The third-term mayor of Somerville was the guest at the Aug. 8 Somerville News contributors meeting. Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone discussed the city’s future, its policies for parking tickets and who convinced IKEA to give priority to East Somerville residents when hiring for its new store in Assembly Square.

SN: What’s happening with the SCAT building in Union Square?

The building itself as a structure will stay; it has some history in it. SCAT we feel will be relocated, but somewhere as part of our development of the square, because we’re building an arts overlay in the square that the media arts are a big part of. So no matter what, SCAT is going to have a home in Union Square, and if it’s a new home, it’ll be more technologically advanced.

Library welcomes new director

Off The Shelf by Doug Holder

The last thing you expect to encounter is a lilting Southern accent when you walk into the Director’s office at the Central Branch of the Somerville Public Library. But that’s part of the package you get with the new Director Nancy Milnor.

Milnor is a native of Tennessee and has run libraries in Galveston, Texas, and St. Louis, Missouri, to name just a few locales. Milnor’s last job was the relatively ‚Äúgenteel‚Äù position of director of the Connecticut Historical Library. She left those tony environs to work in the milieu that is her first love: the public library system.

By Jack Nicas

Two new Somerville businesses debuted on Thursday, with the re-opening of Soleil Café under new ownership in Teele Square and the “soft opening” of Bowl & Board in Davis Square.

With the exception of its name, the new Soleil Café has little in common with the old. Its specialty is pastries, although they serve sandwiches as well. New owners, Teresa Morena and Fortunato Conte, hail from Salerno, Italy and are eager to bring some of that authentic Italian taste, including cannoli, tiramisu and gelato, to Somerville. Morena said Soleil has a lunch and dinner menu, and for breakfast, customers can enjoy Italian pastries with coffee or espresso.

By Bob “Monty” Doherty

In my job with the Somerville Fire Department I often find myself in the streets of Somerville in the early morning hours. Sometimes I feel like all the city’s stories and spirits are talking to me. If the snow is falling, the sky is dark and all I can see are the outlines of the buildings, I start to think about all the history that is here. And there’s a lot: from before the Revolutionary War until today, Somerville has had a role in everything from government (Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s secretary lived on Orchard Street) to literature (Walt Whitman was a frequent visitor to Prospect Hill) to facial hair (Willie Nickerson, a Magoun Square resident, teamed up with a man named Gillette to create some of the first safety razor blades used in shaving. The blades, an improvement over dangerous straight edged razors led to more men shaving their beards).

On The Silly Side by Jimmy Del Ponte

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

(I do not condone or approve any of the craziness and poor judgment described in this column)

Did you see the opening ceremonies for the Beijing Olympics? Man, talk about going all out. My son and I were watching the swimming competition Saturday night and I got to thinking about just how “non-athletic” I am. Although I have been pretty faithful at the gym lately, I never really excelled in a sport.

So, Howie Carr, when was the last time you came to Somerville? We know you lived here for a couple months many years ago. That was before you left town after getting mugged by a gang of junior high kids one night. But have you been here recently?

Probably not, since judging by your columns, you seem stuck in the Slumerville of yesteryear. Today, Somerville is a dynamic city with one of the brightest futures around. Assembly Square is one of the biggest developments on the east coast and the Kraft family is looking at developing the Inner Belt. We have fun and innovative festivals that draw thousands to our city. Ever been to ‚ÄúWhat the Fluff‚Äù Howie? You’d love it. So even though one Somerville guy got caught stealing last week, we are still a city on the upswing.

Hamilton ‘will be a hard act to follow’

By Melanie Cordova

Described as a tall, courtly man with a big smile by co-workers, Jack Hamilton, Executive Director of the Community Action Agency of Somerville, has been a staple of the Somerville and Cambridge community for 27 years.

‚ÄúThere have been people who have worked here for 27 years and Jack has been the only Executive Director they have ever known,‚Äù CAAS’s Director of Planning, Dennis Fischman said.

Yet, next January, there will be a major change at the Union Square agency: Hamilton will not be returning. After more than a quarter century working at CAAS, Hamilton has decided to retire.

A bill to allow a waterfront park in Assembly Square has been signed into law by Governor Deval Patrick.

The legislation allows for a land swap between the Department of Conservation and Recreation and developers Federal Realty Investment Trust that is necessary for the creation of the open space. DCR will give Federal Realty a piece of land currently being used for winter boat storage in exchange for a larger parcel on the Mystic River.

The land swap will ensure increased access to Draw 7 Park and will allow for easements onto DCR property necessary for the planned construction of storm water improvements and other environmental infrastructure improvements that will benefit both Assembly Square and the Ten Hills neighborhood, according to city officials. 

By Tom Nash

The presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in Somerville last week revealed gaps in communication between the immigrant community and city government, according to local immigrant rights advocates.

On Aug. 5, ICE agents were seen stopping people at the Sullivan Square MBTA station and a Dunkin’ Donuts on Broadway, feeding fears of a large-scale immigration raid.

ICE agents were in Somerville as a part of Operation Community Shield, which targets illegal immigrants who are gang members. The four-day operation took in 80 people with criminal records and open warrants throughout the greater Boston area, according to ICE. Among the arrested were 52 gang members, according to an ICE press release.

By Matthew McLaughlin

Throughout the nation, growing gas prices are forcing people to make serious changes to everyday life. One local non-profit organization that helps elderly residents in need of a ride is trying to overcome the crisis creatively.

SCM Community Transportation, an organization that has helped people throughout Greater Boston for 25 years, is trying to find a formula to keep afloat.  Reed Cochran, executive director for SCM, said harsh economic times have forced the organization to be creative.