– Photo courtesy of the Somerville Fire Department.

Firefighters work to control a fire involving a generator in the parking garage of the Clarendon Hill Apartment complex at 1366-1374 Broadway on January 18.  Fire heavily damaged the generator and nearby electrical wiring and conduits.  Firefighters responded to the fire at 10:47 a.m. and were on scene for approximately one hour.

The season runs through April 13, 2013. Every Saturday, 9:30 a.m to 2 p.m. at the Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave. – Photo by Bobbie Toner

Don’t forget, The Somerville Winter Farmers’ Market has returned to the Armory for the 2012-13 season.

– Photo Courtesy of the Somerville Police Department.

Serious traffic accidents in Somerville were reduced by 23.8% in 2012, Chief Thomas Pasquarello announced today.  “There appears to be a direct correlation between the sharp reduction in serious accidents and an aggressive effort by Somerville Police to step up traffic regulation enforcement in high-accident areas,” Pasquarello said.

Conclusion: Legalize, tax and regulate it
*

Make the most of the Indian hemp seed, and sow it everywhere.
– George Washington

(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.)

Cannabis is probably the most beneficial plant known to humankind. It can feed, clothe, house, transport, and heal us, all in ways that are environmentally sustainable.

By Jim Clark

Police received reports from several female students of Healey School that a man had been making threatening remarks to them on school property.

The Somerville School Committee will hold a Public Hearing to accept public comment on the vacant Ward 1 School Committee seat.  Immediately following the Public Hearing, the School Committee will conduct interviews of the four finalists, noted below.

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.)

Over the past several months, I have been very vocal during speaking engagements throughout the region about the need for a 21st century transportation plan, one that includes multimodal transit options to support a 21st century.  Along with my colleagues in the Metropolitan Mayors Coalition and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, I’ve lobbied state leaders to allocate necessary funding not only to repair and maintain aging infrastructure, but also to extend our current transportation system with additional road, rail, transit, pedestrian and bicycle facilities.

By Jim Clark

Police responded to a reported break-in and assault at a College Ave. residence last Thursday.

The alleged victim told police that as he returned home to his third floor apartment, he heard a commotion and shuffling of feet as he approached from the second floor stairwell.

Flu shots are suddenly the “in thing” here in Somerville and just about everywhere else these days.

City fights to contain spread of flu

By Elizabeth Sheeran

It’s been a great year for sales of ibuprofen, tissues and chicken soup.

The national Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that flu season got off to an earlier-than-usual start this year, and is now widespread across the country. By New Years, the proportion of Massachusetts emergency room patients with flu-like symptoms was three times what it was at the same time the year before. Nearly 9,000 cases of influenza have already been confirmed in the state, and many more may be unreported.

The Board of Aldermen resolved to seek sanctions against Holiday Inn after reviewing complaints by area residents and law enforcement officials regarding disturbing incidents taking place there. – Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Jim Clark

There was no lack of outrage expressed by the Somerville Board of Aldermen during their regular meeting last Thursday evening. The object of their ire was the extent to which the ruckus that took place at the Night Games lounge, located at the Holiday Inn on Washington St., last December disturbed local residents and gave the entire city a proverbial black eye.