By Joseph A. Curtatone

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

Taking a closer look at this month’s notable city data.

8: That’s the percent of Somerville High School students who reported taking part in binge alcohol use (consuming 5 or more drinks in a row within a couple hours) on a recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey administered by the Massachusetts Department of Education. While this figure shows a significant decline from the 21 percent of students who reported binge drinking to the same degree in 2006, it proves there is still work to be done to ensure our youth are engaging in safe and productive behavior.

19: That’s the average number of package thefts reported between Thanksgiving and Christmas during each of the past two years. This figure represents 25 percent of the yearly total reported package thefts. But the actual number of package thefts is possibly higher as Somerville Police suspect that not all thefts are reported because some people may think wrongly that nothing can be done. However, in the past our police department has been able make some arrests and recover some of the stolen items. You should take necessary precautions to avoid package theft altogether like providing specific delivery instructions to your shipper, requesting that your carrier hold your packages at their facility, or having your package delivered to a place where someone is usually around to bring it inside immediately. But if you do have a package stolen, it’s important to report the theft to the Somerville Police Department so that they can track the theft and make an attempt to recover the items.  For more tips on reducing package thefts, visit http://bit.ly/PackageTips.

40,874: That’s the number of Somerville residents who voted in last month’s Presidential election, meaning we surpassed our 2012 Presidential election voter turnout of 72.36 percent. With our 12 days of early voting and usual Election Day polling places, 75.19 percent of registered Somerville voters headed out to the polls this year. That puts us right on par with the Commonwealth as a whole, which reported and overall 75 percent turnout, and well ahead of national turnout, which was 58 percent. Now that the voting is done, it’s time to stay involved in your community, your state, and your nation to ensure you can help shape your government and your future.

1,260: That’s the approximate total number of people who go on the Somerville Arts Council’s 36 Illumination Tours each year. This year’s Illumination Tour date is set for Saturday, December 17, from 4:30 to 10:30 p.m., and tickets are on sale now. Come join us as we take a trolley through the City and admire the transformation of our neighbors’ yards to displays of bright lights and festive décor. Tours are available in both East Somerville and West Somerville, and coffee, hot chocolate, and cookies will be served. For more information on how to purchase tickets, visit http://somervilleartscouncil.org/illuminationstour.