Somerville Open Studios featured over 400 hundred emerging and established artists in more than 100 different venues throughout the city. – Photo by Francisco White

By Francisco L. White

With ample sunshine and an impromptu performance of Michael Jackson classics by a lively band at Davis Square, Sunday, May 6, was the perfect concluding day of this year’s Somerville Open Studios. The three-day event featured over 400 hundred emerging and established artists in more than 100 different venues throughout the city.

– Photos by Bobbie Toner and William Tauro
On Saturday, May 5, the City of Somerville dedicated a square at the intersection on McGrath Highway and Linwood Street to Sgt Pasquale “Patrick” Tauro, 67th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion of the United States Army.

– Photo by Donald Norton

By William Tauro

Prisoners from the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Department are scraping off the old flaking paint and preparing to give City Hall a new look. Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, in conjunction with Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone, has recently implemented a program that helps cash strapped cities with prisoner maintenance/repair projects, while helping the prisoners to reintroduce themselves into society at the same time.

Educating our children about the harmful effects of substance abuse is a serious matter. It’s challenging enough just making sure that they apply themselves properly to their school work, adopt proper attitudes about personal values, and get through their developmental years armed with a healthy sense of self-worth and confidence. Keeping them safe from self-destructive habits is just one more important task that parents must be concerned with.

The Somerville News Person of the Week, Rosalee Zammuto

Meet Rosalee Zammuto, born, raised and still lives here in the ‘Ville. She’s a 1988 Somerville High graduate and then went on to Fisher Junior College. She worked in many offices over the years until she got her Real Estate License. Rosalee is a Real Estate Broker associated with Ross Real Estate on Winter Hill. She’s been there now for about a year and half, but she’s been licensed now for several years.

Results from the Cambridge meet held on Wednesday, May 2, at Danehy Park are as follows:

Nicole Genard took first place in the 100m hurdles with a time of 15.8, and also placed first in the long jump with a distance of 16’8. She also took first in the javelin throw with a 120’0.

Tufts offensive lineman George Brereton, E12, presents a Tufts football jersey to 8-year-old Riley Roman at Tufts University's Zimman Field on May 2, 2012. Roman, who has a brain tumor signed a "National Letter of Intent" to join the football team and was visiting Tufts as part of partnership with Team IMPACT. (Kelvin Ma/Tufts University)

Last Wednesday Rob Ninkovich from the New England Patriots visited Tufts for a “draft day” for Riley Roman, an eight-year-old from South Hadley, MA, who was recently diagnosed with a PNET brain tumor, which is an invasive and rapidly growing tumor that has the potential to spread very quickly. Riley underwent major brain surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment at Children’s Hospital Boston. Due to the invasive nature of the treatment, he is currently living at the Ronald McDonald house.

– Photos by Lisa Heyison

Older Americans Month is celebrated each May to honor and recognize older Americans for the contributions they make to our families, communities and society. This year’s theme Never Too Old to Play encourages older Americans to stay engaged, active and involved in their own lives and in their communities. The Somerville Council on Aging gives older adults (55+) many ways to stay engaged and active. With exercise classes, museum trips, Lunch and Learn lectures, book clubs, gardening, musical conversations and Cultural Day trips around the world. It is easy to stay active and involved.

Well-there is a fairly new bookshop in town “THE BOOKSHOP” in Ball Square.  The owner is Gil Barbosa, and he is a brave man. I say this because it is damn hard to keep an indie bookshop thriving in these days of Amazon.com, e books, nooks, etc… Anyway Somerville resident, poet and painter, and longtime arts editor at the Ibbetson Street Press, Richard Wilhelm, has organized a reading in celebration of the store. Gloria Mindock and Lucy Holstedt, both Somerville poets will be reading, as well as a number of talented local folks. Hope you can come-and even read your own work in an open mic after the featured readers.

Well Nicholas Burtt provides us with a touching poem. By touching earth—he touches us.