The View From Prospect Hill for the week of April 26

    The tales are the type elected officials hate and the scandal sheets love. They concern corruption, an honest man‚Äôs possible lies and 10 grand in missing cash. They are two of the biggest ongoing stories in Somerville. And we are starting to tire of them.
    The traffic and parking theft of $10,000 and Joseph Voutour‚Äôs allegations of improper fundraising by the administration have disappeared from the headlines but remain in the collective consciousness of Somerville. They each contain details that will produce juicy rumors for both blog and barroom conversation. But neither is very important.

Capuano sticks with Galluccio

By George P. Hassett

U.S. Congressman Michael Capuano, D-Somerville, is endorsing challenger Anthony Galluccio for the Cambridge-based state Senate seat that represents portions of Suffolk, Middlesex and Essex counties. Capuano re-evaluated the endorsement when incumbent Jarrett T. Barrios entered the race after ending his candidacy for Middlesex County District Attorney. Nevertheless, Capuano has decided to continue his support of Galluccio, said Allison Mills, press secretary for Capuano.

Cops kick in door, corral crook
By George P. Hassett

   Joseph Bradley and Amy Gannon did not get a chance to sleep late Friday morning. At 8:09 a.m., Somerville police kicked down the door of 292 McGrath Highway, where the two had been staying, and arrested Bradley for robbing the East Cambridge Savings Bank the day before and put Gannon in cuffs for an outstanding cocaine warrant.
   Police said Bradley walked into the bank at approximately 2:15 p.m. Thursday and handed the teller a note, which read, ‚ÄúGive me the money. No dye or I‚Äôll be back.‚Äù Bradley allegedly had a butcher knife in his sweatshirt but never pulled it out.

News Talk for the week of April 26

We feel like broken records – no matter how many times we explain it to people, some still just don‚Äôt want to believe it.  A person who posts a comment ‚Äì a ‚ÄúBlogger‚Äù ‚Äì on our weblog does NOT work for this paper.  Some people are still to this day confused about it.  One of our contributors was asked by someone the other day about an apparently not so nice comment made about that person and he wanted to know who it was and why they said it.  We don‚Äôt know, get over yourself.   

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Congratulations are in order for Steve Mirabella, famous electrical genius, on his running the Boston Marathon in 4-hours and 5 minutes.  Steve looked good, well rested and tanned the next day after the race; we think he will do much better next year.
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Remember the guy that ran against state Rep. Tim Toomey in the last statewide elections? No not that nutty progressive Avi Green (Newstalk hears he has run away in horror from Boston politics to the safety of Philadelphia), but that nutty writer turned Republican David Slavitt. Well, Slavitt published a book about his experience in the race this month. It is quite funny and very well written but we just went to the index and looked up The Somerville News and read about ourselves. He is quite favorable to our weekly publication (as opposed to his opinion of the Farm Team). Our favorite line was: “The News is hardly contemptible. It is read in precincts in my district.”

Assembly Square land swap lauded by mayor, questioned by activists
By George P. Hassett

      Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced Monday that Assembly Square developer Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRIT) and Swedish furniture retailer IKEA have agreed in principle to swap the land they own with one another. Under the plan, IKEA would move from its currently approved waterfront site to a more inter section of the square now owned by FRIT.
     Curtatone said the deal would open up an additional 16 acres along the Mystic River for open space parkland, housing and office space.

Land swap at Assembly Square

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced today that Assembly Square developer Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRIT) and Swedish furniture retailer IKEA have agreed in principle to swap parcels of land, thus freeing up nearly 16 additional acres along the Mystic River for mixed use development.

Developing…

Family of Somerville man killed in scaffolding accident sues contractor
By George P. Hassett

   The family of a 27 year old laborer who died in an April 3 construction accident in downtown Boston, filed a lawsuit April 12 contending the general contractor the man worked for should be held responsible.
   Relatives of Romildo Silva allege in the lawsuit that the contractor, Macomber Builders, had ‚Äúfailed to give proper instruction‚Äù to Silva.
   The Superior Court suit seeks at least $500,000 in lost wages and punitive damages for Silva‚Äôs death.

The View From Prospect Hill for the week of April 19

The neo-socialists of Somerville are going too far. It is impossible to enter into any type of money-making enterprise within this city’s limits without running into paralyzing roadblocks of permits and fees.
Last month the Board of Aldermen approved a home rule petition that would double the amount contractor’s must pay to the city for police details during construction. This week, a proposal is before aldermen to increase the fees and paper work a homeowner must trudge through before they can convert their property into condominiums.

Reality Bites for the week of April 19

April 1986 – 20 years ago Рseems like yesterday and yet so far away
I‚Äôve never asked him, but I wonder if my father thought the same thing, twenty years ago 

In April of 1986, like me today, he was 38 years old and coming up on his 20 Year High School Reunion.
Surprisingly enough, it doesn‚Äôt bother me as much as it might some others.  The old clich√© about going back 20 years later rolling up in a Ferrari and playing the big wig, while funny at one point, isn‚Äôt even remotely appealing anymore.

A Mouth-Watering Fatboy
By Alba Cid

     ‚ÄúEveryone loves a Fatboy!‚Äù That is the slogan for a new product in Somerville,  Fatboy marinade.  Karl Dias, a local resident, gave the Somerville News a flavor of what he and his partner, Anthony Mello, have gone through to start the new company at the April 7 Somerville News contributors meeting.
      Dias said the marinade is best when added to beef, pork, chicken or fish, and allowed to sit for several hours (or a few days), before cooking. 
      Dias said he and his partner, who was trained as a chef, cooked together informally for friends and family for years before coming up with the marinade two years ago.