Bright Lights

There's just two weeks left to experience ZooLights, the popular holiday display of thousands of twinkling lights that lasts from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day at Stone Zoo in Stoneham. Children also may visit with Santa, who is available for photographs from 5 to 9 p.m. daily through Friday. For more information, visit www.zoonewengland.org.

Ace leads Jumbos back to World Series Her 2009 squad was almost expected to advance to the Division 3 College World Series, given all of its experience. This season, however, has been a pleasant surprise for Cheryl Pinzino and the women's softball program at Tufts University. The Jumbos are headed to the Series for the second time in four years after capturing the Willimantic Regional title this past weekend with a perfect 4-0 record. Tufts (40-5) will open play in the double-elimination tourney Friday against Roanoke in Salem, Va. "I knew we'd be...

China: Shanghai, known as the "city with no night" because of its extravagant electric signs, is about to dim the lights in an effort to crack down on light pollution. The chief of lights and advertisements for the city's environmental bureau said the bright lights make it hard for residents to sleep, they wash out the night sky, and harm the environment. Bright lights have been Shanghai's hallmark for years and it is hard to imagine the business community going along with the plan, but it may be driven by electricity shortages that have caused power rationing to shopping malls and factories since...

Independent Lens: Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey 9 p.m., Channel 2 Kevin Clash has no trouble walking down the street undetected. But when he takes control of a furry red puppet with an infectious giggle he may be the biggest star ever to reside on "Sesame Street" this side of a certain banjo-playing frog. Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, this documentary chronicles Clash's life from young puppet enthusiast ­— he built his first one at age 10 — to a fateful meeting with Jim Henson to the various characters/puppets he tried before inheriting the ticklish and insanely...

Hoping to dodge quality time with extended family and a sleepy evening of tryptophan? How about spending your Thanksgiving weekend shopping for Native American art, listening to bluegrass tunes, or getting an early start on Christmas. Christmas Traditions ST. CHARLES, Mo. Nov. 23 This city skips Turkey Day and gets straight to the heart of the season by kicking off its Christmas Traditions festival highlighted every year by the Santa Parade. Those who believe there's only one Santa may be disappointed; the celebration features many Kris Kringles including Civil...

Former "Boston Legal" star William Shatner was spotted eating crab legs at Legal Sea Foods in Burlington over the weekend… . Pauly D spun tunes at Shrine at the MGM Grand over the weekend… . "R.I.P.D.," the action movie with Ryan Reynolds , Jeff Bridges , and Kevin Bacon , was scheduled to film scenes in Franklin Park during the weekend. Moviemakers contacted neighbors in the area to warn them about bright lights and offered to give them blackout cloth for their windows to avoid being bothered by the glow.

Ace leads Jumbos back to World Series Her 2009 squad was almost expected to advance to the Division 3 College World Series, given all of its experience. This season, however, has been a pleasant surprise for Cheryl Pinzino and the women's softball program at Tufts University. The Jumbos are headed to the Series for the second time in four years after capturing the Willimantic Regional title this past weekend with a perfect 4-0 record. Tufts (40-5) will open play in the double-elimination tourney Friday...

Independent Lens: Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey 9 p.m., Channel 2 Kevin Clash has no trouble walking down the street undetected. But when he takes control of a furry red puppet with an infectious giggle he may be the biggest star ever to reside on "Sesame Street" this side of a certain banjo-playing frog. Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, this documentary chronicles Clash's life from young puppet enthusiast ­— he built his first one at age 10 — to a fateful meeting with Jim Henson to the various characters/puppets he tried before inheriting the ticklish and insanely...

WHY ALL the mostly negative opinions about the coming of a casino or casinos here in Massachusets? Why is it taking so long to get a place like this in the Commonwealth? There are so many good nearby areas that area residents could get to, rather than staying overnight in another state - other states that get what we should be having. First, we wouldn't have to travel far, saving on gas. Second, many people go for the amusement, the bright lights, with hopes that they might return home richer than when they walked through the doors.

Bright lights, self pity. In “The Last International Playboy,’’ Jason Behr plays handsome, stubbled New York writer Jack Frost - yup, Jack Frost. He’s spent the last seven years partying with supermodels instead of writing a second novel. That’s because he’s trying to drown the torch that he’s carrying for his childhood sweetheart, the subject of his first book, who’s about to marry a jerk. “What am I supposed to do?’’ he says. “You’re supposed to be happy for me,’’ she says.

After winning back-to-back state titles in 2001 and 2002, it took St. Mary's a decade to get back to the Division 4 state championship game. The Spartans weren't going to let the bright lights of TD Garden stop them from their ultimate goal. Senior guard Devin Thompson scored 25 points and junior Tommy Deveau added 9 off the bench as St. Mary's captured the state title Monday with a 70-64 victory over Cathedral. "If you don't have butterflies coming into a state championship game, you probably shouldn't be playing basketball," said Spartans forward Nick Gagliolo.

Hockey dads, at least in stereotype, are a beleaguered lot. An incident this week is not likely to help their cause. In a head-shaking display of parental misconduct, the father of a Winthrop High School hockey player shined a laser pointer on the ice at a girls playoff game Wednesday night, in a bizarre attempt to distract players on the opposing team, state hockey officials and fans say. Fans, coaches, and players noticed the green light...

There's just two weeks left to experience ZooLights, the popular holiday display of thousands of twinkling lights that lasts from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day at Stone Zoo in Stoneham. Children also may visit with Santa, who is available for photographs from 5 to 9 p.m. daily through Friday. For more information, visit www.zoonewengland.org.

WHY ALL the mostly negative opinions about the coming of a casino or casinos here in Massachusets? Why is it taking so long to get a place like this in the Commonwealth? There are so many good nearby areas that area residents could get to, rather than staying overnight in another state - other states that get what we should be having. First, we wouldn't have to travel far, saving on gas. Second, many people go for the amusement, the bright lights, with hopes that they might return home richer than when they walked through the doors.

By Juan Rivera, Globe Correspondent FOXBOROUGH -- Behind a career defining rushing day for Jared Taylor, Mashpee routed Cardinal Spellman in the Division 4 Super Bowl 34-8. "Amazing," said Mashpee's usual primary back Jordan Keli'inui. "I'm a senior, playing my last game, won my last game, which was the Super Bowl, and I'm standing on the 50 yard line at Gillette. Amazing. " Mashpee received the second half kick off and the Cardinal Spellman crowd was introduced to Jarod Taylor who was front and center under the bright lights of Gillette Stadium.

Former "Boston Legal" star William Shatner was spotted eating crab legs at Legal Sea Foods in Burlington over the weekend… . Pauly D spun tunes at Shrine at the MGM Grand over the weekend… . "R.I.P.D.," the action movie with Ryan Reynolds , Jeff Bridges , and Kevin Bacon , was scheduled to film scenes in Franklin Park during the weekend. Moviemakers contacted neighbors in the area to warn them about bright lights and offered to give them blackout cloth for their windows to avoid being bothered by the glow.

Assistive technologies There are plenty of ways to compensate for poor vision. You could lift your eyeglasses to read the small print on assembly instructions and cereal box labels. You could get your prescription updated, or your eyes zapped by Lasik. But your problems might be too severe for easy fixes. That's where the i-Loview comes in: The device is a portable digital magnifier that makes small stuff appear up to 17 times larger. The i-Loview is made by the assistive technology company Ai Squared, of Manchester, Vt. The new device is designed for the...

By Juan Rivera, Globe Correspondent FOXBOROUGH -- Behind a career defining rushing day for Jared Taylor, Mashpee routed Cardinal Spellman in the Division 4 Super Bowl 34-8. "Amazing," said Mashpee's usual primary back Jordan Keli'inui. "I'm a senior, playing my last game, won my last game, which was the Super Bowl, and I'm standing on the 50 yard line at Gillette. Amazing. " Mashpee received the second half kick off and the Cardinal Spellman crowd was introduced to Jarod Taylor who was front and center under the bright lights of...

He is the crown jewel of a defensive unit that has been hurt this season by injuries, defections, and dismissals. If there has been one constant positive for a Boston College football team that has lost six of its seven games, it is the play of middle linebacker Luke Kuechly. If you want to follow the ball when BC is on defense, just watch No. 40. Most often, Kuechly will be somewhere near the ball. His string of consecutive games with double-digit tackles reached a nation-best 29 in last week's 30-14 loss to Virginia Tech, a game in which Kuechly led all players with 19 tackles.

Assistive technologies There are plenty of ways to compensate for poor vision. You could lift your eyeglasses to read the small print on assembly instructions and cereal box labels. You could get your prescription updated, or your eyes zapped by Lasik. But your problems might be too severe for easy fixes. That's where the i-Loview comes in: The device is a portable digital magnifier that makes small stuff appear up to 17 times larger. The i-Loview is made by the assistive technology company Ai Squared, of Manchester, Vt. The new...