Anthony A. Laurentano of Medford died on Friday, January 15, at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Born and raised Boston’s North End, he was the son of the late Alfonso Lauretano and the late Jean “Gina” (Matarazzo) and her late husband Vito Maniscalco. Anthony lived for many years in Somerville, where he was employed as a carpenter, before moving to Medford ten years ago.

The City of Somerville announced today several changes to the ongoing public meeting series surrounding the proposed Zoning Overhaul Process. An updated meeting schedule is included below, and important changes are:

• The Mobility meeting has been changed from Mon., Feb. 8, to Mon., Feb. 22.
• The Economic Development meeting has been moved from Mon., Feb. 22, to Mon., Feb. 8
• A second Attainable Housing meeting has been added on Mon., Mar. 21, as a follow up to the Jan. 11 meeting.
• A meeting about Sustainability has been added on Mon., Apr. 11.

Community members invited to join in series of discussions, panel presentations on three popular books covering the topic of race and racism.

Jan 21, discuss Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, at Somerville’s Central Library.

The Somerville Public Library and the Office of Somerville Commissions invite your participation in newly-created book discussion series on race and racism.

The Somerville Library Book Series on Race and Racism is a program that features three separate books and discussions, plus a panel discussion co-sponsored by the Office of Somerville Commissions from January to April on every third Thursday evening at the Main Branch Library (79 Highland Ave.) from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

By Charles Lane

The 2015-2016 girls’ high school basketball season is in full swing and the Prospect Hill Academy Lady Wizards are at the forefront.

With a league record of 5-0, PHA currently sits at the top of Division I in the twenty team Massachusetts Charter School Athletic Organization (MCSAO).

In this segment of Somerville Neighborhood News we take a look at the opioid issue here in Somerville. Somerville is not immune to the increase in opioid use and addiction around the country. In Massachusetts, Governor Baker has proposed legislation to support medical personnel, tighten prescribing regulations and increase community education. Somerville Neighborhood News shares a three part series on Opioid abuse, addiction, and the city’s response. Police Chief Dave Fallon and Patricia Contente of Community Outreach and Harm Reduction join us to discuss their collaboration and the steps the city is taking to treat addiction in the long term and stop addiction before it takes hold.

Attorney James A. O’Donovan of West Yarmouth, Massachusetts, formerly of Somerville Massachusetts, entered into rest on January 15, 2016 surrounded by his adoring family and with his wife Pauline, the love of his life, at his side. He left this world a brighter, more beautiful place, and all who had the good luck to cross paths with him are better for knowing him.

Vilma Sullivan asks one of the performers a couple of questions.

By Maureen Bastardi

Since April of 2015, older adults in Somerville have been able to witness some of the incredible talent residing at Berklee College of Music in Boston. The concerts take place in various, smaller concert venues and locations across the Berklee campus and feature faculty and students practicing their art as musicians and vocalists.

The New Orleans Suspects will be bringing their signature Crescent City sounds to Johnny D’s on Wednesday, January 20.

By Blake Maddux

As a musical unit, the Crescent City quintet The New Orleans Suspects has everything going for it. Its members include longtime Neville Brothers drummer “Mean” Willie Green, onetime Dirty Dozen Brass Band lead guitarist Jake Eckert, saxophonist and former James Brown bandleader Jeff Watkins, classically trained pianist C.R. Gruver, and bassist Reggie Scanlan.

Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan, Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian and Somerville Police Chief David Fallon have announced that Christopher Carney, 43, of Austin, Texas was arraigned on Tuesday, January 12, 2016, in Woburn Superior Court on charges of aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping, indecent assault and battery (2 counts), assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and witness intimidation. Clerk Magistrate Michael Sullivan ordered the defendant held without bail pending a 58A dangerousness hearing on January 28, 2016.

Committee of residents, experts, advocates, and industry professionals develop bold and innovative recommendations to address housing affordability

From a proposal to establish a 1 percent real estate transfer fee to the expansion of tenants purchase rights, the recommendations in a report released this week by the City of Somerville Sustainable Neighborhoods Working Group propose innovative new approaches for increasing  housing affordability for Somerville residents and families.