by Molly M. Schoemann and Abigail B. Ferrente

Crowds of cheerful spectators turned out in Davis Square at 11a.m. March 20 to watch the third annual Ras na hEireann U.S.A, named for the Race of Ireland, an annual cross-country race held in Ireland, the 5km race, drew runners from all over the country.

“We’ve got people coming from at least 11 different states,” said Paul Collyer, the event organizer. “There are a lot of people from the Northeast area, but a few folks came from Ireland and other countries as well.”

“It has been an excellent race this year,” he said. “I like to do it because it is very festive and everyone always has a nice time.”

by Neil W. McCabe

A 25-year resident of the city, who has held leadership posts city government and social service agencies, announced March 25 that he is running for the Ward 5 school board seat.

“I love this City, I’ve spent half of my life here, I met and married my wife here, and our 12-year-old daughter has been at the Healey School since kindergarten,” said Mark Niedergang, who has been a leader in many community and school groups.

by Jeannie Sullivan Guarino

I witnessed an event March 15 that many thought only possible in the old Somerville.

More than 100 people attended the dedication of the corner of Lincoln Street and Lincoln Avenue in memory of my brother Patrick Sullivan, a life long Somerville resident and Viet Nam veteran.

Our Family is proud of the service that our Paddy gave to our country. We are also proud and prayerful of our boys presently serving in the military our thoughts and prayers are with all of them.

We are honored that the City of Somerville has chosen to dedicate this site as Patrick “Sully” Sullivan Square it will serve as a memorial of the continued sacrifice of our soldiers.

The mayor who raised taxes and fees on city businesses and ignored the pleas the family-owned bars and restaurants bludgeoned by Somerville’s go-it-alone smoking ban participated in an economic summit at Tufts University Tuesday.

We wonder what the mayor would have thought of such a summit back when he was a registered Republican. But, now he is a Democrat, again, he doing what Democrats do when they want to know what businesspeople think: they call a meeting in the middle of the workday.

Maybe the press release was right and the economic summit was an important first step. Of course, in a city that is always making important first steps, all carefully captured in on digital photo cards, the second and third steps seem to be more elusive.

Two more questions come to mind.

by Jacob A. Bennett

The “Japan Girls Nite US Tour 2005” checked into the Abbey Lounge at 3 Beacon St. March 22 presented by the Benton Label with a show that included four Japanese girl bands that shocked and amazed the packed house.

"Benten is the name of one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune. Benten (or Ben Zai ten), is the goddess of music, art, happiness and love,” said Audrey Kimura, the label’s founder.

The key concept of Benten label is silliness and seriousness; we enjoy the silliness of our music seriously, she said.

by  Neil W. McCabe

The state representative for the 26th Middlesex District,
which includes East Somerville, announced March 9 the
city received a grant from the state to grow and protect the city trees.

“Tree maintenance and preservation are easy ways to sustain the beauty of Somerville and our quality of life here,” said State Rep. Timothy J. Toomey Jr.

by Neil W. McCabe

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone participated in an economic development forum “Advancing Somerville: Symposium on Strategic Growth,” hosted March 29 by Tufts University President Lawrence Bacow.

The forum was designed to highlight the city’s competitive business advantages and to address the obstacles that have long impeded local development, the mayor said.

by Jessie E. Chen

The city’s superintendent of public schools accused Union Square’s Prospect Hill Academy, a local charter school, of inflating enrollment projections, forcing unnecessary cuts in public school programs.

Because Prospect Hill miscalculates by 100 students, the funds are taken from public schools which then never see the money, said Albert F. Argenziano, who is leaving his post at the end of the school year.

by Julia C. Reischel

The executive director of Somerville Cambridge Elder Services, a state-funded private nonprofit organization, spoke to The Somerville News last week about problems facing Somerville elders.   

“The aged population of Somerville has declined considerably in the last 30 years,” John S. O’Neill said.  “They’ve been driven out by rents.”

by  Molly M. Schoemann

The feeling of intimacy and camaraderie at the reception for the latest show on display at Willoughby & Baltic, a small art gallery on 195 Elm Street in Davis Square, may have something to do with the gallery’s modest origins.   

“This was a garage last November,” said Meredith Garniss, the owner of Willoughby & Baltic. “I used it as my own studio.”