A Merry Christmas to everyone from the publishers and staff of the The Somerville News. Christmas is a time for family and friends and we are so fortunate here in Somerville to have many friends across the city, we are truly blessed and thank everyone for it.

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Very nice gesture by the incoming President of the Board of Alderman and Vice President, they treated everyone on the board and the staff out to the Highland Kitchen to a very nice dinner, and then Rebekah Gewirtz the incoming president presented everyone with a “Tree” to be planted. That’s very nice of her to give the gift of eternal life just as the meaning of the Christmas tree means to many in this the Christmas season, also proving she’s thinking green.

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Call this story the school teacher who tried to steal Christmas: We hear a local Somerville elementary school teacher demanded the removal of a classic holiday scene of reindeer and Santa because she was “offended” by it. This teacher made a point to say she did not want a “Christian” display. Well you know how the PC panic sets in around here, we hear the superintendent had the display removed immediately. Now we ask, what exactly is the objection of a Santa and reindeer picture is?

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Congratulations to Somerville Detective John Oliveira and State Police Sgt. Michael Grassia another Somerville native, who both helped to foil an alleged would be bank robber’s plan by tackling him to the ground as he planned to hold up a Cambridge bank after allegedly robbing five banks in the area.

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Happy Birthday to one of the busiest Lawyers in Somerville, Maria Curatone, is celebrating her 24 (we hear) birthday this week, we wish her many many more; Maria is extremely nice to everyone and always has something nice to say about everyone.

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Congratulations to our good friend Jay McKenzie who recently graduated from the Massachusetts Fire Academy and now will be one of Somerville’s newest firefighters stationed at the Teele Square fire station. Jay is the son of former Somerville Fire Department’s female retired firefighter and good friend Cynthia Snow Murphy as well as Somerville’s DPW own Stew McKenzie his father. Jay was also presented with Good Citizens Award for 2010 that night as well. Jay’s first assignment will be engine 6.

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Another congratulations to Somerville’s other new firefighters, Tommy Medeiros and Dave Pantanella who also graduated from the Massachusetts firefighting Academy on December 17.

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Congratulations and many thanks to the following unsung heroes for their continued efforts to make sure that the Somerville toys for local Children program was complete success for the kids.     Space Self Storage’s Roy Moulton, Stairhopper Mover’s Mona Bostan, and Cambridge Repro-Graphic’s Craig Murphy and to all the band of firefighters and departments involved, it was a joyous Christmas for the children who received their gifts.

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Check out our fan page The Somerville news on facebook for updates and news.

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The Norton Group Real Estate office in Ball Square is hosting a Short Sale Seminar January 19 at 7 p.m. at the offices located at 699 Broadway Somerville. The event is free, no obligation all the questions answered and no sales pressure.

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Somerville Adult Evening School Registration, in time for the holidays gift giving ideas: January 11, 13, 18, and 20, 2011 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. Somerville High School Main Office, 81 Highland Ave. Register for Somerville Adult Evening School courses including a 5 week Drivers  Ed for the teen in your life. Classes will start January 25th, run for 10 weeks will meet on Tuesday or Thursday evenings from 6:00 – 9:00 PM and include: Ballroom Dancing, Zumba, Sewing, Knitting, Choral Workshop with David Testa and show tunes for the American Idle’s. Also take Jewelry Making, Pastels or Watercolor Art and Acrylic Painting with local artist: Kemon Sermos, Computers, Culinary, How to Manage Multi Family Homes, Casting and Moldmaking, Furniture Making, beginner Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French. New Resume and Professional strategies. Pick up course catalog at any school, library or coffee shops while they last. Register in person at SHS or online. Contact: Principal Sophia Carafotes @617-628-2594 or register now online at with your credit card at: www.somerville.k12.ma.us/eveningschool

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Congratulations to our good friends at RiverDog LLC in Union Square for winning an AOL Best of Boston 2010 Award.  Stop by with your favorite four legged friend and experience for yourself what one of Boston’s best has to offer. RiverDog, 321 Somerville Ave, Union Square, Somerville.