By Sabrina Joseph/Photos by Claudia Ferro

Somerville celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a variety of performances at the annual event, this year entitled “Growing Our Community,” on Monday at the East Somerville Community School. The first performance was by Marcus Santos, who is a master Brazilian drum teacher and a graduate of the  Berklee College of Music.

Somerville is looking for crossing guards. Crossing Guards provide essential public safety by ensuring safe student crossing at intersections along the routes to school. The salary is $37 per day with some incentive bonuses. Uniforms and on-the-job training are provided. Access to a motor vehicle is preferred but not required. Work BOTH mornings and afternoons based on school year calendar. Must pass a pre-employment CORI and drug screen. Applications are available and must be submitted to City Hall Personnel Office, 93 Highland Ave. Somerville, MA 02143 or fax @ 617-666-4426. You can also email resumes to: employment_opportunities@somervillema.gov. Inquiries can be referred to School Safety Officer Sean Sylvester at 617 625 1600 X7248 or by email: ssylvester@police.somerville.ma.us.

Medford and Somerville boys and girls varsity basketball teams squared off at the Cousens Gym at Tufts University on Sunday, January 14. Somerville boys defeated Medford, 62-54. Somerville girls defeated Medford, 35-32. The girls game came down to the final shot.

Update: Maple Tree Tapping Day has been changed to this Sunday, January 21. They don’t want people to have to choose between tapping local maple trees and attending the Women’s March on Saturday. They hope to see you on Sunday, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

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When I walk through the door, I see a line of seniors sitting on chairs – a Greek Chorus of sorts – crooning commentary on the flash of patrons who continually come through the store. There is the heavily accented cacophony, “Paper or plastic?” There are the coupon men and women who confusingly rifle through their list of bargains, as the people who stand on line have the zombie-like sort of posture that would make the filmmaker George Romero proud. The deli counter is a symphony of shouts, a friendly argument or conversation with the customers, “What’s it gonna be, hon?” “Do you want the Provolone thick or thin?” “Not an ounce of fat on it, chief. God be my witness.” The fish mongers come out from the back, hearty, red-faced from the freezers, staring down the poker -faced fish eyes of the Red Snapper, admiring the sleek texture of an upscale piece of swordfish, even giving the lowly chowder fish its due.

Linda Larson has been a journalist, poet, writing teacher, and a writing student in the course of her career. One thing she likes about the role of a poet is that she gets to write about what she loves. And it is evident in her body of work that she has a deep love for her subjects and the craft of writing. Larson was born and educated in the Midwest, and spent many a childhood summer in Mississippi. She graduated with an M.A. from the Writing Seminars at John Hopkins University in 1970. While in Mississippi she worked as a feature writer for The Capitol Reporter and The Jackson Advocate. She relocated to the Boston area and for five years served as an editor and contributor to Spare Change News a homeless paper based in Cambridge. In 2007, she published her first book of poetry Washing the Stones (Ibbetson Street Press).

Arrests:
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Ladjuan Guichard, January 10, 4:49 p.m., arrested at Highland Ave. on warrant charges of annoying telephone calls, false crime report, and false report to public safety.

Sondra Noonan, of 111 Pilgrim Rd., Weymouth, January 11, 7:07 p.m., arrested at Mystic Ave. on charges of possession of a class A drug and shoplifting by concealing merchandise, and on warrant charges of shoplifting by asportation, furnishing a false name or Social Security number, operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor 2nd offense, reckless endangerment to a child, operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license, marked lanes violation, and alcohol from open container.

Heather is an internationally certified, fully insured henna artist (aka mehndi designer) based between Boston MA and Providence RI, providing beautiful traditional and contemporary henna designs throughout New England and beyond.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, the Health and Human Services Department and the Somerville Public Schools announce the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration event, entitled, “Growing Our Community,” to be held on Monday, January 15, in observance of national Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Charlene Inch (third from left) met Anna, Celeste and Patty as a live-in caregiver through the Adult Family Care program, and said they’ve become very much like an extended family.

By Nathan Lamb

Charlene Inch was a family caregiver for many years out of necessity. But these days she’s finding fulfillment by opening her home for others who need care.

Inch provides live-in care for three women at her Groveland home, through the Adult Family Care (AFC) program. She started 11 years ago, after her husband died, both for companionship and to help others.