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Paraprofessionals picket city hall
By George P. Hassett
The paraprofessionals who work in Somerville classrooms took advantage of tonight’s public meeting at city hall to express their outrage.
"We have no salary advancement for five years. We get no paid holidays or vacation days and we have little or no chance to earn overtime," said Linda Vitiello, president of the Somerville Teachers association.
The public hearing was organized by state rep. Carl M. Sciortino, D-Somerville, and Ward 7 School Committee member Mary Jo Rosetti to discuss the funding of Somerville schools. But Vitiello and more than thirty other paraprofessionals used it to call attention to what they believe is an unfair situation.
Paraprofessionals in Somerville make $13,000 a year and are currently working without a contract, said Vitiello.
Developing…
Thief was ready to take the girl’s arm and her money
By Andrea Gregory
A car full of guys attempted to steal $20 from the young woman who offered them directions. Later, Jonathon Alexis, 21, of 19 Braemore Road, Medford and Tony Salvador, 18, of 20 Canal Lane, were both arrested and charged with unarmed robbery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
Around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, two sisters were walking down Albion Street when a car pulled up to them. The man in the rear passenger’s seat rolled down his window and asked the two girls for directions to Broadway.
The sisters had no problem telling the men in the car how to get there. One of the sisters walked right up to the open window and began directing them to Broadway. In her hand was a $20 bill, allegedly very tempting for the party in the car.
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Drug bust
By Andrea Gregory
Police got one of Somerville’s alleged drug dealers off the streets last week.
On Tuesday, Nov. 23 just before 5 p.m., police entered apartment 17 at 17 Bow St. Armed with a search warrant out of the Somerville District Court, police were able to gather enough evidence to charge Colin Gardinier, 33, with cocaine trafficking.
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Thanksgiving fire investigation continues
Man still in hospital and no charges filed
By Andrea Gregory
Fernando Araujo, 34, remains in critical care at Massachusetts General Hospital following a Thanksgiving blaze that torched two cars and his apartment building.
Police continue to investigate the back-to-back car fires that happened on Thursday, but are yet to charge anyone with the incident.
The first fire was at 3:51 a.m. in the driveway of Araujo’s Wheatland Street apartment. The car belonged to Cheri Ellis, of Malden, who was staying at Araujo’s place.
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Police pass on Tufts death investigation
By George P. Hassett
The Somerville Police have passed the investigation of a 22 year old Tufts students’ death on to the state police because of a conflict of interest.
Boryana Damyanova was struck by two cars and killed Tuesday Nov.22 when she was crossing Broadway at Wallace Street near Powderhouse Sq. One of the drivers who struck Damyanova is related to a Somerville Police Officer, said Lt. Paul Upton.
“This is a no-win situation for us,” said Upton. “If we did our job and then decided not to file charges, there would be a lot of suspicious people out there. So to avoid any conflict of interest, the State Police will handle this investigation.”
Upton said Damyanova was initially struck by a vehicle heading westbound toward Arlington. He said the driver of that vehicle was Francis D. Privitera, a 74 year old Somerville attorney. Once hit, Damyanova was thrown to the other side of the street and struck by a second vehicle heading eastbound, he said.
Damyanova, who came from Bulgaria to study at Tufts, was transported to Somerville Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 7:20 p.m.
Upton said the incident is being investigated by the State Police and the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. At this time, speed and alcohol do not appear to be factors in the incident, he said.
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O’Donovan’s out
By George P. Hassett
The Ward 5 alderman who pulled papers for the 27th Middlesex district state rep. race Wednesday said today he will not pursue the seat.
Sean T. O’Donovan said he is placing the needs of Ward 5 residents ahead of his own political ambitions.
"There are too many important things going on in Ward 5 for me to get involved in the state rep. race," he said.
O’Donovan’s in
By George P. Hassett
The Ward 5 alderman pulled papers at City Hall Wednesday and entered the race for state representative of the 27th Middlesex district. Sean T. O’Donovan is the third Democrat and fourth candidate overall to declare for the open seat.
The seat was vacated when Patricia D. Jehlen, D-Somerville, became the state Senator for the 2nd Middlesex district.
Elizabeth Moroney, Denise Provost and John A. Roderick are also in the race to replace Jehlen. Moroney and Provost are Democrats, while Roderick is an Independent. The deadline to declare is tomorrow at 5 p.m.
Find out what is developing at MaxPak
By George P. Hassett
The plan to develop the old MaxPak factory site with a building featuring over two hundred condominiums will be discussed over the next three weeks.
Ward 5 Alderman Sean T. O’Donovan will host three public meetings to discuss the project with neighborhood residents on Nov.29, Dec. 7 and Dec. 14 at the Visiting Nurses Association at 259 Lowell Street.
Police say ‘extremely dangerous and vicious’ man damaged library
By Andrea Gregory
Shane Trisilian ran screaming from the scene of his alleged destruction, according to police.
Trisilian, 32, of Malden, faces the charge of throwing a bicycle through a large glass window at the College Avenue library.
Before Trisilian was caught on Highland Avenue last Thursday night, he led police on a chase through residential backyards. Police had originally thought they would catch up with Trisilian at Store 24 in Davis Square. They had received multiple calls to come and take care of a man that was being described as “out of control.”
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Booking a room led to a booking in jail
By Andrea Gregory
A Boston police investigation of heroin distribution led a bust inside a Somerville hotel room last Tuesday.
Nixon Andrade, 23, of Dorchester, and Michael Franklin, 29, of East Boston, were both arrested and face multiple drug charges following the search of their hotel room.
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