In accordance with the City’s Snow Emergency Procedures, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone has declared a snow emergency for the City of Somerville to go into effect at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 20^th.   During snow emergencies, parking is allowed on the odd-numbered side of the street only (unless otherwise posted).  Cars not moved by midnight on Thursday (12:00 a.m. Friday) 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 http://www.somervillema.gov/.

By George P. Hassett

A man sleeping in an apartment complex hallway was robbed of his laptop after he was assaulted by two men Jan. 17, police said.

The victim told police one of the suspects hit him with a bat on his leg while the other took his laptop. Police said the other man had a knife.

By Mike Rubin

Only one month ago, the Somerville High boys basketball team was prepared for a rebuilding season. Now after a 7-1 start, the Highlanders have emerged as one of the teams to beat in the Greater Boston League.

After cruising to a 73-38 win over Malden last Tuesday, the Highlanders escaped with a high scoring 86-77 win over Medford on Friday.

By George P. Hassett

A Medford man hit another man over the head with a beer bottle three times Sunday night at The Burren Pub in Davis Square, according to police.

Samuel Grieve, 22, of 338 High St., and another man were arguing with customers and smashing bottles on tables at the Burren, police said. When they were asked to leave, Grieve allegedly hit the victim three times with a bottle as the other man swung wildly.

Former Somerville High Hockey All-Star Cam Lynch is now making a name for himself as a Division 1 Collegiate Hockey official. - Photo courtesy of www.actionphotos.com

By Mike Rubin

Not long ago, Cam Lynch emerged as one of the finest hockey players to ever don the Somerville High School boys hockey sweater.

Now two years after graduation from Somerville High School, Lynch continues to etch his name out on the ice, this time as a college hockey official.

Currently Lynch, 20, has officiated handful of NCAA Division 1 Women’s Ice Hockey games for the East Coast Athletic Conference.

A January 14 event at Somerville High School remembered the earthquake in Haiti one year later. - Photo by Andrew Firestone

Local activist: Like quake happened yesterday

By Andrew Firestone

It is one year later, and the country of Haiti is still healing. Haitian expatriates in Somerville came together to remember the 300,000 people who lost their lives in last year’s devastating earthquake in an event sponsored by the Haitian Coalition of Somerville.

By George P. Hassett

A woman was robbed of her iPod and handbag early Jan. 11 as she walked down Holland Street toward Teele Square, police said.

The suspect was described as a white male in his twenties or thirties about five foot 11 inches tall, average build and wearing a gray hooded Patriots sweatshirt.

– Photos by Andrew Firestone

Fairfax Street blaze started by space heater

By George P. Hassett

The fire that killed a Somerville mother and her son in their Fairfax Street home Monday may have been caused by a space heater placed too close to combustible materials, according to fire officials.

Fire Chief Kevin Kelleher said the fire was accidental and may have started when a space heater was placed too close to bed sheets. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Somerville Fire Department, Fire Investigation Unit, the State Fire Marshals office, the Somerville Police Department and the State Police assigned to the District Attorney’s office.