While we do our best to focus on news and events directly concerning Wakefield, sometimes it's nice to know what's going on in neighboring communities. Welcome to the weekly regional news roundup, which will bring you the top news from the towns directly surrounding Wakefield.

Note: Original reporting from Melrose Patch, Malden Patch, Stoneham Patch and Reading Patch.

Reading: Reading Republican Town Committee Endorses Al Turco for State Republican Committee: The Reading Republican Town Committee has joined State House Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading) and former House Minority Leader Richard Tisei in throwing its support behind Wakefield’s Al Turco in his bid for another four-year term on the Massachusetts Republican State Committee. “We’ve worked on many Republican campaigns with Al Turco,” said the Reading RTC in a press release. “We can say from experience that no one works harder than Al, or is a more dedicated volunteer. We on the Reading Reading Republican Committee want to keep Al as our representative to the Massachusetts GOP.”

Melrose: Superintendent Search Site Coming, Salary Set: As Melrose enters 2012, the search for a new school district leader is ramping up. On Tuesday night, the Melrose School Committee voted on several aspects of the search, including the advertised salary range for a new school superintendent and the documents required with the application, which will be available on a new website created for the search.

Malden: Police Release Surveillance Photos of Bank Robbery Suspect: Police have released stills from surveillance footage from a Tuesday afternoon bank robbery at the Stoneham Savings Bank on Charles St. The lone gunman allegedly entered the bank and demanded cash from the teller. Det. Lt. Mark Gatcomb said that he suspect then brandished what appeared to be a semi-automatic handgun.

Stoneham: Selectmen Strip Stoneham Resident of Liquor License: The Board of Selectmen, acting as the Liquor License Authority, held a judicatory hearing, led by Town Counsel William Solomon concerning Stoneham resident Richard Moyette's liquor license. Moyette was stripped of his liquor license after his Nov. 18 application was denied because he didn't hold a lease or viable location for a liquor store in town. Moyette listed 9 Central St., formerly McDonough's Liquors, as his location to use his license, but was denied a lease by owners Thomas and Jane Kayhill. This violation of the application ultimately cost him his license.