The many faces and customs of our multicultaural community are celebrated as the Somerville Reads Celebration unfolds at East Branch Library.- Photo by Carrie Stanziola

By Carrie Stanziola

On April 30, the Somerville East Branch Library launched its second annual Somerville Reads Celebration.  This year, the library chose The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri, which chronicles one family’s journey from India to the United States. In the words of East Branch Librarian Marilyn Eastwood, “This time we thought it would be wonderful to get a book which would be expressive of the immigrant experience, what it’s like to come to this country and leave roots behind and grow roots here.”  The library also welcomes immigrants with free, volunteer-led ESL classes held at all three branches of the Somerville library. As part of the festivities, visitors were encouraged to take part in and “immigration quilt” to show their own family’s roots and the city’s diversity.

By Andrew Firestone

The Somerville BOA committee on legislative matters has approved a new resolution in a push for economic development, and is currently developing a strategic plan to introduce more Beer and Wine licenses to the city.

The debate was struck when the Chamber of Commerce visited the committee meeting and asked the aldermen to raise the limit from the 16 licenses that are currently available. There are also 10 more designated for the future Assembly Square district.

By Jim Clark

A reported robbery by an armed and masked man at the Quick Stop  store at 219 Highland Avenue last Wednesday brought Somerville police to the scene. One officer spotted an individual matching witness descriptions running up Porter Street so he pursued and ultimately apprehended him.
The suspect, a juvenile, was searched and was found to have in his possession a camouflage ski mask as well as a Desert Eagle BB gun, police said.

By Cathleen Twardzik

Dena Haibi of Somerville and her co-workers at Commonwealth Financial Network were recently named champions, as part of the Duncan Hines 1 MILLION Cupcake Challenge, which is a national baking and fundraising movement, the goal of which is to help to end childhood hunger in America, according to a press release.

Haibi and her co-workers hosted a Great American Bake Sale to benefit Share Our Strength and raised $2,635, which will be matched by Duncan Hines.

At the Somerville Spring Cleanup on Saturday,  April 30, Jimmy Del Ponte cleans up Powder House Park singlehandedly.

(L to R) Athletic Director Shawn Thornton and senior forward Christy Novembre

After 7 years, 8 months and 24 days, Mr. Shawn Thornton will not be sitting in the athletic office on 579 Boston Avenue in Medford when September rolls around. Thornton accepted a job across town in Everett with a Catholic Central League rival in Pope John which is in the small along with Saint Clement.
Each team competes against each other in almost every sport. But the sport everyone will wait and buy tickets early to see is when Coach Thornton takes his Lady Tigers to Medford to face the Lady Anchors.

Ruth Kramer Baden is well into her 70’s, but is an emerging poet with her first poetry collection East of the Moon (Ibbetson Street Press). This book which was recently selected as a “Must Read” by the Massachusetts Book Award, is according to reviewer Barbara Bialick “a mythic narrative, storytelling, and busting with flavor beads…she takes the reader through life cycles of a mature woman—with the span of her first collection, it is obvious that her writing of this work was in the back of her mind for some time.” I talked with Baden on my Somerville Community Access TV show Poet to Poet: Writer to Writer.

There are many talented young poets in Somerville’s “Books of Hope Project.”  And as any poet knows: ” Know thyself.” Well Books of  Hope poet Yolandi Cruz knows herself…intimately!  I decided to include the work of this talented bard in this week’s Lyrical.

Mayor Joe Curtatone and the Somerville Chamber of Commerce have announced that the third annual B2Green Expo and Networking event will be held Thursday, May 5, at the Holiday Inn at 30 Washington Street.

Running from 4 P.M. to 7 P.M., the Expo will occur simultaneously with the Chamber’s popular Business After Hours event featuring free appetizers, excellent networking, business card drawing, and cash bar.  The Expo will feature presentations by local green businesses and organizations, as well as tips for businesses about utilizing more sustainable and energy-efficient practices.

A Sergeant with the Middlesex Sheriff’s Department has been arraigned on drug charges after allegedly receiving cocaine and money from an undercover state trooper, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today.

Michael Dell’Isola, 51, of Somerville, was arraigned today in Woburn District Court on the charge of trafficking cocaine. Woburn District Court Judge Paul Yee ordered the defendant held on $1,000 cash bail with the condition that he stays away from the Sheriff’s Department.