By George P. Hassett

A Highland Ave. bank was robbed this morning, according to police. A police source said a crook or crooks hit the bank at 285 Highland Ave. for over $200,000.

At about 8:15 a.m., Somerville Police received a call for a possible break in at the East Cambridge Savings Bank.  When officers responded, they entered the bank and found a bank employee tied up in the basement.  Police are not saying how much money was taken but a police source said it was "a big one" and the robber or robbers got away with more than $200,000.  The suspect or suspects fled the scene in the employee‚Äôs personal car, which has been recovered, police said. 

The annual ceremonies include morning processions along Highland Avenue to several veterans’ memorials, as well as afternoon events at Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Teele Square following the parade.

‚ÄúEvery year, Somerville‚Äôs Memorial Day Parade tops other local parades,‚Äù said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone. ‚ÄúAnd with a large number of marching bands from across the state, and so many community and school groups participating this year, I know we‚Äôll have a spectacular parade once again.  We‚Äôve planned the biggest and best parade to date, and I hope all Somerville residents will join us in honoring our nations veteran‚Äôs while enjoying an afternoon of fun and ‚Äì we hope – sunshine.‚Äù

Who could be against an ordinance targeting gangs? Well us actually. 

If an anti-gang ordinance is passed and is never enforced and never used to make an arrest, how can anyone possibly say it has played a part in reducing gang violence in Somerville?

The anti-gang ordinance signed into law in Foss Park by Kerry Healey in 2004 has done nothing to help police fight gangs. There is nothing wrong with recognizing a failed, if honest and sincere, technique for what it is. The anti-gang ordinance was not a success.

By George P. Hassett

Marty Martinez’ election night party at Sagra Restaurant in Davis Square was supposed to be a party. It was supposed to celebrate the election of Martinez as the city’s newest alderman. Well that is what was supposed to happen.

Instead Martinez’ opponent John M. Connolly came from 400 votes behind in the primary to upset him by 558 votes in the general election. And at Sagra that night the biggest complaint Martinez supporters had was the Board of Aldermen would continue to be a legislative body too willing to blindly follow the wishes of Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone without the necessary level of debate.

By George P. Hassett

Two Cambridge men smashed the front door of Downtown Liquors open and helped themselves to 38 scratch tickets and two bottles of rum in the middle of the night Monday.

By George P. Hassett

Two teenage boys wearing red bandanas over their faces robbed a woman at knife point Wednesday, May 16, allegedly demanding “iPods or cell phones” at the corner of Putnam and Summer Streets.

reality bites by James Norton

(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.)

There comes a time in your life when you take personal inventory.  Okay, maybe it happens more than once, but that‚Äôs okay.

If you‚Äôre smart, you move away from the things which cause you personal pain, but we as humans are rarely that smart.  We rely on the comfort level we enjoy even in the midst of the most awful of personal situations.
 

Don‚Äôt forget the parade this Sunday here in Somerville, Frank Senesi has worked very hard again this year‚Ķkickoff time is 1pm from City Hall‚Ķthis year is supposed to be the largest one yet.  When Frank goes by give him a big hand for his efforts, as he travels down Highland Avenue up to Teele Square.

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What’s happening with the badly needed restoration of the Prospect Hill Tower Рwhere they can’t even raise the big flag anymore in fear that it will blow the building over?

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               Despite a few ‚Äúmissing persons‚Äù, Somerville Night at the Pops went great ‚Äì we saw Realtor Pat Ng, printing king Jim Bowdring, Bob Nissenbaum, from Kiwanis, restaurant owner John Sapochetti, Cheryl Walker and Mom and Bob Tello with a beautiful woman‚Ķ‚ÄúNite at the Red Sox is July 12th with the Red Sox vs. the Blue Jays and the way the sox are playing, tickets are going fast at $75.00 each.  Email bobpublicover@aol.com to reserve your seats today!  This will benefit the Publicover Foundation, which helps out needy Somerville Folks.

State Representative: Law was a “political” solution

By George P. Hassett

It brought the lieutenant governor to an East Somerville playground and it helped push former Ward 6 alderman John M. Connolly back into office. However according to police, Somerville’s anti-gang ordinance has never been used to arrest a known gang member.