Chief Assessor and Chairman of Somerville Board of Assessors, Marc A. Levye, reported his findings to the Board of Alderman.

By Douglas Yu

The residential value in Somerville will increase over 10 percent in the next fiscal year, according to the findings of the most recent Board of Alderman public hearing. However, the city is also going to raise the property tax at the same time, especially on condominiums.

The Chamber of Commerce monthly Business After Hours is this Thursday, the 4th. It is an excellent networking event featuring free appetizers and a free business card drawing with cash bar. Guests are welcome to bring unwrapped Toys for Local Children. Sponsored by Bonney Automotive and the Law Offices of Isaac M. Machado. Hosted by Somerville Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours Chair Dana Iacopucci of Cubby Oil & Energy.

The Partners HealthCare campus will sprawl across four urban blocks.

Assembly Row’s first major industry tenant bringing 4,500 jobs to new office and retail building;Curtatone, Capuano, Gottleib & other officials mark start of construction

Partners HealthCare formally broke ground on its new administrative offices in Assembly Square yesterday that will bring approximately 4,500 permanent and 1,500 construction jobs to the 45-acre Assembly Row development.

By Rebecca Danvers

The City of Somerville has some serious questions it wants answered, such as does workplace safety affect substance abuse? How does access to a means of transportation weigh upon how quickly someone becomes proficient in English? The city doesn’t know yet, but is launching a new program to explore those possibilities and more, fundamentally changing the way the city approaches policy-making.

A peaceful protest was challenged on Monday. ~Photos by Donald Norton

By Tom Bannister

A quiet protest of two individuals on Winter Hill in front of Citizens bank on Monday drew the attention of many passers by and customers of the bank.

One customer was offended by the protesters’ signs that read “Impeach Obama” so he called the Somerville Police.

“Holiday Lights” by V Van Sant.

By Gabriela C. Martinez

Nave Gallery is currently holding a photography exhibition titled Illuminated: A Photographic Essay of Holiday Lights, which explores the spirit and feelings of holiday season through images of winter lights.

No matter what end – or portion of the middle – you may lean to politically, you have to hand it to those who step up and serve their communities. It takes a lot of dedication and know-how to effectively get there, and then do a good job once one actually gets there.

This is so on the grand national scale, and just as much so on the smaller, civic level of city administration. Service is service, and it takes the same grit and commitment, no matter how large or small one’s constituency may be.

By Rebecca Danvers

It has been announced that the members of the Somerville School Committee will hold neighborhood meetings throughout the city from December 5 through December 8, seeking post-interview community input on the three finalists vying for the Superintendent of Schools position.

The School Committee anticipates making a final decision on Somerville’s next Superintendent of Schools on Monday, December 8.

— Photo by Donald Norton

By Rebecca Danvers

Mount Vernon Restaurant, located at 14 Broadway in Somerville, has been a family owned business going on 80 years next April, a distinction that most restaurants only hope to achieve.

In a city of under 4 miles in area and with all the various new restaurants popping all over the city, Mount Vernon has to be considered the city’s best of the best.

Guest columnist Emily Pineau, a student of mine at Endicott College and an intern at Boston University’s AGNI magazine, wrote this article about a panel I hosted at the Boston Book Festival last month – I hope you enjoy.