As you would expect, whenever I am in New York City I do a lot of walking. As it happens I was invited to be on a small press panel at the First Annual Writer’s Conference at Hunter College in NYC, founded by Lewis Burke Frumkes. It was a picture perfect day in June, so I walked from my brother’s apartment on 20th Street in the Chelsea section of the city, to 68th and Lexington—the home of Hunter College. I stopped at my favorite diner on the way, the “Malibu Diner’, an unlikely name for an eatery in the middle of a gritty thoroughfare. I ordered my lox and bagel and listened to the well-honed staccato chatter of a counterman from central casting with a regular:

City financial probe uncovers no misappropriation of funds – Hickey to resume duties on August 1
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After a forensic audit of Somerville Council on Aging financial records, the City has cleared Council Director Cynthia Hickey to return to work on Monday, August 1. Hickey had been on paid leave until the investigation was concluded.

The audit, conducted by the outside accounting firm of Powers & Sullivan, began in February and reviewed Council on Aging financial records dating back to December, 2006. The City paid $17,000 for the audit. Ultimately it was determined that Hickey did not misappropriate funds and that she made no attempts to enrich herself, family or friends.

By William Tauro

(L to R) Bruna Mota, Marco Tulio Mariano and Nathalia Braga are here visiting the city from Belo Horizonte Brazil, enjoying the  summer heat of a typical Somerville summer day at the Prospect Hill Tower.

City recognized for energy conservation programs, will receive $362,175 in grant money
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A month after the Board of Aldermen voted in favor of an updated building code that will require a 20% higher energy efficiency standard for new construction, Somerville has been named a “The Green Communities designation, entitling the City to $362,175 in grant money on top of the recognition for its energy conservation efforts.

Kristian Cibulskis with his children Emma and Jack at the 2010 PMC finish line.

By Krysia Wazny

When Kristian Cibulskis agreed to participate in the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge last year, he didn’t really know what he was getting himself into. As a cancer researcher with the Broad Institute, Cibulskis was already familiar with the importance of fundraising in his work, but he had yet to experience the rigors and rewards of participation in that process. As his second challenge approaches, he is now better able to reflect upon the impact of this incredible event for the state of cancer research and himself personally.

‘Seize The Summer’ offers family-friendly programming, live music, farmers market this weekend
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Join the City of Somerville this Sunday, as the heat wave breaks, for our second event in the 2011 SomerStreets series, complete with live music, farmers’ market, outdoor yoga and dance demonstrations, sandcastle building, food from local restaurants, open house and family swim at the YMCA,  arts and crafts and family-friendly activities for children and adults of all ages.

On The Silly Side by Jimmy Del Ponte

This article first ran in the June 11, 2009 edition of The Somerville News.

(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.)

One of my favorite topics is talking about the stores that used to be around years ago that are now just memories. Remember a little place in Davis Square called “The Soda Hut”? Some may and some may not. How about “Skippy’s Fix-it Shop” and “Henry the Jeweler”? Do those places ring a bell? Close to Henry’s and Skippy’s, there used to be a quaint little establishment known as Gigli’s Fruit stand. Ask anyone who remembers it, and they will assure you that it had quite a bit of “a-ppeal”.

- Photos by William Tauro

By William Tauro

A customer of  a gas station located at 360 Medford Street was injured and taken to the hospital via ambulance on Friday evening after her vehicle plowed into the building.

The driver of the motor vehicle was fueling up her SUV when the gas hose would not reach. The driver then got into the vehicle to move it closer to the pump when something went wrong causing the motor vehicle to drive into the store front.

By Cathleen Twardzik

On July 24, along Highland Avenue, from Walnut Street to Cedar Street, Somerville will enjoy the second SomerStreets celebration of 2011, which is entitled Seize the Summer.

In fact, the event will be held in an area of Somerville which is new to the initiative.

The City of Somerville’s Cooling Center hours will extend into Saturday, with water, cots, and air conditioning available from 10m – 8pm at the Holland Street Senior Center, 167 Holland Street. 

Looking for other ways to cool off?  Try these locations:

·         Dilboy Pool, Alewife Brook Parkway 11am-7pm

·         Foss Park Pool, Broadway (intersection of Fellsway West) 11am – 7pm

·         Public Libraries (9am-6pm Central, 10-6 East Branch, 2-6 West)

·         Water sprinklers are on at 13 City parks, map here: http://bit.ly/p9oScY