It’s Christmas time at Foss Park
By George P. Hassett

Local students have sold “hundreds upon hundreds” of Christmas Trees at Foss Park since Dec. 1, said Paul O’Brien, a Somerville teacher who supervises the students.
  Next Wave and Full Circle staff and students are finishing another successful year of selling Christmas trees at the corner of Broadway and McGrath this holiday season.

Pols fight sludge
By George P. Hassett

A plan to install a facility that handles catch basin sludge collected by the City of Boston on the border of East Somerville and Everett may be in jeopardy due to opposition from local leaders.

Officials differ on financial future
By George P. Hassett

Somerville homeowners will see a minor drop in their tax bills this year, announced City Assessor Richard Brescia at the Dec. 14 Board of Aldermen meeting. Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone called the news “a cause for celebration,” and said, “This has turned out to be one of the most exciting and positive years in modern Somerville history.”
  But Alderman-at-Large and Chair of the Finance Committee William A. White urged restraint for city spending in the next fiscal year.
  ‚ÄúThe mayor is the one who is optimistic,‚Äù White said. ‚ÄúI‚Äôm still cautious about next year‚Äôs financial situation.‚Äù

City to pick new police chief by March

By Andrea Gregory

Acting Police Chief Robert Bradley has a resume ready and says he would like to be considered for the job he has done for the past two years. Holding 37 years of experience in the Somerville Police Department, Bradley said he knows the city and has a clear plan for leading the police force in the future.

Somerville home sends holiday cheer to troops
By George P. Hassett

The Medford Street home is clean and well maintained — that is if you can see past the multi-colored lights, singing snowmen and a patriotic Santa Clause.
   For 16 years, Marco Soares has lavishly decorated his home to celebrate everything from the holiday season to a Super Bowl win for the New England Patriots. But this year, Soares has added a serious note to his holiday spectacle — on a sign hanging over his porch is a message, ‚ÄúHappy Holidays to all our troops.‚Äù

News Talk for the week of Dec. 20

The board of Alderman passed an order for the DPW to pick up all paper boxes in the city that don‚Äôt have the stickers from city hall on them. The undercover newspaper raids netted quite the inventory of local publications. The News had two boxes without permits, but the boys at the rags across the river were seeing red when over 20 Globe and 20 Herald boxes were confiscated by the city. We didn‚Äôt check on our competition ‚ÄúThe Farm Team,‚Äù but we‚Äôre sure they‚Äôre ok. We agree with people around the city that something had to be done. There is an ordinance now that limits four boxes at a location, and in some areas around the city you can count up to 20 in some places.         

Ex-cop admits to ethics violation
By George P. Hassett

A Somerville police officer, fired for unethical behavior, now admits he violated state law by attempting to use his official position to purchase a Vernon Street home at a sharply reduced rate.  The confession was made public on Monday.

Modest decline in property tax

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone this week announced modest declines in residential property taxes paid by most condominium, two-family and three-family homeowners.  Despite the growth in the city‚Äôs budget and the increase in municipal services over the past year, owners of single-family homes would see an average increase of only ten dollars, said city officials.

‚ÄúIt‚Äôs too soon to say we‚Äôve turned the corner on our recent period of fiscal austerity,‚Äù said Curtatone.  ‚ÄúIn fact anyone who pays close attention to public finance will tell you that you should never say ‚ÄòWe‚Äôve turned the corner.‚Äô  But when you see financial data like this, you have to be pleased.  I could not be prouder of the people of city and this administration for what they‚Äôve accomplished in this past year.‚Äù      

To read more about the state of city finances in Somerville, read Wednesday’s edition of The Somerville News, available free at over 150 locations throughout the city. 

Assembly Square developers agree to pay city’s legal fees
By George P. Hassett

Federal Realty Trust, the company developing Assembly Square, agreed this week to pick up the tab for Somerville’s legal fees for the creation and defense of the Assembly Square zoning laws, which were passed in 2004 and ruled “invalid” by a Land Court judge in March.