The following is provided by the Barnstable Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.

Notable incidents from Monday November 19, 2012

12:29 a.m.: 40 Fresh Holes Rd., disturbance, arrested 27-year-old Jessica Ann Smith of Hyannis, warrant default, Lynn, motor vehicle charges, warrant default Lynn, deface property, injury to real or personal property

1:21 a.m.: 2300 Falmouth Rd. and 250 Lumbert Mill Rd., accident property damage, summons issued to 26-year-old James Waugh of Centerville, operating with a revoked license, operating to endanger, motor vehicle OUI-liquor, disorderly person, assault and battery on a police officer

8:26 a.m.: 297 Winter St., breaking and entering, commercial, report taken

9:35 a.m.: Bank of America, 291 Barnstable Rd., robbery, unarmed, serviced

9:39 a.m.: Hyannis Inn Motel, 473 Main St., breaking and entering, commercial, report taken

11:10 a.m.: 1210 Race Ln., accident hit and run, serviced

1:01 p.m.: Rockland Trust Company, 442 Main St., larceny, report taken, arrested 20-year-old Ryan Walter McKenna of S. Yarmouth, larceny of property over $250 to wit Jamis Bicycle

1:24 p.m.: Soho Arts Company, 342 Main St., larceny, shoplifting, serviced

6:55 p.m.: Noah Shelter, 77 Winter St., assault and battery, arrested 35-year-old Leann NMI Femia of Hyannis, assault and battery on a person over 60

Court Report: November 20

The following information was provided by the Barnstable District Court. It does not indicate a conviction unless otherwise noted.

ARRAIGNMENTS

FEMIA, LEANN NMI, 35, 77 Winter Street, Hyannis; assault and battery on a person over 60 or disabled. Pretrial hearing Dec. 11.

MCKENNA, RYAN WALTER, 20, 16 Pleasant Street, South Yarmouth; larceny over $250. Pretrial hearing Dec. 13.

DISPOSITIONS

GEORGIEV, GEORGI, 34, 2 Mayflower Terrace, South Yarmouth; rape, witness intimidation, indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over. Sentenced to one year in the house of correction.

LITTLEFIELD, PETER P., 48, 785 Route 28, Apartment 3, South Yarmouth; aggravated assault and battery. Dismissed due to failure of witness to cooperate.

MORECRAFT, CHRISTIAN C., 26, 116 Saint Catherine Avenue, Hyannis; OUI liquor, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, speeding, operating a motor vehicle without license in possession. Fined $250.

PALYS, CHESTER S., 71, 4765 Route 6, North Eastham; leaving the scene of personal injury or death, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, vandalizing property (two counts). Ordered to complete 50 hours of community service, continued without finding until Nov. 19, 2014.

SQUIRES, DAWN M., 46, 17 Hiramar Road, Hyannis; assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Sentenced to one year in the house of correction (60 days to serve, balance suspended), placed on probation until Nov. 19, 2013.

Lindsey Stone of Plymouth last month posted a photo on Facebook of herself making an obscene gesture at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

Both Stone and Jamie Schuh, the woman who took the photo, have apolgized about the incident.

Stone and Schuh, employees of Life Inc., a living facility for adults with disablilities in Hyannis have been suspended from their positions. 

On its Facebook Page, Life Inc. posted the following:

On Nov. 19 at approximately 6 p.m., we became aware that one of our employees had posted an offensive, inappropriate photograph on her personal Facebook page. The photo was taken at a national historic site in October by a fellow employee during a trip to Washington, D.C. attended by 40 residents and eight staff. The photo has since been removed from Facebook, and both employees have been placed on unpaid leave pending the results of an internal investigation.

This photograph in no way reflects the opinions or values of the LIFE organization, which holds our nation’s veterans in the highest regard. We are proud to have veterans serving on our staff and board of trustees, and we value their service. The men and women who have selflessly fought and sacrificed their lives to protect the rights and lives of Americans deserve our utmost respect and gratitude. We are acutely aware that this photo has done a disservice to veterans and we are deeply saddened that it was taken and shared in a public medium.

Since the photo went viral, the Facebook Page "Fire Lindsey Stone" has been created and at the time of this posting, has more than 15,300 likes.

Tell Us:  Will you be more careful about what you post on Facebook? And, do you think there should be a national service requirement, where everyone serves the country, either in the military or government for two years after high school?

Will you be driving on Thanksgiving night? If so, you can snag a free cup of joe courtesy of the state. And if you're hitting the Turnpike on Wednesday afternoon, you can also get on I-90 (for one hour) without having to pay the toll.

Free coffee will be served at all 18 Massachusetts Department of Tranportation (MassDOT) service plazas between 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving night until 5 a.m. on Friday, Nov 23, courtesy of McDonalds, Burger King and Gulf.

Meanwhile, Plymouth Rock Assurance will sponsor free tolls at the Allston-Brighton interchange on I-90 from 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. on Wednesday, November 21. 

Thanksgiving holiday traffic is expected to be at its peak on Wednesday, Nov. 21 and Sunday, Nov. 25, according to MassDOT. To avoid delays on busy days, drivers should consider hitting the road during the early morning or after 8 p.m.

The worst heavy traffic and busiest toll plazas are expected at I-90's Exit 9, which connects to I-84 on the way to Connecticut and New York, according to MassDOT. Congestion is also expected at the I-95 and I-495 Turnpike interchanges along with I-495 and I-93 northbound leading into New Hampshire.

Beginning Tuesday, additional toll collectors and emergency service personnel will be working on the Mass. Turnpike to assist traffic flow. 

Before leaving, you can check MassDOT's online traffic camera webpage to view live traffic cameras throughout the highway system. The 511 traffic alert system will include messages to alert customers to traffic advisories throughout the holiday weekend.

MassDOT will suspend highway construction projects on major roadways across the state from Wednesday the through normal start of business on Monday, Nov. 26. 

MBTA Holiday Schedule

On Wednesday, the MBTA will operate regular weekday service. To support high ridership, the MBTA will add additional service on all subway lines and the Silver Line for customers going to Logan Airport. Commuter boat service will operate on a modified schedule.

On Thanksgiving, the MBTA will operate on a Sunday schedule. There will be no service on the Fairmount, Greenbush, Kingston/Plymouth, and Needham Commuter Rail lines. Commuter boat service will not operate.

On Friday, Nov. 23, the MBTA will operate regular weekday service.

Check out this story for full details on the MBTA Thanksgiving schedule.

Beginning Tuesday of Thanksgiving week and throughout the weekend, the MBTA will operate additional off-peak service traveling to and from Logan Airport.  

Customers traveling for the Thanksgiving Holiday are encouraged to add value to their CharlieCard in advance and purchase round trip tickets for commuter rail trips. 

More details about the MBTA service schedule around the Thanksgiving holiday can be found on the MBTA website.

Logan Airport

Last year, some 868,000 passengers used Boston Logan Airport during the Thanksgiving holiday period and Massport estimates a 1 percent increase this year.

If you're flying for the holiday, Massport encourages passengers to arrive at Logan a minimum of two-and-a-half hours before a domestic flight and three hours for an international departure. Travelers can check www.flylogan.com for updated airline and airport information.

"Ample parking" will be available at Loga, according to Massport. If you're not driving to the airport, alternatives include:

• Logan Express: Bus service every half hour between Logan Airport and Woburn, Braintree and Framingham, and hourly service between Logan and Peabody. Buses will be added to meet the anticipated increase in demand and maintain the posted schedule. Kids under 12 ride free.

• MBTA Blue and Silver Line Service: The MBTA Silver Line provides service between South Station and Logan's terminals every 10 minutes. Outbound service from Logan Airport to the South Boston Seaport District and South Station is free. The MBTA Blue Line provides subway service between Boston and Airport Station. Massport provides free shuttle service to and from all terminals.

• Water Transportation: Several water taxi companies provide on-call service to points throughout Downtown Boston from the Logan dock.

• Taxi Service: Because of heavy holiday travel, Massport said that travelers may experience longer than normal waits for taxi service departing Logan Airport, especially during peak periods immediately after the Thanksgiving holiday. Taxis are available at the arrival level of all terminals.

Massport recommends people meeting arriving passengers use Logan’s cell phone waiting lot to help reduce roadway and curb-side congestion. The lot is open 24 hours a day and is located minutes from the terminals at the intersection of Hotel Drive and Service Road, near the airport Gulf Station.  Drivers are asked to stay no longer than 30 minutes and to wait with their vehicles.

Information from MassDOT and Massport press releases were used in this report.

To The Editor:

As a proud lifelong Barnstable citizen, taxpayer and property owner, I would like to take this opportunity to briefly comment about the five blatantly discriminatory Barnstable zoning ordinances and amendments being proposed to the Barnstable Town Council at a public hearing scheduled for Thursday, December 6.

After carefully reviewing the municipal legislation being promoted by some of the leaders of the Greater Hyannis Civic Association along with 2 or 3 inexperienced freshman town councilors, I find that I am completely appalled at the lack of community sensitivity and the blatant snobbery they seem to be exhibiting by presenting these inappropriate matters.

I, for one, will not support these proposed new local "problem property" ordinances which only seek to unduly raise the property tax assessments upon a select few members of the community. Moreover, I also will not support any members of the town council for re-election next year who vote in favor of these proposed ordinances as well.

If I am not mistaken, the entire Barnstable Town Council will be up for election in November, 2013. This is food for thought for all of us to dwell upon between now and the December 6 hearing.

Nancy Johnson, Hyannis

No one was injured during the incident and the pilot was able to fly safely back to Barnstable Municipal Airport, according to Airport Manager Bud Breault.  

The bird made quite a mess after crashing through the windshield.  The pilot, co-pilot and several passengers were covered with blood. After a quick change of clothes all passengers boarded another plane to Nantucket.

Cape Air is inspecting the airplane for structural damage.

Welcome to a "Sea of Red."

Such was the premonitory speech delivered by 2nd year Barnstable High School head coach Chris Whidden Wednesday afternoon, as the BHS Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade culminated on the Hyannis Village Green, much to the delight of hundreds of fans, parents, players and alumni.

The annual parade - begun in the 1940s as a salute to BHS football players who returned home as veterans from World War II - vanished from the local scene for three years before returning in 2007, with thanks to the school's football booster club, The Quarterback Club, founded in 1967.

Centerville's Judy Lambert, whose son Mark Lambert is a senior wide receiver for the Red & White, chaired the club's parade committee and by all accounts it was a smash hit, replete with theme floats, the BHS Home coming Queen Molly McDonough, a judge's panel, cheerleaders, the incomparable BHS Marching Band and much more.

"It was a lot of fun," said Quarterback Club president John Hardy who was recently re-elected to a second term.

Speakers at the Pep Rally included Coach Whidden, assistant coach Kris Dumas, BHS Athletic Director Steve Francis, BHS principal Pat Clark, Barnstable Superintendent of Schools Mary Czajkowski and of course, BHS senior football captains Andrew Ellis, Bryan Hardy, Tom Grimmer, Ryan Litchman and Nick Peabody.

Peabody went as far to write a poem - with each captain reciting a few lines - which largely called for a "drubbing" of archrival Falmouth tomorrow at William Leo Shields Memorial Field.

The 15-time Massachusetts Division 1 State Champion girls volleyball team was also honored during the parade and pep rally as was mentioned the accumulative grade point average of the senior class of football players. According to principal Clark, the seniors have a "3.2 grade point average, with 9 National Honor Society members and six in the top 25 percent."

This season marks the 120th year of Barnstable High School football and the 125th meeting of Barnstable and Falmouth. For many years beginning in the early 20th Century, Barnstable and Falmouth played first on Columbus Day and then a second time on Thanksgiving Day, or thereabouts. On five different Thanksgivings, Barnstable faced other opponents such as Yarmouth High School and Middleboro High School, for a variety of reasons such as a shortage of players in Falmouth due to World War II.

Floats and unique vehicles in the parade included those loaned by Joyce Landscaping of Marstons Mills, the Hyannis Fire Department, the Hyannis Chamber of Commerce and the Cape Cod S.W.A.T. unit.

Mastandrea was charged with motor vehicle homicide by negligence for leaving the scene after hitting Dexter New Year’s Day 2011, according to the Cape Cod Times.

Mastandrea testified that she was not aware she hit Dexter the night of the accident.

Mastandrea was found guilty of driving an uninsured motor vehicle.

Lindsey Stone posted the infamous picture to Facebook last month.

Co-worker Jamie Schuh took the photo while the two were on a work related trip. The picture showed Stone making an obscene gesture at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The photo went viral and created a firestorm on Facebook, with many calling for Stone’s firing on a “Fire Lindsey Stone” Facebook page.
 
The Hyannis company released the following statement Wednesday on its Facebook page, Life Inc.:
 
We wish to announce that the two employees recently involved in the Arlington Cemetery incident are no longer employees of LIFE. Again, we deeply regret any disrespect to members of the military and their families. The incident and publicity has been very upsetting to the learning disabled population we serve. To protect our residents, any comments, however well-intentioned, will be deleted. We appreciate your concern and understanding as we focus on the care of our community.
 
It is unclear whether Stone and Schuh resigned or were fired from their positions.
 
Tell Us: Do you think the two should have lost their jobs for the incident?

We’re launching our annual Deck the House Contest to find the most over-the-top holiday decorations in America—the best “decked” house in the country—the one home so spectacularly decorated that everyone in town jokes your holiday decorations could rival Rockefeller Center’s.

If this sounds like your house, upload a photo or video of your home to our contest page from Nov. 26 to Dec. 16 (Check back here next Monday for a direct link to our contest page so you can enter).

Only residents of Patch towns are eligible to enter. We’ll select 24 regional finalists, and from them, pick one grand prize winner. Patch will pay up to $500 of the utility bill for each finalist, while our national winner will have $100,000 donated to his or her local school district.

Our contest is right around the corner, so now’s the time to get your holiday decorations out of the attic and “deck” your house.

After all, ‘tis the season.......

The Patrick Administration is arguing that after Amazon, the huge online retailer, bought a Massachusetts company this year it is no longer exempt from collecting the state's 6.25 percent sales tax as soon as the 2013 holiday season.

Under federal law, online retailers are not required to collect state sales taxes if they do not have a physical presence in the state, such as an office building or a store, the Boston Globe reported. 

But Amazon bought North Reading company Kiva Systems this year, and is recruiting engineers for a Cambridge office, according to the Globe report. This, Patrick says, means it needs to start collecting the state sales tax in Massachusetts. 

Amazon has faced similar pressure from other states and collects sales taxes in eight of them, according to the report. States and local retailers have also pressed the federal government to compel Amazon to pay state sales taxes. 

“This is not simply a revenue issue . . . it is a matter of fairness and equity to Main Street businesses,” state Treasurer Steve Grossman wrote in a letter to the chairman of the federal Senate Committee on Finance, urging him to change online taxation laws. 

Indeed, Massachusetts retailers have been fighting this battle for years, arguing that Amazon has an unfair advantage since it doesn't have to collect the tax. The Massachusetts Main Street Fairness Coalition says the state ultimately ends up losing out, too. According to its numbers, the state government lost $387 million in 2011 from residents buying sales-tax-free items online, the Globe reported. 

Cape Cod Mall will open at 12:30 a.m. this year on Black Friday - the day after Thanksgiving known for its early morning shopping deals to kick off the holiday shopping season.

The opening time will be the earliest ever for the mall, which is owned by Simon Property Group. It is part of a decision by Simon to open all of its malls in eastern Massachusetts at 12:30 a.m.

The earliest the mall had opened on Black Friday in recent years had been 4 a.m. last year.

The opening time applies to the main mall and other stores on the property have scheduled different opening times. 

The mall will also have a "Rejuvenation Station" with "big comfy chairs and sofas" where shoppers can use free Wi-Fi and have a "more indulgent shopping environment than ever before," the mall said in an announcement.

The holiday season at the mall will also local holiday entertainment including carolers and choral groups.

Here's a list of what's closed:

• Town halls
• Banks
• CCRTA Fixed-route buses 
• Bond and stock markets
• Liquor stores
• Post offices
• Public libraries
• Retail stores
• State and federal offices
• Most supermarkets
• Most town transfer stations

Here's a list of what's open:

• Some restaurants
• Most convenience stores
• Some pharmacies

In the first half, this one had all the makings of a classic.

Ahead just 7-0 in the first quarter, Barnstable found itself tied with guest Falmouth 7-7 after the Clippers' junior quarterback Jack O'Rourke found Darion Bartibogue in the end zone to make it 7-6. Falmouth kicker Billy Ellis's PAT kick made it an even 7-7 and fans on both sides had hope for a real barnburner, a hope that did not diminish by halftime with Barnstable leading by a slim 13-7 margin.

But when Barnstable senior captain and quarterback Nick Peabody (10-18, 155 yds.) found Dylan Morris for a six-yard touchdown to start the second half, hope began to fade quickly for the rough and tumble Clipper Eleven.

Morris's 13th touchdown reception of the season was shortly followed by a 27-yard touchdown reception from Tedaro France, a critical kickoff return fumble by Falmouth (caused by junior Derek Estes and recovered by Johnny Hardy), and an 11-yard touchdown run by France, again, his second.

Barnstable would get one more score from back-up quarterback Kristian Lucashensky, a 21-yard run, in the fourth quarter, before Falmouth would strike again. Falmouth quarterback O'Rourke (8-11, 123 yds., 2 TDs) found Blake Murphy for a 40-yard touchdown that made it 39-13, quickly followed by Ellis's second boot of the day to make it 39-14.

Barnstable also had touchdowns from Manny Perry and Peabody, while Falmouth received a yeoman's effort from running backs Ronnie Zampani (19 caries, 67 yards) and Devon Green (7 carries for 43 yards).

Are you enjoying the football and basketball seasons?

Kids across the country sure are! You can be an ALL-STAR parent without missing even one of the season’s big games! And we don’t just mean you’ll be playing and watching and cheering, but you’ll be reading the best books about sports out there.

PatchReads and ReadKiddoRead want to get you and your kids talking about some great sports books with the Tailgate Book Club. Follow these steps to make the most of pre-game time, halftime, and all the days in between.

Step 1: Pick a book each week based on the ReadKiddoRead Tailgate Book Club List, and have all your friends and their kids read it before game day.

Step 2: Gather everyone together for the game. During half-time, put the TV on mute and dive into your Tailgate Book Club by filling in the blanks on our get-talking sheets. You can find these at ReadKiddoRead.com. Print copies for everyone! (You can also print out trading cards for each book. Print enough so that everyone who has read the book can have one. They’ll want to collect them all.)

Here's a recommended list of books to get you started!

Great Picture Books - For ages 2-6

"Spot Loves Sports by Eric Hill" (ages 1-4)

The youngest kids in the family can participate in your halftime book club. Spot, an enduring favorite character of kids who crawl and toddle, goes to the park to race, play soccer, and have an altogether thirsty-making and fun-filled day in his latest board-book adventure.

"Tyrannosaurus Dad" by Liz Rosenberg; illustrated by Matthew Myers (ages 4-6)

Tobias’s dad, like so many dads, is always busy, always working. (Unlike most dads though, Tobias’s father happens to be a Tyrannosaurus.) Tobias tries everything he can think of to get his father to come to his school’s Field Day. Dad finally shows up and steps in as the umpire in a baseball dispute. Now who’s going to argue with a dinosaur?

Great Beginner Reads - For ages 6-9

"Teammates" by Peter Golenbock; illustrated by Paul Bacon (ages 6-9)

It took a kind of courage that few of today’s kids can imagine for Jackie Robinson to step onto the baseball field as a Brooklyn Dodger in 1947. It also took courage for one of his teammates, Pee Wee Reese, to step up, put his arm around Robinson and talk – right there, in front of the crowd. This event is captured in the simple words, drawings and old photos of this picture book.

"You Never Heard of Willie Mays?" by Jonah Winter; illustrated by Terry Widener (ages 7-9)

Not only does this non-fiction picture book tell all about Willie Mays and his astonishing baseball career, it’s as much fun to read as watching a game. As a boy, Willie idolized Joe DiMaggio; as a teen, he copied Joe’s style, and as a young man he brought that style and his talent to the New York Giants, which had just been integrated. With play-by-play descriptions and action-filled illustrations, this biography gives new independent readers lots to contribute to sports book talk at halftime. 

And check out:

"You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?!" by Jonah Winter; illustrated by Andrew Carriho (ages 7-10)

"There Goes Ted Williams: The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived" by Matt Tavares (ages 7-11)

We know that baseball is more than a game. It is the stuff of legend. This biography focuses on Ted’s childhood and his early dedication to practice, practice, practice. And it paid off in his record-breaking career. He is a sports hero we can continue to admire, and with this engaging picture book, a new generation will know his story and profit from his example.

And check out:

"Henry Aaron's Dream" by Matt Tavares (ages 7-10)

Great Pageturners - for ages 9-12

"Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki"; illustrated by Dom Lee (ages 8 and up)

Shorty and his father build a baseball field and create teams while they are in a Japanese-American internment camp during World War II. The games do more than help pass the time; they lift spirits and self-respect and offer reasons for hope.

"Hey Batta Batta Swing!: The Wild Old Days of Baseball by James Charlton and Sally Cook," Illustrated by Ross MacDonald (ages 8 and up)

What was the game of baseball like when it began more than a century ago? Back then, you could get a runner out by soaking him. Soaking? It was “a very early rule that allowed a runner who was off base to be put out by hitting him with a ball.” Ouch. This entertaining array of baseball facts will surprise even the biggest baseball fans. 

"Hope Solo: My Story" by Hope Solo  (for ages 8 and up)

She’s a soccer sensation; the starting goalkeeper for the U.S. women’s national soccer team and an Olympic gold medalist. And with this book, adapted from her adult "Memoir of Hope," she will be an inspiration for young athletes.

"The Underdogs" by Mike Lupica (ages 8-12)

From the title and vivid cover, readers may guess that this is a book about a determined team of middle school football players struggling to beat odds stacked high against them. Of course, they’re right, but there’s a lot more to this story. It is also about their hometown facing a serious recession when the local sneaker factory closes under the pressure of bigger companies. How Will Tyler, captain of the Bulldogs, helps his team, his out-of-work father, and the whole town makes for a novel that is a touchdown!

And check out:                                                                                    

"Game Changers" by Mike Lupica (ages 8-12)

Great Advanced Reads - For ages 12 and up

"True Legend" by Mike Lupica (ages 11-14)

Fifteen-year-old high school basketball star Drew Robinson faces a tough decision: should he take an opportunity to switch schools and play for a ritzy private school (where he’s sure to get all sorts of special treatment)? Drew makes the switch and begins to enjoy his new status, but soon his game begins to suffer. Told with the clear voice and honesty of sportswriter Mike Lupica, this novel has plenty of sports choices along with a hard-earned lesson.

"The Final Four" by Paul Volponi (ages 12 up)

Teens get right inside a game in the semifinal round of the NCAA men’s basketball championship, as they get to know two players on each of the competing teams: The Michigan Spartans and the Troy Trojans. Newspaper articles, interviews, journals, and flashbacks interspersed with game action, reveal Michael, Malcolm, Roko and Crispin’s backstories, motivations and aspirations and show how their different backgrounds and their individual problems shape them. The characters are real, multi-faceted, and set on winning.

And check out:                                                                              

"Crossing Lines" by Paul Volponi (ages 12 up)

"The Moves Make the Man" by Bruce Brooks (ages 12 and up)

The basketball story—with game scenes wonderfully described— is wrapped around a story of friendship and coming of age. Jerome Foxworthy’s got the moves – on the court and off. And he’s cool, despite some tough breaks. – he’s sure of that. Still, for some reason he doesn’t quite understand, he’s decided to teach Bix Rivers, a mentally-challenged kid at school, how to play the basketball. Maybe it will help Bix cope with all the troubles he’s got. Basketball has always been good for what ails Jerome.

"Game Changer "by Margaret Peterson Haddix (ages 12 up)

In a novel that combines sports story, mystery, and fantasy, KT, a softball star, blacks out during a game and wakes up in a different world. In KT’s new reality only academic success is admired – not athletic or other talents. As she struggles to understand this world, KT questions everything, especially the values in the life she led, where kids had to define themselves by predetermined categories: good student? jock? gamer? The lines were clear – and now KT sees, limiting. There is much to think about and talk about in this involving take on sports.

"The Contender" by Robert Lipsyte (ages 13 and up)

This long-lived classic young adult novel, about a 17-year-old high-school dropout from Harlem, is as powerful today as it was when it was first published. Alfred Brooks’s dead-end job, the gang of kids who are after him, and his friend’s spiral down the road of drug addiction leaves him in need of hope. He finds it at a gym where he discovers not just his talent for boxing, but also lessons about hard work and determination.

Every fan loves to know stats and talk about them. These books will get you started.

• "NFL Record and Fact Book 2012" by Editors at the NFL

• "Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Firsts" by David Nemec, et. al.

• "Sports Illustrated Almanac 2012" by Editors of Sports Illustrated

• "NHL Official Guide and Record Book 2012" by the National Hockey League

Senator-elect Elizabeth Warren said she and other newly elected senators will work to reform the filibuster process on day one.

Warren, in a blog post on the Huffington Post, said the current filibuster system impedes open debate and paralyzes progress.

She said she saw it firsthand at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and heard from voters during the campaign that they “want fewer closed-door roadblocks and more public votes on legislation that could improve their lives.”

Warren wrote:

On the first day of the new session in January, the senators will have a unique opportunity to change the filibuster rule with a majority vote, rather than the normal two-thirds vote. The change can be modest: If someone objects to a bill or a nomination in the United States Senate, they should have to stand on the floor of the chamber and defend their opposition.

I'm joining Senator Jeff Merkley and six other newly elected senators to pledge to lead this reform on Day One, and I hope you'll be right there with us. Our campaign didn't end on Election Day -- and I'm counting on you to keep on working each and every day to bring real change for working families. This is the first step.

What do you think? Do you think the filibuster process is flawed and needs improvement or would you rather not see that process reformed? Let us know in the comments section. 

1. BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING FORECAST:

Friday: Partly sunny. Milder. Highs in the low 50s.

Saturday: Partly cloudy with a 30% chance of rain. Highs in the upper 40s early then temps crash into the upper 30s by night.

Sunday: Cold and sunny. Upper 30s to near 40 for highs.

2. BLACK FRIDAY HISTORY: The term “Black Friday” was coined in the 1960s to mark the kickoff to the Christmas shopping season. “Black” refers to stores moving from the “red” to the “black,” back when accounting records were kept by hand, and red ink indicated a loss, and black a profit. Ever since the start of the modern Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924, the Friday after Thanksgiving has been known as the unofficial start to a bustling holiday shopping season.

3. BLACK FRIDAY MYTHS:

• Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year.

4. BLACK FRIDAY FACTS:

• Nearly 135 million people shop every year on Black Friday.
• In 2010, 212 million shoppers spent $39 billion for an average spending amount of $365.34.
• In 2008, Jtimytai Damour, a Long Island Walmart temporary employee, was trampled to death at Green Acres Shopping Center.

5. BLACK FRIDAY STATS YOU MAY HAVE NOT KNOWN:

• The National Retail Federation reports that 51.8 percent of U.S. consumers will be doing their holiday shopping online this year, up 5 percent from 2011.
• According to a survey, 52.9 percent of smartphone owners and 64.1 percent of tablet owners will use their devices to do research and make purchases.
•  Shop.org forecasts that online holiday spending alone this year will amount to a whopping $92 to $96 billion.

About this column: A few facts, figures and other items to start off your day.

One group of residents in the Bay State has taken a stand against the use of plastic foam food and beverage containers at local restaurants.

A Special Town Meeting in Brookline earlier this week voted to ban the use of polystyrene (plastic foam) food and beverage containers for take-out or to-go at food establishments in town. The ban will go into effect on Dec. 1, 2013.

The move came after Town Meeting member Nancy Heller proposed the article due to the health risks involved in the use of the cups. As a result, the move was approved by a vote of 169-27. 

But not everyone was in favor of the move. Canton-based Dunkin Donuts spoke against the measure on Tuesday; spokesperson Christine Riley said that, despite looking, the company has not found a better alternative to the foam cups to keep coffee warm. 

Meanwhile, some petitions have cropped up, such as on Change.org, calling on Dunkin Donuts to cease use of the cups, citing hazards to the environment. Last year, the company said it was looking at alternatives to the material and also weighing the possibility of an in-store recycling program, according to a WHDH report.

But what do you think? Should Brookline's move be followed by other communities in the Commonwealth? Or should establishments be allowed to use the material for food and beverage containers? 

Two-thirds of respondents to a recent poll by the NPD Group said they “plan to spend about the same” as last year, while 10 percent planned to “spend more.”

With the economy and job situation still in flux for many families, we want to know what families in Howard County plan to do for Christmas, Hanukah or Kwanzaa gifts in 2012.

Will you be more creative with your gifting?

Use sites like Groupon, Living Social, etc?

Brave Black Friday sales?

Cook or bake for familty and friends?

Small Business Saturday is on Nov. 24 this year, two days after Thanksgiving. It is a day for everyone to support the small businesses that their community thrives on.

American Express founded the day in 2010 to help small businesses get exposure during the holiday season, when they might be otherwise overlooked. With retailers buzzing around the holidays, it is important to support local small businesses that rely on their neighbors in order to continue prospering and building the local economy.

"If people were more aware that locally spent dollars has a more direct positive impact on a local community than dollars spent in nationally owned stores, they will then consider spending their dollars exclusively in locally owned stores," said Shift Boutique owner Amanda Converse.

Last year, 100 million people nationwide participated in Small Business Saturday by shopping at locally owned stores to help boost the economy and their communities.

Find a List of participating local businesses using the link below: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/Shop-Small/ 

You can also “like” Small Business Saturday on Facebook by visiting www.facebook.com/shopsmall.

Everyone has locally owned businesses in their community, and shopping on Small Business Saturday is the perfect way to give back to the businesses you know and love in your community.

TELL US: What small businesses do you patronize in your town and what makes them great? Share in the comments below.