By Zuri Berry, Globe Staff You'd think with a matching record, Needham would come with as much hype as their opponent in Saturday's Division 1 Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium, BC High. At 9-3, they're not even close. The Needham Rockets are ranked No. 12 in the Globe Top 20, nine spots behind the BC High Eagles at No. 3. The reasons for which are simple: BC High's losses were to top ranked teams in New Jersey (DePaul Catholic and St. Peter's Prep) and to the state's unanimous No. 1 team, Everett. Needham, a team that was in Division 1A last season (the Bay State Carey flip flopped with the Continue reading >>>

For the third year in a row, a team from Mansfield High School placed in the finals at the annual Stock Market Challenge, an event sponsored by Junior Achievement and held at Fenway Park on Dec 1. The Stock Market Challenge is a stock trading simulation set up to emulate the New York Stock Exchange.  Teams of students are each given $500,000 to invest over the course of a sixty day period where one minute represents a day.  The MHS team, which consisted of business club students Christopher Nugent, Matthew Harris, Maria Platsidakis and Neha Potturu, were declared the third place winners after Continue reading >>>

The annual tree lighting ceremony in Danvers Square, part of the 13th annual Danvers Holiday Festival, will begin at 2 p.m. today. After the tree lighting Santa Claus will arrive by fire truck at the Christmas tree in Danvers Square.Santa will also be at the Maple Street Church as the Danvers High School Key Club take pictures of children on Santa's lap.A DJ will provide entertainment, along with bell ringers. Several businesses will offer free productsAlso, at 5 p.m. on Dec. 7, Hospice of the North Shore and Greater Boston Tree of Lights annual Tree of Lights ceremony will be held at the People’s Continue reading >>>

In some cases it's to save money during a difficult financial period. But as connections and networks continue to grow in importance, organizations like a chamber of commerce serve a very unique and important purpose locally. I decided to ask Katy O'Neil, the executive vice president for the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, a number of pressing questions about the chamber's influence, its embracing of social media and how it is adapting to help local businesses grow and thrive. Q. What is the most important role that the Chamber serves today, in your view? A. The Chamber Continue reading >>>

Related Stories On the Record With Paul Guzzi On The Record With Paul Guzzi On the Record: Zuckerberg, hospital battle, debt On the Record with Paul Guzzi On the Record with Paul Guzzi (NECN) – It may be December, but we’re talking about Red Sox baseball under new management and much more as we go on the record with the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce President Paul Guzzi.From a business perspective, how did Guzzi receive the news that Bobby Valentine is the new manager of the Boston Red Sox?“Happy Valentine’s Day, only earlier. It took some time, but this Continue reading >>>

Lexington, KY - There was a very intelligent and informed psychology professor at the university, from whom I took three courses. The courses had titles and descriptions in the catalogue, but what I learned in the courses seemed unrelated to either. They should have been called "Famous Psychologists I Have Known." I learned a lot, and I have borrowed from the late professor a sort of theme for this column.A recent issue of The New Yorker magazine was dedicated to food in part; there was an article about foraging from the earth, which was once customary and has now become popular again in Europe. Continue reading >>>

By Katie Johnston, Globe Staff Mint Cars On-Demand plans to expand in the Boston area early next year, doubling its number of locations to as many as 24 and adding cars to existing facilities. The New York-based hourly car-rental service will add operations in Brookline, Somerville, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, and Allston-Brighton. Mint Cars took over Somerville-based iCar Wheels to Go in Somerville in September. Car-sharing is big business in Greater Boston, home to industry giant ZipCar Inc. as well as to operations by a recently expanded Hertz hourly rental service and by RelayRides Continue reading >>>

Good causes/fundraisers CHRISTMAS TREES. Every Saturday and Sunday until Dec. 25 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Dodge Tree Service, 281 Willow St., Hamilton. Dodge Tree Service will be selling Christmas trees with all proceeds to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. kgp@comcast.net. Concerts and music CHRISTMAS GALA. Friday, Dec. 2, 8 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m., A.J. Gordon Memorial Chapel, Gordon College, 255 Grapevine Road, Wenham. Celebrate the Christmas season with the Gordon Department of Music. The annual celebration will feature many Gordon ensembles, including the Gordon Continue reading >>>

Common Impact, a nonprofit organization that engages global companies and local nonprofits in skills-based volunteering (SBV) partnerships, and Capital One Financial Corporation have announced the availability of “Measuring the Results: Making the Business Case for Skills-Based Volunteering,” the third and final report in Common Impact's study of nonprofit operational efficiency and the role of SBV in addressing operational gaps. Cambridge, Mass. (PRWEB) November 29, 2011 Common Impact, a nonprofit organization that engages global companies Continue reading >>>

  To the editor: First Baptist Church and Pantry of Hope would like to extend a very heartfelt “thank you” to the Melrose community for the overwhelming outpouring of support during the Thanksgiving season. We have been receiving many canned goods donations as well as many generous monetary donations. It is because of your help that we can continue to help and make a difference in the lives of those who need it most. We recently gave more than 40 turkeys provided by the Greater Boston Food Bank as well as more than 60 gift cards from local supermarkets. Your ongoing support makes this Continue reading >>>