(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.)

I know that the column's name is "On The Silly Side" and hopefully next week I will get back to being silly. But a few weeks ago I merely scratched the surface of a problem that is reeling out of control.

Librarian Dave Taber receives assistance from trouble!, who edits the Somerville arts zine High Five, for a reading during the reopening celebration of the Papercut Zine Library at 226 Pearl St. The library has more than 13,000 titles, available to check out by anyone who signs up to be a member. ~Photos  by Tom Nash

By Tom Nash

A former Harvard Square landmark devoted to free expression and radical thought opened Sunday at its new site on Pearl Street in Somerville.

Taber said he hoped the turnout for the April 18 grand opening, which featured performances and refreshments provided by anti-hunger activists Food Not Bombs, was evidence that the more remote location wouldn't deter visitors.

~Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

Ricky DiGiovanni owner of Ricky's Flower Market in Union Square unloads a truck load of spring flower arrangements and hanging plants that just arrived.

One of the panelist for "Evolving Fossil Fuels", Howard J. Herzog, a Senior Research Engineer in the MIT Energy Initiative.

Kathleen Di Simone

Global
warming. The quest for alternative energy. The finite nature of the
fuels we have been using for centuries. These are all valid concerns to
scientists and the general public alike. So it's no wonder that when
Tufts University held its Energy Conference this past weekend, hundreds
of students and professionals attended, each trying to make more of a
mark than the standard carbon footprint.

On Friday night, the
conference began with a panel talk on "Evolving Fossil Fuels." The
panel consisted of enthusiastic proponents of fossil fuel use,
including Howie Herzog, program manager of Massachusetts Institute of
Technology's Carbon Capture Initiative; Joe Stanislaw, founder of
energy and technology investment group JAStanislaw Group LLC; and Jon
Robbins, senior scientific advisor for Exxon Mobil. According to all
three men, the case for fossil fuels was the same as it has been for
years.

Somerville police and Sony worked together in a three month investigation to nab a Play Station thief last week.

In
January, a Somerville man told police his Beacon Street apartment had
been burglarized and his Sony Play Station 3 had been stolen.

~Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

Friends and neighbors of lifelong Somerville resident John McKenzie lined Irving Street in Somerville with a sea of American flags to honor the popular WWII veteran who passed away this week.

McKenzie was also well known for many years for his Wednesday lunches on College Avenue at the Baptist Church. He was a popular member of Somerville Lodge and King Solomon's Lodge here in Somerville

~Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

The Somerville Council on Aging and The Somerville Lion's Club joined forces at Giggle's Comedy Stop on Route 1 Tuesday evening for a night of laughs for a good cause.