Police, Residents Attend Officer Sean Collier's Wake

Hundreds came to Stoneham Monday afternoon to pay their respects to the late MIT officer.

Flags at half-staff, a police caravan leading a hearse and the Patriot Guard Riders lining Main Street in Red, White and Blue. A long, almost silent trail of mourners waiting to enter a local funeral home and a row of TV news trucks. Bystanders and passersby no longer have to ask, “What happened?” “What’s going on?” They know. It’s a scene that’s become all too familiar – Sunday in Medford, Monday in Stoneham and at Boston University and soon in Dorchester. On Monday in Stoneham, police paid respects to one of their own, 27-year-old Sean Collier, an officer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who was shot and killed Thursday night in his police car. Hundreds of others also attended the wake for Collier, a Wilmington native and …

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Somerville Native Narrowly Escapes Boston Marathon Bombings

Frank Fantasia, formerly of Somerville, finished his 11th consecutive Boston Marathon just a few minutes before bombs exploded near the finish line.

Somerville native Frank Fantasia finished his 11th consecutive Boston Marathon just a few minutes before bombs exploded near the finish line. Fantasia, 64, a Winchester resident, completed his 13th Boston Marathon on Monday. Fantasia, who raised about $15,000 for Boston Children's Hospital, was one of roughly 200 runners on the "Miles for Miracles" team. Recalling the Race Fantasia said things started off well except for the fact that he ran too fast in the early stages of the marathon and "I knew I would pay the price in the hills which I did do." He later met up with his wife and three of his five grandchildren just before Wellesley Center, which they do every year to root him on.  "I had to walk the hills a bit in Newton, and I had to …

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CORRECTION: NO Shots Fired at Super Stop & Shop

Information that shots were fired at the Super Stop & Shop were incorrect.

CORRECTION: According to Somerville police there were no shots fired at the Super Stop & Shop. The report below was based on scanner reports, but it is inaccurate. I apologize for the mistake -- Chris Orchard ORIGINAL STORY An unidentified person allegedly opened fire on Super Stop & Shop employees Friday night, according to a scanner report. At about 8:30 p.m., Super Stop & Shop employees confronted an alleged shoplifter and the alleged open fire and fled the store located at 779 McGrath Highway, according to the report.  No one was reportedly shot during the incident, according to the report. It is unclear if anyone has been arrested. We'll provide more information as we receive it.

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Somerville Teams Up With Somerville, N.J., Summerville, S.C. on Sandy Relief

Stay tuned for details about how you can help. Also, Patch will make a $1 donation to AmeriCares for every tweet with the hashtag #PatchRebuilds.

Somerville is teaming up with two other communities with the same name—Somerville, N.J. and Summerville, S.C.—to collect supplies for people still dealing with the effects of Hurricane Sandy. Jackie Rossetti, a spokesperson for the city of Somerville (our Somerville) said the joint effort is definitely taking place but the three communities are still working out the details. Summerville, S.C., has already held a supply drive and is planning to ship supplies to Somerville, N.J. the weekend of Dec. 8 and 9, accoring Rossetti and Summerville Patch. Our Somerville here in Massachusetts will likely hold a supply drive during the middle of December and make a shipment around Christmas. Rossetti said residents should stay tuned for details, which…

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City Launches New Recreation Website That Accepts Credit Cards

Families can now sign up and pay for things like April vacation activities, softball and arts classes online.

The following was provided by the city of Somerville: SOMERVILLE – Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and the Somerville Recreation Department announce the launch of a new, interactive website, www.somervillerec.com, which will allow community members to search, view, and sign up for all Recreation programs, classes and camps. Additionally, the new site accepts all major credit cards as a form of payment, which had not previously been an option in the Department. The site offers easy search features, calendars and announcements, in line with the City’s mission of providing transparent government processes and accurate, courteous, and easy customer service. “We are committed to continually expanding recreation programming and facilities in the City…

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How Do We Love Thee, Somerville? Let's Count The Ways

Add your favorite things about Somerville to our incomplete list.

Valentine's Day doesn't just have to be about couples and candy. It's about love, and we all know there's lots to love about Somerville. To start, there's: 1) Somerville Open Studios: One of the best ways to welcome spring in all of Greater Boston. 2) Burritos and bagels: Sometimes we don't appreciate the little things. When your humble Patch editor spent some time living in a foreign land, he developed insatiable cravings for Anna's Taqueria and Magnificent Muffin. 3) Community Path: A perfect place to take a stroll and meet some friendly dogs. 4) This is where you come in! What do you love about Somerville? Can we get to 10 things we love about the city? 20?  Leave your answer in the comments section. Let's give Somerville the Valentine'…

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Community Path Lease Causes Board of Aldermen Debate

The Board approved a lease with the MBTA to extend the Community Path to Lowell Street, but some aldermen say the lease potentially exposes Somerville taxpayers to millions of dollars in liability.

The Somerville Board of Aldermen voted Thursday to approve a 99-year lease with the MBTA that allows the city to extend the Community Path from Cedar Street to Lowell Street. However, in a rare case of division on the Board, three members voted against the measure, not because they oppose the Community Path, but because they felt the lease potentially exposes the city to millions of dollars worth of liability, and they felt rushed into making the decision. "This isn't just a lease," said Alderman At-Large William White, who added, "The city incurs substantial obligations." White felt the aldermen should have had more time to review the lease.  However, members of the city's Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development told the …

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UPDATE: SWAT Team Diffuses Standoff on Broadway, Suspect ID'd

A SWAT team broke down the door of an East Somerville apartment, removed a male suspect and rushed him to the hospital.

A SWAT team a used a smoke bomb to snuff out a suspect barricaded in an East Somerville apartment Monday night. Demetrius Tragiou, 30, was taken to Mass General hospital after police, armed with rifles and protected by bullet proof vests, rushed his first level apartment at 56 Broadway about 10 p.m., moments after hostage negotiators coaxed two females from the barricaded unit. Tragiou has since been charged with two counts of kidnapping, assault and battery on a police officer, and threatening to commit a crime, along with outstanding warrants, police said. The situation began shortly after 8 p.m., when a patrol officer recognized Tragiou on the sidewalk along Broadway, and knew he had outstanding warrants, Deputy police Chief Michael …

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Patch Passport

Your Patch Passport to Somerville

Patch will help be your guide as you become a tourist in your town.

Patch will help be your guide as you become a tourist in your town. Whether you're new to town or want to explore the city you've loved for years, we're here to show you what there is to see. Check back to Somerville Patch daily to see what excursion is next. We will feature stories, photos and videos showing off the best of Somerville. And you can tell us what you love about Somerville, and we'll include it as part of our project. We hope this project encourages you to shop local, eat local and be local. Patch wants to show you how much your own town has to offer. And although everything will appear this week, it's not going anywhere. This page will remain a resource for you all year long. Whenever you're hosting visitors or need a …

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