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A Snow Queen brings a chilled cheer to Somerville
By George P. Hassett
Eight years ago, Lily the Snow Queen came to Somerville. She came to bring cheer to a city mired in the depths and despair of a cold winter. She came to show them how to celebrate the cold.
Performance artist Blanca Milan Batteau has been portraying her character Lily the Snow Queen in Somerville since 1997 when she offered her unique set of skills and services to the Somerville Arts Council during their Illuminations tour, a citywide journey to all of the most holiday decorated homes.
“I wanted to celebrate winter because it is the time of year people in the city hate most. They complain about shoveling and driving in the snow. So I became the Snow Queen and set up a table at City Hall to entertain everybody who was waiting to go on the tour,” she said.
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"Code Yellow" called at Somerville Hospital
By George P. Hassett
A boiler explosion at Mt. Auburn Hospital caused Somerville Hospital officials to call a Code Yellow today at 4:45 p.m., said John A. Roderick.
A Code Yellow call indicates an emergency, he said.
Roderick, who used to work at Somerville Hospital, said this is only the second time he remembers a code yellow being called in the past 20 years.
As many as 170 evacuees from Mt. Auburn could be coming to local facilities such as Somerville Hospital, he said.
The View from Prospect Hill for December 14
Last week accusations of graft were shot at Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone. The Patrolmen’s Union said he awarded a city job to the daughter-in-law of an alderman in exchange for a vote of support in his proposal to remove the police chief from civil service.
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Camouflage couldn’t help these alleged crooks
By George P. Hassett
Dark clothes and a camouflage outfit could not hide Michael Kelly and Christopher Toppi from police Thursday, December 9. The two men were arrested and charged with breaking and entering a vehicle during the nighttime after police responded to a call concerning two individuals who had just finished breaking into a white sports utility vehicle.
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Union: Mayor has stacked selection committee with his pawns
By George P. Hassett
The committee that will select the city’s next police chief is loaded with mayoral appointees who will blindly follow the orders of their administration, said Patrolmen’s Union President Jack Leutcher this week.
“The mayor is in control of enough votes on the committee to do whatever he wants. When one party controls multiple votes, the system is flawed from the start,” he said.
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The next state representative will be a Democrat – it is up to you, Somerville, to pick which one
It’s official. Denise Provost and Elizabeth Moroney will face off in an election for state representative next month. Two other candidates pulled papers, but never turned them in, leaving the two democrats to door knock alone this winter. The Somerville News will sponsor a debate on Dec. 15 at 4 p.m. at the Somerville Community Access Television studio in Union Square. For more information on the debate call us at (617) 666-4010.
Popular alderman kicks off state rep. campaign
By Catherine Rogers
Throughout the Elm Street headquarters, clipboards and posters adorned the tables and walls, advertising opportunities to help Denise Provost in her quest to win the special election for state representative. From sending pre-printed letters to holding signs on street corners, there is plenty to do before voting day, Jan. 10.
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Early campaigner wants your votes
By Andrea Gregory
The competition for the state representative may be heating up, but candidate Elizabeth Moroney knows the weather is definitely cooling off. Instead of just the usual buttons and bumper stickers associated with political campaigns, Moroney is hoping ice scrapers will help wipe out the competition.
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Artisans hawk their wares in Union Square
By George P. Hassett
Dozens of craftspeople, artists and farmers congregated outside at Union Square’s plaza and inside at the Toast Lounge Dec. 10 to sell their work and support Union Square business.
The Winter Craft Market is part of the Union Square Main Streets program, a non-profit organization of residents, business and property owners assembled to revitalize the square.
Items sold at the market ranged from Christmas wreaths to multicolored knit caps to rare books.
Legislators provide relief from rising heat costs
By George P. Hassett
As residential heating costs rise and temperatures drop, two Somerville legislators lauded this week’s passage of a bill designed to help low and moderate income citizens pay their heating bills. Sen. Jarrett T. Barrios, D-Somerville, and Sen. Patricia Jehlen, D-Somerville, each voted in favor of house bill 4438, or the HEAT bill.
The bill called for tax credits of up to $600 towards purchases on residential energy efficient heating items that help households use less gas and oil and a tax deduction option of up to $800 for home heating expenses for low income and moderate income homeowners and renters.
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Not all Yankee fans are bad
By Andrea Gregory
An alleged Yankees fan assaulted two women at a bus stop on Friday.
According to the police report, Concepcion Miranda, 38, of Broadway, supposedly threatened the women with a knife at the bus stop outside Shaws on Broadway. He was arrested and charged minutes later and just down the street for assault with a dangerous weapon.
“The description of the suspect was a male, wearing a Yankees hat and a brown jacket,” wrote Officer James M. Donovan in his report.
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