AL Capsules

J.J. Hardy and Adam Jones homered off Justin Verlander, and Manny Machado added a double and two sparkling plays at third base for Baltimore. ( AP 06/19/2013 5:46 AM )

Mum's the word on Hossa amid NHL's injury culture

Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville didn't want to talk about the injury that forced him to scratch forward Marian Hossa from the Stanley Cup finals against the Boston Bruins. ( AP 06/19/2013 6:57 AM )

Gomes' HR lifts Red Sox to doubleheader sweep

BOSTON (AP) -- The Boston Red Sox had just enough energy left to celebrate Jonny Gomes' big swing. ( AP 06/19/2013 10:41 AM )

Markey, Gomez heading into final campaign stretch

BOSTON (AP) -- Massachusetts's special U.S. Senate election heads into its final stretch after Republican Gabriel Gomez and Democratic U.S. Rep. Edward Markey engaged in some testy exchanges during their final debate. ( AP 06/19/2013 5:17 AM )

Mass. lighthouse on endangered places list

AQUINNAH, Mass. (AP) -- A Martha's Vineyard lighthouse that's in danger of tumbling off the cliffs it was built on in the 1800s was named one of the country's most endangered historic places. ( AP 06/19/2013 4:54 AM )

MA Lottery

BRAINTREE, Mass. (AP) -- These Massachusetts lotteries were drawn Tuesday: 03-05-07-10-13 06-17-34-40-48, Mega Ball: 30 2 5-9-1-3 0-9-7-1 Estimated jackpot: $105 million ( AP 06/19/2013 4:52 AM )

Evictions, discrimination complaints raise questions at Clarendon Hill complex in Somerville

The company that manages Clarendon Hill Towers in Somerville initiates as many as 30 eviction proceedings per month and recently agreed to settle a discrimination lawsuit filed by federal prosecutors, according to court records. A total of 150 eviction cases have been filed by FHRC Management Corp. since 2010 in Somerville District Court, according to records maintained by the Community Action Agency of Somerville. Last week, there were six court appearances scheduled for such cases, including five bench trials. City officials in Somerville are calling for an independent review of ongoing issues at the towers. "When you keep hearing the same thing over and over, you start to think that its not just one or two tenants and that something is going on," said Ward 7 Alderman Robert Trane. (   06/16/2013 5:32 AM )

Olin College hosts SailBot Regatta in Gloucester

GLOUCESTER - The robotic sailing team from Olin College in Needham wants, one day, to build a boat that will be able to sail itself across the Atlantic. First, however, these ambitious engineering students had to conquer Gloucester Harbor. The group is one of 18 teams that gathered last week to participate in the seventh SailBot International Robotic Sailing Regatta, a competition that challenges high school and university teams to create unmanned boats that can follow a course and steer around obstacles without human control. For five days, a fleet of scaled-down sailboats zig-zagged through the water off Pavilion Beach as their creators watched, fingers crossed, from nearby boats. Teams came from as nearby as Gloucester High School and Endicott College in Beverly, and as far away as Vancouver and Wales. (   06/16/2013 5:26 AM )

Melrose Education Foundation formed

The new Melrose Education Foundation aims to raise $10,000 to $20,000 to give out provide grants to for public school teachers. The foundation hopesis planning to give out the first round of grants in the fall and a second round next spring, organizers said. Grants will be made for programs and projects that enrich curriculum but cannot be funded in the school budget. A seven-member board is overseeing the foundation, with Mayor Robert J. Dolan and School Superintendent Cyndy Taymore serving as ex-efficio ex officio members. The foundation can be reached at www.facebook.com/MelroseED. Online donations can be made through the group's website, www.melroseedfoundation.org. "The funds from the Melrose Education Foundation will help our staff to explore new approaches to teaching and learning and to find new resources to support our students," Taymore said in a prepared statement (   06/16/2013 1:23 AM )

Cape Ann Olive Oil Co. serves EVOO aficionados

At the Cape Ann Olive Oil Co. in Gloucester and its sister store, the Newburyport Olive Oil Co., customers can get 37 varieties of extra virgin olive 0il and 27 balsamic vinegars. Who would have thought of a coconut cake made with coconut-infused oil and a frosting with raspberry balsamic vinegar? Or a vinaigrette that tastes like a lime rickey? (   06/16/2013 1:21 AM )

A Father's Day quiz to help the clueless

What does a good dad do when he's in charge and the baby won't stop crying? Or when a curious toddler suddenly takes an interest in his 50-inch TV? From across the pond, Steve Coronella serves up a pop quiz for Father's Day on these and other parenting dilemmas to help the unskilled master the fine art of being a dad. (   06/16/2013 1:21 AM )

Amended pension plan for wounded police officer heads to council

The Woburn City Council on Tuesday will consider a revised plan that would provide a police officer who was shot responding to a 2011 robbery with a disability pension equal to his full salary for life. Mayor Scott D. Galvin has asked the council to authorize the filing of special legislation allowing Robert DeNapoli, 52, to retire on disability with a pension equal to 100 percent of the pay he would have received if he remained a police officer. His pension would then be set at 80 percent of the three-year average annual rate of his compensation at that time. Last Wednesday, a council committee voted 6-3 to amend the plan to provide that DeNapoli would receive a disability pension equal to 100 percent of his pay for the remainder of his life, rather than having it revert to 80 percent at age 65. (   06/16/2013 1:20 AM )

Hamilton votes down purchasing $3.9m Pirie property Hamilton rejects $3.9m purchase of 86.5-acre farm

Tuesday's Special Town Meeting decision against the town purchase of 86.5 acres is one many voters will regret in both the long and the short term, the chairman of the Board of Selectmen said. "It is a phenomenally large missed opportunity," said Marc Johnson. "It will go down as an historic missed opportunity. The ability to have trails, parks, open [space], and achieve some revenue and housing is just not going to come back on the same scale and scope again." Town Meeting voters defeated the controversial proposal to purchase the 641 Bay Road property for $3.9 million. Needing a two-thirds majority for approval, the proposal fell by a vote of 478 against to 391 in favormargin following about 90 minutes of debate. (   06/16/2013 1:19 AM )

Andover's John Farrell starting pro baseball career with Hudson Valley Renegades

John Farrell was just hanging out, at home in Andover, on a lazy Saturday afternoon. The 22-year-old Farrell certainly deserved a breather, after contributing mightily to a historic season for the William & Mary baseball program, one in which the Tribe racked up a program-best 39 wins and captured their first-ever wins in the NCAA Division 1 tournament (both against Ole Miss). Last Saturday, he was tuned in to the NCAA Super Regionals when his phone rang. Lou Wieben, a scout for the Tampa Bay Rays, was on the line, offering his congratulations. With their pick in the 21st round, the Rays had selected the 6-foot-2, 210-pound righthander in Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft, a fitting conclusion to what was a dominant MLB's June Amateur Draft - senior season for Farrell. (   06/16/2013 1:19 AM )

Cohasset High seniors graduate, walk the red carpet

The 86 seniors of Cohasset High School graduated in style last weekend at the South Shore Music Circus. Late last month, the students at the senior prom showed even more style when they walked a 50-foot red carpet and posed for pictures in a community tradition. Making the tradition a little more special this year: The red carpet was donated by actress Kate Bosworth, a 2001 Cohasset High alum who played Lois Lane in the 2006 movie "Superman Returns." "We wanted a longer red carpet so kids could be on it longer and more spectators could see them," said parent Elizabeth Kissick, who is a friend of the actress's mother. "I thought red carpet? Hollywood. I'll ask Kate. So I asked, and she generously said yes." As another part of Cohasset's senior traditions, the prom-goers rode trolley buses into Boston for the dance, and then back to a parent-supervised "After Prom Safe Party" at the River Club in Scituate. (   06/16/2013 1:24 AM )

Music fest tickets on sale

Tickets are on sale for the Duxbury Music Festival, scheduled for July 21 to Aug. 2. At the festival, faculty and students from the South Shore Conservatory will perform in homes throughout Duxbury, at the Ellison Center for the Arts, and at the Village at Duxbury. The Boston String Quartet will perform Beatles songs at Yellow Submarine on the Green, and families can see Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys and visit an instrument petting zoo and a drum circle. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.duxburymusicfestival.org. (   06/16/2013 1:24 AM )

Turbine contractor settles safety complaints

A contractor building the town's wind turbine has been cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for two alleged violations. Lumus Construction Inc. of Wilmington received two fines totaling $3,080, one because the agency said the size of the openings on a platform where workers stand on the tower was too wide and the other due to allegations of missing bolts on the turbine ladder. The contractor settled with OSHA for $2,420. The alleged violations were found when the safety organization investigated a December 2012 accident in which a worker fell 24 feet from the tower into the turbine. OSHA spokesman Andre Bowser said that accident, which the worker survived, triggered the investigation, but the fines were unrelated to it. (   06/16/2013 1:24 AM )

Carnival and fireworks for youth football

Hull Youth Football's carnival kicks off Wednesday and runs through next Sunday, with fireworks over the water Saturday night. In case of rain, the fireworks will go off the following night, according to organization president Robert Cambra. The 22d annual carnival will take place across from Nantasket Beach on a lot owned by the Hull Redevelopment Authority. The carnival will be open Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 6 to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 6 to 11 p.m. Hull Youth Football serves about 200 players and cheerleaders, Cambra said. "The money we raise runs our program for the year. We keep our fingers crossed" for good weather, he said. Cambra said donations are welcome to help pay for the fireworks. (   06/16/2013 1:24 AM )

Question of creating historic sites

Residents are being asked to weigh in on whether to create historic districts in Norwell. An ad hoc committee appointed by selectmen last year has posted information about its mission, and work it has done to date, on the town's website, www.townofnorwell.net. Stephen Hull, chairman of the Norwell Historic District Study Committee, said that residents on High, Main, and Summer streets were sent surveys last fall about creating historic districts. Because there wasn't much response from residents on Main and High streets, a survey was recently mailed again to residents there. Once the committee hears from more residents in the areas that are being considered for local historic district distinction, it will put together a report and share the findings with the community. (   06/16/2013 1:24 AM )

Library adds databases

The public library has added six databases for its patrons. One of them, the Chilton Library, is a resource for car repairs. Another, Price It!, provides values of antiques and other collectibles. Powerspeak Languages is for language learning. Legal Forms offers just that: many of the standard forms. Career Transitions helps with job searches, including resume-writing and interview practice. Testing and Education Reference Center allows users to practice for exams from high school entrance to graduate school. All the library's databases are available free of charge to anyone with a Pembroke library card. Some are accessible to anyone with a library card from a Massachusetts community. To access them, go to the library's website, www.pembrokepubliclibrary.org, and click on "Online Resources." For more information, call the library at 781-293-6771. (   06/16/2013 1:23 AM )

Honoring heroes, helping victim of Marathon bombing

The town recently honored two local heroes for helping victims of the Boston Marathon bombing, and raised money for the daughter of a Weymouth school bus driver who was injured in the attack. The Town Council commended siblings Stephen and Kaitlyn Shinney for running to the marathon finish line and taking action that "directly led to the saving of lives." Kaitlyn is a Hingham firefighter and paramedic, and her brother has EMT training. Meanwhile, the William Seach Primary School held a fund-raiser and presented an $8,275 check to Mery Daniels to help pay her medical expenses. Daniels, a medical student and the daughter of school bus driver Harry Volmar, lost a leg in the bombing. The Chapman Middle School also is raising money for Daniels. The Seach school is continuing to accept donations, and the contact person is Elizabeth Murray, at elizabeth.murray@weymouthschools.org. (   06/16/2013 1:23 AM )

Public hearing on budget

A public hearing will be held June 24 at City Hall to discuss the proposed $317 million fiscal 2014 budget that relies on a nearly $4 million increase in the city's tax levy in ordertaxes to avoid a deficit. Members of the grassroots group Brocktonians for Limited Taxation have decried the looming such a hike, saying it that they say can be averted by drawing on some of thethe approximately $6 plus-milliondepositedin a stabilization account. Some city officials say the funds may be needed to settle union contracts or for other uses at a time that departmental budgets are already spread too thin. Last week, city councilors voted on budget cuts that included more than $50,000 from the law department, about $100,000 from the treasurer's office for debt service, and $20,000 from a snow-removal account. New spending included $86,000 for a planning and economic development chief, part of a plan to combine the two departments and draw more business to the city. (   06/16/2013 1:23 AM )

Help manage town's sports fields

The Ashland Fields Management Group is seeking a volunteer representing local Ashland youth sports to serve on the five-member town committee. The panel, which is appointed by the Board of Selectmen and School Committee and reports to the selectmen, organization provides oversight and management for all fields in town with regards to maintenance, usage, and improvements. Members serve two-year terms; the current opening town's School Committee will be appointed by the School Committee. make the appointment. Those interested in the position should contact Karen Johnson in the superintendent's of schools' office at 508-881-0150 or e-mail karenjohnson@ashland.k12.ma.us. (   06/16/2013 1:24 AM )

Dispose of household waste Saturday

The town is holding a household hazardous waste collection daySaturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Bellingham Middle School parking lot. Accepted items will include pesticides, weed killers, paint thinner, lighter fluid, furniture polishes, rug cleaners, swimming pool chemicals, and antifreeze. Items that will not be accepted include ammunition, fireworks, car batteries, tires, fluorescent bulbs, and commercial and industrial waste. Materials should be in their original containers, packed tightly in sturdy, upright boxes. For a full list of accepted items, visit the town's website, www.bellinghamma.org. (   06/16/2013 1:24 AM )

Hinkley beach opens Thursday

The Hinkley Swim Pond beach at 55 Green St. will open for the summer season Thursday, and will remain open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The pond has had new sand added as part of its annual maintenance, is drained and new sand is added yearly, and the water is tested daily. Bathrooms, a playground, and a concession stand are all available at the beach. Lifeguards will be on duty through closing day on Aug. 20.The pond is open to the public after that date, but the beach will not be guarded.Group or private swim lessons are available at the pond Monday through Friday for prechildren i-kindergartners and older children, aged and up, with members receiving a 25 percent discount on lessons. Individual memberships are $50 for residents and $75 for non-residents, and family memberships are $75 for residents and $150 for nonresidents; there is no fee for ages 65 and older. Memberships , free for those age 65 and olderare available at the Pfaff Center, 124 North St., and through the town Memberships are also available on the Medfield Parks & Recreation Department's website, www.medfieldrec.com. (   06/16/2013 1:24 AM )

Babysitting class set for June 28

An American Red Cross babysitters training program will be held June 28 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the media center at Memorial Elementary School. The program offers information on keeping children safe and following household rules, as well as hands-on skills practice and additional training in first aid. The program is aimed at children ages 11 to 15. Preregistration is required; the fee is $85. For more information or to register, call the Upton Town Library at 508-529-6272. (   06/16/2013 1:24 AM )

Police focusing on crosswalk safety

The Wrentham Police Department will be stepping up enforcement of crosswalk and speed violations in the town center this summer, according to a posting on its official online blog, http://www.wrenpd.blogspot.com.website. The department was police were awarded a $3,000 grant by the state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to focus on crosswalk enforcement and bicycle safety. Through the grant, during the months of June, July, and August, police will be checking to ensure drivers are not speeding in town center, and are yielding to pedestrians in the 19 crosswalks there. Posted speed limits change from 40 miles per hour to 20 or 25 miles per hour on South Street, and police say drivers who speed have a difficult time stopping for pedestrians there. Police will also be on the lookout for drivers who violate bicycle safety laws during the Pan-Mass Challenge, which sends riders through town as part of its 192-mile route each summer. The local segment of this year's fund-raiser for cancer research is slated for Aug. 3. (   06/16/2013 1:24 AM )

Register for courses at summer academy

The Plainville Summer Learning Academyprogram will hold two three-week sessionsthis summer for children entering kindergarten through sixth grade starting next month. Learning The program focus on includes classes in language arts, math, science and technology, robotics, physical education, and theater, and other areas. The first session will run from July 1 to 19; the second from July 29 to Aug. 16. Classes are held Monday through Friday (except for July 4) from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fees are $280 per three-week session, $500 for both, or $105 for single weeks. per weekly session. For more information, visit the school district's website, www.plainville.k12.ma.us, or call the superintendent of schools's office at 508-699-1300. (   06/16/2013 1:24 AM )

Town plans day of family fun

A family dayin honor of the town's tercentennialwill be held Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with events beginning at 11 a.m.at Choate Park, Cassidy Fields and the Thayer Homestead, as part of the town's tercentennial celebrations. The festivities will include musical performances, carnival games, vintage cars, a scavenger hunt, a dunk tank, square dancing, and a bike parade. In addition, organizers have rented bus "trolleys'' to escort attendees on for guided tours of historical sites tours throughout town, with narration provided by Medway Middle School students. Food and snacks will be available at "old-time prices," organizers say, and the day will culminate with an ice cream sundae bar. For more information, visit www.medway300.com. (   06/16/2013 1:24 AM )

Cub Scouts host open house Monday

Local Cub Scout packs A Cub Scout open house will host an open house Monday from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Norfolk Public Library community room for boys entering grades 1 through 5 and their parents.Parents and children are welcome at the open house, which will offerThe event will provide details about Cub Scout Packs 80 and 125, the activities they offer, and how to join. For more information, e-mail norfolk.pack125@gmail.com. (   06/16/2013 1:24 AM )