State Police Hazardous Material Officers enter 32 Summit Ave. - Photo by Andrew Firestone

Somerville police and fire departments are investigating a suspicious incident that occurred late Monday afternoon.  At about 3:30 p.m., Somerville police responded to 32 Summit Avenue to check the condition of the resident.  Upon their arrival, officers and were met by a friend of the resident who was concerned about the safety of his friend who lived at this address.  Officers attempted to gain entry through the front door and then the back door, which were both locked.

Somerville fire department was called and forced entry into the residence.  Upon entering, there was a strong smell of an unknown odor inside the house as police, firefighters and paramedics entered to search for the resident.  As officers and firefighters searched the house, they found a bathroom door with a sign that read “Poisonous Gas – call Haz-Mat”.  Firefighters quickly donned breathing equipment and entered the room where they located and extricated a 38 year old male resident.  The victim was transported to an area hospital where he is currently in critical condition.

Arrests:
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Devin Mack, 26, May 9, 9:51 a.m., arrested outside Boston on various warrant charges.

Jose Molina, 41, of 52 Glen St., May 9, 2:28 p.m., arrested at 150 Glen St. on a warrant charge of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14.

Vanderlei Pereira, 38, of 5 Linden St., May 9, 4:15 p.m., arrested at home on charges of disorderly conduct and breaking and entering.

Five open streets festivals planned for 2011, events will run through every ward in Somerville
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No matter where you live in Somerville, a SomerStreets festival will be taking place near you in the coming months. The immensely popular open streets series is back again in 2011, featuring live music, recreational activities and farmers’ markets.

More than 200 metered parking spaces, in 5 municipal lots, to accept credit cards for first time; Rates and hours of operation remain the same

In addition to 40 new parking meters to be installed in City squares as part of a pilot program, Mayor Curtatone and the Traffic and Parking Department announced this week that new, multi-spaced parking meter kiosks are being installed in five municipal lots – Buena Vista, Day Street, Rite Aid, Magoun Square and Union Square – serving more than 200 metered parking spaces across the City.  The kiosks will accept credit cards for the first time.  Hours of operation (8am – 8pm) and rates (25 cents per 15 minutes) will remain unchanged.  The new parking kiosks will accept quarters, $1 coins, MasterCard and Visa.  A plan to incorporate the use of the City’s “Park Card,” technology is forthcoming.

Somerville receives one of fourteen “Door Knocker Awards” nationwide; St. Polycarp’s Village, Phase I, received $950,000 HOME funds to assist with project; Honorable mention awarded to VNA in West Somerville

On behalf of the City of Somerville, last week the Director of the Somerville Housing Division, Dana LeWinter, accepted one of fourteen national “Door Knocker Awards,” issued by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, through their HOME Program.  The Awards, presented in Bethesda, Maryland, honor HOME-assisted housing projects, which included Phase I of the St. Polycarp’s Village development on Mystic Avenue. The project received $950,000 in HOME funding.  She was joined in by Jeremy Wilkening and Courtney Koslow of the Somerville Community Corporation (SCC), the project developer.  Phase I of that project included the construction of 11 HOME units, and 24 total units of affordable housing.  Selected for its “Production of Sustainable Housing,” the project was primarily lauded for its use of green and energy-efficiency measures, including a green roof and solar panels.  The groundbreaking for Phase II of the project was held last week and Phase III is currently in the planning process.

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.)

Powder House Park has a history that dates back to the Revolutionary War in the 1700’s. It also has another history that dates back to the 1970’s when it was the cool place to hang around.

When Archie rode a flaming skateboard from “up top” all the way “down bottom” to College Ave., that was historic. You can see more history if you look at a tree down bottom that has the initials “JF” and someone else’s initials that are now unreadable. “JF” was a kid who dated my sister. He was quite the Romeo.

By Carrie Stanziola

Such are the words of Charles Daniels, one local artist who is featured in The Nave Gallery’s Plastic + Film: An Exhibition of Toy Camera Photography exhibit.  Daniels, whose work encapsulates his life and includes such subjects as female nudes, musicians and Somerville’s own Rosebud Diner, is one of the 22 artists featured in Plastic + Film.  His work, along with artists from such diverse locales as England, Hong Kong, California, and Oregon, as well as local artists including Somerville High School students, will be on display until May 21.  Especially noteworthy are local artist Mary Kocol’s Green House with Pink Dogwood and Rain House, which capture the unique look of Somerville homes.

By Jim Clark

Somerville police responded to a report that a man was showing a firearm in a parking lot at 9 New Washington St.

Teodoro Garcia Gonzalez, 34, was found to be in possession of two firearms and two boxes of ammunition, according to police.

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.)

Much public attention over the past eight months has focused on whether the city should take on $26 million in debt to build infrastructure that would serve Federal Realty Investment Trust’s (FRIT’s) Assembly Square development projects. Over the same period, and almost unnoticed, a consequential development has moved toward approval.

By Andrew Firestone

This weekend at the Armory, the New England Bike Expo came home to the birthplace of bike innovation May 7 and 8.

With legendary frame makers Merlin, Fat City Cycles, Independent Fabrications, and Firefly Cycles coming up from the ‘Ville, it’s no surprise that the exposition hits the same week Somerville was awarded the title of “Bicycle Friendly Community” from the League of American Bicyclists.