Regional News Roundup: LeVar Burton Visits Tufts, Dances with Kids to 'Reading Rainbow' Theme [VIDEO]

Here's a look at some of the stories from the Stoneham region last week:

Medford

: LeVar Burton visited Tufts University's campus on the Medford/Somerville line Friday to be recognized for his contributions to children's media. Burton was given the 2012 Eliot-Pearson award at Distler Performance Hall Friday morning. Burton told the audience that he believed it was in his genetics to teach and inspire others: His mother was a teacher and his father a pastor. He also said that Fred Rogers - better known by most as Mr. Rogers - was one of the three great men he has ever known.

Melrose

: Matching a statewide year-over-year decrease in foreclosure activity, both the number of foreclosure starts and completed foreclosures in Melrose dropped by more than half year-over-year in 2011, while auctions were down as well, according to the latest figures from The Warren Group.

Reading

: A Lowell woman has been indicted on armed assault to murder and firearm charges stemming from a in Reading. Sherry Lee Hale, 38, of Lowell, was indicted on charges of armed assault to murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, and possession of a loaded firearm. 

Wakefield

: Wakefield Police detectives have officially charged Michael Gallella, 30, as the man responsible for robbing the in Wakefield at knife point on January 17. Gallella, who lists an address in Malden, was arrested for allegedly robbing in Hamilton at knifepoint on Saturday.

In addition to the Wakefield and Hamilton robberies, he is also suspected to be responsible for a number of other robberies in the area, including Marblehead, Reading, and Saugus.