By George P. Hassett

Four people were arrested March 23 and charged with using a gun to stick up a pick up basketball game at Florence Street Park.

The victims told an officer they were robbed of “all their stuff” from cell phones and cash to rosary beads and cigarettes, police said. They tracked down an officer on patrol seconds after the alleged stick up and described the suspects, police said.

The Somerville girls outdoor track team is welcoming a batch of freshman to to their squad alongside some returning veteran stars.

Coach Charles O’Rourke said freshmen Melissa Baptista, Kellie Hagerty, Rachel Berry, Alison Kaba and Y’Quanna Cannon have impressed in early season workouts.

Spring is near ( hopefully) and though it brings rebirth, it can also bring rain and with it pain. Nothing is black and white here at the Lyrical, or– for that matter– life. Poet Keith Tornheim brings us this mixed bag with his poem Clouds in Springtime.

Arrests:
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Daniel Green, 48, of 45 Glen St., March 21, 7:09 a.m., arrested at home and charged with assault and battery.

Jorge Ferraz, 78, of 65 Concord St., March 21, 11:38 a.m., arrested at home and charged with assault and battery and assault and battery on a person over 60.

Robert Silva, 53, of 55 Springfield St., March 21, 4:21 p.m., arrested at home on warrant charges.

(L to R): former Somerville Mayor - current Middlesex Registrar of Deeds Eugene Brune, Baritone singer Bulent Guneralp, Mezza Soprano Cristina Calamaio, achieved pianist Gabriel Ricker, Anna Quadri, Rocco and Iolanda DiRenzo and Michael Quadri.

By William Tauro

The organization “Paesani d’Italia e San Rocco” of Somerville sponsored and hosted an event in celebration of the 150 anniversary of “Unita d’Italia” “Una Serata Incantata.”

(L to R) Commodore Winter Hill Yacht Club Bill Rogers, Groundwork Somerville Executive Director Jenn Lawrence, Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone and Groundwork Somerville Mystic River Project Manager Brad Arndt. - Photo by William Tauro

Friday evening The Center for Arts at the Armory hosted  “Greening the City Gala”  celebrating an “evening of gritty elegance and success” for Groundwork Somerville  and its achievements.

The event  included the “1st annual Tommy Barry Award”  presented to Tommy Barry of the City of Somerville Department of Public Works for his, as quoted from the program,  “endless support and guidance of Tommy- Groundwork Somerville would not be a success”.

The Pizza Challenge fundraiser is April 2.

By Cathleen Twardzik

 will occur on April 2 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. on the second floor of the Elizabeth Peabody House at 277 Broadway.

Somerville’s first Pizza Challenge, will pit at least five popular pizzerias against each other, and will benefit the food pantry.

Food pantry hours at the Elizabeth Peabody House are each Wednesday night from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Thursday mornings from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.  During nice weather, fruit and vegetables will hopefully be available, according to Paul Kuhne, Outreach and Resource Coordinator at the Elizabeth Peabody House.

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.)

It’s one thing to pass by your old school and have the memories start to flow. It must be a little sad when that school has been torn down and all that is left is an empty lot, or a park.

By George P. Hassett

Drug unit cops conducting routine surveillance on Medford Street arrested two people March 18 after a dime bag allegedly passed between the pair.

Drug unit investigators used binoculars to see Matthew Haley, 19, hand Keri Hight, 22, of 187 Medford St., Medford, a “dime bag” of marijuana.