On November 1, Thomas P. Champion, returned to the city as Executive Director of Communications and Cable.

By Cathleen Twardzik

Michael Meehan has tendered his resignation as Executive Director of Communications and Cable of the City of Somerville. That became effective on Friday, October 28.

Meehan has served as the city’s communications director since April 2010.

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.)

Remember how we used to roll our eyes when our parents told us how they could see five movies, buy candy, soda and popcorn, ride the trolleys all day and still come home with change of a quarter? Well, let’s congratulate ourselves because we have officially become our parents.

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.)

Between President Obama’s fight for his stalled jobs bill and the growing public debate about the role government should play in reviving our economy, Assembly Square is getting a lot of outside attention these days.

Somerville Police have arrested a 22 year old Somerville man in connection with several recent indecent assaults on women in Somerville and Medford.  Over the past two months, Somerville Police, working together with Cambridge, Medford, Transit and Tufts University Police and the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, have arrested Alfredo Romero Posada after a two month long investigation of area assaults on women.  A special task force was formed to conduct this investigation since mid September.  The Task Force utilized surveillance teams, Decoy Officers and Saturated Patrols in the Davis Square and Porter Square neighborhoods.  Posada was observed in the Davis Square area on October 29 by officers assigned to this task force.  Surveillance officers were able to stop and identify him as a potential suspect as he was approaching a woman walking alone.

The 24th Annual Open Studio Event will take place this weekend, November 19 and 20, from noon to 6 p.m.

50 artists will open their studios to the public this year.  Two blocks away, the Joy Street Studios will feature more than 50 of their studios which will be open on that same weekend.

According to Somerville Fire Chief Kevin Kelleher,  the George Dilboy VFW Post 529  at 371 Summer St. has been shut down indefinitely due to a fire violation.  More details to follow.

By Jim Clark

Police dispatchers were alerted to reports of a man prowling around the Teele Square area in the early morning hours of November 8.

The man was reportedly spotted checking the handles of parked cars along Holland Street.

Somerville Police are investigating an indecent assault and battery that occurred early Thursday morning.  At about 1:30 a.m., a 22-year- old woman was walking home, from the Porter Square area.  As she turned onto Highland Avenue from Cherry Street, she was approached from behind by an unknown suspect who assaulted her indecently.  The victim screamed and resisted, causing the attacker to flee.

Gov. Deval Patrick unveiled an update to his plan to bridge the achievement gap.

Summer ELL in Somerville

By Andrew Firestone

Last week at UMASS Boston, Gov. Deval Patrick unveiled an update to his plan to bridge the achievement gap. Included was a plan to bring Summer England Language Learner camps to cities around the commonwealth.

Somerville Public Schools already has a program. While not among the list of INC Mass “Gateway Cities” such as Fall River and Chelsea, the Somerville Program for English Language Learners (SPELL). Funded by federal Title III funds by the state, SPS uses SPELL to help its large ELL populations.