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Newstalk – April 9
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On April 10 at 7:30 p.m., Somerville’s Fair Housing Commission, Department of Racial and Social Justice, and Somerville Public Library invite you to a film screening of Segregated by Design followed by a panel discussion of fair housing and discrimination with local experts. Food and drinks will be provided. Registration is required: www.tinyurl.com/ykjnt9f9.
April 9
Our View of the Times – April 9
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It began after a bad oil spill that took place in 1969 off the coast of California. A year later, the first annual Earth Day was celebrated to demonstrate universal support for environmental protection and responsible stewardship of the planet and its inhabitants.
Since then, public and official awareness of the negative impacts of human activity – such as air and water pollution – have been raised to a level where concrete action is being demanded to mitigate those effects and heal the ills that have been inflicted on our world.
Milkshakes and mercurochrome
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Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte
Remember when your medicine cabinet contained bottles of paregoric and Mercurochrome? On those old fashioned looking small bottles, you could barely make out the words Surabian, Grover, or Sordillo Drugs. There were many, many drug stores in Somerville at one time. Now, not.
JUST SAY NO!
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By Mayor Emeritus
Eugene C. Brune
The questions I and many Somerville people are asking is what is the mayor or the Ward 6 Councilor is saying?
What do the City Council members think about a proposal to build a twenty-five-story, five-hundred-unit building in Davis Square? Currently, they are waiting as there is no application before any board. If Copper Mill submits one, you will then hear the concerns, as well as the final vote. I am hoping that common sense will prevail.
Letter to the Editor: Senate Democrats Must Begin Denying Unanimous Consent
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To the Editors,
Unanimous consent speeds up the Senate by avoiding time-consuming votes on routine business. Under the Trump administration, there is no routine business. Denying unanimous consent can’t stop Senate Republicans from doing anything, but, by requiring quorum calls and roll call votes, it can slow them down.
To the Editors,
Unanimous consent speeds up the Senate by avoiding time-consuming votes on routine business. Under the Trump administration, there is no routine business. Denying unanimous consent can’t stop Senate Republicans from doing anything, but, by requiring quorum calls and roll call votes, it can slow them down.
Newstalk – March 26
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Community members are invited to attend Somerville’s fourth annual Women’s History Month celebration to honor the many contributions of women throughout our history. This year’s speakers include Mayor Ballantyne, Mass State Auditor Diana DiZoglio, City Council President Judy Pineda-Neufeld, School Committee Chair Ilana Krepchin, and Amanda Nagim-Williams, Director of Somerville’s Racial and Social Justice Department. Plus, enjoy light re-freshments and music from DJ L’Duke.The event will take place on Wednesday, March 26, at Somernova (29 Properzi Way) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Learn more https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebrating-womens-history-month-at-somernova-tickets-1259609348469?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=IwY2xjawJJ1ZVleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZjMwNUItHsvI9uJ592ZIGl7YHaaHmWB8wORiT7tms8Ou8rmr-8I-mXHHw_aem_YWWUJofK-gFerxntpEqmSA.
March 26
Our View of the Times – March 26
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Spring has finally arrived, and with it comes the inevitable regular street-sweeping activities throughout the city.
As inconvenient and annoying it may be to comply with the schedule, it is an inescapable fact of life for us all and we must make the adjustment accordingly.
Hangin’ up the park
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Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte
Powder House Park has a history that dates back to the Revolutionary War in the 1700’s. It also has another history that dates back to the 1970’s when it was the cool place to hang around.
When Archie rode a flaming skateboard from “up top” all the way “down bottom” to College Ave., that was historic. You can see more history if you look at a tree down bottom that has the initials “JF” and someone else’s initials that are now unreadable. “JF” was a kid who dated my sister. He was quite the Romeo.
Marking Transgender Day of Visibility: Somerville’s Commitment to Safety and Dignity
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By Mayor Katjana Ballantyne
As we approach this year’s Transgender Day of Visibility, we must reckon with the fact that our transgender and nonbinary community members have never been more visible – but instead of being supported and celebrated in their identities, our trans friends, family, and neighbors have had a target painted on their backs.
Newstalk – March 19
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On Saturday, March 22, the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church Church will be celebrating Greek Independence Day and honoring our local war hero George Dilboy at Somerville City Hall. All are welcome to join up at City Hall at 11 a.m. to celebrate Greek Heritage and honor our local hero George Dilboy. This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
March 19
Our View of the Times – March 19
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After the long chilling days of winter, it’s nice to know that springtime is finally arriving. We anxiously await the balmier days ahead.
One of the finer benefits of New England living is standing witness to the massive explosion of nature’s rebirth and renewal, seemingly amplified here. Grass, trees, wildlife and flowers all seem to go forth and multiply at an astounding rate, as if on cue to the call for “Action!”
When I grow up I want to be…
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Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte
As a kid growing up in Somerville, I always wanted to be a famous rock star. We all know how that turned out!
I wanted to grow up to be Paul McCartney. My friend wanted to be Paul McCartney’s wife. (I hope it was the nice one!) Back then, I didn’t think about the money, just the coolness.
Newstalk – March 12
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Somerville’s Council on Aging St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon takes place on Thursday, March 13, starting at 11 a.m. at the George Dilboy Post, located at 351 Summer Street. $10 per person. Join in for a performance by the Rebecca McGowan School of Irish Dance and a special meal (corned beef and cabbage). Reserve your spot for the event and lunch by calling Debby Higgins at 617-625-6600, ext. 2321.
March 12
Our View of the Times – March 12
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It’s a tradition that most of us have a lot of fun with. Whether one is of Irish lineage or not, St. Patrick’s Day stands for a recognition of Irish and Irish American culture, and in many ways its resulting fusion.
The religious origins of the day have, for some, been obscured and often all but forgotten in favor of the prominent displays of the color green, eating and drinking, and numerous parades. The day has been celebrated on the North American continent since before the American Revolution, and is actually an official holiday in neighboring Suffolk County. Ask any of our Boston brethren and they would – to a single soul – be aware of this fact.
1960 revisited
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Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del ponte
My parents bought our house in 1960 for about $15,000. We moved from Ball Square to Davis Square.
We would go to St. Clement’s school where the nuns taught. Surely the stuff nightmares are made of. We got our phone number back then, too, when we used the phone abbreviations MO, PR, and SO. If you recall this, you’re about as old as me.
Somerville – a city of hope
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By Jeffrey Shwom
In the past 6 months of covering our city through the newspaper, my smile has grown wider and my faith in our city has grown stronger. People care here. People want and build community here. People stand up for what they believe in here. Even if standing up amplifies the differences, big and small, between us.
It’s important to acknowledge that some people are staying inside these days because of fear. Fear of being themselves, fear of being from where they are from, and fear of the unknown and uncertainty. The thing that I hang my hat on is that, together, Somerville is a stronger city than any other. Our four square miles may be the toughest, most resilient mileage in the country. Because deep down, we care about each other, we care about the world, and we care about humanity. And we do it all in a very Somervillen way.
Say ‘NO!’ to 25 story tower in Davis Square
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By Jack Connolly
Jackconnolly422@gmail.com
Several community meetings have been held by Copper Mill LLC, the proposed developers of the Elm St./Grove St location currently occupied by the Burren, McKinnon’s Market and Dragon Pizza. The most recent meeting was held on February 12th before a standing room only crowd at the Community Baptist Church. The developers stated that the city encouraged them to meet with the community to get reaction to their proposal for a 500-unit, 25-story [put height in feet here] tower. The developer claims that this size and scale are necessary to make the development profitable and that there would be no compromise on the proposed number of apartments and building height. By the way, this is the third attempt at redeveloping this site by the owner and development team after two failed previous attempts.
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