TEDxSomerville, a unique event designed to examine the cultural landscape of the community, took the town by storm last week.

By Andrew Firestone

TEDxSomerville, a branch of the famous TED talks, served up local intellectual, cultural and community oriented know-how with a flair for the spirit of idealism. 26 amazing speakers shared what can only be deemed a true concentration of Somerville’s elusive cultural matter, dazzling the audience and putting Somerville as a community on the cultural map.

Here are the results of the New England Scholastic Track Championships held on Friday, March 2, at the Reggie Lewis Center.  Nicole Genard finished third in the hurdles with a time of 8.27.

By Jim Clark 

While conducting routine narcotic interdiction surveillance within the Assembly Square Mall area last week, members of the Somerville Police Department Drug Control Unit became suspicious of a man who parked his car in a secluded spot and allegedly began engaging in activities which led he investigators to believe that the man was engaging in illegal drug use, according to reports.

State Secretary of Transportation Richard Davey checked in on the current state of the DOT. – Photo by Andrew Firestone

Somerville Chamber hosts Richard Davey

By Andrew Firestone

The business community of Somerville had the opportunity to meet with State Secretary of Transportation Richard Davey Tuesday, March 6, where he outlined the current state of the DOT. Davey was candid about his problems in reigning in the $1.2 billion operating deficit of the DOT, which is responsible for all public transportation matters, including MassPort and the MBTA.

Please remember this Friday night up at the High School, the annual fundraiser for the Memorial Day Race. Friday, March 9, from 7p.m. at the Auditorium. Tickets are only $20 per person, at the door or call City Hall, the mayor’s office at 617 625-6600 x 2100. There will be lots of musical entertainment, as well as comedian Joe Rocco.

 By Harry Kane

Nestled in the heart of Union Square, a railroad style art space showcases a wide variety of paintings, clothing and an assortment of chotchkie’s.

MBTA General Manger Jonathan Davis listens as local citizens vent their concerns over proposed fare increases and service cutbacks. – Photo by Andrew Firestone

By Andrew Firestone

Somerville once again got the chance to have its voice heard last Tuesday, February 28, when an audience of hundreds turned out largely to protest the proposed fare hikes and service cuts the MBTA is currently considering. The MBTA is responsible for running all of the trolley, subway and bus lines that provide effective public transit for the millions of residents living in the Greater Boston area. Ridership has increased to record levels, while the operating deficit has ballooned to $161 million per year. All fare revenue goes to paying off debt.

RESPOND is working to increase awareness of teenage dating violence issues in our community.

Somerville-based RESPOND takes action

By Tatiana Kombo

February was Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Once a hidden problem, teenage dating violence is currently getting substantial attention from the public. Indeed, the public discourse over abuse is gaining momentum as domestic abuse agencies increasingly emphasize intervention, prevention and education on this dangerous plague. Statistics indicate that teenage dating violence is on the rise, along with teenagers’ desensitization to, and acceptance of it. “In a 12 month period, one in 10 high school students nationwide reported they were physically hurt on purpose by their boyfriend or girlfriend,” said President Barack Obama in a presidential proclamation last month. “And still more experienced verbal or emotional abuse like shaming, bullying, or threats.” Inexperienced in dating or overwhelmed by conflicting emotions, teenagers often struggle to escape abusive relationships or even to recognize that they are caught in them.

Sophia Carafotes. – Photo by Donald Norton

Sophia Carafotes is a Somerville 5th Grade Teacher out of the West Somerville Neighborhood  School on Powderhouse Blvd.  She’s also the head of the Evening School at the High School.   Sophia was Voted Best Teacher in Somerville 2011 by The Somerville News readers and we are proud to also name her “Person of the Week.” She’s a great teacher, we hear, and why not? She’s got a smiling face and charming wit. She has to be one of those teachers we all remember going back to elementary school that leaves a good mark on our memory. A very good teacher.

What are they thinking now? Raising fares and cutting services? This in the face of continuous new hiring? We knew things were going badly at the MBTA as far as budgetary concerns go, but this more than obvious disconnect seems to be going over the heads of the many who have their hands on the throttle, so to speak.