1. New leader: With the recent retirement of Richard Bongiorno, Jim McIntyre was sworn in as the new police chief in Stoneham. Check out our photos and video from the Thursday afternoon ceremony. 2. Project update: The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) is expected to begin construction of a 20-million-gallon water storage tank behind the site of the former Boston Regional Medical Center on Woodland Road in Stoneham on Monday, June 4, according to the MWRA. 3. Share your vision: With our latest Visions for Vacancies feature, we'd like to know: What would you do with the empty storefront Continue reading >>>

A view of the condo at 32 Rutland St. in the South End By Johanna Kaiser, Town Correspondent Curious residents and potential buyers have a chance to peek into one of the South End’s luxury condos while raising money for a non-profit aimed at ending homelessness. Boston’s real estate community and a South End chef are teaming up to host a viewing party of a $2.9 million condo at 32 Rutland St., with proceeds from the event benefitting Boston-based organization Homestart, Inc. HomeStart works to end and prevent homelessness in greater Boston by helping individuals obtain permanent housing Continue reading >>>

SUNDAY: Ammi-Joan Paquette (“The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Mermaids”) reads at 2 p.m. at Wellesley Books, 82 Central St., Wellesley … Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot (“Exit: The Endings That Set Us Free") reads at 3 p.m. at the Concord Book Shop, 65 Main St., Concord MONDAY: Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot (“Exit: The Endings That Set Us Free") reads at 6 p.m. at the Brattle Theatre ($5 tickets required) … Cynthia Levinson (“We’ve Got a Job”) and Meira Levinson (“No Citizen Left Behind”) read at 7 p.m. at Brookline Booksmith TUESDAY: Andrew Blum (“Tubes: A Journey to the Center of the Continue reading >>>

After a long record of participation in civic activities, Dorchester resident Ralph Browne Jr. will serve as this year’s Dorchester Day Parade Chief Marshal. Browne has lived in Dorchester for the last 40 years in Upham's Corner and was born and raised in the greater Boston area. He and his wife of 60 years, Wilma, have seven children, eleven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Browne served in the United States Army during the Korean War with the 272nd Field Artillery Battalion of the Massachusetts National Guards, the last all-African-American military unit to be activated Continue reading >>>

Newton: The women of Voices Rising launch Pride Week 2012 with an evening of heart and humor, performing music by Cris Williamson, Cyndi Lauper, the Flirtations, Jerry Herman, CSNY and maybe even some Lady Gaga, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., at the Eliot Church of Newton, 474 Centre St. $22, $18 advance, $10 seniors and students, $5 ages 5 and younger. 617-244-3639, www.voicesrising.org.

Teacher salaries in Wakefield are about average for the Greater Boston area, according to a new map showing how average teacher salaries compare across Massachusetts created by WBUR.  On the map, the darker the city or town, the higher the average salary. The map can be viewed for elementary teacher salaries (red), middle school salaries (green) and high school salaries (blue). To the north, Lynnfield eclipses Wakefield with an average teacher salary of $70,980, and to the south, Melrose has the lowest average salary in the area at $55,897.  Wakefield is on the lower side in terms of expenditure Continue reading >>>

State Representative Joseph Wagner has taken issue with ­remarks from the head of the state gambling commission that Massachusetts could ­license fewer than three resort casinos, the maximum allowed by state law, if the commission’s review of the market suggests the Bay State cannot support that many. The Chicopee Democrat said Wednesday that it is “a fact” that the state has three viable casino markets and that the public comments from gambling commission chairman Stephen Crosby set the wrong tone for a state trying to attract developers to enter the competition Continue reading >>>