By George P. Hassett

An alert Somerville detective spotted the car of a suspect wanted for a vicious New Year’s attack this week, solving a case with few clues that otherwise might have gone unsolved, police said.

Somerville Police Detective Kathryn Costa was on Washington Street when she saw a vehicle matching the description of a car belonging to a man wanted for an unprovoked razor slashing outside the Powderhouse Pub in Ball Square early on New Year’s Day.

Andre Rolim.

Rolim sets new state record in 600

By Mike Rubin

As a sophomore, Somerville High boys track star Andre Rolim has emerged as one of the top track stars in the state. On Dec. 28 he set a new state record in the 600 meter race at the Dec. 28 Massachusetts State Track Coaches Holiday tournament at the Reggie Lewis Center.

Gewirtz, Sweeting take lead of aldermen, School Committee

At Tuesday's address, Mayor Joe Curtatone said he has no intention of slowing down. ~Photo by Andrew Firestone

By Andrew Firestone

As a new year dawned in Somerville, Mayor Joseph Curtatone promised continued progress, increased development, and a refusal to slow down the pace in spite of a sluggish economy.

“In the last 12 months, the people of Somerville have been tested with challenges of almost biblical proportions,” he said, recalling the floods, budget shortfalls, and street violence of 2010. “We have seen other cities staggered by their weight: back-pedaling on their dreams…. and reneging on their promises,” he said.

Happy New Year to all of Somerville, and a reminder to some that this is a gossip column. Some might not be familiar with what a gossip column does, just ask those guys that ran the Socialist Progressive Paper a few years (now they have their online site instead). They had that column called “The Somerville Snoop” – what’s the major difference? We’re not as nasty as they were.    To all those and newcomers to the city, ask a local progressive what we’re talking about.

***************

Recent report out on the number of committee meetings each alderman attended last year, and we’re not surprised to see the alderwoman from Ward 2 Maryann Heuston attended the most committee meetings this year. Committee meetings are where the real work gets done so we’re happy to see Maryann putting in so much work for her constituents. We here at Newstalk are big fans of Maryann and we didn’t have to be told that she was number 1, we already know she’s one of the hardest working aldermen. This is not to say others aren’t hard workers but she was number 1 in the various attendances of the 18 different committees that the board has. Although each alderman is assigned various committee’s some alderman attend other meetings, like Maryann did. We congratulate her; by the way as Chairman of finance she had the most meetings for the year, just beating out Legislative Matters.

Somerville Museum

By Cathleen Twardzik

Despite tough economic conditions, the Somerville Museum has raised $50,000 to make critical repairs to its outdated building, first built in 1925.

In 2008, the museum was awarded matching funds in the amount of $104,500 by the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund (MCFF) and MassDevelopment Corporation to undertake the repairs.

By George P. Hassett

A dispute over shoveling on Derby Street during last week’s snow storm ended in six men fighting with  shovels and a baseball bat, police said.

On Dec. 27, after snow had fallen for 18 hours, John Murphy, 46, of 60 Derby St., allegedly hit a man with a baseball bat for shoveling snow onto his property.

By Mike Rubin

After a slow start to the season under new coach Shannon Clark, the Somerville High girls basketball team appears to be turning the corner.

Despite a valiant effort, the Highlanders suffered a tough 55-50 defeat at the hands of Fontbonne Academy in Wednesday’s Highlander Holiday tournament championship at the Brune Field House. Currently, the Highlanders stand at 1-4 overall.

By Julia Fairclough

The American front porch represents the ideal of community, it exists as a zone between the public and private, an area that can be shared between the sanctity of the home and the community outside.

Come this spring in Somerville, the front porch may also serve as a stage to share music, community, and make new friends.

Now is the snow season.  Diana Der-Hovanessian, president of the New England Poetry Club sent me a poem she translated from the Armenian for the LYRICAL.