(L to R) The Somerville News Co-Publisher- Somerville Lions Club President Bill Tauro, Som/Camb Lions Club member Marisa Tauro, Somerville's Director of Operations Rick Willette, Somerville Ward Two Alderman MaryAnn Heuston, Somerville Police Chief Tom Pasquarello and House of Representative Chair Al Baldasaro from the State of New Hampshire. - Photo by Tony Yee

By William Tauro

Community members from the City of Somerville were recognized by Association President Warren Yee at the Benevolent Jade Society of New England’s annual banquet in Chinatown Friday evening.

Law enforcement agencies as well as public safety officials from across the nation gathered for the annual feast and awards ceremony for  2011 among a crowd of over 350 attendees including State Representative Tim Toomey.

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.)

Well, we just lost another longtime family home on my street (near Davis Square). They had been here for over 50 years – both parents are deceased and the adult kids decided it was time to sell – they had been my neighbors for 48 years. I heard that the new owner is going to convert the two-family into condos – what an original idea!

By George P. Hassett

A Somerville man broke into an Arlington Street woman’s car and stole her iPod, headphones and speakers Feb. 23, according to police.

Junior Oliveira, 31, of 36 Rush St. was arrested and charged with receiving stolen property over $250 and warrant charges.

On March 5, Somerville residents can revel in the tenth annual Maple Syrup Boil Down Festival.- Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Carrie Stanziola

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It’s syrup time: on March 5, Somerville residents can revel in the tenth annual Maple Syrup Boil Down Festival. Interested community members can come to 22 Vinal Avenue, between Summer St. and Highland Ave. near Union Sq, at 10 a.m., where they are invited to watch as sap from local sugar maple trees is boiled into maple syrup over a warm fire.

For the second year in a row, the project is being spearheaded by Tai Dinnan of Groundwork Somerville, whose aim is, in the words of Dinnan, to do “anything and everything that has to do with environmental and community health in our city. We focus on community initiated concerns or ideas and work to empower residents to improve the environmental and community health of our neighborhoods.”

- Photo by Bobbie Toner

By George P. Hassett

A 44-year-old Malden man was arrested for kicking the car mirror of a man he had a dispute with a few days earlier, police said.

Robert McCarthy was arrested at 17 Stone Ave. and charged with destruction of property over $250 Feb. 26. A witness sitting at home allegedly saw McCarthy walk up to a car and look around to make sure he was not being watched.

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.)

This year, the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, Somerville’s Greek Orthodox Church, celebrates its 95th anniversary. Throughout its history as a place of worship, it has also been the center of an engaged, cohesive, and vibrant community.

By Ashley Taylor

On her blog, Susan Senator, quotes Leo Tolstoy: “Happy families are all alike; unhappy families are all different in their own way.” She goes on to argue that all happy families are not alike and that even though her oldest son, Nat, has severe autism, a developmental disorder that affects social and communication skills, her family is happy in its own way.

Finding happiness in the face of adversity was the subject of Senator’s talk Monday night at the Kennedy Elementary School. Senator, who lives in Brookline, is the author of two books on raising children with autism and teaches English at Suffolk University. The talk was co-sponsored by the Somerville Family Learning Collaborative, of Somerville Public Schools, an organization to reach out to all families raising children in Somerville, and the Somerville Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SPED PAC), an organization for Somerville parents of children with special needs.

The St. Clement Lady Anchors were upset in the state tournament last week after their star player was sidelined for most of the second half.
The Lowell Catholic Crusaders advanced to the quarterfinals with a 60 to 49 win.
Christy Novembre scored 52 points in two regular season wins over the Lowell Catholic Crusaders but went to the bench with bad cramping in her thigh in the third quarter and played only three of the final 16 minutes in the tournament game.

By George P. Hassett

Drug-unit investigators busted an East Boston man with two ounces of cocaine last week, calling him the “principal supplier” in an East Somerville drug ring.

Investigators developed information that a Hispanic man believed to be of Colombian descent driving a white Mercury would arrive on Glen Street on Feb. 22, police said.

- Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

Hundreds of protesters picketed the KSS Realty construction project on Cedar Street  Thursday morning.

The protesters marched in support of union workers for the lack of local jobs at the construction site.  The protest  blocked access to Somerville’s bike path with their large member participation.

Photos of out of state license plates from the workers at the MaxPac site. - Photo by William Tauro