Alderman Roche is pressing ahead with an effort to have an educational video produced that will help to clarify the workings of the signals at the corner of Foss Park at McGrath Highway and Broadway. – Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Harry Kane

Ward 1 Alderman William M. Roche is advocating for an educational video to be made for the safety of citizens who use the crosswalk at the corner of Foss Park at McGrath Highway and Broadway.

– Photos by Harry Kane

Somerville celebrated its third “one city, one book” campaign, Somerville Reads 2012, this past weekend, a project that promotes literacy and community engagement by encouraging people all over the city to read and discuss books on the same theme.

A safe, free place to park one’s bicycle seems like a good idea. The city, in its efforts to promote cycling in general, asserts that the bike corrals will make our streets and sidewalks a bit safer, while freeing more space for pedestrians and events. They are also regarded as a better alternative to locking bikes to parking meters, sign posts, etc., since in many instances such activity can cause certain problems that can be avoided by use of the corrals.

The Somerville News Person of the Week, Celica Courtney Taylor

Meet Celica Courtney Taylor, a lifelong resident and political activist but, more importantly, a mother and wife here in the city. Celica served on the School Board for Ward 1 for several years, and then she married Alderman Ward 3 Tom Taylor, then left office to become full time wife and mother. To the many Somerville residents who know Celica over the years, and we certainly count ourselves here at The News as big fans, she is one of the nicest, sincerest, and most honorable people that you could ever meet.   Her many different friends and family members will tell you she’s bright and knowledgeable about local politics going way back to the early 70’s. More importantly, she’s dedicated to her husband and daughter as well as her three children from a previous marriage.

The Somerville High School girls track athletes continue to score well as the season progresses.

Results of the GBL freshmen-sophomore meet held on Wednesday, April 18, at Cambridge are as follows:

Andrea Valladares took second place in the 2 mile with a time of 16:05.

Bernard Horn is the author of the award-winning poetry collection “Our Daily Words.” This English professor at Framingham State University in Massachusetts has had his work praised by the likes of Robert Pinsky,  and David Mamet. Irene Koronas, a reviewer for the online journal  “Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene” wrote of his work:

Arrests:
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Francine Conley, 54, of 57 Puritan Rd., April 17, 10:54 p.m., arrested at home on charges of assault and battery and disorderly conduct.

Joseph Torres, 56, of 7A Taylor St., April 17, 3:10 p.m., arrested at 90 Union Sq. on warrant charges of operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor, failure to stop or yield, and marked lanes violation.

“Vinyl Street” is one of 20 Bands to Provide Entertainment on 20-Mile Route

Vinyl Street, a co-ed, post-collegiate a cappella group based out of Somerville, is one of 20 live entertainment acts that will be playing at Project Bread’s 44th annual Walk for Hunger on Sunday, May 6th. Each year, entertainment groups are stationed throughout the 20-mile Walk route, which starts at the Boston Common and weaves through Brookline, Newton, Watertown, and Cambridge.

Over 600 Teens to Address Gangs, Bullying, Addiction, Immigration, and Other Issues at Somerville Youth Peace Conference Saturday

On Saturday, April 28, 2012, more than 600 youth are expected at the sixth annual Somerville Youth Peace Conference at Somerville High School, 81 Highland Avenue, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The conference, Media Meets My Reality, will feature original performances by Somerville teens based on their own lives, workshops, and a jobs and services fair. Attendees will share their experiences in an open-mic Hope and Healing Ceremony. The conference, presented by The Center for Teen Empowerment, Mayor Joseph Curtatone, Somerville Public Schools and the City of Somerville, will examine teen violence, substance abuse, immigration, bullying and other issues.