Milford|News|
Believe! Songs of the Season

E-mail: mary.macdonald@patch.com	 Phone: 508-317-6136 Hometown: Hampton, NH Position: Local Editor, Milford Patch
Mary started her 20-year reporting career in New England, initially at the Vineyard Gazette on Martha's Vineyard, and later Foster's Daily Democrat in southern New Hampshire, where she covered local news in Rochester and Portsmouth, as well as in York, Maine. She left her native New Hampshire for a job as a police reporter at The Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville.
After covering police, government and higher ed in Jacksonville, she moved to Atlanta to become a reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She specialized in education reporting for most of her nine years in Atlanta, later moving to general assignment, where she wrote news and feature stories from Atlanta's northern suburbs.
In 2009, Mary left the Atlanta paper to go to grad school, thinking she would like to try teaching. She taught English in Springfield (MA) for nearly two years, and has a master's degree in secondary education from University of Massachusetts Amherst.
When she's not working, Mary enjoys cooking, running, hiking and spending time with her family in Rhode Island.
Beliefs
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for writers to inject beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that our beliefs are on the record will cause us to be ever mindful of writing, reporting and editing in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know. Politics
I am a registered Democrat who occasionally crosses over and votes Republican. I follow the issues most important to me, typically crime and education.
Religion
I'm not particularly religious. I was raised a Catholic but am not observant.

A&S Detailing on West Street has been sold to another Milford business owner. And Milford Police will practice firearms shooting off Cedar Street on Thursday.
The magazine's 2013 rankings came out Monday.
The following information was provided by the Milford Police Department. Charges do not indicate a conviction.
Milford Selectmen will ask the Watertown Police if they want to participate in this month's Memorial Day parade.
Milford Selectmen on Monday listened to an update on newly retained consultants who will work on the town's behalf in analyzing the impacts of a proposed casino. The work must take place in a matter of months.
The Hoboken Citizens Club, one of Milford's oldest private clubs, will lose its alcohol pouring license for 10 days. The sanction is punishment for a bachelor party in which women danced in the nude.
An investigation that began with the arrest in Milford of Robert DiDuca has culminated in another conviction in Massachusetts. A Worcester man pleaded guilty Monday to solicitation to kidnap a child.
Mike Tempesta, principal at Milford High School, is one of three finalists for the position of Saugus public schools superintendent.
Final election results were certified Friday.
The following information was provided by the Milford Police Department. Charges do not indicate a conviction.
Legislation spurred on by the death of a Hudson dog named Phantom would protect animals in abandoned buildings.
The Hoboken Club will appear Monday night before Milford Selectmen to explain an incident that involved nudity at the private club.
A report to Milford Selectmen reveals several businesses sold alcohol to an under-age police operative.
The following information was provided by the Milford Police Department. Charges do not indicate a conviction.
The following residents of Milford died in recent days.
The following information was provided by the Milford Police Department. Charges do not indicate a conviction.
Towns bordering Milford were among those who submitted comments by Friday to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission on its proposed process for reviewing resort casino applications.