– Photo courtesy of Somerville Fire Department.

Somerville firefighters responded to a smoky but small fire inside a vacant building located at 94 Prospect Street on November 13, 2013. Careless use of a cutting torch being used to cut a large steel beam ignited combustible debris inside a large construction dumpster located inside the sprawling warehouse.

A Somerville man pleaded guilty to assault charges for his role in a 2011 attack against a jogger in Medford, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan informed the public today.

Niall Vallega, 20, of Somerville, pleaded guilty in Middlesex Superior Court to charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (two counts), and assault and battery.  Middlesex Superior Court Judge Kathe Tuttman sentenced the defendant to 2 ½ years in the house of correction on the charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, 2 ½ years in the house of correction from and after on one count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and five years probation on the remaining charges.

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)

Fifty-three missing in action veterans have finally been brought home so far this year. That’s according to the Department of Defense’s Prisoner of War and Missing Personnel Office, which lists the 53 veterans on its “Recently Accounted-For” page.

El Sistema Somerville announces the support of the Target Corporation in the foundation of an Artist-in-Residency Program to take place beginning in January 2014. Through the grant, El Sistema Somerville will accept applications and hire a String Quartet in Residence.

(L to R) Firefighters Local 76 President Tom Ross, Firefighter Christine Guelpa and Chief Kevin Kelleher.
– Photo courtesy of Somerville Fire Department

Somerville firefighter Christine Guelpa was presented the Thomas Chetham Firefighter of the Year Award by American Legion Post 19 during ceremonies held on November 9, 2013. Firefighter Guelpa received the award for her lifesaving actions at a medical emergency in which she stemmed a patient’s severe bleeding. The victim later notified the department of Firefighter Guelpa’s actions and credited her with saving his life.

By Jim Clark

Karen Rand lost part of her leg during the horrendous Boston Marathon bombing in April of this year. Since then she has moved in with her boyfriend, Kevin McWatters, brother of Ward Three Alderman-elect Bob McWatters, at a Summer St. residence in Somerville.

Congratulations over in Medford to Adam Knight who worked very hard this year running for the open council seat in Medford. Adam used to work for Sen. Shannon’s office. His father, Gerry Knight, was a coach at the high school. We know Adam will add to the council over there in Medford in a positive way. We wish him luck. Medford residents got this one right.

By Blake Maddux

Cyril Jordan & Chris Wilson. – Photo by PSquared Photography

Chris Wilson was born in Waltham in 1952. He briefly lived in Somerville in the late 1960s before heading out to Los Angeles in January 1971. Although the musical opportunity that he had followed to the City of Angels did not work out as he had hoped, he was invited to join a band up the coast in San Francisco called Loose Gravel. When that group struggled despite its efforts, Wilson figured that he would head back home to Boston. Before he could depart, however, he was offered the recently vacated spot in The Flamin’ Groovies, a Bay Area outfit with whom Loose Gravel had toured.

(Updated 11.13.13)

Somerville High beat Silver Lake by a score of 2-1 to advance to the State Finals. SHS will play West Springfield High for the State Division 1 Championship this Friday, 7:30 at Worcester State University.

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A 3-0 win over Malden Thursday night helped to bring the Somerville High School Varsity Soccer Team closer to a second consecutive Division title.

Then the Highlanders beat St. John’s Prep by a score of 4-1 to capture the Championship on Saturday, November 9, at 2 p.m. in the MIAA Boys Soccer North Division 1 title game at Manning Field in Lynn.

By Jim Clark

Police responded to a witness report of a car being set afire last week on Bow St.

Upon arrival, officers noted two vehicles burning, a Saturn and a Volvo, both parked on the street.