Firefighter Tom Ross works to extinguish flames spreading in a rear wall of 68-70 Holland Street on April 16. – Photo by Somerville Fire Department.

On April 16 at  11:08 a.m. the Somerville Fire Department responded to fire in a three unit dwelling fire at 68-70 Holland Street. Firefighters discovered a fire burning in a first floor rear stairway ceiling which had burnt through a rear wall to a second floor porch. Flames also spread through ceiling and wall spaces to the upper floors in the rear of the building. Firefighters had to open up numerous walls and ceilings to extinguish the fire. Damage is estimated in excess of $100,000 and displaced occupants of all three apartments. One firefighter was treated for a facial laceration at the scene.  Firefighters cleared the scene at 1:06 p.m.

The cause of the fire has been determined to have been of electrical origin in the first floor rear stairway ceiling.

(from the Somerville Police Website)
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Somerville Police are monitoring the tragic events that occurred today near the end of the Boston Marathon. We are in touch with Boston Police and the Boston Regional Intelligence Center as well as other state and Federal agencies. We will render any assistance to our neighbors as needed. The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency has requested people in the Boston area to limit cell phone use for now to allow emergency responders to use these cell phone lines. Please try to communicate non urgent communications via text or email. If you were at the Marathon today and have any photos or video near the finish line, please contact Somerville Police or Boston Police.

Boston PD tip line: 1-800-494-8477.

Somerville PD: 617-625-1600

238th anniversary of historic event to include colonial games, refreshments, visit by Paul Revere on horseback

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 1 Alderman Maureen Bastardi, and the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission invite all residents and community members to the city’s 238^th annual Patriot’s Day celebration, to be held at Foss Park on Monday, April 15 from 10:00–11:30 a.m.  Co-sponsored by the Preservation Commission, Historic Somerville, the SomervilleMuseum, and East Somerville Main Streets, the day’s events will include Colonial games and songs, light refreshments, youth readings, and a visit from Paul Revere on horseback on his historic ride from Boston to Lexington through Somerville.

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.)

I was 16 in 1969 when I got a job at Woolworths in Davis Square. I was hired as a stock boy but graduated to the luncheonette counter. WT Grant and FW Woolworth were 5 and 10 cent stores, or “five and dimes” in the square. Those are the two, along with Savel’s in Ball Square, that I grew up with.

Elephant is holding an album release show at Precinct on April 16. – Photo by Joe Renken

By Sanjeev Selvarajah

The band Elephants is having an album release show at Somerville’s Precinct on April 16 at 8 p.m. This fantastic four is made up of Lauren Garant on guitar and vocals, Ryan Young also on guitar, Meagan Day on bass, and Mike Cashin on drums. Under the disguise of an alternative band their medleys are delightfully new wave with a post-punk banner.

By Mimi Graney

(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.)

While Somerville never achieved the scale of industrial development that cities like Lowell, Lawrence and Waltham did, for a century and a half, its economic base was manufacturing.  In the nineteenth century, Somerville boasted major employers in meat packing, glass production, and brickmaking. In the twentieth century, printing and food production grew in prominence, two clusters that continue on a more modest scale today.  These manufacturers provided living wages for workers at a variety of skills levels, helping to establish Somerville as a community of diverse classes and enabling many people to live and work in the city.

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.)

With winter and snow seemingly behind us at last (if you’re superstitious, go ahead and knock on wood) we turn our attention to the spring and all that it entails: warmer weather; the reintroduction of Hubway stations throughout the city; green grass and flowering plants; and of course, the return of our ever-expanding annual events, beginning with the Citywide Spring Cleanup on Saturday, April 27. All over the city, residents are going to be raking up debris, rooting out weeds, disposing of waste, and preparing our open spaces for the arrival of spring, all in the spirit of civic pride.

Anti-bullying initiatives are taking hold as greater awareness of the issue is gained by parents, teachers, and bystanders who witness bullying incidents.

By Harry Kane

Research shows that most students have been bullied or witnessed bullying at some time during their school years. This form of youth violence is more than simple intimidation; attacks often occur repeatedly between the same students with the intent to cause harm. While physical abuse and name-calling are common forms of bullying, electronic aggression is on the rise.