Tufts University will present well-known scholar, philosopher, musician and civil-rights activist Dr. Cornel West as part of the Tufts Faculty Progressive Caucus American Democracy in Crisis Series.

West will share his perspective on the coming presidential election on Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m. in Cohen Auditorium, Aidekman Arts Center on Tufts’ Medford/Somerville campus. Free tickets will be offered to members of the Tufts community beginning Feb. 6 at the Mayer Campus Center Information Booth.

(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.)

On January 27, 2012 the staff, students, and alumni of the Lincoln Tech Massage Clinic at Assembly Square held a day long fund raiser benefitting the Somerville Youth Development and Boxing Club in which all money raised went to the kids. At the end of a long day sixty seven full body massages were provided and the kids at the Boxing Club had an additional $2,010 to put toward equipment and expenses.

By Lynn Ann Collins

Texting a love letter may be the quickest and easiest way to your beloved’s heart, but certainly not the most romantic.

After all, old-fashioned romance is what Valentine’s Day is all about. Few momentos stir romantic emotions as effectively as antique valentine cards, but once upon a time even they were just a new trend in communicating like the Smart Phones of today.

Don’t toss this one out – the Cuppow is a keeper.

By Chris Leo Palermino

Two Somerville-based artists hope to redefine the to-go coffee cups that people have come to know and take for granted.

Cuppow, a new product created by Joshua Resnikoff and Aaron Panone, offers an alternative option to single-use paper coffee cups by repurposing canning jars as portable coffee cups.

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.)

Everyone is familiar with The Sunsetters. They are Somerville’s historic summer-time song and dance troupe that has been around the ‘Ville since the 1970’s. After it disappeared for many years, Mayor Curtatone resurrected the storied group. I am proudly looking forward to my fourth season as The Sunsetters’ director. Many people have often mentioned, somewhat in jest, that there should be a Sunsetters type group for adults. I always thought that was a great idea.

“ZeroSortComeTogether:” This Grand Prize-Winning submission is a take on the Beatles’ popular album cover of Abbey Road.

Tuesday, February 7, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone presented 10 winners from the “It’s the Love Tote” photo contest with certificates of “Exemplary Zero-Sortness” during a ceremony at City Hall. Following a call to residents for photos of the City’s Zero-Sort Recycling toters, judges received 37 entries, selecting eight winning photos includingGrand Prize, Second Prize, Third Prize, Best Age 12 and Under, and four Special Category Prizes. After difficult deliberations, an 11-judge panel selected group entry “Come Together, Right Now…and Don’t Sort” as the Grand Prize winner. Submitted by Orchard St. residents Deborah Baskin and Liam Campbell, Fiona Campbell, Theo Gounden-Rock, Izzy Larsen, Ben Larsen and Zara Gounden-Rock , the photo echoes The Beatle’s Abbey Road album cover.

Bet made, debt paid… hard…

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.)

It was only right that Boston paused last week to honor the January 27th passing of Kevin H. White.  Over nearly four centuries, Boston has had colorful mayors, charismatic mayors, able mayors and even a few truly visionary mayors.  But only rarely are all those qualities found in one leader – in Boston or anywhere else.  Kevin White had them all.

By Max Sullivan

Plenty of bands claim to have an eclectic sound. So many times the music falls short of the claim.
However, upon seeing Mother Mary and the Disciples for the first time, it is hard to deny the wide range of sound they can reach. There is a clear foundation: blues, and tastefully scattered around this core are jazz, funk, soul, ska, and alternative. It does not sound like a forced mish mash of genres. Instead, the influences flow seamlessly. They are genuinely eclectic.