Singer-Songwriter Syd Straw has worked with the best, and brings her personal best to Johnny D’s this coming Sunday.

By Blake Maddux

In the words of singer-songwriter Syd Straw, “I get around, but I’m certainly not a household commodity.”

Perhaps not, but the list of musicians with whom she has collaborated include some of the best representatives of almost every category of popular music.

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.)

Standard practice in an ethanol fire is to let it burn out – and hope for the best – because few have the resources to fight this highly flammable fuel. Now a company wants to use train tracks overwhelmingly used for daily MBTA commuters to instead carry ethanol through Somerville, within striking distance of our schools, homes, assisted living facilities and more. But we too are an area without the resources to battle an ethanol-fueled blaze, and as the most densely populated city in New England, we cannot risk the consequences of letting the fire burn out.

East Somerville residents have been spotting more rats than ever lately. Bigger ones, too.

By Harry Kane

“There were three giant rats just playing. I mean, they’re nocturnal animals, so for them just be out during the daylight is a big deal,” said Toni Brogna, a resident of Mt. Vernon Street in East Somerville.

The School Committee voted closely in its decision to continue the second redirect teacher position at the East Somerville Community School. – Photo by Harry Kane

By Harry Kane

A request to preserve the position of a second redirect teacher at the East Somerville Community School was put forward by Ward 1 School Committee Member Steve Roix, because of residents’ concerns about the fragility of going into a transition year. After much debate, a 5-3 vote favored the continuation of a second redirect position.

By Douglas Yu

Somerville by Design took its act to East Somerville, engaging in a dialog between city planners and residents.
– Photo by Douglas Yu

When it comes to redeveloping and improving the community’s culture and vibrancy, but also preserving its unique characteristics, East Somerville’s residents and local businessmen were very enthusiastic about sharing their ideas.

Somerville by Design came to East Somerville last week. The initiative has a cutting-edge approach to community planning that crowd-source residents to solve challenging physical planning and urban design issues.

– Photos by Stephen Sahlas and Karen Toner
After being postponed due to rain, the Somerville High School class of 2013 Graduated Tuesday night at Dilboy Stadium.

Business After Hours on Somerville Waterfront Winter Hill Yacht Club, 85 Foley Street, Assembly Square, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, June 6, 2013.  The After Hours will happen rain or shine. Weather permitting, you will be able to stroll along the pier and check out Somerville’s sea-going vessels (recommend sensible shoes). Sponsored by ABG Commercial Advisors. Live jazz trio sponsored by ABG Commercial Advisors and Boston News Group/The Somerville News. Free appetizers, excellent networking. Bring your business cards for drawing. Members and their guests welcome. Treat your colleagues and clients. Directions: from Assembly Square’s Middlesex Avenue take Foley Street (starts next to Kmart) all the way to the waterfront. RSVP with name(s) and affiliation(s) of you and your guest(s) to smackey@somervillechamber.org.

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This Thursday night at the Dante Club on Craigie Street, Caroline Shea-Rosas who is a candidate for Ward Five School Committee is having her campaign kickoff/fundraiser from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., come meet Caroline and her family, all are welcome. Caroline has been working hard and has a campaign manager you have as well, Diane Mathews, together they are very involved in the Kennedy School PTA. To learn more about Caroline go to her web site at carolineshearosas.blogspot.com 

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Happy Birthdays this week to both Villens here in the Ville as well as outside the border! First of all, to one of the city’s great families, we salute Michael Albano, who grew up here. His father was our senator and Mike is a very successful real estate broker with Weichert, REALTORS® – Metropolitan Boston Real Estate over in Back Bay. Former Villen Brian Peddle, who grew up here in East Somerville. Friends of The News, and sort of a newbie here to the Ville, Brendan Mansfield out of Davis Square. Associated with Harvard University Property Management, he’s a new guy and one that loves living here in the Ville. Our good friend City Councilor of Medford Paul Camuso, who is a great guy and big fan of The News. Happy Birthday to Nancy Wollenburg-Kreimeyer, just back not to long ago from sunny FLA to sunny MA.

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Congratulations to our good friend Jerry (JR) Roach over in Cambridge. He just received the distinguished Joseph Warren Medal for his service and dedication to Masonry both here in Somerville as well as Cambridge and, of course, in Massachusetts. He’s a great guy.

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Congrats to our good friend Rob Dubois, who got married to Barbara Hinkle. We wish them both a long and happy union. If you see Rob over at MGH say “Hi” and congratulations to him.

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Glad to hear that Sophia Carafotes’ mother is home now after a long stay in the hospital.

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Big time congratulations to Ida Azzolino who will be big 101 this coming September. She fell and broke her hip this past February and is now home and walking. We wish her continued good health. Ida is a lifelong resident here in the Ville and we are trying to find out what her secret is. Do you think it might be the good old Somerville water?

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This Saturday, June 8, The Somerville Democratic City Committee is pleased to announce that former Governor Mike Dukakis will be joining our City Meeting and canvassing in Ward 4 for Ed Markey for Senator. Starting time 10 a.m. and runs to 2:30 p.m. At the VNA headquarters on Lowell Street. All are welcome to come and help out with the canvassing afterwards.

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Candidate for Ward Three Alderman, Robert “Rob” McWaters, is having his first fundraiser/campaign kickoff on Monday, June 24, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Precinct in Union Square. We hear a lot of his family will be present too. He is a great guy and has done more for the city than most. He’s one of 4 candidates in Ward 3 that knows what’s going on here in the city. We sure hope the place is jumping.

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Not that we want to give any credence to the wanabee political pundit of Somerville Joe Lynch, but we can’t resist responding in part to his “Open letter” to the Farm Team (notice we didn’t get it). Then we hear he read the letter on his local cable access show, which is we hear seen by 10’s of people here in the city. In kicking the crap out of The News, he failed to mention that The Somerville News endorsed him for Alderman in Ward Five in the year he mentioned we were so bad in posting comments. Neither did he further mention that the person who posted those comments was banned from posting from that day on. Poor Joe, he forgets too easily the entire picture that year. The News stuck by him even when he lost by over 500 votes. The only time he chose to run for public office. Guess that means in his mind he’s a political pundit.

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Commissioner of Public Works, Stan Koty, is back to work after a short illness. He was supposed to stay home and rest a few more days, but Stan would go nuts doing that and besides, his phone battery would have to be constantly charging.

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We hear Julie Brady is back and going to be working very hard for Rob McWaters. She’s going to be Rob’s campaign manager. Julie is a fantastic political ground person. Two years ago she ran Bob Trane’s campaign.

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“Backyard Havens of the Somerville Garden Club: A Self-Guided Tour” showcases the unique gardens of Somerville Garden club members, and celebrates the many kinds of gardeners who create backyard (and front yard!) havens for their own pleasure and the enjoyment of friends and neighbors. The gardeners themselves will be welcoming visitors to their yards on tour day, so this is an opportunity to learn about plants, design, and horticulture from this array of passionate SGC members. The tour is Sunday, June 9, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $15 for a map and guide to 20 gardens to visit at your own pace. (Tour is on rain or shine-gardeners are intrepid!) Proceeds support the educational programs and public plantings of the Somerville Garden Club. Visit www.somervillegardenclub.org for advance ticket sale locations. Day of event ticket sales, Sunday, June 9, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Davis Square Statue Park, opposite the MBTA. Come for fun, leave with inspiration!

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Performance dates are still available for the 2013 Somerville Sunsetters. Led by Somerville Youth Arts Coordinator, Jimmy Del Ponte, the Sunsetters are a traveling youth music troupe, performing popular show tunes and contemporary pop music hits on city streets throughout July and August at sunset. Residents may request performances in their neighborhoods by calling the Mayor’s Office, 617-625-6600 ext 2100. Call today and reserve your date. Openings available July and August Monday though Thursday. Shows start at 7 p.m.

By Mike Stoller

The Somerville High girls track team finished a solid season at the Division 1 State Meet held at Andover High last week.

“Our young team competed well,” Highlanders head coach Charlie O’Rourke said. “We did not have any girls score or qualify for the state finals, but this team has made a lot of progress and they are all champions in my mind.”

Rep. Michael Capuano (D-MA) filed the “Officer Sean Collier Campus Police Recognition Act of 2013” in memory of MIT Police Officer Sean Collier, who was murdered on the evening of April 18, by those allegedly responsible for the tragic bombings at the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

Gov. Deval Patrick signed into law a bill posthumously appointing MIT police officer Sean Collier a Somerville police officer. Collier, 26, was allegedly murdered by the marathon bombing suspects on April 18, three days after the bombing. He was scheduled to become a Somerville police officer on June 3. Supporters said this brave man deserves this honor for his public service. They noted that this will also provide his family with a badge and badge number that will be retired in his memory.

– Bob Katzen