The Blotter and the Bite Size are merged today, given that everyone seems to be on break. Thank you for reading this if you're here! --Merry Christmas to the Del Valle family. Powers Fasteners has agreed to pay 6 million to the family of Milena Del Valle, the woman who died after a portion of the Big Dig fell on her as she and her husband were on the way to Logan Airport. [Boston......

This post has been reprinted courtesy ofBrock Keeling at SFist. Yes, this is Bostonist, but, if you want to send help to Southern California, this is a place to start. As of now, six people have died and more than 500,000 people are in "mass migration" over the mind-numbingly destructive wildfires happening all throughout Southern California. It is, for lack of a better word, heartbreaking. All of it. (Map of San Diego fires) But......

A homeless man was found over the weekend, frozen to death on a basketball court. And it's likely another similar tragedy may occur during this week of continuing cold temperatures. The Herald talked to the city's emergency shelter director, Jim Greene, who said that outreach vans will be out to help bring the homeless to a warmer shelter. Wondering what people can do if they see anyone who needs shelter from the cold, Bostonist dialed......

Think Halloween in the city is all about drunken undergrads carousing in the streets? Think it's all about costumes from the Garment District or Salvation Army? Think you can't adequately celebrate without a plastic cup in your hand? Think again. Boston has plenty to offer outside of house parties and club nights, with several local restaurants providing a much-needed alternative to beiruit and bump n' grind. Let's start out with the Halloween scene at Upstairs......

Hey Bostonist: last week you told us where we could get rid of some "September 1" leftovers and help the needy. I wanted to give my extra clothes to the Katrina victims but I heard on Morning Edition that physical goods aren’t the best donations. Are Goodwill, Boomerangs, and the Salvation Army my only options for clothing donations? Relief efforts are gearing up to full swing in the Gulf Coast. Monetary gifts are the best......