By Mayor  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.)

One of the most challenging aspects of democratic government is that most good things take such a long time. It’s taken years to roll out 311 and integrate performance management into every aspect of city government.  It took six years to develop and implement a comprehensive restructuring and upgrading of our Police Department.  It took four years to get the state legislature to give us the ability to control our employee and retiree health insurance costs by simplifying local access to the Group Insurance Commission.  It took  years to design and build the Argenziano School at Lincoln Park (though, thankfully, that project came in on time and under budget in 2007).

Somerville makes national honor roll as kid-friendly city

By Elizabeth Sheeran

It’s official. Somerville is a great place to be a kid. And kids of all ages are invited to cap off school vacation week at the second annual “Celebrate Somerville” event, this Saturday afternoon from 1 to 3 p.m. at Somerville High School.

Andre Rolim captured the MIAA D1 championship in the 600 meter run.

Boys track

On Sunday afternoon, Feb. 19, Andre Rolim captured the MIAA D1 championship in the 600 meter run for the 3rd consecutive year.

By design, it was his first 600m race since early January at the Dartmouth relays – he has run many other distances, longer and shorter – giving him a chance to peak in the next couple of weeks.

His smooth but fast pace (1:21.04) was achieved in a solo effort as no runners made an effort to stay with him after lap one of the three-lap race.

One of the primary routes being studied for the Green Line extension. “T” symbols indicate proposed stations.

Sciortino on ‘Medford Hillside’ stop

By Andrew Firestone

The design and implementation of two Green Line stops in Somerville is underway, and perhaps the city may breathe a sigh of relief. After all, with the redesign and reconstruction of a few bridges, and the laying of track, the train might be on its way.

Dan Blakeslee’s creative spirit takes life in his music and visual art.

Dan Blakeslee’s rock posters grace Diesel Café

By Andrew Firestone

Dan Blakeslee, 41, is one of Somerville’s most soulful gems of a musician. You may have heard him crooning his classy roots vibe outside Davis Square, or seen one of his psychedelic rock posters hanging on a street sign.

By Jim Clark 

Police responded to a reported breaking and entering in progress on Beacon St. in the early morning hours of last Friday.

Upon their arrival officers immediately spotted a man at the rear entrance of the residence and noted that glass panels in the door had been smashed out, according to reports.

By Andrew Firestone

(The article has been modified from the original and printed versions to address errors in quotes attributed to Michael Chiu.)

The Somerville Public School system averted a $5 million budget loss and instead gained a possible new opportunity for improvement.   The Somerville Progressive Charter School proposal was rejected prior to a vote by the State Board of Education in the preliminary stages, and in the same week the SPS was granted a $10,000 boost for the planning of an Innovation school at the Winter Hill Community School.  If approved the teachers, school committee and administration, it could be running by September 2012.

Have you experienced the wonderful Somerville Traffic and Parking office lately? We’re not saying everyone there is alike but is there a test or particular requirement for employment for the people behind the windows, or are these people part of a public employee union? The other day one Newstalker was visiting to pay a ticket and took a number while watching how different the window handlers were. One in particular, we won’t point her out by name, but we’ll bet everyone will know who she is. Watching this person handle a customer with the unique slow one finger pecking system on the keyboard was, to say the least, very interesting. Not to mention this person took about a five-minute breather between customers every time our person was there. Maybe if they paid these people per transaction you’d see how fast you’d be there and gone to your job.   Then there was the scowling face on the “hearing officer.” He came walking out of his office with such a scowl on his face, you couldn’t help but feel sorry for the people who requested a hearing. Somehow you’d think it wasn’t going to be a good outcome. One would think that the people who work here would be smiling at least faking it, since the people going there were paying for the outrageous prices of the tickets. Some would think you were at the Registry of Motor Vehicles, and who hasn’t had a good experience at the Registry? People with paying jobs should be pleased they have a job. There are still plenty of people out there that don’t and would jump at a chance to take their place. Let us know on the blog your experience at Traffic and Parking. We’d like to hear about it, both good and bad.

First in Four, by local artist Anyahlee Suderman, is the art exhibit on display at Sherman Café from now until mid-April with an Artist Reception on Saturday March 3 at 5 p.m., 257 Washington St, Somerville.

There have been some changes in the lobby where there used to be huge lines.

By Harry Kane

The new traffic and parking initiatives set forth by the Director of Traffic, Matthew Dias, reform the streets of Somerville with a new mentality: manage parking instead of viewing parking as a revenue stream, create safe crosswalks, new bike lanes and traffic calming tables plus an overhaul of the website to make it more user-friendly.