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)

For the letter of the Law kills, but the Spirit gives life.
—II Corinthians 3:6

 The fundamentalists of the religious right declare that every letter of their respective holy texts is literally true, inerrant, and must be obeyed. But the texts themselves say that it’s the Spirit that should be obeyed, not the letter.

School Committee member from Ward 5 Mark Niedergang.

By Harry Kane

During the School Committee meeting on Monday the most significant topic of conversation concerned the number of new teachers in the Somerville school system, according to Ward 5 School Committee member Mark Niedergang. The total number of new teachers is 53.

By Jim Clark

Police were summoned to a Beacon St. location last Thursday night on a report of an indecent exposure incident.

Officers were met by the reporting parties, a male and female, and were told that a man who was standing on the steps of a Beacon St. residence had been exposing his genitals in public.

By Joseph A. Curtatone

(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)

Change is inevitable. It’s also necessary. Faced with the greatest demographic shift since the 1950s, when people fled cities for the suburbs, Somerville is in a unique position to benefit from today’s demand for walkable, transit-oriented urban neighborhoods. At the same time, we want to preserve what we already love about Somerville—the diversity, character and culture that sets our city apart. That juxtaposition between transformation and preservation lies at the heart of every debate about new development in the city, but in fact they are not in conflict at all. Because planning for the evolution of our city and preserving what we love now about it are both, at the most fundamental level, about where and how people want to live, and they both share the same core value: building community.

Somerville Police Detectives, with the assistance of the NEMLEC (North Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council) Swat Team, arrested Alex Gomes at his home located at 298 McGrath Highway in Somerville early this morning.

The candidates for the primary election on September 24 for School Committee for Ward 5 were each asked four questions and invited to describe themselves and their vision for how best to serve their ward as School Committee members. Their responses are presented here in alphabetical order, based on their last names.

A special presentation was made to the family of Sean Collier after the Board of Alderman voted unanimously to appoint the fallen officer a member of the SPD.

By Jim Clark

In an emotionally charged ceremony in the City of Somerville aldermanic chambers last Thursday, slain MIT police officer and aspiring Somerville Police Department officer Sean Collier was posthumously awarded his badge and officially welcomed into the ranks of Somerville’s finest.

Labor Day Weekend is soon upon us and it looks to be excellent weather-wise for everyone ending their summer vacation. We wish everyone a safe trip back here to the Ville. Roads will be heavy with traffic leaving the Cape and NH. Happy Labor Day weekend to everyone.

The top floor of the four-story residence at 34 Highland Ave. sustained significant damage from a fire that broke out on Tuesday afternoon. – Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Harry Kane

A top floor, two-alarm fire took residents by surprise at a four-story building at 34 Highland Ave. and shut down a main thoroughfare on Tuesday, adding to the rash of fires that have wreaked havoc on the city this summer.

– Photo by Richard Chase

Alderman at Large John Connolly is seen here running in the Memphis Blues and Barbeque 5K Run this past weekend in Davis Sq. It was a benefit fundraising race for Multiple Sclerosis research sponsored by Tommy McCarthy, owner of the Burren (pictured below with Connolly) and Paul Collyer and his B.A. Event Promotions. Over 850 people ran and finished the traditional 5k course. $5K was raised and a check presented to the regional Multiple Sclerosis Association at the post race event.