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City to question German bank officials
on Polaroid property's redevelopment

Waltham officials are hoping that representatives from the German bank that now owns the former Polaroid property can clear up some uncertainty about development of the 119-acre site when they appear before a City Council committee next month. Boston Globe, 11/19/09

Library blog: Sharing oral histories near and far

Every day people enter the Waltham Public Library looking to learn about an ancestor, a friend, and various aspects about the history of the city. One item that I am particularly excited that we own is the oral histories that were recorded for Waltham Rediscovered. Waltham Public Library
First Person: Best friends (Laura Barisonzi)

First Person: Best friends

The Globe Sunday Magazine caught up with Waltham resident Scott Fayner, 38, for a conversation about MassArf, a Web magazine for dog lovers that he launched in September, and his two pals, La Bella (left) and Rib-Eye. Boston Sunday Globe, 11/15/09
Sarah Pfisterer and young members of the Reagle Players troupe prepare the opening number to 'It's Christmas Time!' (Reagle Players) Sarah Pfisterer and young members of the Reagle Players troupe prepare the opening number to "It's Christmas Time!"

Reagle Players share holiday cheer in song, dance

Waltham's Reagle Players will raise the curtain on the troupe's 27th annual holiday show on Dec. 4, with special guest star Sarah Pfisterer leading the cast of "It's Christmas Time!" in classic songs of the season. Boston Globe, 11/12/09

Raytheon wins Saudi air-traffic control deal

Waltham-based defense contractor Raytheon Co. announced it has been hired to assist the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in expanding its nationwide air traffic management system. Terms of the deal, disclosed Tuesday at the Dubai Airshow in the United Arab Emirates, were not disclosed. Boston Globe AP, 11/17/09

Archives workshop offers tips on family research

The National Archives in Waltham is offering a free public workshop, "Census, Passenger Lists, and Naturalization Records," on Dec. 1 at 2 p.m. The popular course will teach people how to utilize the free public records at the site to research family histories. Boston Globe, 11/13/09

Colleagues knit together in healthy company

    Since Labor Day, a group of employees at Common- wealth Financial Network in Waltham has been knitting up a storm. They meet every Friday during lunch to knit hats, which they will soon deliver to children at the Dana- Farber Cancer Institute. Boston Globe, 11/13/09
    Luke (left) and Beck Schutte model two of the hats knitted by their father's co-workers for young Dana-Farber Cancer Institute patients. (Commonwealth Financial Network) Luke (left) and Beck Schutte model two of the hats knitted by their father's co-workers for young Dana-Farber Cancer Institute patients.

    Thermo Fisher Scientific refinancing debt

    Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., a instrumentation company headquartered on Wyman Street in Waltham, has announced cash tender offers for two bond offerings, between them representing about $595 million in aggregate principal. Mass High Tech, 11/13/09

    Regional network for vegans celebrates milestone

    The Vegan MetroWest Network, which marked its first anniversary on Sunday, provides a venue for sharing education and advocacy efforts -- not to mention potluck parties, seitan preparation tips, and local restaurants, such as Masao’s Kitchen in Waltham, with friendly menus. Boston Globe, 11/12/09

    State growing lax on Fernald upkeep, group says

    The Patrick administration is allowing conditions at the Fernald Developmental Center in Waltham to deteriorate through staff cuts and inadequate maintenance as the site is prepared for closure, according to the Fernald League for the Retarded. Boston Globe, 11/10/09

    Altus Pharmaceuticals files for bankruptcy

    Waltham biotechnology company Altus Pharmaceuticals Inc., which told regulators in September it was starting the process of shutting down its operations, on Wednesday filed for bankruptcy protection. Boston Globe, 11/12/09

    ImmunoGen names McCluski as board chairman

    ImmunoGen Inc., a Waltham biotechnology company that develops targeted anticancer products, said Stephen C. McCluski has been named board chairman, replacing former chief executive Mitchel Sayare. Boston Globe, 11/12/09

    Local employers shine in Globe 100 survey

    (Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff)
    High marks by their employees landed several Waltham-based firms in the Globe 100's Top Places to Work, with the community outreach efforts supported by the Winter, Wyman Cos. -- including staffer Lauren MacArthur (left) at Sandra's Place -- putting it at the top among small companies. Boston Globe, 11/8/09

    High court rules against Raytheon on sales tax

    The highest court in Massachusetts on Tuesday ruled against Waltham-based defense contractor Raytheon in its bid to collect about $700,000 in sales-tax refunds from the state. Boston Globe, 11/11/09

    Stimulus boost to jobs overblown, review finds

    While Massachusetts recipients of federal stimulus money collectively report 12,374 jobs saved or created, a Globe review finds the number to be wildly exaggerated. The Boston Land Co., credited as retaining 26 jobs with $2.7 million in subsidies for its affordable housing developments in Waltham, was among those expressing surprise that its funding had been redesignated as part of the stimulus package. Boston Globe, 11/11/09

    Brandeis to install solar-power array

    In a few weeks, Brandeis University's Gosman Center will be using electricity from one of the largest solar-panel arrays in the state. The 277-kilowatt system is part of the university’s Climate Action Plan, aimed at making the campus carbon neutral and educating students and area communities about renewable-energy issues. Boston Globe, 11/9/09

    Inside a pandemic:
    Distributing vaccine
    mixes art, science

    The pediatric office of Mass. General West Medical Group in Waltham is at the center of a whirlwind, as a clearinghouse for information about distributions of the H1N1 vaccine targeting swine flu. A clinic Saturday drew an overflow crowd (right) in Wellesley, where the town's Health Department had about 200 doses available. Boston Globe, 11/8/09
    (Wendy Maeda/Globe staff)

    Forum offers spirited debate on UN's Gaza report

    International jurist Richard Goldstone defended his United Nations report on Israel’s invasion of Gaza, while former Israeli diplomat Dore Gold delivered a scathing rebuke of the document's findings before a packed house Nov. 5 at Brandeis University. Boston Globe, 11/6/09
    Rose Museum's treasures justify passions over fate (Charles Mayer)

    Rose Museum's treasures
    justify passions over fate

    After nearly a year of dismaying news from Brandeis University about the future of its Rose Art Museum, Globe art critic Sebastian Smee writes, an astounding new show finally provides a true look at the scope, coherence, and sheer distinction of its permanent collection. Boston Globe, 11/5/09
    Bar Code: A hot spot in Waltham

    Bar Code: A hot spot in Waltham

    The adventurous bar-scenester is rewarded at Tempo in Waltham, where things that can seem old hat -- house-made infusions, kitchen-driven mixing ingredients, classic-cocktail excavating -- have a genuine air of enthusiasm and a refreshing lack of pretension. Boston Globe, 11/6/09

    Hovey Players open season with Stoppard comedy

    The Hovey Players have launched the troupe's 74th theatrical season in Waltham with a Tony Award-winning comedy by Tom Stoppard, "The Real Thing," at the Abbott Memorial Theater on Spring Street, where performances will continue the next two weekends. Boston Globe, 11/5/09
    Environmental officials press neighbors to clear phosphorus from Charles (Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff)

    Environmental officials
    press neighbors to clear
    phosphorus from Charles

    Federal and state environmental authorities are trying to clean up the Charles River's infamous “dirty water’’ by drastically lowering its levels of phosphorus, and are turning to the communities lining the waterway to tighten their storm-water runoff systems as a key part of the effort. Boston Globe, 11/5/09

    Newcomers among winners in city election

    Political newcomer Diane LeBlanc won an at-large seat on Waltham’s City Council in Tuesday's election, finishing third in a field of 11 candidates for six slots. Meanwhile, voters added first-time candidate Lisa Limonciello and returned Susan Burstein to the School Committee; incumbent Robert Cincotta led the way in their four-way race for three seats. Boston Globe, 11/3/09

    Novell cuts 3 percent of workforce

    Waltham-based Novell Inc., which has spent the past few years focusing on its Linux software business, recently laid off 100 to 130 of its roughly 3,900 global employees. A spokesman said the cuts came "across the company, both geographically and productwise." Cnet.com, 11/3/09

    Waltham-based Harvey to close Springfield plant

    Window and door manufacturer Harvey Building Products will close its Springfield facility and move about 100 jobs to other locations in New England. The Waltham-based company cited the slow housing market and an upcoming renewal option for its lease on the Springfield plant as prompting the decision. Boston Globe AP, 11/4/09

    Harper's article has Brandeis talking lawsuit

    A story in this month's Harper's magazine, "Voodoo Academics: Brandeis University's hard lesson in the real economy," is drawing fire as biased and "insulting" to the Brandeis community, with president Jehuda Reinharz telling faculty in an e-mail that "some affirmative course of action must be taken." The Justice, 11/3/09

    Company has two legs up on competition

    A glimpse of the future, in the form of a sneaker-wearing robot walking like a human, has been posted on the Universal Hub website, where a YouTube video shows the latest Petman incarnation from researchers at Waltham-based Boston Dynamics. UniversalHub.com, 11/2/09