The MetroWest Daily News

Effective Jan. 1, there will be a vacancy on the town's Retirement Board. The board oversees pension matters and votes on accidental or ordinary disability claims. Full Story »

Republican gubernatorial candidate Christy Mihos spoke at a MetroWest Chamber of Commerce breakfast this morning at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, pledging to lower the sales tax and eliminate Turnpike tolls west of Rte. 128 if he is elected in 2010. Full Story »

Former Turnpike Authority board member Mary Z. Connaughton, who is running for state auditor, will speak Dec. 18 at The Middlesex Club in Boston, the oldest continuing organization of Republicans in the country. Full Story »

School officials last night began the long and arduous task of examining and creating a fiscal year 2011 budget, as well as looking at possible revisions to the district's wellness policy, which controls what kind of food can be sold on school grounds. Full Story »

Fire officials say they will hire two firefighters by the end of the year and two more early next year to reduce the number of nights Station 3 on Rte. 117 is closed. Full Story »

The perfect Christmas tree need not come from a land closer to the North Pole. Trees for sale at some corner lots can hail from wholesalers as far away as Canada. But state officials are urging Massachusetts shoppers to consider buying trees grown at any of the Bay State's 280 tree farms. Full Story »

The Police Department will soon wrap up its first Toys for Tots drive for children of low-income families. Full Story »

Two administrators unveiled a high school proposal last night to the School Committee that could see the district provide Apple laptops to teachers and require students to buy or lease their own units. Full Story »

The driver of a school van died after he struck a stone wall yesterday at the intersection of Samuel Gamwel Road and Claflin Farm Lane, police said. Full Story »

Rumor mixed with facts over plates of fried food, coffee, and beer as the Nobscot Neighbors last night lamented, among other things, blight in their village. Full Story »

A growing coalition of housing advocates is gearing up for a yearlong fight to defend Massachusetts' Chapter 40B affordable housing law against a ballot initiative to overturn it. Full Story »

Local officials said they were pleased with an unexpected gift from the state yesterday - reimbursements for last year's ice storm. Full Story »

With a senior center parking lot expansion request postponed until May, the main question facing voters at Monday's special Town Meeting is whether to spend $6 million more on sewage projects. PDF: FAQ on Hopkinton sewer projects Full Story »

Joanne Barry says she has seen a change in the clients at A Place to Turn food pantry in Natick. They're no longer just the homeless or unemployed. Full Story »

The School Committee on Wednesday night unanimously approved a request from the Department of Public Works to install an antenna on the roof of Finn Elementary School, a move which officials say is needed to help wirelessly control town water flow. Full Story »

The St. Mary's Condominiums appear to be recession-proof. All but one of the 10 condos inside the church on Broad Street have sold. The condos in the church's school and rectory, a total of 10 and five homes, respectively, have sold out. Full Story »

Town health officials said a H1N1 flu vaccine clinic is scheduled for tomorrow for residents 18 and under, but will not reveal the clinic's location to those who have not registered. Full Story »

In her first interview for superintendent last night, Westborough Assistant Superintendent Marianne O'Connor emphasized collaboration and building on the success of the current administration. Full Story »

Frederick Rota, 4, of Wellesley puts colored pins on his menorah to represent flames as his grandmother, Susan Fasten of Millis, watches yesterday during the Community Hanukkah Celebration at MetroWest Jewish Day School in Framingham. Full Story »

About 1,600 people attended an H1N1 flu vaccine clinic last night at Keefe Tech, said Public Health Director Ethan Mascoop. Full Story »

A French biotech firm is coming to Framingham. Full Story »

New Bethel Baptist Church will be giving out free Christmas gifts to children this Saturday as part of the Toys for Tots campaign. Full Story »

The West Warwick town council has voted to give former town manager Wolfgang Bauer - who at one time was the Franklin, Mass., town manager - his pension, two years after they fired him for overspending a major development project by $800,000. Full Story »

Officials have changed the venue for tonight's community policing meeting, which will focus on crime, litter and graffiti along the Rte. 126 corridor. Full Story »

A group of firefighters is unhappy with a town policy they say disrupts a holiday tradition stretching back nearly 70 years. Full Story »