It seems that we dodged a bullet this time. Mercifully so. And it’s a good thing, too. Are any of us really prepared for a repeat of the natural disaster that took place last winter when we were nearly buried alive in all that snow?

Well. A little exaggeration never killed anyone. But a little too much shoveling and fighting for parking spaces and the general wear and tear on the nerves just might. It wasn’t a pretty thing to behold – and we wouldn’t wish it upon ourselves or our worst enemies – or would we?

By Jim Clark

Police were called to the Sports Authority store at Assembly Row Marketplace last week on reports of an alleged shoplifter observed in the store.

Upon arrival, officers spotted the man in question, later identified as Eric Neal, as he was exiting the store, followed by a security staffer.

So I am in Union Square, and the cold winter winds are whipping me like a frenzied sadist, when I entered P.A.’s Lounge. I needed a story and P.A.’s seemed to fit the bill. In one corner of the bar Jon Dorsett nursed a beer, and stared at a flat screen. He had the look of a guy who has seen and done that, and has no time for happy horseshit. The bartender and co-owner Tony Amaral, Jr. looked at me with world-weary eyes, as if to say, “So, what are you selling?” I told him I am Doug Holder from The Somerville Times – he was not impressed. But I sat down, and as the bar was basically empty this afternoon he agreed to chew the fat.

Julie Ann Otis is Somerville’s Artistic Fellow of Interdisciplinary Arts. She composes and performs poetry on the fly and occasionally in mid-air. Julie Ann recently performed at the ICA Boston and at Aeronaut Brewery (Somerville), where she composed and projected poetry in real-time alongside an animation artist and an electronic music artist. She created an environmental poetry installation, “Answering Mara,” at The Art Farm (Nebraska) and “Incubus,” performance poetry choreographed with aerial dance in rope and harness. Her interactive poetry installation, “Free Verse,” combined vintage typewriters, public exchange of free writing, and live-time composition. Her performance installation of “The Complaint (& Catharsis) Department,” a re-imagining of the R.M.V., offered affirmation/consolation for attendees of Somerville’s Pity Party. Accolades include Opus Affair Artist of the Year in 2014 and exhibitions at Boston City Hall. Her most recent chapbook, Elastic Communion, is available at www.julieannotis.com.

Arrests:
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 George Hanson, of 86 Chandler St., Arlington, January 18, 4:16 p.m., arrested at Elm St. on charges of distribution of a class D drug and drug possession to distribute.

Eric Neal, January 19, 5:57 p.m., arrested at Elm St. on charges of conspiracy, larceny over $250, and receiving stolen property under $250, and on warrant charges of resisting arrest, possession of a class B drug, shoplifting by asportation, use of a motor vehicle without authority, operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license, motor vehicle operator refusal to identify self, not meeting motor vehicle safety standards, miscellaneous equipment violation, assault and battery on a family or household member, destruction of property over $250, assault and battery, larceny over $250, trespassing, violation of municipal bylaw or ordinance.

Surveys had been Distributed to Somerville Middle School Students in April 2015

Somerville Office of Prevention Director Cory Mashburn announced that the results of their annual Student Health Survey will be presented in a public forum on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Winter Hill Community School, 115 Sycamore St. The results will be presented in the form of a game show, with attendees being divided into teams to discuss topics from the Student Health Survey. The youth from Somerville Positive Forces 100 (SPF100) will be presenting the information.

Mayor Joe Curtatone and Ward 4 Alderman Tony Lafuente invite all Somerville residents, business owners, and all other stakeholders are invited to evaluate, debrief, and discuss next steps related to the Winter Hill Better Block festival on Thursday, Feb. 18, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Winter Hill Community School cafeteria (115 Sycamore St.). The Festival, held on Dec. 12 and 13, 2015, tested short-term ideas for activating and celebrating Winter Hill, and sought opportunities for similar events in the future.  At the upcoming meeting, event organizers will present a brief summary as well as survey results from the event and invite community members to provide feedback, opinions, and strategies for potential similar activities in the future.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

East Somerville Community School performed its Winter Concert on January 15 at the ESCS Auditorium.

The concert featured performances by students at every grade, with students in K-6 performing as grade level groups.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 2 Alderman Maryann Heuston, and the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD) invite all interested community members to the Lincoln Park Design Open House with our team of landscape architects from Weston Sampson/Spurr Associates. City staff and the Spurr team will present the park plans and review the construction schedule.

Somerville

Martin Acosta-Rosario, 23, of Somerville, was charged with carrying a loaded firearm without a license and carrying a firearm without a license. The Assistant District Attorney is Kevin Collins.

Henry Alvarez, 18, of Somerville, was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, and armed robbery. The Assistant District Attorney is Ceara Mahoney.