Individuals who hit the dance floor at the Walnut Street Center's annual holiday party included (left to right): Gina Olivier, Lynn Potter, Randy Dottin, Stephen Michael Dewar, and Ray Hardy. – Photo by Elizabeth Sheeran

Developmentally disabled adults find a place to thrive in Somerville

By Elizabeth Sheeran

At midday last Thursday, the ballroom of the Holiday Inn on Washington Street was filled to capacity with partygoers, celebrating the season.

Tim Adkins had high praise for the meal, the deejay, the room, and everything else about the party. Bob Spezzafaro said he enjoyed dancing with his girlfriend Denise Poor, who was showing off a ring Spezzafaro had given her as an early Christmas gift. Moving about the room in a red sweater topped with a necklace made of Christmas ornaments, Lynn Potter said the best thing about the party was meeting people. And the ice cream.

Tonight Wednesday, December 7, at the Flatbread in Davis Square, enjoy awesome Pizza and Bowling while supporting Toys for Local Children today 4 p.m. to closing. Flatbread will donate a portion of every pizza sold, both dine-in and take out! Help support a great charity that brings joy to a lot of local kids by calling up on the phone or visiting and ordering a pizza – 617 776-0552. Our own DJ Jimmy Del Ponte will emcee the event and they have a country store as well as a 50/50 raffle! There will be a place to donate new unwrapped toys and people can bowl and eat while helping to support Toys for Local Children.

“Every time you stop a school, you will have to build a jail. What you gain at one end you lose at the other. It’s like feeding a dog on his own tail. It won’t fatten the dog.”
– Mark Twain

Naturally, all of us wish for the best possible educational opportunities for the children of our community. Knowing with certainty what the best course of action is can be challenging, to say the least. So it is in consideration of the second K-8 charter school being proposed and debated in our city.

Somerville maple syrup in maple leaf bottles were on sale at last year's, as well as at this year’s Maple Syrup Brunch Fundraiser at the Independent.

By Cathleen Twardzik

The aroma of numerous tasty dishes, along with the succulent scent of maple syrup, wafted through the air at a recent brunch fundraiser, which was held to support the Somerville Maple Syrup Project.

The Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS), this community’s anti-poverty agency, received a $10,000 targeted grant from the Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation for CAAS’ work to prevent homelessness.

To know what we are, we must know where we come from. The past is often muddled, memory fails us, often familial histories are selective and leave out the painful moments. Somerville artist Hope Ricciardi addresses her ancestral past through her evocative art. Sadly, past generations of her clan were victims of the Armenian Genocide. This tragic event occurred in the early part of the last century when many Armenians were slaughtered or thrown into a diaspora by the Turks. Often this tragedy has been overshadowed by the Jewish Holocaust that was engineered by the nefarious forces of Nazi Germany. Ricciardi’s art brings the Genocide in the forefront with her skillful brush, and unique sensibility.

Visiting Poet Emily Sinclaire is visiting from Wappinger Falls, New York. She is currently studying digital photography at Dutchess Community College.  Her passions include photography, painting and writing.

Second talk in series on Dec. 14 will feature local authors and historic discussions
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The second event in a new Somerville Public Library series, “Meet, Mingle, Read,” will be held on Wednesday, December 14 and will serve as the official launch of the book “The Boston Mob Guide” by Beverly Ford and Stephanie Schorow.  The series creates community discussion surrounding locally-inspired books, and all discussions are held at the Somerville Public Library at 79 Highland Ave.  The Boston Mob Guide discussion will begin at 7:00 p.m., and will include light refreshments.  This program is co-sponsored by Harvard Coop Bookstore.

Arrests:
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Nicole Lavoie-Huard, 26, of 18 Pollard St., Lowell, November 28, 9:33 a.m., arrested at Crescent St. on a charge of violation of city ordinance possession of a dangerous weapon.

Jason Dodge, 42, of 56 Broadway, November 29, 5:27 p.m., arrested at home on charges of assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest, and trespassing.

A Somerville man was arrested this morning, moments after committing a bank robbery in busy Davis Square. Daniel Merrill, age 26, was observed by investigators who had all Davis Square area banks under surveillance.  Merrill was observed by Somerville Detective Nadile as he entered the Eastern Bank on Elm Street shortly before 9:30, dressed in a hooded sweat shirt.  He exited the bank minutes later and began running toward Day Street while removing his outer shirt.  He was followed by Detective Nadile.  As he turned onto Day Street, Somerville detectives and agents of the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force quickly detained him as police were receiving the broadcast for hold-up alarm from the Eastern Bank.