Two would-be bank robbers were stopped in their tracks in Somerville last week. — Photos by John Gardner

By Jim Clark

Police arrested two men last week as they made their way to Rockland Trust Bank at 399 Highland Ave., allegedly intent on committing an armed robbery there.

Edwin O’Grady, 55, of New Boston, New Hampshire, and an as of yet unidentified accomplice were stopped before they entered the bank last Thursday at approximately 10:55 a.m.

Make way for the mayhem and turmoil that is about to strike Union Square as crews commence preparations for the laying of tracks and all else that goes with the coming of the Green Line through the area.

Some traffic detours aside, the process should actually be fairly orderly and pain-free for locals and passers-through. City and developer plans seem to be thoroughly thought out and, with luck and proper implementation, should allow for a smooth period of adjustment and preparation for the actual construction phase when it begins in earnest.

Aldermen won’t give up push for campaign finance reform

By Jane Regan

Even though the mayor vetoed their proposed campaign finance reform ordinance, Alderman-At-Large Bill White and his colleagues aren’t giving up.

Known as a “Pay-to-Play” law, the ordinance would limit the amount of money people hoping to do real estate development-related business with the city at $250. It passed with seven votes on September 11 but on September 23, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone sent a letter to the Board of Alderman indicating he was vetoing it.

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Somerville Poet Kevin Dua writes: “I am a history teacher in the Somerville Public Schools for three years, who takes comfort in poetry writing since college. I consider this piece a reminder of how sincerity can falter towards what the majority deems right.”

Arrests:
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Danielle Dellamano, 32, of 204 Cedar St., Stoughton, September 22, 8:41 a.m., arrested at 622 Somerville Ave. on a charge of shoplifting by asportation.

Kevin Hogarty, 24, of 17 Court St., Boston, September 23, 8:55 a.m., arrested at 177 Middlesex Ave. on a charge of larceny under $250.

Work clearing the way for the future Union Square MBTA Green Line Station begins this month, with a goal of removing contaminated soil, demolishing existing buildings and restoring the property to a smooth finish by the start of winter. During this work, traffic will be impacted in the area.

For the Green Line project to remain on schedule, environmental remediation work must be completed this year. That begins on Monday, Sept. 29, with the removal and replacement of contaminated soils from the former Kiley Barrel Company property, an EPA designated Brownfield site which is the approximately 32,000-square foot area on the northwest corner of the site identified as the D-2 parcel in the Union Square Revitalization Plan (bound by the existing commuter rail tracks, Prospect St., Somerville Ave. and homes on Allen St.).

The Grownup Noise members (R to L): Adam Sankowski, Rachel Arnold, Paul Hansen, Todd Marsten, Aine Fujioka. — Photo by Sarahmica Photography

By Blake Maddux

Paul Hansen and Adam Sankowski are two of the four Berklee-trained members of the Somerville-based quintet The Grownup Noise. The band released its eponymous debut in 2007, and the follow-up This Time with Feeling appeared in 2011.

Now the band has recorded its third album, The Problem with Living in the Moment, which they will celebrate the release of at The Armory on Saturday, October 4.

The 2014 Boston Zine Fest will be held on October 11 at Washington Street Art Center, 321 Washington Street, Somerville and on October 12 at Aeronaut Brewing Company, 14 Tyler Street, Somerville.

The Boston Zine Fest is an annual event dedicated to the celebration of zines and DIY (do-it-yourself) culture and aims to create a space where zine enthusiasts and creators can come together to share their creative work, exchange ideas, and promote self-publishing. For the uninitiated, zines (derived from “fanzine”) are self-published works usually with a small circulation and often reproduced via photocopier.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

(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)

Can you tell where the photo on the right was taken? It looks a bit different now (The answer is at the end of this story).

As much as a lot of people frown upon Facebook as a waste of time and merely an Internet fad, I for one depend on it for a lot of my research. Although my mind is full of old memories, sometimes it needs a jumpstart. Recently I posed this question: If you could bring back ONE store from the old days of Somerville, what would it be? Facebook responded in a huge way (over 700 responses). Are you ready for yet another jaunt down memory lane? Well, grab your shopping bag and let’s go! Might just as well say bring ‘em all back. (Can you find a repeat?)