Somerville School Committee unanimously voted to authorize the designation of the Winter Hill Community School as an Innovation School.

At their June 27 meeting, the Somerville School Committee unanimously voted to authorize the designation of the Winter Hill Community School as an Innovation School. Innovation Schools are in-district public schools that operate with greater autonomy and flexibility, providing opportunities to share best practices and provide ongoing planning and implementation support.

– Photo By William Tauro

By William Tauro

Friday, Somerville DPW workers power-washed pigeon feces with high power equipment under the McGrath Highway Overpass.

After numerous complaints by abettors of dozens of dead pigeons, a ground covered in white pigeon feces and rats actually running with and feeding on pigeon carcasses, Somerville City Hall decided to clean the mess that Mass DOT has neglected to do so.  Mass DOT is responsible for the area under the ailing overpass that falls on state property and is under the state’s jurisdiction.

On The Silly Side by Jimmy Del Ponte

(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.)

Oh, see the deer. Does the deer have a little doe? Yea, two bucks! Thank you, Curly Howard.

This past weekend my son and I were driving up to our little camp in New Hampshire. I had to work so we got up to the road that the camp is on at around midnight. We were talking casually back and forth when all of a sudden we saw a large deer and several babies. I thought there were two, but my son said he counted three. It was one of the most awesome sights I have ever seen. They were less than a foot away from the truck. At first I thought I was seeing things because a sight like that isn’t an everyday occurrence. There they were, Bambi and her mom and siblings, right out of a Walt Disney movie.

~Photos by Donald Norton

No Increase In FY13

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announces that water/sewer rates will remain unchanged in Fiscal Year 2013. Although the City’s assessments from the MWRA increased by a combined 2.6%, the City will maintain rates at the FY12 rate (please see below for breakdown of rates).

By Jim Clark

Police responded to a report of a brutal assault against a woman by her boyfriend last Sunday afternoon.

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.)

This week, along with U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano, and Mass Dept of Housing and Community Development Undersecretary Aaron Gornstein, I had the pleasure of attending the opening of the second phase of St. Polycarp Village.  This latest installment of new housing in Somerville, on Butler Drive in Ward 4, includes 29 affordable rental units within three four-story buildings.

Bow Street Angle-In Parking Pilot shows early signs of success according to initial data. – Photo by Bobbie Toner

10 Percent Reduction in Speed Promotes Pedestrian Safety; Additional Parking Supports Businesses and Customers; New Bike Lanes a Hit with Cycling Community

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Acting Traffic and Parking Director Matthew Dias announced  that initial data suggests that the pilot program to calm traffic, promote pedestrian and bicycle safety, and increase the parking supply in Union Square is working as intended.  Traffic radar data indicates that traffic along Bow Street has slowed by an average of ten percent and bicyclists report that the new bike lane makes the area safer.  By nearly doubling the supply of parking, the new configuration also helps support additional customer visits, which results in added revenue for local businesses.

Breakfast too, for Somerville youth this summer
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Lunch is served, free of charge this summer, to grateful kids throughout Somerville.

By Elizabeth Sheeran

Parents know it doesn’t get any easier to put food on the table just because kids are out of school for the summer. And summer vacation presents new challenges for families who count on the school lunch program to help ensure that their growing boys and girls are eating a well-balanced diet.