New Lungs for Michael Terrio

 Below is a copy of an e-mail I received.  Michael is a Ward 1 resident - I wanted to pass this information along as the Holiday season is upon us - please keep in mind those who are less fortunate or in need of our help. 

My name is April Terrio, and I'm writing on behalf of my father, Michael Terrio. Michael has been a resident of Somerville his entire life. He ran his own small business out of our Somerville home for many years. He loves his hometown and has always been very active in the community as well as in local city politics. My dad has always tried to give back to his community in any way he can, and now, on his behalf, I'm asking for the community's support in an urgent matter related to his health.

In 2007 my father was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. Unfortunately, the only cure for this disease is a double lung transplant. At the time of his diagnosis, my dad was told he had just three years to live. Since that time, he has been working extremely hard toward his goal of getting new lungs. He has put in the work and done everything his doctors told him he needed to do before he would be considered for a lung transplant. He has been living on borrowed time.

After years of getting his body ready, his doctors have finally told him he is ready to take the next step. In a few weeks, my Father will be going to Pittsburgh to undergo a week of testing in preparation for the transplant. Immediately following the testing, he will be placed on the transplant list, and he will then be required to stay in Pittsburgh until a new set of lungs becomes available. This could take weeks to months.

In order to fund his journey and offset expenses for his medically required travel companion, we are holding a fundraiser on his behalf. We would love if you could make it. The fundraiser will take place at the On The Hill Tavern, 499 Broadway Somerville, Saturday November 30, 2013 at 7:30pm. The suggested donation is $25.00. There will be a cash bar and plenty of food that has been generously donated by the On The Hill Tavern.

We will also be holding a 50/50 raffle and raffling off many great prizes and services. A list of raffle prizes will be updated as they become available. 

We have also set up a Go Fund Me page for anyone that would like to donate but are unable to make it out to the fundraiser.

You could also help by spreading the word by mouth, email, and/or social media. I've a jpeg of a flyer that can be shared.

 Finally, if you are unable to donate but would still like to attend, please come and show your support just by being there. Thank you.


Sincerely,

April Terrio

--

New Lungs For Michael Terrio

Email: newlungsformiketerrio@gmail.com

Phone: 617-271-1400

Go Fund Me Page

Facebook Event

Somerville Cares About Prevention

You’re Invited to Our

Somerville Cares About Prevention

Community Game Show

Wednesday, Dec 4th from 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Cross Street Center; 165 Broadway, Somerville

Join us to play our Student Health Survey Community Game Show

 to learn more about Somerville youth behaviors and hear what

        Somerville Positive Forces Youth and other community leaders are doing to reduce

underage drinking, substance abuse, bullying and related issues in Somerville.

Food * Fun * Prizes

RSVP by Dec 1st to Lovelee Heller-Bottari

lheller@somervillema.gov  or

617-625-6600 x4322

This event is sponsored by the City of Somerville, Somerville Cares About Prevention and the Somerville Office of Prevention.

Somerville Arts Council December News

November 2013 Newsletter Somerville Arts Council Newsletter Arts Census, Holiday Lights Tour, Art Superstars & Phone Box Art! Please forward this newsletter to friends and have them subscribe by clicking here. Save the Dates    Wed., Nov. 27 Deadline to return Somerville Creative Economy Survey The Somerville Arts Council is working with the City's OSPCD Department and UMass Center for Policy Analysis to conduct a survey and derive a report on Somerville's Creative Economy. We are trying to understand the overall economic impact and assets of the cluster. Please take 5 minutes to answer the survey and spread the word! Go here to fill out survey. Sun., Dec. 1, 7:30pm Art Superstars Event! Join us at the Armory as we celebrate our the 2013 artists of the month. See our Facebook event page to rsvp and help us spread the word! Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave. Sat., Dec. 14 Illuminations Tour A 45-minute trolley ride of the 'ville's most spectacular holiday displays. Tour times: 4:30, 5, 5:45, 6:15, 7, 7:30, 8:15, 8:45, 9:15. Tickets on sale beginning Monday, Dec. 2 at Blue Cloud Gallery, 713 Broadway, Ball Square. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids and seniors. Tours leave from, and return to, City Hall, 93 Highland Ave. Snow emergency date: Sun., Dec. 15. Get In My Shoes Check out the exhibit at the Inside Out Gallery in Davis Square      The Inside-Out Gallery in Davis Square presents "Get In My Shoes," an exhibition curated by Jenn Harrington featuring the work of four Somerville artists-Anastasia Cazabon, Caleb Cole (his photo is above), Robert Gallegos, Stebs Schinnerer. Braving a delicate walk with empathy, narrating stories to which we tend to turn a blind eye, "Get In My Shoes"  presents artists with work devoted to the consideration of stepping into the shoes of another.    The exhibit runs through Nov. 25, CVS windows, Davis Square  Calling Cultural Producers We're getting ready to unfurl a new year of ArtsUnion events. For our Winter Series, we start by posting a call to artists and cultural producers. So whether you want to organize an ice sculpture exhibit, a storytelling showdown or a Union Square tasting tour-send us your ideas! Events need to take place in the Union Square area between January and early April; indoors or outdoors. Stipends given to selected proposals. Download the call here. The deadline is Monday, December 9th. Giddyap! Shop Local Snag yourself holiday cards & two great books: Somerville: City of Lights and Nibble--they make fabulous gifts   Nibble ($20) is our book filled with recipes, articles and art that reflect food and culture in Union Square and beyond. Somerville: City of Lights ($5) features stories and photos about the families who decorate their homes for the holidays. We are also selling holiday cards featuring decorated Somerville homes. You can find out where to buy these products here: SAC Holiday Merch When you buy any of these items, you not only get a great product, you are supporting the public arts programming of the Arts Council. Thank You! The Somerville Arts Council is a municipal agency of the city of Somerville. Joseph A. Curtatone, Mayor SAC Staff Gregory Jenkins, Director Rachel Strutt, Program Manager Heather Balchunas, Office Manager Carlene Campbell, Director of Community Relations Meagan O'Brien, ArtsUnion Coordinator SAC Board Valeria Amato Kelvy Bird Tori Costa Tim Devin Jacy Edelman Michael Epstein Nicole Pierce Robert Smyth  Contact Information Somerville Arts Council 50 Evergreen Ave. Somerville, MA 02145 t: 617-625-6600, x2985 f: 617-666-4325 www.somervilleartscouncil.org                  Greetings! Over the summer we worked with the local Sikh community to throw a festival in September called "Utsav! A Festival of Sikh & Punjabi Culture." On the day of the festival, Union Square was swathed in a rainbow of vibrant colors, thanks to several hundred women wearing gorgeous saris (there were plenty of men there, too, albeit a little less colorful!). We hope you made it to this ArtsUnion event and others, but if you missed it, fear not: We will be unveiling our ArtsUnion Winter Series in early January. To unsubscribe from this newsletter, click on "SafeUnsubscribe" at the bottom of this newsletter. Somerville Arts Council, City of Somerville Joseph A. Curtatone, Mayor Stand Up and Be Counted! Fill out the Somerville Creative Use Survey you arm the city with data that might affect future development. It will take you only 5 minutes! The Somerville Arts Council is working with the City's OSPCD Department and UMass Center for Policy Analysis to conduct a survey and derive a report on Somerville's Creative Economy. We are trying to understand the overall economic impact and assets of the cluster. Once we have a sense of how many artists-of all kinds-live in the city and contribute to the economy, the arts community may have more leverage regarding future development of the city. Please take 5 minutes to answer the survey and spread the word! Plus you'll be entered to win one of four $50 gift cards to a local restaurant or business of your choosing or at Amazon.com. Go here to fill out survey. Mega-Watt Tour   Tix for the Illuminations Tour (12/14) will sell at the speed of light. Grab yours beginning Dec. 2 or consider other options for lights gawking.  Take the Illuminations Trolley At the darkest time of the year, Somerville residents decorate their homes with festive strings of lights and collections of holiday figurines, transforming our cold winter nights with a blaze of light and beauty.  In celebration of this community expression, the Somerville Arts Council conducts the Illuminations Tour, a 45-minute trolley ride featuring the city's brightest displays. Tours leave from Somerville City Hall where coffee, hot chocolate and cookies are served. There also will be craft activities for children and live music. We offer tours to both East and West Somerville. Ticket information is here. Please note you must pay by cash or check at Blue Cloud Gallery; also note whether you want East or West tickets. Illuminations Bike Tour    Date: Saturday, Dec. 14  Departure time: meet at 5:50pm, leave at 6pm   Departure location: Somerville High school Main entrance Route: To Willow Ave & back, same as last year Duration: 45 minutes, or less Required: warm clothes & bike lights; Recommended: holiday lights, costumes & good cheer;   Suggested Donation: Donate $5 to the Somerville Arts Council, and post-tour, enjoy hot drinks & treats at City Hall   Take a Self-Guided Tour with our official Illuminations Map Illuminations Tour Maps ($3) will be available at Blue Cloud Gallery and Magpie beginning Monday, December 16; you can also buy them the night of the tour, Dec. 14th, at City Hall. Art Superstars! Come mingle with 2013 artists of the month     Thanks to the SAC's Tim Devin, Valeria Amato and the Nave's Jenn Harrington, the Arts Council's Artist of the Month program has been running since the beginning of 2013.  One of this year's artists is musician and artist Dan Blakeslee, whose poster is featured above. To read all about 2013 artists, go here: Artist of the Month. And don't miss your chance to celebrate and mingle with this creative lot -- and view their work! Join us at the Arts at the Armory Cafe on Sunday, Dec. 1st for an evening of artsy revelry. For full event info, go the the Art Superstars! facebook page. Dialing for Art Local Artists transform abandoned pay phones into playful works of art It is said that if SAC volunteer and community supporter extraordinaire Ron Newman doesn't show up at a local event, it didn't happen. Ron = reality. Well, we can tell you our city-wide opening for the Phone Art Project DID happen, because Ron was in the house! He's seen here with another one of our loyal supporters, Dan Toner, standing by a phone box by Joe Barillaro. For those of you who missed the opening, be sure to check out the playful new phone booths around town; this is a joint project between SAC and the Nave Gallery. Participating artists are: Barillaro, Pauline Lim, Rachel Mello, Gary Duehr, Jude Griffin and Friends of the Somerville Library. And special thanks to Mayor Curtatone for: 1) dreaming up the idea of converting abandoned phone booths into art and 2) coming to our opening! Below is a photo of Jude Griffen with her phone box on Highland Ave. She created a gorgeous "floating" collage using shells. And this leads us to a joke: It's not a cell phone, it's a SHELL phone. (Sorry.)

Stay Safe

Below is a copy of a CTY call that went out on the 19th of this month.  This is just a reminder to stay safe.

This is Jackie Rossetti from the City of Somerville with an important message on behalf of the Somerville Police Department:

On Monday, November 18th, at approximately 11:35 p.m., a female victim reported that while walking home alone in the Porter Square area, she was grabbed from behind by an unknown male who attempted to indecently assault her. The male suspect was described as being 5’9" tall with short straight hair. He was reportedly wearing a black jacket with a collar, baggy pants and nice shoes.

Anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious, or anyone who has information about this incident should contact Somerville Police Detectives at 617 625-1600, extension 7224. If you see a crime in progress, or see anything or anyone acting suspicious, please call 911 immediately.

We all need to remain vigilant and take personal safety measures, especially when walking alone. As a reminder:

• If possible, never walk alone, particularly after dark.
• Avoid distractions like air buds or headphones.
• Walk in well-lit areas.
• Avoid short cuts that take you into dark areas.
• Keep your cell phone handy at all times.

Thank you.

2013 HOLIDAY EVENTS SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

Annual Holiday Celebrations Kick off Thursday, Dec. 5 with Tree Lighting; Illuminations Tour to be Held Saturday, Dec. 14

The holidays will come a little early to Somerville once again this year, with several celebrations planned throughout the month of December including the annual tree and Menorah lighting at City Hall, the Arts Council’s Illuminations Tour, and a first-ever “Holiday Arts and Eats” Festival at Assembly Row, sponsored by Federal Realty Investment Trust.

The City’s annual Christmas Tree and Menorah Lighting Ceremony will take place Thursday, Dec. 5 on the City Hall Concourse, followed by a meet and greet with Santa Claus in the Somerville High School Highlander Café (atrium entrance). On Saturday, Dec. 14, residents and visitors are invited to the Somerville Arts Council’s Illuminations beginning at 4:30pm.  The popular tour takes attendees aboard trolleys across the City to discover some of the most brightly decorated homes throughout the City for the holiday season. Residents interested in having their homes featured on the tour should contact the Somerville Arts Council at 617-625-6600 ext 2985 by Friday, Dec. 6. 

The tree lighting ceremony will feature musical entertainment by:  the Somerville High School Band and Orchestra; the Somerville Community Chorus; El Sistema Somerville; and grade four students from the Arthur D. Healey Elementary School. Special guest Santa Claus will be escorted by the Somerville Fire Department for the ceremony and will be available for photos following the tree lighting. All children attending the ceremony will also receive a gift from Santa.

The annual Illuminations Trolley Tour of East and Central Somerville is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 14, with tours departing from the City Hall Concourse beginning at 4:30 p.m.  The 45-minute tours will showcase holiday light displays in our own Somerville. Tours leave from (and return to) Somerville City Hall where coffee, hot chocolate, and cookies are served. Entertainment at City Hall includes choral music and craft activities for children.

Trolley Tour tickets will be available at the Blue Cloud Gallery, 713 Broadway, beginning Monday, Dec. 2. Tickets are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children and seniors. For more information, visit www.somervilleartscouncil.org.

Adding to the holiday fun in Somerville this year, the City of Somerville will join Federal Realty Investment Trust for its first annual Holiday Arts and Eats Festival on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6, 7, and 8. The festival will feature food trucks, a large holiday market including 60 artists, a 21+ event on Friday night and family-friendly activities and live music all weekend long. It will be hosted under a large heated tent at Assembly Row. For more information and schedules, visit www.assemblyrow.com/events .

For more information on the City’s holiday events, please contact Nancy Aylward at 617-625-6600 ext 2100.

2013 Illuminations Tour Ticket Pre-Sale

Come celebrate the folk artistry of Somerville residents who transform their houses and yards with lights, illuminated ornaments, and shrines of devotion and fantasy.   The annual 2013 Illuminations Tour will be held on Saturday, December 14^th (Snow Date: 12/15).  We are excited again to hold two wonderful tours:
East Somerville-Tour Times
4:30, 5:00, 5:45, 6:15, 7:00, 7:30, 8:15, 8:45, 9:15
West Somerville-Tour Times
4:30, 5:00, 5:45, 6:15 "D" trolley only. 
Tickets $10 Adults
$5 Children / Seniors
(12 and under / 60 and over)
Tickets sell out quickly, therefore if you’d like to order your tickets in advance, before they are released to the general public, please contact Heather at the Somerville Arts Council, hbalchunas@somervillema.gov  by Wednesday, November 27^th at 1p.m.

CITY, SHAPE UP SOMERVILLE KICK OFF “Citizinvestor” CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN TO SUPPORT MOBILE FARMERS MARKET SUBSIDY PROGRAM

Using Kickstarter-like crowdfunding service designed for governments, City Holiday Fundraiser seeks to help low-income residents access healthy foods

The City of Somerville’s Mobile Farmers Market program needs your help—and a nifty online crowdfunding campaign makes it easy to give once during the holidays to provide meaningful help to low-income families all year.

Each week a truck carrying affordable fresh fruits and vegetables rolls up to Somerville’s two housing developments and a senior activity center and transforms parking lots into instant farmers markets with low prices that most struggling families can afford—but some still need more support. That’s why the Mobile Market, a program of Shape Up Somerville, offers matching funds for persons with demonstrated need, thereby doubling the purchasing power of low-income residents including those receiving SNAP and WIC support. But growing demand has already depleted the $5,000 in 2013 grant funding for the $10-$20 matching grants—just as federal cuts to food stamps programs are forcing families to make hard choices at the supermarket. By law, City funds cannot be used for the matching funds. So residents are being called on to donate to help fund the program through winter and next summer.

“Residents and families have come to increasingly depend on the market, but with our matching funds depleted, we’re concerned that too many will be walking away without enough produce to get through the week. So we’re really hoping that residents will give this holiday season to help their neighbors provide nutritious foods for their families,” said David Hudson, Director of Shape Up Somerville, which runs the Mobile Market.  “This really is local giving. The kid whose dad can bring home more carrots, apples, peas and greens from the market because of matching funds just may be the student who sits next to your own child in school.”

Shape Up Somerville has set a modest goal of $3,000 to raise by mid-January, although it’s estimated that a total of $5,000 is needed to keep the market’s matching funds program funded through this winter and summer 2014. So, should the goal be reached, additional donations will be welcome. Donations can be made by visiting http://www.citizinvestor.com/project/somerville-mobile-farmers-market

“The growing popularity of the Mobile Farmers’ Market shows the growing importance that families of all backgrounds place on nutrition partly as a result of the City’s ongoing efforts to promote healthy eating and food equity. But it is also an indicator of real need,” said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone. “This community has a history of coming together to support shared goals and I’m sure we can count on Somervillians to help other Somervillians and ensure this vital program continues. I plan to personally make a donation myself.”

Citzinvestor.com invites municipalities to submit projects, already approved but lacking necessary funding, ranging from building a new playground to creating a memorial or funding small business initiatives.  Residents may pledge any amount of money toward meeting the community’s goal. From its mission statement: “Not only can citizens invest in projects from their local governments, but Citizinvestor also gives citizens the opportunity to propose ideas they have to improve their community to their respective local government officials.”

Funds raised through this campaign will help provide assistance in the form of matching funds for residents with a demonstrated need, including those receiving SNAP or WIC benefits. Citizens pledging funds will only pay their portion if 100% of the goal of $3,000 is reached. If the goal is not met by the proposed deadline, the proposed project will receive no funding.