Manson Solomon fishing in Nova Scotia.

Early on Manson Solomon had a bad case of wanderlust–that brought him to many countries, advanced degrees, and a successful business. He is the rare bird that combines business acumen with artistic talent. Solomon wrote the News:

 Poet Charles S. Fradin briefly visited Somerville in the in the late fall of 2012.  He spent a summer at Yaddo in Saratoga Springs as a young man.  He decided to share a poem with us.

By Jim Clark

It was announced on Tuesday that Federal Realty has signed a purchase and sale agreement for the 12 acres of land being sold by IKEA in the Assembly Square district of Somerville.

By Jim Clark

While patrolling the Davis Square area last Wednesday, police officers took note of a man they recognized as having outstanding warrants entering the Tedeschi Food Store on College Ave.

– Photos by Kristen Hale

The City’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony took  place Thursday, December 6 on the City Hall Concourse.  The event  also included a ceremonial lighting of a Hanukkah Menorah, which will remain on the concourse throughout the season.

Mr. Thomas Bierbaum, CEO & President, Volunteers of America Massachusetts,Congressman Michael Capuano,Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, City of Somerville, Ms. Lisette Smith, Chairperson, Volunteers of America Massachusetts.

Volunteers of America Massachusetts (VOAMA) joined together with Somerville officials and their honored guests to officially break ground on the Massachusetts Bay Veterans Center (MBVC), a 29-bed housing facility to increase the availability of affordable alcohol- and drug-free housing in the Metro Boston region for veterans in need, Friday.

An awesome reunion of the old friends Kiss 108 radio crew of the 80’s was spotted at the Kowloon Restaurant located on Rt. 1 in Saugus. Radio celebrities such as Somerville’s own Jimmy Del Ponte, Ed McMann, Lisa Lipps, Lisa Peterson, Jeff Berlin, Sue O’Connell and Tad Bonvie were all at the gathering reminiscing about the good old days at Kiss 108 Radio. They all worked together for the popular Boston radio station located in Medford.

On Wednesday, December 19, the City of Somerville will be holding a public information meeting to discuss the conclusion of remediation work at the Conway Park/15A Bleachery Court site with a release tracking number of 3-11753.  The meeting will focus on the work described in Release Abatement Measure (RAM) Completion Statement dated July 26, 2012.  The city will update the community on the activities related to managing any contaminated soils at the site which occurred during the construction of the new skating rink. The public will also have an opportunity to provide comments.

Silver Linings Playbook takes a deeper look into life and love. – Photo courtesy of Jojo Whilden/Weinstein Company

Review by Maria A. Cortes

A new, highly anticipated movie Silver Linings Playbook by David O. Russell stars Jennifer Lawrence as a young widow and Bradley Cooper as her love interest who is suffering from bipolar disorder. Scheduled to be released at the Somerville Theatre on November 21, the movie never made it to the big screen in Somerville, since the film studio The Weinstein Company withdrew the movie release plans. A touching love and life story from the Silver Linings Playbook will hopefully be shown to the Somerville audience in the near future.

 
The communities of Somerville, Massachusetts, Somerville, New Jersey, and Summerville, South Carolina are joining forces this month to support victims of Hurricane Sandy along the Jersey Shore, in an effort coordinated by Somerville, NJ Mayor Brian Gallagher.  With supplies from around the nation already reaching the Shore over the past several weeks, efforts are being redoubled by the Somer/Summervilles in advance of the holiday season, and to address changing needs as residents begin to clean up and reoccupy homes.