Rob Bellinger photographed the Waltham American Legion band at the Somerville Memorial Day parade.

Jen Stewart went to the Melrose Memorial Day parade, where some Boy Scouts used a catapault to distribute candy among kids.

Jen Stewart reports:

... [W]hile I was shivering at the bus stop, waiting for a bus that appeared to either have arrived early and left me behind, or was running late, my neighbor (who usually takes the bus) pulled up in her car and asked if I wanted a lift to Oak Grove. ...

Mother's Day, May 13th 9AM

Pine Banks Park, Sylvan St Melrose, MA 02176

3.5 Mile road race for Women organized by the Melrose Running Club.

Fast becoming a Melrose tradition, approximately 400 women gather each year for this family event honoring mothers and children.

When: Begins Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 7:00 PM
& meets every Tuesday for 10 weeks!

Where: Melrose Knights of Columbus, 23 West Foster
Street, Melrose, MA.

Goal: To run continuously for 30 minutes at a comfortable pace!

Pre-requisites:
* Desire to learn how to run!
* Able to walk for a duration of 30 minutes!
* Good physical health (consult with your physician before beginning this exercise program)!

Cost: $30.00 includes a ONE year individual
membership in the Melrose Running Club!
($40 for a family membership)

Is Food Fuel or Fattening?

Melrose Running Club
Presents an evening with
Nancy Clark, MS, RD
Internationally Known Sports Nutritionist

April 5th, 7 PM
Memorial Hall, 590 Main St.
Melrose, MA

We all want a healthy lifestyle, but our food choices often prevent us from reaching that goal. Join us on April

5th when Sports Nutritionist Nancy Clark will explain how we can still enjoy food while it fuels our body.

Whether you're a couch potato, a casual walker, or a marathon runner, you won’t want to miss Nancy's dynamic and

inspiring presentation.

Just go read why a chance encounter with his high-school history teacher in a Melrose restaurant left Dave Copeland in tears. Good tears.

Jen Stewart loves, takes photos of Ell Pond in Melrose:

... Taking a book (or my camera) down to the pond to just split my time between catching up on some reading and watching the play of late afternoon sunlight on water is a whole category of wonderful. ...

This Sunday, September 18, Otto's Angels will collect items to be sent directly to refugee families in Louisiana.

The collection will take place from 9am to 3pm at Marty's Furniture, 99 Washington Street in Melrose (1/2 mile from the Oak Grove T station). They need donations of common household goods (toiletries, newly purchased underwear, bed linens, baby items -- see below for a full list). They also need volunteers that day to help collect and sort the donations.

For more information, read the message below from Stephanie Wilson, who directs Otto's Angels.