One Driver didn’t get it her way

On March 7, 2010, in Latest News, by The News Staff
~Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

Somerville Police were called to the Burger King on Somerville Avenue for an unwanted guest who was disturbing the peace and disrupting business late Saturday night. The woman allegedly wanted onion rings instead of fries and blocked the drive-thru, beeping her horn and hurling obscenities at an employee through the microphone. The incident was reported at 11:45pm Saturday.

 

Three suspected of home break ins arrested for drugs

On March 7, 2010, in Latest News, by The News Staff
~Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

Somerville Police Detectives and Uniformed Officers closed in on and arrested three alleged drug dealers Friday afternoon. The suspects were observed walking down Beacon Street carrying a laptop and other items by undercover officers, which arose suspicions. The undercover officers followed the suspects, thinking they might be linked to recent break-ins in the area. The suspects turned onto Hawkins Street and were observed by the undercover officers conducting a hand-to-hand drug transaction, which led to the suspects arrest.

 
 

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced today that Massachusetts Governor Deval L. Patrick has declared Monday, March 8th to be "Somerville All America City Day," and will visit the City of Somerville on Monday, March 8th for a ceremony in honor of the City's All America City status, and to discuss the importance of civic engagement with Somerville High School students. "All America City Day" will also honor the City's recent national recognition for Shape Up Somerville, the USDA's Healthier U.S. Schools Challenge, and innovative development projects. The event will be held at the Somerville High School's Centennial Auditorium, located at 81 Highland Ave., beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Continue reading »

 

Gewirtz criticizes city’s firefighter reserve list

On March 6, 2010, in Latest News, by The News Staff
 

By Tom Nash

A potential firefighter candidate's plea to get on Somerville's reserve list led to a new clash in the Board of Aldermen over how the city uses the civil service system last week.

Iraq veteran Sean O'Brien sent a letter to the Board of Aldermen earlier this month asking them to allow him on to the firefighter reserve list. He took the test after the current group of 10 candidates because he had not yet returned from Iraq, but the list was compiled just two days before he was certified as a candidate.

Continue reading »

 

FBI seeks suspect in Sovereign Bank robbery

On March 5, 2010, in Latest News, by The News Staff


A
man threatening he had a gun robbed the Sovereign Bank located at 125
Broadway around 11 a.m. this morning, according to the FBI.

After demanding money from a teller, the suspect fled on foot toward Michigan Avenue, according to a press release.

The
FBI is describing the subject as a male in his late 30s and around 5'8"
with a heavy build. He is seen in surveillance video wearing a dark
jacket and dark knit cap.

 

Teen Empowerment Celebration of Hope & Caring 2010

On March 5, 2010, in Latest News, by The News Staff

Somerville
High School students Brandell Ravelo and Lara Jimenez, Middlesex County
Register of Deeds Eugene Brune, Somerville High student Joey Flynn,
Teen Empowerment Executive Director Stan Pollack, Somerville High
student Terrence Bordenave and Somerville Acting Police Chief Micheal
Cabral. ~Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

The
Center for Teen Empowerment hosted a "Celebration of Hope & Caring"
fundraiser at the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse located
on Boston's waterfront Thursday evening. Teen Empowerment Youth
Organizers are made up of local high school students from the
Somerville, Boston and Rochester NY areas and receive intensive leader
training that empowers them to better understand themselves and their
communities. Through the training and the actions they take to help
their community, Youth Organizers learn sophisticated analytical,
organizational and communication skills that transform the trajectory
of their lives and implement powerful building and consciousness
raising activities that help lower crime and other dysfunctional
behaviors among their peers. Youth Organizers also work to bring the
voices of their peers into policy and community decision making. This
vital input helps create policies and practices that more effectively
meet the needs of young people.

Continue reading »

 

One Book, One Somerville

On March 5, 2010, in Uncategorized, by The News Staff
   
“One city, one book” programs are designed to bring communities closer together, and to promote literacy.~Photo by Bobbie Toner

Ashley Troutman

Have you read a good book lately? Somerville now has its own "one city, one book" program. Somerville Reads encourages everyone in the community to read and then unite under the selected title.

The Executive Director of the Somerville Public Library, Nancy Milnor, applied for a grant to fund the program. "One city, one book" programs are designed to bring communities closer together, and to promote literacy. The first program was launched in Seattle in 1998, and other cities have been mirroring the campaign ever since.

Continue reading »

 

Grass roots zoning rebellion, Part 3:

On March 4, 2010, in Uncategorized, by The News Staff
 

A case study

William C. Shelton

(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've often contended in this column that the essence or Somerville's political culture is cozy relationships and calculations of advantage that will accrue from performing favors. Examples that are most accessible to public observation are probably those involving zoning and real estate development. 44 Park Street serves as a case study.

Continue reading »

 

No flies on Somerville’s traffic unit

On March 3, 2010, in Latest News, by The News Staff
 
~Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

Somerville Police Traffic Unit pulls over and cites a motorist on Somerville Avenue for a traffic violation. The unit has a variety of traffic enforcement vehicles within it's fleet that can detect vehicles that are speeding on our roadways to an unregistered registration from fifty yards away while either vehicle is in motion.

 

Trio sought for shoplifting

On March 3, 2010, in Latest News, by The News Staff
~Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

Somerville Police are searching for three alleged female suspects who are suspected of shoplifting multiple items from the Family Dollar Store on Somerville Avenue. The alleged trio fled on foot down Somerville Avenue carrying the stolen goods. Police cruisers searched the area but did not locate the suspects. The incident occurred 3:48 pm on Wednesday and is under investigation