Be careful what you bite into. That synthetic clamshell could be toxic.

By Izak Shapiro

On April 22, 2013, in the Aldermanic Chambers room of the Somerville City Hall, The Board of Aldermen held a public hearing on the movement to ban the use of polystyrene – or Styrofoam – by Somerville restaurants and food and drink take-out venues such as Dunkin Donuts. Previously in the State of Massachusetts, the cities of Amherst and Brookline banned such use of polystyrene due to the consequences of the material on both the human body and on the environment as a whole.

MIT patrol officer Sean Collier, a Somerville resident, gave his life in the line of duty, shot by the bombing suspects as they fled from justice.

By Harry Kane

Last week’s marathon bombing in Boston on Patriots’ Day left three dead and scores of sidelined spectators wounded. What proceeded next was a manhunt for the two suspects caught on video surveillance – a 26 year old wearing a black hat and a 19 year old wearing a white hat – both carrying backpacks, allegedly with pressure-cooker homemade bombs.

The Democratic candidates for the primary election for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by former Sen. John Kerry were asked to provide a 500 word or less statement for voters.

The Republican candidates for the primary election for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by former Sen. John Kerry were asked to provide a 500 word or less statement for voters.

By Pamela Cyran

In Stephanie Santiago’s spoken words titled “Heavy Hands,” she tells a story of fear and triumph. Santiago witnessed her mother getting abused by her father, until one night, her mother pushed back. “Her eyes say it all, enough is enough,” said Santiago. – Pamela Cyran

She witnessed her mother get hit by her father for the first time. It is a memory she will never forget.“My eyes saw a hand, my heart felt a thump,” Stephanie Santiago of Somerville said in a poetic recitation at Late Night with Teen Empowerment, Somerville’s 7th annual peace conference.

The 18-year-old youth shared the story of when she was younger, and was paralyzed with fear over the domestic violence occurring in her home.

“My eyes water, but my body does still not move,” said Santiago. “Is this what love turns into after so many years?”

Mayor Joe Curtatone wants everyone to know that his kickoff party which was scheduled for tonight, Wednesday the 24th, has been cancelled until later in May on the 22nd at the Armory. He’s doing this because it’s so close to the recent events in Boston and he feels this week simply isn’t the time for a political event.

We encourage all eligible voters here in Somerville to vote this coming Tuesday, April 30 for Stephen Lynch for U.S. Senator.

As we watched the televised democratic senatorial debate Monday night on WBZ we were hoping we would get a spark of life out of someone in this boring a campaign, and in our opinion we thankfully did.

Goran Smiljic Accepts Position of Head of ISD as of April 29

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced today the hiring of the city’s newest Director of Inspectional Services, Mr. Goran Smiljic, who will assume the position as of April 29, 2013, taking over for outgoing Superintendent, Ed Nuzzo.  Smiljic, the Deputy City Engineer for the City of Utica, New York, had also served as Commissioner of the Codes Department, and Building and Housing Inspector in the same city.  He is a certified inspector in the state of New York.

Away with words – Plumerai hits the road in support of their album “Mondegreen.”

By Nick Moorhead

Plumerai is a long-running, Somerville-based band that has been gaining an increasing amount of attention following the release of their new LP, Mondegreen.

By Mike Stoller

The Greater Boston League freshman/sophomore track and field meet gave the younger talent a chance to shine, and did it ever for the Somerville High squad.