Rashi School students visit seniors at NewBridge

One crazy idea fell right into place for Mark Bryant.

The mere mention of the name Cruella De Vil will send chills up the spines of even the most courageous canines, not to mention their owners.

On the surface, it may not look like there's much diversity in the world of Belgian winter ales.

The holiday pierogi-eating contest is a tradition in my husband’s family.

Every Christmas Eve his Bopchi - who is pushing 90, but still shovels her own driveway - makes hundreds of the pillowy dumplings. While I generally manage to put away a few pierogies (along with the usual kielbasa and galumpkis, or stuffed cabbage rolls) my husband’s petite cousin, Liz, routinely beats out her cousins, packing away as many as 20 pierogies before moving on to dessert.

I confess I am often on an unrequited quest to impress my daughters with my technical know-how, my online savvy, and my never-ending recommendations for books.

Old newspapers are fun to browse. Read the front page of one and you’ll find “Twittering” is not just a present day phenomenon.

It seems that every month there’s a new school for girls being built in a developing African nation by a philanthropic-minded celebrity. It is a direct result of the belief — which has received more attention in recent years than ever before — that if you take care of a community’s girls, the entire community thrives. It is the basis for the viral Internet sensation, “The Girl Effect,” which illustrates the chain reaction that occurs when you give a girl in a developing nation access to education and a means to support herself. It is the mission behind Oprah’s school in South Africa, a leadership academy for girls that gives them the tools to go from poverty to becoming tomorrow’s South African leaders. It is the theme of the noted new book, “Half the Sky,” by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, that postulates the best way to fight poverty and extremism around the world is to educate and empower women and girls.

Why Big Brothers Big Sisters? Simply, because the programs work. Big Brothers Big Sisters’ signature one-to-one, professionally supported adult-child friendships deliver proven results that last into adulthood.

To the Editor,

I read with interest the article “New Lux Cinema a Showstopper?” on the front page of the Oct. 22, 2009 issue of The Dedham Transcript. Since that article ran, there has been a lot of buzz about the decline in business at the Dedham Community Theatre and the effect it will have on Dedham Square if this trend continues. I wanted to take this opportunity to shed some light on this issue.

Dear Editor:

The Friends of Dedham Recreation and the Friends of the Dedham Pool would like to “thank” the following companies, organizations and Individuals for help making the 20^th Annual Dedham Day a huge success.

Gov. Deval Patrick says he’s going to be happy to see 2009 end.

Here are a few highlights from the past week's games in Dedham. Also don't forget to take our poll: Which Dedham High sports team will win the most games this winter?

Police said they arrested Ruslan Magomedova, 35, of Ware Street on charges of malicious destruction of property over $250 and domestic assault after he attacked a staircase and banister when a relative told him to leave her house for the evening.

Police said they arrested Harvey Cooper, 50, of 60 Schiller Rd., on charges of malicious destruction of property over $250 after he punched out a window at National Tire & Battery.

When Officer Timothy Miranda arrived at the tire retailer and auto repair establishment at 900 Providence Highway on the afternoon of Friday, Dec. 4, he saw that Cooper was clearly agitated, with a bay window shattered and glass on the ground by his feet, said Lt. Robert Nedder.

An employee told police that Cooper became upset when a worker dropped a tire off his vehicle, and he accused National Tire & Battery of damaging his rim, Nedder said.

Cooper was cooperative and apologetic with police, saying that he had lost his temper, Nedder said.

Is your church planning a Christmas Eve service? Is your restaurant holding a New Years Eve party? Whatever you have planned for the holidays, The Dedham Transcript wants to know. E-mail you calendar listing to Dedham@cnc.com by Sunday, Dec. 20, at noon to get it in before Christmas.

Keldara Salon and Spa in Dedham Plaza is collecting toiletries and clothes for Women’s Lunch Place, a safe, comfortable daytime shelter for women located on Newbury Street in Boston. Keldara will have a special donation box available at the front door area and will be accepting donations through the end of December.