An Irish adage says: “When you come to a wall that is too high to climb, throw your hat over the wall, and then go get your hat.” That’s what Massachusetts started with its 2006 law requiring just about everyone to get coverage and arranging to make that coverage affordable. Now, it’s time to get the hat. Legislation to contain costs is the necessary sequel. Reducing costs won’t just rescue health care; it will also help rescue our schools, our roads, our museums, our wages, and the competitiveness of our corporations; that’s because every additional Continue reading >>>

Newton: The 23d annual Project Manna Concert, a fund-raiser for the soup kitchen and food pantry at Massachusetts Avenue Baptist Church in Cambridge, will feature the church’s choir along with the Boston Pops Gospel Choir, Love Tones from the Myrtle Baptist Church, New England Conservatory Gospel Choir (below), and choirs from Temple Emanuel, Gann Academy, and Temple Aliyah in Needham at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward St. $20, $15 students and seniors. 617-558-8100, www.templeemanuel.com. Continue reading >>>

In 1890, Ameen Esperh Hamawi was born a Christian Arab, in Damascus, when it was part of the Ottoman Empire, then enclosing most of the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Red and Black Seas within its boundaries. At that time Tripoli, Damascus and Beirut were all subject to Turkish Islamic rule, which was harsh for “non-believers” and in 1906, Ameen joined a steady flow of Christian immigrants to the west. He arrived with his two cousins and his oldest brother in Boston via the White Star steamship line. They lived together, in the city with his cousins’ mother, who had immigrated about two years Continue reading >>>

EVENTS Malden: For the Greater Boston Countryfest, the backyard of Anthony’s is transformed into a down-home, southern, country shindig. Country music, BBQ, games, and a mechanical bull are featured. Saturday, 2 p.m. Anthony’s of Malden, 105 Canal St. $20. www.facebook.com/events/303203949749806/ MUSIC Marblehead: Star-Spangled Pops features music inspired by The War of 1812 and the 50th anniversary of Henry Mancini’s Academy Award for “Moon River,” performed by The Hillyer Festival Orchestra. 7 p.m. Abbot Hall, 170 Washington St. $25 balcony; $40 Continue reading >>>

Stoughton: Tema Jazz will perform a concert of Brazilian jazz styles such as choro, bossa nova, samba, and Tropicalia. Works by Jobim, Veloso, Barroso, Bonfa, and many others, plus original compositions and non-Brazilian songs performed in Brazilian styles. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Stoughton Public Library, 84 Park St. Free. 781-344-2711, www.stoughtonlibrary.org.

  The economy is shaping up to be a major issue in the presidential election, with some saying it will make or break President Barack Obama’s chances of fending off the challenge from Mitt Romney. So how’s Cambridge’s economy? Heavy on information – academics and medical patents – and low on unemployment. The Cambridge unemployment rate –at 4.1 percent in November 2011 – is lower than the Greater Boston rate – 5.4 percent at that time – lower than the Massachusetts rate – 6.4 percent – and exactly half of the national rate. The national rate has since dropped slightly Continue reading >>>

Markell Carter is about to get a new roommate. And the second-year Patriot couldn’t be happier.Carter’s younger sister, 21-year-old Keyarrie Hudson, has been battling Lupus for more than a year. Hudson is actually in the process of moving in with Carter in New England, not just to spend time with her brother but to take advantage of the better doctors that are available in greater Boston.“Lupus is still kind of exotic back home. In Oklahoma there aren’t really a lot fo specialists for it,” Carter said.Hudson, who will return to Oklahoma to attend Ryan State in Tulsa, will also be on hand Continue reading >>>

All-Scholastic pitcher Kiara Amos threw her second no-hitter of the season and was an infield error away from recording a perfect game as the No. 5 ranked Malden girls dominated Greater Boston League rival, Cambridge, 12-0, Friday at Callahan Park, in Malden. Amos (12-0) earned her 64th career win, a school record, and recorded her 10th career shutout and her seventh of the season. The Providence-bound hurler had 14 strikeouts, and averages 13 per game. “Kiara is a competitor when she gets on the mound. She is there for one reason and that is to win,’’ said Continue reading >>>

The controversy over US Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren's claim to be part Native American is not going over well with Patch readers in the Greater Boston area, according to an unscientific Patch poll. As of Thursday morning 52 percent of the 304 Patch readers who took our unscientific poll said they believe US Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren is more of a hypocrite than incumbent Republican US Senator Scott Brown. Meanwhile some 19 percent who took the poll said they believe Brown is more of a hypocrite for voting against President Barack Obama's health care law while taking advantage of a Continue reading >>>

WHO: Globe writer James H. Burnett III, his wife, and toddler son WHERE: Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary WHAT: Bird-watching, interacting with animals, hiking nature trails, and sampling farm work. You don’t have to look far in Greater Boston to find an animal to watch or pet. Between the pound, the zoo, and your neighbors’ backyards, there’s plenty of four-legged fodder. But if you want an educational experience with your animal ogling, there may be no better place in New England than Drumlin Farm in Lincoln, the headquarters of the Massachusetts Audubon Continue reading >>>