2012 Peace Corps top colleges rankings

Tufts ranks no. 15 in Peace Corps medium size school rankings

Tufts University ranks No. 15 on the 2012 top Peace Corps volunteer-producing colleges and universities in the medium size category. There are currently 31 undergraduate alumni serving overseas. Last year, Tufts University had 20 alumni volunteers and was not included in the 2011 rankings.

By Rep. Denise Provost

(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.)

There has been an active discussion in the press lately about the Massachusetts film tax credit. Since that program’s start in 2006, we taxpayers spend hundreds of millions of dollars rewarding film companies for doing business in Massachusetts. The allure of Hollywood is undeniable – but are film subsidies good economic development policy?

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.)

My son turned 16 on Monday. Okay, I know that some of my friends that are my age have grandkids close to 16 years old but that doesn’t matter. I can be this dad and his grandfather! I got a late start, but it’s all good. It keeps me young and I am up for the challenge.

– Photo by William Tauro

Thursday the Hasty Pudding Theatricals of Harvard University honored Claire Danes as the recipient of its 2012 Woman of the Year award. The Pudding was proud to honor such accomplished actors whose work has made an indelible mark on the world of entertainment, in both drama and comedy.

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.)

Back in the days when I was a full-time attorney – and had to handle the occasional civil suit or divorce – I used to advise my clients to ask two questions about potential settlements. The questions were “What do you want?” and “What can you live with?” The recently concluded eight-year deal between the City and its firefighters represents a compromise for both sides – and because we compromised, each side got something it could live with.

Bryce Miller, holding one of his nature photographs.

By Harry Kane

Every so often one of us bucks the trend. Bryce Miller is one of those individuals who has successfully gone out into the world and taken the bull by the horns, riding his way towards a promising future.

Somerville High students rehearse a scene from Guys and Dolls. (Standing, left to right): Thomas Kennedy, Nicholas Sahlas, Brian Andreck, Jack Stambaugh, Dor Kaminka, Ruthie Grossman. (Crouched, in front, left to right): Michael Kemp, Michael Buckley, Loic Fitanides.

Somerville High presents ‘Guys and Dolls’

By Elizabeth Sheeran

“Luck, be a lady tonight.” “I’ve got the horse right here, his name is Paul Revere.” “A person … can develop a cold.”
Memorable lyrics have helped keep Guys and Dolls high up on the list of classic American musicals for over six decades. And Somerville High School students are about to bring it to life once again, for three performances, from February 2 through 4.

From left to right: Gelynne Berger, Nicole Genard, Michel-le Meranda and Alison Kaba.

In the Division 1 relays held on Saturday, January 21, at the Reggie Lewis Center, the girls finished 9th with 16 points.

By Jim Clark 

Somerville police officers were dispatched to 59 Union Square last week in response to a reported stabbing.

A witness reportedly flagged the officers down as they arrived on the scene and told them that someone had been “cut” and then led them to the alleged victim who was bloodied, kneeling down, and holding a paper towel to his face, police said.

From left to right: Attorney General Martha Coakley, Sen. Benjamin Downing, Rep. Carl Sciortino, and Gov. Depaval Patrick joined together to celebrate the passage of the new bill.– Photo by Andrew Firestone

By Andrew Firestone

Thursday, January 19, saw a host of state politicians and activists rally around Rep. Carl Sciortino (D – Somerville), as he acted as master of ceremonies for the celebratory signing of a bill he wrote and sponsored, “An Act Relative to Gender Identity” by Gov. Deval Patrick.