By Dennis Fischman

At the beginning of the pandemic, I read a slew of cozy mysteries. Partly, the times were too grim for police procedurals, psychological thrillers, or serial killer novels. Partly, the public libraries were closed and people were trading their used books, and a good soul passed along her collection. The Hat Shop Mysteries by Jenn McKinlay were some of my favorites.

Somerville Police officer Ozzy Martinez became ill from the Covid-19 virus in March of 2020. After a month in a coma, he emerged facing heart, lung and kidney problems, including chronic kidney disease. Recently, his kidney functions dropped, putting him in urgent need of a Living donor for a kidney transplant.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

With another summer getting closer I thought we would take a look back in time to a city program called Somerfest. Let’s look back to the early ‘70’s. Bands were paid to perform in the streets. A staff of teens were paid to set up for the shows. My own band, Shadowfax, did a lot of these gigs.

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

Dear Editor:

The article “Another Jew for Ceasefire,” by Christopher Spicer (Somerville Times, March 20) presented a very confused message about what the 35 protesters in Davis Square were actually calling for. One need not be a specialist in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to understand the meaning of the sign that was portrayed in a very positive way by Spicer.  The sign said “Generation after Generation Until Total Liberation.”  The demand for “total liberation” is a very clear, unambiguous call for the destruction of the state of Israel.

Gloria L. (Bussolari) Resmini, of Swampscott, formerly of Somerville for more than eighty years, passed away peacefully on March 30, 2024. She was 98 years of age.

Gloria was the loving wife of the late Peter Resmini, with whom she shared 61 years of marriage until his passing in 2008.  She was born in Somerville to the late Gaetano and Stella (Comastri) Bussolari, both of whom emigrated from Italy.

The Public Input Meeting held by City of Somerville and the City of Medford last month gave the public an opportunity to learn more about the area planning project.

By Jim Clark

On Monday, March 25, a Public Input Meeting on the Area Plan for the Broadway Corridor, in partnership with the City of Somerville and the City of Medford, was held at Premiere on Broadway in Somerville. The meeting included a short presentation and public input.

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

By City Councilor At Large Jake Wilson

The City Council’s Finance Committee met as a Committee of the Whole with all 11 councilors on Tuesday, March 26, in the City Council Chamber in City Hall. Our objective on the night was to identify our top shared budget priorities for Fiscal Year 2025 and craft resolutions expressing these priorities.

By Mayor Emeritus Eugene C. Brune

Allow me to share with you a not so pleasant memory when I was your mayor.

44 years ago, today, and only in my 12th week as Mayor, I had my “baptism by fire,”so, to speak. At about 8:30 a.m. on the morning of April 3, 1980, I received a telephone call at my home, just as I was about to leave for my office.

The city’s Public Safety for All Task Force invites Somerville community members to attend an Emergency Response Community Workshop tonight, Wednesday, April 3, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. The workshop will take place at the Somerville High School Cafeteria, 81 Highland Avenue. Attendees will hear a brief update about the Task Force’s work, be introduced to key terms for the workshop, and be asked to respond to questions to help inform emergency response recommendations to the mayor. Food and drink will be provided during the event as well as children’s activities. Learn more at: https://www.somervillema.gov.