By Tom Nash

Somerville skateboarders spent last Saturday scouting Boston for design ideas for their long-awaited skate park– a project that a recent appearance before the Board of Aldermen may have finally put in motion.

A mostly teen-aged group showed up to the Sept. 9 Aldermen meeting with a petition containing 450 signatures asking for a skate park in Somerville, capping an awareness campaign conducted by skateboarders and the community organization Save Our Somerville.

By George P. Hassett

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone is against decriminalizing marijuana use. And on Wednesday he and Chief of Police Anthony Holloway called on voters to oppose a ballot question that would make possession of small amounts of marijuana punishable with a fine similar to a traffic violation.

Curtatone and Holloway joined other law enforcement officials Рincluding Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone Рat the State House to denounce decriminalizing marijuana as “a very real threat to our youth and our communities.” The measure is known as Question 2. Voters will decide on Nov. 4.

New proposal would end at Sullivan, with bus service to Assembly

By George P. Hassett

A much-hyped transit project expected to connect Assembly Square to research centers, universities and Logan Airport could skip the city for a stop in Boston if state officials choose a new plan unveiled this week.

Local bands rock to save beloved dive

By Tom Nash

As John Giannino sweeps up after the final night of a week-long concert series meant to save his family’s business, he seems more worried about the Patriots getting trounced than the future of the Abbey Lounge. The thought of losing it seems remote.

“It would suck,” he says of the possibility of the bar closing. “The place has been around forever, you know? I grew up around the place.”

Positioned on Inman Square’s dividing line between Cambridge and Somerville, the bar has unapologetically cultivated its status as an authentic dive. Prohibition couldn’t stop the place from selling moonshine, and Giannino can’t keep people from punching holes in the men’s room drywall.

Demolition begins as opening is slated for 2011

By Jack Nicas

The first physical step towards IKEA’s arrival in Somerville came Friday, as demolition began on the former Good Time Emporium.

A mechanical claw tore down the well-known satellite dishes atop the former hangout as developers, IKEA representatives and city officials posed in front of the soon-to-be 340,000 square foot Swedish furniture store.

Accused man testifies it was self-defense

By George P. Hassett

The jury in a murder trial for two men accused of killing over a gold chain began their deliberations Tuesday.

Walter Norris, 23, and Valentino Facey, 22, are charged with murdering Bernard Johnson in front of his girlfriend just hours after she accepted his marriage proposal.

“This is not a dream,” Johnson told his fiancée, on their last night together, as she asked friends to take a picture of her new diamond ring, witnesses at the trial said. “This is real.”

By George P. Hassett

Ward 5 Alderman Sean O’Donovan topped the first ballot at tonight’s democratic caucus for a register of probate nominee but picked up only 27 more votes through three more ballots and finished second to a Medford woman for the nomination.

Tara DeCristofaro, an assistant register of probate now, will be the democratic nominee for the top register job in November after indicted incumbent John Buonomo declined the nomination last week.The caucus began with 13 candidates for the job and came down to O’Donovan and DeCristofaro in the fourth and final vote of the night. DeCristofaro picked up 202 votes between the first and fourth ballots to defeat O’Donovan and win 68 percent of the 447 delegates.

Sheriff James V. DiPaola and CBS-4’s Jack Williams invite you and your family to attend the 11th annual Run for Wednesday’s Child charity road race. All proceeds benefit Jack Williams’ Endowment for Wednesday’s Child, a non-profit organization dedicated to finding homes for hard-to-adopt children.

This year’s road race will take place on September 28, 2008 at the Malden Irish American Club, 177 West Street, Malden, MA. Registration begins at 9:00am with a race start 11:00am. Visit www.runforwednesdayschild.com to download an application or apply on-site the day of the race.

Tonight the countywide caucus will be held at Waltham High School to vote and nominate a Democrat to take the place of former Register of Probate John Buonomo, who recently resigned. Popular local pundit Joe Lynch will be hosting the “Somerville Pundit” talk show live with call-ins from the caucus, from both delegates and The Somerville News crew – who will be there covering it. Join Joe on SCATV at 8:00 p.m. and if you want to throw in your two cents, call him live at 617-628-9876.

                                                 ***************

We heard from a little birdie that one of the three candidates was going to show up at Wednesday’s caucus handing out t-shirts with N.A.S.A. printed on the back (an acronym for “Not Another Somerville Alderman”). Isn’t that typical of the haters out there Рjust goes to show you even at an all Democratic caucus that stuff can happen, we hope whoever thought of that idea doesn’t do it.

Team builds confidence with 2-0 record

By Jack Nicas

In a game that included five first-half turnovers and an eventful, but called-back, 43-yard score, the Somerville High School football team improved to 2-0 on the season with a 14-6 win over Boston Latin High School.

Somerville found its success on the ground, aided by the arrival of Arlington Catholic-transfer Seamus Desmond, a sophomore. Desmond’s power approach served as a change of pace for Somerville’s committee of running backs; seven Highlanders carried the ball on the night.