By George P. Hassett

A Brockton woman was arrested Sunday afternoon after she allegedly tried to steal a variety of items from Home Depot in Assembly Square, police said.

Heather Bryant-King, 25, allegedly placed an electric drill and other items totaling $336, in a bag and walked past the cashiers and out of the store.

Nave show: Art exhibit or prophet convention?
*

By Andrew Firestone

When Tim Devin initially decided to amass a compendium of thoughts figures and predictions for Somerville’s future last year, he had no idea where it might lead. On Saturday, standing in his installation at the Nave Gallery, he and the people of Somerville pool their resources, and perhaps make the murky waters of the future a little clearer.

Sasha Garczynski will continue her successful track career in college, where she's accepted a partial scholarship to Merrimack.

By Mike Rubin

After three successful seasons as a member of the Somerville girls indoor track team, Sasha Garczynski has  rewritten the school record books in the middle distance events.

Now Garczynski will have the opportunity to continue her athletic career at the collegiate level as a member of the Merrimack College track and field team, where she’ll compete in the Northeastern Conference. Garczynski, who recently narrowed her choices between Ithaca College and other local schools, chose the North Andover College.

Paul Malvone earned tournament berth after winning the Battle of the Best Burger on Everyday with Rachel Ray. - Photo by Andrew Firestone

Burger Company competes for national title

By Andrew Firestone

Paul Malvone’s favorite thing to do is act as a waiter in his own restaurant. At the Boston Burger Co., every time he hears someone has ordered his new smash-hit of a sandwich, “The Hot Mess,” he likes to bring it out personally, just so he can ask, “whose got the Hot Mess?” and then watch their reaction upon experiencing the taste.

“Someone will always sit there and go ‘oh, I’m the Hot Mess,” he said, remembering the humor of presenting the open-faced burger. “Their eyes light up when the see it.”

~Photos by Jill Brennan

One rumor circulating around town is that Ward Seven Alderman Bob Trane might have an interesting candidate opposing him. We hear from several sources that lifelong resident Joan Puglia wife of former Alderman Andy Puglia might pull papers to run in Ward 7. Joan is a nice lady and very well known around the city in particular Ward 7, we think that Ward 7 could be an interesting battle for Bob who has weathered some tough challenges in the past and doesn’t seem too upset, we hear.

***************

In the Alderman at Large race, we heard that the darling of the Progressives, Suzanne Bremer, who unsuccessfully ran against Mayor Joe in 2007 is considering throwing her name on the ballot for Alderman At Large.

By George P. Hassett

City officials are looking into allegations of financial mismanagement in the Council on Aging.

Council on Aging Director Cindy Hickey has been on vacation since last week, said city spokesman Michael Meehan. Meehan said thus far in the investigation, officials have found no specific wrongdoing on Hickey’s part.

In 1971, 29 Somerville residents were on the ballot for alderman-at-large. In 2009, there was no need for a single primary in the city elections.
What happened? Do we care less than we did in 1971? Are we less opinionated? Has everything at City Hall been solved? Probably not.
Beyond taking into account the many valid reasons for such a drop in political participation (cost of living increases keep folks at work instead of civic engagements, apathy may have set in after we hear each week on the news about another scandal in government), fewer voices in citywide discussions hurt us all.

Police initially believed suspect was ‘violent’ military deserter

By George P. Hassett

An identification mix-up had Somerville police chasing what they thought was a violent military deserter Sunday afternoon.

When officers caught up to Brandon Wood, a 29-year-old homeless man, they found a knife and a syringe loaded with “freshly cooked heroin,” police said. He was with Brandon Shelzi, 20, of 10 Townsend Rd., Belmont, who was found with syrine caps in his pockets.