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.
Milford is among the Massachusetts towns and cities that proposes to allow the facilities, through a special permit. Towns that have proposed outright bans are being told that's illegal.
A benefit will be held March 23 at TD's Pub in Milford to raise funds for the Lola's Helping Hands MS Walk team.
Two Milford residents, Judi Miller and Nancy Derderian, were recognized recently for their efforts to help raise $200,000 for cancer treatment and research.
The following information was provided by the Milford Police Department. Charges do not indicate a conviction.
The annual fundraiser for the Milford After Prom Party started Wednesday on Purchase Street.
Mansfield is ranked 2 out of 18 for the highest average tax bill in Bristol county.
Pablo Guaman, who owned the pickup truck that police say his brother, Nicolas Guaman, was driving when he struck motorcyclist Matthew Denice, was deposed at Worcester Superior Court Wednesday.
These large family homes are on the market in Milford.
Northborough is ranked 13 out of 37 for the lowest average tax bill, according to the state.
The town of Milford is looking for seasonal workers, for spring and summer jobs.
Norfolk, Plainville and Wrentham are all in the top 20 as far tax bills go in the state.
The following information was provided by the Milford Police Department. Charges do not indicate a conviction.
Milford requires all dog owners to license their pets each year.
Holliston and Hopkinton are ranked 9 and 6 respectively out of 37 for the lowest average tax bill, according to the state.
Shrewsbury is ranked 29 out of 37 for the lowest average tax bill, according to the state.
For the first time, Milford teachers and school employees will be trained to respond to a violent intruder.
Westborough is ranked seventh out of 37 within a 15-mile radius, according to the state.
Natick is ranked 12 out of 37 for the lowest average tax bill, according to the state.
Milford is ranked 28 out of 37 for the lowest average tax bill, according to the state.
Casino opponents this week will listen to the experiences of Foxborough residents who helped stop a proposal from advancing in that town last year.
