NORTH ANDOVER — Lauren Vincent and Alyssa McNaught will be appearing in the Northeast Youth Ballet's "The Nutcracker" at the Lynn Memorial Auditorium in Lynn. The Nutcracker will run from Dec. 8 through Dec. 11. Tickets are $26.00 for adults and $23 for children and seniors (tickets include a $1.00 auditorium fee) and may be obtained through the theater Box Office at Lynn Memorial Auditorium. Groups of 20 or more and students are eligible for discounted tickets at $22.00. For those who qualify, complimentary tickets are also available through NYB's S.T.A.R.S. Program, a community outreach program Continue reading >>>

After nearly 30 years of dictatorial rule by Hosni Mubarak in her native Egypt, Amira Hussein never imagined she would nearly be disenfranchised by an American holiday celebrating bounty. But last week Hussein and countless other Egyptians living in the United States faced that prospect, when ballots to vote in the parliamentary election were released on Thanksgiving Day when mail service - and just about everything else in the country - is closed. The ballots, circulated online, would have had to be mailed to the Egyptian consulate in Washington, D.C., or hand-delivered Continue reading >>>

After decades intoning the same words of worship, Tom McLaughlin said change is hard. “I think it’s easier for the younger people,’’ he said after Mass at Our Lady Help of Christians Parish in Newton yesterday morning. “I look at the card, and I still say the wrong word.’’ This weekend a new English translation of the Mass prayers was heard across the country. But while some praised the unfamiliar words as an invitation to study their meaning anew, many were tripping over the sometimes cumbersome new lexicon at Masses yesterday. Continue reading below McLaughlin, Continue reading >>>

For the past five years, the Concord couple visited a Canal Street eatery – Sports Grille Boston – before each game, then headed to section 319, row seven. (“We were like regulars, as if it was Cheers,’’ Daddario said, referring to the legendary fictional Boston bar.)

Danielle Slichenmyer ’12, of Sherborn, received the Coach’s Award at the Fall Sports Assembly at the Brimmer and May School for play on the varsity field hockey team. This award is presented to an athlete who exemplifies sportsmanship, cooperation, motivation and dedication. Slichenmyer helped her team to four shutout victories during the season. Head coach Kate Durdam and assistant coach Adam Michael said of her that she never complained, always attended practice, was a good listener, and served as a role model for some of the younger girls. Slichenmyer is the daughter of Dr. William Continue reading >>>

Go Red volunteer tells her story from the heart Amanda L. Gonzalez of Worcester is a college graduate, working woman, volunteer — and heart disease survivor. Ms. Gonzalez, 23, a pre-school assistant with the Guild of St. Agnes in Worcester, was chosen by the American Heart Association's Greater Boston Division as one of six Go Red for Women campaign spokeswomen. Among her assignments, Ms. Gonzalez will appear as a model Wednesday at the Go Red in Your Own Fashion Show at Worcester Art Museum. She's also in a commercial airing on Charter TV. Ms. Gonzalez' message to women is simple: Continue reading >>>

Millions of Americans suffer from memory loss and that number is expected to soar as Baby Boomers age, note representatives of the Aviv Centers for Living. Now, you can have a chance to better understand what it’s really like to live with dementia and memory impairment when the Virtual Dementia Tour comes to the JCC of the North Shore, 4 Community Road, Marblehead, on Wednesday, Dec. 7. The training educates and sensitizes participants to the physical and mental challenges that dementia patients live with every day. Attendees will also hear from experts Janice Glick, a licensed social worker, Continue reading >>>

The Bertolon Center for Grief Healing, a program of Hospice of the North Shore Greater Boston, will hold “Coping with the Holidays,” a free workshop, on Thursday, Dec. 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. at The First Church in Swampscott, Congregational at 40 Monument Ave., Swampscott. According to Nancy Sherman, director of bereavement, dealing with the holidays isn’t easy even if you haven’t had a loss. But when you’ve had a loss, it can make the holidays even more stressful. “The holidays create a combination of joy and memories. People look forward to them with hope and anticipation,” Continue reading >>>

THEATER Opening CHRISTMAS TIME Sarah Pfisterer and Rick Hilsabeck have been added as guest stars to this musical production, which will feature a cast of 150 children and nearly 40 adults performing dance and choral numbers, including the tap-dancing “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,’’ the “Teddy Bears’ Nutcracker,’’ “Santa’s Workshop,’’ and the “Living Nativity.’’ Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston, Robinson Theatre, Waltham. Dec. 3-11. 781-891-5600, Continue reading >>>