Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

One of Somerville’s snow farms located on Foley Street at the rear of Assembly Square is beginning to run out of room as trucks continue to dump snow.

Snow from previous storms which has been  posing a safety issue by blocking visibility at crosswalks is filling the farm to it’s capacity.

In accordance with the City’s Snow Emergency Procedures, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone has announced that a snow emergency will be in effect for the City of Somerville as of 10:00 p.m. on Monday, January 31^st.   During snow emergencies, parking is allowed on the odd-numbered side of the street only (unless otherwise posted).  Cars not moved from the even side by 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday will be ticketed and towed.  Residents unable to find a parking space on the odd-numbered side of the street may park in any municipal or school lot for the duration of the emergency.  A list of available city lots and other relevant information may be found on the City’s website at www.somervillema.gov.

Indira Evora

By Mike Rubin

With the help of high scoring guards Indira Evora and Kelsey Garrity, Somerville girls basketball is back in the hunt for a tournament appearence.

Evora recorded a game high 15 points and Garrity added 13 as the Highlanders cruised to a 61-27 win over Malden in Friday night’s Greater Boston League showdown at the Brune Field House. Coupled with a win over Norte Dame of Hingham and a loss to Gloucester, the Highlanders currently stand even at 6-6 overall and 3-1 in the GBL.

Somerville is one of only 12 communities nationwide to receive the grant; Funds will continue city’s Lead Hazard Abatement Program

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The Housing Division of the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development announced today that it has received a grant in the amount of $1,876,179 from the Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grant Program (LHRD), a federally funded grant through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control.  The City of Somerville is one of only 12 communities nationwide, and one of only three in Massachusetts to receive the grant.

Somerville artist Max Jackson has soul.

Max Jackson’s excellent adventure

By Andrew Firestone

There are entertainers, and then there are real musicians. If ever there was a clear example of this, it would be Somerville artist Max Jackson. Jackson is a minstrel. A wandering troubadour. Armed with only his musical skills, and the long, hollow log they call a diggeridoo, Jackson walks the streets of Somerville spreading his unique, enrapturing sound in pursuit of the ultimate ideal: inspiration.

Best Pest control keeps the rats at bay
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Kreimeyer has been clearing out rats, roaches and bedbugs from every corner of Somerville since 1972.

By Andrew Firestone

Rod Kreimeyer may not seem like an institution, but as one of the longest serving and skilled pest control experts in the state, he’s put together a legacy of battling the creepy-crawlers that infest the tiny nooks of Somerville.

Active in National and Regional Pest Control Associations, Kreimeyer has been clearing out rats, roaches and bedbugs from every corner of Somerville since 1972.

By Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone

(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.)

Last week Governor Patrick proposed a momentous change in how municipalities deliver health care to their employees, and the fate of this legislation will make or break many cities and towns across the state.

Currently, most municipalities are self-insured, like Somerville. Whenever a city employee goes to the doctor, the taxpayers get the bill. We contract with insurance providers like Harvard Pilgrim, Tufts and Blue Cross Blue Shield to use their negotiated rates with doctors and hospitals, but we are not part of a larger insurance pool and the money comes straight out of the City budget. If we want to change anything, we have to negotiate with our local collective bargaining units to make that change.

The Somerville Fire Department took delivery of the new heavy rescue unit on Thursday January 20th.  The members who are assigned to Rescue 1 will have training on the new apparatus and tools over the next few weeks.  They will also be busy setting up where each piece of equipment will stored on Rescue 1.  Rescue 1 will not go into full service until sometime during the month of February.

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.)

Do I love Davis Square? Madly. Do I enjoy living in the past? Definitely.  Actually, I can’t believe I have been around long enough to see so many changes down Davis Square.

It has been a real education. It’s not just the earrings and piercings that constitute change. When we were hanging there in the 70’s we had earrings, only they were confined to …you know…ears. It’s not the tattoos and the 250 different types of micro brews offered in every new bar that opens.