SWAT team assembled at old Star Market parking lot on Broadway. – Photos by William Tauro.

By William Tauro

A home invasion took place in Somerville on Monday morning on Derby Street. Two gunmen fled the scene and were on the loose in Somerville. Police secured the area and placed the Healey School on lock down for a short period.

Annual event to celebrate “Woman of Excellence,”“Best Service Provider for Women” on March 27  

The Somerville Health Department and the Office of Somerville Commissions announce that this year’s award recipients for “Best Service Provider to Women” by the Somerville Commission for Women will be the Somerville Public Libraries for its commitment to families and children, and the “Somerville Woman of Excellence” award will be presented to Marylin Eastwood for her dedication to ESL classes and cultural programming for families at the Somerville Public Libraries.  Awards will be presented at the upcoming reception honoring Women’s History Month, held at the Lowell Street Visiting Nurses’ Association (VNA) on March 27th.  The event’s featured speaker is Dr. Karen Hacker of the Institute for Community Health.

By Harry Kane

Consuelo Perez, 49, is a Somerville artist who lives in Davis Square. She immigrated to the area in 1987 and has been part of the art community ever since. Perez refers to herself as, “the trouble-maker of the whole city.” But really, she’s just a friendly Peruvian artist who makes trash into treasure.

Early Somerville Living Built Character by Paul Maisano

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

The sweltering hot summer nights were growing less frequent. That huge elm tree across the street with its small oval shaped green leaves will soon shed its umbrella. The late night cheering crowds shall grow silent as the softball season ends, and the lights shall go dark at Glen Park. Autumn is upon the doorstep of our East Somerville neighborhood.

“Working Cities Challenge” Grant Could Bring $700,000 to Somerville for Programs, Development

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development invite all interested residents to submit their ideas for the city’s application to the “Working Cities Challenge,” a competition hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. The City of Somerville is eligible to compete for up to $700,000 – over the course of three years – to create cross-sector, system-level change that will improve the economic health and well-being of Somerville’s lower-income residents.  Somerville is one of 20 smaller cities throughout Massachusetts eligible to participate in the program.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

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

We all know by now that President Obama once lived in Somerville. But there are lots of other famous people that have been in and out of Somerville as well. I am taking everyone’s word that the following events are true.

Offers Healthy Start to the Day for Somerville’s Youth

The City of Somerville Recreation Department, Somerville Public Schools, and Shape Up Somerville announced today the addition of a “Get Up and Go” Breakfast Program which will be offered before school for grades K-8 at the Edgerly, Winter Hill and Healey Schools.  Conducted by Program Developer, George Scarpelli, and Director of Physical Education for the Somerville Public Schools, Tim O’Keefe, the program combines physical activity and nutrition to give students a healthy start to the school day.

By Joseph A. Curtatone

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

Last year, Somerville became the first city in the United States to measure residents’ happiness as a way to more fully understand how municipal government can better serve our constituents, and create policies that reflect resident satisfaction with those policies.

By Jim Clark

Police were dispatched to the intersection of Willow Ave. and Broadway late last Friday night on reports that several individuals were engaged in a street brawl.

Upon arrival, the officers found three men struggling to hold one other man down on the ground, according to reports.

Volunteers Needed for 2013 Colonial Fair at Foss Park, Monday, April 15

The City of Somerville’s Historic Preservation Commission is seeking volunteers for the 2013 Patriot’s Day ceremonies, scheduled for Monday, April 15 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. at Foss Park.  Help the city re-live Paul Revere’s historic ride from Boston through Somerville and onto Lexington and Concord. Adults and high school students are needed to volunteer at the city’s annual Patriots Day Colonial Fair.