Track Santa's Path

Find out if St. Nick is in your neck of the woods yet.

NORAD maps Santa's travels each year, so make sure to log on and let your children know when he's near!

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Patch Picture of the Week Contest

WINNER: Santa Photo Contest

Readers have been uploading photos of the jolly old fellow for nearly a week. We've crowned our winner.

We received dozens of great photos that captured youngsters' (and even pets') moments with Santa Claus. But we could only choose one as the winner of our weekly photo contest, which gives readers the chance to win a $25 gift card. Our winner this week depicts moments that are familiar to many parents who eagerly bring their children to meet St. Nick, much to the chagrin of their less-than-pleased children. Congratulations to Kathryn Duplessis, who submitted the photo. We will be contacting you, Kathryn, to make arrangements for you to receive your prize. Thanks to all who entered!

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Patch Picture of the Week Contest

Upload Your Santa Photos; You Could Win a Prize

Monday is the deadline to enter our contest, which gives you the chance to win a gift card.

Our weekly photo contest is going strong, with readers sharing their photos of Santa. If you haven't entered yet, it's not too late. The deadline to upload photos in the contest is 6 p.m. tomorrow (Monday). So, if you haven't shown us your Santa pictures yet, simply click on this link and follow the easy instructions to upload. (Please make sure to follow the above link to enter the contest; while you are welcome to upload pictures here, this is not the contest page and therefore your photos won't count as an official entry.) The winner gets a $25 gift card to a local business.  Good luck! We can't wait to see your pictures!

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Patch Picture of the Week Contest

PHOTO CONTEST: Show Us Santa!

The jolly old fellow has been making stops at malls and events all over the region. Upload pictures with him for a chance at a $25 gift card.

Santa has had a busy schedule in the MetroWest area this month. (See our map for all the places he has been or will be.) In our photo contest this week, we want to see your photos with or of Santa. So, whether it's that great shot you snapped of your less-than-thrilled toddler on his lap, or the picture you captured as he waved from his sled in an area parade, upload away.  Our weekly contest, with a different theme starting each Wednesday, allows eligible participants the chance to win a $25 gift card to a local business. Photos must be uploaded by 6 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, Dec. 17. You may enter as many photos as you'd like. If you like a particular photo, voice your support for it in the comments. The winner, chosen by Patch …

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Gillian Kruskall

2:14 pm on Thursday, December 13, 2012

It's a chinchilla! :-)   more ›

Free Coal for Naughty Kids in Framingham

This week's Best of Craigslist has some missed connections, and free coal.

Notes on Craigslist perusing this week: there's someone in Hopkinton trying to sell a whole lot of Playskool toys; it's easy to pick up Dave Matthews tickets if you want them; and a nativity scene can be yours (even a glowing one) if you should do a search. There is also someone in the MetroWest area offering you an opportunity to make money by printing your own money, legally. Patch didn't feel comfortable passing along that link. That Santa's stacked, and that's a fact—ain't holding nothin' back David in Westborough is trying to unload a unique stacking ceramic Santa that is professionally hand-painted for $25. He'll only take cash, and you must pick it up.   This smoking Santa comes from a non-smoking home We can't confirm that the …

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Photo of the Day

Time To Decorate the Christmas Tree

Framingham's Christmas tree has arrived and was installed in front of the Memorial Building. Yesterday, Public Works employees were stringing the lights. Santa will turn on the lights Friday night, Dec. 9.

Framingham's Christmas tree has arrived and was installed in front of the Memorial Building. Yesterday, Nov. 29 Framingham Public Works employees were stringing the lights. Santa will turn on the lights at the town's 20th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting on Friday night, Dec. 9.

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5 Things You Need To Know This Week

Dec. 5: A Look at the Week Ahead

Tuesday is National Pearl Harbor Day and the start of the Framingham Rotary Club's 39th Annual Auction.

1. The Framingham Police Auxiliary will hold its 23rd Annual Craft Fair on Saturday at Keefe Technical School from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Santa will make an appearance from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bring your camera. 2. New York Times bestselling author Julia Glass will read from latest novel The Widower's Tale at Framingham Library on Wednesday night at 7. 3. Both the School Committee, at 7:30 p.m. in the King Building, and the Selectmen, at 7 p.m., in the Memorial Building, will hold meetings on Tuesday. 4. The Framingham Rotary Club will hold its 39th Annual Auction on Tuesday, and Wednesday. Live bidding will be televised on Comcast Channel 9, Verizon Channel 43 and RCN Channel 3. 5. Tuesday is National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. For …

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Word on the Street

All I Want for Christmas Is ...

Children, attending the 19th Holiday Tree Lighting, tell Santa Claus what they want for Christmas.

 Hundreds of children stood in line patiently to have a photo taken with Santa and Mrs Claus tonight at the 19th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting at Nevins Hall inside the Memorial Building. The children were entertained by a holiday concert from Framingham Public School music students, while awaiting a chance to tell Santa what they want for Christmas. * Dylan Bonanno, 7, said his favorites are Legos and Star Wars. * Fiona Burke, 6, wanted an American Girl doll. *Four-month-old Alyana Rodriquez couldn't say what she wanted, as it was her first visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. * Diamond Martinez, 6, wants a Justin Bieber movie * Alex Makdanado, 2, was just excited to meet Santa.

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