Yani Batteau (front right).

I met Somerville artist, musician Yani Batteau at a recent meeting of the Bagel Bard’s in Davis Square. She was wearing a big cowboy hat, and carrying a banjo case. She is a woman with optimistic, bright blue eyes and a down home manner about her. She is an artist who believes that art has the power to transform people – the power to change things. More than once she has involved folks in one of her many projects and they came away with a new sense of their potential.

By George P. Hassett

A criminal couple distracted a store employee to steal a roll of lottery tickets Monday morning, police said.

Police nabbed the female who allegedly kept the cashier busy while a man reached over the counter and grabbed 13 $20 lottery tickets from the combination convenience store and Dunkin Donuts at 850 Broadway.

President Frank Wright,SHS Girls Pride Basketball Team & Kiwanis.

The Somerville Kiwanis Club recently hosted over 120 senior citizens to a Thanksgiving dinner.  The event was held at the Culinary Arts restaurant at Somerville High School.  A full meal from rolls, turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, squash and cranberry, followed by apple pie a la mode, was prepared by high school Culinary Arts students under the supervision of Tom Cardon, Richard Brunet and David Ginivisian.

By Mike Rubin

For the St. Clement High School football team, it’s been a series of ups and downs. After a slow start, the Anchormen have managed to pull through for a 4-5 mark. Now they’ll aim to finish the season at .500 when they’ll face off against arch-rivals Trinity Catholic on Thanksgiving Day. Kickoff is 10:15 a.m.

By George P. Hassett

A 59-year-old Somerville man repeatedly returned to a Morrison Street home last weekend to tell a man living there that it had been his old home and God had sent him back, according to police. Willie Carpenter, 59, of 23 Chandler St., was arrested Sunday morning after his fifth visit to the home in two days. Police said the victim asked Carpenter to leave and officers responded to the house throughout the weekend. Carpenter began to cry after an officer asked him to leave and told the officer “that if he went home, then he would just return.” Carpenter was arrested and charged with trespassing.

By Mike Rubin

In the relatively new football rivalry between Somerville and Matignon, Somerville has managed to maintain the edge.

After a relatively easy victory over the Warriors last season, the Highlanders are looking to finish off the season in style with another victory on Thanksgiving Day. Kickoff is 10 a.m.

The Highlanders, who have posted a 3-6 mark this season, have faced one of the toughest schedules in the state. Teams have included Xaverian, Malden Catholic as well as Everett and St. John’s Prep.

Annual holiday celebrations kick off Wednesday, Dec. 1st with Tree Lighting; Illuminations Tour to be held Saturday, Dec. 18th
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Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced the City’s annual holiday celebrations schedule, beginning with the annual tree lighting celebration on Wednesday, December 1^st on the City Hall concourse.  Following the tree lighting, Santa Claus will be available for photos and gift distribution to children in the Aldermanic Chambers.  In addition, the Arts Council’s Illuminations Tour is scheduled for Saturday, December 18^th. Both events will include musical entertainment and light refreshments.

On The Silly Side by Jimmy Del Ponte

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

Once in a while, I will feature guest writers for my column. This week I am happy to present my friend, Anthony Accardi and his recollections of Winter Hill.

North Shore Music Theatre opens ‘A Chorus Line‘
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By David Le Bahn

North Shore Music Theatre of Beverly brings a tremendous amount of talent to all aspects of it’s currently running production of A Chorus Line.  Enough can not be said for the marked difference between this production and the NSMT that I was introduced to five years ago.  One must credit some of these newly received good vibes to Bill Hanney (Owner/Producer) and Evans Haile (Producing Artistic Director) who appear to be coming into their own at NSMT.

By George P. Hassett

A driver who nearly crashed into a police cruiser on Powder House Rotary had a bag of cocaine in his car when the officer stopped him Nov. 12, police said.

Wayne Hamilton, 38, of 30 Beverly St., Arlington, was arrested on Broadway and charged with failure to wear a seat belt, failure to yield at a stop sign, possession of a class B drug and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.