What’s missing from this scene? Many say that a new sign for Magoun Square is a “must have” item in the near future. – Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Harry Kane

During the last Alderman meeting on Jan. 23, Ward 5 Alderman Sean O’Donovan reported the need for a new sign in Magoun Square.

The Somerville News Person of the Week, Jeanette Wiltshire.

Meet Jeanette Wiltshire. Every Wednesday Jeanette picks up The Somerville News and delivers it to her neighbors and friends at Ciampa Manor, earning her title as The News’ oldest paper delivery person. Jeanette is a retired nurse and served in the armed forces. She helps her neighbors by running errands. She always has a big smile and a wave as she makes her daily trips into Davis Square.

Highlanders rally to tie Medford

By Mike Stoller

Somerville and Medford duked it out in a highly entertaining Greater Boston League hockey tilt Saturday, in a game that proved to be a microcosm of the greater battle for the league title.

With Saturday’s solid 3-3 tie with visiting Medford, the Highlanders also stayed tied with the Mustangs for first place with seven points in the league standings. Both teams stand at 3-0-1.

By Courtney O’Keefe
Ward 5 Online

(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.)

They direct us, inform us, and identify places we are looking for. They come in all shapes, sizes, colors and styles, but collectively, they are a significant part of our daily lives. One never really thinks of how important signs are, unless of course, we’re desperately looking for the one we need.

All of us want to live in the best city that we can manage to fashion for ourselves. That goes without saying.

Sometimes we have to crackdown a bit on those who let things go a bit too far, who don’t seem to have respect for the community in which they live and/or own property. Peer pressure is one thing, but sometimes the law has to step in to move things along in the proper direction, and in a timely manner.

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.