Somerville High School is proud to announce that the school has been selected by the Verizon Foundation to be one of only six national Verizon “Demonstration Schools”. The Verizon Foundation invests in initiatives that leverage innovative technology and interactive learning to increase teacher effectiveness and advance student achievement. As a Verizon “Demonstration School” the Science and Math Departments will collaborate with Verizon and their content partners to achieve this goal through the use of Verizon’s web portal, known as Thinkfinity. Thinkfinity content partners and their web sites include Illuminations designed by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), National Geographic Education (NG) developed by National Graphic, Science NetLinks developed by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and more.

Somerville celebrates the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. on MLK Day, Monday, January 16.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, the Somerville Office of Commissions and the Somerville Public Schools announce the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration event, entitled, “A Call to Action.”  The 2012 event will be held, for the first time, at the Somerville Theatre on Monday, January 16  from 11am – 1pm, and will include a keynote speech by Chief Legal Counsel for Governor Deval Patrick, William “Mo” Cowan, live music by JG & the Megatones, a display of Somerville student essays in response to the 2012 theme “A Call to Action,” and an award presentation to community members who exemplify MLK’s legacy in the Somerville community.  The event is free and open to the public.

Half of all men and one-third of all women in the US will develop cancer during their lifetimes. With statistics like this, the fight against cancer should be something that is important to everyone.

Entertainment significant component of active, urban, mixed-use neighborhood
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Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE:FRT) today announced the execution of a 60,000 square foot lease with AMC Theatres (AMC) for a 12-screen theatre at Assembly Row, the 50+ acre mixed-use development in Somerville.

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.)

Somerville opened a Boys’ Vocational High School in 1910, offering a two-year program in metalwork and woodwork, and a Girls’ Vocational High School in 1911, offering programs in millinery and dressmaking. In 1913, they enrolled 103 students, and in 1920 they had 112 students. In 1983 it was decided to merge Somerville Technical Trade High School with Somerville High School. This info was found on the Somerville City website.

– Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

High winds in Somerville during the early evening drive time Friday  caused this sign located at the Target store on Somerville  Avenue to begin losing it’s top.

Last night a video was posted on The Somerville News website around midnight, it was a disgusting video. Once the publishers were made aware of the video at 8 a.m., we had it removed.

We sincerely apologize to every single Firefighter here in Somerville and elsewhere for this horrible video, we certainly do not agree with it’s content in any way, we ourselves found it to be offensive along with all who watched this video. We think Firefighters are heroes, we thank them for all they do to serve us, the public, putting their lives on the line every single day.

We sincerely apologize for this horrible and unfortunate mistake that was made here by posting it, we want to assure everyone that we not only removed it, we deleted the post.

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.)

When it comes to the current snow season, we’ve been very lucky – so far.  January 11 was the first morning since October 31 that we woke up to enough snow that we had to scrape off our windshields.  And even then, it was only dusting.  Still, it’s only a matter of time. Like every other New England community, we need to be to face the elements as safely and efficiently as possible.

Photo: (L-R) Shawn O’Sullivan, Treasurer, COPE; Nina Siciliano, Manager, Project Soup; Alderman Bill Roche; Terry Foley, Co-Chair, COPE; Mayor Joe Curtatone; Alderman Jack Connolly; Dan Hurley, President, Local 369; Kevin McAnneny, Director of Political and Community Relations, Local 369; Danielle Polonsky, Somerville Homeless Coalition Finance Assistant; Mark Alston-Follansbee, Executive Director, SHC.

Mayor, Aldermen joined SHC in receipt of, thanks for turkeys to feed local families and individuals over the 2011 holiday season.

On December 19, 2011, officials from the Utility Workers of America, Local 369, invited Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward One Alderman William Roche and Alderman at Large Jack Connolly to join them as they delivered over 600 pounds of whole hams and turkeys to the Somerville Homeless Coalition’s Project Soup.  “The type of holiday donation is the simplest and most direct help any organization can provide to those in need,” said Alderman Roche.  “It made a huge difference to dozens of Somerville families – and all of us in city government are very grateful.” Local 369 represents over three thousand natural gas, electric and nuclear energy employees working in Eastern and Central Massachusetts.  The donations were part of a holiday season effort by the union’s Committee on Political Education (COPE) to provide hot meals to needy families throughout their service area.

By Jim Clark 

A Somerville woman reportedly filed a complaint last week at police headquarters stating that a man to whom she had rented a room had allegedly stolen a check from her and subsequently defrauded her of $1,000.