By George P. Hassett

A 16-year-old Somerville boy was walking home from school on the bike path Dec. 13 was allegedly assaulted and robbed of his money and phone.

The victim said the man punched him in the stomach before robbing him, according to police. The suspect was described by the victim as six foot two inches, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and jeans.

By George P. Hassett

An 18-year-old Somerville man was arrested Dec. 18 after he allegedly broke into a car on Highland Avenue and stole a GPS device.

Eric Cruz, 18, of 38 Oliver St., was arrested and charged with receiving stolen property under $250 and breaking and entering a vehicle in the nighttime. Police allegedly found Cruz on Gilman Street with a GPS device shortly after the break-in.

Part 2: Learning from experience

By Neil Berman

(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.)

It is the sense of Congress that States should develop curricula relating to the subject of personal finance, designed for use in elementary and secondary schools.

– The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act

"Red Barn" by Jerry Pisani

By Peta Jinnath Andersen

Tucked away between Kirkland Village and Union Square, the Washington Street Art Center is an unimposing box of a building. The dusty white, red-doored gallery is also the perfect spot for Jerry Pisani’s Unstructured, a show that begins with architecture, and ends with an exploration of character and identity.

Ten years in the making, Unstructured is Pisani’s first show, a short run from Dec. 10 to 29, with showings by appointment. The show begins with several pieces from Pisani’s early years: “First Love,” a sketch of the student center at Ithaca College in New York, is probably his first building sketch.

By Mike Rubin

Despite a young roster, Somerville hockey coach Chuck Allen has lead his squad to an impressive 2-0 start. After a thrilling 2-1 season opening victory against Revere, the Highlanders escaped with a 6-4 win over Northeast Regional in Saturday night’s home opener at Veterans Memorial Rink.

In the win over Revere, the Highlanders were faced with a 1-0 deficit before tying the contest midway through the second period on a goal by Dave Cooper.

By George P. Hassett

Drug unit detectives conducting routine surveillance around Pearl Street and McGrath Highway last week witnessed a drug deal in progress and arrested a Burlington man with heroin, police said.

On Dec. 15, Stephen Carey, 44, was arrested on Gilman St. and charged with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and possession of a class A drug.

Former Acting Chief Mike Cabral passed leadership of the Somerville Police Department to Thomas Pasquerello, the fifth chief in five years.

Five police chiefs in five years

By George P. Hassett

The leadership of the Somerville Police Department officially changed hands Monday when Mike Cabral was replaced by Thomas Pasquarello as acting chief of the department. It is another change in leadership in the city’s police department as four chiefs have served since Mayor Joseph Curtatone negotiated a buyout of former chief George McLean in March 2005.

By George P. Hassett

Police are investigating a report of an indecent exposure at the bus stop outside Burger King on Somerville Avenue.

A woman told police she was stared at by a man making lewd gestures on Dec. 15. Police said the woman saw his liscense plate and called police as the suspect drove away.

By George P. Hassett

An Iraq war veteran placed retroactively at the top of a civil service hiring list for the city’s fire department may have been passed over for the last time at last Thursday’s aldermen meeting.

Sean O’Brien won a civil service decision that placed him at the top of the list to be hired as a Somerville firefighter. Six candidates were approved to join the city’s reserve firefighter force over O’Brien at the meeting.

The Somerville High Boys Basketball Team Split its first two games with Malden Catholic.

By Mike Rubin

Even though the Somerville boys basketball team is undersized and inexperienced, they’ve hustled their way to a fine start.

Despite suffering a tough 63-59 defeat to Malden Catholic, the Highlanders bounced back with an encouraging 78-71 win over the Lancers in Friday night’s home opener at the Brune Gymnasium. Currently, the Highlanders stand at 1-1 overall.