The elections are finally over and normality quickly comes back as of today. All of those  TV commercials, mailings,  plus those hated robo calls are over. A few months to go before the local city elections start. It’s great that they won’t be able to pay for TV ads, although they can advertise in The News.

By Cathleen Twardzik

At a recent Ward 2 ResiStat Neighborhood Meeting, which was well attended, essential issues were discussed by those who attended. The meeting served as a forum for people to bring up points and for the mayor and department heads, among others, to hash out issues.

Burt Mayer and Tom Ward at the Somerville Arts Council’s Third Annual Beardfest.

By Terence Clarey

According to Burt Mayer, the best way to prepare for a beard contest is to, “Stop shaving.” That, a little mustache wax and a little creativity was good advice, but winning was not the primary goal of contestants at the Somerville Arts Council’s Third Annual Beardfest last Saturday at the Arts at the Armory. The true purpose of the event was to have fun.

Was there something outstandingly different about the issues voters faced this year that caused so much heated debate, accompanied by such a deafening roar of campaign ballyhoo it could make our heads swim?

Arrests:
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Paul Gallagher, 42, of 18 Gladstone St., Everett, October 30, 2:04 p.m., arrested at 775 McGrath Hwy. on charges of distribution of a class B drug and violation of city ordinance possession of a dangerous weapon.

Amy Hill, 23, October 30, 5:15 p.m., arrested at 109 Cross St. on warrant charges of sexual conduct for a fee, possession of a class B drug, and conspiracy to violate drug law.

The St. Clement Girls Volleyball Team will be playing in the State Tournament for the second year in a row.

Girls Volleyball: Lady Anchors return to State Tournament

For the second year in a row, after years of disappointing seasons, the St. Clement Girls Volleyball Team secured a spot in the State Tournament.

By William Tauro

Alderman Tom Taylor was sworn in on Tuesday evening as the Somerville Lions Club’s newest Lion. Pictured L to R: Somerville Lions Club President Gene Brune, Lion Tom Taylor and District Governor Tom Kerr.

Dennis Daly author of the poetry collection The Custom House ( Ibbetson Street Press) has reviewed a new collection of poetry brought to you by Somerville’s Ibbetson Street Press, God Lights His Candles  by Dorothy E. Morris. I decided to use Daly’s review in my Off the Shelf  column this week.

Keith Tornheim

Keith Tornheim is a biochemistry professor at Boston University School of Medicine.  He was a co-winner of a Great Lakes College Association poetry contest in 1967 and is now a relapsed poet, especially for the last eleven years.  Some poems have recently been published in Ibbetson Street,Poetica, and Spare Change News, as well as previously in Lyrical Somerville. His poems have been a part of High Holiday and other services of his congregation (see www.shirhadash-ma.org/poetry.html).

President Barack Obama has been projected as having won his re-election bid for a second term, defeating Republican challenger Mitt Romney. In the Massachusetts Senate race, Elizabeth Warren is projected as having beaten incumbent Scott Brown.