Joseph Walter Howard of Plymouth (Manomet) formerly of Lincoln and Somerville, passed away peacefully at home on December 12, 2019 at the age of eighty-eight. He leaves behind his loving wife of sixty-three years, Sally (Eldridge) Howard. Beloved father to Julie Head and her husband Chris of Marshfield, Pam Finn and her husband Mike of Plymouth (Manomet), Ann King and her husband Joseph of Marlborough, Chis Howard and his wife Jeannette of Everett. He was Gramps to seven grandchildren, Ryan, Cory, Jared, Sara, Jessica, Olivia and the late Taylor Finn.

The Board of Directors of the Somerville Community Corporation (SCC) announced that Danny LeBlanc will step down as Chief Executive Officer after 20 years of leadership effective June 30, 2020. The board formed a search committee in August and has enlisted the services of Third Sector New England to lead the work of identifying a new CEO.

Accessible Documentary Production: An Introductory Workshop

This one-day immersive workshop provides a comprehensive introduction to nonfiction storytelling. It will emphasize “accessible documentary production,” or how to create great content using even the most basic cameras and production tools. Participants will explore documentary style and form, story ideation, nonfiction shooting basics, conducting compelling interviews, and getting started with editing.

Elena A. Scimone, Age 92 of Wakefield, Somerville, Rockport and Boston’s North End passed away peacefully on Monday, December 9, 2019 in the presence of her son and care takers at Brightview Assisted Senior Living Wakefield .

Beloved wife of the late Frank J. Scimone, Mother of Frank A. Scimone of Wakefield and his partner Georgette Chappelle. Loving daughter of the late Agripina Aloise and Joseph Aloise.

Courtesy of Somerville High School

Students in Ms. Lindsey Richard’s Calligraphy art class at Somerville High School recently completed an interactive wall mural that invites students to BE THE “I” IN KIND. The colorful mural is located at the end of a third floor hallway at SHS and beckons students to stand on the “X” marked with duct tape on the floor just in front of where the “I” in the word KIND would go. Students are encouraged to interact with the mural by striking a pose and taking a pic. If students choose to share the photo on social media, they can to do so using the hashtag #KINDATSHS.

The American Lung Association reminds the public that e-cigarettes, or vaping, is not quitting smoking

Along with hitting the gym more often and starting a diet, quitting smoking tops many New Year’s resolution lists. There are currently 715,500 smokers in Massachusetts and nearly 60% tried to quit last year. New ads from e-cigarettes companies would have those smokers falsely believe that switching to vaping is quitting smoking. The American Lung Association is reminding Massachusetts residents that the Food and Drug Administration has not found any e-cigarette to be safe and effective in helping smokers quit.

Arrests:
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Paula Nolin, of 359 Green St., Cambridge, December 17, 4:44 p.m., arrested at Highland Ave. on warrant charges of shoplifting over $250 by concealing merchandise, trespassing, possession of a class B drug, larceny from a building, credit card fraud under $1200, and receiving stolen property under $1200.

Lajuane Bleach, of 973 Morton St., Mattapan, December 18, 6:24 p.m., arrested at Middlesex Ave. on charges of removal of theft prevention device, violation of city ordinance possession of a dangerous weapon, and shoplifting by concealing merchandise.

Staffers from Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services recently donated roughly 140 gifts to benefit local families in need, through a joint gift drive with Cambridge Health Alliance.

Staffers from Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SECS) recently donated gifts for more than two dozen local children in need.

Coordinated in partnership with Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), the gift drive will provide more than 140 gifts for children from 13 local families, said SCES Clinical Director and drive organizer Annie Fowler.  She said it was a team effort, with nearly 30 SCES employees participating.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the Ville
Detours were testing our joy and goodwill
On Broadway the traffic caused all kinds of pain
Trying hard to not drive in that empty bus lane
The new High School is coming along at good pace
And condos are rising all over the place
Election Day happened but alas I do fear
re-elected again were … “insert all names here.”

The Salvation Army Massachusetts Division is making an urgent plea for help across the Commonwealth as donations to the organization’s Red Kettles are down more than 50 percent from 2018 across Massachusetts, with only days left in the Red Kettle Season.

The potential crisis situation means communities in every corner of Massachusetts are at risk of losing critical assistance for a wide range of programming and services, including shelters for children and families, disaster response, meal programs, clothing and energy assistance.