The Somerville Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE) announced their support  for a recently renovated two-family house as a model of Net-Zero Energy building for the city. “Net Zero Energy building” is a new construction practice where buildings are designed to produce as much energy as they consume, and this renovated home, owned by Chungha Cha of Susterra Partners in Korea and located at 13 Elmwood St. is the first Net-Zero home in the city. It is also the first building in Somerville to attain a Tier 3 rating from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program and conforms to EPA Federal Indoor airPLUS certification for indoor air quality through its ventilation and insulation building technique. OSE encourages others constructing residential units in the city to learn from the environmentally conscious techniques used in this revolutionary design for this home.

On the Silly Side by Jimmy Del Ponte

(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.)

Remember sitting around the TV with your brothers and sisters or maybe your cousins watching Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol? I sure do. Five years ago I purchased it on DVD so I can watch it whenever I want to. It’s my favorite Christmas special of all time. It came out in 1962 when I was nine. Among the actors are David Cassidy’s father Jack, doing the voice of Bob Cratchit, while the lovable Jim Backus portrayed Mr. Magoo.  That was the first of the classic group of Christmas cartoons that were released. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and A Charlie Brown Christmas came out in 1964 and 1965 respectively, with Frosty The Snowman debuting in 1969.

By William Tauro

Dozens of Somerville, Cambridge, Medford and Boston Chinatown Lions Club members united and filled the main banquet room at the Mount Vernon Restaurant in Somerville Tuesday evening for the Somerville Lions Club Annual Christmas Party.

The Kiwanis Club of Somerville recently hosted its Annual Head Start Children’s Holiday Party at The City Club. Sixty-one children from the Somerville Head Start pre-school program attended along with their parents, teachers and administrators. Somerville Kiwanians sponsored the children by purchasing Christmas gifts for each. Pizza was supplied by Mama Gina’s of Union Square. The hall was donated by The City Club.

William Roche (L)resigned on December 13, 2012 after 17 years as Alderman for Somerville’s Ward 1. At his suggestion, the Board of Alderman has unanimously named Maureen Bastardi (R)to succeed Roche.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced today that recently retired Ward One Alderman William Roche has agreed to use his extensive background as a human resources professional to assist the city in the role of interim, part-time Personnel Director.

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.)

For Somerville, it’s been another very big week in the news. On Tuesday, Governor Deval Patrick and MassDOT Secretary Richard Davey came to town to mark the start of construction on the Green Line Extension from North Point in Cambridge to Route 16 in Medford.

The Milling Gowns’ Something “Dangerous That Loves Me” EP release party was held at Radio Bar last Friday night.

By Nick Moorhead

Last Friday night the CD release party for The Milling Gowns’ Something Dangerous That Loves Me EP was held at Radio, a young bar renowned for drawing in creatives of all disciplines and like-minded friendly people.

The city’s 20-year Comprehensive Plan, SomerVision, is set to be honored by the American Planning Association’s Massachusetts Chapter on December 14 as part of its Annual Awards Program, honoring innovative planning efforts across the Commonwealth. Somerville is one of thirteen communities to be honored in 2012, and will receive the Comprehensive Planning Award for a municipality with a population of over 50,000.  The Comprehensive Planning Award honors a plan, program, or process of unusually high merit. Somerville will share the distinction with the Westford Strategic Planning Retreats, given to the Town of Westford, MA for the community with a population of under 50,000. Awards will be presented during an Annual Holiday Awards Luncheon on December 14.

A series of school music concerts this week and next will feature Somerville student musicians, like this brass section at the Argenziano School.

Winter concerts December 13 through 21
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By Elizabeth Sheeran

If the sound of cash registers and mall traffic is beginning to wear thin, Somerville school kids are ready with the musical antidote. Thousands of public school students will perform in nearly a dozen free winter concerts in the coming days.