By Joseph A. Curtatone

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

The Somerville High School boys soccer team did much more this season than win the Division 1 North championship and take the state championship game to its last possible moment. They inspired our entire city. You only had to take a look around the stadium during the state championship game and see thousands of Highlander fans, cheering on the team, to see the effect the team had not only on soccer fans but the school community and our whole city. The turnout spoke to more than the team’s success this season. It spoke to how this team, burdened before the season started by a terrible incident at camp, displayed leadership off the field, in the school and throughout the school community and stood up together, refusing to let the alleged actions of a few define them or the community.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and the City of Somerville’s Lead Program Manager Daniel Hauck announce free de-leading for 120 Somerville housing units. Made possible by a $2.1 million continuation grant from the Office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the program includes de-leading services which frequently include new windows and doors.

“Going Home” by Suzanne Hauerstein.

The Nave Gallery Annex hosts a group exhibition from December 5-22 of encaustic art in its Davis Square location. 65°: An Exhibition of Contemporary Encaustic Art, is an exhibition on the techniques, materials and subject matter used by today’s wax artists, and features the work of 22 local and national artists.

– Photo by Tony Rindaldo

Anyone who lives in Somerville knows the city has a million stories to tell, and now, thanks to a national StoryCorps grant, the country will get to hear—and preserve at the National Library of Congress—some of the least heard stories among them: those of teenagers.

Local dog ruled dangerous, ordered euthanized
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This photo appeared on an on-line petition to save Rocco, a Somerville dog, from a euthanasia order following a recent incident.

By Elizabeth Sheeran

The fate of a six-year-old bull mastiff named Rocco is now in the hands of Somerville District Court, following a Halloween night incident that put a local man in the hospital.

– Photos by Claudia Ferro

The 2013 Holiday Crafts Fair was held on Saturday, November 30 in the Somerville High School Fieldhouse. The fair included over a hundred vendors of handmade crafts, both holiday related and otherwise.

Well, the big turkey day is over and everyone should be rested up now to head out and do your Christmas shopping, and we’re hoping you shop locally here in the city and support our local retailers and shops. 21 days until Christmas. Are you excited?

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The City’s annual Christmas Tree and Menorah Lighting Ceremony will take place tomorrow, Thursday, Dec. 5, at 5:30 p.m. on the City Hall Concourse, followed by a meet and greet with Santa Claus in the Somerville High School Highlander Café (atrium entrance). The tree lighting ceremony will feature musical entertainment by the Somerville High School Band and Orchestra, the Somerville Community Chorus, El Sistema Somerville, and grade four students from the Arthur D. Healey Elementary School. Special guest Santa Claus will be escorted by the Somerville Fire Department for the ceremony and will be available for photos following the tree lighting. All children attending the ceremony will also receive a gift from Santa. The menorah was first lit on Wednesday, Nov. 26, on the first day of Hannukah, tomorrow night, a brief ceremony will mark the end of Hannukah.

By Jim Clark

Somerville Police undercover narcotics officers, while conducting surveillance operations in the Winter Hill area last week, whereupon they spotted what they regarded as suspicious activity on the part of two individuals, identified as Charles Ryan, 38, of Roxbury, and Nicholas Cunha, 34, of Charlestown.

It’s officially off and running, now that Thanksgiving Day has come and gone.

And just what is the “it” in question? That’s a good question, according to many. The Christmas/holiday/whatever season is now upon us, and with it comes the disconcerting controversy regarding the nomenclature of the occasion.

By Russ Allison

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

This year is the first time that I have had anything to do with putting on a Thanksgiving meal. I feel compelled to write a technical manual for the novice having to cook a turkey.

In preparation for buying a turkey, the freezer must be vacated. All of the freezer burned vegetables have to be tossed out. If the fish sticks are still edible, eating them cannot be put off any longer. Throw out the grease can. Once the freezer is completely emptied, it is time to force the frozen turkey in with an aggressive thrust.