Nationwide, human trafficking is more of a problem than most people think, according to investigators and officials.

By Andrew Firestone

The Massachusetts House of Representatives voted on June 1 to implement a law against human trafficking, citing an increased awareness of possible activity in the Commonwealth. The legislation was supported by Representatives Denise Provost and Carl Sciortino of Somerville, who both said that it was about time.

(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.)

Please allow me to correct inaccuracies conveyed by Mayor Curtatone and SCAT Executive Director Wendy Blom in your May 26 article regarding a bill that would streamline the cable TV franchising process in Massachusetts (“Somerville mayor, SCAT fight Verizon at Statehouse”).

The mayor’s claim that the bill would allow new providers to cherry pick which neighborhoods it would serve is just not true. The bill makes no change to the current process where towns and providers agree by contract where service is provided, along with build-out deadlines.

- Photo by Lisamarie Tauro

By William Tauro

Tuesday evening,  the site of the old abandoned Everett High School had been magically transformed, with the help of a motion picture crew, to resemble the Somerville Jr High School for a movie being filmed in Everett.

The movie set building has “Somerville Jr. High” banners hanging from the structure along with a real structural sign at the building’s front entrance displaying a “Bake Sale” and a “PTA Meeting”.

Nancy Carlsson-Paige is one of the recipients of this year’s RFK Children's Action Corps Award.

By Cathleen Twardzik

On June 9, Nancy Carlsson-Paige, Professor of early childhood education at Lesley University in Cambridge, the place at which she has educated teachers for greater than 30 years, will be honored with the Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corps’ Embracing the Legacy Award for her long-time work on behalf of children and families.

By Jim Clark

Police were summoned to the Hess Gas Station at 709 McGrath Highway early last Sunday, at about 1:00 a.m., on a report that a large fight was underway there. Upon arrival, a Somerville patrol unit noted that a red Honda Civic, matching the description of an involved party’s vehicle, was leaving the area at a high rate of speed.

Poets Kim Triedman and Patrick Sylvain joined me on my Somerville Community Access TV show Poet to Poet: Writer to Writer, to talk about the acclaimed poetry reading they were part of and the subsequent anthology Poets for Haiti. All this was in reaction to the tragic earthquake that brought Haiti to its knees. Triedman, managing editor for the Ibbetson Street Press in Somerville, Mass, edited the anthology and was instrumental in organizing the reading. Sylvain is originally from Haiti and now lives in Somerville. He is a well-regarded poet, educator and activist.

Our poet this week is Somerville Bagel Bard Alice Weiss.  She is formerly from New Orleans,  Louisiana, earned her living as a civil rights attorney for twenty one years, among other things, investigating and challenging the conditions of jails in parishes throughout the Atchafalaya Basin and the Bayous.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 3 Alderman Tom Taylor, Ward 7 Alderman Bob Trane and the Somerville Traffic and Parking Department (T&P) announced that the City has begun a traffic calming pilot program in those wards, using radar feedback signs to slow vehicle speeds on some major roadways.  Piloted in Wards 2 and 5 in April, the program may be invested in areas throughout the City, if successful during test periods.  Radar feedback signs have been installed on Summer Street in Ward 3 and Broadway in Ward 7, and registered speeds will be measured to determine the effectiveness of the signs in slowing vehicular traffic.  The program is being undertaken as part of the City’s ongoing efforts to increase pedestrian and bicycle safety, and to make Somerville more walkable, pedestrian- and bike-friendly community.

– Photos by Bobbie Toner

Arrests:
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Ronald Holland, 37, of 14 Stanley Rd., Methuen, May 31, 2:16 p.m., arrested at College Ave. on a warrant charge of assault and battery.

John Farrell, 23, of 133 Rock Glen Rd., Medford, May 31, 2:48 p.m., arrested at 175 Fellsway on a warrant charge of unarmed burglary.