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.

Arrests:
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Scott Badeau, 47, of 99A Chelsea St., Everett, December 3, 8:25 p.m., arrested at 373 Highland Ave. on a warrant charge of trespassing.

Dennis Reid, 30, of 520 Medford St., Malden, December 4, 2:42 p.m., arrested at 77 Middlesex Ave. on a warrant charge of larceny over $250.

By Max Sullivan

Extension of Somerville’s Green Line was officially announced Tuesday afternoon as Governor Deval Patrick, Somerville Mayor Joesph Curtatone and other Boston and Massachussetts officials took the podium in support of the new project.

The annual Illuminations Trolley Tour is scheduled for Saturday, December 15, with tours departing from the City Hall Concourse beginning at 4:30pm. The 45-minute tours will showcase holiday light displays in our own Somerville. Tours leave from (and return to) Somerville City Hall where coffee, hot chocolate, and cookies are served. Entertainment at City Hall includes choral music, courtesy of the Somerville Community Chorus and craft activities for children. Trolley Tour tickets are available at the Blue Cloud Gallery, 713 Broadway. Tickets are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children and seniors. For more information visit www.somervilleartscouncil.org.

An advisory panel has been established that will study ways of improving how we travel through the city.– Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Cathleen Twardzik

Mayor Curtatone has formed a transportation research, innovation and planning (TRIP) team to advise the city about new technology and procedures, which will be intended to increase capacity, accessibility, convenience and safety of each mode of local transportation.

Eagle Feathers #15 – A Christmas Carol

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

Charles Dickens, 1842

Everyone has his or her own favorite Christmas stories, memories and movies. They can range from the classic It’s a Wonderful Life, a story about the difference one person’s life can make in the world, to the recent The Polar Express, a story about a special Christmas train.

Winter Hill Community Innovation School recently won theMiddle School Flag Football Championship. They defeated Argenziano School in the championship game 35 to 21. The team was coached by Chris Capasso, one of Bill Belichick’s protégées.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Acting Traffic and Parking (T&P) Director Matthew Dias announced  that the City of Somerville has unveiled a three-day Visitor Permit to supplement the standard, two-day Visitor Permit. On the heels of this announcement, T&P has also expanded its services to include online permitting for resident parking permits at Parksomerville.com.