Picture a crime involving a venture capitalist who leaps to his death from the balcony of a Boston hotel during a biotechnology conference. A local former reporter is then thrown into the mix to investigate, as the lone suspect in the case is her old college boy friend.   So begins the plot of Jan Brogan's novel, Final Copy.  But don't let the title fool you; the book was the first of several in what would be a series of mystery novels based in Boston and Providence, Rhode Island.  "That's my favorite," said Brogan of the book. "It was done in a year that was really tough for publishing. I …

As one Westwood Fire Captain is getting ready to be in the spotlight on NBC's TODAY Show Tuesday, another of Westwood's own is ready to take on a new role.  The Westwood Fire Department promoted firefighter Colin McCarthy to the role of Fire Captain earlier this month, a move he's more than ready for.  "I'm certainly excited about the opportunity," said McCarthy, who has been a firefighter in Westwood for seven years. "It's good for personal growth." Subsequent the promotion, which went into effect on Sunday, Feb. 5, McCarthy is about to finish up two weeks of day-long training in such areas …

Some look to music as a means of creative enjoyment. Others have sports, or art.  But the driving passion for Parna Sarkar-Basu is rebranding and the art of marketing.  "When you're talking about promoting a town, or branding a company, it's just really exciting to me," she said. "I love it, it's so exciting."  Sarkar-Basu, a Westwood resident, is expounding on that passion in her new role at Waltham-based software company Verivo, where she began working as Vice President of Marketing Communications about four months ago. The company specializes in working with businesses and helping them to …

It wasn't always that Paul Hatfield and his father, Brad, collaborated musically. In fact, the last thing on Paul's mind growing up in a family of musicians was to follow suit. But now, the 20-year-old Westwood resident and Berklee College of Music junior has taken his inevitable love for music and worked with his father to produce a studio-quality video for YouTube. The inspiration for the idea came after Paul, 20, discovered a world of musicians recording and producing their own covers of songs and posting them onto the world-famous video website. "It's fairly recent that it's gotten so …

On Saturday, Nov. 19, Westwood resident George Russell, Jr. will rececive some recognition at an event hosted by a Grammy Award winning gospel music icon.   Whittier Street Health Center is honoring Russell for his contribution and dedication to the Greater Boston community at the group's ninth annual "Saving the Health of the Community International Benefit Gospel Concert".  The event will be hosted by gospel music legend Dr. Bobby Jones at the Berklee College of Music Performance Center.  "George Russell is a dynamic and inspiring leader, whose contribution and civic engagement are …

Charles Orcutt is not just a sports fan. To call him even a sports fanatic would be a massive understatement.   For this Belmont native and Westwood resident, sports is an element that transcends life.  That is evident to any customer who walks into Orcutt's new business on High Street, The M.A.D. Hatter: A Unique Sports Experience, which held a grand opening on Saturday, Oct. 15. Using the vacant office space once inhabited by Chill, Orcutt has created a veritable sports museum that offers event the smallest sports fan a taste of history.  "It's about telling stories and educating people who…

It's a big year for Jonathan Mooncai.   Aside from the responsibilities he has as a junior at Westwood High School, Mooncai, 16, has his sights set on an impressive goal: attaining Eagle Scout status.  Mooncai, a Life Scout of Troop 3 Westwood, has been working hard this year to fulfill his commitment as a scout, and is looking to join others in town as crossing the highest line that can be crossed by a scout.  As part of his Eagle Scout Leadership Community Service Project, Mooncai journeyed over to the First Parish of Westwood. There, using supplies from Home Depot. and Lowes, he helped …

Freemasonry is the oldest and largest existing fraternity in the world. However, it has long been regarded as a secret and mysterious club or even a cult. Not so, says, Freemason Jeff Jarvis.  Jarvis, a member of the Celestial Lodge of Westwood and the group’s Senior Warden, is happy to chat about freemasonry and showcase the Lodge on High Street. “It’s all that fictional Dan Brown stuff,” he explains. “If we really ruled the world, I’m not sure I’d be sitting here talking about it.” He says that, in truth, there is no Freemason conspiracy. “We are not a secret organization. Rather, we are an…

Westwood's Varsity Girls Lacrosse Coach, Leslie Frank, was recently featured in Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd" coaches edition, according to a report on Boston.com.Frank led the varsity lacrosse squad to a state title this past spring, defeating the Longmeadow Lancers 15-9 at Foley Stadium in Worcester. It was the third state title for the Wolverines in the last four seasons (the team holds five), something that gained them a note of recognition at a Westwood Board of Selectmen meeting last spring. Frank also serves as co-director of the Mass Elite Lacrosse club and has sent 15 …

Eric Arnold may have one of the shortest commutes in Westwood. He merely has to step out his front door, make a left, climb a few stairs and enter his office.  It’s not your ordinary office either. Wood smoke permeates the air from the working fieldstone fireplace. A stuffed Fisher Cat graces the mantle and wood beams embellish the towering ceiling. Once ensconced in this log cabin of a room, Arnold, the Executive Director of Hale Reservation is officially on duty. And while his commute may be short, his outlook for Hale is not; he spends his days looking toward the future. “We are stewards …