Jewelry artist takes a hands-on approach

In such dark financial times, it can be difficult to see any light. But one local company is providing a ray of hope and serving as an example of how to build and maintain a sustainable business through the best and the worst of times.

With Swansea Superintendent Stephan Flanagan announcing Tuesday he will retire at the end of the school year, the list of area school districts in need of a chief continues to grow, making it increasingly difficult for all the districts as they compete with each other for the best candidates.

If something is wrong and no one objects, is it still wrong?
Case in point: Charlton Memorial Hospital. If this conglomerate continues to dismantle neighborhoods and demolish residential and historical property, and no one complains, does that make their actions right?

This is a letter asking for help for retired persons and senior citizens living in high rises in the downtown area of Fall River.

The concept of “found money” is delightful. We cherish the cash that turns up under the bed, in a coat pocket, or in a long-forgotten bank account. And found money may be key to the success of Barack Obama’s presidency. 

Black Friday may have a new definition. In a surprising and appalling event over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, all of us got to see just how entrenched the idea of American entitlement has become.

With all the glitz and glitter of the season, it’s tough sometimes to get kids’ minds off their endless lists to Santa and back on to the true meaning of the holidays. Given the current economic conditions, it’s especially important this year to teach children that instead of saying, “I want, I want, I want,” they should be thinking, “How can we help?”

Mike Bettencourt is a loser. So is his wife, Kim. And so are many of the new friends he’s made at the gym.
Mike and 35 others took part in the Fall Challenge, a “Biggest Loser”-type weight-loss competition at Swansea Total Fitness, and as a group they lost 1,072.9 pounds.

When the agents at Ponte and Associates close on a house, they give the new owner a bottle of wine to go with the celebratory dinner and a mug with the agency’s logo.
“I tell them when they get up in the morning, ‘look at that logo and refer a friend or a family member to us,’” said agency owner Joseph A. Ponte.

The Police Athletic League of Fall River is sponsoring a night of professional wrestling on Friday, Dec. 5.

The Fall River Symphony Orchestra will perform their fourteenth annual Christmas Pops Concert on Sunday, Dec. 7,  at 3 p.m. in the Margaret L. Jackson Arts Center Theater at Bristol Community College.

That Annie Prescott’s artwork — jewelry made of polymer clay — is different from most others becomes apparent as soon as someone reads the signs inside her gallery at the Narrows Center for the Arts.

The 895 members of a Quaker Fabric class action lawsuit awarded a settlement this summer should receive initial checks of about $200 next week, in time for a holiday lift.

Amy Tiffault told police last month her former health care worker punched her in the head and tried strangling her after an argument over money. Now, she’s admits she made the whole thing up.

With a focus over the past two and a half months on the School Department’s budget and Superintendent Nicholas A. Fischer job status, school district leaders have said they recognize education has not been a top priority.

In an effort to increase revenue, the School Department has begun taking actions that will affect everyone from those who use schools during after school times to those who buy lunches.