Make reform work; Auto insurers' lawsuit is premature at best.
COLUMN: IN OUR OPINION A lawsuit filed Friday in Suffolk Superior Court to overturn a key provision of the state's new "managed competition" approach to auto insurance, while not wholly without merit, regrettably illustrates Voltaire's maxim that "the perfect is the enemy of the good." ...

Russell Carl Melgren.
NORTHBORO - Russell Carl Melgren, 86, died June 8, in the Overlook Masonic Health Center in Charlton, following a brief illness. He leaves his wife of 65 years, Charlotte A. (Jagielski) Melgren; a son, Robert R. Melgren and his companion, Marie Senosk, of Worcester; his daughter, Pamela...

Furry friends make police visits bearable; Donated teddies help officers console kids.
Byline: Scott J. Croteau WORCESTER - Handcuffs, handguns and radios. The items are all gear police officers typically carry. But peek into some police cruisers and you might find an item that seems out of place. Teddy bears. They are not part of...

NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR.
Thanks to the contributions of individuals, businesses and civic groups, Shrewsbury Public Library patrons were able to enjoy a full season of Sunday hours from Oct. 7 to May 18. Twenty-one donors provided more than $14,000 in sponsorships to assure library service from 1 to 5 p.m.,...

Russell Carl Melgren.
NORTHBOROUGH Russell Carl Melgren, 86, died Sunday, June 8th, 2008 in the Overlook Masonic Health Center in Charlton, following a brief illness. Russell leaves his wife of 65 years, Charlotte A. (Jagielski) Melgren; a son, Robert R. Melgren and his companion, Marie Senosk, of Worcester; his daughter,...

John L. Hopkins.
SHREWSBURY- John "Jack" L. Hopkins, 81, of Shrewsbury, formerly of Southboro, died June 1, after a short illness. He was a U.S. Navy veteran serving in World War II, and a graduate of Suffolk University of Boston. He worked for Prudential Insurance Co. and later owned and...

Neighbor to Neighbor.
Army Spec. Michelle E. Carville participated in the 33rd U.S. Army Annual Culinary Arts Competition at Fort Lee, Petersburg, Va. This year's competition featured more than 160 military chefs from around the globe battling in more than 40 culinary categories. The competition is rated the largest culinary competition in...

Gifts to theater top $2.4M.
WORCESTER - Local businesses recently donated more than $2.4 million to the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, officials at the venue announced last week. The donations will go toward the $31 million cost of renovating and restoring the theater and to support programming. Since...

BEN-E-LECT Buys AHA's Advantage PLUS Plans.
HEALTH AND BEAUTY CLOSE-UP-25 June 2008-BEN-E-LECT Buys AHA's Advantage PLUS Plans(C)2008 - CloseUpMedia - newsdesk@closeupmedia.com BEN-E-LECT announced the acquisition of Affiliate Healthcare Administrators' (AHA) Advantage PLUS plans, which provide medical, dental and vision benefits for employer groups throughout California and several other states including Arizona and Louisiana....

Rescinding health insurance.
When he was asked about corporate America during one of his speeches on the presidential campaign trail, former Democratic candidate John Edwards noted, "They don't give the layperson anything; it has to be taken from them." How true this admonition and observation is when it comes to the plight...