Truth is, they'd all be right – and they didn't even touch
on some of the more directly related to Somerville stories and what
they meant to you and me and the everyday resident of this city. Here
are a few:

The closing of inpatient and detox facilities and
support at Somerville Hospital by the Cambridge Health Alliance has
sent a ripple through the community and created serious hardships for
organizations which relied on services provided at this local facility.

After
a quarter of a century and multiple lawsuits, a major press conference
at Assembly Square with bulldozers behind the politicians and important
people gives the community a first real visual indication that
something, anything, is being done in this seemingly lost section of
the city.

CAAS finds a new Executive Director for the first time
in over 25 years. This vitally important local organization was led by
Jack Hamilton since the early 80's and finding Kimberly Smith-Cofield
to replace him was not an easy task for CAAS to do, but it seems to be
working out quite well after almost one full year.

No local
primary election made for a very low turnout in the final election,
which saw only one contested incumbent – The News' our own Jamie Norton
– lose his seat. The real excitement was a month later, with
Somerville's own U.S. Rep. Mike Capuano in a heated Democratic Special
State Primary against State Attorney General Martha Coakley and two
relative newcomers – Alan Khazei and Steve Pagliuca. Unfortunately Mike
lost, but, we still get to have him represent us in the House.

John
Buonomo, disgraced former Register of Deeds, former Alderman and member
of the School Committee was indicted in April for stealing from his own
campaign committee to the tune of $100k. He was indicted while awaiting
trial for his indictment stemming from charges that he stole from
copier vending machines while serving as Register of Probate. In
November he eventually pled guilty to a number of charges and was
sentenced to serve 2.5 years in Billerica House of Correction.

Not
to be outdone by Buonomo, Kevin Carey, former local real estate
attorney and Water Commissioner under Mayor Dot Gay pled guilty to a
number of charges related to mortgage "stacking" and was sentenced to
2-3 years in State prison, 10 years of probation and has to pay $2.6
million in restitution.

As we round out the year, State Senator
Anthony Galluccio is on 24 hour a day house arrest and Somerville
Police Chief Anthony Holloway may be heading back to Florida to take a
job there. Welcome 2010 – we eagerly await what you have to offer.