4.5 stars. The Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) maintains vital…read morerecords such as birth, marriage, and death certificates. Furthermore, RVRS collects and analyzes data about state residents' births, marriages, divorces, and deaths. RVRS's website says that they hold data from 1931 to the present. I have been performing genealogical research about my great-grandparents, and I could not find their death certificates on ancestral websites. As a result, I decided to purchase their death certificates from RVRS. I live in Pennsylvania, so I felt disinterested in traveling to the RVRS Public Research Room. Instead, I mailed hard-copy order forms, photocopies of my identification, and checks to their mailing address. The fee for standard non-expedited service was $32 per certificate. A few weeks later, I received an envelope from RVRS. They had inserted two death certificates into an envelope that they did not close! I felt thankful that the death certificates had not fallen out of the envelope. The death certificates confirmed my great-grandparents' names, dates of birth, dates of death, and spouses' names. The certificates informed me of my great-grandparents' causes of death and occupations. I felt most interested in my great-great-grandparents' names, and these certificates confirmed one name, informed me of one new name, surprised me with a possibly corrected name, and were missing one name. Compared to some other states' offices of vital records, the RVRS charges a higher price and requires more time to process orders. Nonetheless, I feel very thankful to have received information for my genealogical research.

It's nice that the registry has a public service counter to accommodate in person visitors, but…read moreunfortunately the staff is rude, and not very knowledgeable.

We were greeted at the front desk of the Registry by Ms. Maria Curtatone, Register of Deeds. She…read morewas pleasant and wished us a Happy New Year. She listened to the purpose of our visit, and personally directed us to the correct administrator to take care of our paperwork. Our forms were processed expeditiously. Everyone was helpful and knowledgeable. Our drive from North Massachusetts to Cambridge was worth it!

I was just here yesterday to pick up some paperwork and I have never been to a government building…read morewhere everyone was SO HELPFUL! It was amazing. 4 different people helped me get to where I needed to go and they weren't impatient. They even walked me there! Way to go!

Some of the nicest people work at Needham Town Hall (other towns should take note!!) and I need to…read moresend a special thanks to Jill who helped me over the phone at 4:45 on a Friday afternoon when I was in a panic about my car's excise tax. Needham uses an online payment processor (should you choose, or just mail a check the old-fashioned way) and I thought it was due that day but couldn't access the online payment site. As soon as Jill answered the phone, I apologized for calling at that time on a Friday and explained my problem (it seems that account numbers change each year, so I now know I wasn't completely losing my mind... and the change is due to the Registry of MV, not Needham). Fortunately, it was not due for another 3 weeks, but she gave me a new account number to log in with, I made the payment and am safe from being chased by the Registry for another year. Thanks again Jill, you make these things so easy (which would never have been said when I lived in Boston!!).

Who says gubmint offices can't be efficient?…read more Wanted to be more of a hippie, so I googled "composting Somerville" only to find subsidized Earth Machine compost bins available from the Public Works. Drove up 20 minutes to closing time, walked through ghostly silent halls and stairwells until I found the living on the second floor. I said, "I'm here for the compost bins." She said, "Check to the City of Somerville for $40." I wrote it, she Xeroxed the bad boy, handed me the copy and sent me behind the building for a pickup. A sweet as honey women in a miniature shack asked me to swing by bay 15 and help her with the garage door. I did, and she rewarded me with a brand new Earth Machine and a recycling crate to replace my split open dealy (thanks rough hands and New England winters!). Total time: 14 minutes. Genuinely surprised to find it line-free, especially on what felt like the first real day of Spring. Oh, and if you're interested in a brokedown CRT television, they have a pile of about 100 behind the main building. Use them for an "art project," amiright Sarah D?

I had my first dealings with the DPW last week when I finally convinced GF to let me compost. (I…read morehad to convince her that it wouldn't smell and that even if it did it could be far enough away from the house not to effect her daily life). The DPW, you see, has compost bins that would generally retail around the $100 mark for $25. A steal! So I trundled on over to the DPW. The building was pretty easy to find. There's DPW-only street parking right outside. The building smelled like the 1970s...or perhaps like it hadn't had a window open since then...or maybe like the inside of an old school bus? Regardless, I went on up, showed my license, paid my $25, and was given back a xerox of the check with a stamp on it. I drove around back and was given a compost bin. I was on my way home 10 minutes later. Not bad for an interaction with a government body!

Nice modern building with free Wi-Fi. Jury waiting room is comfortable with restrooms right there…read more Dunkin' is across the street, and Katz bakery up the street.

I respect Chelsea court because this beautiful woman saved my daughter's life ,she took a seizure…read moreand my daughter said,"mom please my face feels tight and already she was not feeling well .i just want to say Thank you Ms.Karen your amazing and I wish all the Justices to the clerk's office to probation everyone was kind to me and I felt justice today .I like that in 23 or more years one thing when I raise my right hand I know the truth will utter the most truth will utter from my lips. GOD Bless all the good people in Chelsea District Court.

I heart my building. Seriously, I would get married in it. We recently extended our lease (we're…read moreonly renting) because we couldn't see our selves anywhere else. Sure, it's a little pricy, but everything is included in rent, we have a pool and a gym (while small, it's awesome), and we're right next to the Galleria (a very small victory) AND the Charles River. Actually, it's a great location, next to both Kendall Square/Lechmere. The staff has become like family, as they are always concerned about helping out and being involved in our lives (in the good way, not the creepy I'm alone type of way). I once dropped some soil while moving our plants in the lobby, before I had a chance to turn around, someone had already pulled out the vacuum and began going at it. That is cleanliness. And it shows. The building is maintained gorgeously. Although the new art work acquired...is not pleasing to the eyes. And by that I mean, when I walk past it daily I have to avert my eyes and make sure I am not near anything hard, otherwise I feel like gouging my eyes out  It's this mixture or modern and pop art. GAG me now. It's a great place to live; rent or own.

I used to own a one-bedroom in the central tower up until 2013. Lived there ... 3 years. It is a…read morebit pricy, but that's Cambridge (compared with say, Archstone or Watermark or Third Square, it's pretty comparable and even a bit cheaper). Codman Cambridgeside is the main realtor that does the selling and renting of units, but you can find others. For amenities, there's a small fitness room, concierge, indoor heated pool, sauna (when it works, which is mostly), showers, roofdeck, business room, and a little garden. And you can rent out the guest suites. And the Cambridgeside Galleria Mall was just right besides the condos -- a friend and neighbor used to say, "I didn't go there to go shopping, but it was a really decked-out corner store!" Very convenient. It's about a quarter to a third of a mile from both Lechmere (Green Line) and Kendall/MIT (Red Line). Nearby grocery stores include: Trader Joe's, Stop & Shop (up 28), Whole Foods on Charles St., Shaws in Twin Cities Plaza. Above the 6th floor, you get three towers. The Central Tower went straight to the underground parking and to the storage and also is closest to the mailroom. There are also less units in the Central Tower (only two on each floor) -- meaning less elevator traffic. I didn't get too into the politics although there was a Board of Directors who ran the condo association and they tended to be a bit insular (read: Old boys club). I think I heard some changes over the last year when there were some "moral misgivings" about some of the key staff, but I didn't get too into that. I also had a great river view via Charles Park next to The Esplanade Condominiums.

Not a big fan of the Boston PD but Detective Rich (the influencer) Hy is one of the good ones. His…read moreskill at the kinda consensual body cavity search is very impressive! It shows how gentle and caring checking the prison purse can be!

What a wonderful Police Dept. I am full of admiration for how this group of Beantown officers…read morehandled all that went down with the Boston Marathon bombings and the aftermath. They seemed to be utter professionals--cool and calm yet highly methodical as they went hunting for the one alleged terrorist brother who went on the lam after the shootout that killed his brother. I must confess two of my uncles were Massachusetts State Troopers, which is another great group of tough cops. But the Boston Police were awesome as they used a robot, flashbangs, and a thermal camera to apprehend second Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev . The Police Chief recounted in a press conference shortly afterward just how they got the bleeding guy hiding in a Watertown backyard boat. Additionally, the Police made great use of their Twitter feed by communicating with the public about exactly what was going on. The city of Boston should be very proud of their 5 STAR YELP Boston Police Dept.

As far as courts go, Peabody court is pretty good…read more Extra large parking lot with FREE PARKING. The property is well maintained, and the building is kept extra clean. The workers here are actually friendly and helpful, not sure if it was because I was only there for my daughters traffic violation?? But still very polite and informative. We were called promptly and our dispute was heard, believe it or not, we were in and out of the building in under half an hour which included going through security and removing my belt. lol I would give the Peabody court and the staff a Solid 5 Stars.