US – Saturday, November 21

Shave and a haircut — Elliott’s $.02

You’ll notice none of America’s problems have been solved. Well, you can only blame yourself for not doing a good enough job of demanding the government act on the brilliant ideas I’ve been dispensing every week in Metro, the world’s greatest newspaper. Don’t bother groveling for forgiveness; it demeans us both.

The last of the original urban village

It was once a vibrant neighborhood, but was cleared out to make way for hospitals, hotels and upscale condos emblematic of a new Boston. Fifty years later, those that remember the neighbors and streets of the "old" West End are becoming as scarce as the landmarks of their youth.

First drop in Mass. jobless rate since ’07

The state unemployment rate fell to 8.9 percent in October, marking the first decline in over two years, according to state labor officials.

Kids stand by as reform debated

Eighth-graders at the Excel Academy Charter School in East Boston scored tops in Massachusetts on the English and math MCAS tests last year, a feat that left principal Komal Bhasin and her staff both proud and motivated to continue their success.

These Orphans are not afraid to play with ‘Dolls’

Ryan Landry and his Gold Dust Orphans have long been having their way with some of the greatest films of all time. Finally, the men, women and not-so-easily-identifiable members of this ridiculously talented troupe take on the big kahuna of camp, “Valley of the Dolls.”

Exploring every ‘Avenue Q’ puppet

The fuzzy puppets that inhabit “Avenue Q” won’t teach their audiences how to sing the ABC’s. These mature Sesame Street-like adult puppets have real problems: sex, racism, morals and finding a purpose in life.

Time to erase fourth-and-2

The Patriots sound like they’re sick of talking about it.

UMass heads the crowded HEA pack

UMass sits atop Hockey East going into the weekend. But not by much.

What to do and where to go.

Published 21:59, May the 1st, 2008

Kenmore project to get cosmetic lift

BOSTON. Kenmore Square will receive a $5.3 million touch-up after the MBTA Board approved state funding Thursday, according to the State House News Service.

The funds will cover trees, brick sidewalks and curbstones around the square, currently undergoing a renovation now priced at $47 million.

According to the report, such improvements were nixed for cost purposes but added back in at the urging of Boston University and the new Commonwealth Hotel abutting the T station there.

But some expressed concern that brick sidewalks will derail the T’s attempts to create a fully accessible station for those with disabilities.

“Uneven bricks can stymie wheelchair users and people with other disabilities,” Chris Hart, director of urban and transportation projects at Adaptive Environments, a local accessible design firm, told State House News.

Also approved at Thursday’s board meeting was a $15 million improvement to the Fitchburg commuter rail line, and a step forward on plans to pave 26 miles of an unused rail line for a running and biking trail from Waltham to Berlin.

The November MMMpod features interviews and music with a band called Girls, a band of girls called Supercute, and a supercute vampire. Yes, listeners, we have Pattinson!

[Flyers by PaperG]