~Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

Two
motor vehicles were vandalized (windows smashed) on Walnut Street on
Sunday evening at approximately 6:45pm. This occurred shortly after a
reported robbery at Union Square Market Place and the alleged robber
fled up Walnut Street. Somerville Police are investigating to determine
if both incidents are connected.

~Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

Somerville
Police were called to the Union Square Market Place, located at 20
Union Square, at approximately 6:45pm on Sunday evening for an alleged
robbery that took place. The suspect is said to have been a black male,
medium build, wearing a black jacket with hood and black sunglasses.
The suspect did not produce a weapon and immediately afterward fled the
scene up Walnut Street. This incident is still under investigation.

~Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

The
Somerville Police Department and the Haitian Coalition of Somerville
teamed up and celebrated Unity Weekend with a three day fund-raiser.
The three day series of events is to help raise money and assist with
the Haitian relief earthquake disaster efforts that have left that
country in shambles last month.

Proceeds from this weekend's
events will help send a group of Somerville Haitian Coalition
volunteers including doctors and nurses to Haiti with a container full
of medical supplies, food and clothing. The container is currently
being stored in the Super Stop & Shop parking lot while waiting to
be stocked up and shipped by early next week. Somerville Police Chief
Michael Cabral, Deputy Chief Charles Femino, Neighborhood Unity
Officers Nick Stiles, Chris Ward and Alan Monaco assisted the Coalition
to organize the event that helped make it a huge success.

Julie-Ann and Jacob Burkhart. ~ Photo courtesy of Julie-Ann.

By Julia Fairclough

As
they say, gifts come in surprising packages; which is why the story of
Julie-Ann Burkhart's tee-shirt business brings to mind that losing a
job can mean the opening of a new door.

Bird Swell (www.birdswell.com) touts surf-inspired
tee shirts (or "wearable art") featuring Burkhart's original designs.
While going from graphic designer to tee shirt designer happened rather
quickly, it was a process that was perking on the back burner for a
while.

The Somerville Theater, will host screenings of the films beginning in October.

By Sanjeev Selvarajah

Evidence
of Boston's film consciousness has been visible on the evening news
with local industry shoots of big-name stars at the height of their
game. The community also bands together to celebrate the medium with a
local film festival-FilmShift-organized by Jeremy Hammel, who works
hard to generate the support of theatre-goers and the participation of
camera-ready artists. Prizes include cash prizes and professional
software that will enable more projects for the recipient down the line.

Dr. Jeffrey Brown, a Harvard psychiatry professor and clinical psychologist, addressed eight forms of anxiety at Somerville's John F.Kennedy Elementary School in his lecture “Anxiety:The Invisible Bully.” ~Photo by Lauren C. Ostberg

Lauren C. Ostberg

Sixty parents, educators, and community members rethought anxiety this past Monday, February 22.

"Using your brain to beat the anxiety is key,"
said Brown, who advocates visualization, self-talk, systematic
desensitization, relaxation training, and many other mind-over-matter
CBT techniques. "It's not something you need to go out and buy – use
what you already have. Out-think the anxiety."

The special permit application for a hotel and restaurant project at 371 Beacon St.was delivered to the city missing several pieces of required information, including signatures.

By Tom Nash

An
abutter is appealing a decision to allow a 35-room hotel and restaurant
project near Porter Square to go forward, filing a suit last week
alleging the city erred by accepting an incomplete application.

Abutter Seth
Goodman, who has led a group of residents opposed to the project, filed
the suit with the city on Feb. 16, citing both the lack of required
information and issues with the proposed plans as grounds to revoke the
special permit or declare the application incomplete.

~Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

Buddy's Diner – located at 115 Washington Street here in the 'Ville – hosted Fox 25's VB and his "Diner Wednesday" show this morning. There was a steady stream of local residents and political figures visiting the location during the show, which ran from early to mid-morning.