The Somerville Kiwanis Legion of Honor Award Recipients — Back row: Frank Bellistri 40 Years, Sal Bertolami 35 Years, Sal Querusio 25 Years, Robert Cataldo 30 Years, Bob Nissenbaum 40 Years. Front Row: Bob Costello 40 Years, Buddy Knox Jr. 45 Years, Joe Howard 60 Years, Robert Gorin 25 Years.

By Ross Blouin

The Somerville Kiwanis met at The Mount Vernon Restaurant on Thursday, June 12, for a special meeting honoring 10 long-time members who have made outstanding contributions to the club and the Somerville community.  The induction into The Kiwanis Legion Of Honor was organized by Kiwanis President Rui Domingos and Past President Jay Lynch presided as Master Of Ceremonies to a packed audience of current Kiwanis members.

The last time I was at the Ames Envelope factory building in Somerville, Mass. it produced envelopes and such. But the times have changed and it is now occupied by the Artisan’s Asylum. In the lobby of the Asylum I was met by Molly Rubenstein. She is an intelligent, hard -working, 20-something Yale graduate with a gift for expression, and a lot of energy. Rubenstein has been at the Artisan’s Asylum for three years and for much of that time lived in Somerville, but recently defected to the Republic of Cambridge. The Artisan’s Asylum houses 150 studios, of 50 to 250 square feet. They are demarcated by low barriers, so people can readily see each other. This according to Rubenstein fosters community and communication. The Artisan’s Asylum was in the forefront of the “Makerspace” movement of the past decade, where craftsmen, engineers, artists, writers and others share a large space, share resources, and create within a supportive and creative milieu. Rubenstein told me: “25% of the people here have active businesses, and another third are developing businesses.”

In 2007 I was invited by the literary organization Voices Israel to tour the country, judge their annual contest, run workshops and conduct readings. Israeli poet Helen Bar-Lev was my host. She is an accomplished poet, painter,  poetry activist, and well-known in the Israeli literary scene. She was kind enough to submit a poem to the LYRICAL.

Veterans have sacrificed for community and country, but can face challenges when they return home from duty. Somerville’s commitment to honoring their sacrifice will intensify as the city joins the challenge issued by the Obama Administration to end veteran homelessness by 2016, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced today.

Arrests:
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Danielle Doherty, 26, of 1374 Broadway, June 17, 10:34 a.m., arrested at 55 Davis Sq. on warrant charges of larceny under $250, assault and battery, and improper use of a credit card.

Walter Burgos-Robles, 30, of 64 Palmer St., Salem, June 17, 1:42 p.m., arrested at 166 North St. on a charge of drug possession to distribute.

The Navy Band Northeast Pops Ensemble will perform during Somerville’s Independence Day celebration on Thursday evening July 3 at Trum Field on Broadway. The festivities will begin at 6 p.m. The Pops Ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m.

— Photo by John Borzain

Betsy Bowman, of Somerville, is a Pan-Mass Challenge cyclist and cancer survivor who was honored by the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, June 15 during PMC Day at Fenway Park. Bowman was among other cancer survivors who rode their bikes around the warning track in a pre-game ceremony during which the PMC’s 35th anniversary logo was unveiled on the Green Monster. On August 2 and 3, together with 5,800 cyclists, Bowman will ride up to 190 miles across Massachusetts in the 35th annual Pan-Mass Challenge. This year’s goal is to raise $40 million for adult and pediatric patient care and cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

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

I was very proud to hear my son’s name called at his high school graduation ceremony. Two down, one to go.

There is a little bit of farmer in all of us, and now we can prove it as urban agriculture initiatives are taking root in the city.

By Jim Clark

A “Food Production and Distribution Triangle” is now in place in the City of Somerville thanks to two newly adopted initiatives that will connect the newly created Somerville Innovation Farm, a hydroponics based learning farm at the Edgerly School, the South Street Farm, and the mobile farmers market, which services food desserts and low income residents.

The city joined forces with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), Groundwork Somerville, the Somerville Public Schools, Shape Up Somerville and the Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) Garden Institute in implementing the program.

Joe’s Jazz and Blues Fest 2014, June 21 from 12 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. A free concert at Powderhouse Park .

By Cathleen Twardzik

Joe’s Jazz and Blues Festival is returning this year. Mayor Curtatone, who was a trumpet player in the Somerville High School Jazz Band, came up with the idea.

The Somerville Arts Council (SAC) event will occur on June 21 from 12 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. A free concert at Powderhouse Park will take place.