Marathon makes peace with host towns

Wellesley Executive Director Hans Larsen has signed off on this year's permit to allow the Boston Marathon to run through town next month, after the race's organizer met with local officials to discuss their budget problems and the escalating costs of hosting the world famous footrace.

Officials in Ashland, Framingham, Natick, and Wellesley had been delaying approval of Marathon permits until they could meet with the Boston Athletic Association to discuss the financial and logistical costs and to point out the impact on local businesses, some of which suffer significant losses during the annual Patriots Day event, observed on April 20 this year.