Steve Almond

By Cam Terwilliger

Steve Almond’s prose walks a tightrope between irreverent humor and deeply felt sorrow. Half the time, Almond’s readers bust a gut laughing. The other half, he breaks their hearts.
The author of two story collections, a novel, and three books of nonfiction, his newest, “Rock and Roll Will Save Your Life”, offers Almond’s take on the experience of rock and roll “drooling fandom.” Meanwhile, his recently self-published works, “Letters from People Who Hate Me” and “This Won’t Take But a Minute Honey” have not only received sterling reviews from readers, but have also caught attention for his grass roots method of distributing them. Fortunately for me, I had a chance to talk with Almond about some of these things this week. Fortunately for you, you can catch him for yourself on Nov. 13 at The Somerville News Writer’s Festival.

ClassroomCare Program unites students across America to read and help Children in need
*

(L to R) 6th grader - Olivier Josinvil, 5th grader- Caroline Gangi, 4th grader - Christopher Chevalier

Saint Clement Parish School announced  that thirty elementary students from St. Clement Parish School in Ms. Jackson’s 4th grade, Ms. Costa’s fifth grade, and Ms. Karasczkiewic’s sixth grade classroom’s are helping other children while they help themselves this school year by participating in Scholastic Book Clubs’ ClassroomsCare program, a philanthropy-based literacy campaign designed to teach children about the joys and importance of reading and giving, and to encourage them to read everyday to lead better lives.

On The Silly Side by Jimmy Del Ponte

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

Somerville Avenue has been spectacularly refurbished, businesses are thriving and the Green Line is coming.

When we look back 10, 20 and even 30 years, we remember a different Union Square.

(First, let me pass on an interesting fact about how Union Square got it’s name: during the Civil War, there was a Union army recruiting station in the square. Thanks to Tom Champion for that tidbit of information.)

Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS), Executive Director Kimberly Smith-Cofield.

Over 850 families in Somerville and Cambridge obtained what they need to survive the Great Recession during the last year thanks to the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS), Executive Director Kimberly Smith-Cofield reported at the CAAS Annual Meeting and Celebration, October 28 at the Somerville City Club.  CAAS helped these low-income residents stay in their homes or find a new place they could afford, apply for food stamps and other benefits that lower the cost of living, obtain child care and early education through CAAS Head Start, and/or take a job readiness course that helped them land a job or enroll in more advanced training for future employment.

Craigie Bridge closure on November 6 will spill over into Somerville
*

Signs in Somerville warn commuters of the impending Craigie Drawbridge closure. - Photo by Elizabeth Sheeran

By Elizabeth Sheeran

Commuters headed down McGrath Highway toward Boston next week will only be able to go so far on Route 28.

The Craigie Drawbridge over the Charles River, which connects Boston and Cambridge by the Museum of Science, will be partially closed for construction as of this weekend. Beginning on Saturday, November 6, Boston-bound drivers not headed to the museum itself will have to turn left or right before they get to the river.

City officials will hold off on plans to put an off-leash dog park in West Somerville until at least September 2011.

Gewirtz said the move was “not an acceptable outcome.”

By Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone

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

I often talk about the importance of playing hard. It doesn’t matter what your age is, an active life is a happier, healthier life.

Of course a big part of playing hard is having somewhere to play in the first place. That’s why we’ve built and improved dozens of parks and playgrounds around the city. It’s why we mark up more new bike lanes every year. It’s why we took over and spruced up Dilboy Field and Mystic waterfront along Shore Drive. And now the City of Somerville has added the Veterans Memorial Rink on Somerville Ave. to that list.

By Mike Rubin

After a slow start, the St. Clement football team has surely caught fire of late.

The Anchormen pounded Marian to a 30-8 win in Saturday’s Catholic Central League matchup last week.

Mike Julce led the way, rushing for 167 yards on 15 carries along with a pair of touchdowns while defensive tackle Ron Charles had 13 tackles, forced a fumble and returned another for a score.

By George P. Hassett

Aldermen are asking local liquor store owners to stop selling a dangerous new alcoholic drink that packs five beers worth of booze and six coffees into one dangerous bottle.