Pool business warming up

- Though the economy has yet to fully recover from the recession, some homeowners are now willing to spring tens of thousands of dollars for a new pool.

Deluge temporarily brings relief to a parched state

- With rivers at record lows and after more than 200 brushfires, officials are hopeful the rain will bring waterways back to equilibrium and recharge aquifers.

Tick explosion is the price of mild weather

Winter’s warm temperatures have yielded an unusually robust bounty of springtime ticks that have attached themselves to pets and people in Massachusetts.

Weather remains sunny, dry and mild

- Allergy sufferers may spend a few more days sneezing until pollen in the air is doused with a good shower, according to the National Weather Service.

BOSTON MARATHON

Heat is growing concern for officials

- With temperatures expected to surge into the 80s Monday, Mayor Tom Menino and organizers urged participants to consider whether to run.

With no snow, golf courses spring to life early

- The warmer winter temperatures have impacted how area golf courses are looking and playing this spring.

A spring frost could doom early blooms

- A sudden plunge in temperatures could have dire consequences for trees, animals, and crops following an abnormally warm winter and early blooming.

DAILY DOSE

Prepare for early allergy season

- With record high temperatures in Boston this winter, trees are blooming earlier than normal, and that means earlier spring allergies.

New England’s elusive ski season cut short

- Temperatures that soared into the 80s this week are wreaking havoc on spring skiing. A few days ago, half the trails in Vt. and N.H.were open; now only about quarter remain.

The winter that wasn’t

- The last few days have left us with little doubt: This will go down as The Year We Had No Winter.