Medford

Repairs to the aging Sagamore Bridge during the spring have slowed traffic leaving Cape Cod to a crawl most nights and backed it up for miles on Sundays, culminating in a Mother's Day morass when the stalled line of cars stretched past multiple exits on Route 6 and triggered all-day gridlock on nearby Route 6A. "Whoever conceived of this plan should be fired," said Anne Kilguss, a Boston social worker and psychotherapist with a second home in...

West Medford's Kirsten Greenidge won the playwriting award at the 57th annual Obie Awards on Monday night for "Milk Like Sugar," her drama about a group of young women who enter a pregnancy pact. Her play "The Luck of the Irish" just ended an extended run at the Huntington Theatre. Greenidge, who checked in with us on her drive back to Boston on Tuesday, admitted that attending the New York awards ceremony with her husband wasn't easy. Asked whether she was up late partying with the other Obie winners, she just laughed.

By Matt Byrne, Town Correspondent Tenants of four apartment buildings in Malden and Medford voted Sunday to authorize a rent strike if upcoming negotiations with the new landlord sour, a step it will reserve as a last resort, tenants said. The vote came after a tense weekend of talks between Medford/Malden Tenants United and Allston-based Alpha Management, which purchased the buildings in April and demanded hundreds of dollars more per unit in rent , giving tenants in more than 200 units a month's notice to pay up or move out. Last week, Malden Mayor...

By Matt Byrne, Town Correspondent Medford home sales went on a tear last month, with seven more buyers closing on single-family properties in the city than in April of last year. But condominiums sales took a hit, with five fewer units sold than in April 2011, for 12 sold overall, according to the Warren Group, which tracks real estate data throughout the state. In all, 26 single-family homes in Medford were sold last month, up from 19 in April 2011. Prices for those homes also spiked $14,500, to a median of $354,500.

Families are invited today  to a field day for parents and children organized by the Grace Episcopal Church of Medford. Let’s Move, Medford will run from 1 to 4 p.m.  at Hormel Stadium on Locust Street.  Zumba, karate, and races for parents and children  are among the fitness activities. Families are encouraged to come ’’dressed to play,’’ said Stephen Trever,  a parish intern. Advice on nutrition and healthy cooking will also be available. The parish has signed on to Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative to combat childhood obesity nationally.

If the Medford boys' soccer players can stand behind their coach on the field as much as they have off it, there may be no stopping them this season. The Mustangs bonded during the offseason in a successful effort to save the job of coach Michael Petrides, who inexplicably wasn't rehired back in April after 11 seasons on the job. EMass All-Star striker John Dumboya and junior cocaptain Jonathan Pires look to lead Medford to a big season, with aspirations of a run at a state title.

By Matt Byrne, Town Correspondent Scores of tenants in Malden and Medford have banded together to fight sudden rent increases and what they call landlord intimidation tactics, after a Boston real estate firm purchased three apartment buildings late last month and promptly demanded substantially higher rents. Allston-based Alpha Management had just inked a $23.5 million deal April 26 to purchase the 248 units, when the company began slipping notices under tenants' doors raising rents as much as 20 and 30 percent, to take effect...

Hallmark Health Systems Excitement was high at Hallmark Health System's Lawrence Memorial Hospital of Medford on Feb. 9 as patients and employees were visited by two Boston Bruins. (From left) Bruins player Jordan Caron, Nancy Gaden, MS, RN, system vice president, patient care services and chief nursing officer for Hallmark Health System, Bruins player Adam McQuaid, Lori Stevens, MBA, RN, associate chief nursing officer, Hallmark Health System and senior administrator at Lawrence Memorial Hospital of Medford and William Doherty, MD, system vice...

Mike Cugno photos Jonathan Pires (left) looks to control the ball against a Somerville defender. The Medford High boys' varsity soccer team opened the season with a 4-1 victory over Somerville. Captain John Dumbuya, Matheus Anastacio, Tom Downs, and Captain John Pires scored goals for the Mustangs. Somerville could not form an attack that would penetrate the solid Medford defense. The Mustangs will host Malden Friday. Coach Mike Petrides and assistant Luigi Mirasola talk to the Mustangs at halftime.

DUBLIN - A few years back, I suggested to a friend that the time had come for our hometown of Medford to get the Hollywood treatment. South Boston and Charlestown may have gotten there before us, showing they have international box office appeal in "The Departed" and "The Town," respectively. But that's no reason to give up on the idea. The way I see it, Medford also has the embattled history, the larger-than-life personalities, and the film-friendly surroundings to produce an Academy Award-winning motion picture.

By Matt Byrne, Town Correspondent Mayor Michael J. McGlynn Friday urged a fresh start for the troubled Medford Housing Authority, two days after its former chief, Robert Covelle, resigned amid suggestions of favoritism and mismanagement. "The news of Mr. Covelle's resignation signals the end of a difficult chapter for the Medford Housing Authority," McGlynn said in the statement, issued by the city's attorney. "Clearly it is time to move forward. " For his resignation and an agreement from Covelle not to sue the authority for wrongful termination, the Housing...

By Matt Byrne, Town Correspondent The Medford Whole Foods will take part in the Radio 92.9 EarthFest to be held Saturday at the DCR Hatch Shell in Boston, and will be featured among an array of vendors that will offer earth-friendly products. The free festival will feature performances by Third Eye Blind, Switchfoot, Eve 6, and the Spin Doctors. Scatted throughout the Hatch Shell area will be exhibits and environmental displays to raise awareness about making a difference in Mother Earth.

Robert Covelle, the embattled executive director of the Medford Housing Authority, is resigning, nearly a year after state officials initially visited the Riverside Avenue agency headquarters to investigate allegations of widespread favoritism in hiring and contracting under his leadership. Covelle, 59, will receive severance equal to three months' pay, about $31,500, under an agreement that also prevents him from contending later that he was wrongly terminated, even though his $126,000-a-year contract is being ended 25 months early.

By Matt Byrne, Town Correspondent The Medford Housing Authority Board of Commissioners has reached an agreement with the agency's embattled chief, Robert Covelle, but declined to release any details or confirm if Covelle would continue to lead the authority. The announcement was made Tuesday during a brief public meeting of the four-member commission, which was expected to discuss Covelle's fate in a closed-door executive session. But instead, commission chair William Young announced that the Housing Authority...

By Matt Byrne, Town Correspondent Tenants of four apartment buildings in Malden and Medford voted Sunday to authorize a rent strike if upcoming negotiations with the new landlord sour, a step it will reserve as a last resort, tenants said. The vote came after a tense weekend of talks between Medford/Malden Tenants United and Allston-based Alpha Management, which purchased the buildings in April and demanded hundreds of dollars more per unit in rent , giving tenants in more than 200 units a month's notice to pay up...

Mayor Michael J. McGlynn is looking for volunteers to serve on city boards. The Board of Assessors and the Civic Auditorium and Convention Commission each have an opening for one new member. The Community Development Board and the Parking Commission each have two openings. Residents interested in filling a vacancy should send a letter and resume to the Mayor's Office, 85 George P. Hassett Drive, Medford, MA 02155. Kathy McCabe

Overall compensation Those who earned the highest gross pay in the city of Medford for fiscal year 2011, with their total compensation also listed for the previous fiscal year. The figures include payments for work details, education, and overtime. Name  Title 2011 base 2011 total 2010 total  Alan Doherty  Police captain  $93,745.30 $180,097.33 $151,675.00  Barry Clemente  Police captain  $93,745.30 $176,499.22 $150,767.00  Leo Sacco Jr.  Police chief  $118,597.68 $167,301.69 $146,982.

By Matt Byrne, Town Correspondent The Medford Housing Authority Board of Commissioners delayed until next week a discussion of  discipline or dismissal of the agency's embattled chief, Robert Covelle. The delay came at the request of Covelle's attorney, Thomas Drechsler, said commissioner William Young. "It's going to be next week, to give him time to prepare his defense of his client," Young said, referring to Drechsler. Because the dismissal is considered a personnel matter, the talks will likely take place behind closed doors, unless Covelle requests the...