(April 2008)

A prominent Somerville attorney and landowner will receive probation for his role in the death of a 22- year-old Tufts student.

Francis
D. Privitera struck Boryana Damyanova on Nov. 22, 2005, on Broadway
near Wallace Street, pushing her into an oncoming truck which killed
her. His recent court appearances, in which he faced a charge of
negligent motor vehicle homicide, were marked by reversals of
agreements and feuding with lawyers and the press.

On Thursday,
less than three weeks before he was scheduled to go on trial, Privitera
agreed to be placed on pre-trial probation and lose his license for
five years. The agreement allows Privitera to not only avoid jail time
but it also does not require him to change his plea from not guilty or
to admit to any facts in the case.

Authorities said Damyanova
was in a well-lit crosswalk talking on her cell phone when Privitera
struck her. At the time of the collision it was raining but prosecutors
alleged if Privitera had been "reasonably attentive" he would have had
enough time and distance to avoid striking her.

Damyanova
"landed on [Privitera's] windshield" and rolled off his car into
another lane where she was struck by the left rear tire of a Dodge pick
up truck, authorities said. Investigators concluded speed and alcohol
were not involved in the collision. Privitera said he was driving 13
miles per hour when he struck Damyanova.

"I got out of the car and I thought she was going to jump up and be okay," he told The Somerville News.

Thursday's
agreement comes after a month of Privitera rejecting similar deals. On
March 4, after Assistant District Attorney Nicole Allain, Judge Maurice
Flynn and Privitera's own attorney, J. Albert Johnson, stated
repeatedly that Privitera would receive a sentence of pre-trial
probation and lose his driver's license for five years, Flynn banged
his gavel, left the courtroom and the clerk read the agreement into the
record.

However, Privitera stood, a look of dismay on his face
and said, "Whoa, whoa. Loss of license? What about emergencies?" to
Johnson (whose past clients include Captain Ernest Medina, Patty
Hearst, Pam Smart, Zsa Zsa Gabor and F. Lee Bailey).

Leaving the
courtroom, as his son Phillip placed his coat on his shoulders,
Privitera continued to express alarm at the outcome. "What if my wife
is sick?" he said to Johnson.

Minutes later Privitera walked back into the courtroom and called the deal off.

At
his next court appearance Privitera approached a reporter to complain
about press coverage of the incident ("I read your article six times,
it was devastating. Now everybody is paying attention to me"), draw a
sketch detailing traffic movement the night of the accident, and make
the case for his innocence ("If [Damyanova] hadn't been walking across
the street negligently talking on her cell phone, none of this would
have happened").

At one point he reached into his pocket and
handed a reporter a packet of news articles lauding his charitable
contributions, including one with the headline of "I've Come a Long
Way: Privitera Tells Why He Enjoys Giving Back."

Privitera told The Somerville News he paid the Damyanova family $4 million to settle a civil lawsuit stemming from the accident.

Calling
a five-year loss of his driver's license a "death sentence," Privitera,
who came to his court appearances with a driver, said he needed to
drive his wife to the doctor's twice a month and church twice a week.

The
agreement reached Thursday allows Privitera to petition the Registry of
Motor Vehicles for a hardship license but the D.A.'s office will not
make any recommendation to the RMV, said Jessica Venezia the
spokeswoman for the office.

Privitera could not be reached for comment before deadline.

Privitera
is well known in Somerville as an attorney and landowner. He is
originally from Hale Street in Boston's West End and came to the city
in 1948. He owns blocks of land in Somerville, including 422 Mystic
Ave., 59 Union Square, 88 Beacon Street and 9 Davis Square.

He
was an assistant city solicitor under former Mayor Lawrence F. Bretta
from 1962 to November 1966 when he took over as head of the city's
legal department for a year. He also founded this newspaper in 1968 and
was its first publisher.

A packet submitted to the court by his
lawyer (Privitera was represented by at least six different attorneys
during the case), features pictures of him smiling alongside the likes
of former President Bill Clinton and singer Tony Bennett and glowing
accounts of his philanthropy.

One citation from the Elizabeth
Peabody House hails Privitera as "a captain of industry" and "a radiant
star in the theater of law, commerce and industry." Privitera told The
Somerville News he had contributed approximately $5 million to various
charities in his lifetime.

Damyanova was an exchange student from Hungary, who had come to Tufts to study international relations.

The annual ceremony will begin at City Hall, 93
Highland Avenue, with a procession to Prospect Hill, led by "General
Washington" on horseback. The day's program will also include songs,
readings, participants from the Charlestown militia as well as the
Ancient and Honorable Company first chartered in 1638. The American
Legion Post 19 Honor Guard will lead a military salute as a
commemorative flag is raised atop the Prospect Hill Tower. All
interested participants are welcome to attend in traditional 18th
century dress.

Light refreshments will be served. Miniature
replicas of the Grand Union Flag, tri-corner hats, historic Somerville
books and afghans, to commemorate the historic event will be available
for purchase.

The case is still
being investigated by Somerville Police and Massachusetts State Police
assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney's Office.

According
to information obtained through court records, new information
regarding the alleged stabbing, which occurred on December 27 — two
days after Christmas — has become available.

The stabbing took place at 11 Greenville Street, which is also that of AJ Savini Construction.

Kimberley
Savini used her cell phone to report the stabbing of her boyfriend,
Arnaldo Amado. He was initially treated at Somerville Hospital, and
then transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital. Amado was
pronounced dead, just prior to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Savini's
alibi, that Amado, her boyfriend of four years, was stabbed outside the
apartment which they shared with their one-year-old son, backfired.

According
to Savini, who is currently unemployed, Amado was in Boston running
errands when the assault occurred, and therefore, she was unaware of
the specific details, including the location of the actual stabbing.

Amado sustained an abdominal stab wound.

After
having arrived on the scene, Detective Mario Oliveira noticed that
Savini appeared extremely nervous and stuttered while answering his
questions.

Other officers, as well as Somerville Fire and Cataldo Ambulance were on the scene.

What
tipped Detective Oliveira off to the identity of the individual who had
actually stabbed Amado? Officer Collette, an officer in one of the
first units on the scene, interviewed neighbors on the first and second
floor of the residence. According to residents, a loud argument had
occurred.

When finally put on the spot, regarding who had
stabbed Amado, Savini "placed her hands on her head and began to
hyperventilate." Then, Savini alledgely admitted to Detective Oliveira
that "Yes, I stabbed him, but he attacked me first."

After Savini's interview with Detective Oliveira, Savini was arrested on one count of murder.

Savini
elaborated on the actual events, leading up to her stabbing Amado..
According to her, Amado consumed copious amounts of alcohol on a
regular basis. Saturday was no exception.

An argument,
complete with a shoving match, commenced regarding Amado's drinking
problem. Savini commanded Amado to vacate their apartment. Amado and
Savini continued to rgue in the hallway, where, according to Savini,
Amado charged at her.

Therefore, Savini rushed into the
kitchen to get the knife, which rested atop the stove. Knife swinging
around in the air, Savini again ordered Amado to leave.

Upon
Amado's failure to comply with her request, Savini drove the knife into
the left side of his chest, after which, he sank to the floor. At that
point, Savini called 911. Then, she cleaned the knife in the kitchen
sink.

When asked to produce the weapon, Savini surrendered the knife to Officer Collette.

After
the arrest, Savini's parents, Anthony and Carol Savini, arrived to
collect the couple's child. The Department of Social Services (DSS) is
currently involved. A 51A report will be filed. According to Savini,
she lied to police at the outset of the investigation in order to
prevent the loss of the child.

Savini's lawyer is Maria Curtatone. She is Mayor Joseph Curtatone's sister.

The prosecutor assigned to this case is Marian Ryan, Assistant District Attorney.

"The
defendant [Kim Savini] is charged with first degree murder which, if
convicted, carries with it a mandatory sentence of life in prison
without eligibility for parole," said Corey Welford, spokesman for
Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone.

More information about this case will be available after January 27, the date for which a status hearing is set.

We have, over the past
couple of years, taken the chance around this date and looked back at
certain events and weighed in with our opinion – we live and work here,
just like most of you, so why not? This year, we decided to pick out a
few news stories and commentary columns and let them stand on their own
– we weigh in when we feel strongly about something – and we aren't
bashful about it.

This coming year, economics aside, stands to
be a very good year around here. There are plenty of long range issues
afoot, as Assembly Square and the Green Line Extension prove, with the
redevelopment of Union Square and Davis Square firmly behind them.
There will be plenty of debate over charter review and the return of
the condo ordinance – which may or may not be put on the back burner
with the anticipation of possibly very painful cuts to state aid.

In
a couple of weeks we will have a new President, and with him, a renewed
sense of national introspection that seems to have a 20 year cycle –
which is based more on political and economic benchmarks than most
people realize, at least in the last 100 or so years. Change is good,
and not just some peripheral "shell game" change either – the type of
change on multiple levels that will bring the pain before it brings the
healing.

We could get all wrapped up in the national and
international news type of bland cookie cutter style of journalism, but
for those people who have lived here all their lives, it isn't so much
about what happens on Wall Street that changes the way and manner we
live our lives, but more so what happens here in Somerville. Or is it?

Today,
more than ever, everyday life is more and more directly tied to what
happens on Beacon Hill and Washington, DC. Governor Patrick announced
the other day that the projected state budget gap will more than likely
be over $1 billion. This could end up being even worse if the
President-elect Obama and Congressional stimulus package isn't passed
in January and is stalled until February or even March – Gov. Patrick
will be in a race against the clock to make some serious decisions if
it is stalled even slightly.

So we wait, with baited breath, and
hope that the fiscal pain won't be as severe as it was in 2003, when
then Gov. Romney "slashed and burned" his way to a pseudo-balanced
budget. The semi-good news is that according to Mayor Curtatone,
Somerville is in a better than average position coming into the state
aid cut discussion, but, we can't dodge the bullet forever – so while
we sometimes revile our elected officials for acting in an occasionally
oblivious manner, let us not forget that they have made and will
continue to make decisions locally that are more in our best interests
than we tend to remembe

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

At
noon on New Year's Day, the 233rd annual "Grand Union" flag raising
ceremony at Prospect Hill Park will be held. The annual ceremony will
begin at City Hall, with a procession to Prospect Hill, led by "General
Washington" on horseback. At Prospect Hill, there will be songs,
readings, and light refreshments. For more information, contact Brandon
Wilson at Bwilson@somervillema.gov or call 311.

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

On
January 5th, the Mayor will review 2008 and present his goals for the
2009 calendar year as part of his mid-term address. The ceremony will
start at 6:00 p.m. with the Board of Alderman's organizational meeting,
followed soon after by addresses from several elected officials.

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

Lots
of speculation and rumors going around already regarding the Mayor and
the possibility of him seeking higher office, there is a lot to happen
here or in the state for that possibility. We know heard a rumor that
Marty Martinez head of the PDS group here in Somerville is considering
running against Ward 5 Alderman Sean O'Donovan, we also hear that Sean
is looking forward to the possibility of having competition again.

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

Rumor
has it that one of the locally popular SHA employees (MS) was planning
on hiring a 50 year old short person to serve drinks and sing "Winter
Wonderland" while dressed as the New Year baby in diaper for a New
Years Eve party that he was planning on having until he was reprimanded
by his supervisors at the SHA who heard about it and didn't like the
idea.

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

Join Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone,
Chief of Police Anthony Holloway and Ward 7 Alderman Bob Trane at the
official opening of the West Somerville Neighborhood Substation,
located at 1154 Broadway, on Tuesday, January 6th with a ribbon-cutting
ceremony and open house, beginning at 6:00 p.m. All residents and
community members are invited to attend and meet their Neighborhood
Police Officers and Substation Commander, Captain John O'Connor. A
short reception will follow the event.

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

Our
condolences go out to the family of Theresa Crosby! Theresa passed away
early Christmas morning and will be missed by many who knew her! Many
folks in the Ville are more familiar with her daughter Joanne from
Pat's Auto Body Shop and her son Richard a Mass State Trooper!

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

The
Board of Directors of the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS)
has organized a retirement party for former Executive Director Jack
Hamilton. The party will take place Friday, January 23, 2009, from 3:30
to 8:00 p.m. at the Dante Club – tickets are $15. Hamilton served as
Executive Director at CAAS for over 25 years until his retirement on
January 2. He previously directed CASCAP (originally the Cambridge and
Somerville Cooperative Apartment Program), and his human service career
in the Somerville/Cambridge area spans four decades. The mission of
CAAS is to reduce poverty among local families and individuals while
working to counteract, and whenever possible eliminate, the societal
conditions that cause and perpetuate poverty.

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

Mayor
Joseph A. Curtatone and Purchasing Director Rositha Durham announced
today that the city has issued a "Request for Interest" document (RFI)
soliciting preliminary statements of interest in, or proposals for,
providing "Wireless Broadband Network Deployment & Management
Services." Interested entities can obtain an electronic copy of the
proposal from the city's website, or an electronic or printed copy from
the City's Purchasing Office.

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

The
Illuminations Tours were as much fun as ever this year, even though a
couple of the standout homes from past years were temporarily off line.
We were sold out again, thanks to the hard work of the Arts Council
(and the staff of the Blue Cloud Gallery in Ball Square). And, as in
past years, I had great support on my trolley from friends, family and
fellow residents.

But the Illuminations Tour is more than just
something fun to do during the holiday season. It reminds all of us of
the importance of community spirit, and of the rich traditions that
give our city its character and help bind us together – even when, as
in the case of the Illuminations Tour, the tradition is only twelve
years old.

As part of the tour, every guide issues an invitation
to attend the raising of the Grand Union Flag on Prospect Hill, which
begins on New Year's Day with a procession from City Hall (11:30 a.m.)
and culminates at noon with the raising of a replica of the first
official American flag (presented by "General Washington" on horseback)
at the monument in Prospect Hill Park.

Of course, the
flag-raising is a much, much older tradition than the Illuminations
Tour, and it means a lot to me – not just because I grew up on Prospect
Hill, and not just because it's a reminder of Somerville's
revolutionary heritage. For me, the most important aspect of our annual
flag-raising event is that it celebrates the vision, optimism and
courage of the very real people who created this nation. The soldiers
who camped out in the cold and damp on Prospect Hill had, only months
before, suffered a defeat at the hands of the British – but their
ragtag army, commanded largely by elected officers, had fought so hard
and well that the British were unwilling to come out to challenge them
again. General Washington, newly in command, was trying to figure out
how to conduct a siege with no equipment, no supplies and an untrained
army that was suffering from disease and malnutrition as well as the
cold. Down in Philadelphia, members of the Continental Congress were
struggling with the moral and practical difficulties of making a
revolution against a duly constituted authority leadership – and trying
to decide whether to put their lives, their fortunes and their sacred
honor on the line to create a new nation.

It was a time of
hardship and uncertainty, and the odds were not in favor of the
colonials or their cause. But, to the great surprise of the British and
the rest of the watching world – and maybe themselves – they acted.
They had confidence that they could prevail – that they could get
through the hard times and build something better.

They decided
to start something new – and their simple, courageous choice in the
face of great peril led to the creation of a new nation, a new concept
of human rights, and a new world of possibilities for themselves and
for generations to come.

We know that their creation was far
from perfect – and that it remains imperfect to this day – but that
does not in any way diminish their achievement.

233 years later,
we are still working to fulfill their vision. We are still making new
beginnings, even when the times are hard and the odds may not be in our
favor.

But one of the most basic and most powerful lessons that
our patriot forebearers have passed down to us is that we must never be
content simply to accept things as they are. We must always be working
to make things better – even when it isn't easy or safe.

As 2008
draws to a close, we find our city, our state and our nation in another
era of uncertainty and peril. Our soldiers are still camped out on
hillsides – farther from home than our ancestors could ever have
imagined. Times are hard and the challenges are huge.

Yet we are
still ready and willing to make a new beginning, and we still possess
an unstoppable optimism. We firmly believe that we can not only get
through our current troubles, but actually make things better for
ourselves and our children.

In Somerville, our traditions give
us strength, but we don't live in the past. We have it in our power to
make 2009 a better year for ourselves and our neighbors.

Let's get started.