Bill Cosby and child psychiatrist Alvin Poussaint will be at Tufts University this week.

By Cathleen Twardzik

Bill Cosby is coming to Somerville. The comedian who has strengthened family ties through laughter in his stand-up routines, comedy albums and hit television show will be honored Feb. 25 at Tufts University.

Cosby’s contributions will be remembered alongside renowned psychiatrist, educator and social commentator Alvin F. Poussaint of Harvard University at the Distler Performance Hall at the Granoff Music Center on Tufts University’s Somerville campus at 10 a.m.

The free event is open to the public.

By George P.  Hassett

A crowd of 40 schoolchildren and teenagers watched a pre-arranged fight between three girls and one boy Feb. 15, police said.

The fight had been pre-arranged and publicized to attract a crowd of onlookers, mostly from Somerville High School and the Full Circle School, police said.

By William Tauro

Eight members of the Somerville Fire Department are scheduled to be promoted this Thursday (February 24th) at 7pm during the Alderman’s meeting at City Hall.

Patrick Sullivan III will be promoted to Deputy Chief of Operations

William Hallinan will be promoted to Deputy Chief

An investigation by Middlesex District Attorney's office this week cleared officers for the Nov. 2 fatal shooting of Matthew Krister.

DA: Krister sold guns to gang members before fatal shooting

By George P. Hassett

An investigation by the Middlesex District Attorney’s office into the Nov. 2 shootout that left a 21-year-old man dead and a decorated police officer fighting for his life has revealed new details about the incident and officially cleared the officers involved.

On Nov. 2 as officers from the Somerville Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms attempted to serve an arrest warrant to Matthew Krister on Gibbens Street, Detective Mario Oliveira was shot five times and Krister was killed in a shootout.

Green Line advocates and opponents huddle to discuss issues surrounding the extension in Medford. - Photo by Andrew Firestone

Public forum discusses hopes, concerns

By Andrew Firestone

While Somerville has lobbied near unanimously for the extension of the Green Line past Lechmere station, Medford residents have been slower to embrace the project.

In the first of several public meetings, the MBTA, the Office of Public Collaboration of UMass and the City of Somerville teamed up to address concerns the citizens of neighboring Medford had of bringing the Green line to their city.

While Medford has largely been on edge about the extension of the Green Line, the program was designed to properly gauge public concerns about the green line and debate their various options.

Snow is piled as high as the basketball hoop at Harrison Park. - Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

Spring is on the way, but the big question here is will the many mountains of snow that are in our make shift snow farms be gone by then.

The basketball court that’s located at Harrison Park next to the Super Stop & Shop has mounds of snow piled up over eleven feet high that is spread across the entire length of the court.

By Charlie Lynch

The second annual Fun-A-Day Boston opened Friday night at the Nave Gallery. Participants created one piece of artwork for each day in the month of  January to be displayed in the gallery. The project hosts pieces in many mediums by local artists.

The event is hosted by the Artclash Collective, a Philadelphia-based group who organize projects and shows that seek to promote creativity and community.  The show will run until Sunday with a closing event on Friday, February 25th. Admission is free.

It has been confirmed that Tony LaFuente is running for Ward 4 Alderman. It’s a crowded field of challengers for current alderman Walter Pero, who we hear will also face a lady from Dartmouth Street  who we hear is a member of the Progressive Democrats, we hear she works for a nonprofit. That would make two candidates running against Walter Pero who has served Ward 4 off and on for many years. We understand that there is possibly another candidate thinking of running in Ward 4. So far though Ward 7 has the hottest race, with two opponents stepping up to challenge veteran Alderman Bob Trane, and we hear there is a possibility of a third challenger in. Appears so for that Walter and Bob have their work cut out for them his year, could be very interesting, plus rumors still come at us regarding a challenger in Ward 6. Now if we could only get challengers for the School Committee from private sector individuals that might be good in the long run here in the city.

By George P. Hassett

A Somerville business staple, open since 1926, is on the verge of having its property seized by the city for unpaid tax and water bills.

Royal White Laundry owes the city $269,926 on unpaid bills for its two Cedar Street properties, said city spokesman Michael Meehan. The city has placed tax liens on Royal White properties going back to 2004.