By Jim Clark

While working an undercover detail at the Boat House on Shore Drive last Saturday, a Somerville Police Narcotics Detective reportedly witnessed what he deemed to be suspicious activity on the part of an individual who was pacing around in the parking lot while speaking to someone on a cell phone.

Governor Deval Patrick signed into law the GIC Healthcare bill which included several key points of his own interest.

By Andrew Firestone

The long-discussed and highly controversial Group Insurance Commision Healthcare bill was signed into law Tuesday, July 12, after several months of debate. This bill gives cities and towns the opportunity to sign onto the GIC, thus lessening the total healthcare costs by $100 million across the state. Public labor unions had been wary, and many officials on the state and national level had spoken against curbing union rights. Governor Deval Patrick personally added four amendments to the bill, which were made to lessen costs on the citizens.

By William Tauro

Laptop computers, cell phones, cameras and thousands of dollars worth of fine jewelry were recovered during a Somerville Police Department sting and search warrant operation that took place at a residence in Everett.

By Harry Kane

On Tuesday the Teddy Bear Picnic took place at the Somerville Community Growing Center on Vinal Avenue. The community gathering encompassed a picnic, scavenger hunt, and a lesson about which plants in the city are edible. Each child brought a teddy bear to the picnic and searched the vegetation for different colored small plastic bears that had been hidden in the community garden.

By Jim Clark

Police officers took notice of suspicious activity in Davis Square last Thursday as a man joined two women in a car that took a short drive from nearby the Statue Park area to the driveway of the Tedeschi market on College Avenue, just a few dozen yards away, according to reports.

Access to the Inner Belt through the "tubes" can be an issue at times, but how long until the problem is solved?

By Andrew Firestone

With a few of the Mayor’s major developments on their way, City and State officials have begun considering the further development of another site nearby, the Inner Belt / Brickbottom neighborhoods of Somerville.

While Assembly Square may be an example of transforming a huge, dormant area into a lively urban village, the 125 acre Inner Belt faces another issue: how to transform a landlocked area with businesses already there into a transit-oriented urban center. The Inner Belt currently houses some industry, including the Angelica Linen Service, the city’s largest employer, and 200 artists at the nearby Brickbottom artist’s refuge.

By Krysia Wazny

Maybe it was the open air on a warm night or the refreshing glimpse of original art. Perhaps it was the coming together of friends and family for some laughs. Or maybe it was just the shorts. Whatever the reason, all felt welcome in Union Square last Saturday.

The Annual Somerville ArtBeat is this Friday and Saturday in Davis Square. It’s a great time with lots of activities for the entire family. It gets bigger and bigger every year. This year the planners, the Somerville Arts Council, were busy making sure a wide variety of things will be going on.  There is a suggested donation of $3. This is a wonderful two-day event. Bring the entire family.

By Andrew Firestone

This year, the City raised $104,589,916 in Real Estate or Personal taxes for the 2012 fiscal budget, an increase of over four million dollars from the previous year. While four million dollars is a good deal of money, it is important to note how this came to be; through Proposition two and a half, a measure approved by voters almost 30 years ago. The City was able to raise their levy by a two and a half percent limit, or the most that they are able to in a fiscal year, and then got the rest through new commercial properties. They cannot exceed this limit in the taxes on properties that already exist.

The Pirates of Pancake Island animation team in action: (L to R) Jeanne Flanagan, Bill Trudell, Melitta King, and Shannon Daly.

By Michelle Cooper

Since 2005 Somerville Community Access Television  has won the National Alliance for community media award six times. This year it was for best animation film by non-professionals. Never mind all the other awards they have received for being a great community access television center. The winner this year was Pirates of Pancake Island by Jeanne Flanagan, Bill Trudell, Melitta King, and Shannon Daly.