The MSTCA Freshman/Sophomore Large School Meet held this past Saturday at North Attleboro High School saw the SHS girls team struggling to score.

Despite the lack of scoring, the girls’ overall performance was steady and showed continued improvement. Gelynne Berger placed 2nd in the 200m with a time of 27.83. Melissa Baptista recorded her fastest time this year, clocking in at 76.71 in the 400m hurdles, while Rachel Berry’s 29’2″ in the Triple Jump marked her best jump of the season.

I am so impressed with the poetry of “Books of Hope” writer Yolandi Cruz that I decided to use yet another poem of hers. I hope you will “Linger” with this gem.

Arrests:
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Damien Didas, 34, of 15 Stickney Ave., May 3, 2:20 p.m., arrested at 281 Broadway on a charge of cocaine trafficking and a drug violation near a school.

Ignatius Immonje, 30,  May 4, 12:15 a.m., arrested at 91 Highland Ave. on warrant charges of unregistered and uninsured motor vehicle.

Brian Simeon, 18, of 34R North S., May 4, 6:18 a.m., arrested at home on warrant charges of felony nighttime breaking and entering and resisting arrest.

The Bagel Bards to read at the
Mass. Poetry Festival  May 14

City given bronze-level recognition by the League of American Bicyclists
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With plans under way to expand its network of streets marked for bicycling and to extend the Community Path, Somerville has been named a bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community by the Washington, D.C.-based League of American Bicyclists. Somerville joins a host of other cities receiving this level of recognition for its efforts to promote bicycling, including Kansas City, Mo.; Raleigh, N.C.; and Northampton, Mass.

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.)

Today is Mother’s Day. The stores are full of gifts and cards. Flower sellers are on street corners. It is a day to honor mom, whether she is still with us or not.

For me it’s a day to remember the woman who gave me life, and at times, threatened to take that life away! She was the person who believed in me enough to push me into going to college. She was the one who saved money and came up with a down payment to buy a cottage down the Cape. She was a strong woman. I felt her strength when she had to give a few “love taps” when I ticked her off. At times, Dad knew enough to just stand back and let her do her thing. She is the one who took three small children on a crowded bus and train to see the Enchanted Village in Boston every Christmas. She dragged me to Zayre’s and Filenes to buy me new winter coats and itchy pants. I remember once she caved, and let me get this hideous yellow suit jacket when I was just starting to play guitar in a band. And did I mention she paid for my piano lessons? It was a good deal. She sent me to lessons and I would play piano for her and her dinner guests. She loved having people over for lunch or dinner. Her favorite song she always asked me to play was Angel of the Morning. She has been an angel since 1986. It took me a long time to finally be able to listen to that song on the radio. Maybe someday I will try to play it again on the piano.

Meetings to be Held throughout May, early June; residents asked to visit Web site, submit survey
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Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced that the Spring 2011 ResiStat meetings will be held in May and June, beginning on Monday, May 9th with the Ward 4 Neighborhood Meeting at the Winter Hill Community School on Sycamore St.  Mayor Curtatone, ward and at-large aldermen, City staff and police will discuss issues of importance for each neighborhood, as well as citywide initiatives and the budget outlook for Fiscal Year 2012.  Residents can raise their concerns and offer their ideas during an open Q&A.  Residents are also encouraged to visit the ResiStat website, somervilleresistat.blogspot.com, and to take the resident survey to help develop the meeting agenda.

By Jim Clark

Based on information provided by a concerned citizen, Somerville Police Department and Somerville Housing Authority officers responded to reports of suspected drug trafficking activity in the Sturtevant St./New Rd. area.
A vehicle matching the informant’s description was stopped and its passengers were searched and questioned by police. In spite of what investigating officers described as furtive attempts at hiding something, small, individually wrapped amounts of what appeared to be crack cocaine were found, along with what seemed to be a crack pipe, police said.

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.)

On Monday night, this city did something big.

When the Board of Aldermen voted for the $25.75 million bond to fund infrastructure improvements in Assembly Square, it culminated almost two decades of work. All it took was the efforts of everyone who has served on the Board during that time, three past mayors, our Congressman Michael Capuano (who was also one of those past mayors) , Senator John Kerry, the late Senator Ted Kennedy, all of our state representatives during that time, all of the Somerville residents who have spoken up about Assembly Square over the years, Governor Deval Patrick and a list too long to mention from his administration, the people at Federal Realty Investment Trust, all of the city business leaders who have been staunch supporters of redeveloping Assembly Square, federal officials who approved key funding for portions of the project, and the tireless efforts of the staff here at City Hall (past and present).

- Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

Somerville emergency crews treat and prepare to transport a male accident victim to the hospital late Thursday afternoon. The accident took place at the intersection of Medford and Norwood street.