Celebrate the folk artistry of residents who transform their houses and yards with lights, illuminated ornaments, and shrines of devotion and fantasy.

Arrests:
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Kevin Buckley, of 113 Main St., Hanson, December 7, 7:42 a.m., arrested at Washington St. on a charge of operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor.

Monte Stanford, of 36 Endame St., Walpole, December 7, 11:38 p.m., arrested at McGrath Hwy. on charges of resisting arrest, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, failure to stop or yield, and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

MassDOT and the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School Program are proud to announce that for the first time, a Massachusetts student has won the annual 5th Grade National Poster Contest sponsored by Saris.

Caleb Piehl of Somerville’s Dr. Albert F. Argenziano School won first place upon submitting his poster to the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School Program for entry into the contest.

The 2015 Marathon Sports Somerville Jingle Bell Run is pleased to announce that it has awarded the Somerville Toys for Local Children Program $10,000 last week at it’s annual Christmas Party Fundraiser at the Holiday Inn in Somerville. The donation is to be used for new toys for disadvantaged children in Somerville for Christmas this year. Please see http://baevents.com/jinglebell/beneficiaries.html for more information.

By Somerville Neighborhood News
Contributing reporter Kelly Thomas

Health care is often out of reach to Somerville’s immigrant communities because they don’t know where to go or how the system works. The Cambridge Health Alliance launched the Volunteer Health Advisors or VHA program fourteen years ago to change that.
The VHA is a multicultural and multilingual group of highly trained community health volunteers based out of Somerville Hospital. During each training cycle thirty immigrant scholars spend ten months attending free weekly classes.

— Photos by Claudia Ferro

On December 5 and 6, Vernon Street Studios hosted their annual open studios, which has become a much-anticipated annual event.

Just in time to complete your holiday shopping, the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission has Preserving Somerville merchandise available for sale! The T-shirts (youth and adult sizes), long-sleeved shirts, and tote bags come in a variety of colors that can be viewed on the Commission’s website at http://www.somervillema.gov/departments/historic-preservation-commission/shop. Full color woven and washable afghans are also available and include images of iconic historic sites in the city.

By William C. Shelton

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

At the end of October the Principle Group presented its Neighborhood Plan for Union Square and Boynton Yards redevelopment. The city administration had requested it, the US2 developers paid for it, and the redevelopment district’s neighbors rejected it.

New and amended regulations pertain to sales of tobacco and e-cigarettes, penalties, and allowed locations for smoking, among others.

On Nov. 19, 2015, the Somerville Board of Health voted to adopt amended tobacco regulations in the City of Somerville pertaining to sales of tobacco and nicotine delivery (e-cigarettes) products, as well as to smoking in workplaces and public places. The new regulations take effect March 15, 2016.

Join your neighbors, family and friends for an afternoon of holiday cheer to enjoy food, holiday decorations, and special treats while also doing holiday shopping and/or buying your tree.  Participating business to date include:  Ricky’s Flower Market, Loyal Supply, Workbar Union, Cove, Brass Union, El Potro, East Boston Savings Bank, PAs Lounge, Taza Chocolate, The Independent, Beadkreative, Gracie’s Ice Cream, Thunder Road, Union Pop Up Holiday Market and more to come.