Whether your family has lived in Somerville for generations, you have been here for a decade or two – or you just moved in – it is difficult not to feel the sense of community pride that flows through this densely populated community on a daily basis. As we have said so many times before in these pages, Mayor Curtatone, along with plenty of help from local businesses, does a terrific job at fostering this community pride.

Having parades and events that showcase our role in the history of the founding of this country is a great way to teach young and old about who we are and what this country stands for. Partnering with local businesses in order to come together and celebrate the wonderful things happening here without using precious tax revenues is a key component to this as well.

With the 2nd Annual Riverfest only a week ago – complete with a fantastic fireworks display – we came together once again this past Saturday night to officially celebrate Somerville being named an All America City for 2009. It was pure magic for those who traveled to Tampa to compete on our behalf, and even moreso for those of us who didn't make the trip and wanted to share this special moment.

The event itself was what you would expect lately – organized, but not too polished – with a lot of home-grown feel to it. That means locally based entertainment, plenty of recognition for those who worked so hard to make it happen in the first place – and the Mayor beaming with pride for the community he helms.

We were there the other night, we felt the magic, we felt the pride in the room, we felt it in ourselves – proud that even in these tough economic times, we have something in common with our neighbors and our co-workers – pride in being from Somerville.