It’s official: Occupy Wall Street has swept into suburbia. And, according to the interwebs, the movement is making its way into Lexington. Lexington resident J.J. Krawczyk has started an Occupy Lexington Yahoo! Group called lex-occupy. And, according to Boston.com, Occupations have popped up in Natick, Needham and Netwon, as well as Lexington. “The clearing of Dewey Square is something to pivot on and I’m getting a local e-mail group together, finally, to generate some discussion,’’ Krawczyk said in the story posted yesterday on Boston.com. In an email to Patch, Krawczyk said he’s been busy …

From sipping egg nog to sending cards to exchanging gifts, there are many ways to celebrate the holidays. Whether you and your loved ones celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza or some creative combination that mixes and matches from the those three, there's no denying that the holiday season is steeped in tradition, and here at Lexington Patch, we're interested in learning about all of them. Do you head home for the holidays, or open yours to family for a few days, or just to share that special meal? Maybe you roast chestnuts on an open fire, or watch "A Christmas Story" six times on …

Whether iPods, soccer balls or board games, every home has a favorite set of toys that the kids are hoping to get this holiday season. Which one is yours? Are your kids into sporting goods? Or will they ask for a tablet this year? Please take our poll—and if the answer your want isn't there, feel free to add it in the comment box below.

The holidays are indeed a time for giving. Adding to that, it can also be a time of receiving strange or memorable gifts.  Whether as part of a special holiday gathering or a traditional Yankee Swap, some may use the holidays as a time to enjoy a good laugh by giving a friend, colleague or family member a unique or strange gift.  And today, we're wondering if anyone in Westwood has any stories and/or memories of humorous, unique or strange gifts they may have received over the years.  Let us know in today's poll and tell your story in the comments section below.

Patch blogger and local conservation photographer Carmen Mandel recently visited the Lexington Community Farm Coalition’s new goat yard, which features a small herd of Nigerian dwarf goats housed right next to the Busa Farms land. In her post today on Patch, Mandel said she had a wonderful time on her visit and “heard interesting facts about the goats, the yard activities and the idea behind this initiative.” LexFarm has said the organization envisions the goat yard as a tool for educating folks about sustainable land use. And, according to Nov. 13 Boston.com story, the coalition is also “…

Today’s not just Monday – it’s “Cyber Monday.” Traditionally one of the busiest shopping days of the holiday season, this so-called Cyber Monday is expected to see bargain hunters surf the web and drop billions on discounted online merchandise. Anticipating an increase of Internet sales, online retailers offer deals, sales and even free shipping today as gift givers fill virtual shopping carts with toys, clothing and electronics and other savvy shoppers order that item or two they’ve been eying for a while. So, with that in mind, we want to know, Will you be doing any online shopping on this …

Putting together a Thanksgiving dinner will be about 13 percent pricier this year, according to Huff Post Food and an American Farm Bureau Federation report. Turkey and trimmings for 10 this year will cost $49.20 on average, or $5.73 more than last year's $43.47 total, according HuffPo, which says the Farm Bureau surveyed shopping stores nationwide. Still, at less than $5 per person, a meal at home is often a more equitable option than most restaurant or catered dinners. That's not to say that people won't splurge on larger, smallor, or more elaborate home-cooked meals. Local chefs say …

It's been a nearly week-long recovery after last Saturday's October storm struck Lexington, littering sidewalks and roadways with downed tree limbs and leaving thousands powerless. But the town had begun to bounce back by Wednesday and was overrun with trick-or-treaters during the Lexington Retailers Association's event yesterday afternoon. To Recap: The early season snowfall knocked many sidewalks, streets and traffic signals around town were offline and, according to NSTAR estimates, left as much as 70 percent of the town without electricity. That led to officials calling off school for …

Election 2012 could have serious Lexington linkage. Two politicians with ties to the town took key steps in their campaign for the United States presidency on Monday as Jill Stein officially announced her candidacy for the Green Party’s bid and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney filed for the New Hampshire Primary. Stein, as most people know, is a Lexington resident and former Town Meeting member, along with being doctor and environmental-health advocate and past Green Party candidate for governor. What some people might not know is that Romney has ties to the town that go beyond his …

Lexington High’s girls soccer squad locked up its first outright Middlesex Large League title earlier this week when it topped Winchester 1-0. The Minutemen—who, at 12-1-3 were ranked No. 4 last week in Patch’s Eastern Mass. Soccer Power Rankings—got another stellar performance from keeper Cat Costello to earn the win over a sixth-ranked Lady Sachems team defending its home field, according to the Boston Globe. “It’s just the greatest feeling,” Costello told the Globe about clinching the league. “It’s like, we made history, that’s awesome.” LHS Coach Fank Pagliuca told the Globe he felt the …

About three-dozen residents, officials and architects participated in a workshop last Thursday, Oct. 20 that aimed to work toward a consensus for the area between the curb and buildings and move forward the Lexington Center Streetscape project. With that in mind, we want to know what you think about plans to revitalize Lexington Center. Participate in our poll and share some specifics in the comments section below.    

At the Board of Selectmen's meeting last night, Judy Crocker, coordinator of Safe Routes to School, presented a transportation report that opened with this statement: “The manner in which Lexington’s 6,400 students are transported to and from school has become a public safety issue.” Crocker said problems are multi-faceted, including lack of bus usage, parents not abiding by school traffic rules, tardiness and signage. Safe Route to School is calling for the formation a focus group, with members from all parts of the Lexington community, to look into improving school transportation safety and…

Don't you love it when leaves start to change colors and the temperature dips slightly? Fall is that time of year between sweltering summer days and praying away wicked winter weather. Fall is a great time to go for a stroll, play football in the park or carve a few pumpkins. Before you rake - and the kids jump in - the leaves, finding a spot with plenty of leaf-packed trees in full foliage could be hard. Where do you go to check out fall foliage? Is it somewhere local or do you make a family drive out of it? Let us know in the comment section below.

Lexington firefighters, like so many others, are thinking pink this October in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Members of the Lexington Fire Department are wearing pink shirts every Wednesday this month to raise awareness about the breast cancer cause, while others participate in walks, pin pink ribbons, fundraise and do their part in other ways. So with that in mind, we want to know, Are you doing anything special to honor or support loved ones during Breast Cancer Awareness Month? How have you been touched by the disease? 

With Halloween fewer than 20 days away, it's crunch time for those really into the holiday in terms of deciding on that perfect costume that is sure to be the hit of Halloween.We know some folks go for the last minute ghost or toga type costumes, but we want to hear from those of you who have been planning this year's costume since last year's trick-or-treat candy ran out. Whether you'll be dancing the night away at a party, or going door to door for some Halloween hi-jinx, we want to know what the real ghoul enthusiasts are dressing up as. So, with that in mind, we want to know, What are you…

There's a lot going on today in Lexington. The Board of Selectmen will meet with the Busa Land Use Proposal Committee. The School Committee will talk school improvements and school building projects. Sustainable Lexington will host a forum on better buildings. And Charles Dickens talk at the library. (For more about these, check out this morning's Five Things.) And that's not even getting into the Lexington Farmers Market, Book Group Dinner & Discussion and high school sports contests happening this afternoon and evening. So with that in mind, we want to know, What are you doing today in town…

Lexington's Trash and Recycling Collection Task Force has delivered its recommendations, which include enforcment of mandatory recycling and a reduction of the amount of 32-pound barrels residents put out for curbside pickup. These and other recommendations from the task force have been accepted by the Board of Selectmen, but will not go into effect until after the details are worked out as the town goes through the RFP process and selection of a hauler. Still, residents -- who by all accounts already do a pretty good job recycling -- could see major changes coming regarding trash and …

Talk about accessing the Estabrook School before, during and after an anticipated school building project has led to town officials and others taking a look at school transportation. Among the issues that have come up is the cost to the schools -- and the parents -- to bus students to the schools. One thought is that lower bus fees would lead to more students on buses and fewer parents in the school parking lots, thereby mitigating some of the school-related traffic issues the Estabrook School Access Ad Hock Task Force is currently considering. To that end, officials are populating a working …

For decades there has existed an informal understanding that the Munroe Center for the Arts would maintain the town-owned building and act as stimulants of the arts by providing space, classes and functions. But the future of this relationship is uncertain. Estimates of capital costs are significant and the Lexington Friends of the Arts, which renew a temporary lease with the town every few months, pay a relatively modest rent that's far less than what the town could collect at market value. Before acting on the latest request to renew the lease agreement, members of the Board of Selectmen …

According to Harrington School parents, a two-car collision on Lowell Street that occurred Monday afternoon near a crosswalk students used to walk home from school illustrates a serious safety hazard at that spot. The volume and speed of traffic on that stretch of Lowell Street, they say, creates a dangerous situation for students, parents and other pedestrians, one that the town should address by implementing permanent traffic-calming measures, such as a blinking yellow light. If some of this sounds familiar, that's because traffic and pedestrian/cyclist safety are concerns that crop up …