Library needs new home, Union Square needs a library
By Catherine Rogers

    With its bloated, water-damaged walls and skinny aisles, the central branch of the Somerville public library is ripe for revamping. In some areas layers of paint have peeled away from the walls revealing a burnt citrus color evocative of 1970s gaudiness.
    Currently the building shows signs of repeated floods and burst pipes. Weather damage aside, some book collections remain hidden from the public because there simply isn‚Äôt enough shelving space.   About two-dozen computers huddle in the center of the main reading room, and a few scattered chairs and tables occupy the small leftover space.
   Despite some unaesthetic qualities and cramped quarters, though, over 1,000 patrons come to the library each day to read, listen to music and use the computers. The library has served as a hub of activity since it was built in 1909, but its location on Highland Avenue prevents it from existing symbiotically with surrounding businesses.

St. Anthony school closes

By George P. Hassett

A 48 year old Somerville Catholic school will close at the end of this school year, said an Archdiocese spokesman this weekend.

A serious decline in enrollment, continued financial deficits and demographic changes in the immediate area of St. Anthony Parish and School have made it impossible for the school to remain operating, said Terry Donilon in a press release.

Donilon said each St. Anthony student will be assisted in finding another Catholic school next year.

St. Anthony School opened its doors in September, 1958 built by the first pastor and founder of St. Anthony Parish, Rev. Nazareno Properzi. It was staffed by the Sisters of Notre Dame and welcomed children of all races, colors, and creeds, he said.

Before Chaneyquiddick
A commentary by William C. Shelton

  Although I‚Äôve never met Dick Cheney, I‚Äôve never liked his public persona.  So I was surprised when I found myself feeling sorry for him.

  The press was beating up the White House for sitting on the hunting-accident story.  Press Secretary Scott McClellan insisted that they wanted to get the facts straight, although that‚Äôs never stopped them in the past.

Stickball saga comes to a close
By George P. Hassett

   Kids‚Äô stickball games at the Brown School playground became the subject of political debate this month when a neighboring resident complained to her alderman about the damage home run balls are causing to the siding of her home.
   At a Jan. 26 Board of Alderman (BOA) meeting, Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz requested that Commissioner of Public Works Stan Koty place a sign on the fence adjacent to 46 Josephine Ave. and in the school yards grounds that states, ‚ÄúNo stick ball playing against house or fence.‚Äù Gewirtz said the order was the result of a call from a constituent concerning damage done to her home by home run stick balls.

Use of key Assembly Sq. parcel debated
Yard 21 development ‚Äòvital‚Äô  to Square‚Äôs future

By George P. Hassett

    An Assembly Square area once designated for dense, office based development is in danger of becoming home to a single big box store, said members of the Mystic View Task Force this week.
Yard 21 is an asymmetrical piece of land located along the Orange Line tracks that could one day connect Assembly Square’s waterfront to an MBTA station.
    The 9 acre parcel is currently owned by the Somerville Redevelopment Authority and is in the midst of being sold to Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRIT). FRIT is reportedly in discussion with Swedish home furniture retailer Ikea to swap the area around Yard 21 with Ikea‚Äôs waterfront property.

Newstalk for the week of March 1

We noticed some bloggers on our Web Site have been talking about the former Lincoln Park School, which was torn down recently. We heard that the school committee wants to name the new school after the former Superintendent of Schools Al Argenziano. Some bloggers have mentioned former state Rep. Marie Howe should get the honor.  We happen to agree, after all she was on the school committee way back in the 60‚Äôs and we believe she was the first women to be elected to that position. And then she continued serving the city when she moved up to state Representative until the late 80‚Äôs. We think she certainly has done a lot for Somerville but also she has paved the way for women in politics here in Somerville.  We know she deserves something for all the hard work and effort she put in for the city before most of us were born or came here.   
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Seems like the Buck-a-Book storefront in Davis Square is getting more attention now that it‚Äôs vacant then when it was open for business. One rumor has it as the future home for a political headquarters while another says a well- regarded North End restaurant will fill the vacant space.  We‚Äôd like to see the Italian restaurant come before a campaign headquarters ‚Äì there are enough politicians in Davis Square already and too few places to get good linguini. Or maybe it could be both.   

Aldermen demand accountability on theft of public money
By George P. Hassett

   The Board of Aldermen requested this week that Director of Traffic and Parking James Kotzuba update them on the investigation into a December theft of money from his department. Alderman-   At-Large and newly elected state Rep. Denise Provost, D-Somerville, said she made the request because the city‚Äôs aldermen are the guardians of its budget and the incident had disappeared from the public discourse.
   ‚ÄúI am not trying to get involved in law enforcement, but when public money has disappeared it behooves us as city officials to find out what has happened. It was news when the money disappeared but that was the last I heard of it. I have not been informed of any efforts to recover the money since the crime. And if {Kotzuba} doesn‚Äôt come, I will just ask again,‚Äù said Provost.

Reality Bites by James Norton for the week of March 1
“In a world gone mad, we won’t spank the monkey, the monkey will spank us.” – Jay

  Being bi-polar sucks sometimes.  Sure there are meds to help, but who likes that stuff?  Lithium and thorazine with a little xanax and klonopin every day, how yummy.  It‚Äôs like walking around with a wet blanket over your emotions all the time ‚Äì assuming you‚Äôre awake long enough to interact with someone or something.
  Panic attacks manifest themselves at odd times and typically without warning.  They can cause you to want to avoid people and places at times, they can make you want to get a gun and shoot people at times and they can make you want to sit down and write.  A lot.

Bed bugs on the ropes
By Sam Burr

    Bed bugs are on the run in Somerville and authorities are pushing the tiny critters further and further away from the city‚Äôs hotels, schools and homes.
    Over the last couple of years, the bugs have been bothering Somerville, on a much smaller level than other epidemics such as a recent New York City infestation. But, nonetheless, the city wants them out and state Rep. Denise Provost, D-Somerville, said the results are encouraging.   
   ‚ÄúI haven‚Äôt heard about any problems recently,‚Äù she said.

The View From Prospect Hill for the week of Feb. 22

As members of a community, it’s important to maintain a momentum of progress and development, especially in the impressionable minds of adolescent children. That’s why we at The Somerville News extend our support to events that feature children’s achievement.

Whether it’s a science fair, school play, or a few hours of undivided attention from a stable, nurturing adult, these interactions promote a student’s self-worth. This confidence ultimately leads to independence of thought and action.