Arrests:
*

John Benbow, 54, January 21, 12:24 p.m., arrested at 77 Middlesex Ave. on charges of larceny over $250 and resisting arrest.

Taquana Hardin, 21, of 5 Canal Ln., January 22, 10:11 a.m., arrested at home on a charge of assault and battery.

Author of ‘Legends of the Chelsea Hotel: Living with Artists and Outlaws in New York’s Rebel Mecca’

It was the kind of winter day you may remember from your childhood, before things became so heated. Bone chilling winds whipped my face making my cheeks look like they were reddened from deep embarrassment. On this day I was to meet author Ed Hamilton at the Grey Dog Café in the Chelsea section of Manhattan to talk about the glory days of the famed Chelsea Hotel in New York City. Hamilton, 53, a longtime resident of the hotel, and author of the book Legends of the Chelsea Hotel, had an interesting tale to tell about this bohemian flophouse.

John Roche.

I met John Roche, a professor of English at the Rochester Institute of Technology, at a Modern Language Association meeting he was attending in Boston. We went over to Bukowski’s Pub for a few tall ones and talked poetry. He warned me that there are these strange creatures lurking in the basements of institutions of higher learning. I will stay on the alert!

(L-R, starting with mayor): Mayor Curtatone; Ed Halloran, DPW, SMEA President; Ed DaSilva, Information Technology; Teresa Vicente, Information Technology; Kathy Carey, Veteran’s Services; Michael Bowler, DPW; Jim Roderick, DPW, SMEA Vice President; Donna Amenta, Traffic and Parking; Linda Smith, Traffic and Parking; Kelly Como, ISD; Bill Roche, Acting Director of Personnel; Ann Cassesso, Library; Bob Collins, Law Department.

Agreements Cover Multi-Year Period, Approves Retroactive Wage Increases to 2010

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced today that the membership of three bargaining units, A, B and D comprising the Somerville Municipal Employees Association (SMEA) voted last week to approve new labor contracts extending through 2016.  On January24, 2013, members of the SMEA and Mayor Curtatone approved six separate collective bargaining agreements that cover a six-year term, from 2010 to 2016, and ratified the agreement after a vote of 177 in favor and 11 opposed. The agreement approves a 14 percent wage increase retroactively from 2010 through 2016.

Raising The Nave Porch Roof! : a music fundraiser presented by PorchFest bands Cargo Cult, Litehouse, Dirty Water Brass Band and Dust Clouds of Mars. Thursday, January 31, 8 pm. Suggested donation: $10. PA’s Lounge, 345 Somerville Ave., Somerville. Information: 617-776-1557, www.paslounge.com.

Somerville Police are seeking to identify the suspect depicted in these photos. On January 27, 2013, the suspect entered the Quick Stop Convenience store at 219 Highland Avenue. The suspect showed a long barrel handgun and demanded cash, “including the money in the box under the counter”.  Suspect fled with approximately $1000.00 in cash. This is believed to be the same suspect who committed three armed robberies in Medford on  January 24. The suspect appears to be wearing the same black knit cap with grey stripe in all robberies.  Suspect should be considered armed and dangerous.

Any information, please contact Somerville Police at 617 625-1212

Click here to see video of the robbery.

Earlier today the Massachusetts Department of Revenue seized the Diva Indian Bistro in Davis Square for non-payment of taxes. The issue has been resolved and the restaurant is open for business.

The Tufts Neighborhood Service Fund (TNSF) committee recently awarded grants to twelve organizations in Somerville. TNSF collects donations from university employees throughout the year and then awards grants to community-based, charitable organizations that serve Tufts’ host communities (Somerville, Medford, Grafton and Boston’s Chinatown) and that actively engage Tufts volunteers in their work.

Somerville Police are seeking to identify the subject depicted above. On January 28, 2013, shortly before 11 a.m., the above subject entered the Citizens Bank at 338 Broadway. The subject passed a note demanding cash. He received an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the bank in an unknown direction. It is believed that he entered a vehicle, but no vehicle description is available. Suspect described as a white male, thin build, late 20s or early 30s in age.
Any information, please contact Somerville Police at 617 625-1212.

By Harry Kane

A new woodland open space has opened outside of Union Square: Quincy Street Park. It is located between Somerville Avenue and Summer Street.