Congressman, Officials Inaugurate Saint Polycarp Affordable Housing Project
Rep. Michael Capuano, Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone and other officials joined the Somerville Community Corporation for a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday to officially open Saint Polycarp Village Phase II, a $10 million section of Saint Polycarp Village. Phase III of the Saint Polycarp project, the final stage, will get underway this fall and be complete in 2013. When it's done, the $30 million affordable housing development will contain 84 units of rental housing.

Police Cruisers Chase Bicyclist, Make First Bicycle Violation Arrest
On June 22, Somerville police arrested a 28-year-old Allston bicyclist and charged him with a bicycle violation. Somerville police started enforcing traffic laws with bicyclists in April, and this was their first bicycle arrest. This week, news of the arrest sparked a conversation about the relevance of traffic laws for bicyclists. 

MBTA Proposes Interim Plans in Lieu of Green Line Extension
The MBTA offered a list of interim solutions designed to mitigate vehicle emissions by 2014. The list of options comes because the Green Line Extension, which was supposed to be complete by 2014, was delayed until 2019. It was supposed to be complete by the end of 2014 in order to offset air pollution caused by the Big Dig highway project. Some ideas to offset emissions include brining the Commuter Rail to Union Square, increasing the frequency of buses, free Charlie Cards, lowering the speed limit on highways and letting solo drivers in electric or hybrid cars use the HOV lane.

Police search for convenience store robber
Somerville police released a photo of a suspect in two convenience store robberies, asking the public if they have any information about the alleged robber. Police believe the same suspect robbed the Somerville QuickStop at 219 Highland Ave. on June 18 and Stop N Save Gas at 360 Medford St. in June 23.

Bomb-threat bank robbery
Police arrested a 22-year-old woman Wednesday and charged her with robbing the East Cambridge Savings Bank at 285 Highland Ave. that morning. According to police, the woman passed a note to the bank teller saying she had a bomb and demanding $2000. Police caught and arrested the woman shortly after the robbery.

Union Square parking
After about a month of experimenting with back-in angled parking on Bow Street in Union Square, the city announced the new parking method is working to calm traffic, add more parking spots to the neighborhood and make a better environment for bikers and pedestrians.

Fourth of July Fireworks
Somerville celebrates Independence Day a little earlier than other cities. It held a fireworks display Thursday night.

Winter Hill Community School becomes Innovation School
The Somerville School Committee approved plans this week to designate the Winter Hill Community School as an Innovation School. The move will give more flexibility to local school administrators in managing curriculums, staffing, budgets and school policies.