Thanksgiving

It's been a busy couple of weeks for Joseph P. Kennedy III. First, the 31-year-old son of former US Representative Joseph P. Kennedy II - and grandson of Robert F. Kennedy - announced he was forming an exploratory committee to consider a run for the congressional seat being vacated by Democrat Barney Frank. Now, we hear he's proposed to his girlfriend, Lauren Anne Birchfield - and, yes, she accepted. The news came in an e-mail sent to select Democratic Party officials and media outlets by Birchfield's parents, the Rev. James T. and Marta M. Birchfield of Houston.

A Rhode Island man accused of fatally beating his father with a baseball bat last Thanksgiving has been indicted on a murder charge. Attorney General Peter Kilmartin's office announced the indictment against 27-year-old Paul Dunbar on Thursday. Dunbar is accused of beating his 71-year-old father, Milo, at the family's home in Scituate on Nov. 24. He has been held since his arrest. Court records show Dunbar has a history of mental illness. Police say father and son quarreled the night before the beating.

The Jacobs Turkey Trot will be held Wednesday, before school is dismissed early for the Thanksgiving holiday. A prerace pep rally will start at 8:45 a.m. in the Jacobs Elementary School gym. The race itself will start from the gym and include any fourth- or fifth-grade students who want to participate. The rest of the school will be outside cheering. In previous years, the Turkey Trot took place on a Saturday, but organizers changed the day so more students could take part. - Johanna Seltz

The New England Patriots, the defending AFC champions, will open the 2012 season in Nashville, Tenn., against the Titans on Sept. 9, and will meet the rival New York Jets in New Jersey on Thanksgiving night. The latter, on Nov. 22, will be the Patriots' fifth Thanksgiving game. New England last played on that holiday on Nov. 25, 2010 when the Patriots defeated the Detroit Lions, 45-24. New England quarterback Tom Brady will play in his fourth Thanksgiving game. "Oh man, that one's going to be a beauty, there's no doubt," Jets coach Rex Ryan said.

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff The Red Sox will hire a manager eventually — we assume — but that's probably not happening today. If something breaks, we'll let you know. But the plan is to spend time with family and friends . Hopefully you get a chance to do the same. I know I'm thankful to cover a team that has so many passionate fans. Stay safe and try to be at least a little sociable before watching those good NFL games later on. Go New Bedford High, beat Durfee.

PLYMOUTH - What did they serve at the first Thanksgiving dinner? One thing is certain: The feast shared by the Pilgrims and Wampanoag in autumn 1621 was nothing like the turkey dinner most American families enjoy today on the last Thursday of November. There were no forks. No cranberry sauce. No potatoes. No apple pie. No pumpkin pie. Water was the beverage of choice, because there was not much else. Venison and fowl were the main items on the menu, and some of the dishes probably contained guts or innards, such as deer heart, liver, and lung.

Tradition reigns at Thanksgiving -- the turkey, the stuffing, the pumpkin pie. For many, that tradition has to be carried out at grandma's house or the family equivalent of grandma's. But many celebrants find it more festive, or at least a change of pace, to let restaurant chefs do the cooking. And more and more restaurants are getting into the Thanksgiving spirit. Eric Brennan, chef of the Harvest in Harvard Square, can trace his roots right back to Plimoth Plantation.

NEW YORK - As the run-up to holiday shopping intensifies, Target Corp. said yesterday that its stores will open at midnight on Thanksgiving evening, four hours earlier than last year. The stores will stay open for 23 hours and close at 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25. Target spokeswoman Susan Kahn said the change was a response to customers' demands. Retailers have expanded their Black Friday hours each year recently. During Thanksgiving Day last year, Sears Holdings Corp. opened most Sears and Kmart stores on Thanksgiving morning for the first time.

The Patriots are practicing outside today in shells and sweats on the upper grass fields (where training camp sessions are held). On the plus side, Devin McCourty (shoulder) and Matt Light (ankle) were present during the media access window. On the negative side, Brandon Spikes (knee) and Dane Fletcher (thumb) were once again not spotted.

The Harbaugh brothers met in the middle of the field, hugged, expressed their love for each other and headed off in opposite directions. After their much-anticipated, oft-analyzed and historic confrontation was over, John and Jim Harbaugh expressed gratitude over having the opportunity to face each other on Thanksgiving. John was just little bit happier, of course, because his Baltimore Ravens beat Jim's San Francisco 49ers 16-6 Thursday night. "I felt really humble, just thankful," John said.

By Shalise Manza Young, Globe Staff In its infinite quest to make everything league-related into a major event, the NFL has finally, and to great fanfare, released the 2012 regular season schedule. We've known for some time which teams the Patriots would be facing, but now we know when and in what order they'll be facing those 13 opponents. Some analysis/highlights: * The Pats are currently scheduled to play four prime-time games. Remember that could change with late-season flex scheduling, but no team can play more than five...

It's been a busy couple of weeks for Joseph P. Kennedy III. First, the 31-year-old son of former US Representative Joseph P. Kennedy II - and grandson of Robert F. Kennedy - announced he was forming an exploratory committee to consider a run for the congressional seat being vacated by Democrat Barney Frank. Now, we hear he's proposed to his girlfriend, Lauren Anne Birchfield - and, yes, she accepted. The news came in an e-mail sent to select Democratic Party officials and media outlets by Birchfield's parents, the Rev. James T. and Marta M. Birchfield of Houston.

A Haverhill woman, who cared for nearly 200 foster children, collected Christmas gifts for youngsters, and provided meals for the needy at Thanksgiving, was killed on her way to church yesterday morning by an allegedly drunk driver. Karen LaPierre, 63, was struck from behind around 5:20 a.m. while loading doughnuts for her church's morning services into the trunk of her car, according to Haverhill police. "She died in my arms," said her husband, Bill LaPierre, 74. "She was the most caring woman I ever met in my life.

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.

More than 300 Randolph families received Thanksgiving groceries this year thanks to the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley. Turkeys and ingredients for side dishes were distributed at the high school on Nov. 19 and 21. Spearheading the project was Monica Roberts, Randolph public schools' director of family and community relations. "The initial response was low," said Roberts. "I did some outreach and learned from quite a few people that they were worried about anonymity.

As the days of 2007 grew shorter and the holiday season approached, Mary Zoll experienced a moment of stark soul-searching. "I said to myself, ‘I'm single. I don't have a family. Thanksgiving and Christmas are in a few weeks, and it's all but certain that I'll still be single without a family when they arrive. And I don't want to spend the holidays alone once again.' " So rather than throw herself on the mercy of any number of friends who probably would have been willing to include her in their plans, Zoll, then 59 and a writing instructor at Massachusetts Institute...

PLYMOUTH - What did they serve at the first Thanksgiving dinner? One thing is certain: The feast shared by the Pilgrims and Wampanoag in autumn 1621 was nothing like the turkey dinner most American families enjoy today on the last Thursday of November. There were no forks. No cranberry sauce. No potatoes. No apple pie. No pumpkin pie. Water was the beverage of choice, because there was not much else. Venison and fowl were the main items on the menu, and some of the dishes probably contained guts or innards, such as deer heart, liver, and lung.

Before launching his namesake fashion line, Chris Benz worked at the helms of J.Crew and Marc Jacobs. His previous employers appear to be natural mentors when viewing his coquettishly chic collection of wearable womenswear with an affinity for prints and pops of color but Benz brings his own flair for personality and wit to the brand through a ferociously active Twitter account and bright bubblegum pink locks. We've been following your Tweets ( @CMBenz )

U.S. shoppers are still spending heavily online after a record-busting "Cyber Monday," research firm comScore Inc. said Sunday. The firm, which tracks Web use, found shoppers spent nearly $6 billion online on Monday through Friday last week, a record. On Cyber Monday itself, sales reached $1.25 billion, the biggest online shopping day in history. Online sales on Tuesday and Wednesday also broke $1 billion. Cyber Monday sales topped $1 billion for the first time last year.