By William C. Shelton

(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.)

McGrath Highway’s McCarthy Overpass is falling apart, and the Commonwealth’s transportation authorities are again treating Somerville like a second-class stepchild.

Aguacate Verde Restaurant in Porter Square recently celebrated its one-year anniversary.

By Cathleen Twardzik

The one year anniversary of the Aguacate Verde Restaurant, located at 13 Elm St. in Porter Square, was recently celebrated on a night that featured live music by Vicky Vega and Sergio Espinoza from Inkas Was.

This year's Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshall Dan Hovanesian during his service in Vietnam (left) and receiving three medals from Major General Ross T. Dwyer on the day of his discharge.

Dan Hovanesian to be parade Grand Marshall
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By Elizabeth Sheeran

Somerville will remember all those who gave their lives for their country on Sunday, May 27, with a daylong program of events, including the largest Memorial Day parade in the state.

Sophomore Tien Phan (Somerville) at bat.

The Saint Clement Lady Anchors captured their fifth win of the season with a dramatic 7th inning win over Pope John 16-15 on Sunday, May 20, to bring their Catholic Central League record to 3-5 and overall record to 5-10.

By William Tauro

Over a hundred motorcycles from all over the state assembled on New Washington Street in Somerville on Thursday morning to ride into Boston to the steps of the state house for the annually “Storm the State House Rally.”

Superintendent Tony Pierantozzi said Somerville isn’t alone among school districts that choose to opt out of school choice

School Committee opts to stay out of inter-district program
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By Elizabeth Sheeran

The doors of Somerville’s public schools will remain closed to students from other school districts.

The School Committee this week voted to again opt out of offering inter-district school choice during the 2012-2013 school year, as it has done consistently since Massachusetts introduced statewide school choice two decades ago.

The Somerville Memorial Day Parade kicks off at City Hall this Sunday at 1 p.m., running up Highland Ave., through Davis, up to Teele, and then to Clarendon Hill. It should be a great day for it and, as in the recent past, it is said to be the biggest. Somerville does rock.

Eagle Feathers #1 – Something to Root For!

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

Summer is here, so grab a cold beer! Root beer, that is. You are probably aware that root beer is not truly a “beer” in the way that most people today think of “beer”, which is the world’s most widely consumed alcoholic beverage. So why is the word “beer” part of the name of a soft drink? The answer can be traced back to one of our former Somerville residents. While there are various accounts regarding root beer’s etymology, the most popular belief is the story of a young Philadelphian pharmacist named Charles Hires and his friend Russell Conwell. Conwell, a Somerville resident, was the founder of Temple University and father of Leon Conwell, the nineteenth mayor of Somerville. Conwell Avenue, Conwell Street and the former Conwell School are all named after the pair.

– Photos by Donald Norton

The Annual SHS Scholarship Foundation fundraiser was held Friday, May 18, at the Somerville High Cafe. About 60 people attended and approximately 235 tickets for the grand prize of $10K were sold.  After eliminating all excess tickets down to the last 10 ticket holders, they were given a choice to split or go to the end. All ten ticket holders chose to split the grand prize, each being awarded one thousand dollars. A fun night was had by all and lots of door prizes were given out as well. The drawing of the numbers was done by Gene Brune.

Pictured L to R: Somerville Fire District Chief Dennis Murphy, Cynthia Snow-Murphy, and Raymond A. Snow, Esq.

 By William Tauro

Somerville native and Davis Square Tax Attorney Raymond Snow is a patient man. He waited 25 years to watch his daughter, Cynthia Snow-Murphy walk on stage at the Bank of America Pavilion last Sunday to receive her Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School. “While I was studying for the bar exam,” mused the senior Snow, who himself is a graduate of Suffolk Law, “Cindy would sit quietly next to me at the end of my desk, practicing her writing and learning to spell. I knew that she would be the one to carry on the family tradition. I just had no idea that it would take this long!”