Ace Wheelworks on Elm Street is a founding partner of Roll it Forward.

By Cathleen Twardzik

A Somerville bicycle shop is participating in a local initiative to encourage residents in the Boston area to donate old bikes to individuals in need of a two-wheeled ride.

Ace Wheelworks on Elm Street is a founding partner of Roll it Forward, part of the Boston Bikes initiative, organized by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, said Nicole Freedman, Director of Bicycle Programs in Boston.

Staged reading of classic crime novel attracts 200 to Burren
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Playwright Bill Doncaster. - Photo by Andrew Phelps/WBUR

By George P. Hassett

Bill Doncaster was inspired to adapt the George V. Higgins novel “The Friends of Eddie Coyle” from the page to the stage, in part, by long-gone Davis Square dive bars.

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’d like to take this space this week to discuss our recent firefighter hires, free of the grandstanding and vitriol that has resulted in a lot of false information making the rounds. While baseless rumors and wild-eyed conspiracy theories may make for good theater, what the people of this city deserve is responsible government, which, as I will explain here, is what we have delivered.

By Mike Rubin

The Somerville High Boys Soccer team suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 loss at the hands of Brookline in Friday's Division 1 North Semifinal Match.

For the Somerville High boys soccer team, a trip to the Division 1 North Sectional Final just wasn’t meant to me.

Led by Tito Curran and Eric Buck, Brookline prevailed in a hard fought 2-1 victory over the Highlanders in Friday afternoon’s Semifinal showdown at Arlington High School. With the loss, the Highlanders finished the season at 12-6-4 overall.

By Ashley Taylor

Group of Endicott College students that attended with Boston Poet Laureate Sam Cornish(center) and poet Ifeanyi Menkiti,(far right) Wellesley Professor of Philosophy, poet, and owner of the Grolier Poetry. - Photo by Jacqueline L. McRath.

A crowd filled the main hall of the Center for Arts at the Armory on Saturday night for the Somerville News Writers Festival, a night of readings by poets and writers primarily from the Boston area.  The Festival also included a daytime book fair in the Armory’s café.

By Andrew Firestone

Curtatone took a tough stand last Saturday by refusing to cooperate with some state and federal initiatives to crack down on immigrants. - Photo by Andrew Firestone

Police in Somerville will not require residents to show proof of citizenship or immigration documentation during routine stops in the city, said Mayor Joe Curtatone last week.

Curtatone took a tough stand last Saturday via an official proclamation of the city’s continued support of all peaceable immigrants by refusing to cooperate with some state and federal initiatives to crack down on immigrants.

There was more action at last week’s aldermen meeting than we have seen in years. Former Alderman Andy Puglia was advocating for his son in law, who has a civil service dispute with the city, when Mayor Joe Curtatone burst onto the scene in the Aldermanic chambers and words got exchanged and fireworks were seen for the first time, some said, since the 1970’s board meetings.

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Happy Birthday this week to our own Andrew Firestone, who is a regular writer here at the News and is a nice guy who has a lot of energy in whatever he does. Also happy birthday to Cathy DelPonte, we hope she has a great day and week as well.

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By Andrew Firestone

Wounded Somerville detective Mario Oliveira was rushed back to Massachusetts General Hospital Thursday just moments after he was released and honored by the mayor and police chief.

Oliveira’s stitches became loose shortly after he returned to his home in Billerica, said city spokeswoman Jackie Rossetti, and he was treated without incident.

This isn’t unique to Somerville, of course. Throughout the country, Americans skip over issues and facts in favor of snide comments targeting people rather than problems.

Arrests

Derek Stewart, 21, of 12 Tennyson St., Nov. 8, 1:13 p.m., arrested on a warrant charge.

Susan Vallery, 42, of 59 Gilman St., Nov. 9, 4:18 p.m., arrested on Evergreen Avenue and charged with possession of a class B drug and conspiracy to violate a drug law.

Lisa Valera, 40, of 49 Marshall St., Nov. 9, 4:18 p.m., arrested on Evergreen Avenue and charged with possession of a class B drug and conspiracy to violate a drug law.