The latest word out of the Council on Aging is this:  Lady J was seen last week on Thursday taking it upon herself to remove large piles of The Somerville News from the building where the Council of Aging office is, apparently she was seen by a co-worker who put the papers back in the rack.  But apparently the next morning on Friday Lady J was once again seen, we heard, covering up The Somerville News pile of papers with other papers, so they couldn’t be found, again the other person uncovered the papers.  Once we heard what happened  we sent out our scouts to check out the boxes throughout the city and even though we know the paper is popular every single box was empty, hmmmmmm wonder if this means?    The last time someone did this was back in the Mayor August’s administration when the Farm Team printed some bad articles on the mayor several city employees ran around the city and scooped up a lot of the papers.  We probably should remind everyone now that we are online.

Somerville schools don’t always get the recognition they deserve. Whether it’s a low MCAS score at one school or an isolated public safety incident at another, the school system in this city doesn’t always get full credit for the gains and progress they made in public education.

This week was different. Somerville High School was recognized for its innovative biotechnology program. Students this year have taken two high-level biotechnology courses and a career component helps students research biotech companies, find internship opportunities, and learn what’s involved in creating their own biotech company.

By Peta Jinnath Andersen

Somerville High is an Innovative School – and it has the award to show for it.

Earlier this week, the school was honored at the MassBio Annual Awards Luncheon at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge. Awarded to “a Massachusetts High School that has distinguished itself through exemplary innovative biotechnology educational programming,” the Innovative School of the Year Award is a welcome recognition for Somerville High.

(L to R) Dustin Taksar, Bert Mayer (winner of free style partial) and Tom Ward.

Beard competition gets hairy at the Precinct

By Kevin Anglin

While the temperature rose to an almost Spring-like feel on Saturday, a young couple huddled together in the crowded back room of The Precinct to methodically attach fake mustaches to one another.

With a satisfied smile they hoped back in line for the “March of the Fake Beards” portion of the second annual “Get Your Beard On” competition. Held at The Precinct bar in Union Square, the event’s contestants consisted of men, women, and children, all bearded.

By Andrew Firestone

It takes a village to raise the next generation, or that is the old adage. Here in Somerville this adage is being put into practice, as Jennifer Capuano volunteer coordinator of the Somerville public schools can attest.

Currently in its formative stages, Somerville’s volunteer program arranges mentoring and tutoring for students both in and out of the classroom.

By George P. Hassett

A Somerville woman was driving drunk when she hit three cars from Union Square to Powder House Boulevard March 17, according to police.

Melissa Walsh, 29, of 86 Electric Ave., said she had only two beers but officers found a half consumed bottle of whiskey on the driver’s seat of her car. Walsh registered nearly twice the legal limit in a breathalyzer test, police said.

Artist and poet Barbara Lydecker Crane moved to Somerville last year. She has published or forthcoming poems in Light Quarterly, Christian Science Monitor, Measure, The Flea, Lyric, Mezzo Cammin, Snakeskin, Think Journal, SCR, Raintown Review, and Blue Unicorn, among others.

New Hampshire Poet Laureate Walter E. Butts.

Since there is not a Poet Laureate in Somerville I must admit I stray and look for greener pastures. And in one of these green pastures I found New Hampshire Poet Laureate Walter E. Butts. I met Butts at a poetry reading at the Piano Factory Art Gallery in Boston. A friend of mine, the poet and artist James de Crescentis runs the gallery and he organized a reading for Butts. Butts is an unpretentious man but his talent is not modest. After work long years in the Human Services he made the switch to teaching writing, and perfecting his craft. I made a point of contacting him so I could interview him on my Somerville Community Access TV show Poet to Poet: Writer to Writer.

Arrests:
*

Pascal Julien, 31, of 96 Hillberg Ave., Brockton, March 14, 9:42 a.m., arrested on McGrath Highway on a warrant charge.

Alex Barros, 21, of 13 Clearence St., Everett, March 14, 12:39 p.m., arrested on Austin Street on a warrant charge.

Two month long fitness challenge incorporates fitness, healthy eating incentives – participants receive coupons to restaurants, fitness opportunities
*

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced that the City’s 2nd annual “Mayor’s Fitness Challenge” will be held from April through May 2011.  Kicking off with an event on Saturday, April 2nd at the Somerville High School gymnasium and concourse, the Fitness Challenge encourages community members to pledge to embody the Shape Up Somerville motto, “Eat Smart, Move More,” by making smarter food choices and increasing daily physical fitness regimens.  Individuals may participate in one of two ways:  1)  By forming or joining teams of up to 10 people.  At the end of the Challenge, teams will be judged by weight loss and change in Body Mass Index (BMI), and winning teams and individuals will receive prizes.  2)  By signing a “Lifestyle Pledge,” vowing to make daily lifestyle changes in terms of healthy eating and activity levels.  Those signing the Pledge will also receive incentives throughout the program.  The kickoff event will be held from 10am – 2pm on April 2nd, and all members of the public are invited.