These six Friends of the Somerville Homeless Coalition baked cookies and pies and made lemonade for PorchFest and raised $364.95 that they donated to SHC. That’s almost $150 more than they raised last year (and we were amazed then too). Many thanks to (L to R) Millie Gates, Maddy Zucca, Buster Gates, Violet Gates, Avery Zucca, and Juliette Zucca. SHC always says they can’t do their work without the community’s support. You made their day, friends!

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

Sunday, May 20, at Sylvester Baxter Riverfront Park at Assembly Row, marked the exciting debut of a new family-friendly spring fundraiser, the Fast and Furriest 5K – Run, Walk, Wag for MSPCA–Angell!

By Jim Clark

On the evening of Friday, May 18, Somerville Police Drug Control Unit undercover officers conducting surveillance operations at a Highland Ave. location took notice of an individual police knew had prior involvement in the use of heroin and fentanyl walking in the direction of School St.

By Joseph A. Curtatone

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

For many people, Memorial Day marks the unofficial beginning of summer. What I fear often gets lost is the true meaning of the holiday – that Memorial Day is for just that: memorializing the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. We must not forget that it’s a sacred day of remembrance. In Somerville, we honor all members of our Armed Forces during Memorial Week and through a number of ceremonies that memorialize our fallen heroes and celebrate our Veterans.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

After Anthony J. “Tony the Barber” Matarazzo passed away earlier this month, the decision was made to close the shop for good. Tony’s longtime partner Phil Vozella, who will be retiring now, and his family organized a small celebration last week as a tribute to Tony and the shop for all the years he was there as a barber.

Many Somerville residents and labor union representatives expressed dismay and disapproval over the proposed Clarendon Hill Public Housing Project as it is currently planned for by the city.

By Jim Clark

The City of Somerville Board of Aldermen Legislative Matters Committee held a public hearing on Monday, May 21, to consider proposals from the administration, the Board, and concerned members of the public in the matter of the Clarendon Hill Public Housing Project.

All kinds of art and projects are created at Artisan’s Asylum.

By Emily Blackwood

Ames Business Park is under new ownership thanks to a deal with development and management company Rafi Properties.

In April, Rafi Properties closed on an $88 million deal to buy the 300,000-square-foot mixed-use site. Currently the home to unique businesses such as Greentown Labs, Brooklyn Boulders, Aeronaut Brewing Co., Tasting Counter and Artisan’s Asylum, Rafi’s managing director says he plans on keeping the diversity of the space as is.

Thomas Kelley received the “Profile in Courage” Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2018 Somerville Heroes Salute on May 19. ~ Photo by Shira Laucharoen

By Shira Laucharoen  

The 2018 Somerville Heroes Salute honored eight Somerville residents who served the nation in war, during a ceremony at the Holiday Inn on May 19. Held for the third time annually, the Salute gave tribute to the heroes by recognizing their loyalty and dedication, as well as the ways they impacted their home communities.

(L to R) Filmmakers Nina Either, Nino De La Cruz, Rachel Napoliello, and Gustavo Rosa, and the Somerville Media Center’s Erica Jones. — Photos by Courtney Young

By Courtney Young

It takes a substantial amount of expertise and entrepreneurial spirit to take only 90 minutes and use it to empower a community, but that is exactly what the filmmakers and organizers did during the 3rd Annual Cinema Somerville Outdoor Film Festival on Saturday evening.

Somerville Education Foundation Funds Summer Learning Programs (SEF) is seeking additional donations from the public. The Foundation has funded expanded enrollment in summer programs across the city. SEF worked with the city and Somerville Public Schools to identify quality programming that could be expanded via targeted grants. During summer months, all students are at risk for summer learning loss – especially low-income students who lack access to high-quality enrichment that reinforces their school year gains. Fundraising from community leaders and businesses resulted in commitments of over $12,000 thus far. This will give 60 Somerville children free access to a variety of camps and activities, including programs with Parts and Crafts, Parkour Generations, Somerville Media Center and Mystic Learning Center. SEF continues to raise funds to further expand access for this summer and support future programming. SEF invites individuals, organizations and businesses to join their efforts. This is the first part of a longer-term program to raise and distribute funds to support educational excellence across the city. All donations are tax exempt charitable contributions and should be sent to: Somerville Ed Foundation17 Kidder Avenue, Somerville MA 02144.