Somerville

Chicken man.

Somerville Police squawk:

Last night around 7pm the Somerville Police received a call about a "chicken stuck in a snow bank" by the Shaw's employee parking lot off of Elm St. Officer [Marc] Difava bravely jumped into action and saved the chicken from certain peril.

Police did not indicate the chicken's fate after its rescue.

Transit Police report arresting a Somerville man around noon on Friday when he showed up with a stolen bike to sell to somebody who turned out to be an undercover cop.

Police say a Davis Square commuter had reported her Specialized Hybrid Globe 1 bike stolen from a station bike rack on Jan. 28 - and that a photo of it had shown up in the for-sale section of Craigslist on Feb. 7:

Detectives communicated with poster of the Craigslist posting via telephone and email where he again offered a woman's Specialized Hybrid Globe 1 bicycle for sale.

On February 8, 2013 (YES, same day as Blizzard 2013) the poster of the advertisement, Phillip Pinto 38 of Somerville set up a meeting with whom he believed was an interested customer. In fact the interested customer Pinto had arranged the meeting with were Transit Police detectives. At approximately noon time as the Blizzard2013 was beginning in earnest Pinto was waiting, bicycle in hand, at the pre-arranged meeting location. (Temple Street, Somerville). Detectives confirmed the serial numbers of the woman's Globe 1 bike Pinto was offering for sale to that of the victim's stolen bicycle. Detectives confiscated the bicycle and placed Pinto into custody for Receiving Stolen Property.

Innocent, etc.

Abigail Coyle photographed her street before and after the blizzard.

Mamajoan looked out her window in East Somerville to see a guy who may not realize what'll happen to all his work when the first plow comes through.

Frank Solensky photographed the bread aisle at the Somerville Stop & Shop this evening.

Meanwhile, Channel 5 reporters tonight warmed up for their team coverage of Snowpocalypse '13. With no snow on the ground to fashion into a snowball, Sean Kelly started a report by holding a tree branch for emphasis. Jack Harper, however, found a sand or dirt pile with a thin coating of snow, to which he could point with the ruler he of course happened to have. He was showing how high snow got in the Blizzard of '78 or something. And Ed Harding urged viewers to charge their tablets and phones now, so they can keep watching Channel 5 online if need be - apparently not thinking that if the power goes out, those viewers won't be able to use their WiFi to watch him.

Come snowmageddon or aquapocalypse, Fred Somers is ready.

Photographynatalia photographed Park and Tremont streets this morning. Melissa Gibson watched an Orange Line train pull into Sullivan Square:

Mike Cole at NESN shows that Sav-Mor Liquors in Somerville still has its finger on the zeitgeist.

Somerville Police say this guy stole "$700 worth of Axe products" in two separate trips to the McGrath Highway Stop & Shop on Monday and Wednesday.

So next time you're on the T and you're suddenly overwhelmed by the smell of Axe, look around for him. Then contact Somerville PD at 617-625-1600, ext. 7271.

Our own Ron Newman points us to some city bid documents for the municipal lot at Day and Herbert streets. The city is seeking at least $1 million for the property.

Think your cat can top this?

The Somerville Arts Council is planning a cat video festival on Feb. 16. Yes, you read right.

Emcee will be Jef Czekaj, who will kick off the event by reading his book Cat Secrets for cat-crazy kids. There will also be a cat costume table and most likely an appearance from a famous local cat.

Naturally, this being Somerville and all, they have exacting standards. Like, you have to submit an application and stuff.

Ed note: If this festival doesn't have at least one video of a cat eating Fluff, I will be very disappointed.

A car chase involving four kids from Charlestown ended with a crash on Leonard Street around 10:40 p.m. - after shots were fired on Gilman Street around 9 p.m. Three of the people in the car were arrested, but one fled, sparking a manhunt that brought in State Police and the State Police helicopter and prompted the city to issue this request:

Police pursuit of possibly armed suspect in W. Somerville Tufts/Powderhouse area is under way. If in the area, please stay inside.

Around 11:20 p.m., the city reported the last of the suspects is now in custody.

National Geographic's "Disaster Preppers" featured Brian Murdock of Somerville, whose survival plan is to drive his RV west (with his new bride), away from the Boston area, because nobody else will think of doing that, apparently. Some disaster-prep experts, though, say he needs to up his efforts:

H/t Maureen Rogers for introducing us to this cheery show.

Dead train at Broadway and those residual delays just killed the last part of the morning commute. Erika Gordon reports on how she and some fellow commuters put their left foot in, they put their left foot out, they put their left foot in and they shook it all about:

And now we're playing musical trains. "Everyone get off of the train, there's a problem." "Alright, everyone back on, we fixed it."

At Davis, Adam Schmucker tweets:

Announcement at Davis "delays due to disabled train at Broadway." Performer on platform is singing "On Broadway."

I join with the Somerville Scout and Ward 5 Online in reporting the death of Robert "Bob" Publicover, fierce advocate for the HIV/AIDS community and founder of the Somerville News.

I offer my most heartfelt condolences to his husband, David Lebahn, family, friends and the entire Somerville News staff.

For more information on Bob, please read this beautiful article that was featured in the Somerville Scout this past May.

Jimmy Tingle made his way to Highland Avenue Saturday night for the first of two shows in the main hall of the Armory. Tingle will end his run tonight with a New Year's Eve show, doors at 7pm with a start time of 8pm. My suggestion is to grab a VIP ticket as it puts you in the front row, as well as, in a reception after the show catered by Red Bones.

In front of packed house on a snowy Somerville night, the show began with Tingle's American Dream documentary that took the comedian around the United States asking comedic and political notables to define the "American Dream" in their own terms. Names such as Bobcat Goldthwait, Senator Al Franken, Janeane Garofalo, and Director Robert Altman filled the hour-long video detailing what they thought the American Dream meant.

WFXT reports you don't need a video arcade for a room-clearing brawl:

Nearly 100 people were inside the Night Games lounge in the Holiday Inn Express when the fight that broke out at early Friday morning.

Didn't think so. As one rider put it:

At Davis starting at an Alewife train sitting in the tunnel. MBTA you sure know how to suck the happy out of a morning.

In which a Somerville resident attempts to chronicle every last Mary on the Half Shell in Somerville.

Becca Westelman tweets it took her Green Line trolley 35 minutes to get from Park Street to Arlington this morning.

At 1:30 this afternoon, city and state officials gather in Somerville to ceremonially dig the first shovel of dirt for the first phase of the long fabled Green Line extension north from Lechmere.

Fans of the froyo chain now have a petition drive to try to overcome city opposition:

We believe that there is a need for Pinkberry, despite the presence of other frozen yogurt sellers in Davis Square, because the Pinkberry product and experience are unique, in part, due to the fact that the yogurt is uniquely tangy, the shop is not self-service, and the ambiance and products appeal to a clientele not currently being met by other businesses in Davis Square.

Brad Kelly captured the scene inside True Grounds Cafe in Ball Square, Somerville.

Copyright Brad Kelly. Posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.

Somerville city officials are considering creating a city film board to handle the growing number of requests from movie and TV-show producers to film there:

"We seem to be getting more inquiries and the crews tell us it's because they love the City, the residents and businesses are welcoming, and they enjoy contributing to the local scene," said Somerville Deputy Director of Communications Jackie Rossetti. "They also like our infrastructure and buildings."

Somerville Patch reports a Papa John's delivery guy was arrested on charges of trying to run somebody down in Inman Square - after first chest bumping and spitting at his alleged victim.

Meanwhile, across the river, Papa John's delivery guys think nothing of parking 18-wheelers in major intersections while they make deliveries:

La di da: Take a look at the traffic lights.

They could look like this.

Limeduck was sad to see East Asia depart Somerville, but is now thrilled to bits with its replacement, DooWee and Rice, because, well, chicken hearts:

Crispy fried chicken hearts, that is. With fries and sauce. And scallions, but really, I'm mainly talking about the chicken hearts.

Did I mention they were crispy and fried? Sure, they have other stuff, spicy chicken wings, fluffy bao baos, rice bowls, noodle dishes, soups, but really, once you’ve had the "Heart-y Fries," a sort of deranged fusion poutine, the rest all seems trite.