By George P. Hassett

Each Friday and Saturday night Joe Arcari watches the crowds empty out of the Joshua Tree to fill the bar across the street. Drinkers at that bar, the Burren, have an extra hour to drink down their favorite spirits courtesy of their 2 a.m. license.

By Scott Trano

With the recent recalls of many children’s toys due to hazardous levels of lead, many parents are concerned. So on Sunday morning at the Central Library two elected officials organized
an event where parents and kids could bring toys to be tested for lead. 

State Sen. Patricia D. Jehlen, State Rep. Denise Provost, both Democrats from Somerville, and Elizabeth Saunders of Clear Water Action organized the event to help anxious parents identify anything that could be quietly harming their children. 

Annual Ceremony begins at 5:30 with live music at City Hall

The City of Somerville’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on Thursday, December 6th at 5:30 pm, at City Hall, 93 Highland Avenue, and will include music and light refreshments.

The ceremony will feature musical entertainment by local artist Patrice Peris, the Somerville High School band and the Somerville Community Chorus, along with Boston FM radio station WROR 105.7.  Following the ceremony, each participating child will have the opportunity to receive a gift and get a picture taken with Santa Claus.

By George P. Hassett

Gov. Deval Patrick fully funded the Green Line extension through Somerville last week in what local elected officials are calling a historic moment for the long delayed project.

In October Patrick stood in Gilman Square and promised his administration would work to beat a 2014 legally binding deadline to get the extension done. Last week he included $600 million in his transportation bond bill to fully fund the project.

By George P. Hassett

An 18 month-old child allegedly kidnapped from her East Somerville home by an aunt yesterday has been found, according to police.

Hayden Augustin Laurent was allegedly kidnapped by her aunt Ketia Valmont after a family dispute over the child’s return to Haiti, police said. Laurent had been scheduled to return to her father’s care in Haiti today.

The recount on Saturday ended up with the expected results – Bruce Desmond picking up 14 votes to extend his lead to 52 – both he and Tony LaFaunte had plenty of people and two well connected lawyers as well (we heard about $6,000 for one day for one of them).  Desmond summed up the room of volunteers and election department workers as a ‚Äúclassy operation ‚Äù – although some of us here at Newstalk miss the old days of the wild recounts. We think it was a necessary thing to do, that Tony owed it to his workers so that there would be no doubt. We hope that Tony LaFuente does decide to stay active in the city and run for office again. 

    
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Speaking of the recount, on a lighter side, there were plenty of donuts and pizza for everyone and a highly placed source inside City Hall told us that DPW Commissioner Stan was instrumental in picking out the days menu – we doubted it, maybe it was that smile on the sources face.    

By George P. Hassett

An 18 month old child was allegedly kidnapped from her home in East Somerville today. Police said the girl, Hayden Augustin Laurent, was allegedly taken by her aunt Ketia Valmont, who lives in the same building as her.

Hayden is a 22 pound, 31 inch tall black girl last seen wearing a cream colored shirt and black pants. Police said Valmont is a 21-year-old 5 foot 3 black woman last seen wearing a black jacket and blue jeans. She is believed to be driving a black 1996 Volkswagon Jetta Sedan with license plates reading 33TW66.

Police are urging anyone with information on the whereabouts of Valmont or the child to contact them at 617-625-1212.

By George P. Hassett

Davis Square Task Force members heard plans for two hotels that could be coming to their neighborhood at a Monday meeting. Monica Lamboy, the city’s planning director presented the administration’s plan to sell one of three municipal properties to a hotel developer and Trish Blaine described a “connection center” with 100 hotel rooms to take the place of Sacco’s Bowl Haven.

Task force members listened to Lamboy outline development timelines and expressed concern that city officials will sell off the lot at Herbert and Day streets currently used for farmer’s markets.

Community discussion starts Monday, Dec. 3

All members of the community are invited to participate in an open discussion Monday, Dec. 3 on how city schools can use additional time in the school day.

Representatives from Massachusetts 2020, the advocacy group founded by former philanthropist and former gubernatorial candidate, Chris Gabrielli, will give a short presentation and then co-facilitate a question and answer session.

Off The Shelf by Doug Holder

Ibbetson Street Press will celebrate the release of issue 22 of its popular literary journal at McIntyre & Moore Booksellers  Dec. 9 at 5 p.m. There will be featured poetry by  Marc Goldfinger, Robert K. Johnson, Jade Sylvan, Thade Correa, Sarah Hannah, as well as Somerville poets Linda Haviland Conte, Eleanor Goodman, and others. And as always, an open mic will follow the featured readers.

This latest issue includes an interview with the late poet Sarah Hannah who took her own life this past spring. The lead poem by Marc Goldfinger and others in the issue pay tribute to this brilliant writer who died at the tender age of 40.