left to right: Former Mayor-Register of Deeds Gene Brune, SHS Foundation Scholarship Member David O'Brien, Amanda Martins and Somerville Ed Ciampa. - Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

2010 Somerville High-school graduate Amanda Martins received a one thousand dollar “Jim Goddard Memorial” scholarship check presented to her by the Somerville Lions Club.

By George P. Hassett

A 45-year-old man stole a blind man’s cane after drinking vodka and passing out in a flower bed Oct. 11, police said.

Daniel Ryan, homeless, allegedly stole a cane that belongs to his friend, a blind man who told officers he was suicidal, police said.

- Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

A re-election event was thrown in Ward 1 Alderman William Roche’s honor  Monday evening at Vinnys on lower Broadway.  Mayor Joseph Curtatone ,  Somerville Police chief Michael Cabral, candidate for State Treasurer  Steve Grossman and Congressman Michael Capuano as well as many other elected officials and supporters were in attendance at the packed event.

Arrests

A juvenile, of Somerville, Oct. 11, 8:49 p.m., arrested on High Street and charged with assault and battery.

Daniel Ryan, 45, homeless, Oct. 11, 9:54 p.m., arrested on McGrath Highway and charged with assault and battery on a public employee, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and a warrant charge.

Mykela Farrell, 17, of 20 Main Street Park, Malden, Oct. 12, 10:13 a.m., arrested on a warrant charge of armed robbery.

Jennifer Andre, 27, of 34R North St., Oct. 12, 7:42 p.m., arrested and charged with armed robbery.

(L to R) Giuseppe Esposito Giuseppe Esposito, mayor of Lettomanoppello Italy and Billy Tauro, Somerville News Co-Publisher/ President of the Somerville Lions Club

Giuseppe Esposito, the mayor of Lettomanoppello Italy was in Somerville this past weekend attending a function that was thrown in his honor by Somerville residents who originally originated from that town in Italy.

After a visit with Mayor Joseph Curtatone and a tour of Somerville City Hall, Mayor Esposito attended a luncheon Monday at Amelia’s Restaurant where Somerville News Co-Publisher/ President of the Somerville Lions Club Bill Tauro presented the visiting mayor with a “Somerville First Flag Raising Banner” as well as making him an honorary Somerville Lion.

Sam Cornish , the first Boston Poet Laureate, will appear at the Somerville News Writers Festival Nov. 13, to get the Ibbetson Street Press Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the small press and the world of poetry.

Too bad we don’t have a Somerville Poet Laureate to present the award-but Cornish deserves it-and I am sure the city of Boston will be pleased. Here is an article I wrote about Cornish some years ago that appeared in The Somerville News. To find out more about the Writer’s Festival go to: http://somervillenewswritersfestival.com

Advocates rally against denial of Highland Ave. project

By Elizabeth Sheeran

Danny McLaughlin, Emily Parott, Ivy Richardson and Stephanie Toews-Moeling (left to right) were among those who set up sleeping bags in front of City Hall on October 15 to call for more affordable housing in Somerville. - Photo by Elizabeth Sheeran

Not long ago, Ana Ferreira was optimistic about her chances of finding a permanent home in Somerville for herself and her five-year-old son Matthew Fonseca.

The 29-year-old licensed medical assistant thought she might be a candidate for one of six units the Somerville Community Corporation (SCC) planned to build at 162 Highland Avenue, as permanent housing for formerly homeless families. The SCC had secured the funds needed to buy the property and renovate the building, and the project got the green light from the Planning Board in June.

But the proposal fell one vote short of the four votes needed from the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) on September 15, effectively killing the project, and along with it Ferreira’s optimism.

Free, staged reading at The Burren
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Widely regarded as the greatest Boston crime novel ever written, a staged reading of a new theatrical adaptation of George V. Higgins’ The Friends of Eddie Coyle will be performed at The Burren on Nov. 13 at 3 p.m.

Adapted for the stage by Bill Doncaster, directed by Maria Silvaggi, The Friends of Eddie Coyle chronicles the lowest rungs of the criminal underworld, as Eddie Coyle attempts to stay alive and out of jail in the company of gun runners, bank robbers, hit men and cops in and around 1970 Boston. Critically acclaimed since its release in 1972, Elmore Leonard called The Friends of Eddie Coyle “The best crime novel ever written–makes The Maltese Falcon read like Nancy Drew.”

By Cathleen Twardzik

Somerville Avenue will be transformed into Pumpkinville Avenue soon.  Behold it with your own eyes at SomerStreets’ last event of the year.

“We want to end the season with a bang. I encourage all community members to help us turn Somerville Ave. into Pumpkinville Ave. by carving or decorating a pumpkin, which we will use to line the entire street – from Union Square to Porter Square. Along with many live music acts, family-friendly and dog-friendly activities, this event is going to be one of our best fall events to date,” said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone.

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.)

If you Google “Faces” a site  for a club in San Diego  by that name pops up. If you drive down Route 2 east toward Boston, you will see a ramshackle, beat down, decaying building with a tall sign that says “Faces” on it. Alas, it wasn’t always a deserted eyesore, oh no.

I really don’t know when it officially closed, but for a while , it was a smoking, hopping, sizzling night spot.  Every time I see the  Faces sign, I can’t help but think of my old Members Only jacket.  I can almost smell the Jovan Musk cologne, and I can swear I can hear The Bee Gees pumping out “Stayin’ Alive.” Yes, I used to hang out at Faces occasionally. When I worked for Kiss 108 FM back in the Disco days, we had a few listener parties there.