Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Nancy Milnor, Executive Director of the Somerville Public Libraries, announced that the City of Somerville will launch its second “One City, One Book” campaign in April 2011.  “Somerville Reads” is a project that promotes literacy and community engagement by encouraging residents to read and discuss the same book.  The book selected for the 2011 program is The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, a novel that deals with the experiences of the Ganguli family, Indian immigrants adjusting to a new life in America.  Copies of the book are available for check out at all Somerville Public Library locations, and a variety of events and exhibits will take place beginning in late April and continuing through May.

Anchor to speak at Tufts April 11
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Katie Couric will draw on her 30 years as a journalist to address the evolution of today’s news industry during the sixth annual Edward R. Murrow Forum on Issues in Journalism at Tufts University . The forum, which is free and open to the public, will take place on Monday, April 11, at 12 p.m. at Asean Auditorium, Cabot Intercultural Center on Tufts’ Medford/Somerville campus.

Couric is the anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, 60 Minutes correspondent, host of @katiecouric, Glamour magazine columnist and former co-host of NBC’s Today Show. Jonathan M. Tisch (Tufts class of 1976), co-chairman of the board of Loews Corporation and CEO of its subsidiary, Loews Hotels, and the host of the Emmy-nominated television series Beyond the Boardroom with Jonathan Tisch, will lead the discussion with Couric. Tisch is a member of the Tufts board of trustees and the naming benefactor of Tufts’ Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Somerville Youth Programming Coordinator Nancy Bacci announced that applications are now available for the 2011 Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program. Available through Friday, April 29, applications can be found at the City of Somerville’s Personnel Department (City Hall) or on the city’s website (http://www.somervillema.gov/). The Program provides opportunities for Somerville youth to gain employment and job training within the public and private sectors throughout the summer. Eligible students must be Somerville residents, enrolled in high school, and at least 16 years of age. All applications must be returned to the Personnel Department.

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.)
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There are lots of sub shops in Somerville that have been there for years. They are all over the city. Most people swear by their favorite establishment and love their sandwiches. Right by the Ball Square bridge, at the corner of Rogers and Boston avenues is a block of stores. If you look above the building you will see two signs. One says Crowley’s Liquors, and right above it there is one that says Todi’s, as in Todi’s Sub Shop.
Past patrons use the words spotless, friendly and delicious to describe the Todi’s sub shop experience. They also  say that the best meatball sub they ever had was from Todi’s. (And by the way, Todi rhymes with Dottie.)

By George P. Hassett

Two men were seriously injured in a fight on Broadway Friday night, police said.

A 23-year-old Cambridge man was stabbed multiple times and a 22-year-old Somerville man was struck in the face and head with a blunt object in an incident police are still investigating. A third person was arrested by Cambridge Police and charged with gun possession in connection to the incident.

The 2011 Full Circle Next Wave GBBL Champions: Shawn Soares, Christopher David, Mateus Sathler, Edwin Tejada, Levi Faherty, Joel Gutierrez, Stanley Orantes, Brian Carrington, McKenna Minson, Christian Acosta, Devin Scanzillo, Martine Acosta, Head Coach/Sports Director Joel Blackmer, Assistant Dave Aronofsky.

For the first time ever, the Full Circle/Next Wave basketball team are champions and they have the trophy to prove it.

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.)

Our Board of Aldermen has some fairly momentous decisions to make this month concerning Assembly Square and I wanted to take this space this week to explain what City is attempting to accomplish with this project. It boils down to three things: investment, infrastructure and economic development.

The fourth and final meeting of SomerVision came to the Armory, Thursday March 31. - Photo by Andrew Firestone

SomerVision plans for the future

By Andrew Firestone

The fourth and final meeting of SomerVision came to the Armory, Thursday March 31, and residents were able to discuss and make recommendations for the future of Somerville.

Discussing issues such as neighborhood safety, community development, transit and lifestyle, job development, housing and municipal financial self-sufficiency, SomerVision was a hotbed of American urban discourse. The meeting was run by OSPCD Director George Proakis, and saw the groups divided into tables in order to discuss pressing issues.

"A Stronger Loving World" by Melanie Salerno, Oil on Canvas

By Charlie Lynch

BOOM! is a mixed media art exhibit, by artists Spiridoula Politis and Melanie Salerno, currently on display at Gallery 321 at the Washington Street Art Center. The pieces focus on interpretations of this explosive expression and include oil paintings, drawings, and other mixed media.

The concept was conceived by Politis.  “I was going through a really heavy emotional experience and sometimes you get really intense emotions where you feel like you are going to explode,” she said.  This experience lead to the concept of BOOM! though the artists believe the expression has a broader, more open definition and one that proved difficult at times to translate.