A study shows women may have more control over their relationship than they think. 
According to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center,  a surprising 43 percent of men don’t have the final say in any of the major household decisions tested.

The survey asked questions about who makes decisions in four areas:  household finances, weekend activities, large home purchases and television viewing.    

According to the survey, only a quarter of men make decisions in more areas than their female partner. In 31 percent of the relationships, the pair split decision-making responsibilities equally.

How does your household compare? Tell us who makes more decisions in your household in the four areas.  

1. Who decides what you do together on the weekend?
2. Who manages the household finances?
3. Who makes the decisions on big purchases for the home?
4. And who most often decides what to watch on TV?

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

Notable incidents from Saturday December 1, 2012

12:43 a.m.: 11 Periwinkle Dr., breaking and entering, residence, advised

1:39 a.m.: 11 Capt. Studley Rd., domestic assault and battery, arrested 50-year-old Peter E. Sisson of Marstons Mills, assault and battery, domestic violence, assault by dangerous weapon

2:51 p.m.: More for Less, Main St., larceny, serviced

6:10 p.m.: 96 Cinderella Ter., domestic assault and battery, complaint, summonsed 49-year-old Thomas C. Greene of Marstons Mills, assault and battery domestic violence

9:05 p.m.: Suspicious activity, arrested one, name and charges redacted from log

11:00 p.m.: 9 Suffolk Ave., accident, hit and run, advised

Court Report: December 4

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

ARRAIGNMENTS

FERNANDES, BRUCE, 58, 473 Oakland Street, Hyannis; indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, rape of a child by force. Pretrial hearing Dec. 28.

JOHNSON, DUSTIN M., 27, 23 Drews Way, West Yarmouth; domestic assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, indecent assault and battery on a person over 14. Pretrial hearing Dec. 6.

VIERA, LINDSAY J., 23, 248 Old Main Street, Apartment 3, Yarmouth; breaking and entering during nighttime for a felony (four counts), larceny from a building, larceny under $250 by a single scheme. Pretrial hearing Dec. 14.

DISPOSITIONS

ALICEA, YOLANDA NMI, 22, 168 Barnstable Road, Apartment 2B, Hyannis; domestic assault and battery, assault with a dangerous weapon. Dismissed due to failure of witness to cooperate.

BORGES, DWAYNE, 22, 10 Parker Drive, Wareham; disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, assault and battery on a police officer. Sentenced to six months in the house of correction.

CALLE, SEGUNDO L., 36, 1029 Iyannough Road, Apartment 8D, Hyannis; domestic assault and battery, witness intimidation. Dismissed due to failure of witness to cooperate.

DASILVA, ALEXSANDRO PORFIRIO, 48, 110 Long Pond Drive, South Yarmouth; assault and battery. Placed on probation until Nov. 25, 2013.

DONOVAN, KATELYNN, 22, 185 Seth Goodspeed's Way, Marstons Mills; domestic assault and battery, vandalizing property, leaving the scene of property damage. Dismissed due to failure of witness to cooperate.

GAY, ELIZABETH L., 42, 80 Constance Road, West Yarmouth; violating an abuse prevention order (two counts), assault and battery, larceny from a person. Ordered to pay $290 restitution, sentenced to one year in the house of correction (60 days deemed served, balance suspended), placed on probation until Nov. 25, 2013.

KERN, SARAH G., 20, 87 Winter Street, Hyannis; domestic assault and battery. Dismissed due to failure of witness to cooperate.

ROBERTS, JARRED M., 34, 318 Camp Street, Yarmouth; assault and battery, attempted murder. Dismissed due to failure of witness to cooperate.

In anticipation of the “fiscal cliff” combined with projected tax revenues that are more than half a billion dollars lower than previously expected, Gov. Deval Patrick released a revised budget designed to deal with the gap Tuesday.

 “The uncertainty of the fiscal cliff and the resulting slow down in growth, is the direct cause of our budget challenges,” Patrick said. “Congress and the President must come to terms on a solution so the private sector will continue to make the kind of investments that create jobs, grow state and federal tax revenue collections and contribute to a lasting economic recovery."

The state is now expecting to bring in roughly 21.5 billion in tax revenue, and Patrick's plan to bridge the gap between this amount and the $22 billion originally expected stresses budgetary reductions and no cuts in education funding. 

"The governor’s proposed plan ensures virtually all impacted programs and services will receive no less funding than last year and that no cuts will be made to Chapter 70 education funding," an administration press release stated.

In summary, the governor plans to balance the budget with the following reductions:  

• $225 million in spending reductions through cuts in Executive Branch agencies. Combined with hiring controls the administration imposed in October, the total state workforce will have more than 6,000 fewer positions at the end of fiscal year 2013 than it did before the recession. A number of new investments for projects and programs in FY13 have been also been reduced or eliminated, including limiting new or restored funding for investments across a range of government services.
• $200 million from the Rainy Day Fund, bringing the total draw to $550 million in FY13 – leaving a balance of $1.2 billion, one of the highest in the country. 
• $98 million in additional federal revenues in support of safety net programs operated by the state on behalf low-income residents.
• $25 million from a 1 percent reduction in the budgets of the Judiciary, Constitutional Officers and other non-executive departments.
• $20 million from a total of $113 million in savings in state borrowing and health care reform costs. The remainder of this funding will be used to offset some unavoidable deficiencies which must be funded this fiscal year.
• $20 million from a reduction in the amount of sales tax revenues that will automatically be transferred to the Massachusetts School Building Authority to support local school building costs.
• $11 million from certain reserve fund surpluses.
• $9 million from a 1 percent across-the-board reduction to unrestricted local aid. The governor has filed legislation that ensures if lottery profits exceed the $1.026 billion amount currently budgeted in FY13, all of such excess proceeds be committed to increasing the amount of unrestricted local aid.

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

Notable incidents from Sunday December 2, 2012

12:58 a.m.: Five Eighty Six, 586 Main St., domestic assault and battery, arrested 23-year-old Alison Oldfield of Sandwich, assault and battery, domestic violence

2:52 a.m.: 13 Conners Rd., breaking and entering attempted, report taken

5:07 a.m.: Disturbance, arrested two, names and charges redacted from log

2:46 a.m.: 61 Oak Ridge Rd., larceny, report taken

5:10 p.m.: Plymouth and Brockton Bus Station, 17 Elm Ave., domestic, verbal argument, complaint, summonsed 26-year-old Nicole L. Almasroori of Hyannis, assault and battery domestic violence

6:02 p.m.: CVS Pharmacy, 176 North St., suspicious activity, arrested 41-year-old Rachel L. Almeida of Hyannis, warrant default shoplifting Taunton

6:22 p.m.: Barnstable Municipal Airport, terminal, 480 Barnstable Rd., larceny, report taken

8:10 p.m.: 41 Westbury Way, domestic, verbal argument, report taken

8:17 p.m.: 714 Old Stage Rd., domestic, verbal argument, report taken

9:20 p.m.: 979 Falmouth Rd. Apt. #D14, domestic, verbal argument, report taken

10:29 p.m.: 107 Main St. Apt. #6, breaking and entering, residence, report taken

In October, Patch asked readers how they felt about one parent's view that "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" condoned bullying.

Specifically, blogger DadCamp wrote that the show sends the wrong message to children because of its "continuous teasing and bullying"

It's not the first time a parent has spoken out against a classic children's program with such a claim.

Last December, news spread that author and special ed professor George Giuliani said that "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was also a program laden with the theme of bullying, considering how much Rudolph was an outsider due to his glowing red nose. Giuliani, as such, wrote a book titled "No More Bullies at the North Pole," which re-tells the story of Rudolph.

What do you think? Does "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" send the wrong message and condone bullying? Or is the claim taking an extreme aim at a children's classic? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Massachusetts Senator-elect Elizabeth Warren has been chosen for a seat on the Senate's Banking Committee, according to the Huffington Post, which cited several sources.

Warren, a Democrat who helped create the federal government's Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, defeated incumbent Republican Senator Scott Brown in the November election. Prior to being elected, Warren worked as a consumer advocated and was considered to become the head of the CFPB. 

TELL US: What do you think of Warren being chosen for the Banking Committee? Share your comments in the box below.

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

Notable incidents from Monday December 3, 2012

1:51 a.m.: Friendly’s Restaurant, 1090 Iyannough Rd., motor vehicle stop, arrested 41-year-old Guy William Ahart of Dorchester, operating without a license, marked lanes, default warrant, shoplifting, trespass

8:45 a.m.: 30 Willow Ave., larceny, motor vehicle, report taken

11:30 a.m.: 452 Bishops Ter., larceny, serviced

11:32 a.m.: Cellular Accessories, 793 Iyannough Rd., fraud, forgery, report taken

12:25 p.m.: 111 Rte. 149 and 2186 Main St., accident, hit and run, advised

3:09 p.m.: Holly Hill Apartments, 1815 Falmouth Rd. Apt. #G7, larceny, advised

4:19 p.m.: 67 Sea St. Apt. #C1, breaking and entering, residence, report taken

4:42 p.m.: Red Fish Blue Fish Studio, 374 Main St., domestic, verbal argument, serviced

5:16 p.m.: 322 Old Strawberry Hill Rd., disturbance, disorderly person, arrested 23-year-old Lindsay Joan Viera of Yarmouth, warrant default, breaking and entering night time, warrant default, breaking and entering night time, larceny build, breaking and entering motor vehicle, warrant default, larceny under single scheme

Cape Cod Mall:

12/03 - 12/07: 10am - 9p
12/08: 9am - 10pm
12/09: 9am - 8pm
12/10 - 12/13: 9am - 10pm
12/14: 9am - 10pm
12/15 - 12/16: 8am - 10pm
12/17 - 12/21: 8am - 11pm
12/22 - 12/23: 7am - 11pm
12/24: 7am - 6pm
12/25: Closed
12/26: 8am - 9pm

Mashpee Commons:

Mon - Sat 10am to 6pm
Sunday 11am to 5pm

Court Report: December 5

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

ARRAIGNMENTS

ASHLEY, GEORGE, 33, 32 Elton Road, Yarmouth; violating an abuse prevention order (five counts). Pretrial hearing Jan. 22.

LIND, FRANK PAUL, 33, 77 Winter Street, Hyannis; assault and battery on a police officer. Pretrial hearing Dec. 20.

WOODS, WILLIAM J., 52, 47 Wood Road, Apartment 102, Yarmouth; operating a motor vehicle with license suspended. Pretrial hearing Jan. 16.

WOODS JR., WILLIAM J, 27, 207 Division Street, Harwich; unarmed robbery. Pretrial hearing Dec. 21.

DISPOSITIONS

BIAGIOTTI, ANTHONY, 18, 19 Checkerberry Lane, West Yarmouth; assault with a dangerous weapon, Ordered to perform 40 hours of community service and stay away from victim, continued without finding until Dec. 4, 2013.

MCCOY, ADAM, 25, 78 Center Street, Apartment 2-21, Dennisport; assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct. Ordered to pay $750 restitution, continued without finding until Nov. 25, 2013.

OSTANE, CLIFFORD, 29, 89 Fanniel Street, Apartment 253, Brighton; domestic assault and battery (two counts), operating a motor vehicle with license suspended as habitual traffic offender, speeding. Sentenced to six months in the house of correction (suspended).

The following text was provided by the Dana Farber Cancer Institute:

The holidays are here and so is all the festive food. Some of it is naughty but much of it can be nice.

“When party planning during the holidays, it’s important to have variety,” says Stacy Kennedy, MPH, RD, CSO, LDN, a nutritionist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. “Many of the foods we enjoy around the holidays are not only delicious to eat, but they may also contain cancer-fighting nutrients.” Kennedy says it’s easy to include them in any menu when you know what to look for. Here is a list of foods and recipes from Kennedy and her colleagues that belong on anyone’s “nice list.”

Ho-ho hummus
Skip those holiday dips that are buried in excess fat and calories. Kennedy says lighten up by substituting with an easy-to-prepare hummus. This recipe calls for pine nuts, which are rich in protein, zinc, copper and manganese, which are important for a healthy immune system.  Legumes, like chickpeas, are a great source of protein and dietary fiber, which can help reduce the risk of cancer and help lower cholesterol.
TRY IT: Scallion and Roasted Pine Nut Hummus

Go nuts
Dust off that family nutcracker. Recent research finds that walnuts may help prevent kidney and colon cancers. In addition, the study suggests that walnuts are a rich source of antioxidants that may help protect cells from oxidative damage. Walnuts contain essential fatty acids, or the so-called “good fats,” which are known to help reduce blood pressure and boost the immune system. So go nuts with this simple pesto recipe.
TRY IT: Walnut Pesto

Merry mango
Mangoes are naturally sweet and rich in a variety of antioxidants. One of them, lupeol, is thought to rid the body of harmful molecules known as free radicals, which can damage a cell's DNA, triggering some forms of cancer and other diseases. Studies have indicated that mango pulp may lower the risk of prostate cancer, inflammation, arthritis, and diabetes. This colorful and refreshing mousse recipe will delight dinner guests.
TRY IT: Mango Carrot Mousse

Positively pomegranate
Pomegranates have definitely moved to the top of many people’s “nice list.” They are now found in everything from drinks to desserts and for good reason. Recent research suggests that drinking pomegranate juice may be a delicious way to help prevent prostate cancer, as well as prevent the metastasis and spread of prostate cancer cells. Try this good-for-you dessert that is layered with flavonoids, vitamin C, and other antioxidants.
TRY IT: Apple and Pomegranate Crisp

Magical mixture
Want something magical this holiday? Try making a dip with fresh roasted pumpkin. Pumpkin  can spice up many recipes, from muffins to ravioli. “It’s also one of the tastiest ways to enhance the body’s own natural cancer-fighting ability,” says Kennedy. Pumpkins are packed with nutrients called carotenoids, which have been linked to the prevention of colon, prostate, breast, and lung cancer. It’s actually the bright orange color that makes pumpkin rich in nutrients.
TRY IT: Pumpkin and White Bean Hummus

Festive finger food
This appetizer (or snack) is made with winter squash. It’s not only delicious but also a good source of carotenoids. They act to clean out the dangerous free radicals that enter your body from stress or the environment.
TRY IT: Winter Squash Crostini

Kennedy says don’t be afraid to experiment. Other tips to make this a healthy season – in dips, try substituting sour cream with low-fat plain Greek yogurt, go raw with crudités, add as many colorful foods as possible, get plenty of exercise, and remember, it’s a time for celebration so it’s OK to indulge a little.

More nutritious cancer-fighting recipes can be found at www.dana-farber.org/nutrition.

As part of our new "Visions for Vacancies" column, we want to know—what kind of business would you like to see move into this space?

Don't let zoning restrict your vision. This is just a fun exercise!

This building, on North St., is a former car dealership.

Let us know in the comments section what you think should go here.

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

Notable incidents from Tuesday December 4, 2012

6:04 a.m.: Comfort Inn, Iyannough Rd., suspicious activity, report taken

6:51 a.m.: 478 Pitcher’s Way, larceny, advised

8:10 a.m.: Subway, 793 Iyannough Rd., larceny, serviced

8:30 a.m.: 357 Main St., domestic, verbal argument, report taken

8:47 a.m.: Shell Station, Rte. 149, accident, hit and run, advised

11:08 a.m.: Barnstable High School, 744 West Main St., disturbance, fight, arrested 14-year-old, disturbing school assembly

11:19 a.m.: 119 Baxter Rd., fraud, forgery, serviced

11:20 a.m.: Taco Bell, 314 Barnstable Rd. and 365 Winter St., disturbance, arrested 33-year-old Frank Paul Lind of Hyannis, assault and battery on a police officer

1:18 p.m.: Hyannis Station, Main St., accident, hit and run, advised

1:44 p.m.: Barnstable High School, disturbance, fight, serviced

2:02 p.m.: D’Angelo’s Sandwich Shop, 187 Falmouth Rd., robbery, unarmed, arrested 24-year-old William J. Woods Jr. of Harwich, robbery, unarmed

2:52 p.m.: 10 Fair Oaks Rd., breaking and entering, residence, report taken

3:50 p.m.: Osterville Pines, 3040 Falmouth Rd. Apt. #N3, domestic threats, report taken

4:57 p.m.: 1470 Iyannough Rd. and 950 Old Strawberry Hill Rd., motor vehicle stop, arrested one, name and charges redacted from log

7:20 p.m.: 15 Skating Rink Rd., breaking and entering, residence, report taken

7:39 p.m.: 420 West Main St., disturbance, fight, arrested 31-year-old Shawn Miles of Boston, warrant default, stolen motor vehicle, warrant default, disorderly conduct, warrant default, carry dangerous weapon

8:14 p.m.: 77 Spruce St., breaking and entering, residence, report taken

11:17 p.m.: 10 Main St. Apt. #6, breaking and entering, residence, report taken

Court Report: December 6

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

ARRAIGNMENTS

BROWN, SCOTT, 48, 47 Old Mill Road, Sandwich; assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (two counts). Pretrial hearing Jan. 10.

PEASE JR., GERALD E., 65, 645 Strawberry Hill Road, Centerville; domestic assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Pretrial hearing Jan. 3.

STUCZYNSKI, BRANDON T., 22, 47 Hunt Circle, Mashpee; breaking and entering during daytime for a felony, larceny from a building, fugitive from justice. Pretrial hearing Jan. 8.

DISPOSITIONS

OKEEFE, AMANDA B., 27, 168 Glenneagle Drive, Mashpee; OUI liquor, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, number plate violation. Fined $350, continued without finding until Dec. 5, 2013.

PETERSON, SUSAN A., 43, 26 Wager Lane, South Dennis; assault and battery. Dismissed by request of the commonwealth.

SMITH, RODNEY R., 46, 39 Macey Lane, Nantucket; breaking and entering during nighttime for a felony, breaking and entering during daytime for a misdemeanor. Sentenced to six months in the house of correction.

TIEROUZ, JAK, 37, 24 Uncle Willies Way, Hyannis; assault and battery. Placed on pretrial probation until Dec. 5, 2013.

For residents in the Commonwealth who prefer Starbucks coffee above all other blends, a new offer for a holiday gift idea is now on the table.

Starbucks announced this week that it has made available a limited-edition super premium rewards card for My Starbucks Rewards members, one that is etched in steel. 

Unlike the shop's traditional rewards card that enables users to buy various products, the new card, which costs $50 to make, would be loaded with $400, according to USAToday. 

Interested members can choose to buy one of the 5,000 available cards on gilt.com/starbucksultimate. The cards will automatically be enrolled in the "gold tier" of Starbucks' loyalty rewards program, according to a Mashable.com report. That will allow consumers to receive free refills on coffee and tea and a free beverage or food item on every 12th purchase, as well as a free birthday drink.

We're wondering what coffee drinkers in the area think about the offer. Would you spend $450 on a specialized steel rewards card from Starbucks? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.  

Two homes were sold in Barnstable this week, according to newenglandmoves.com.

1. 703 Main St., Barnstable, Single Family, 3 beds, 1 bath, Sq. Ft.: 1,146, Lot Size: 0.16 acres, Sold for $315 thousand

2. 7 Carla Rd., Barnstable, Single Family, 2 bed, 2 baths, Sq. Ft.: 1,488, Lot Size: 0.25 acres, Sold for $314,450

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This is part of Patch’s Picture of the Week series, where we’re asking you for your best pictures on a certain topic each week.

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