The MBTA’s board of directors last week approved fare increases, as well as reduced service on bus, commuter rail, and ferry lines and the rapid transit Green Line, in order to close a $160 million budget gap for next fiscal year. South of Boston, cuts included elimination of weekend service on the Fore River Shipyard ferry in Quincy, the Greenbush and Kingston/Plymouth branches of the Old Colony Railroad, the Needham commuter rail line, and the 245 bus, which runs from Mattapan through Milton to Quincy Center.

Sunday, April 8, 2012 By Jim Cronin Banker Tradesman Staff Writer Anyone even peripherally associated with commercial real estate would have to have had their heads in the proverbial sand for the last few years to not know that speculative office development in Greater Boston is dead. A valid subscription is required to read the article or use the tool you've selected. Already a subscriber? Continue reading >>>

Residential construction activity in this region is approaching pre-recession levels after a half-decade in the doldrums. In the 12 months ending Feb. 29, builders took on $2.3 billion worth of residential construction in the Greater Boston metropolitan area, according to research from McGraw-Hill Construction. The figure represents nearly a 20-percent increase over the same period the previous year. Rising consumer confidence, accelerating real estate sales volume and low mortgage rates have set the stage for a construction recovery. Local building departments report an uptick in renovations Continue reading >>>

NEIGHBORS —  The Board of Directors of the Rhode Island Association of School Principals recently named Janet Lyons, principal of Austin T. Levy Elementary School in Harrisville, as its 2010-2011 Outstanding First-Year Principal. A Worcester resident, Ms. Lyons earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Worcester State College, a master's degree in educational technology from Lesley University and a master's degree in education in leadership and administration from Worcester State College. She taught in Worcester public schools from 1991 to 1999, serving as a facilitator/coordinator Continue reading >>>

Mitt Romney doesn’t need to pick a female running mate — as he did with former Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey when he ran for governor in the Bay State — to woo women voters in his bid to oust President Obama from office, local supporters said yesterday. “Having a female as his vice president isn’t necessary to win over women voters,” said Karyn Polito, a former state representative who worked on Romney’s 2002 gubernatorial campaign. “As a female candidate I always felt that women care about the same issues that men do: homes, children, saving for the future. He worked on those issues when Continue reading >>>

WHAT’S AHEAD: Portland Timbers, Montreal Impact Join Academy for 2012-13: The Portland Timbers and Montreal Impact have been selected to join the U.S. Soccer Development Academy for the 2012-13 season. Their inclusion increases the number of MLS Academy clubs to 17 and expands the Academy field to 80 teams for the first 10-month season. The Timbers will join the Northwest Division of the West Conference and the Impact will join a realigned Northeast Division in the East Conference. Academy on Bye Week: The Development Academy is on hiatus from regular-season play this weekend, but play resumes Continue reading >>>

The Boston Foundation recently announced its quarterly discretionary grants totaling $2,083,000. The foundation is making 11 grants to organizations serving the area.  "This latest round of discretionary grants touches a number of critical areas for Greater Boston, with an emphasis on education, job training, health, housing and the expansion of programs that connect the city's residents with some of our best arts and cultural institutions," said president and CEO of the Boston Foundation, Paul S. Grogan.Three organizations that are working to bring relevant arts and culture programs to Boston Continue reading >>>

Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone speaks at the Metro Mayors Coalition's “Shannon Grant Day on the Hill” at the Massachusetts State House on March 29 to advocate for funding of the Shannon Grant Community Safety Initiative, which helps fund the prevention of youth crime and gang violence in Greater Boston. By Matt Byrne, Town CorrespondentSomerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone is slated to meet Monday with the student planners of a youth anti-violence conference. Students at the Center for Teen Empowerment who are planning the sixth annual Somerville Youth Peace Conference will present Continue reading >>>

OK, so here's what other suburbanites had to say after hearing that life in hip urban neighborhoods like Davis Square is infinitely superior to humdrum Natick, Needham or Medway. Thirtysomething: Franksmartin doesn't understand that some people have almost ZERO interest in restaurants/nightclubs/shopping. I would rather spend a couple hours in the garden -- and it is hard to find 15000 sq ft properties (lot size not interior space) in urban areas, especially at a price that normal people can afford. Besides, if we lived in Quincy, or Back Bay, or Somerville, it would be a LONG trek out to the Continue reading >>>