~Photos by Iaritza Menjivar

The Somerville Museum presented its annual awards at its Annual Meeting on Friday, December 13. The Museum’s awards program honors organizations and individuals that have served the City of Somerville or the Museum, making important contributions to the community.

The Somerville Business History Award recognizes businesses that have contributed to the culture and development of Somerville through length of time in operation and/or impact on the history or culture of the city. The 2024 recipients of the Somerville Business History Awards are Chef Lorenzo Reyes and Rincon Mexicano restaurant and David & Lynn Waller and Neon Williams lighting company.

Rincon Mexicano is owned by Chef Lorenzo Reyes, who dreamed of opening a restaurant to showcase the best of Mexican cuisine since he moved to the United States in 1989. After working in commercial kitchens in the Boston area for 25 years and annually visiting different regions of Mexico to expand his knowledge of cooking techniques, Chef Reyes opened Rincon Mexicano in 2014 on Broadway Street. Today, Chef Reyes operates the restaurant along with his brother Ricardo, brother-in-law Andreas, and daughter Yvette. Restaurant Manager Pamela Villamarin was present to receive the award because Chef Reyes was cooking. Lindsay Allen, the Executive Director of East Somerville Main Streets, says, “Chef Lorenzo is so deserving of this award. Beyond his top-notch cooking, he is generous and a true leader in the business community, always willing to help other businesses and the community at large.” The Somerville Museum recognizes Chef Reyes and Rincon Mexicano with a 2024 Somerville Business History Award.

Located in East Somerville, Neon Williams is one of the oldest neon sign shops in the country, having made tens of thousands of neon signs since 1934. From landmarks like the Citgo sign and the Paramount Theater sign to small window signs for coffee shops, the company’s services include neon design, fabrication, repair, rentals, consulting, and buying. Neon Williams is the last remaining neon sign shop in the Boston area. Since 2018, it has been owned by David and Lynn Waller. Dave Waller generously contributed neon signs to two Somerville Museum exhibitions — The Lost Theaters of Somerville (2002) and Penny Chronicles (2022). Today, pieces from their extensive collection adorn many cities throughout the northeast and beyond. David Guss, Museum Trustee and Tufts University Professor Emeritus, notes, “The Wallers’s dedication to this form has helped ensure that neon remains a living part of our urban landscape.” The Somerville Museum is pleased to recognize Dave and Lynn Waller and Neon Williams with a 2024 Somerville Business History Award. The Somerville Museum’s Community Service Award recognizes individuals or organizations who have served the city of Somerville through their support of local arts, history and/or culture. This work may take place independently or in partnership with the Somerville Museum.

Mary Mangan and Kathleen Pondelli received a 2024 Community Service Award for their work as volunteers on the Somerville Museum docent program and with historic events, including the Powder Alarm, First Flag, Patriots’ Day and Ghosts of Somerville. Somerville Museum Historic Events Manager Grace Bryan says, “These lovely women devote their free time and their many talents to the Museum’s historic events program. I lean on them both and I’m so happy to see them win this award.” The Museum thanks Mary Mangan and Kathleen Pondelli for their contributions to the Museum and the community.

Paula Magnelli and Beatriz Gomez received a 2024 Community Service Award for their work on public programming and project support for the 2024 Museum exhibit “Museo Inmigrante: Stories of Resilience from Somerville’s Padres Latinos.” Paula and Beatriz volunteered to help produce exhibit public programs including “Mental Health in the Latino Community” and “What Being an Immigrant Means to Me” as well as supporting the opening reception, which sold out twice. “Museo Inmigrante” co-curator Marta Fuertes says “Paula and Beatriz worked behind the scenes to make the exhibit and its public programs possible. It is wonderful to see them celebrated for their efforts.”

Jennifer Dorsen collaborated with Museum staff and board members on a Somerville historic map project and helped write grants to support the Museum’s history programming. Somerville Museum Executive Director Stephanie Marlin-Curiel says, “Jennifer’s work on the map project has resulted in an excellent resource that Somerville residents will use for years to come to learn more about the city’s history.” In addition to her efforts at the Museum, Jennifer has been involved in many other Somerville projects and committees including the GLX Community Working Group and the Mystic View Task Force. The Museum is pleased to recognize Jennifer Dorsen’s contributions with a 2024 Community Service Award.

The Museum’s Thomas Battinelli Stewardship Award is named in honor of long-time Museum volunteer and supporter Thomas Battinelli (1929-2017). The award recognizes and celebrates individuals or organizations who have demonstrated exceptional support of the Museum, forwarding its mission or strengthening it as an institution. Mary Cassesso joined the Museum’s capital campaign “Access for All & More” in 2020 and has been a driving force behind the Museum’s fundraising efforts ever since. She was an important part of the $95 for 95 campaign in celebration of Mayor Gene Brune’s 95th birthday, and is worked to coordinate the Museum’s February trip to Cuba. Barbara Mangum, Museum Board President, says, “Mary inspires all around her with her great good humor and ability to get things done. Her resume of community contributions is long and includes being part of Mayor Eugene Brune’s administration and 30 years with the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, as well as serving on the boards of Food for Free and Union Square Main Streets. We are so fortunate to have her as our ally, helping to create financial stability for the Museum.”

Christopher Cipoletta, President, Stephen Post and members of the Highland Masonic Temple Association received a 2024 Thomas Battinelli Stewardship Award. The Highland Masonic Temple Association generously allowed the Museum to store over 60 large boxes of books and archives in their building as well as a number of furniture pieces, and extra elements of the Bulfinch Staircase from June to December during Museum renovations. This allowed the work of the Museum’s archives team to proceed and included the unboxing of countless documents and artifacts. The Museum is so grateful for this tremendous gift of time and space, and offers many thanks to the Highland Masonic Temple Association.

Marian Bremer was recognized with a 2024 Thomas Battinelli Stewardship Award for her work directing the Museum’s archive and book project and the Archives Collection team. The need to move the Museum’s collections into the Masonic Temple during renovations presented the Museum with a rare opportunity – the chance to pour through scores of boxes and think about what to store and protect, and what could be moved elsewhere or sold. Dan Breen, Museum Trustee and Brandeis University professor, says “With humor and true organizational skill, Marian guided the collections process for the last five months. Through piles of city engineering reports, scrapbooks of every kind, and myriad copies of the Somerville High School Radiator popping up seemingly everywhere, Marian has led the effort all the way – so that when the Museum reopened, we were better equipped than ever to make the most of our space to tell the story of Somerville.”

About the Somerville Museum

Located in the heart of the city at the intersection of Central Street and Westwood Road, the Somerville Museum has served as the community’s cultural institution for nearly a century. The Museum is the City of Somerville’s mirror, playing a central role in preserving the past, reflecting the present, and helping to shape the future of this diverse urban community of 81,000. The Museum presents exhibitions in history and the visual arts along with lecture series and musical events, and produces history programs across the city. The Museum also works in collaboration with Somerville’s public schools. New members and volunteers are always welcome. For more information visit http://somervillemuseum.org.