The Salem News reports: Witches accused of zombie abuse.

Police expressed some frustration with the situation and an off-the-record longing for November.

Sounds like a job for Vimes of the City Watch.

J posts a photo of a guy on the Red Line with an electric chainsaw this morning:

No extension cord, so I think we are safe.

Remains of collapsed building at top of photo.

A coughing citizen complains about the aftermath of the building collapse on Chelsea Street in East Boston:

There are so many trucks and vehicles idling outside that the air is thick with exhaust. I have to keep all my windows closed. My nephew vomited after playing outside. I talked to the police about it but nothing was done. This is a health hazard.

Boston Police report two women died after being hit by cars in separate incidents Friday and Saturday.

Around 9:30 p.m. on Friday, a 51-year-old woman was hit by a Brookline cab in Andrew Square, police report. She was taken to Boston Medical Center with what turned out to be fatal injuries.

The driver, who was operating a Brookline cab, did stop and did make himself known to police.

Around 3:20 p.m. on Saturday, a woman, 79, was hit by a car near 1925 Commonwealth Ave. in Brighton, police report. The woman was conscious when taken to a local hospital, but died not long after, police say:

Officers spoke to the operator of the vehicle who stated that he was attempting to back into his driveway when he backed into the pedestrian. According to the operator, he didn’t see the pedestrian. The operator of the vehicle was cited for failing to use caution when backing up.

Parcel 24. Graphic from Asian Community Development Corp.

City and state officials gather Monday morning to announce financial help for a planned development that would restore housing to a block demolished for a support structure for I-93 nearly five decades ago.

The Asian Community Development Corp. and the New Boston Fund, Inc. plan a mixed-use development on Parcel 24, bordered by Kneeland and Hudson streets and the highway that will include 345 units of housing - 40% designated as "affordable."

The Herald reports the project will cost $130 million. The BRA awarded development rights to the two in 2006.

The announcement, which will include Gov. Patrick and Mayor Menino, starts at 8:45 a.m. at the corner of Kneeland and Hudson.

NorthEndWaterfront.com reports several state reps are shepherding an "emergency" bill that would, immediately on passage, let Boston and other communities ban overnight commercial trash pickups. Legislators consider the ide at a hearing on Oct. 18 at the State House, Room A-1, starting at 10 a.m.

The proposal, backed by, among others, Marty Walz (D-Back Bay) and Aaron Michlewitz, would dovetail with an effort by city councilors Felix Arroyo and Mike Ross to limit commercial pickups because of noise complaints in neighborhoods such as the North End, downtown and the Back Bay. Current state law prohibits such bans.

The Globe reports ticket topper John Connolly and cash-poor Ayanna Pressley have merged their campaign finances and begun campaigning together as they run for re-election for at-large City Council seats. For Pressley, the move means immediate resources; for Connolly, it means access to new constituencies should he ever run for another office.

Cambridge Day reports on a conclave of Cambridge cafe owners gathering to commiserate, share gossip and, yes, complain about single-serving coffee pods.

Paul Keleher reports a pro-Occupy Wall Street demonstration sprung up in downtown Marlborough today - with demonstrators who seemed, on average, a bit older than their counterparts in Dewey Square.

Copyright Paul Keleher. Posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.

A mother and baby zebra escaped their enclosure at the Franklin Park Zoo today, forcing the zoo to evacuate some visitors - and herd others into the buttefly exhibit - as workers sought to re-capture the pair.

Zoo New England reports no visitors or staff were harmed by the two Grevy's zebras. Today was the baby's first day on exhibit. "Zoo staff are working on getting the adult zebra back into exhibit space. She is currently safely contained in a non-public area."

Police were called to the scene to help corral mom zebra - a dispatcher informed officers the animal was black and white - but after kidlet got back into the enclosure, zookeepers managed to direct the older striper back in as well. Meanwhile, downtown, police were picking up "intelligence," specifically, a rapidly growing number of tweets about zebras in Franklin Park, that they felt showed the call might be an Occupy Boston prank, until they got real intelligence that, in fact, two zebras really were on the loose and that people protesting Wall Street had nothing to do with it.

Naturally, Franklin Park Zebra now has a Twitter account:

Headed to #occupyboston

People on the Orange Line are staring at me. It's not like I'm a lion or something. #racism

Bienvenue à Boston: Le portail de la communaute francaise et francophone sur Boston.

Tprussman photographed a Sukkot celebration at Occupy Boston yesterday.

Posted under this Creative Commons license and in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.

The Patriot Ledger reports a burglary ring has decided it's time to rob the donut stores:

"It's pretty vast. There's been quite a number,” Braintree Deputy Police Chief Russell Jenkins said. "They've been throughout the South Shore, Boston and beyond."

Sure, most dream of fast cars or trips or whatever, but one guy dreamed about combining Newport and Dorchester:

I was going level every house on the top of Pope's Hill. A sorry letter and a like a 1000 dollar check would have made this work for all you folks at the top of Hemey Park. Then I would build an exact replica of the Breakers. Could you imagine the views? I had a plan to build a private tunnel down to G-Wiz and Boston Bowl (not a far cry ... I knew about the slave tunnel built on Boutwell St) ...

Red Sox memorial building. Photo by BFD.

Updated Saturday morning.

A crumbling building on Chelsea Street collapsed completely late Friday night, sending pieces of itself flying across the street.

Police ordered Chelsea Street closed late Friday after 47 Chelsea St. finally gave way. The neighboring 45 Chelsea "has some issues" as well, the Boston Fire Department reports:

On October 11th, we evacuated 45 Chelsea St. because we thought 47 was unstable and in danger of collapse. Collapse it did sending brick and concrete flying across Chelsea St. in East Boston. There were no injuries.

The view from the rear.

When you own the Red Sox and you hear a couple of guys on 98.5 badmouthing you while you're driving around, you detour to the station and unload (good thing he wasn't on the yacht).

Listen for yourself.

Jessica Heslam writes Somerville is run by Godless anti-Americans who hate our most cherished historical icons, or words to that effect. Mayor Joe Curtaone blasts back on the city Web site that Heslam wouldn't understand nuance if it walked up to her and bit her, and that Somerville officially has nothing against Halloween.

At issue is a memo from one school principal to his staff asking how they could teach that there's more than one side to Columbus Day - you know, what happened to the natives after Columbus landed and stuff. Curtatone notes Somerville celebrates Independence Day yet allows teacher to talk about slavery and how women didn't win the right to vote until 1920, adds:

In fact, the biggest thing the Herald missed in its column was the headline – "Fun takes a holiday in Somerville." We have more fun with more events and holidays in this city than any other city I've ever seen.