City jumps from 10^th to 7^th most walkable city in nation; Also lands rank of 9^th for most transit-friendly city

According to 2014 national Walk Score ratings, Somerville is now the 7^th most walkable city and the 9^th most transit-friendly city in the nation, regardless of population size. The new scores released in November reflect Somerville’s continued climb up the walkability charts, with the city rising three spots from number 10 last year to number 7 in the latest rankings—and with new Orange and Green Line MBTA stops on the horizon, the outlook is good for an ever higher transit-friendly score in the future as well.

It’s that time of the year again. Next Wave/Full Circle is selling beautiful 14” balsam wreaths with red velvet bows for only $15 apiece. Wreaths will be ready for pickup or delivery the first week in December. All funds raised from this popular annual event go directly to support student activities, field trips, and incentives for Next Wave/Full Circle’s reward system. Contact Agnes Gallant at agallant@k12.somerville.ma.us to order your wreath(s). Checks should be made payable to “Next Wave/Full Circle.”

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)

The dictionary tells us “a gladiator was an armed combatant who engaged in violent confrontations with other gladiators, who risked their legal and social standing and their lives by appearing in the arena.” The arena in this case is the Powder House rotary. The weapons are our vehicles. What you risk are heated and maybe physical exchanges with other drivers, possible collisions resulting in damage, and subsequent insurance surcharges. All this to get someplace a half a minute sooner.

By Jim Clark

Police responded to a shoplifting report at the Target store on Somerville Ave. last Friday.

Upon arrival, officers were informed by loss prevention personnel that a man was being held in their office but that they were not yet able to identify him.

Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28, football tickets are now on sale in the Somerville High School Athletic Office. Tickets are $3 for students and $5 for adults if purchased in advance. Stop by room 180, the athletic office at SHS, to get your tickets. Tickets purchased at the door on game day will be $7. Join in for a great day of football action in this annual battle between the Highlanders and Cambridge Rindge and Latin. Kickoff is 10 a.m. at CRLS.

(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)

I want to give a shout out to the Somerville police department!  Yesterday I was in town near Union Sq and my dog was spooked by a man who was only trying to say ‘hi’. He was outside in the yard and usually is fine but he was abused by former owners and those scars are still there and his ‘flight’ instinct kicked in. He ran and I went in that direction and people who saw him said he went past and continued out onto the main road.

Comprehensive Integrated Pest Management Plan to include:

• Financial assistance for residential rodent control;
• Proposed new uniform residential trash barrel program;
• Comprehensive dumpster inspection and enforcement;
• Establishment of the Rodent Action Team (RAT); and
• Testing of rodent fertility management as piloted in New York City

The Axion Estin icon of the Virgin Mary, one of the oldest and most highly venerated icons of Orthodoxy, has been authentically replicated for and soon will be installed in the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church in Somerville.  A full-scale icon, the commissioned work is painted in oil and tempera and covered by a bejeweled silver casing.  It is a holy, consecrated icon, the work of Mt. Athos iconographers, who prayed at every step of its creation. The original is kept in the Church of the Dormition in Karyes, Mt. Athos.

Mayor Curtatone, Ward 2 Alderman Maryann Heuston and Ward 3 Alderman Tom Taylor invite all interested residents and stakeholders to a Union Square Infrastructure kickoff meeting Monday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m. at the Argenziano School (290 Washington St). This meeting will provide an overview of the project, introduce the project team, and discuss the overall process and schedule. The meeting will include a brief presentation by City staff and the PB design team followed by small group exercises. Spanish and Portuguese interpreters will be available.

By Jim Clark

Police were called to the Target store on Somerville Ave. last week on a report of a customer’s bicycle being stolen.

Loss prevention personnel played back surveillance video showing a juvenile arriving at the store on a bicycle and locking it to the bike rack. He is next reportedly observed taking another bicycle from the rack and riding away with it.