SHS’s Andre Rolim edged out the competition with a winning time of 2:03.9 in the 800m at last Wednesday’s meeting with the Cambridge Falcons at Dilboy Stadium.

Overcoming rainy weather and a 12-point early deficit, the Somerville High School boys track squad surged back to earn 71 to 65 victory over longtime rival Cambridge last Wednesday at Dilboy Stadium, finishing the season 4-0.

It was the last Greater Boston League dual meet of the season, and the previously undefeated Cambridge team came prepared. “Cambridge always has a strong team and Wednesday was no different,” reported Coach Dave Dickerson. “Our guys showed their resiliency by coming back strong in key events before sealing the victory in the final event, the 4 x 400 meter relay.”

By Jim Clark

While conducting surveillance in and around the Holiday Inn parking lot last Friday, members of the Somerville Police Department Drug Control Unit and the Cambridge Police Department Drug Control Unit observed suspicious activity by the occupants of an older model car that had arrived at the location.

Mayor Joseph Curtatone answers questions from Teen Empowerment. - Photo by Andrew Firestone

By Andrew Firestone

Youth activists of Somerville were called upon to discuss budgetary concerns this last Friday, May 6, when Mayor Joseph Curtatone and the Statehouse delegation of Somerville dropped by Teen Empowerment’s East Somerville headquarters.

Members of Teen Empowerment and the Groundwork Somerville green team spoke for over an hour with state Senators Pat Jehlen and Sal DiDomenico, as well as state Representatives Denise Provost and Tim Toomey, and requested more funding for teen jobs in an event organized by Marlon Remdehal, director of Somerville programs for TE, and Adam Machson Carter, GS green team coordinator.

Somerville Community Chorus rehearses for their spring concert, 2011.

By Maria S. Judge

When Paul Coakley joined the Somerville Community Chorus in 1986 he could not have imagined that he would still be anchoring the tenor section two decades later. But this Saturday when the Chorus presents its spring concert, A Celebration of Music, he will not only be Singing in the Rain, but also will be celebrating more than 25 years as the longest running member of the group.

“Books of Hope” is a program located in the Mystic River Housing Project in Somerville that introduces young people to the world of publishing, marketing, poetry and creative writing. I interviewed one of the young poets who particpates in the project: Yolandi Elvira Cruz. I asked her to send her bio. She wrote The News:

“Yolandi Elvira Cruz Guerrero was born and raised in the Dominican Republic and wrote her first book when she was in third grade. It was made up of only eight pages and filled with illustrations she created herself with color pencils and water paint. Yolandi is now a seventeen-year-old High School Junior trying to pass her classes and working with kids at the local library. She has been writing since she came out her mother’s womb and has had the luck of encounteringamazing teachers and friends who have encouraged her to share her stories both in Spanish and English. She met her first love, Spoken Word, as a freshman and has been working to make her marriage stronger and have a couple kids ever since. Right now she participates in Books of Hope in the community of Somerville.

By Andrew Firestone

The Ninth Annual Mary O’Brien Memorial (M.O.M.) 5k roared through Davis Square, Sunday, May 8, 2011. The turnout of 350 brought an intense yield, but ended in a victory by 39-year-old Sean McClain, with a time of 17:10.

“It’s great, not much wind, not too warm,” said McClain.

Tonight at Old Magoun Saloon from 6 to 9 is the correct night for Ward 5 Alderman Sean O’Donovan’s time. We hope he has a great time. We plan on being there. Last week we mistakenly mentioned that last Wednesday was his time. Nope it’s tonight.

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We hear that Lady J has asked for and received a 12 week leave of absence from work at the City. Too much stress, we hear , was the reason. Isn’t it amazing, the amount of stress some can give but not take? We hear that she’s not going back to COA. Looks like our papers are safe for at least 12 weeks! We hear that Ms. Cindy is going back shortly, since the city concluded its investigation into the various allegations. The city finished and we hear that the DA was looking over the paperwork from the investigation. What do you think the DA will conclude?   Cindy was put on paid leave. Some say she’s going back to COA, some say no. We’ll keep you posted – since lips are suppose to be sealed, aren’t they?

130 Broadway as it looks today. - Photo by Ashley Taylor

By Ashley Taylor

A museum-quality custom archival framing company, PSG Framing, is moving from South Boston to Somerville and situating itself in the area of Broadway slated for remodeling through the East Broadway Streetscapes project.

The streetscapes project will renovate the street itself: sewers, sidewalks, and bike lanes.  Those changes, in turn, are expected to draw businesses and customers to what is expected to be a more pedestrian-friendly area. PSG Framing is one such business.

Mark Twain once said – back when 25+ million dollars was real money – the following: “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.” Unfortunately, certain people and the institutions they represent can take this sentiment to extremes. After some 20 odd years of political wrangling and hand wringing the die is finally cast.
The Assembly Row District Improvement Financing (DIF) project passed by the Somerville Board of Aldermen last week sets into motion a number of initiatives that should bring the development to life at last. We seem to be fully committed now, and we are guardedly optimistic that the promises of economic growth, local jobs, and all the rest may finally become a reality.