The City will lift the snow emergency as of 5 p.m. today, and normal parking regulations will resume. Continue reading Medford Snow Emergency Lifts at 5:00pm Today Monday Jan 31 →

On Monday, January 24, 2022, at 8:10 P.M., Sgt. Schneider was handling a call for service at the intersection of Grand Union Blvd and Canal Street when he was approached by three security guards and a male later identified as Sean EVERSON (Defendant) who was carrying several items of clothing with price tags and theft detection devices attached. Continue reading Real Life Somerville Police Stories: Sean EVERSON (Poss. Class B, Shoplifting) (MSP Warrants) at Burlington Coat Factory in Assembly Row →

The following report is a brief summary of incident #22003924:

On January 25, 2022, I, Officer Dylan Lambert, was working my assigned shift in marked unit East-1. At approximately 4:38 PM, I was dispatched to Adidas in Assembly Row in regards to a dispute involving a weapon. Officer Messaoudi, in marked unit East-4 responded to assist. Somerville Dispatch informed us that the reporting party spoke Spanish, but it was determined that they had been threatened with a knife. Officer Ubeda, in Tango-1 responded to assist in translation. Continue reading Real Life Somerville Police Stories: Daniel CUNHA (ADW, Shoplifting) Adidas in Assembly Row →

On Sunday, January 30, 2022, at approximately 10:17 P.M., Somerville Police control received a 9-1-1 call from a victim identified as XXXX stating he was in the area of 78 Broadway, and someone was trying to assault him. While on the phone with the 9-1-1 operator, the victim said “He is trying to take my phone, he hit me”. The victim is heard asking people for help before the call was disconnected. Continue reading Real Life Somerville Police Stories: Luciano DELIRA (A&B, Defacement, Intimidation, ABPO) →

By Bob Katzen

“The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a remarkable increase in activations and deployments for the National Guard. As a result, the Guard is the busiest it has been since World War II. It is absolutely critical that we—as a Legislature—are doing everything we can to support the Guard as they continue to serve and support us.” Continue reading THIS WEEK’S QUOTABLE QUOTES ON BEACON HILL →

By Bob Katzen

Another bill heard by the Transportation Committee would create a 400-foot vertical zone above schools where drones would be banned from flying unless the school superintendent grants written permission. The fine would be $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second offense and a $750 fine plus confiscation of the aircraft for a third offense. Continue reading BAN DRONES FROM FLYING NEAR SCHOOLS →

By Bob Katzen

Another bill heard by the Judiciary Committee would ban the manufacturing in Massachusetts of assault weapons and large capacity feeding devices. The measure exempts weapons and devices made for the Massachusetts military and law enforcement, for the federal military or any foreign government approved by the United States State Department. Continue reading STATE TO BAN MANUFACTURING OF ASSAULT WEAPONS AND LARGE CAPACITY FEEDING DEVICES →

By Bob Katzen

The Judiciary Committee held a virtual hearing on legislation that would add height discrimination to the definition of a hate crime which currently includes any criminal act, coupled with overt actions motivated by bigotry and bias including racial, religious, ethnic, handicap, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation prejudice; or “which otherwise deprives another person of his constitutional rights by threats, intimidation or coercion, or which seek to interfere with or disrupt a person’s exercise of constitutional rights through harassment or intimidation.” Continue reading PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF HEIGHT →

By Bob Katzen

The House gave initial approval to a Senate-approved bill that would repeal a current law which prohibits adoption of children by family members including older siblings, aunts and uncles. Continue reading MAKE ADOPTION BY FAMILY MEMBERS EASIER →

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 9-31, rejected an amendment that would require the state to provide COVID-19 funding, until the end of the federal public health emergency, to nursing homes to support infection control standards, including staff training and wages; temporary labor costs; hiring new staff; procuring personal protective equipment (PPE); and costs associated with establishing single occupancy isolation rooms. Continue reading STATE SHOULD PROVIDE ADDITIONAL MONEY TO NURSING HOMES →

Senate 40-0, approved a $76 million COVID-19 response bill. Key provisions provide $30 million to increase the number of COVID-19 testing sites and purchase COVID-19 tests and $5 million earmarked to expanding vaccination rates among kids ages 5 to 11 whose vaccination rates remain low in comparison to older residents Continue reading $76 MILLION FOR COVID-19 (S 2622) →

By Bob Katzen

The House 32-126, rejected an amendment that would require voters to show a federal or Massachusetts picture identification at their polling places in order to be allowed to vote. The state would also be required to establish a waiver of the fee for obtaining the ID for indigent persons. Continue reading REQUIRE VOTER ID →

By Bob Katzen

House 31-127, rejected an amendment that would prohibit any city or town from requiring that a voter show proof of vaccination as a condition of entering a polling place to vote or to register to vote.

Continue reading PROOF OF VACCINATION →

(H 4359)
By Bob Katzen

The House 124-34, approved a bill making permanent the mail-in and early voting options used in Massachusetts in 2020. Continue reading ELECTION LAW CHANGES →

LILLIAN’S OBITUARY
Gould, Lillian—Of Somerville, passed away peacefully Sunday January 23rd ,at the Glen Ridge Nursing Home in Medford. She was 93.
Born in Cambridge and raised in Arlington, she was the daughter of the late Daniel and Josephine (Holmes) Gould. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Lillian Gould →

MARY’S OBITUARY
Haker, Mary F. (Murphy) 96, of Plymouth, formerly of Somerville, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Monday January 24, 2022.

Born and raised in Somerville, Mary was the daughter of the late Thomas J. and Esther M. (Covert) Murphy. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Mary F. (Murphy) Haker →

Sidewalk Snow Clearing Pilot Starts with Next Snowstorm (Saturday, January 29)
Properties on Broadway and School St. are part of the Winter 2022 Sidewalk Snow Clearing Pilot to test options to support safer travel.
For the pilot, the City will Continue reading Sidewalk Snow Clearing Pilot Starts →

WILLIAM’S OBITUARY
William T. “Billy” Miniscalco, of Everett and formerly of Somerville, passed away on January 27, 2022, he was 68.
Born in Stoneham, Billy was the cherished son of the late Margaret (Bishop) and William Miniscalco. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering William T. “Billy” Miniscalco →

SIDA’S OBITUARY
Sida “Grandmoun” Enrius, 92, of Somerville, MA, formally Marchand Dessaline, Haiti passed away with family by her side on January 19 2022. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Sida “Grandmoun” Enrius →