Somerville braces for sequester impact
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The recent federal spending cuts mean that 12 Somerville families will be cut from the Early Head Start program. – Photo courtesy Riverside Early Head Start

By Elizabeth Sheeran

The long-dreaded sequester is here, as Congressional deadlock triggered broad federal spending cuts beginning last Friday, March 1. It’s obviously not a good time to be counting on a steady paycheck from the federal government. But what does all this mean for Somerville?

Please join the Somerville Chamber of Commerce’s next Business After Hours at Olde Magoun’s Saloon, 518 Medford Street, 5–7:00 p.m., Thursday, March 7. Free appetizers and excellent networking. Bring your business cards for the drawing. Members and their guests welcome. RSVP with name(s) and affiliation(s) of you and your guests to smackey@somervillechamber.org, or write to Stephen V. Mackey, President/CEO Somerville Chamber of Commerce, 2 Alpine Street, P.O. Box 440343, Somerville, MA 02144, or phone 617-776-4100. www.somervillechamber.org.

The City of Somerville has partnered with Duncan Solutions to conduct its second pilot of a single-space meter that accept credit cards.

Breaking up is hard to do, and we may soon be saying goodbye to a familiar old friend, the polystyrene food container.

By Cathleen Twardzik

As you finish your scrumptious restaurant meal and ask for a box in which to transport your leftovers, your experience may be forever changed in Somerville because polystyrene containers (Styrofoam) may be replaced in the city.  For that matter, your morning coffee may soon be packaged differently, certainly not in a polystyrene cup.

Senior star captain Indira Evora was named Tournament MVP in SHS’s victory over Woburn, and is a favorite to take overall MVP honors for the second year in a row.

By Mike Stoller

As tri-champions of the Greater Boston League, the Somerville girls basketball team can declare its season a huge success.

Among the winners from the Kennedy School were Kaleign Conte (L) and Emily O’Regan (R) who won 1st Place Jr. Division, Group Performance, and Marissa Toner (Middle) who won 2nd Place Jr. Division, Individual Performance, in the History Day Regionals. They will join other winners from the Kennedy School and compete in the State Contest, April 7. – Photo by Melanie O’Regan.

Kennedy School students participated in the Regional History Day Saturday, March 2 at Winchester High School, the winners will go on to the State Contest which will take place, Saturday, April 6, 2013 at Stoneham High. The 2012-2013 theme is Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, Events.

Each year, more than half a million students, encouraged by thousands of teachers nationwide, participate in the NHD contest.

Students choose historical topics related to a theme and conduct extensive primary and secondary research through libraries, archives, museums, oral history interviews and historic sites.

Eagle Feathers #21 – Charlie

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

No, not Charlie on the MBTA. No, not Prince Charles, namesake of the Charles River.  No, not King Charles, namesake of Charlestown.  I’m speaking of another king, the king of the Revlon cosmetics empire.

We thought the question should be asked, and we got the answer loud and clear. By a wide margin, Davis Square was voted the most popular city square for shopping and dining by our readers in a recent poll.

Arrests:
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Jose Guiterrez, 34, of 103 Cross St., February 26, 4:35 p.m., arrested at 97 Gilman St. on charges of attempt to commit a crime and possession of a burglarious instrument.

Jonathan Scull, 26, of 50 Newbern Ave., Medford, February 26, 6:23 p.m., arrested at 523 Broadway on charges of shoplifting by concealing merchandise, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and resisting arrest.