The Somerville Arts Council is working with the City of Somerville to help provide badly needed funding to individual artists and arts organizations as they struggle with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Max Eidelman

The Somerville Arts Council met for its third virtual town hall meeting last Tuesday. Much of the discussion concerned a year-end recap of the progress that has been made during the pandemic to support the local arts community, but plans for the future were addressed as well.

The 2020 Illuminations Tour, organized by the Somerville Arts Council, is providing a map for those who would like to partake of the festive sights throughout the city. — Photos by Hongyu Liu

By Hongyu Liu

Somerville households have lit up their front yards with festive decorations in celebration of the holidays and to take part in the 2020 Illuminations Tour.

On December 12, more than 50 volunteers assisted with a community food drive spearheaded by members of the Somerville Stands Together coalition.

Two more Somerville restaurants will be closing for the winter. Highland Kitchen and Dali Restaurant & Tapas Bar have shuttered their doors until spring of next year. They will be missed, but we look forward to their return then. Please keep in mind how important it is to support our small businesses and shop local.

The shopping is well underway, and all the presents should be wrapped on time. And once the plans for the big day have been made, don’t forget to slow down, relax and enjoy the holiday season and all the finer things that come with it, in spite of the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought upon us.

Thank you to the student members of the Somerville High School National Honor Society and staff for their generous contribution to the SHA Holiday Drive. Somerville Housing Authority appreciates you!

— Somerville Housing Authority

Michael R. Foster – 66, of Somerville passed away peacefully on December 9, 2020. Michael attended several Boston Public Schools, before moving to Somerville, where he attended St. Catherine’s School prior to graduating from Somerville High School in 1972. He went on to attend Fitchburg State College and graduated from Boston State College. Spent many years working in the motorcycle and automobile industry. A longstanding member of the New England Truck Association, including serving on their Board of Directors. He was an active member in the community, co-founding and coaching the Somerville boy’s youth basketball program, Tradition and coaching numerous girl’s Somerville Pride and Bay State Demons basketball teams. He also co-founded the Alex Foster Foundation, in part hosting a monthly grief support group with GRASP.

Arrests:
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Rachid Belhadj, December 10, 2:01 p.m., arrested at Franklin St. on a charge of resisting arrest, multiple counts of receiving stolen property, and on warrant charges of shoplifting by concealing merchandise, furnishing a false ID to an arresting officer, and open and gross lewdness.

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I am a poet, so my home is littered with polished poems, drafts with coffee stains, framed pieces that I am really proud of, etc. So that’s why I caught up with sculptor Danielle Krcmar, whose latest idea is to put a poem in your home.

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Poet Bruce Foley writes: “I was born in Cambridge at Mount Auburn Hospital, as July 4th fireworks exploded over the Charles River. At around age two, we moved to Somerville, MA. My early youth was spent at Saint Catherine Elementary School. I would go on to participate in sports throughout Somerville and Greater Boston. At one time a Greater Boston League All Star in Basketball and Somerville High School football captain and quarterback. My interest in poetry began in high school, junior year. A Modern Poetry class, led by a very cool and learned guy, David Moriarty. Dave was encouraging, and here it is decades later, and I am writing still. It’s been challenging and fulfilling. Solitude and silence too, played a role in my writing. At one point in my life I was able to spend three years living pretty much alone. A hermitage up on Equinox mountain. Vermont. This was a defining moment and a deeply enriching period of creativity. After the experience of being published, winning contests or receiving an award, you become inspired, and you believe in yourself. Once this happens, who knows how far one can go? Poetry has been good to me. And Somerville will always be my home.”