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

By Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone

They say if you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything, and I got a firsthand lesson in that two weeks ago when a bout of the shingles laid me low. It got into my eye and my ear, froze up the right side of my face, and put me in the hospital for the better part of a week. Now I’m wearing an eyepatch and doing occupational therapy to get my facial muscles back in working order.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

The annual Christmas Tree lighting kicked off the holiday festivities on Thursday, December 6, followed by a meet and greet with Santa Claus in the Somerville High School Culinary Arts Bistro.

By Jim Clark

Police officers were dispatched to the Kmart on Middlesex Ave. last Thursday evening on reports of a shoplifter who was being uncooperative with store Loss Prevention personnel.

Upon arrival, the officers were approached in the parking lot by the suspect, Lesley Smith, of Boston.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

One of the best Christmases for me was the one when I got my first folk guitar. I thought I was getting it the Christmas before but it didn’t happen.

I remember the months leading up to Christmas Day 1964. After The Beatles song, I Want To Hold Your Hand started saturating U.S. airwaves in December 1963, my transistor radio remained glued to my ear. At night it was under my pillow. That song and others by The Four Seasons, The Beach Boys, and The Dave Clark Five literally changed my life. I wanted to be a musician!

By the SMC Team

We are writing to remind you that community media centers and their public, educational and government channels across the country are in serious jeopardy of losing all funding and support. There is still time for you to help us fight this.

2nd grader Daphne Matsakis and 9th grade student Helen Gillespie discuss the student artwork.

The Somerville Public School Art Department had a busy couple of weeks as 2nd graders from the John F. Kennedy School and Studio Art and Cartooning students from Somerville High School participated in the first iteration of The Monster Mash-Up, a collaborative art project organized by teachers Lindsey Richard and Jennifer DeAngelis.

Weston & Sampson consultant George Naslas explained the complexities of the Conway Park contamination cleanup project to those attending last week’s information session.

By Jim Clark

A public information session concerning contamination at Conway Park was held on Wednesday, December 5, at the Public Safety Building.

Weston & Sampson, the licensed site professionals in charge of soil testing, and city staff were on hand to discuss the testing results and the next steps in the recovery process and to answer questions from those in attendance.

Urban Axes is waiting for Somerville to throw business its way.

By Jared Kimler

Urban Axes opened its Somerville venue Friday, December 7. The axe throwing bar at 2 Union Square is the first of its kind in the Boston area. It invites all people over the age of 21 to sign a waiver, grab a refreshment and throw an axe.

The company has locations in several other cities including Austin, Baltimore, Durham and Philadelphia. Two of its four founders previously lived in Boston and thought that Somerville would be a welcome location. Urban Axe spokesperson Courtney Osgood said the concept spoke to Somerville’s “community-centric” and “eclectic” flavor. “It really fit the Urban Axes vibe,” said Osgood.

The Illuminations Tour 2018 takes place on Saturday, December 15, 4:30 to 9:15 p.m. Tickets on sale now at Blue Cloud Gallery in Ball Square, 713 Broadway. Celebrate the folk artistry of residents who transform their houses and yards with lights, illuminated ornaments, and shrines of devotion and fantasy. 45-minute Trolley Tours leave from (and return to) Somerville High School Field House, 81 Highland Ave. This is a new location this year, between the Central Library and the High School. Coffee, hot chocolate and cookies will be served. In addition, there will be craft activities for children and the Somerville Community Chorus will perform. Each year the tour changes, so do not expect the 2018 tour to be like the 2017 tour. This is a fundraiser for the Arts Council. For more info, visit www.somervilleartscouncil.org

Somerville Heroes by Stephanie Hirsch

In a new monthly column, I will highlight Somerville’s local heroes who, in so many different ways, make our community better. They extend kindness, sit with a stranger, shovel out a neighbor’s car, or solve an extra challenging problem. They show up, do the work that needs doing, and stay until the job is done. They can be any age or any background, and they don’t need any special skillset.