Two of the best events that the NHL puts on every year are the Winter Classic, and the best of seven-series Stanley Cup Finals. However, as great as the finals can be, the one-game Winter Classic is the better event because of the national attention that surrounds it.  Now, before you puckheads go and chop my head off for suggesting such a thing, just think about this.  With the Winter Classic, two fan bases get half a year, from the summer until the game in January, to build anticipation. With the Stanley Cup Finals, you get maybe a couple of days to get excited for the start of the Continue reading >>>

LAKE JACKSON, Texas, Jan 02, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Ron Paul 2012 Presidential campaign announced today that it will begin airing its final television ad 'Believe' in the key early voting state of New Hampshire. The 60-second ad will run beginning today on broadcast and cable television statewide in New Hampshire, and on broadcast television in the greater Boston market. The ad features Continue reading >>>

Still, are we really back to 1990s levels? And if so, has the market finally hit bottom as we head into 2012?

Happy New Year and welcome to 2012!

SALEM — A Beverly developer has filed plans to build a 141-apartment complex along the North River canal. MRM Project Management hopes to develop the former Salem Oil Grease factory, one of the last vestiges of Blubber Hollow, which was a historic tannery district and industrial site for more than 200 years. The developer plans to demolish most of the existing factory structures, erect three, four-story buildings with market-rate apartments and convert the company's former office at 60 Grove St. into a commercial building. The complex would have 215 parking spaces and a main entrance off Harmony Continue reading >>>

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The Colonial Figure Skating Club hosts its annual synchronized competition next weekend at Tsongas Center, but something a lot more prestigious than gold, silver, and bronze medals is at stake. For two junior teams, it’s a chance to qualify to skate in March on a much bigger stage - in Goteborg, Sweden - representing the United States at the Junior World Challenge Cup. Nine teams - two each from New Jersey and Michigan - and others from Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, New York, and Massachusetts (the Lexettes from Lexington) will vie for the coveted two spots. Colonial, Continue reading >>>

As with the other disciplines, all teams perform a free skate with required program elements. In addition, teams at the junior and senior levels perform a short program consisting of required elements, including blocks, circles, wheels, lines, intersections, moves in the field, moves in isolation, no-hold step sequences, spins, and pairs’ moves.

IN LOCAL GALLERIES: “New Beginnings,’’ an exhibit of recent works by members of the Swampscott Arts Association, is at the Gallery at Grosvenor Park in Salem next Sunday through Feb. 1. An opening reception will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. next Sunday. Artists exhibiting in this show are from Swampscott, Marblehead, Lynnfield, Nahant, Lynn, and Salem. Membership is open to all local artists and photographers. . . . “Beyond Our Vision,’’ an exhibit of photographs by Jeremy Barnard, is at the Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport through Jan. 29. Barnard has been practicing Continue reading >>>

Happy New Year, Starts readers. Today marks the fifth anniversary of the MBTA’s last fare hike. With another one projected for July 1, watch this space for more details soon on the proposals being groomed privately by the T for public comment and review. You may remember that the last hike was tied to the retirement of the token and the systemwide rollout of the CharlieCard. Little considered at the time, but reported by my predecessor, Mac Daniel, was that those reloadable plastic CharlieCards would expire in three to five years. Most actually lasted a little longer, Continue reading >>>