By George P. Hassett

A woman reported to police that a man exposed himself to her Jan. 26.

The woman told police she was at the bus stop on Washington Street at Tufts Street when a dark blue sedan pulled up to her. The man inside allegedly exposed himself to her. The woman shouted that she was going to call the police and the suspect drove away.

Alderman: ‘There is a lot of paranoia in the immigrant community’

By Andrew Firestone

A new federal law enforcement program has frightened the local immigrant community and prevented immigrant parents from sending their children to community events, according to a Somerville alderman.

Alderman-at-Large Bruce Desmond said the Secure Communities programs, signed by Governor Deval Patrick, has created paranoia within Somerville’s immigrant population. Parents have stopped sending their children to youth sports leagues in response, Desmond said.

City spokeswoman Jackie Rossetti said Department of Public Works trucks are storing snow in Yard 21 in Assembly Square and Harris Park. - Photo by Bobbie Toner

Officials look for new spots for cleared snow

By George P. Hassett

Shoveling is turning out to be the easy part.

As another major storm is predicted for Wednesday, city officials are scrambling for spots to store the snow that is filling up New England’s most densely populated city.

A public hearing has been set for February 17 at 6:00 p.m. to discuss the grievances of local craftsman in Somerville against KSS Realty and Gale Residential Properties over bidding concerns for construction of the MaxPak site.- Photo by Andrew Firestone

Hearing set for Feb. 17

By Andrew Firestone

Local construction workers and builders will have a chance to make their case to be hired at the site of a 184 unit condominium this month.

A public hearing has been set for February 17 at 6:00 p.m. to discuss the grievances of local craftsman in Somerville against KSS Realty and Gale Residential Properties over bidding concerns for construction of the MaxPak site.

Robbie Anderson is one of many reasons why the Somerville High boys' hockey team is on the verge of clinching their first tournament berth in four years. - Courtesy photo

By Mike Rubin

After surviving three games in four days, the Somerville High boys hockey team is on the verge of clinching their first tournament appearance in four years.

Despite a 9-5 loss to Matignon on Saturday night, the Highlanders won a pair of key victories in the Greater Boston League last week. On Friday, the Highlanders coasted to a 7-3 win over Cambridge and survived a 5-4 shootout win over Everett last Wednesday. Currently, the Highlanders stand at 7-4-1 overall, but are 3-1 in the GBL. Should the Highlanders defeat league rival Medford in Wednesday night’s showdown at Veteran’s Memorial Rink, they’ll capture a share of the league title as well as an automatic berth in the Division 1 state tournament.

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.