Somerville Neighborhood News, a community service production of SCATV, brings you the latest Somerville headlines. One featured story is: City Offers East Somerville Business Boost.

By Rand Wilson

(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)

After a spirited public hearing on December 10, the Somerville Board of Aldermen voted unanimously to support four bills before the state Legislature which in a small way would help to address the problems caused by rising income inequality.

Terry Adams and NRBQ is set to perform at Johnny D’s next Tuesday, December 29, presenting both Adams’ solo works and band favorites. — Photo by Dave Yandell

By Mark Casale

Pianist/founder of NRBQ Terry Adams chose to take a long and winding path to the recording of Talk Thelonious: NRBQ+ plays Terry Adams arrangements of Thelonious Monk Songs, his new album of compositions by jazz legend Thelonious Monk.

Faulkner Fuel on the corner of Cedar St. and Alpine St. conducted their annual collection of TOYS FOR TOTS with the United States Marine Corps. The toys pictured here are just a few that were donated by The Somerville Municipal  Workers Union and the Somerville Department Of Public Works. Special thanks and a “well done” goes out tothem and Michael and Peter Dupuis, Annie DiBenedetto, Elaine Anderson and the gang at Faulkner Fuel.

The winner of our Christmas Poem contest for 2015, chosen by the staff of The Somerville Times, is Daniel Spinosa of Somerville. The winner will receive a gift certificate for Mount Vernon restaurant in the amounts of $100. We thank everyone who participated and submitted their poems.

KELLY, Kenneth K. – Of Winchester December 23, 2015. Beloved husband of Kim (Roop) Kelly. Loving son of Thomas and Catherine (Kearney) Kelly of Ireland. Devoted father of Michael and Samantha Kelly. Son-in-law of William and Karen Roop of Concord. Dear brother of Naill Kelly of Bermuda and Alan Kelly of Medford. Uncle of Fiona, Aidan, and Scarlett. Brother–in-law of Matthew Roop of Maine. Also survived by many loving friends.

By Jim Clark

Police were dispatched to the Target store on Somerville Ave. last week on reports of a suspected shoplifter who was behaving erratically.

The store security personnel reportedly advised police by phone that a man, later identified as Donald Frost, of Malden, had been observed concealing store merchandise on his person over a four hour period. They further stated that Frost was behaving in an aggressive manner, at one point crashing into another customer with his shopping cart.

By Mayor 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 holidays are upon us, but it seems all anyone can talk about is the weather. Yes, it’s unseasonably warm out there. The good news is it isn’t due to some radical shift in global climate. Yet it does serve as a reminder that man made climate change is taking place and the effects will be far more profound than being able to wear a t-shirt when you head out for a run on Christmas day.

Changes may be in store for the currently proposed Green Line Extension routes. (click to enlarge)

By Haley ED Houseman

Plagued with enormous cost overruns and questions about feasibility, the MBTA Green Line Extension Project (GLX) now faces possible abandonment and loss of the previously allocated federal financial aid. The project is legally mandated as a way to offset air quality concerns centered on the effects of the Big Dig, and was intended to be implemented by 2011.

By Glad Auguste

Taza Chocolate, a big local favorite, has its roots in Mexico.

Walk into Taza and you’ll find people tethered to the shelves trying to reconcile the canyon of samples between them. This is chocolate.

Established in 2005 by Alex Whitmore and Kathleen Fulton, Taza Chocolate owes its being to Oaxaca, Mexico. That is where Whitmore tried stone-ground chocolate for the first time and where he apprenticed under a molinero, or miller. When he returned to his home in Somerville he opened a factory, the result of that venture is a company that exports its product in virtually every state in the country.