as a special treat on this Holiday – a second look at Reality Bites by James Norton…

Reality Bites by James Norton for the week of December 21

A non-mysterious Christmas Tale

‘Twas the night before Christmas and the Mayor is afluster –
How will he win back the cops, to whom he’s been a ball-buster?

The deal has been struck with The Midget and his cohorts,
Another job in the family of the one whom they say extorts.

With labor conditions in the sick building at an all-time low-point,
Now would be the perfect time for another puppet to appoint.

Let’s not forget about the toys for the tots that had vanished,
Just what does it take for a member of the “team” to be banished?

Something seems odd, why won’t the Mayor admonish his puppets;
Maybe the rumors are true and he’s merely the Hogg’s Muppet.

Meanwhile, drivers have supposedly been trained in the Yard,
In the hopes that someday soon they’ll have their own CDL card.

On Gerwitz, on Jehlen, Provost and all manner of Progressive;
They have turned local politics around, it has become downright regressive.

Harking back to the days of SUN, SCEOC and other liberal organizations,
It is the death of the old-boy network, ignorance leading to their own political castrations.

Rumor has it that the Feds have been grazing in our own backyard;
Conspiracy theories running wild, people’s loyalties completely charred.

At a time when people should be trying to heal;
Wounds run deep, apologies unspoken, it’s very surreal.

In the year of the never-ending elections;
It’s a great time to piece the puzzle together – time to show the interconnections.

Of the people behind the scenes; they do nothing but watch the ‘blog
And wait their turn to post some nasty tidbit about some cog.

In the wheel of local political life that is known as “the dance”;
Comes many a Pod-Person, some even willing to finance.

Someone who will send the current administration home to pack;
It won’t matter much; the next one will be the next King of the Hacks.

So they say things will never change – to those I feel sorry;
If you don’t learn to mend the fences now, it will be your own folly.

In this time of holiday cheer, mirth and merry,
Why do we have to have so many people unwary?

In any case, this year we probably won’t see old Saint Nick,
It’s not Christmas anymore, it’s merely a carrot stick.

For us, it’s still called Christmas – nothing more, nothing less;
Not just some symbol of antiseptic excess.

From us here at The Somerville News, we wish all good night and be well;
And for those unwilling to laugh at themselves, then just go to Hell.

Merry Christmas from The Somerville News

We wish you – the readers – and all the silly people who made it into the news – a happy holiday season, no matter what you celebrate, in particular – Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!  We look ahead to 2006 with a strong sense of where we have been and where we want to take the paper in the weeks and months ahead.  Thanks again and be safe – don’t drink and drive!

– From the Publishers of the Somerville News – The Norton family, the Tauro family, Robert Publicover and the Editor – George Hassett

Attorney charged with vehicular homicide

By George P. Hassett

Criminal charges have been filed against a Somerville businessman who allegedly struck and killed a Tufts student Nov. 22 at Powderhouse Square.

Francis D. Privitera faces two charges — one criminal and one civil — as a result of the crash that killed 22 year old Boryana Damyanova, who had come to Somerville from Bulgaria to study international relations.

Trooper Thomas Ryan, of the Massachusetts State Police, said Privitera is being charged with vehicular homicide by reckless operation, a criminal misdemeanor, and failure to stop for a pedestrian at a crosswalk, a civil charge.

The State Police took over the investigation because Privitera’s son-in-law, Mike Kennelly, is a Somerville Police officer.

On the night of the fatal accident Privitera was driving west on Broadway at 6:20 p.m. when he struck Damyanova at a well-lit crosswalk, said Lt. Paul Upton of the Somerville Police Department.

Once hit, she was thrown to the other side of the street and struck by another vehicle traveling east, a truck driven by Gina Furtado of Medford. Upton said Damyanova was pronounced dead at Somerville Hospital at 7:20 p.m.

Only Privitera is being cited for Damyanova’s death. Speed and alcohol are not considered to be factors, said police.

Privitera owns land throughout Somerville, and even owns a building just a short distance from where the deadly accident took place. He could not be reached for comment at his Union Square law office. Damyanova was buried in her home country the first weekend of December.

Stolen cars still collect tickets and city can’t do anything about it

By Amanda Patterson

  Cecil Adjety was surprised to find that his car had been stolen. But when he received a notice that his stolen car had accumulated $700 in unpaid parking tickets he was shocked.
  Adjety, a Somerville resident, stumbled into a communication gap between the Somerville police and the Traffic and Parking departments. Each group documents activity related to stolen cars and accumulated tickets, but a lack of interdepartmental communication forestalls any hope of unearthing overlapping cases.

Union Place project wraps up phase 3

By Catherine Rogers

  The Union Place development team is moving closer to making Union Square a destination point and helping Somerville shake off its infamous reputation for stalled developments.
  Located on Norfolk Street off Webster Avenue within walking distance from Union Square, Union Place spans two acres of land designated for use by residents and small-business owners.
  ‚ÄúEventually, Union Place and Webster Ave. might be a gateway to the city,‚Äù he said. ‚ÄúThere is no reason why Union Square can‚Äôt become a thrilling center of urban activity,‚Äù said the site‚Äôs developer David Aposhian.

One call to City Hall: Somerville adopts 311 program

Somerville has become the first city in New England to establish a 311 calling program for residents seeking to report non-emergency situations. Two weeks since its launch, the three operators have fielded over 600 phone calls regarding potholes, icy sidewalks, and snow removal. Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone said he hopes that the Web-based triage system – which logs and tracks calls as they come in – will expedite the normally bureaucratic process of voicing concerns to City Hall.

City brings in $200,000 in parking tickets in a day
By George P. Hassett

The parking penalties handed out to Somerville drivers during the Dec. 9 snow emergency added up to more than half of the snow emergency fines imposed all of last year.
During the Dec. 9 snow emergency, Traffic and Parking officials handed out roughly 2,000 $100 tickets to Somerville citizens – resulting in $200,000 handed out in a single day. In the entire fiscal year 2005, $362,300 in snow emergency fines were handed out.

Police investigate break-in at traffic and parking department
By George P. Hassett

Somerville police are investigating a heist from the city’s Traffic and Parking Department this week, said Lt. Paul Upton.
The larceny took place sometime between Dec. 8 and Dec. 12 at the 133 Holland St. office of Traffic and Parking.
“There was a theft of money. It is being investigated and we are interviewing various individuals,” said Upton.

Here it is bloggers — Newstalk! But we have deleted a few of the choicest entries, which can only be read in the print edition due out Wednesday.

Newstalk for December 21st 2005

On Friday, December 9th, we had our first ‚Äúsnow emergency‚Äù this season ‚Äì with winds blowing and thundering skies and we have to assume that Mayor Joe is smiling because approximately 2500 tickets were given out by Mayor Joe‚Äôs meter nazi‚Äôs (look, nothing personal, some of our best friends are Meter Readers) but you do the math – 2500 tickets at $100.00 each translates into a whopping  $250,000.00 in ONE DAY revenue.  A snow emergency and school wasn‚Äôt even closed for the day.  This probably means that every time it snows, an emergency parking ban will be called and this administration will send out the Meter Nazi‚Äôs again?  At that rate we could have the entire deficit cleared up and get rid our heavy reliance on State monies by springtime, with the city taking in millions of dollars in revenue just in snow emergencies.

                                                        ************
Oh, we almost forgot, you did hear about the money stolen from the Traffic & Parking department didn‚Äôt you?  You didn‚Äôt?  Well it was hush-hush – it seems that they‚Äôre embarrassed that they left the back door open and safe unlocked after hours.  Seems like everyone has been saying different amounts – anywhere from $6K to $10K – depending on whom you ask.

Reality Bites by James Norton for the week of December 21

A non-mysterious Christmas Tale

‘Twas the night before Christmas and the Mayor is afluster –
How will he win back the cops, to whom he’s been a ball-buster?

The deal has been struck with The Midget and his cohorts,
Another job in the family of the one whom they say extorts.

With labor conditions in the sick building at an all-time low-point,
Now would be the perfect time for another puppet to appoint.

Let’s not forget about the toys for the tots that had vanished,
Just what does it take for a member of the “team” to be banished?

Something seems odd, why won’t the Mayor admonish his puppets;
Maybe the rumors are true and he’s merely the Hogg’s Muppet.