By Harry Kane

Somerville schools receive extra guidance from a federal subsidized Catholic sponsored program called Foster Grandparents. The organization is comprised of volunteers, 55 and older. Foster Grandparents are a group of mostly women that help mentor young children in a school environment.

Irish books represent a particularly specialized area for collectors.

By Kenneth Gloss

As with any other area of collecting, books dealing with Irish history subdivide into numerous categories that offer a multitude of collecting specialties.

The Boston area is particularly rich in books about Irish history, because many immigrants wanted to preserve their pasts and the story of their birth country. Many of these books were printed in New York and Boston by people who had come to America.

Showcase concert to feature Lynn Noel, Corvus, Wear My Letter and Marylou Ferrante, Friday, March 23 , 8 p.m.
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Although the New England Folk Festival has been around since 1944 and in April will present its 68th annual edition in Mansfield, “NEFFA” (the “a” stands for “association”) is not, to the general populace, necessarily a household word. To increase public awareness, and to entice new patrons to the festival, the non-profit educational and cultural organization, whose mission is “to encourage, sponsor, and preserve high standards of performance of the folk arts and traditions in New England and elsewhere” will present in Somerville a pre-festival “showcase” concert featuring a representative sample of four distinct music genres that are typically found at the festival.

Progress Together for Somerville works with the Somerville Public Schools and other partners to hold community forum on Education
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Continuing a commitment to the Somerville Public Schools, Progress Together for Somerville (PTS), the Somerville School Committee, and the Somerville Family Learning Collaborative have organized a Community Forum on Education, to be held on Sunday March 18 from 2 to 4 pm. at the Argenziano School at Lincoln Park. This event, also sponsored by the Mayor’s Office, Somerville Council of PTAs, and the Somerville Teachers Association, will examine a number of issues in education in the city today. These topics include how teaching and learning are influenced by data; innovation schools and their role in a public school system; and how English Language Learning (ELL) students learn English at the same time as other topics. The event is designed to be participatory, with active discussion as well as lectures.

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.)

A few weeks ago, I did a story about the old Trade High School. Assistant Principal and Director of Career & Technical Education Leo Di Simone is going to tell us all about the exciting CCTE. I hope to see you at the Vocational Fair where I will be playing music and running the sound system. Take it away Leo.

To see the Somerville official election totals click  here

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.)

Is the national economy showing signs of sustained improvement? Certainly there are encouraging signs: the unemployment rate is creeping downward; consumer confidence, retail sales and the Dow are all on the rise.

Ryan Anthony Perez

A Somerville man has been arraigned on charges alleging that he took video of women inside a YMCA locker room without their knowledge, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today.

Middlesex County District Attorney Gerry Leone takes on substance abuse with this year’s PSA Project.

District Attorney Gerry Leone’s 4th Annual PSA Project

By Jeremy F. van der Heiden

Substance abuse has been a social problem that many have attempted to eradicate through myriad initiatives and tactics. On March 1, Middlesex County District Attorney Gerry Leone unveiled the beginning of the 4th Annual PSA Project, an open call for 30 to 60 second, student-made public service announcements.

By Jim Clark 

Somerville Police officers responded to a call at a Medford St. apartment last Sunday on reports that a woman had been punched in the mouth.