Comedic talent from around the area joined forces to raise funds for Rett Syndrome research. Guest of honor Sabrina Budd (center) enjoyed the support of the entertainers who gave their all at the event.
— Photo by Tony Porter of Five6Teen Photography

By Tom Bannister

A Comedy Night to raise money for Rett Syndrome research took place on Friday, January 16, at the Somerville City Club.

By Jim Clark

Police received several calls last Saturday evening reporting reckless and erratic driving by someone operating a black Cadillac in the West Somerville area.

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)

Excerpted and adapted from Mayor Curtatone’s State of the City address given on Monday, Jan. 19, 2015.

One of the many accolades we’ve earned together over the past decade and that we can rightly be proud of is “The Best Run City in Massachusetts.” But our community’s aspirations have always been more than simply having an efficient and effective government. We know that government can do more. It can change people’s lives for the better.
Cities cannot be led by mere managers, seeking the highest rate of return. As Robert F. Kennedy pointed out in 1968, our Gross National Product “measures everything in short, except that which makes life worthwhile.” Government has a critical role to play in the shaping the future of every person who lives in our community. When it comes to improving the lives of our people, government is not just an essential player—it is the essential player.

The commercial viability of properties such as the long vacant former Star Market site was among the topics of discussion at the Winter Hill Somerville by Design meeting held last week.

By Douglas Yu

Following two open house meetings about redesigning Winter Hill last year, Somerville by Design presented 50 more design ideas to the neighborhood for an open discussion. The design ideas were sourced from Winter Hill residents.

By Rebecca Danvers

Authorities say that at approximately 7:30 a.m. on Thursday morning of last week, police received a phone call that a group of people had gathered at Interstate 93 in the vicinity of Exit 30, near the Century Bank building in Medford.

The city is looking at ways of increasing permeable surfaces to the streets of Somerville in hopes of reducing damage caused by flooding in certain neighborhoods.

By Gabriela C. Martinez

On January 15, the Legislative Matters Committee held a meeting that discussed the strengthening of two zoning ordinances designed to increase permeable surfaces in the city.

Happy Birthday this week to a few of our readers: Happy Birthday to good friend Ken Kotch, a great local family man who even though from NJ is still a good guy. Happy Birthday to local Attorney Bob Daut. We hope he has a great birthday for himself. Happy Birthday to Villen James Robertson, originally from East Somerville and now lives in sunny Florida. We wish him a good day.

— Photos by Claudia Ferro

The annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration event, entitled Music: Our MLK Jr. Dream by Song, was be held on Monday, Jan. 19, the East Somerville Community School The event included performances by the Somerville High School World Percussion Ensemble, El Sistema Somerville Youth Orchestra, MLK Jr. Somerville Interfaith Choir, SheBoom, the Center for Arabic Culture Children’s Choir, the Somerville High School Dance Club, and the first official appearance by Somerville’s first-ever Poet Laureate, Nicole Terez Dutton.

Eagle Feathers #70 – A Sporting Chance

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

Somerville has always had a deep-seated history in sports, far deeper than most. Settled before Boston as part of Charlestown in 1628, the colony was subject to Puritan rule. By 1659, strict rules had outlawed card playing and dice. This was for fear of betting. Football, oddly enough, was allowed, unless played on forbidden streets or lanes.

By Rebecca Danvers

Former Middlesex Assistant District Attorney Stephen Gilpatric, age 35, of Somerville, has pleaded guilty to charges he violated conflict of interest laws in connection with misuse of his position, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced today. He traded information in exchange for oxycodone pills.