Photo from left to right: Somerville DPW Director of Operations Rick Willette, Somerville News Co-Publisher Billy Tauro, Marisa Tauro, Mayor Joseph Curtatone, Ward 2 Alderman Maryann Heuston, Register of Deeds Eugene Brune, Acting Police Chief Michael Cabral, Rocco Direnzo, Somerville News Co-Publisher Donald Norton.

By William Tauro

The Benevolent Jade Society of New England held its Annual Banquet this past Friday evening at the Empire Garden Restaurant in Boston's Chinatown. A delegation of consisting of a solid cross-section of Somerville's elected officials, city officials and members of the business community represented the 2009 All-America City well. Along with the Somervillians in attendance were 550 law enforcement officials, their guests and supporters from Boston, New England, New York and as far away as Taiwan. The annual banquet was held to celebrate the Chinese New Year, which happens to be the "Year of the Tiger" this year – bringing people and law enforcement agencies together, building a bridge of unity and raising money for various charities, cultural programs and scholarship funds which benefit local youth.