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.

Tonight, Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Arts for the Armory, the Somerville Climate Action and Rep. Denise Provost present a movie night with several short videos hosted by scientist and SCA member Jim Laurie on the power of natural systems and scientists, ranchers, and farmers that are restoring biodiversity and reversing current climate changing trends.

The currently proposed sale of two substantially valuable properties by the city seems be a good step forward in stimulating the local economy and improving how these parcels are being used.

Current Executive Director of Communications and Cable for the City of Somerville, Tom Champion, will be stepping down from his post, effective February 28, 2013.

By Cathleen Twardzik

Tom Champion, Executive Director of Communications and Cable for the City of Somerville, will be resigning. That will become effective on February 28, 2013.

Champion has been in the role of Executive Director of Communications and Cable from December 2005 to January of 2010, and upon Mayor Curtatone’s request, he assumed that role again in November 2011.

By Mike Stoller

So far it’s been a graceful two steps forward and none back for the Somerville High hockey team. The Highlanders improved their Greater Boston League record to 2-0, defeating archrival host Cambridge Rindge and Latin, 5-2, last week. Somerville also upped its overall record to 4-2-2.

Well– for 15 years now the Ibbetson Street Press has been putting out a quality literary magazine Ibbetson Street as well as a number of poetry collections, memoirs, and anthologies. Our latest release is from Bagel Bard Philip Burnham, Jr.  I included this review by Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene ( http://dougholder.blogspot.com) writer Dennis Daly.