biotech, medical devices, consumer web, energy, IT, telecommunications, music and art are all welcome to apply. Boston locals see big data as a way to recapture some the high-tech glory that faded Continue reading >>>

State health officials confirmed two new human cases of West Nile Virus Tuesday. Both cases were found in residents of Greater Boston, one in a woman in her 60s who has since recovered, and the other in a man in his 70s who is recovering. Threat levels for the disease will remain as they are, according to the press release the Department of Public Health sent out Tuesday afternoon. Health officials continue to urge residents throughout the Greater Boston area and Massachusetts to use bug spray. “It’s important to note that mosquitoes continue to be present in our environment Continue reading >>>

Galway fiddler Larry Reynolds, widely credited for keeping Irish traditional music vibrant in greater Boston over the past sixty years, died last Tuesday, October 3, from Amyloidosis, a rare disease that caused congestive heart failure. He was 80 years old. He is survived by his wife Phyllis, six children, nineteen grandchildren and twogreat-grandchildren, and by his sister Eleanor Courier of Orange, CA, and brother, Sean Reynolds of Ahascragh, Co. Galway, along with dozens of nieces and nephews. One of thirteen children born and raised in Ahascragh, County Galway, Continue reading >>>

BOSTON (AP) -- Massachusetts health officials say two more human cases of mosquito-borne West Nile virus have been confirmed, bringing the season total to 22. The Department of Public Health said Tuesday the new cases are a woman in her 60s and a man in his 70s, both recovering. Both are from the greater Boston area. One person has died of West Nile this year. Last year there were six human cases. People are urged to continue precautions until the first hard frost. West Nile mosquitoes have been found in 109 communities in 9 counties, and the state is on track to have more infected mosquitoes Continue reading >>>

Despite cooler weather, West Nile virus infections continue to crop up at a record-breaking pace, as state health officials today announced two more human cases of the mosquito-borne illness. A man in his 70s and a woman in her 60s, both of whom live in the Greater Boston area, are the 21st and 22nd cases in the state this year, according to a statement from the Department of Public Health. The woman has already recovered from her illness, while the man is still recovering. “Mosquitoes continue to be present in our environment even as temperatures have dropped,” said DPH epidemiologist Dr. Continue reading >>>

Tuesday, October 9, 2012, 11:01am   Hotels in the Cape Cod area, including Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Island) hotels reported strong occupancy and revenue gains in August, according to PKF Boston, a hospitality consulting firm.The 17 hotel operators in the Cape Cod area achieved average 88 percent occupancy at a $409.07 average daily rate (ADR), with a resulting $359.09 revenue per available room (RevPAR). Continue reading >>>

On Columbus Day, a World Class Cities Partnership (WCCP) delegation of Boston-area leaders, led by Executive Director Mike Lake, kicked off the Lisbon portion of a week-long mission in Portugal. A day of meetings and tours focused on the development of the 'Waterfront City,' one of three areas of focus for the mission along with creating the 'Entrepreneurial City' and promoting the 'Innovative City.' Monday's objective was to understand the civic vision, strategy and implementation that is driving Lisbon's waterfront development, with the goal to take the concepts and lessons learned from Lisbon's Continue reading >>>

Builders course to be offered in Framingham The Builders Association of Greater Boston (BAGB) has announced its upcoming session for the builders licensing course, which prepares builders, remodelers and other professionals for the Massachusetts Construction Supervisors Licensing Exam. The course will be offered at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel, 1657 Worcester Road, (Rte. 9 west), Framingham, Oct. 17 through Dec. 5. The course meets seven weeks, one night a week on Wednesdays from 7 to 10 p.m. Those interested should visit bagb.org. The fee is $275 for BAGB members and $375 for non-members, Continue reading >>>

Fred Massa, of Boston, and Svetlana Javakhyan, of Malden, the president/CEO and vice president of Sales for Wolfson Cutler Real Estate in Medford announce their real estate agency will become an independently owned and operated member of Weichert Real Estate Affiliates (WREA). The office, located at 362 Salem St., Medford, will now be known as WEICHERT, REALTORS® —Blueprint Brokers.  WEICHERT, REALTORS® — Blueprint Brokers replaces Wolfson Cutler Real Estate, which has served the Greater Boston area for more than 50 years. Massa and Javakhyan will be partners and will lead the growth Continue reading >>>