Week in Review: Top Stories This Week

WEEK IN REVIEW: Fire in Union Square, Capuano Sounds Off

Plus, Somerville candidates for register of deeds, LeVar Burton recognized by Tufts, and a look at last year's crime and foreclosures.

Fire in Union Square Six people were displaced, along with three cats, after a fire struck the second floor of a Union Square residence Monday morning. No one was injured, but the incident caused Somerville Avenue in the square to be closed down during morning rush hour. Register of Deeds race Ward 2 Alderman Maryann Heuston officially announced this week she was running to replace Eugene Brune as register of deeds for Southern Middlesex County. Maria Curtatone, an attorney (and the mayor's sister), also announced she was running. Capuano speaks to Somerville Chamber of Commerce Rep. Michael Capuano gave a breakfast talk to the Somerville Chamber of Commerce Tuesday morning. He spoke about the current political climate in Washington D.C. …

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LeVar Burton Visits Tufts, Dances with Kids to Reading Rainbow Theme (VIDEO)

The former host of "Reading Rainbow" was given the Eliot-Pearson award for his contributions to children's media.

LeVar Burton visited Tufts University's campus on the Medford/Somerville line Friday to be recognized for his contributions to children's media. Burton was given the 2012 Eliot-Pearson award at Distler Performance Hall Friday morning. Burton told the audience that he believed it was in his genetics to teach and inspire others - his mother being a teacher and his father a pastor. He also said that Fred Rogers - better known by most as Mr. Rogers - was one of the three great men he has ever known. After receiving the award, Burton read "Enemy Pie" by Tara Callahan King to a group of young children from the Eliot-Pearson Children's School. That was followed by a performance of the Reading Rainbow theme song by the Flannery Brothers Band, and …

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Reading Rainbow's LeVar Burton to Receive Tufts Award for Children's Media

Burton will visit the Tufts campus Feb. 3 to receive the award.

LeVar Burton will receive Tufts University's Eliot-Pearson Award for Excellence in Children's Media, the university announced Thursday. The awards ceremony, which is free and open to the public, will take place on February 3 at 10 a.m. in the Distler Performance Hall at the Granoff Music Center on Tufts University's Medford/Somerville campus. Burton, an actor and entertainer, is being recognized for his work as the host and executive producer of the highly acclaimed PBS children's television series "Reading Rainbow," according to a Tufts press release. "For these awards our selection committee looks for individuals in the media who make a real difference in the lives of children," said Julie Dobrow, the director of the CMS program, in a …

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Amanda Kersey

10:03 am on Monday, January 30, 2012

I remember watching and really enjoying Reading Rainbow at my elementary school in the mid 1990s. I'm curious to see what the new, multi-media version will look like.   more ›