Happy Birthday greetings to long time Somerville business owner ED LYNCH founder of Wayside Trans Corp, who just celebrated with his club members at a recent Somerville Lions Club Dinner, his 90th birthday – and the celebration of 75 years in a business that he started here in Somerville!  Ed opened Wayside Trucking on Somerville Avenue in 1933, the same year FDR was inaugurated as our 32nd President, which also just happens to be the same year as the founding of the Somerville Lions Club. Congratulations Ed – best wishes from all your friends and us as well. Also congratulations to the Somerville Lions Club members, who do great work in the city – one of the three services clubs here in Somerville.    

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Seems that Mayor Joe was pretty excited with the recent elections and wanted to show his appreciation by taking ALMOST everyone on the Board of Aldermen to dinner after the last meeting on Nov. 8. Everyone that attended Limoncello Restaurant in the North End that night enjoyed themselves.   

By George P. Hassett

A 16-year-old Somerville boy who allegedly robbed and raped a store clerk at gunpoint on lower Broadway Sept. 16 was arrested by police Sunday night.

The boy, whose name police are not releasing because he is a juvenile, committed the “outrageous” rape against a clerk who was opening up for business at 7:15 a.m. on the Sunday morning in September said Acting Police Chief Robert R. Bradley. After the crime he fled on Broadway toward Sullivan Square with an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspect had been described as a young black male, 16 to 19 years old, 5 foot 9 to 5 foot 10 wearing a black hooded sweat shirt, light color jeans, and clean cut.

By George P. Hassett

Failed alderman-at-large candidate Tony Lafuente told a Somerville News reporter today that he will not speak to the paper. "I’d rather not speak to the News," he said. When asked why he was refusing Lafuente said, "For various reasons."

Lafuente has twice run for city office in the last four years. He lost to Joseph A. Curtatone by less than 5 percent in a race for mayor in 2003 and finished 38 votes behind Bruce Desmond in last week’s city elections for alderman-at-large. He has formally requested a recount which is set to take place Dec. 1 in City Hall’s aldermanic chambers.

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.)

Vast expenditures of taxpayer funds on border maintenance and fence building are excellent means of delivering pork to supporters in the pubic and private sectors. And they are mildly useful in winning loyalty from reactionary voters. But they are useless when it comes to controlling illegal immigration. 

Over the period that the federal border enforcement budget has increased seven-fold and the number of enforcement agents, more than tripled, undocumented immigrants living here have doubled. Moreover, 40 percent of undocumented immigrants don‚Äôt cross the border illegally; they overstay temporary visas. 

Off The Shelf by Doug Holder

Rusty Barnes, cofounder of the acclaimed literary magazine “Night Train,” grew up in rural Appalachia. He earned his M.F.A. from Emerson College in Boston. His poetry, fiction, and nonfiction have appeared in such journals as GUD, Red Rock Review, and others.

Sunnyoutside Press will be publishing a book of his flash fiction due to be released this winter. I talked with Barnes on my Somerville Community Access TV Program “Poet to Poet: Writer to Writer.”

By Pam Rosenblatt

When Somerville’s Christopher Poteet, a self employed artist was hit by a car in October he did not have the same initial thought he did when he was struck by a vehicle a few years ago. In
compliance with Chapter 58 of the Acts of 2006, Poteet now has health insurance coverage so
he didn’t need to worry about going to the hospital and not being insured.

“One of the first things that happened when I was laying in the road on Broadway [was a different reaction then I had in the past]. The last time I got hit by a car was several years ago, the first thing I was thinking about was ‘Oh no, what if I have to go to the emergency room? It could cost me thousands of dollars. "

On The Silly 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.)

In the 70’s, Somerfest sponsored free concerts on the blocked off streets of Somerville. In 1978 there was a concert at Powder House Park featuring Shadowfax, Derringer and Zenophon Рit was free. J. Geils played at Tufts in 1971 Рwe snuck in, so it too was free. Remember when we went to see rock groups at the old Boston Garden, The Music Hall and The Orpheum? I remember seeing Queen open for Mott The Hoople in the 70’s. I also saw The Who at The Music Hall (Keith Moon fell off his drum set) and several bands at the Garden РI think the tickets were like $8 or $12 each.

Aldermen showed signs this week that they may not simply be a rubber stamp for Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone — as The Curtatone Opposition Party, also known as the Progressive Democrats of Somerville — have charged.

Ward 7 Alderman Robert C. Trane and Alderman-at-Large John M. Connolly, who was criticized as being insufficiently independent from Curtatone in his campaign win over Marty Martinez, have both previously worked closely and productively with Curtatone but showed signs of independence this week when they vigorously opposed the administration’s hints at selling the Powder House Community School. This willingness to challenge an administration policy is a welcome development for a body previously devoid of autonomy.

Photos by Ethan Backer

In a dimly lit VFW hall a clan of fiction writers and poets gathered
Sunday night to celebrate the power of prose. Featured readers at the fifth annual Somerville News Writers Festival included a former US poet laureate, an Academy Award nominee, a "Candy Freak" and Doug Holder. An Irish punk band played between readings and comedian Emily Singer hosted. Holder and Timothy Gager spent 6 months organizing the event and said they have already begun contemplating next year’s fest. If you didn’t make it to the VFW post and missed the night’s sounds, here are its sights.

By George P. Hassett

Mark Wallace is hoping he can start teaching kids how to skate Saturday morning at the Veterans Memorial Hockey Rink. But after 10 years of opening day delays, and one season in which the rink did not open at all, he is not allowing himself to get too excited.

“It’s lousy when the rink doesn’t open on time,” he said. “It has hurt the program. Fifteen years ago we had 200 kids learning to skate and play hockey now we’re down to 50. Part of that I think has to do with the rink problems, we have fewer kids able to come in and use the ice and then spread the word to their friends.”