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)

This week, Somerville students are returning to a district that is accelerating education. Last year, Somerville Public Schools led all Massachusetts urban school districts in student growth on the Spring 2013 MCAS, putting our schools on par with some of the highest-performing districts in Massachusetts. That means Somerville is helping each and every student continually improve, regardless of where they start academically. Somerville High School made a two-level leap on the state’s accountability rating scale to the highest rating, Level 1, and was named as one of the state’s top 15 “dream schools” by the Boston Globe. The Kennedy School also earned a Level 1 designation last year.

— Photo by Donald Norton

Here’s a shot of the parking lot at Market Basket on Somerville Ave. last weekend. Need we say any more?

Green Line and gentrification headed to Ward 5

By Somerville Neighborhood News

Ward 5’s aldermen and residents are mostly happy the Green Line will reach the neighborhood in the near future, but they are worried about the side effects.

“The Green Line will create half a dozen new subway stops in Somerville through the heart of the city and give us the kind of public transportation that we deserve,” Ward 5 Alderman Mark Niedergang told Somerville Neighborhood News as he walked around the Lowell Street neighborhood recently.

By a frustrated Somerville resident

(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)

EVERY THIRTY SECONDS. Every thirty seconds starting at 6 a.m. this morning (a Sunday!) we’ve had to deal with the constant roar of planes that sound like they’re about to land on our roof. Are you serious with this?! I sleep directly next to my air conditioner and I could STILL hear every single plane that came (and continues to come) by (since I started writing this, 3 planes have gone overhead). The last plane barely passes out of earshot when the next one starts up, and no, that is not a gross over-exaggeration.

By Jim Clark

A resolution regarding the impact of Logan Airport flight paths was discussed and adopted by the Somerville Board of Alderman at their General Meeting last Thursday.

Citing the multitude of complaints from residents made to members of the Board of Aldermen and the government of the City of Somerville about the noise from flights taking off from Logan Airport since the beginning of this spring and continuing through this summer, the Board unanimously resolved to take measures to try to alleviate the problem.

By Jeremy F. van der Heiden

On September 9, Somervillains along with individuals from the rest of the state will once again leverage the power of the vote in the primaries to decide who will continue to campaign for several positions, including Governor, Lieutenant Governor and District Attorney, among others. Although The Somerville Times has interviewed several candidates in the past few weeks, there are plenty more to know and understand before stepping into the voting booth.

We begin with the gubernatorial race, as incumbent Governor Deval Patrick will be stepping down from his position at the end of the current term.

— Photos by Donald Norton

The grand opening of the Orange Line Assembly Station T-stop in Somerville, MA—the first new MBTA T-station to open in more than a quarter century— and Somerville’s newest neighborhood Assembly Row took place on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

By Jeremy F. van der Heiden

The Somerville Times recently reached out to the Democratic candidates running in the forthcoming primary election for 34th Middlesex District State Representative of Massachusetts, all of which are vying for the seat vacated by Carl Sciortino this past April.

The following is comprised of direct transcripts from email-based questions and answers with three of the candidates.

This week begins the school year here in Somerville, so watch out while you’re driving down the streets and be careful of kids darting in and out between parked cards, especially near the schools. We wish all the students and teachers a great year of learning.  

Pitcher Sean Sullivan played a big role in helping the Somerville Alibrandis nail down its fifth consecutive championship title.

By Jim Clark

The Somerville Alibrandis have won the Yawkey Baseball League Championship for the fifth straight year in a row, having beaten the Al Thomas Athletics in 5 games.

While Somerville largely dominated the series, the Athletics gave them a run for their money. In game 1 Somerville prevailed over the A’s 3–2, beginning the championship series with a 1-0 lead.