It was 'a pretty good year'

March 30, 2008

Brookline's finest saw a "pretty good year," with the number of incidents in most categories (other than thefts of GPS systems from cars) declining in 2007 from 2006, Police Chief Daniel O'Leary told selectmen this month. He added that police are giving more traffic and parking tickets, and that preliminary results of a Northeastern University study showed that the percentages of female and minority drivers stopped for traffic violations in Brookline corresponded to their percentage of drivers in town. For example, about 75 percent of the drivers in town were white, and about 75 percent of traffic stops were of white drivers. O'Leary highlighted commendations from the Suffolk district attorney for the department's persistent gumshoes, as well as internal commendations for officers Timothy Stephenson for tracking down graffiti artists, Sean Williams for his role in saving the life of a town employee who was having a heart attack, Doreen Gallagher for combating domestic violence, and Detective Carlos Crespo and several teams of officers who excelled in capturing suspects. Oh, and Detective Sergeant Thomas Ward is now a published short-story writer.

What impact would a failed override have on library users? That and other questions will be addressed Thursday in a public hearing sponsored by the Board of Library Trustees at 7 p.m. in the Coolidge Corner branch. If voters in May reject a Proposition 2 1/2 override to raise property taxes, the library will be asked to cut $80,000 from operations. What do patrons think can be trimmed? Options include fewer hours, curtailing the variety of programs and services, paring the book budget, or higher fines and fees. "The library's budget is already very tight," said board chairwoman Carol Axelrod. "If we are forced to cut $80,000, there will be a noticeable impact on the quality of service."

Events as varied as classes on "TRANS-forming your pantry" (making an "oil change" to eliminate trans fats), and calculating your clothing, transportation, and dietary carbon footprint are the highlights of National Public Health Week in Brookline, which starts Saturday. Strokes, sneezing, pandemic flu? All covered. Social walking groups? Check. Even rabies clinics for your dog or cat are in the mix. For a full listing, visit the Health Department's website at townofbrooklinemass.com/health/.

Got a news item for Brookline? E-mail Andreae Downs at andreaedowns@yahoo.com.

Students living with more than three roommates in Cambridge may eventually need to look at other ways to trim the high cost of living in the city. Citing Boston's recent decision to limit the number of students living together off-campus to four people per dwelling, the City Council adopted a resolution last Monday requesting a review of Cambridge's current housing policies. The resolution notes that "unrelated students and other young people" living together in large numbers "can put extra pressure on housing prices and lead to overcrowding and other neighborhood problems." It asks city administrators to report back to the council on whether current limits may need modification.

Four square, that schoolyard game of yore, has migrated to adult courts of play, complete with a World Champion competition in Maine, and last month, Cambridge resident Justine Petrillo was crowned its queen. The game, in which four players swat a rubber ball around a square, is popular in the Boston area and Cambridge in particular, where a league meets regularly at the Central Square YMCA. Petrillo beat out a field of 100 competitors to win the title for the second year in a row, earning a custom-made metal and acrylic trophy and a year's worth of bragging rights.

If you want to take up a sport and aren't sure where to start, next Sunday's City Run may be a good opportunity to gauge your athletic prowess. The 5-mile road race and 3-mile walk start and finish at the Fresh Pond Clubhouse, and the route takes participants along the reservoir trail. The course is certified by USA Track and Field, and the woods surrounding the Fresh Pond Reservoir will keep runners and walkers far from either traffic or observation. Race registrations submitted on or before Tuesday cost $20, and $25 after that, and can be downloaded from cambridgema.gov/DHSP2/cityrun.cfm.

Got a news items from Cambridge. E-mail Victoria Cheng at vcheng@globe.com.

Regular street sweeping will resume in the city on Tuesday. Officials are reminding residents to adhere to posted street-sweeping schedules by moving their vehicles to the appropriate side of the street on sweeping days. Failure to comply with street-sweeping parking regulations can result in a $50 fine. For more information about street-sweeping schedules, call the city's 311 constituent service line.

The annual Somerville Spring Cleanup has been scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon on May 3. The rain date is May 10. The cleanup will focus on the city's parks, community gardens, schools, and squares, and will be followed by a cookout for volunteers at Nunziato Field. After the cleanup, the city will partner with Groundwork Somerville to hold SomerGreen Festival, featuring organizations and community groups that promote eco-friendly practices and strategies for healthy living. This year, the cleanup falls on the same day as the Somerville Garden Club's Annual Garden Day. Both events will be held at the Community Growing Center on Vinal Avenue adjacent to Nunziato Field.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and his wife, Nancy, almost have enough sons to put together their own basketball team. The couple welcomed their fourth son into the family when James Anthony Curtatone was born at 1:15 p.m. on March 21. He weighed 7 pounds 2 ounces and was 19½ inches long. The newest Curtatone joins brothers Cosmo, 4, Joey, 2, and Patrick, 1.

Got a news item from Somerville? E-mail Kristen Green at kristen.green@comcast.net.