Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today: May 21

Take a shot of nasal spray and learn about potential changes to nursing home rules.

Our weekday morning column, 5 Things You Need to Know, provides you with information that can help you plan your day and give you some fodder for water cooler conversations. 1. If you or your loved ones are in a skilled nursing facility, you might be interested to know that Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Worcester and Middlesex, toured Beaumont at Westborough last week. Eldridge met with residents and staff members to discuss two amendments affecting the nursing home population: Amendment 28, filed by Sen. Harriette Chandler, to allow a skilled nursing facility to safely and appropriately transfer a patient within the facility if his/her needs have changed; and Amendment 119, filed by Sen. Thomas Kennedy, to require the Executive Office of Health…

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Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today: May 20

Have a classic or antique car? The church is looking for you.

  Each morning, Westborough Patch presents “5 Things You Need to Know,” a collection of announcements, events, reminders and odd little ditties to help you organize your day. What will you be doing today?   1. Cars for Christ is taking place at the First United Methodist Church on Saturday, June 2, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event includes a car show, a bounce house and crafts for the kids and a chicken BBQ. Anyone with a classic or antique car, truck or motorcycle is invited to bring it to the church parking lot the morning of June 2. For more information, contact 508- 366-4910 or pastor@firstumchurch.com. 2. The Westborough Department of Public Works (DPW) is accepting sealed bids for supplying a “used heavy duty ten wheel dump chassis …

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OMG PD

Oh My: Patient Makes Fashion Statement; Fox Acts 'Out of Character'

We report the odd police-related news from the region.

Mario Kart? A man called Hopkinton Police this week to report that another driver threw trash out of his car window. The caller said he honked his horn, and in return, was given the finger. An officer spoke with the alleged litterbug, who said he had just tossed a banana peel. Unlike the video game Mario Kart, this did not result in any nearby cars spiraling out of control. It's free and comfortable; why wouldn't you wear it? A woman called Milford police to report her daughter was discharged from the hospital, but had gone to a relative's workplace still wearing the hospital gown. She reported her daughter might still be walking around Main Street with the johnny. I know this fox, and he never acts this way. A Northborough resident …

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Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today: May 17

If you are eating at Uno's today, pull out your smartphone for a coupon to benefit a local youth group.

  Each morning, Westborough Patch presents “5 Things You Need to Know,” a collection of announcements, events, reminders and odd little ditties to help you organize your day. What will you be doing today?   1. The Friends of the Westborough Public Library start a four-day book sale today. The sale will take place in the Forbes Municipal Building, 45 West Main St. from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. today. On Friday, May 18, the sale will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, May 19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, May 20, from 1 to 5 p.m. The sale will end Sunday with a $5 bag sale. 2. Runners are invited to join the 3rd annual Mass Dash Relay in its 200-mile trek across the state of Massachusetts on July 14 and 15 to raise money for pediatric and …

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POLL: Should the State Ban School Bake Sales?

State health officials want to put restrictions on school bake sales to discourage unhealthy eating habits, but will this hurt fundraising efforts?

  Massachusetts state health officials recently recently approved regulations that would prevent bake sales from being held during school and in the 30 minutes before and after school to discourage unhealthy eating habits. Gov. Deval Patrick has backed down on the regulations after criticism from parents and organizations that say putting restrictions on bake sales would negatively impact fundraising efforts for the schools and nonprofit groups, according to USA Today. Legislation passed in 2010 will still require schools serve healthy snack options in the cafeterias and limit sugary foods. In today's poll question, we're asking: Do you think Gov. Deval Patrick should enforce the bake sale ban to help encourage Massachusetts youth to have …

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Tara Spiegelman

8:50 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Ironically the most popular "Bake Sales" in Milford are the ones the political candidates have to raise money for their campaigns.   more ›

Regional Readers' Choice for a Staycation: PiNZ in Milford

So you have a few days off, and aren't planning to travel? The best place for adults and kids is PiNZ in Milford, according to regional Patch readers.

It's always great to be able to escape for a weekend to an exotic location, a favorite getaway. But sometimes we just need to stick closer to home. Where to go on the next Staycation, when staying home, literally, is not that much fun? Readers in the MetroWest Patches chose PiNZ in Milford. PiNZ has a large video arcade with 30 games, 20 bowling lanes and a full-service restaurant and bar. Something for everyone, it seems. The 40,000-square-foot facility, at 110 S. Main St., is owned by David Breen. "We're grateful for the votes," he said Friday. "We try hard to offer a positive experience for our guests when they're there." PiNZ began life as a roller skating rink, the Skate Palace, back in the 1970s, and was transformed by 2006 to the …

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Jennifer Lucarelli

7:09 pm on Sunday, May 13, 2012

We asked for readers' input, so tell us which (that may have not made the list) would you have chosen? Let us know!   more ›

Mass Among States With Most Gay Rights [POLL]

President Barack Obama came out in support of gay marriage yesterday.

  In the wake of North Carolina's decision to amend its Constitution to ban same sex unions, The Guardian website has created a model looking at gay rights in each state. According to the graphic, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Vermont, along with Washington state, Iowa and the District of Columbia, have the most rights afforded to gays.  Massachusetts allows: Massachusetts prohibits: Also, Massachusetts' hate crime laws include crimes committed based on gender identity or sexual orientation. In addition to comparing states' level of gay rights, The Guardian graphic allows you to log in through Facebook and see what rights are afforded in the states where all your Facebook friends live.

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Time to Play 'What Would You Put Here?'

When UPS returned to Speedway Plaza, it took up a new spot in the shopping center.

  Several months ago, the UPS Store returned under new management to the Speedway Plaza in Westborough. It did not, however, return to its original location. Choosing, instead, to open in the vacant store next door. This leaves a relatively central location open for a retailer to join the plaza. Situated between TrUe Hair Salon and the new location of the UPS Store is a property for lease — begging for an edition of the game What Would You Put Here? Is there a type of store that you would like to see in Westborough? What would make you stop in the Speedway Plaza to shop? Tell us in the comments!    Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date on the latest Westborough news, or simply hit the "like" button at the top of this page. …

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Best of Patch: Readers' Choice

Where's the Best Staycation in the Area?

We want to hear you ideas. Vote in our poll and add your reviews to the listing.

The Best of Patch: Readers' Choice contest this week highlights those local haunts we drive by often, but may have never visited. If you're like me, staycations are sometimes even more fun than vacations—they're usually cheaper by a lot and you never really know what's in your backyard. So, we ask, where is the best staycation in the area?  Here are some of our favorite places, but if we're leaving one off of the list, please let us know in the comments and we'll add it: Voting in the poll below is open until 9 a.m. Friday. Because this poll is not scientific, it is not the sole consideration in choosing a winner. The winner will be determined by Shrewsbury Patch editor Jennifer Lucarelli, based on poll results, comments and reviews on …

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