Mayor
Joseph A. Curtatone and the Somerville Chamber of Commerce announced
that the City of Somerville will hold a community-wide gala to
celebrate the City's 2009 All America City Award. The event will be
held on Saturday, October 17th from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Arts at the
Armory, 191 Highland Avenue. Local radio celebrity and Somerville
Youths Arts Coordinator Jimmy Del Ponte will serve as master of
ceremonies, and the event will feature live entertainment by comedians
Lenny Clarke and Tony V., local Disco-Funk band "Booty Vortex," and
food provided by a variety of local restaurants (free with admission
ticket). A silent auction and raffle table featuring Somerville
memorabilia autographed by the international rock band U2, as well as
Boston sports tickets will also be included in the night's agenda. All
proceeds from ticket sales and auction items will benefit Somerville
youth initiatives and projects.

Last June, a 42-member
delegation of Somerville residents, business owners, and community
members traveled to Tampa, FL to deliver a presentation about the City
of Somerville, which had been named in March as one of 32 finalists for
the award, which is presented each year by the National Civic League.
On the strength of its presentation, and for the first time since 1972,
Somerville was named one of only ten All America Cities across the
nation.