Our condolences go out to the family of Joseph Piro. Joe was a Somerville resident and died at the age of 102 years old. He was terrific guy and will be sadly missed.

Arrests:
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Eduardo Jimenez, 63, of 33 Bailey Rd., January 28, 7:57 a.m., arrested at home on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and threat to commit a crime.

Marquille Morrisey, 25, January 28, 10:02 p.m., arrested at Sewall St. on a warrant charge of unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

El Sistema Somerville and East Somerville Main Streets will be presenting “Sounds of the City, Music of the World,” a free cross-cultural workshop and concert each First Tuesday of the Month at the East Somerville Community School, 8 Bonair Street. The workshop will be from 3:30-4:30 p.m. with a concert from 5:00-5:30 p.m. and are free and open to the public. A light reception will follow each event.

Brian King and his band Parks are on their way to wider recognition. – Photo by Liz McBride/lizmcbridephotography.com

By Blake Maddux

Most people who aspire to become professional musicians either learned an instrument at a young age or were exposed to copious amounts of music as a child. Such individuals also probably pay their dues in bands as a teenagers or young adults.

The LGBT Aging Project and the Somerville Council on Aging presented a workshop for many of the city Departments on Cultural Competency for LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) clients. This workshop was held on January 23 at the Holland Street Center and was attended by representatives from the Somerville Housing Authority, Somerville Health Department, Fire Department and the City LGBT Liaison along with the staff of the Council on Aging.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

They showed up your house at all hours of the day or night in all kinds of weather. They healed the ill in the Ville. They carried their black leather bag and they brought comfort. The family doctor used to make house calls to visit their sick patients. We all have memories of the man who made us all better. We also feared him because he was also the one who may have had to give us that dreaded…shot.

By Jim Clark

While making a random auto registration query, a Somerville Police unit discovered that the car in question’s registered owner had a suspended license.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Somerville Public Library Director, Maria Carpenter, announced  that the City of Somerville has accepted a “Library Card Sign-Up Challenge” from the Town of Arlington and Arlington Public. The Challenge, which will take place through the month of February and also includes the Towns of Belmont and Lexington, proposes to reward the library system that sees the greatest percentage increase in residents signing up for library cards.  Prizes will be issued for new cardholders, culminating in a Grand Prize of an e-book reader to one of the new registrants.

Somerville High School’s trivia team was recently taped on WGBH’s “High School Quiz Show.” The team was one of the top 16 in Massachusetts. Pictured from Left to Right: Graham Lessard-Brandt, RJ Bingham, Zoe Iacovino, John Iacovino, Celine Lessard-Brandt and Miles Bain.

By Cathleen Twardzik

Somerville High School’s trivia team recently made a comeback at WGBH’s High School Quiz Show. The team was one of the top 16 in Massachusetts.

The show was taped on January 26, and will air on March 3 at 6:30 p.m.

Part 1:  The facts
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By William C. Shelton

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

In December, long-time Ward 1 Alderman Bill Roche resigned from the Board and was replaced by the Ward’s School Committee Member Maureen Bastardi. The process that the School Committee conducted in selecting her replacement reveals much about how our city’s long-term demographic changes are beginning to affect its political culture.