Volunteers help families with their financial aid forms. - Photo by Charlie Lynch

By Charlie Lynch

FAFSA Day, an annual event at Somerville High School, was held on Sunday, Jan. 30.  The event offered free professional assistance to students for completing their college financial aid forms.

“This is my third year here,” said Elaine Czesniuk, a volunteer at FAFSA Day, who was surprised by the low attendance.   Though the students and families who did attend were offered one-on-one guidance, as well as an informative lecture to help students maximize their chances at  receiving financial aid.

The Somerville Girls Track team rolled to another easy win, this time a 60-26 decision over Cambridge last Wednesday. - Photo by Siobhan Murray

By Mike Rubin

Led by a solid group of contributors, Somerville High girls track cruised to a 60-26 win over Cambridge in Wednesday’s Greater Boston League meet. With the win, the Highlanders remained unbeaten at 3-0 overall.

In the two-mile run, Pristine Mei delivered a winning time of 12:54 while Nicole Gerard recorded a victory in the hurdles en route to a time of 7.2. Iaritza Menjivar also recorded a solid performance in the mile run en route to a winning time of 6:06.

Richard Cambridge, who incidentally lives in the People’s Republic of Cambridge, has moved his much lauded Poet’s Theater to the Arts Armory in Somerville from Club Passim in Harvard Square. I first met Richard Cambridge when we were part of a group of poets working on an anthology “City of Poets: 18 Boston Voices” organized by Don DiVecchio in 2000. I ran into Richard recently at the Armory, and well, here is our interview:

Somerville poet Lloyd Schwartz has taught at Boston State College, Queens College, and Harvard University, and is currently Frederick S. Troy Professor of English at the University of Massachusetts in Boston. He is also the Classical Music Editor of The Boston Phoenix and a regular commentator on NPR’s Fresh Air. I recently read with him at the Arts Armory in Somerville – he sent this poem to the Lyrical.

- Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

A pile up of automobiles on the McGrath Highway ramp caused commuter delays as police and other emergency crews cleared the scene Tuesday afternoon.

Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

One of Somerville’s snow farms located on Foley Street at the rear of Assembly Square is beginning to run out of room as trucks continue to dump snow.

Snow from previous storms which has been  posing a safety issue by blocking visibility at crosswalks is filling the farm to it’s capacity.

In accordance with the City’s Snow Emergency Procedures, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone has announced that a snow emergency will be in effect for the City of Somerville as of 10:00 p.m. on Monday, January 31^st.   During snow emergencies, parking is allowed on the odd-numbered side of the street only (unless otherwise posted).  Cars not moved from the even side by 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday will be ticketed and towed.  Residents unable to find a parking space on the odd-numbered side of the street may park in any municipal or school lot for the duration of the emergency.  A list of available city lots and other relevant information may be found on the City’s website at www.somervillema.gov.

Indira Evora

By Mike Rubin

With the help of high scoring guards Indira Evora and Kelsey Garrity, Somerville girls basketball is back in the hunt for a tournament appearence.

Evora recorded a game high 15 points and Garrity added 13 as the Highlanders cruised to a 61-27 win over Malden in Friday night’s Greater Boston League showdown at the Brune Field House. Coupled with a win over Norte Dame of Hingham and a loss to Gloucester, the Highlanders currently stand even at 6-6 overall and 3-1 in the GBL.

Somerville is one of only 12 communities nationwide to receive the grant; Funds will continue city’s Lead Hazard Abatement Program

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The Housing Division of the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development announced today that it has received a grant in the amount of $1,876,179 from the Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grant Program (LHRD), a federally funded grant through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control.  The City of Somerville is one of only 12 communities nationwide, and one of only three in Massachusetts to receive the grant.