Art exhibit to feature work of Walnut Street Center residents, Somerville Public Schools students, Perkins School for the Blind, and musical and poetry performances on Oct. 23

The City of Somerville and the Commission for Persons with Disabilities announced this month that the City will celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month with a community event featuring art by local residents on Wednesday, Oct. 23, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chambers at City Hall. The art exhibit will feature work by artists at the Walnut Street Center and students of the John F. Kennedy Elementary School, as well as a handmade quilt by students at the Perkins School for the Blind. Refreshments will be served and a short speaking program will include a presentation by the Chair of the Somerville Commission for Persons with Disabilities.

– Photos by Claudia Ferro

Brass, drums, and just about everything else but the kitchen sink converged on Somerville this weekend and made a big sound around town.

The candidates for Alderman At Large were each asked four questions and invited to describe themselves and their vision for how best to serve their ward as Alderman At Large members of the Board of Alderman. Their responses are presented here in alphabetical order, based on their last names.

220 tons of gunk removed
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A nightmare on Hunting St. – that is, if 100 years of funk happens to spill out into your basement. – Photo by Harry Kane

By Harry Kane

Concerned residents of Hunting Street voiced their disapproval of a proposed housing development under discussion for their street, which they think could add to the existing flooding problem they have been experiencing over the years. But, in the midst of the Hunting Street controversy, the city has cleaned drain pipes and alleviated some of the sewer blockages in other areas.

Ward 2 Alderwoman Maryann M. Heuston has advocated for similar drainage cleaning methods to be implemented on Hunting Street. “I sent an email out to the city engineer,” she said, “and asked him if he could begin the same kind of short-term stuff that they’ve been doing for the last couple months on Dane Avenue, Dane Street and Washington Street.”

This week, Thursday, October 17 at the Dante Club on Craigie Street here in the Ville, The West Somerville Neighborhood School (WSNS) PTA is proud to host the perennial Somerville City Spelling Bee Competition. The Master of Ceremonies will be Tony Pierantozzi, Superintendent of Schools. Teams from all over the city are encouraged to vie for the title of “Somerville’s Best Speller.” $300 total team cost. All are welcome to come and watch the fierce competition. Free Admission, free food by Bertucci’s and a cash bar, plus a 50/50 raffle. To register your 3-person team contact WSNS PTA President Stephanie Slattery at sslattery32@gmail or Sean Fitzgerald at seanjfitz@comcast.net or call him at 617-406-9871. This is a great time and lots of fun, so come and support your favorite team or put a team together and register.

Several city officials, as well as concerned citizens, have been questioning the role that the city should play in funding and approving certain privately produced events.

By Harry Kane

The Licenses and Permits Committee sanctioned an Internet Radio Station Concert in Union Square on Sunday, but many of the Aldermen disagreed with the last minute process for pushing the event through, arguing that the Board was not allowed adequate time to examine the event details.

Eagle Feathers #37– Pie

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

The year 1903 was quite memorable in American history with the Wright brothers making their first powered flight at Kitty Hawk, Henry Ford beginning to roll with his first auto sale, and President Teddy Roosevelt accomplishing his most memorable feat in launching the Panama Canal. It was also the same year in which the underdog Boston Americans, or Pilgrims (five years later to be called the Red Sox), defeated the mighty National League’s Pittsburgh Pirates to win the first World Series. On a local note, it was an eventful year when the City of Somerville built the Prospect Hill Monument, which would become an instant attraction, and also purchased the property which would later be called Trum Field.

By Mike Stoller

The Somerville High football team overcame a 13-point deficit to earn a stunning 41-35 win over host Durfee for its first win of the campaign.

A moment of remembrance for Deanna Cremin was observed by the Board of Aldermen at last week’s General Meeting on Thursday evening. Members of the Board, as well as family members, paid a solemn tribute to the slain teen, whose name was added to the Garden of Peace Memorial on Beacon Hill last month, eighteen years after her murder.

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and  do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff  or publishers)

While I’ve live in Somerville for a while, I’ve never really found part of it that I’ve felt at home in.  I’ve lived in several different wards since I moved to Somerville in 2002, and I’ve had the privilege of witnessing a lot of its growth and evolution. I’ll admit my husband and I have fallen a bit in love with Ward 5 since moving here, its unique mix of single and multi-family homes, contrast of ages and ethnicities, and amazing potential going into the future. We love to walk through the Ward, see the progress on the community path, and watch the seasons pass. We also love to talk with people, and discuss what is going on in Somerville and hear their thoughts. This happens just about anywhere. Outside my business if I’m cleaning or working, while walking to and from Davis Square, if people are willing to strike up a chat, and in our many local restaurants and bars, if people are so inclined.