Part 1: The evidence
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By William C. Shelton

(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)

Storm after storm, my neighbors and I gathered to shovel snow with grudging good humor. Occasionally I heard someone question how the planet could be warming while much of the country was in a record-setting deepfreeze.

Artists invited to take part in creative bus project
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By Jeremy F. van der Heiden

The Somerville Arts Council has released an open call for artists interested in helping transform an old school bus into something completely different. While the officials involved have set the goal of the vehicle remaining completely functional – in that they wish it to remain road-ready – the project is to use the bus as a very large palette for creative design.

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)

The safety of my children is the first thing I think of when I wake up in the morning, and the last thought that runs through my head before I fall asleep each night. Like all of us, the disturbing allegations against a former Somerville Public Schools teacher that we learned of late last week have left me shaken, angered and heartbroken.

By Jim Clark

Police were called to a Pearl St. apartment building last week on reports of a man armed with a gun threatening residents there.

Upon arrival, officers cautiously approached the third floor level where the suspect, later identified as Stephen Tolliver, 62, was spotted sitting in front of his apartment door with his back to them.

Police sketch of assault suspect — click to enlarge

On Monday, April 21, 2014, during the early morning hours, a woman reported to the Somerville Police that she was the victim of an assault near the 300 block of Beacon Street.  She had departed the Porter Square MBTA Station and was walking alone on Beacon Street when her attacker grabbed her from behind and made an attempt to force her into a nearby alley.  The victim was able to scream and fend off her attacker.  The victim described her attacker as a thin black male, in his 30’s, 6-00, clean shaven, and wearing dark clothing.

— Photos by Claudia Ferro

The 239th annual Patriot’s Day celebration was held at Foss Park on Monday, April 21.

Residents, city officials — and, yes, Paul Revere — gathered to celebrate Somerville’s Colonial Era heritage, highlighted by games, period apparel, and the ceremonial reenactment of Revere’s ride through Somerville from Boston to Lexington.

By Nidhi Mathson

The Central Broadway/Winter Hill Roadway & Streetscape Improvements Project runs along Broadway from and including the Route 28/McGrath Highway intersection to east of the Broadway/Medford Street intersection.

By David R. Smith

Plastic could soon come at a price, although some might say that – when it comes to the environment – it already does.

During the Board of Aldermen’s last meeting, Ward 6 Alderman Rebecca Gewirtz said an article she read in the Boston Globe suggested that charging 5 cents per plastic bag does more to dissuade people from using them –and using cloth bags in their place- than efforts to outright ban their use in stores.

As satisfying – necessary, even – as it is to have heads roll when a tragedy strikes that clearly, or even just possibly, could have been avoided, it is just as frustrating when all the right steps were taken, when protocol was followed and yet …

It would appear, at least this early into the investigation, that Joshua Wairi, the 27-year-old who taught in several Somerville elementary schools over the last several years before being arrested this month on child pornography possession and distribution charges, was checked out before being hired both in Somerville and Cambridge, where he was working as a teacher at the time of his arrest.