By Andrew Firestone

A Somerville man is now in custody after precipitating an early morning car-crash, Friday, April 22, that left one person dead.

21-year-old Kenneth Belew of Somerville along with five others had left a house party, and were on their way back to Somerville on McGrath Highway when operator Kenneth Brelew of 11 Fiske Ave. lost control of the vehicle and smashed into a concrete barrier.

By George P. Hassett

A Medford man was arrested three times in three days last week in Somerville, police said.

John Gogos, 47, of 81 Magoun Ave., was charged with assault and battery April 14, destruction of property over $250 April 15 and carrying a dangerous weapon and failure to stop for police April 16.

By 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.)

After a particularly brutal winter, at last we’re starting to see some of the tell-tale signs of spring:  leaves budding on trees; birds building nests; residents of all ages out and about in the City, enjoying the Community Path and playgrounds; and the imminent arrival of the Citywide Spring Cleanup, followed by some of our most popular spring and summer programming.

By Carrie Stanziola

This upcoming Saturday marks the Somerville Housing Coalition’s sixth annual benefit for the homeless, and the third time the event will be held at the Arts at the Armory.  This year, the benefit will honor retiring Tufts president Larry Bacow, as well as Tufts University itself, as the Coalition has enjoyed a wonderful relationship with Tufts since the its inception in 1985, according to Coalition director Mark Alston-Follansbee.  The Amethyst Center, an alternative healing center in Davis Square has also been a tremendous support to the Coalition, Alston-Follansbee adds.

By George P. Hassett

A Boston man who used a Dana Street home to sell crack cocaine in the East Somerville area was arrested this week, police said

Franklyn McLaughlin, 23, of 25 Theodore St., Boston, was arrested April 16 on Perkins Street and charged with possession to distribute a class B drug, assault and battery on a police officer, drug violation near a school or park and resisting arrest.

- Photo by Andrew Firestone

By Ashley Taylor

This past Wednesday, April 13, Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz challenged the core of Mayor Joseph Curtatone’s Assembly Square District Improvement Financing (DIF) plan, arguing that Somerville taxpayers cannot afford to shell out for the project.

At a public hearing with the Board of Aldermen, Gewirtz said the city can’t afford to post $25 million in bonds for new infrastructure in Assembly Square.  She was retorted by Mayor Curtatone who said that without the city’s commitment to build the infrastructure, the Tri-Party Agreement between the state, the city and the developer to fund the Assembly Square Orange Line station would fall apart, ending the city’s bid to attract new businesses.

By Andrew Firestone

Somerville playwright John Shea’s newest production, “The Painter” attempts to answer society’s toughest questions by juxtaposing two downtrodden individuals; a penniless Irish-immigrant painter, and his domineering, affluent African-American employer.

“If you put a black man and a white man on stage there are certain expectations that the audience has right away and if there is any animosity there at all, I think that race will heighten that animosity,” said Shea. “Automatically, our mind does make some assumptions, whether negative or positive, whether we want to admit it or not, I think that is true.”

By George P. Hassett

A 19-year-old Everett man punched a woman in the face and threatened bystanders with a knife while claiming to be a member of the MS-13 gang on April 14, police said.

Police said Anthony Azera punched Hannah Diaz, 18, in the face as he walked from Sullivan Square station to Broadway.

By Andrew Firestone

This year’s fifth annual Somerville Youth Peace Conference, produced by youth group Teen Empowerment and presented April 13, was a testament to the diversity and cognizance of Somerville’s youth. Bringing to the fore both a workshop and a large-scale performance, the crowd of around 600 was enthralled the grounded perspectives of Somerville teens.

Was nice to see a bigger and more enthusiastic crowd at Monday’s Patriots Day ceremony, everyone waited anxiously for Paul Revere and his horse. Great work put on by  Brandan Wilson of the Historical committee, everyone did a fine job. Old friend Bob “Monty” Doherty was also present to help with the preparations.

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Speaking of the Foss Park ceremony, this year several politicians showed up as usual. We were surprised to see Alderman At Large Bill White there since we hear that he’s just tired and sick of the political game and since he’s got his house up for sale, we keep hearing he’s not running for re-election. Maybe if someone keeps saying they’re tired of it, then they should retire, shouldn’t they? Still noticeably absent was our Senator Pat Jehlen, she just keeps giving the impression that she’s so anti anything patriotic. We know she’s not a fan of small businesses here, she’s proposing a bill right now in the Senate that will require all small businesses to give seven paid sick days no matter how small the company. Imagine you are running a small company with five employees and you have to by law give them seven paid sick days a year, that would be 35 paid days and who pays the owner of the small company? Another example of someone who has never had a “private sector” job in her life, since the early 70’s she’s been a political hack.