1886 – Pharmacist John Styth Pemberton invents a carbonated beverage that would later be named “Coca-Cola”.  More anniversaries.
ROTC cadet is hailed as hero for aiding woman after attack – Menino presents medal to student from Weymouth
By Brian R. Ballou – Globe Staff / May 8, 2010

The punch seemed to have come out of nowhere, landing on Timothy J. McHugh’s right temple. It dazed him a bit, but the Boston University sophomore stood his ground, protecting the woman who had just been beaten by her husband on an Allston street shortly after midnight last September.

Yesterday, McHugh, who has been enrolled in the school’s ROTC program since the second semester of his freshman year, was invited to Boston City Hall by Mayor Thomas M. Menino, who thanked the cadet and pinned the ROTC Medal for Heroism on his chest. The award, granted through the Department of the Army, has been presented only seven times nationally since 2008, including McHugh’s presentation.

“If you put my actions on the broader scale, it is minor considering what our servicemen and women have done,’’ said McHugh, a 20-year-old history major, dressed in his Class A green service uniform for his appointment with the mayor.

McHugh, his parents, and sister walked into the mayor’s fifth-floor City Hall office at about 11:45 a.m. yesterday. The cadet extended a handshake to Menino and flashed a smile.

New England in brief – Man suspected in break-ins to be charged

Police say they have arrested a Malden man suspected of breaking into numerous Boston businesses over an eight-month span. Albert Morissette, 38, admitted to breaking into nine establishments in the Back Bay, the Fenway, Roxbury, and the South End after he was arrested in Wellesley in an unrelated incident, said Boston police spokesman Eddy Chrispin. Wellesley police contacted Boston investigators because of an outstanding Boston warrant for breaking and entering into the Ralph Lauren Polo Store on Newbury Street. Chrispin said charges were being prepared for all nine break-ins, and he expects Morissette to appear in court next week.

Beth Israel trustee quits in flap over Levy
By Christine McConville/Boston Herald – May 6, 2010

Scandal-scarred Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has lost another supporter.

Health-care entrepreneur Chester Black resigned from the hospital’s 55-member board of trustees Tuesday, one day after Beth Israel’s more influential board of directors vowed to stick by CEO Paul Levy despite his “serious lapse in judgment.” involving a personal relationship with a former employee.

Black told the Herald yesterday that “with all the controversy, I felt it was an appropriate time to step aside.”

His abrupt bow-out follows health-care executive Patrick Ryan, who quit his director’s post Monday. The resignations have different impacts at Beth Israel.

Ryan, as one of 19 directors, had a governing role at the 8,000-employee medical center, while Black, as a trustee, mostly contributed to fund-raising efforts.

Phoenix writes off 10 workers – Weekly’s president: Departure of CFO, others may be ‘bit of a shock’
By Jessica Heslam/Boston Herald – May 7, 2010

Phoenix Media/Communications Group, owner of the Boston Phoenix alternative weekly newspaper and rock station WFNX-FM (101.7), cut loose 10 employees this week, including its chief financial officer.

The ousted employees include CFO and Chief Operating Officer Richard Gallagher; corporate controller Michael Notkin and assistant corporate controller Chris Crandall.

“To improve our overall performance, the company has made several changes to its sales, finance and management teams,” executive editor Peter Kadzis, serving as a Phoenix spokesman, said in a statement last night.

“This is the sort of strategic reshuffle that prudent companies engage in to stay on top in demanding markets,” Kadzis said.

Phoenix Media President Bradley Mindich told employees of the major shakeup in a memo sent out Wednesday afternoon, the Herald has confirmed. The memo was posted on the Weekly Dig’s Web site yesterday.