Jonathan Richman is the inspiration for the tribute show that will also serve as a fundraiser for the Somerville Arts Council.

By Max Sullivan

For the third time since 2006, friends Lou Bunk and Ben Morse will be putting on a tribute show to their hero, Boston local pop/rock pioneer Jonathan Richman, inspired purely by their love and fandome for the low profile rocker, as well as an opportunity to help fund an organization they truly appreciate, the Somerville Arts Council.

Request a performance in your neighborhood this summer; All performances take Place Monday-Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. in July and August
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Performance dates are still available for the 2012 Somerville Sunsetters, who will begin shows on Thursday, June 28 during the City’s annual Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration at Trum Field.  Let by Somerville Youth Arts Coordinator, Jimmy Del Ponte, the Sunsetters are a traveling youth music troupe, performing popular show tunes and contemporary pop music hits on City streets throughout July and August at sunset.  The group began in the 1970s, performing through the 1980s until they were reinstated by Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone in 2004.  The 2012 group is comprised of 19 Somerville youth between the ages of 11 and 18.

On The Silly Side 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.)

I would like to welcome back my friend and this week’s guest contributor, Somerville’s own Anthony Accardi Jr.:

Each time I go out onto Facebook, I check up on all the Somerville groups that I belong to. Groups like “The Street in Somerville you grew up on” or “You know you’re from Somerville when…” or “Views of Historic Somerville Mass.” I cannot begin to say how much I enjoy the memories, stories and photos that have been posted to these groups. Stories and photos of forgotten restaurants and hangouts, things we did as children, or places and things that no longer exist. Naturally, I have contributed my share of stories and some photos. What I find missing though is stories about “us,” the people of Somerville. I have found very little written about the people that make up this great city. Things like our camaraderie, our little inner city habits and most important of all, just how nice we really all are.

– Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

The Washington Street Bridge flooded Friday during the evening drive causing massive traffic jams backing up traffic to Charlestown and Everett.

Traffic backed up to Charlestown and Everett because of Washington Bridge flooding. – Photo by William Tauro

- Photos by William Tauro

By William Tauro

A utility pole that once stood tall on Medford Street in Somerville at the city line on Gore Street in Cambridge fell to the ground on Friday at 5 p.m. during rush hour.

Howie Winter - undated booking photo.

Two men were arraigned today in connection with their involvement in an extortion scheme, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today.

Howard Winter, aka “Howie”, 83, of Millbury and James Melvin, 70, of Braintree, were arraigned this morning in Somerville District Court on charges of attempted extortion and conspiracy.  Somerville District Court Judge Neil Walker released the defendants on $25,000 cash bail each, with conditions to have no contact and stay away from the victims, wear a GPS monitoring device, surrender their passport and remain in the Commonwealth.

Part 1:  Death in the dark

By William C. Shelton

(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.)

When I first heard about the controversy regarding Walmart’s plans to set up shop in the former Circuit City space at Assembly Square, I was not greatly concerned.

Somerville has been recognized and honored for 17 straight years as a tree-loving community. – Photo by Elizabeth Sheeran

City wins Arbor Day Foundation Award

By Elizabeth Sheeran

Trees make good neighbors. And Somerville is welcoming more of them to the community all the time.

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation recently honored Somerville with an Annual Tree City USA Award for the 17th straight year. While 84 Massachusetts cities and towns earned the 2012 award, which is sponsored by the National Arbor Day foundation, Somerville was only one of a handful of urban communities on the list.

– Photos by Bill Rogers

– Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

A bicyclist was hit by a motor vehicle in Union Square Wednesday.

The incident occurred at the intersection directly in front of the Union Square Post Office at Bonner Ave. around noon.

The bicyclist, after being thrown from his bike from the impact, picked up his bicycle and walked away from the scene.