The heat of the battle subsides, as the victors and casualties count their gains and losses. The big winner, of course, is the voting public. We have exercised our cherished privilege and once again affirmed our commitment to the rule of law and self-government.
There were big voter turnouts in the two Wards that had challengers running. This is good for the constituencies of those districts, and good for the community as a whole.

Arrests:

Matthew Dailey, 34, of 1596 GAR Hwy., Swansea, October 31, 10:16 a.m., arrested at Broadway on charges of operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, giving a false name, and speeding.

Matthew McGuirk, 23, of 27 Dickenson St., October 31, 2:46 p.m., arrested at home on warrant charge of armed and masked robbery.

It was an odd day at the Au Bon Pain in Davis Square. An October snowstorm was at the cusp of the Boston Area, and for several days before the weather was decidedly winter-like, even before the ghouls of Halloween pounded the mean streets. On this morning I met Somerville writer Akshay Ahuja, to talk about a new literary project he is engaged in.

Don’t you remember all the details of the car that you and your first lover steamed?  Don’t you remember the appointments of the room–when you made that carnal swoon? Poet Susan Tepper sure does.

Alderman Bob Trane – unofficial winner of Ward 7
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Click here for  Unofficial Somerville Municipal Election Results for November 8, 2011

(updated Nov. 9)

Tony Lafuente for Ward 4 Alderman
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We have chosen Tony Lafuente as our endorsement for Ward 4 Alderman. Tony is a local businessman, property owner, and has lived and raised his family here and been involved locally for many years. We feel he has a strong grasp of the many neighborhood issues throughout Winter Hill and Ten Hills.

- Photo by Andrew Firestone

By Andrew Firestone

In a developing story, Somerville Police and agents of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) raided a house at 19 Oxford St. while executing a drug warrant this morning. While Police officials would not confirm details at this time, they did say that the environment in the house was toxic, and required officers in hazardous materials gear to be called in to investigate. No arrests have been made at this time, and the investigation is ongoing.

Police did say that they removed two cats from the first floor of the building.

The City of Somerville received the HHS Healthy Innovation Living Award from Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius during the Annual Meeting for the Society for Public Health Education in Washington, D.C. Mayor Joseph Curatone accepted the award from Secretary Sebelius.

HHS Secretary Sebelius presents Healthy Living Innovation Award
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The City of Somerville received the HHS Healthy Innovation Living Award from Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius recently, during the Annual Meeting for the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE).

The City of Somerville was recognized for Shape up Somerville, a program that promotes and supports healthier life choices for individuals of all ages.

Kenneth Gloss’ literary expertise runs the full gamut - from history, to science, and the arts.

By Kenneth Gloss

It’s now 150 years since the start of the American Civil War, which ran from 1861 to 1865 and was one of the most interesting and tragic chapters in the history of our country. It has spawned thousands of different books, both in non-fiction and fiction. Collectors interested in Civil War books can find everything from histories of individual regiments to extensive historical accounts of all four years of the war. In Massachusetts, The Historical Sketch of the 6th Massachusetts Regiment, written by John W. Hansen in 1866, is an accurate and interesting depiction of soldiers from this area. Another popular edition is The History of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, the first African-American regiment.

3-year agreement includes joint maintenance of stadium, auxiliary and baseball fields, tennis and basketball courts, tot lot, and parking lot.
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Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Commissioner Richard Sullivan of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), and Ward 7 Alderman Bob Trane announced  that the City of Somerville has reached a three-year agreement with DCR  allowing the City to handle maintenance and day-to-day operations for the entire Dilboy complex, which includes a recently renovated stadium, swimming pool, auxiliary and little league fields, two tennis courts, a basketball court, a tot lot, and two parking lots.  The City had already assumed operating responsibility for the stadium in 2006, and had taken over management and maintenance of the pool earlier this year.  The City and DCR have similar agreements for snow removal operations along Shore Drive and for maintenance and operation of Veteran’s Memorial Skating Rink on Somerville Avenue.