By Jim Clark

A Somerville Police officer on duty and assigned to uniform patrol of Assembly Row last Thursday spotted a man known to him as Rachid Belhadj walking past LegoLand.

Belhadj is reportedly well known by Somerville police for shoplifting from retail establishments. The officer also had knowledge that Belhadj was wanted for multiple arrest warrants at the time.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Somerville folks are a tough breed.

If you grew up in the Somerville of the 50’s 60’s ’70’s and 80’s, we survived some wild times. We’re not about to just give in to a virus that has completely messed up our way of life. Our inborn sense of survival and common sense will hopefully guide us through the deadly storm of the Coronavirus.

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.