The City Assessor’s property classification and residential exemption recommendation was approved last week by the Board of Aldermen.

By Joe Ruvido

The Board of Aldermen unanimously approved the property classification and residential exemption recommended by the City Assessor at their meeting on Tuesday November 22.

The Board heard a presentation by Marc Levya, Chief Assessor or Somerville. Per Massachusetts Law, commercial and residential property values and the processes that determine those values need to be reassessed every three years. The city uses these assessments to calculate the projected amount of property taxes they will collect to finance the city budget. The city cannot run a fiscal deficit so the valuations are an important step in financing city operations.

“The Souls Journey as A Series of Weird Old Cars” street mural by Liz LaManche.

By Manna Parker

The intersection of Pearl and Medford Streets is adorned by colorful stairs. Rainbow tread marks lead to the steps where three old cars are painted in bright colors by local artist Liz LaManche.

The name of the mural written below the steps, The Soul’s Journey As A Series of Weird Old Cars memorializes the late Al Riskalla.

Don’t forget to park on the EVEN side of the street this winter during snow emergencies. The Board of Aldermen voted to alternate every year, and this year it is the EVEN side. So scramble to get your spot as soon as they declare. Hopefully, the city won’t be calling any false alarms. Commissioner Stan Koty will give the signal when it’s about to snow.

Join Mayor Curtatone and city staff for Somerville’s annual holiday celebrations, kicking off on Thursday, December 1, with the Christmas Tree Lighting and visit from Santa Claus, on the City Hall Concourse. Also part of the 2016 events are the Somerville Arts Council’s Illuminations Tour on December 17, and a ceremonial lighting of a Menorah on the City Hall Concourse on December 24.

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Here’s a side dish that is easy to prepare and is packed full of flavor. The addition of the lemon zest and juice brightens up the dish. This is a perfect throwback side that will have your guests craving more.

A fit and trim Donald Norton sheds high praise for the dietary plan offered by NutriMost Wellness and Weight Loss.

By Donald Norton

Before I begin, this is not a commercial for this or any other diet. I have no interest in the ownership of this diet that I am about to talk about. The results might be different, depending on the individual. I can only affirm what my experience is or was.

Getting old is not a good thing sometimes, but getting old and gaining weight is harder to lose than when you were younger. You keep saying to yourself, “If only I could just lose 20 to 30 pounds, I would feel much better.”

Doresta McIntosh (left) was one of 46 volunteers who stepped-up to make Meals on Wheels deliveries for Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services the morning of Thanksgiving. The volunteers allowed most regular drivers to have the day off, but McIntosh volunteered to come in and do her regular route on the holiday. She’s seen here with SCES Community Meals Program Director Deborah McLean.

By Nathan Lamb

(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)

For many of us, Thanksgiving is probably some welcome time off. But for some it was also a chance to give back, by volunteering to help Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) make Meals on Wheels deliveries.

All told, 46 volunteers stepped-up for Meals on Wheels on Thanksgiving, allowing our regular drivers to enjoy the day off. Our thanks go out to the volunteers who made that possible, and to staff members who chose to come in and help out.

SkillsUSA group with advisors. Back row (L to R) Mario Sousa, Charlotte Kafka-Gibbons, Sam Saron, Kyle Lentini, Halle Huges, Marissa Toner, Meghan Groskof. Front Row (L to R) Emily Sabatino, Nolan Roche and Steve Hawkins.

By Rebecca Danvers

Students from Somerville High School took part in a conference held in Marlboro, MA, November 19–22.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce.

Here comes the holiday shopping season once again, and we are ready to embrace the opportunity to celebrate the only way we know how: with enthusiasm and optimistic attitudes.

Let the political and economic pundits doom and gloom themselves into their usual perpetual state of the doldrums. We know how to lift ourselves, to rise to the occasion and make the most of what we have, in spite of whatever challenges may confront us.

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A poet who looks at her life as an ‘Uncanny Valley’
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Poet Jennifer Martelli sees her life as an “Uncanny Valley”– a term she told me that is used to describe the fact that what seems right doesn’t always feel right – thus the title of her new poetry collection The Uncanny Valley (Big Table Books).