Everybody is Mexican on Cinco de Mayo.
– Photo by Harry Kane

By Harry Kane and Linjing Cheng

Partygoers sporting sombreros, ponchos, and other Mexican regalia went “loco” over tacos, ice cream, and margaritas during the Taza Chocolate Factory Store’s Cinco de Mayo festival on May 5.

The annual Somerville High Scholarship Foundation raffle is coming up fast – and plenty of tickets are still available – on May 17. The usual first prize of $10,000 will be awarded along with many other prizes. Only 250 tickets to be sold. The event will be held at the Highlander Café at the High School, May 17, 7 p.m. with the drawing starting at 8 p.m. Several door prizes, refreshments and lots of fun for a great cause. To purchase a ticket for the raffle beforehand make checks payable to the SHS Scholarship Foundation and mail your $100 check to SHS Raffle, c/o Eugene Brune, P.O. Box 440275. Somerville 02144. This is a great local charity that raises funds for scholarships for well-deserved students. Send a check today and get your tickets and, who knows, you just might be the big winner.

“Red Rooves 1” by Christine Chang – Acrylic.

This past weekend over 400 Somerville artists opened their doors and invited the public into their studios for one of the largest single-weekend open studio events in the nation, Somerville Open Studios.

Caitlin Fitzgerald, Lucas Sargent, Emily O’Regan, Aidan O’Donovan, Kaleigh Conte, Nikki Grover, Justin Schofield, Dylan Zraket, Brenna Kristiansen and Katie Ziko.

The Somerville Youth Softball Organization hosted their Kick Off Day Parade and Celebration Saturday April 27 at Trum Field.

Magre, Berger, and Baptista all qualify for states
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By Mike Stoller

The Somerville High track and field team gave more than a commendable effort against a fiercely competitive Malden squad in a meet that came down to the final event – the relay – last week. The Highlanders ultimately dropped a tough 69.5 66.5 decision to the Golden Tornadoes.

There are times when the rose tinted glasses have to come off as we take a hard, dispassionate look at the world we inhabit in the cold gray light of reason and sobriety.

Alderman at Large Bruce Desmond

By Alderman at Large Bruce Desmond

After twenty years of serving the people of Somerville in both elected and appointed positions I have decided to serve out the remainder of my term and not seek re-election as Alderman at Large in the upcoming local election of 2013. I have always believed that government bodies need to be refreshed from time to time. They need the injection of young minds, new ideas and new energy while also maintaining a respect for the past. I make this announcement now in hopes of attracting new candidates for the position of Alderman at Large. I have spent the last twenty years working to make a great city become an even greater city. It has been extremely challenging and very rewarding. It has been my honor and privilege to be a part of what I believe to be the epitome of what American government truly means; “government of the people, by the people, for the people”.

Matt Desmond pulls papers for Ward 3 Alderman on Monday morning. – Photo by William Tauro

This week started the process for running for the local election. Monday, May 6 began with a rush on the Somerville election commission. The following took out nomination papers as of Tuesday, May 7:

– Photo by Donald Norton

By Donald Norton

This past Sunday, May 5, Fraternal Chapter Order of Eastern Star #136 celebrated their 100th Anniversary here in Somerville. In attendance were over 130 members, their families and friends, to help celebrate this milestone here in Somerville. 100 years ago this Chapter was charted and had its first meeting in Davis Square with over 100 candidates joining the chapter within months of their first meeting.

(R) Doug Holder (L) Meikle Paschal at the Somerville Community Access TV studios.

When Meikle Paschal arrived at his first meeting of the Bagel Bards at the Au Bon Pain in Davis Square, Somerville, he was the only black man in a sea of white, pasty faces. But he did not seem fazed–he weaved through the crowd like he was at home at the joint—striking up conversations, and cracking the dry air with his wit.  30 or 40 years ago this may have not been the case. Paschal, a native of the mean streets of Roxbury, was a self-described Angry Black Man.  He was uncomfortable in his own skin, fighting the pressure of a racist society that he felt kept the cards stacked against him. Now, in his 60’s, he is a very different character.  He found his way through the practice of Buddhism, and is transformed into a rather contented  man in the  autumn of his years, as  Frank Sinatra once sang.   Today he is a  respected educator with the pedigree of a PhD, and a home in the tony suburb of Lexington, Mass.  I interviewed Paschal about his new memoir The Black Buddhist: A Spiritual Journey (Ibbetson Street Press) on my Somerville Community Access TV show Poet to Poet: Writer to Writer.