Matarazzo, Anthony “Tony the Barber”- of Somerville. Beloved husband of the late Rosemary (Amarosi). Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Funeral Mass for Tony on Monday, May 7th at 10am in St. Ann’s Church, 399 Medford St., Somerville. Interment will be privately held. Tony was the owner and operator of Tony’s Barber Shop on Winter Hill in Somerville for years cutting generations of family’s hair.

Jessica Kensky and her husband Patrick Downes, along with Jessica’s service dog Rescue, recently visited the Kennedy School and shared a children’s book the Cambridge couple has written about Jessica’s recovery from injuries suffered in the Boston Marathon bombings five years ago. They also talked about the special role that Rescue now plays in Jessica’s life.

Need to clean out your closets? Donations are greatly appreciated in order to make this Somerville Community Growing Center fundraiser a success. They are looking for items that are in saleable condition.

Some items include: clothing, accessories and jewelry, household goods, small furniture, antiques, collectibles, tools, farm and garden (houseplants, tools), toys and games (NO stuffed animals please), arts and crafts/office supplies, electronics, cameras, books, CDs, DVDs, musical instruments, sporting goods and bikes.

By Claudia Ferro

Kids of all ages celebrated SustainaVille Week on Saturday, April 28, at the Somerville Public Library and got in touch with their inner superheroes by creating fabulous upcycled costumes to wear to the library-wide Comix Con coming up on May 5. Participants turned paper rolls into superhero cuffs, create one-of-a-kind headbands, decorate masks, and more. The program is offered as part of SustainaVille Week 2018 in partnership with the City of Somerville Office of Sustainability & Environment.

Join the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development and Ward 2 Alderman J.T. Scott on Tuesday, May 8, for a community meeting to discuss the City’s newest open space at ArtFarm. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Argenziano School cafeteria, 290 Washington St. ArtFarm is located on the site of the former waste transfer station at 10 Poplar St.

By Joseph A. Curtatone

(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)

A monthly look at ways to get involved with your city: Don’t just live in Somerville, be Somerville! 

Public Hearing on Proposed Transfer Fee Home Rule Petition, May 7  

Members of the public are invited to attend the second public hearing hosted by the Board of Aldermen to discuss the updated proposal for a transfer fee home rule petition. The updated version would exempt ALL owner-occupant sellers as well as ALL buyers who will be owner-occupants. The updated proposal would authorize the City to impose a fee of up to 1% on investors, developers, and absentee landlords who buy property in the City of Somerville, as well as up to a 1% fee on investors, developers, and absentee landlords who sell property in the city.  More information is available at www.somervillema.gov/transferfee.

(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 Jack Lister

As a retired Somerville resident, I have seen this city go through many changes and unfortunately not always for the better when it comes to shared economic prosperity.  I’m proud that we are an inclusive and inviting city, at one time where everyone had a chance to make it.  But city leaders are taking our beloved home in the wrong direction when it comes to economic fairness for our working families.

Wednesday afternoon the home of Somerville Alderman J.T. Scott was damaged with fire in the back upper floor of his home.

Firefighters responded to a 2-alarm fire at 269 Washington St and dealt with the heat of the day to put the fire under control.

— Photos by Claudia Ferro

A Multicultural Night was held at the West Somerville Neighborhood School by West Somerville Neighborhood School Friends and Families on April 26, in the school Cafetorium.
Participants learned about various cultures and sampled foods native to peoples from all across the globe.

A march and rally by members and supporters of the Somerville Stands Together coalition took place last week, leading up to a presentation to the Board of Aldermen. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Jim Clark

Last Thursday, April 26, a coalition of community and labor groups calling itself Somerville Stands Together marched to City Hall, where they held a rally asking civic leaders  to show more support for residents and their employment needs.

After arriving at the City Hall Concourse, representatives from the coalition spoke to the assembled crowd of supporters who had gathered alongside city officials, addressing the concerns and grievances of the group.