Steven Roix was sworn in Tuesday as the new School Committee member representing Ward 1.
– Photo by Alderman Maureen Cuff-Bastardi

By Jim Clark and Donald Norton

The City of Somerville School Committee has a new member representing Ward 1 as of Tuesday afternoon of this week.

The new member, however, is not Benjamin Echevarria, who was selected by the sitting Committee members after a lengthy review process ran its course. Instead, runner up Steven Roix – former Committee member Maureen Cuff-Bastardi’s original recommendation for her replacement – was sworn in to the position at City Hall on Tuesday.

Left to right: Mayor Joseph Curtatone, David Pignone and Sal Querusio work to open a time capsule removed from the cornerstone of the former Saint Polycarp School. Looking on are Ursula Salerno, Meridith Levy and Camille Long. – Photo by Elizabeth Sheeran

Somerville opens St. Polycarp time capsule
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By Elizabeth Sheeran

Camille Amato Long remembers the day in third grade when all the students lined up to sign their names. It was 1951. Harry Truman was in the White House. Ted Williams was playing for the Red Sox. And at Saint Polycarp Catholic School in Somerville, Long and her fellow classmates were committing their names to posterity, in a time capsule placed in the cornerstone of the newly opened school.

The Mass DOT is having an informational meeting for the residents and abutters of the proposed Green line MBTA extension along Ball Square up to Tufts, The meeting is this coming Monday night, March 4 at 7 p.m., to be held in the St. Clements School cafeteria, 579 Boston Avenue, Medford.

On February 19 the Historic Preservation Commission held a meeting, and 197 Washington St. was determined to be “preferably preserved.”

By Cathleen Twardzik

On February 19, the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) held a meeting to discuss and determine the fate of the building now standing at 197 Washington St.

Arrests:
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Mibrahtu Sisay, 27, of 265 Columbia St., Cambridge, February 18, 10:54 a.m., arrested at Central St. on warrant charges of distribution of a class D drug, conspiracy to violate drug law, drug possession to distribute, and drug violation near a school or park.

Elen Frith, 64, of 163 Summer St., February 19, 6:37 p.m., arrested at home on warrant charges of destruction of property under $250, misdemeanor breaking and entering, and assault.

It does the heart good to know that we live in a community that cares, as well as one that knows how to put that sentiment into action.

It’s more than a mere P.R. gimmick, this relief effort the city has undertaken, intent on helping the hurt and homeless victims of Hurricane Sandy. We ourselves felt a bit of the bite that the super-storm took out of the northeast, and we can easily imagine how much harder it must be for those who bore the brunt it.

By Mike Stoller

It has hardly been a smooth ride for the Somerville boys’ basketball team, but the Highlanders are heading into the Division 1 North Sectional tourney as the No. 11 seed against No. 6 host Lynn English when the postseason gets underway tonight.

By William Tauro

Lotus Express Cuisine, a new Asian restaurant, opened its doors this past week where the old Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) once occupied the building for decades at 167 Broadway in Somerville. The building has been vacant for a couple of years, but since Lotus purchased the building last year it has been completely renovated and is now open for business. Lotus Express is one of a handful of new business that have been opening up in Somerville hoping to hit the ground running once the recession subsides.

Well, one of my colleagues at Endicott College, Linda Emma has contributed a poem to this issue of the LYRICAL. Linda is an author, educator and freelance writer for newspapers, magazines, online sites and private clients. Her first novel, Prime Meridian, was published in 2009 and she recently published an EBook version of her noted blog – Kidssuck.net. “Sailor’s Flight” is the story of addiction as seen through the eyes of a little sister watching as her brother succumbs to its peril.