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.)

A friend of mine came up with the idea of doing a spoof on the many “Real Housewives” shows on TV. I am working on that idea for my cable show, “Seriously Somerville.”  In the meantime I asked my friends to give me some good examples of typical Somerville housewives, old school version, of course.
Here are a few good ones.

By George P. Hassett

Drug unit cops executed a search warrant at a Rush Street home last week and found cocaine, police said.
Marconi Sousa, 33, and Lindomar Miranda, 37, both of 36 Rush St. apartment one, were stopped by officers as drove away from the apartment, police said.

By William C. Shelton

(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.)

There was a time when politicians tried to gain advantage by giving things to voters. While some of this was wasteful pandering, a lot of it laid the foundation for future economic growth that more than paid for those investments in education, infrastructure, research, health care, and crime prevention.

Today, Republicans and some Democrats jockey for political advantage by taking the same things away from people. They use the bludgeon of the deficits that they themselves created, and they wield it by endlessly reciting falsehoods.

Cambridge-area poet, Omoizele “Oz” Okoawo, will be competing in the Grudge Match.

If you thought the New York and Boston rivalry was contentious in baseball, wait until you hear the poetry.

On Friday, poets from New York and Boston will compete in a poetry slugfest at Arts at the Armory on Highland Avenue in Somerville.

Producer April Ranger said New York and Boston have long been storied rivals in the still-underground art-turned-sport of poetry slam. In this fast-paced competition, poets from each city will use all the tricks of their trade— lyricism, comedy, political fury, and straight-up heartfelt personal narrative— to impress audience and judges in the slam’s first foray into Somerville.

By George P. Hassett

A Lowell Street man “well known for his aggressive behavior” threw pieces of wood at a real estate broker trying to show perspective buyers the units at a Lowell Street property last week, police said.

Luke Lugo, 25, of 18 Lowell St., was arrested and charged with destruction of property over $250 and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

A Somerville-Cambridge rapper is at the forefront of a growing, multi-lingual musical movement that puts English and creole rhymes over hip hop beats.

E-Double released “Rap Kreyol, Where they do that @” last week on the web – a collection of songs in Haitian creole over classic and brand new hip hop beats.

The album, hosted by Cambridge rapper Wally Sparks, has already been downloaded hundreds of times on the web and is growing in popularity within both Haitian and hip hop circles.

In response to constituent complaints, the Board of Aldermen voted at their March 10 meeting to have the Inspectional Services Department bait for rodents in two Somerville neighborhoods.

By Ashley Taylor

Sal Lena, owner of Alex Auto Body Shop on Washington Street, has to chase the rats out of his garage.

“We’ve noticed [rats] about six months to a year, and the problem’s getting worse and worse and worse.  And it’s not like a regular, small creature; they’re big!” he said this week.

The SomerStreets kickoff/Fitness Challenge wrap-up at Foss Park.

By Cathleen Twardzik

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced that the city’s second annual Mayor’s Fitness Challenge will occur throughout April and May 2011.  It will kick off with an event, which is open to the public, on April 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Somerville High School gymnasium and concourse.

By George P. Hassett

A Somerville man who sped through city streets and killed two people in a 2007 crash at Kidder Avenue and Highland Road was sentenced to 15 to 20 years in state prison Monday.

Javier Morales, 29, was fleeing police after making an illegal turn at approximately 1:20 a.m., authorities said. He drove at a high rate of speed, through numerous red traffic signals, and never slowed or stopped for the police cruiser traveling behind it.

Mario Oliveira handled light duties in his first week back to work with the Somerville Police Department.

Oliveira: Treasure life

By George P. Hassett

A Somerville detective shot and almost killed in November quietly returned to work last week after almost five months away from the job.

Mario Oliveira handled light duties in his first week back to work with the Somerville Police Department. One thing that didn’t change for the decorated detective was a willingness to work hard: on his first day back he stayed beyond his eight hour shift.