By Douglas Yu

It was a dream that the City of Somerville had since the Green Line Extension Project (GLX) was first brought up. After years of city planning and discussion on how it may impact the neighborhoods and residents in the future, the project finally received its funding from the U.S. federal government.

By Jim Clark

Police were dispatched to a Cross St. apartment on the evening of New Year’s Day on reports of a disturbance at that location.

Join East Somerville Main Streets on Monday, January 12, for “A farewell to Carrie” at the East End Grille, as they say goodbye to their director of eight years and celebrate some of the great things they have achieved in that time.

— Photos by Donald Norton

The 239th annual “Grand Union” flag-raising ceremony at Prospect Hill Park was held on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015 at 12 p.m.

A processional led by a re-enactor portraying General George Washington on horseback left from the City Hall Concourse at 11:30 a.m. Members of the public were invited to participate and encouraged to wear traditional colonial clothing.

Eagle Feathers #69 – Henry’s Tin Lizzie

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

The year was 1926 and Henry Ford – “The king of the road” – had already sold fifteen million automobiles. The product was his “Model T,” nicknamed the “Tin Lizzie.” It had been the best-selling car in the world for the previous eighteen years.

We need laws in this land of ours to protect us from those who would do us harm, steal our property, etc. There are times when some of us may even need protection from ourselves. The challenge for any society that values its essential freedoms is to strike a fair balance between what is barely essential and what may be regarded as excess when it comes to the rules and regulations that govern our daily lives.

Check out the sketchbooks of Somerville’s artists at Nave Gallery beginning this weekend.

By Laura Stiffler

This Friday, January 9, from 6 to 8 p.m., the Nave Gallery Annex will be holding the opening reception for its upcoming exhibition, The Sketchbook Show. The showcase features works from 20 different artists and focuses primarily on the sketches from their personal sketchbooks.

Russell Anthony Joyner. We were saddened to learn of Russ Joyner’s sudden death on January 1st. He was Assembly Row’s energetic General Manager whose personal warmth and charm made him an outstanding ambassador for Federal Realty Investment Trust. Raised in the Bronx, Russ captained the first Boston College football team that played in a bowl game. After playing in the NFL for two years, he took up a career in development and retail management. The parties who now contemplate a Union Square Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) with developer US2 could have learned something from Russ. He was part of the team that developed L.A.’s Hollywood and Highland Center and negotiated a CBA that has become a national model. He will be missed.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, January 8, from 2-9 p.m. at the McNulty Funeral Home, 3006 Middletown Road, Bronx, New York.

www.mcnultyfuneralhome.com.

From left, Jeff Green, Master Brad Rogers, Master Mark Grupposo and Justin von Bosau celebrate Green’s and von Bosau’s successful completion of a black belt ranking test at the Westborough Doubletree Hotel last month.

By Rich Tenorio

Two karate students from Villari’s Self-Defense Center of Somerville were promoted to black belt rankings at Marlborough on Dec. 14.

Jeff Green received a second-degree black belt, and Justin von Bosau earned a first-degree black belt. The students train under Master Brad Rogers, a fifth-degree black belt.

The Ibbetson Street Press Lifetime Achievement Award has been awarded to many prestigious, and community-minded poets, publishers and writers over the years. Here is a list: