Chief Fire Engineer Patrick Sullivan III was awarded a citation of commendation at the latest regular meeting of the Somerville Board of Alderman last Thursday. Sullivan is retiring from the Somerville Fire Dept. after 32 years of service.

This is no joke, there are some very nasty strains of the flu passing around these days, as you may have heard. We want all of you to stay as safe and healthy as possible. Here are some common sense reminders to help you do just that:

Washing your hands is really the most important thing of all. It’s important to be thorough with warm water and soap, and lather all over for at least 20 seconds. Alcohol based hand sanitizer can be used if soap and water are not available.

After coming back from vacation and eating steaks, burgers, chicken and biscuits and so on, I wanted to lighten things up a bit. This dish can be made using beans, steak, tofu, chicken or any other protein of your choice. It can be vegan or vegetarian. There is no set recipe, it’s whatever inspires you using your creativity, the choice is up to you.

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Robert Goss met me in the lobby of the Bakery Building at Brickbottom Artists in Somerville, MA.  Brickbottom is a noted artist residence and exhibition space that is celebrating their 30th anniversary  in 2018.

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Renuka Raghavan’s previous work has appeared in publications across the country, including, Boston Literary Magazine, Jersey Devil Press, Star 82 Review, Blink-Ink, Down in the Dirt Literary Magazine, Muddy River Poetry Review, Chicago Literati, and many more. She is the author of Out of the Blue, a collection of poetry and prose. Visit her at www.renukaraghavan.com.

Get your salsa making on with your seed sale order!

Consider ordering seeds from Friends of the Community Growing Center, through a partnership with High Mowing Seeds, with a great organic selection!

Winter is clearly dominating the landscape, but days are already getting longer and it is a great time to start to dream about your garden for this coming season. Whether in a few pots on a porch or balcony, or in a large raised bed or community garden plot – you can easily grow great tasting and nutritious food for you and your family! Can’t you taste that first bite of fresh tomato with basil or that crunchy carrot just pulled from the earth?

Arrests:
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Christopher Carreiro, of 34 Florence St., January 23, 8:40 a.m., arrested at Lincoln Ave. on charges of attempt to commit a crime, possession of a burglarious instrument, felony daytime breaking and entering, and larceny from a building.

Amahri Brodie, of 1325 Blue Hill Ave., Boston, January 26, 10:06 p.m., arrested at McGrath Hwy. on a warrant charge of operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

Somerville Police Department detectives are working to identify the pictured individual in relation to an unarmed bank robbery that occurred January 25, 2018. The suspect passed a note to the bank teller, collected the money and fled the bank. He is described as a white or Hispanic male, 5’10 – 6’0 tall with a medium build wearing a dark hat, sunglasses, a dark jacket, blue jeans and dark boots. He wore several gold rings on both of his hands.

Pictured left to right: Middlesex Federal employee volunteers Mary Sullivan, Tina Sylvain, Sylvana Sabatino, Charlie Mandrachia, and Michelle Tirone volunteer at the January Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services’ monthly Brown Bag Program.

On the second Tuesday of each month, Middlesex Federal volunteers will join Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) staff members and other community volunteers at the Somerville Center for the Arts at the Armory, to fill grocery bags with food provided by the Greater Boston Food Bank.  According to the SCES website, 650 low-income seniors receive a free bag of groceries each month.  This year, forty-seven Middlesex Federal employees will volunteer to participate in this program.

President Katjana Ballantyne has called for a Special Meeting of the Board of Aldermen, to be held Tuesday, January 30, 2018, at 7 p.m,  Aldermanic Chambers, City Hall, 93 Highland Avenue.

Requesting the appointment of Michael Kiely to the position of Police Lieutenant. NOTE: The Board may convene in Executive Session to discuss the candidate assessment questions and the candidate pursuant to MGL c30A s21(a)(1).