The future of North Street Veterans Playground was examined and debated by residents and officials. - Photo by Ashley Taylor

By Ashley Taylor

The City of Somerville is planning to renovate the North Street Veterans Playground, the small play area, picnic area, and basketball court bordering on the North Street Housing Development.  At a community meeting Saturday morning, residents, city officials, and landscape architects discussed their hopes for the new playground. The meeting started at the West Somerville Community School, then moved to the playground.

City officials, in proposing the new rodent abatement ordinance, are clearly asking for something important from all of us – to take personal responsibility for playing our own parts in helping to fight this problem.

The city and the citizenry have to work together effectively in order to make real progress and, hopefully, whip this problem which has recently become something of an embarrassment to us all, not to mention the genuine health hazards that exist with the current situation.

By Sanjeev Selvarajah

This year, Somerville’s Sunsetters have an unbelievable edge cascading around their youthful spirit. However, the repertoire that the administrators have arranged for the ensemble isn’t as hardened as possessing an edge entails. Imagine the fun Somerville’s older generations will have as the youngsters present some of the songs the director of the group has chosen: All That Jazz, Build Me Up Buttercup, and Rock and Roll All Night. The kids are all right; they aren’t mocking you by any means—this is simply their cover of years gone by.

To facilitate the pursuit of honoring classics of previous generations, the group, led by director Jimmy Del Ponte, held auditions to fetch newcomers. It all went down this week, and if you would like to see how this turnout added to the strength of the long-running ensemble then enlist them for a performance in your neighborhood.

By Jim Clark

Somerville police responded to a reported assault at La Quinta Inn, 23 Cummings Street, on Sunday. Officers arrived finding a visibly shaken, crying woman who reported that she had been aggressively pursued and harassed by a man she did not know.

The woman said that she had been using the ladies room at the hotel and, upon leaving, noticed four men outside, one of whom began making lewd remarks to her as she departed.  The woman became very frightened when the man allegedly began following her and continued making sexually suggestive remarks and gestures. As the woman attempted to get away from the man he began to walk faster in order to catch up with her, police said.

Michelle Hoover.

Michelle Hoover is a petite woman but her writing is anything but diminutive. In her critically acclaimed novel “The Quickening” she writes of the friendship of two farm women during the early part of last century. These women and their significant others speak plainly, but the subtext of what they say is loaded. Hoover, who was born in Iowa and from a long line of farmers, captures the hardscrabble life of these straight-no-chaser women. Hoover currently teaches at Boston University and Grub Street in Boston, Mass. I spoke with Hoover on my Somerville Community Access TV: Poet to Poet: Writer to Writer.

Robert K. Johnson is a retired English professor from Suffolk University in Boston, Mass. He is also a consulting editor for the Ibbetson Street Press of Somerville, Mass., and a member of the Bagel Bards.  His latest collection of poetry
From Mist to Shadow (Ibbetson Street) was selected as a “Must Read” by the Mass. Book Award.

- Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

Mayor Joseph Curtatone watches Tuesday night’s Bruins game against the Tampa Lightnings with members of Somerville’s Boston Stars  hockey players at Somerville’s Winter Hill Yacht Club.

State Police Hazardous Material Officers enter 32 Summit Ave. - Photo by Andrew Firestone

Somerville police and fire departments are investigating a suspicious incident that occurred late Monday afternoon.  At about 3:30 p.m., Somerville police responded to 32 Summit Avenue to check the condition of the resident.  Upon their arrival, officers and were met by a friend of the resident who was concerned about the safety of his friend who lived at this address.  Officers attempted to gain entry through the front door and then the back door, which were both locked.

Somerville fire department was called and forced entry into the residence.  Upon entering, there was a strong smell of an unknown odor inside the house as police, firefighters and paramedics entered to search for the resident.  As officers and firefighters searched the house, they found a bathroom door with a sign that read “Poisonous Gas – call Haz-Mat”.  Firefighters quickly donned breathing equipment and entered the room where they located and extricated a 38 year old male resident.  The victim was transported to an area hospital where he is currently in critical condition.

Arrests:
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Devin Mack, 26, May 9, 9:51 a.m., arrested outside Boston on various warrant charges.

Jose Molina, 41, of 52 Glen St., May 9, 2:28 p.m., arrested at 150 Glen St. on a warrant charge of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14.

Vanderlei Pereira, 38, of 5 Linden St., May 9, 4:15 p.m., arrested at home on charges of disorderly conduct and breaking and entering.

Five open streets festivals planned for 2011, events will run through every ward in Somerville
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No matter where you live in Somerville, a SomerStreets festival will be taking place near you in the coming months. The immensely popular open streets series is back again in 2011, featuring live music, recreational activities and farmers’ markets.