5 Things You Need to Know Today: Dec. 26

Hope everyone had a great Christmas break, now it's time to look forward to New Years.

1. Jamaica Plain Patch hopes everyone had a great Christmas break. Now it's time to look forward to New Years. 2. Just before everyone left for the holiday, one Jamaica Plain resident was sending prayers to Newtown, CT. 3. It is the season of giving, and two lucky pets got great gifts this year. 4. Now that you're back, be sure to sign up for our newsletter for breaking news alerts. 5. Also, follow us on Twitter and Like us on Facebook.

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Christmas, NYE MBTA Holiday Schedule in JP

All subway, bus and commuter rail lines will be free after 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.

Tips to Travel Safe During the Holidays

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is urging residents to drive safety and use public transportation.

  During the holidays, we're all in a rush to get to our respective celebrations and enjoy the holidays. But also during this time of the year, the weather doesn't always cooperate.  Information for Drivers With some wintry weather in the forecast, drivers should be prepared to encounter varying roadway conditions as they head to their holiday destinations, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT.) MassDOT encourages residents and visitors to drive safely and use public transportation where possible during the upcoming holidays.  Although holiday traffic is the worst around Thanksgiving, road conditions can still get pretty congested during peak travel times. “Historically the days surrounding Christmas and New…

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Christmas, NYE MBTA Holiday Schedule in JP

All subway, bus and commuter rail lines will be free after 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.

The MBTA has announced its holiday season schedule. Some highlights include:

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Mayor Announces Discounted Holiday Tickets, Eats

The "Mayor's Holiday Special" program is in its 8th year of providing discounts in an effort to stimulate the economy.

From Mayor Thomas Menino's Press Office: This week Mayor Thomas Menino kicked off the 8th Annual Mayor’s Holiday Special program. Designed to reinvest every dollar patrons spend on theatre, dance and music tickets back into the Boston arts community, the program helps to sustain and grow local cultural events in the city by providing special deals on tickets at www.MayorsHolidaySpecial.com. The program also helps to attract more people to shop and spend at local small businesses in Boston’s main streets districts. “This program has saved ticket buyers over $2 million and put even more directly into the arts economy. I encourage everyone to see a show, enjoy a festive meal, shop in your local neighborhood, stroll among the holiday lights …

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