By Mario Barros
of Lenguaviva

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not neccesarily reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News)

Don’t anybody get the wrong message here: I hate tattoos! I don’t want anything to do with inked body art, ok? And I hate tattoos even more since I found out that the beautifully famous (or famously beautiful) Angelina Jolie has no less than fifteen of those on her voluptuous body (plus another seven that she has either erased or modified). Somebody please tell me, what is she smoking? As hot as she is, what’s the point of becoming a human billboard? Where is the logic in suffering through hundreds of painful little jabs and carrying more ink in the skin that the amount needed to print this paper? What were last night’s lottery numbers…? (Oops! Sorry.)

On The Silly Side by Jimmy Del Ponte

(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.)

If you drive in Somerville, or any place in the greater Boston area for that matter, I have the consummate cure for road rage. Do not roll your window down and shout an expletive and do not flash any sign language out the window. Why you ask? Because it is not polite and the guy might be a nut and come after you? Nope. Because chances are the person in the other car is someone you know from Somerville or someone who knows you, just saying hi. My conditioning has been hear a beep, flash the bird and then check it out.

Enough is enough – over the past few years, there has been talk here and there in this office about changing the web site from a weblog-based format to a more enriched, user friendly and functional environment.

One of the reasons we held off for so long is because we have spent a vast amount of time, energy and most importantly – money – fostering the creative end of the newspaper and not focusing so much on the day to day rigors of operating it as a business. Another reason we held off was because we didn’t quite know how the online readership would take a new environment – we want to keep the people we have, attract newcomers and bridge the gap that exists with most community newspapers between their print and online audiences.

By Mia Lamar

The city of Somerville suspended its relationship with the Anti-Defamation League’s ‚ÄúNo Place for Hate‚Äù anti-prejudice program last Thursday, in protest of the ADL’s failure to ‚Äúunequivocally‚Äù recognize the Armenian genocide, according to a city spokeswoman, Lesley Delaney Hawkins. Hawkins added that the city specifically chose to make its announcement on the annual day of remembrance for the genocide, April 24, a message Hawkins called ‚Äúsignificant.‚Äù

City plans to sell local station’s home

By George P. Hassett

The city’s cable access television station, the oldest in the state, is facing an uncertain future as city officials plan to sell off the station’s building in Union Square.

At the April 25 Somerville News contributors meeting, Somerville Community Access Television Executive Director Wendy Blom said the station has a temporary contract to remain in the old Union Square fire station free of charge until June. She said city officials assure her they will not displace SCAT but will not agree to anything in writing.

Photos by Donald Norton and James Norton

Kakistocracy. Definition: government by the worst possible people. Origin: Greek. That was the word The Somerville News team lost on at Friday’s Spelling Bee fundraiser for the Capuano School PTA. More than $3,000 was raised for the school during the event. Alderman-at-Large Dennis Sullivan’s team won — without Sullivan (we hear he was injured during the spelling of a particularly difficult word) and donated the winning prize money back to the school. Longtime Superintendant of Schools Albert Argenziano hosted and John Roderick handled pronouncing duties.

By George P. Hassett

Non-profit and religious organizations will receive their first ever city issued water bills later this year as city officials depart from a longstanding policy of exempting those groups from paying for water.

Department of Public Works Commissioner Stan Koty said the change is mandated by law. He said non-profits are exempt from paying local property taxes but not fees and services. By allowing free or discounted water use to non-profits the city would be unfairly aiding non-public institutions, he said.

In past years, private property owners were essentially paying non-profits’ water bills. Koty could not immediately say if the change would mean lower bills for residents.

The Capuano PTA spelling bee was a lot of fun Friday night Рthere were about 17 teams that competed and they raised just over $3,000 for the PTA. Everyone there had a great time and we hope they will do it again next year. The winning team was Alderman at Large Dennis Sullivan’s team (in name only we have to point out in all fairness) Рnarrowly beating out the mayor’s team. The Sullivan team donated the first prize of $500 (which was donated by ERA The Norton Group), back to the PTA at the end of the night – that was a nice touch.

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Alderman Bob Trane from Ward 7 pulled papers Friday at the Secretary of State‚Äôs Office in Boston for the 34th Middlesex District against incumbent Carl Sciortino – funny how the first remark out of Sciortino was that he wanted to confirm Bob was running before making a comment. We believe that he really wanted to check in with his leader – the Queen of the Progressives – Senator Jehlen. Some of us here at Newstalk are thrilled Bob decided to run – we‚Äôve known Bob for years and know how much energy he has when it comes to tireless campaigning – he‚Äôs going to need several pairs of shoes.   

By George P. Hassett

Ten foot flames shot out of garbage cans on Tufts and Dell Streets on Saturday as a man allegedly set fire to six neighborhood trash barrels as he walked his dog, police said.

Daniel L. Villarreal, 25, of Cambridge, allegedly lit fires in front of 53 Tufts Street and 8, 10, 14, 16 and 22 Dell St. early Saturday morning. And, police said, he returned a short time later to survey the damage.

The first officers to arrive on scene shortly before 4 a.m. witnessed intense flames from the garbage can in front of 53 Tufts St., police said. The fire spread to a nearby car – which was destroyed – and melted the vinyl siding of the home, they said.

By Hilary Dyer

Local artists representing 12 countries of the Americas are showcasing their art on lower Broadway by participating in the Colors of the Americas, East Somerville Art Walk.

As you walk along lower Broadway in the next month, you will catch glimpses of scenes from far away countries. From now until May 18, you will see artistic masterpieces hanging in some very unusual places, from an abstract oil painting at Taco Loco to portrait photography in the windows of Sovereign Bank.