Tsongas Holding Hearing on Fate of Afghan Women

1. U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-Lowell) has requested a hearing on Tuesday to discuss the military’s plan on maintaining protecting the rights of Afghan women following the upcoming U.S. pullout from that country in 2014. Tsongas, serving as the top ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations (O&I), requested the hearing to look at a variety of women’s issues in the country ranging from continuing aid to women after troop withdrawals to efforts to encourage female recruitment into Afghan military and police forces.

2. On Oct. 25, Mark Vital, President of Sweats for Vets, accepted 35 brand new New England Patriot Sweatshirts and a check for $500 from the Marlboro Post of the Disabled American Veterans. Sweats for Vets provides Boston based sports team sweatshirts, hats, gloves and socks to homeless veterans in the greater Boston, Central and Southeastern Massachusetts regions.

3. In Case You Missed It: Commerce Bank in Marlborough is among 13 branch locations in Central Massachusetts that is holding a food drive this month and in November.

4. The municipal election is Nov. 5. The last hour and day to ask for an absentee ballot is noon on Monday, Nov. 4.

5. Chance of Snow?? The National Weather Service is reporting a slight chance of snow before 10 a.m. Wednesday.