The Westboro Baptist Church is (Still) Not in Westborough

As the picket-happy church threatens to come to Boston, we thought it's worth clarifying that it has absolutely nothing to do with Westborough.

Editor's Note: This story originally ran in February 2012, when the Westboro Baptist Church was planning to picket Whitney Houston's funeral. We are republishing, lest someone reading about the church's threat to picket at Marathon bombing victims' funerals be confused about where the church is located. Whatever your politics or religious beliefs, chances are you have heard of the Westboro Baptist Church.  One reader had asked Westborough Patch last year about this church, which she presumed to be in Westborough, MA. However, to be clear, the Westboro Baptist Church is located in the western suburbs of Topeka, KS. In our poll question today, we want to know how you feel about Westborough, MA sharing a name with the Westboro Baptist Church…

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The Parenting Corner

10 Awesome April Fools' Day Pranks for the Family

Here are 10 awesome April Fools’ day pranks that the whole fam.

Editor's note: This post originally appeared around April Fool's Day, 2012.  Right or wrong, I love April Fools’ Day. My kids and I started plotting our pranks weeks ago. Sadly, my husband doesn’t join in until the last moment and takes the brunt of most of the jokes.  Here are 10 awesome April Fools’ day pranks that the whole family can get in on:

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Health Happenings

Detox Cleansing: Risky or Revolutionary?

Detox and Cleansing have become more common in the last 10 years with products sold on the internet, in malls and in local stores. Why the trend, and is this risky business?

LOSE 10 POUNDS FAST!! Who wouldn’t stop and consider purchasing a product that's marketing claims like this? Giving marketing credit: losing 10 pounds hits at the core of 90 percent of most people’s top 5 wish list. There’s the juice cleanse, “Master” cleanses, heavy metal cleanses, parasite cleanses and even Candida cleanses. Then we have liver detoxes, detox diets, herbal detoxes, detox baths and the Acai Berry detox. Then there are the people who say there is no need to cleanse at all because the body is self cleaning anyway. It’s so confusing! The words “cleanse” and “detox” are often interchanged in today’s language, often because many people are doing both at the same time. However, they are two different things. A cleanse is the …

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What Do You Think About Gov. Patrick’s Travel Ban?

Do you agree with the governor's decision or was it too drastic?

All non-emergency drivers were ordered off the roads on Friday when Gov. Deval Patrick issued an executive order banning travel during the blizzard. (Editor's note: The ban is lifted statewide as of 4 p.m. Saturday.) Patrick's executive order is being praised by some and bashed by others, reported The Boston Globe. While former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, who was in charge of the commonwealth during the Blizzard of ’78, praised the governor’s move, others called the order “tyrannical” and say the strict ban and hefty fines were too much, according to The Globe. Those caught violating the ban would face up to a year in jail and a $500 fine. What do you think? Do you agree with the governor’s decision or do you think the travel ban …

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OMG PD

Wanted: Male (Not Female) Cop to Assist Damsel

Our strange police news round-up this week includes a 911 caller who made an inappropriate request.

I'm guessing I know where this woman falls in the "women serving in combat" debate... A woman called Milford police to report her car would not start outside of Kohl's. A dispatcher told her several times that she needed to call a tow truck. A female officer responded, and reported back that the caller requested a male officer. The woman was advised that 911 is for emergencies only, and provided her with a business number for police. They may have gotten away with it, if not for the suspicious behavior... Workers at the Shaws Supermarket in Shrewsbury called police after seeing two women "acting suspiciously near the coin return machine." Officers found the women were drunk, and trying to cash out coins they'd allegedly stolen from an …

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OMG PD

Cat Conversation Prompts Police Call

Also in unusual police news this week, a house was egged thrice and a failed attempt to use a Dumpster caused problems.

Who doesn't talk to their cat? A Milford man reported his neighbors, a man and a woman, were yelling in an apartment near him. Police reported back that the woman said she talks loudly sometimes, and she said she was talking to her cat.  Elusive eggers. Yet-to-be-identified suspects egged a house not once, not twice, but three times in one night in Shrewsbury. The egg-throwers evaded police. Customer flips out over Dumpster I'm not sure why someone would think it'd be cool to use a business' Dumpster to discard their trash, but apparently, a visitor to a gas station in Holliston took great exception to being denied such access. An employee at the station called police to report that when a customer was not allowed to use the Dumpster, he/…

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Obvious Clues Ensure Hit-and-Run Driver's Capture

Also in unusual or quirky police news this week, we took note of a driver who had no hope of avoiding arrest, a mother and son duo and a case meant for ghostbusters.

Isn't one of the lessons in Crime 101 to leave no trace? Milford Police had their job made easier this week when a hit-and-run suspect left a trail. A caller said a vehicle struck his car and took off: police were able to follow a trail of antifreeze to the suspect's vehicle. But, even if they hadn't found the antifreeze, the suspect had given them another clue: her license plate. One of the quickest ways to get yourself arrested... ...is to attempt to run down a cop. A driver pulled over for erratic operation in Shrewsbury became even more erratic when she drove away from the stop, making contact with (but thankfully, not injuring) the officer. The woman was arrested later the same day when police spotted her vehicle and deployed stop …

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OMG PD

Oh My: Pantless Man, Hostile Customer

Also in unusual police news, a caller tracked the whereabouts of a curious turkey.

Pantless man not included. A Realtor received an unexpected surprise in Holliston recently. Upon arriving at a house that was going to be shown to prospective buyers, the Realtor found a man who was passed out and wearing no pants. (The man was taken to the hospital for evaluation.) Friendly's is closed, you Turkey! If this turkey's aim was to gobble up some ice cream, he shouldn't have gone to the Medfield Friendly's, which is closed. A caller in Medfield was on the phone with police reporting first seeing a turkey at CVS, then at Friendly's.  Violence is not the way to handle a customer service issue. Even when said issue is super frustrating. Verizon reported a Milford man threatened to hit him because he was not able to help him …

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OMG PD

Oh My: Rogue Chicken and Lonely Caroler

Also in unusual police news, a man drove up on the lawn of the Alcoholics Anonymous founder's birthplace.

(Allegedly) drunk man parks on lawn of AA founder's home A Marlborough man was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol in Vermont after he parked his car on the front lawn of a birth house of one of Alcoholic's Anonymous' cofounders. The man was a guest at the building, which has 14 guest rooms and hosts AA meetings. Sometimes, you just need to get away. Holliston police received a report of a "rogue chicken" in the roadway at Washington and Prospect streets. The chicken was gone upon police arrival. The case of the late-night caroler. A Milford resident called police just before midnight on Christmas Eve, reporting a man was walking through the neighborhood, dressed in all black and carrying a candle. Police reported back that…

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OMG PD

Oh My: Fearless Turkey, Loose Donkeys

In other unusual police news, a neighbor dispute led to an inappropriate display.

Are you considered "dressed" if you're wearing no clothes? A Milford man reported this week he was having a problem with his neighbor. The neighbor, he said, was now "inappropriately dressed," in front of his window. We're not sure what that means, exactly: but we're going to go with the theory that the man was not dressed at all. It's Dominick the Donkey! In Dover recently, police received a call for donkeys in the roadway. Officers found the animals' owners, and returned them to safety. In other wild animal news... A turkey has been terrorizing Natick this month. OK, so "terrorizing," might be a bit strong, but he did attack a mailman. He's quite fearless, one resident says. Methinks he might be feeling a bit cocky after successfully …

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