By Chris Reidy, Globe Staff The Phoenix Media/Communications Group, a Boston-based independently owned news company, said it will replace its STUFF magazine and its Boston Phoenix alternative weekly with “The Phoenix,� a glossy weekly magazine that plans to combine the content of both its predecessors. With free distribution throughout Greater Boston, the new magazine aims to provide readers with “a richer experience,� and it is set to reach the market in the early fall, the company said. The content will combine the lifestyle appeal of STUFF with the journalistic Continue reading >>>

The Phoenix Media/Communications Group, a Boston-based independently owned news company, said it will replace its STUFF magazine and its Boston Phoenix alternative weekly with “The Phoenix,” a glossy weekly magazine that plans to combine the content of both its predecessors. With free distribution throughout Greater Boston, the new magazine aims to provide readers with “a richer experience,” and it is set to reach the market in the early fall, the company said. The content will combine the lifestyle appeal of STUFF with the journalistic approach of The Boston Phoenix, the company said. Carly Continue reading >>>

The Oak Square YMCA, along with all branches of the YMCA of Greater Boston, is thanking fire, police and emergency medical technicians with an open house through July 31. Emergency services workers are invited to bring their families and try the Y for free. The joiner fee is waived ($25 to $50 savings) for personnel who join during the open house. “The YMCA of Greater Boston supports all of our emergency services personnel,” said YMCA of Greater Boston president and chief executive officer Kevin Washington. “These appreciation days to honor our first responders are well deserved and serve Continue reading >>>

With campus poverty and hunger a growing problem across the country, Bristol Community College and the Greater Boston Food Bank are teaming up to help low-income students. On Monday, the food bank’s Mobile Food Market will travel to BCC to distribute fresh food from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the 777 Elsbree St. campus. The mobile market will be in parking lot No. 5 in front of the Hudnall Administration Building. “It’s a valuable service that’s needed at BCC. We don’t have any statistics of how many of our students are homeless, but we know they’re here,” said Kathy Torpey Garganta, Continue reading >>>

The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce threw its support today behind a new health-care payment reform bill filed by the Legislature’s conference committee, saying it was a step forward for health-care affordability and transparency. “It sets a goal for health-care costs that builds on the progress we’ve made over the last 18 months, while preserving the innovation that drives our health-care system,” said Chamber Executive Vice President Jim Klocke. Chamber officials said Bay State health-care premium growth slowed in recent months, driven in part by new agreements between insurers and Continue reading >>>

Apartment Finance Today PIPELINES Regional Markets APARTMENT FINANCE TODAY • July/August 2012 Vacancies in Boston are below 4 percent and keep falling as developers ramp up their pipelines. BY LAUREN O’NEIL AND BENJAMIN SAYLES THE GREATER Boston area—home to 4.6 million people—boasts 86 colleges and universities and a strong, diverse economic base rooted in education, medical research, technology, and financial services. Continue reading >>>

By Chelsea Conaboy, Globe Staff Lawmakers are expected to vote Tuesday on a 350-page bill that would make Massachusetts the first state to impose limits on how much health care providers can spend on medical costs. It’s a complicated, far-reaching bill that depends on the state’s ability to collect massive amounts of data and to make it usable by regulators and consumers. Leaders in the House and Senate prepared summaries of key provisions in the bill. Below, see some early reaction from consumer advocates and others. The bill comes after more than a year and a half of Continue reading >>>

By Jaclyn Reiss, Town Correspondent The following is based on a prepared statement from RCN Boston: RCN Boston will drive its signature summer ice cream truck back on the road for the sixth year to deliver free ice cream treats to neighborhoods in the greater Boston and MetroWest areas. The truck is expected to stop in 23 communities, including Framingham and Natick. The theme of this year’s summer ice cream truck tour is "Customer Appreciation," which coincides with RCN’s month-long Customer Appreciation Days promotion, according to the company. Throughout the duration of Customer Appreciation Continue reading >>>

Over the course of our four-month stay at MassChallenge we will develop our first prototype and focus on our entry-to-market strategy. So far, we’ve been lucky to meet some great mentors and advisors who share our vision and have helped us immensely through this process. And while we are primarily focusing on our short term tasks we have tried to stay true to our long term goals, namely, to provide fresh drinking water to remote areas across the world. We think we can incorporate a social aspect after testing potential commercial markets in the U.S. We’re excited to see what the future has Continue reading >>>

Four tenants have signed on at the Marlborough Executive Park. According to Greater Boston Commercial Properties, whose associate, Benjamin Gatti, brokered the deals, the leases total 8,288 square feet of space in the 52,500-square-foot building at 65 Boston Post Rd. Westborough information technology consulting firm Advans IT Services Inc. leased 4,216 square feet on the third floor, while the Visiting Nurse Association of New England leased 1,713 square feet of space. On the first floor, Miami-based Workbeast, a technology staffing company, leased 1,236 square feet, while employee benefits Continue reading >>>