Thirty-fourth Middlesex District State Rep. Christine Barber.

House budget package increases women’s commission funding, upholds MassHealth coverage

State Representative Christine P. Barber of Somerville and Medford joined her House colleagues in voting last week to pass a $41.1 billion fiscal year 2019 budget package that includes critical investments in important programs and services across the Commonwealth.

The Somerville Arts Council and Somerville Media Center present an ArtsUnion and Cinema Somerville Short Film Fest on Saturday, May 19 from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. held in Union Square plaza or indoors at SMC (in case of inclement weather). Any further questions, please contact Erica Jones at ejones@scatvsomerville.org.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

A schoolwide clothing swap was held at the West Somerville Neighborhood School cafeteria on Monday, April. Among the items donated to support the West Somerville Neighborhood School Community were clothing, shoes, toys, books and home goods.

By Phil Chisholm

Today I, or should I say the City of Somerville, lost one its beloved residents, Tony Matarazzo of Tony Matarazzo’s Barber Shop ‘s at 294 Broadway, Somerville.

He was a friend to all that came into his barber shop. Always a friendly “How you feeling or what do you think about what’s happening to our city “. 

No change to water rates, proposed sewer rate increase 5% and proposed fire suppression charges for customers with fire service lines

To provide background, answer questions, and take public testimony regarding the proposed fiscal year 2019 Somerville water and sewer rate charges — including a fire suppression charge for the subset of customers (fewer than 630) with sprinkler systems and fire service lines— an informational session with Q&A followed by a public hearing will be held on Monday, May 14, at 6:00 p.m. in the Somerville High School Cafeteria, 81 Highland Avenue.

Matarazzo, Anthony “Tony the Barber”- of Somerville. Beloved husband of the late Rosemary (Amarosi). Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Funeral Mass for Tony on Monday, May 7th at 10am in St. Ann’s Church, 399 Medford St., Somerville. Interment will be privately held. Tony was the owner and operator of Tony’s Barber Shop on Winter Hill in Somerville for years cutting generations of family’s hair.

Jessica Kensky and her husband Patrick Downes, along with Jessica’s service dog Rescue, recently visited the Kennedy School and shared a children’s book the Cambridge couple has written about Jessica’s recovery from injuries suffered in the Boston Marathon bombings five years ago. They also talked about the special role that Rescue now plays in Jessica’s life.

Need to clean out your closets? Donations are greatly appreciated in order to make this Somerville Community Growing Center fundraiser a success. They are looking for items that are in saleable condition.

Some items include: clothing, accessories and jewelry, household goods, small furniture, antiques, collectibles, tools, farm and garden (houseplants, tools), toys and games (NO stuffed animals please), arts and crafts/office supplies, electronics, cameras, books, CDs, DVDs, musical instruments, sporting goods and bikes.

By Claudia Ferro

Kids of all ages celebrated SustainaVille Week on Saturday, April 28, at the Somerville Public Library and got in touch with their inner superheroes by creating fabulous upcycled costumes to wear to the library-wide Comix Con coming up on May 5. Participants turned paper rolls into superhero cuffs, create one-of-a-kind headbands, decorate masks, and more. The program is offered as part of SustainaVille Week 2018 in partnership with the City of Somerville Office of Sustainability & Environment.

Join the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development and Ward 2 Alderman J.T. Scott on Tuesday, May 8, for a community meeting to discuss the City’s newest open space at ArtFarm. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Argenziano School cafeteria, 290 Washington St. ArtFarm is located on the site of the former waste transfer station at 10 Poplar St.