– Photos by Bobbie Toner

Dozens of Somerville’s local business community members and their guests assembled at Thursday evening’s Chamber of Commerce’s Very Special Holiday Business after Hours gathering.

The festive event was held at The Center for the Arts at the Armory building on Highland Avenue.

– Photos by William Tauro

By William Tauro

The owners of the  KFC  located at the intersection of lower Broadway and Cross Street have closed their doors permanently. The lights shut off, the door locked, the interior dismantled and the sign on the front window saying it all.

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.)

I think it’s fair to say that, as a group, Somerville’s elected officials were taken by surprise last August when a formal proposal surfaced to create a new “progressive” K-8 charter school here in Somerville.  Now, with a public hearing on this proposal scheduled for December 14th (4-6 p.m. at the Somerville High School Auditorium), it’s time for every Somerville official, school parent, and taxpayer to focus on the details – and to speak out.

‘Superman’ rule declined

By Andrew Firestone

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court issued a ruling in favor of an off-duty Somerville police officer on November 18, ruling that a police officer does not have to change into civilian clothes when off duty.

By Jim Clark

Somerville police received a call last Sunday from a Franklin Street resident complaining of an unwanted guest who was reportedly drunk and behaving aggressively, police said.

Police officers arrived at the residence and were met by the complaining party, who immediately pointed at her couch and indicated that the woman in question was there, completely covered by a blanket, according to reports.

Annual holiday celebrations kick off Thursday, Dec. 1,  with Tree Lighting
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Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced that the City’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on Thursday, December 1st on the City Hall Concourse, followed by a meet and greet with Santa Claus in the Somerville High School Highlander Café (atrium entrance).  Additionally, the Somerville Arts Council’s Illuminations Tour is scheduled for Saturday, December 17  and, for the first time, the Tour will include trolleys visiting neighborhoods in West Somerville.  Both events will include musical entertainment and light refreshments.

Gov. Deval Patrick signed into law a bill designed to protect the transgender people from discrimination.

By Andrew Firestone

Rep. Carl Sciortino, D – Somerville, saw one of his sponsored laws enacted by the Massachusetts House of Representatives and signed into law by Gov. Deval Patrick last week. The bill protects the 33,000 transgender people in the commonwealth from discrimination by granting them status as a protected class under the State’s hate crime laws.

Bryce Miller minds the store at Creative Union, which sells a range of items created by developmentally disabled adults, in Union Square.

Holiday gift ideas from Somerville non-profits

By Elizabeth Sheeran

If it is better to give than to receive, it must be even better to give a gift that gives twice: once to the lucky recipient and once to a good cause. This holiday season, Somerville is full of ways to put a little working capital into the hands of local non-profits, while putting a smile on the face of someone you know.

FRIT’s Senior VP of development Don Briggs is bullish on Assembly Row growth.

Briggs talks development at Assembly Square

By Andrew Firestone

The question is still on everyone’s mind here in Somerville: when is the smart-growth multi-use wonderland Assembly Row by the Mystic coming?

Sooner than we think, possibly.