By William Tauro

A porch collapsed Monday evening on Sycamore Terrace.  An occupant of the house suffered a broken ankle and was treated and release at an area hospital.

Somerville emergency crews and Inspectional Services were called in to assess the damage.

Assistant Director of Personnel, Sarah Kloos, to assume role as Acting Director of Personnel as of February 14th; City conducting search for Permanent Director

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In a statement to City employees, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced that the City’s Director of Personnel, Jessie Baker, has resigned her post in order to accept the position of Performance Improvement Manger for the Vermont Health Department.  Mayor Curtatone also announced that, effective Monday, February 14, 2011, Assistant Director of Personnel Sarah Kloos will serve as Acting Director of the Department.  A formal search process began earlier this month to permanently fill the position.  Ms. Baker has been an employee of the City of Somerville since 2006.

Helen F. McIntrye Scholarship established through SHS Scholarship Foundation

On Monday, January 24, the Somerville School Committee formally accepted at $153,601 bequest from the estate of Helen F. McIntyre, who died in December 2009 at her home on Cape Cod. Ms. McIntrye, a Somerville High School graduate from the Class of 1936, bequeathed the funds to establish a scholarship for a Somerville High School graduate who is attending BU and is planning to study business. Upon
learning of the bequest Superintendent of Schools Tony Pierantozzi remarked, “The generosity of the community of Somerville and Somerville High School graduates is extraordinary. Ms. McIntrye joins hundreds of others in making it possible for many of our graduates to fulfill their college aspirations.”

Students from the Healey school visited Biogen labs in Cambridge last month.

By George P. Hassett

Somerville teacher Peadar Dooley and Healey School students visited Biogen labs in Cambridge last month. As one parent said: It’s a phenomenal lab experience: the students get lab coats, safety glasses and use all sorts of cool high-priced lab equipment.  Mr. Dooley’s more scientific explanation of their trip:

Phil Ercolini first served under Mayor Ralph in 1973; Served on Zoning Board of Appeals for 18 years; Was Housing Director for 7 years
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The City’s long-time Director of the Housing Division of the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, Phil Ercolini, served his last day in that position today as he retired after many years of service to the City.  First hired by Mayor S. Lester Ralph as Aide to the Mayor in 1973, Ercolini has served the City in several capacities including an 18-year position on the Zoning Board of Appeals prior to joining the Curtatone administration as Housing Director in 2004.  In 2006 – 2007, he also served as Acting Director of OSPCD while the City conducted a nationwide search for a permanent appointment.  Prior to accepting his final position as Housing Director , Ercolini also held several positions within the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, including Senior Housing Program Coordinator and Director of the Housing Stabilization Fund.

Dangers associated with heavy snow loads on roofs

(press release from  MEMA)

Over the past 36 hours, there have been over 70 reports of roof collapses or buildings with potential structural damage from the weight of snow and ice loads on roofs.  While these incidents have occurred throughout the Commonwealth, the majority have taken place in eastern Massachusetts.  In many instances, homes and businesses have been evacuated as a result of collapses or safety concerns resulting from indications of structural weaknesses.  In a normal winter season, there may be a handful of such events, making this season, with its heavy snowfall, extremely unique.  The current severe roof load conditions are the result of the recent prolonged cold weather and repeated snowstorms.  Short periods of rain that get absorbed in the snowpack on roofs have also made matters even worse.  Compounding the situation is the short-term weather forecast of potentially two more snowstorms in the next week.

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.)

Payback is a powerful thing. I remember my mother pointing her finger at me and saying, “wait until you have your own kids!” and, “I hope your children aren’t as mean to you as you are to me!”

Back then, we never thought that mom’s words would ever come true.  We weren’t trying to hurt our parents and make them crazy. We were teenagers. Raging hormonal hazards.

- Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

A resident of Brady Towers was stuck in the snow of an unshoveled handicap ramp at the Sunoco Gas Station on McGrath Highway.

The Somerville  man was yelling for help Friday afternoon for a half hour unnoticed when news staff arrived on scene and assisted the man.

By George P.  Hassett

A Medford man told a police officer he would “shoot [the officer and his] family with an AK-47” after the man double parked on Broadway so he could get a cup of coffee Jan. 28, police said.

Julio Marin, 32, of 566 Main St., told officers “the flashers are on” after they told him he could not double park on Broadway, police said. He then allegedly cursed at the officers.

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.)

The half dozen of you who regularly read this column may have noticed its absence over the past ten weeks. In November, my thumb had a brief but intimate relationship with my table saw.

The docs reattached the severed part. The cast is gone for now, and I can type. I would like to think that I can still poke my thumb in the eyes of the powerful and smug. So I’ll start with the President’s State of the Union speech.