By Mike Rubin

Even in a rebuilding year, the Somerville swimming team has remained a solid competitor in the Greater Boston League. After cruising to a 93-71 win over Malden, the Highlanders suffered a tough 88-80 defeat to Malden last Wednesday to stand at 1-1 overall.

In the loss to Malden, key victories for the Highlanders were the 200-yard medley relay team, which finished with a time of 2:00.34 while Kyle Azevedo emerged as a double winner in both the 100 yard butterfly and the 500-yard freestyle events.

Pam Annas, a professor of English at UMass Boston, poet and a member of Somerville’s Bagel Bards won honorable mention for the Ibbetson Street Poetry Prize 2010. I decided to include it in this edition of the LYRICAL.

By Mike Rubin

Kelsey Garrity led the Highlanders with 10 points in a losing effort.

For the Somerville girls basketball squad, victory was within grasp. Instead, the Highlanders suffered a hard fought 39-33 defeat to Lynn English  in falling to 0-2 overall.

“We’re very close and we’re getting there,” said first year coach Shannon Clark. “The girls are giving it their best effort, and we’ve had some great performances. It’s a new system, and the girls will get it, and once we do, we’re going to be just fine.”

By George P. Hassett

Police are alerting Porter Square residents after a woman was assaulted by a masked man in the neighborhood on Dec. 16.

In a phone and email alert to residents, Deputy Chief Paul Upton said a 24 year-old woman was indecently assaulted as she walked on Porter Street near Peterson Terrace. The victim was grabbed from behind and assaulted before she screamed, apparently scaring off the suspect, he said. The suspect then fled down Peterson Terrace toward Linden Avenue, Upton said.

By George P. Hassett

A 43-year-old Somerville man who lost a fight to a man about to smoke a joint in his basement was arrested Dec. 15 after he flew into a rage and said he would kill the man, according to police.

Louis Sousa, of 142 Holland St., was at the center of crowd of about a dozen people yelling and fighting at 132 Central St. when officers arrived, police said. In front of six police officers, several firefighters, ambulance personnel and more than a dozen spectators, Sousa repeatedly said he was going to get a gun and murder the person that beat him up, police said. He allegedly said he had access to a gun and would use it.

- Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

Somerville’s first snowfall of the season is causing treacherous driving conditions for commuters.

Slippery roads caused by black ice attributed to traffic congestion and minor fender benders during Monday’s snowfall.

I am excited to be on the Advisory Board of the Massachusetts Poetry Festival to be held this Spring in Salem. I have spoken several times with the Director Mike Ansara, and have attended meetings with poets from around the state about this exciting event that was previously held in Lowell. I hope to involve Endicott College in Beverly (where I teach writing) in this state-wide venue for the art of poetry. Here is quote from the website for the festival that will provide further details.

The 2010 Somerville Highlanders varsity football team (4-6), led by captains John Wallace, John DiFraia, Kevin Wint and Robert Pratt held their annual awards ceremony on Friday, December 3^rd.  Hosted by the Highlander Football Association, the evening’s awards included:

Unsung Hero: Danny Dell’Isola
Leadership Award: Devon Hairston & Zack Sciuto
Courageous Spirit: Rodsen Liberus
Robert “Bubba” Castor Award: Ryan Conte
Varsity MVP: Josh Scarry & Kevin Wint
Junior Varsity Outstanding Player: Eddie Maldonado
Junior Varsity Coaches’ Award: Arshilazim Master
Freshman Outstanding Player: Phoenix Huertas
Freshman Coaches’ Award: Juwan Paige-Alexander & Carlos Ayala

Farmers and fresh food vendors from across Massachusetts to participate
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Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Shape Up Somerville are pleased to announce the launch of the Somerville winter farmers’ market. The winter farmers’ market is an initiative of Shape Up Somerville, designed to increase access to healthy and local foods for all Somerville residents during the winter months. The market will take place on Saturdays from 10 am – 2pm, January 8^th through March 26^th at the Center for the Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Avenue in Somerville.

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.)

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An old plastic Santa that’s been taped and repaired

A small plastic lamb, with one leg that’s not there

A few plug in candles that my Dad bought at Sears

Are some family Christmas ornaments, that we’ve had for years