By 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.)

This past week, Deval Patrick, Paul Celucci, and Tom Menino co-chaired White Ribbon Day. Men across the Commonwealth took this pledge: “From this day forward, I promise never to commit, condone, or remain silent about violence against women, sexual assault, and domestic violence.”

Most who read this will nod and agree that those are words we should all live by. Not all will realize how challenging it is to do this effectively.

Off The Shelf by Doug Holder

Lisa Beatman worked as an Adult Literarcy teacher at the Ames paper factory in Somerville. Somerville’s Ibbetson Street Press has published a book of her poetry ‚ÄúManufacturing America: Poems From The Factory Floor.‚Äù Many of the poems are studies of the workers she taught while there. This is hardly a subject for trendy or sexy writing, but it deals with a shrinking underclass in society that for the most part is invisible. Laurel Johnson of the Midwest Book Review wrote this review of the book. I decided to include it in my column this week. Here is Johnson’s review:

By George P. Hassett

On Dec. 6, an aggressive fire destroyed the home at 9-11 Harvard Place. It could have destroyed more and possibly taken lives were it not for the heroic actions of three Somerville police officers and two Somerville firefighters.

With the home in flames, Somerville police officers Alex Capobianco, Derrick Dottin and Steven St. Hillaire arrived on scene. As they tried to gain access into the house they could hear voices coming from inside. Capobianco and Dottin entered the home but could not see through the smoke.

Photos by Donald Norton

A cop versus Somerville Icecats "oldtimers" game of hockey was given more significance last week when the money raised  was donated to the fire victims of 9-11 Harvard Place. In December, the Thibeault’s lost their family home of almost 100 years in a devastating blaze that destroyed almost everything in the home, including the Christmas gifts.

A Medford man has taken out the neccessary forms from the secretary of state’s office to run against State Rep. Carl M. Sciortino, D-Somerville. Michael DiBenedetto will now have to gather signatures in Somerville and Medford to appear on the ballot against Sciortino, whose district includes Winter Hill, West Somerville and parts of Medford. Sciortino said his only previous interaction with DiBenedetto was when he and his wife contacted him to express their opposition to gay marriage. Since defeating incumbent Vincent Ciampa in 2004, Sciortino has been a strong supporter of gay marriage. DiBenedetto could not be reached for comment. No other information is available at this time.

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.)

Disclaimer: these recollections are as accurate as my fading memory will allow – please feel free to e-mail me any corrections or additions. ‚ÄúGetting your ears lowered‚Äù was what my father called going to the barber. The first place I remember getting a haircut was from Lionel’s Barber Shop in Ball Square. We lived on Pearson Avenue, so it was a short walk for my father and his two young boys. Lionel would put the booster on the seat and we’d take turns getting our wiffles – I later graduated to a flat-top which required the ‚Äú butch stick‚Äù to make the front stand up.

The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) test has done some positive things for our schools. It has put the spotlight on districts that are struggling and in need of additional help and resources from the state. And students who otherwise would simply be passed along from grade to grade are challenged to succeed in school.

Yet those advances are likely to mean little to the tens of thousands of kids who have dropped out of school in the years since the test became a make or break graduation requirement. Do the creators of MCAS have anything to say to these children? Probably not. They have already demonstrated they care little about the students left behind by MCAS.

By Bruce Desmond, Alderman at Large

(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.)

State and local communities are becoming increasingly alarmed by the alcohol industry’s aggressive marketing campaigns. The alcohol industry spends more than $5.7 billion each year marketing its products. Of particular concern is the exposure of underage youth to advertising and promotional messages that glamorize alcohol and downplay or ignore risks associated with underage drinking, and tout alcohol as an integral part of becoming an adult. At least with normal advertising media such as television, magazines, sporting events and music events, parents have an opportunity to avoid the advertisement. By placing billboard ads near parks, playgrounds and schools, all places that are unavoidable by children, the alcohol industry is creating an involuntary and unavoidable form of solicitation to a select audience. Kids are automatically exposed to it and can’t avoid it. The ordinance that I have proposed, if enacted, would prohibit the outdoor advertising of any alcoholic beverage within 500 feet of playgrounds, elementary or secondary schools, places of worship or child care facilities. Somerville already prohibits advertising alcoholic beverages on public property or property controlled by the city, such as the new bus stop shelters.

By Kimberly Geronimo

Week by week, east Broadway gets closer to receiving its long awaited makeover. Residents met with public officials and consultants at a community meeting on Feb. 13 to voice their suggestions and opinions on possible streetscape revisions to the long-underutilized district.

The idea to redesign Broadway was originally conceived under former mayor Michael Capuano’s administration in the 1990s but had floundered because of a lack of funding, according to Ward 1 Alderman William Roche. It had been in the planning process for about five years, he said. Finally, ‚ÄúMayor [Joseph A.] Curtatone made the commitment and has most of the funding‚Äù for a full-scale renovation, he said.