By Tom Nash

A proposed change to the city's historic property designation procedures saw the Board of Aldermen debating last week whether the city should be placing financial burdens on residents who may be struggling in the current economy.

The city is preparing a new notification card to be sent to residences being considered for historic designation, a process where the Historic Preservation Commission declares a property must be preserved and approves any changes an owner wishes to make.

Monday, March 22

At 10:50 am, Farkhanda Shah, 59, of 13 Abby Ellen Ln, Peabody, was arrested and charged with larceny over $250, larceny over $250 by false pretense and embezzlement by a broker.

At 6:05 pm, Steca Thelemaque, 19, of 26 North St., was arrested and charged with having outstanding warrants relative to charges of armed burglary, destruction of property under $250, intimidating a witness and conspiracy.

By William Tauro

The newly formed Cambridge Lions Club met for the first time this past Wednesday evening with a kick-off meeting at the Mount Vernon Restaurant. New members were enrolled and now the club is on its way to help serve it's community with the backing of one of the largest service clubs in the world, Lion's Club International. Cambridge Mayor David Maher delivered the opening speech and vowed to adopt a resolution to assist the organization and to also host a breakfast in his office to help attract new membership for the new club. Elected officials Middlesex County Register of Deeds Eugene Brune, Middlesex County Clerk of Courts Michael Sullivan, Everett City Councilor and candidate for State Senate Sal DiDomenico and Somerville's Chief of Police Michael Cabral were there to support the club and to address the crowd.

~Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

Cambridge Police Sergeant James Crowley was a guest speaker at the 11th Annual Irish American Police Officers Association (IAPOA)Awards Dinner. The event took place this past Saturday evening at the American Legion Nonantum Post #440 in Newton. Master of Ceremonies, Cambridge Police Officer Steve Lyons, who represented the Cambridge Police Department with Cambridge Police Superintendent Robert Hass and many CPD officers who were in attendance in the well attended ballroom. Sergeant Crowley briefly addressed the crowd after being presented the "Order of Erin" Award for maintaining his composure and professionalism for when he was dispatched to a routine local call in Cambridge that turned into a national event-front page story. The incident, a routine arrest of Harvard Law Professor Gates, eventually ended up involving the President of the United States.

Photo from left to right: Pastors Solomon B Basjide, Chukwuka Ezenuzie, Samuel Sorinmade and Franklin Onyejb. ~Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

Nigerian-born Ministers from local International Churches "Cornerstone Worship Center For All Nations" held their "Meeting of the Ministers" this past Saturday afternoon in Somerville. The event was to raise awareness of the large and growing number of Nigerian-descent population that resides within the Cambridge and Somerville neighborhoods and to reflect all the good charitable work that they accomplish and promote on a daily basis in many communities. For more information you can log onto their website: www.rccgcornerstone.org or you can email them at: rccgcwc@hotmail.com

~Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

Connie Blazyk and Adelaide Smith are two residents that reside at the Brickbotton Condominiums who join a team of community volunteers from that building in "pre-cleanup day" in their neighborhood. The team of volunteers spent a good part of the entire day picking up and disposing of trash that has been discarded on the ground as well as next to McGrath Highway.

Jimmy Del Ponte
On The Silly Side

(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.)

Remember those small, cheesy crackers that were shaped like tiny submarines sandwiches? They were made by Nabisco, and they were the cousin of the Cheez-it. I loved them and now they are gone. They came in a little box and also in a big box and they were very tasty. It has left a void in my snack repertoire. But I am not going to write this entire column about little cheesy snack crackers – I am going to write little tid-bits of information and stories. I am going to toss out some names, facts and situations – and see what sticks.