By Thursday afternoon, June 25, the capitol had grown weary of waiting for Gov. Deval Patrick to pass judgment on bills on his desk re-wiring the transportation bureaucracy, tightening ethics laws, and escalating the state sales tax by 25 percent.

Senate President Therese Murray, the governor's foil for months, professed to "have no idea" what Patrick would decree at his early-evening press conference. Months of wrangling and suspense, boiled down to an extra humid day in June.

On a cloudy and rainy weekday morning that makes this particular corner of the city look more like Seattle than Boston, City Councillor Michael F. Flaherty arrives at the Forest Hills T Station and starts saying hello to campaign workers and greeting passersby before his feet actually hit the sidewalk on Washington Street.

RIP, Dave Burke, A Legendary Hibernian

David R. Burke, the leading voice in the Lawrence Hibernian community for more than a half century, died on Wed., May 27, at Caritas Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, of cancer.

A highly decorated and respected member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Burke was widely known for his efforts to promote peace in the Motherland.

He leaves his wife of 41 years Patricia C. (Jurewicz) Burke and a son, Kevin P., of Lawrence.