By Jim Clark

The past year saw many changes come about in the city and its citizens. Longtime development projects came to completion, while others were just begun. Familiar faces bowed out of the spotlight as others took their places.

As it all unfolded, everyday people worked their jobs, tended their business, lived their lives. The political and social changes occurring all around us touched some more intensely than others, but we have all been affected to some degree. The news may not always be uplifting – although it often can be – but we all share that universal need to know and understand what is going on in our city, and to discern what it is that we can do as individuals and as a community to shape our own destinies. To have a say in how it all goes.

We will be taking a look back at the major events that have moved us all in one way or another over the past year. This is a time for taking stock in ourselves, our leaders, and each other. It has been an eventful year, and putting it into perspective is very worthwhile.

The year began much the same as many years before it. We celebrated our Revolutionary War era heritage with the annual Grand Union Flag Raising ceremony (as we will be doing again this week), reminding us of our unique position as the inheritors of a great legacy, that of freedom and independence from tyranny.

Our freshly elected and returning public servants were sworn into office. Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone commenced his sixth term as the city’s chief administrator. Five new members of the Board of Aldermen were welcomed to their new positions.

Old business continued to run its course. The Green Line Extension project pressed forward. Various other development projects throughout the city likewise pushed onward. Tufts University expressed interest in the vacant Powder House Community School property, then reneged on its original offer and pulled out of the deal completely.

Portions of Somerville High School that were damaged by Superstorm Sandy in 2012 got some much needed repairs following the BOA’s unanimous decision to allocate $2.6M for the renovations.

The Board of Aldermen approved a $2.6 million plan to repair the Somerville High School auditorium, kitchen and cafeteria. The bond amount included payment for architectural and engineering services to repair the damage to the school from Superstorm Sandy in October 2012. The auditorium had not been fit for use since then, and the lunches for the students had been prepared at the Winter Hill Community School and then shipped to the high school out of necessity.

Later in the year the results of the repairs were unveiled to the public, with the grand reopening of the stunningly refurbished auditorium.

The hunt for a master developer for Union Square was launched in December of the previous year, and a field of ten candidates were vetted and evaluated in the early part of 2014. Union Square Station Associates (US2) was eventually selected to be the master developer for the Union Square revitalization project in July.

The decision brought to a close the six month long search for a master developer. After sorting out the field of initial applicants, the group was narrowed down to four qualifying candidates: US2, The Abbey Group, Gerding Edlen, and the team of Federal Realty and National Development. US2, a partnership between Magellan Development and Mesirow Financial, proved to be the most qualified according to city planners.

A grisly tale emerged in February as a body was discovered behind a Norwood school, determined to be that of a 66-year-old Somerville resident Vincnet Lalli. A woman walking her dog in the woods behind the Coakley Middle School discovered his body, which Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey said had “suffered massive trauma.”

Two weeks later, Anthony Canejo Sr., 52, and Anthony Canejo Jr., 30, both of Somerville, were charged in connection with the investigation of the death of Lalli.

Another controversial development project involved the properties at 181 and 197 Washington St. Abutters appealed the original proposal’s approval the previous July. The two properties were being developed jointly between the Somerville Community Corporation (SSC) and a private developer. Both buildings were to be demolished to make room for a mix of commercial/retail space along with market-rate and affordable residential units. Revised plans as part of the land court settlement were then finalized.

The original proposal was for a combined 84 housing units and retail/commercial space in two five-story buildings. The revised plan settled on 65 units in two four-story buildings.

In March the search for a new Chief of Police geared up in earnest. Former Police Chief Tom Pasquarello, who was hired in 2010, resigned the previous November to care for an ill family member. Charles Femino has served as acting police chief after Pasquarello’s resignation took effect Dec. 1.

Former Deputy Chief of Operations David Fallon got the nod from Mayor Curtatone to step in as the city’s new Police Chief.

After an exhaustive search was conducted, David Fallon, then Somerville Police Deputy Chief of Operations, accepted an offer from Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone to become the City’s new Chief of Police.

Born and raised in Somerville, Fallon joined the Somerville Police Department in 1998 as a patrolman. A graduate of Somerville High School whose parents still live in the city, Fallon rose through the ranks to sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and eventually deputy chief.

“David Fallon exemplifies what we want in the Somerville Police Department—dedication to this city and its residents, a desire to find ways to reduce crime that go beyond arrests and convictions, a commitment to evidence-based decision making, and a spirit of collaboration,” Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone said.

The City selected Waters Consulting Group through a request for proposals in December to assist in the search for a new police chief. Working with the Police Chief Search Committee, Waters Consulting representative Chuck Rohre interviewed City officials and over 40 constituent group representatives, held a public hearing and conducted a citywide survey that had more than 200 responses to obtain input on the qualities and characteristics desired of the next police chief. By the April deadline, 37 candidates applied for the position, which the Search Committee narrowed down to four initial finalists. A public hearing with the four finalists was held on June 25, with the public submitting questions through the City website and in writing at locations around the city. A team of City officials led by the Mayor then interviewed each of the candidates before narrowing the finalists down to two. Mayor Curtatone and a team of officials conducted site visits on July 21 and 31 before recommending Fallon for the position.

The retirement of another high profile public servant initiated a search for a new Superintendent of Schools. Tony Pierantozzi announced his retirement resignation during the March 17, School Committee meeting. His resignation takes effect July 5 of next year.

After an almost equally exhaustive search as that of the new Chief of Police, Mary Skipper was unanimously selected by the Somerville School Committee to serve as the city’s new Superintendent of Schools.

Skipper had been serving as Network Superintendent for High Schools for the Boston Public Schools. In that capacity she had overseen the district’s 34 high schools representing 19,500 students.

Mayor Curtatone praised the decision saying, “Mary Skipper’s track record of bringing innovation to diverse neighborhoods is a terrific match for what we’re doing here in Somerville. From her time as TechBoston Academy’s founding headmaster, to her current role as Boston Schools’ network superintendent, Mary has understood the importance of students developing problem-solving skills and the use of transparent, data-based decision-making to drive schools forward. All three finalists were fantastic candidates, and I’m grateful we had such a tough decision before us. I look forward to working with Mary and building upon Somerville Public Schools’ great recent successes.”

Late in March it was learned that Standard & Poor’s raised Somerville’s bond rating from the city’s previous high of “AA-” to its new high of “AA+,” which represented a two-ratings jump. The new rating is just one step away from S&P’s highest designation of “AAA.” Higher bond ratings typically result in lower interest rates for municipalities when it comes to borrowing and financing for projects.

State Rep. Carl Sciortino left his post as representative of the 34th Middlesex District, moving on to new challenges as executive director of the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts.

State Rep. Carl Sciortino’s decision to accept the job as executive director of the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts did not trigger a special election to fill his seat after he officially resigned on April 4.

Sciortino served as representative of the 34th Middlesex District, which includes wards 4 and 7 in Somerville, as well as portions of Medford, since 2004. In announcing his decision to leave the Legislature, the 35-year-old Sciortino, who lives with his husband in Medford, revealed he is HIV positive.

“As a gay man living with HIV, I am honored to lead one of the country’s oldest and most effective organizations in the battle against this disease, which has raged on over 30 years,” Sciortino said. “My goal for AIDS Action in the years ahead is simple: continue the work that has resulted in lowering the rate of new HIV diagnoses in Massachusetts; provide the multitude of services needed to keep those living with HIV/AIDS connected with health care providers; and continue the public conversation about HIV needed to reduce the stigma that is still so closely associated with this disease.”

Democratic candidate Christine Barber handily defeated Nicholas Lanzilli for the seat in the statewide election in November.

Mayor Curtatone continued his adamant opposition to the Wynn Casino development in Everett. The Board of Aldermen studied strategies for dealing with the issue in April.

A controversy developed regarding the proposed sale of the post office in Union Square. The building houses an historically important mural by artist Ross Moffett that was commissioned under the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression. Concerns over the accessibility of the mural to the public got the attention of public officials, both locally and nationally. The Cambridge-based investor group Union Square Partners LLC purchased the building, but has not indicated what they intend to do with it. They have said that they are exploring a number of alternatives that include the possibility of installing an entertainment venue with an additional café or restaurant as part of the plan.

Both the Somerville Fire and Police Departments were equipped with nasal naloxone (Narcan), a prescription medication that can reverse an opioid overdose.

The ongoing rodent problem was still a hot topic in 2014. A task force created by the Board of Aldermen was formed to study the issue and come up with solutions. Rodent resistant trash carts were distributed throughout the city, but many residents still complain that the problem persists and that too little has been done.

Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone took what he described as a “pro-safety and pro-family” action by signing an executive order to withdraw the city from the Secure Communities program, a program initially enacted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to remove illegal aliens who pose a threat to public safety.

Curtatone called the program “a flawed federal program that has left communities less safe, torn apart families and deported people with no criminal convictions.”

Around 25-35 employees and customers of Somerville Avenue Market Basket demonstrated in front of the store in support of their fired CEO, Arthur T. Demoulas, who was let go recently by the company’s board of directors. The issue was resolved and the stores reopened.

The City of Somerville Police Department, in conjunction with the Middlesex Sheriff’s Department, offered gun buyback in exchange for grocery store gift certificates in August.

The event did not require identification from the firearms owners, and it successfully collected 15 firearms by the end of the day.

The collected firearms included a .21 shotgun that is usually used for hunting and target shooting and a couple of .22 rifles.

The grand opening of the Orange Line Assembly Station T-stop in Somerville, MA—the first new MBTA T-station to open in more than a quarter century— and Somerville’s newest neighborhood Assembly Row took place on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, representatives of Federal Realty, along with other Somerville officials and the general public participated in the celebratory walk to the official ribbon cutting ceremony.

A resolution regarding the impact of Logan Airport flight paths was discussed and adopted by the Somerville Board of Alderman in September.

Citing the multitude of complaints from residents made to members of the Board of Aldermen and the government of the City of Somerville about the noise from flights taking off from Logan Airport since the beginning of this spring and continuing through this summer, the Board unanimously resolved to take measures to try to alleviate the problem.

An updated version of the so-called “Pay-to-Play” ordinance regulating campaign contributions approved by the Board of Alderman’s Legislative Matters Committee was formally vetoed by Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone in writing at the regular meeting of the Board in October.

The mayor had argued for a differing version of the ordinance, one featuring measures that would restrict city employee contributions, rather than the Boards version that focused on contributions made by property developers.

The City of Somerville created the position of Poet Laureate for the City of Somerville. Nicole Terez Dutton has been chosen for the position.

Frustrated neighbors that live near the halfway house operated by Vinfen and overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) voiced their concerns to the representatives of those organizations that something needs to be done to improve the situation at 155 Central Street. A series of meetings have taken place in the hopes of resolving these issues.

The groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the new Partners Healthcare headquarters took place earlier this month at Assembly Row.

Assembly Row developer Federal Realty kicked off the construction of a 750,000-sqaure-foot office headquarters for Partners Healthcare on Monday, Dec. 1. Situated between the 73-acre proposed area of development, which includes Assembly Square Marketplace, a Home Depot, a large office building and other retail businesses, and the newly built MBTA station, the new 13-floor office building will bring more than 4,500 administrative, finance and IT employees to this area within two years time.

These are just a few of the events that shaped our lives in 2014.