The 237^th annual “Grand Union” flag-raising ceremony at Prospect Hill Park will be held on Tuesday, January 1, 2013 at 12:00 p.m.  A processional led by a re-enactor portraying General George Washington on horseback will leave from the City Hall Concourse at 11:30 a.m.  As always, members of the public are invited to participate, and are encouraged to wear traditional colonial clothing.  The annual ceremony commemorates the raising of the nation’s first official flag, featuring thirteen red and white horizontal stripes, atop Prospect Hill on New Year’s Day, 1776.  At the time, Prospect Hill was a key site in a string of fortifications created by Washington and the Continental Army in their siege of British troops in Boston during the first year of the American Revolution.

Chelsea on Fire, (L to R) Amy DeSciullo, Adam Simha, Josey Packard. – Photo Courtesy of Chelsea on Fire

By Max Sullivan

Boston based group Chelsea on Fire will be performing for the first time in over ten years next Friday night, as they open for Boston’s own Cult 45 at the latter’s CD release party at Radio in Somerville, MA.

Artists, sign up now to participate and open your studio for the premier visual arts event of Somerville. Registration for SOS 2013 is now open and runs until January 31.

The event, on May 3, 4, and 5 is attended by many thousands of art lovers, admirers, patrons, and collectors, and is open and free to all. If you are a Somerville visual artist, you are eligible. All visual art media; beginning, emerging and established artists are encouraged to participate.

On The Silly Side by Jimmy Del Ponte

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

My mother, Gerry, rest her soul, (rest most of the souls in this story) was always afraid that the three of us kids would show a lack of perseverance and drive and settle for less in life. Although she was born and raised here in Somerville, she didn’t want her kids to end up spending their whole lives here as she did. She wanted us to spread our wings and explore what the world had to offer.  She had dreams of being a successful poet or singer when she was young. She wanted her kids to strive for the fulfilled dreams she never had. My mother was a great mom who loved her kids more than anything else and she wanted us to shoot for the stars.

Thursday night Somerville Police were called to the Holiday Inn in Somerville after a  fight broke out between 10 to 12 women. Once police arrived they dispersed a crowd of  over 100 people.

The following statement is from Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone in regards to this morning’s incident at the Holiday Inn.   

“In light of the early morning incident at the Holiday Inn Somerville, I want to assure residents, community members and business owners alike neither I nor the Somerville Police Department take this – or other similar incidents – lightly, and that we are taking all available steps to prevent something of this nature from occurring within our borders in the future.

By Jim Clark

A woman came to the Somerville Police Station last week, reporting that she had been assaulted by her boyfriend on the previous day, according to reports.

By Joseph A. Curtatone

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

Somerville municipal government tries hard to be a model for best practices and cost-effective innovation. We also try to engage our residents in a constant and productive dialogue about what they expect from their government and how they feel about they’re receiving in the way of programs and services.

By Jim Clark

Police received a call from loss prevention personnel at the Kmart at 77 Middlesex Ave. last Friday on reports of a suspected shoplifter running through the store, attempting to escape capture through an emergency door at the rear of the building.

By Bob Schofield
Somerville Youth Softball Organization, President

As the 2013 spring season begins to ramp up, SYSO has planned a Winter Softball Clinic. The clinic will be held from January 11 through March 22, Friday evenings from 7 – 9 p.m. at the Edgerly Education Center at 8 Bonair Street.

By Jim Clark

Police responded to the Marshalls on McGrath Hwy. last week on a report of a suspected shoplifter being detained there by the store’s loss prevention personnel.