Happy Thanksgiving to all of Somerville’s many diverse families and friends. May we all have a peaceful and familial time this year.

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Join Somerville Local First and over 40 local vendors at Arts at the Armory on Sunday, November 27 for a day of local holiday shopping at the 2016 “Holiday Marketplace” from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Maker’s Marketplace offers a wide selection of handcrafted goods, confections, jewelry, home decor, apparel, textiles, accessories and art. You will be sure to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list. Shift your holiday shopping this year and support local artists, designers and makers in the Boston area.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

Somerville Kiwanis hosted Thanksgiving dinner for Somerville seniors at the Highland Cafe at Somerville High on Tuesday, November 15. Somerville High School Culinary students prepared the delicious dinner.

Eagle Feathers #117 – Rail Trails

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

Since 1835 Somerville citizens have been riding trains, trolleys and buses operated under the now Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Popularly called the “T,” this system can trace her routes back to the construction of America’s first industrial city, Lowell, and its needed link with Boston.

The pride of Somerville High School, Indira Evora now takes giant strides as a leading member of the Saint Michael’s College women’s basketball team. — Photo by Alyssa Noble

By Rebecca Danvers

Eight underclassmen, led by team captain and former Somerville High School star athlete Indira Evora, dominate a 12-woman Saint Michael’s College women’s basketball roster in 2016-17, as the youths look to buoy a squad that suffered 10 single-digit losses last winter but aims for its fourth Northeast-10 Conference Championship berth in seven seasons.

(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,

I wanted to write to commend Nicholas Salerno, Chairman of the Elections Department and his staff for what has served as a well-organized and welcoming process that was an “Independence Day” for me.

By Jim Clark

While on a detail in full uniform on School Street last week, a police officer had stopped traffic for an exiting construction vehicle and was able to get a few of the remaining vehicles past the point of congestion.

When a vehicle operated by Heather Leet approached the officer’s position, she was told to stop, according to reports.

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Harris Gardner and myself, along with the Director of the Somerville Arts Council, Greg Jenkins, jump-started the first Poet Laureate position in Somerville, MA in 2014. Nicole Perez Dutton was the pick of the committee, and she has done a fine job. Now the search begins, yet again. Here is the application process…

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This week we have haiku in Spanish by Sergio Inestrosa, a professor of Spanish and Latin American Studies at Endicott College. Professor Margaret Young of Endicott College has translated them.

Arrests:

Heather Leet, of 10 Pine St., Arlington, November 14, 10:56 a.m., arrested at School St. on charges of reckless operation of a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, assault with a dangerous weapon, failure to stop for police, and resisting arrest.

Michael Ortiz, of 73 Montvale Ave., Woburn, November 14, 4:02 p.m., arrested at Mystic Ave. on charges of larceny over $250, violation of city ordinance possession of a dangerous weapon, and conspiracy.

An open letter to the community from  Joseph A. Curtatone, Mayor of Somerville, MA and
Ben Echevarria, Executive Director of The Welcome Project, Somerville, MA

In the wake of the election, our phones have been ringing off the hook. We’ve heard from parents who fear they will be rounded up while their young children wait for them at home. We’ve heard from women, Muslims, members of the LGBTQ community, and students of color fearing intensified discrimination. We’ve heard from people who believe equality and decency are core American values at risk. This is the heartbreaking part of the election: the sheer number of people who feel like the Trump campaign was predicated on breaking faith with one another.