(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.

Eagle Feathers #301 – A Horse With No Name

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

(This article was first published in the April 19, 2017, edition of The Somerville Times)

Somerville’s Prospect Hill Monument celebrates the raising of America’s first flag. It took place on January 1, 1776, and was the 40th birthday of one of General Washington’s soldiers. At the time, this new United States trooper had already proven his allegiance to the colonial cause. Eight months before, on the eve of April 19 on a daring midnight ride through Somerville and beyond, he triggered the American Revolution. His name was Paul Revere and the trail he and his horse left across this city that night was far reaching.

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 schedule, it is an inescapable fact of life for us all and we must make the adjustment accordingly.

By Denise Provost

Saturday, March 30 was the day for the annual East Somerville Easter Egg Hunt. For many years, this popular tradition has been hosted by Connexion United Methodist Church and East Somerville Main Streets. Every year, more and more families have come – so much so that the event has outgrown Chuckie Harris Park, its previous location.

*

I recently caught up with Somerville photographer Bruce Myren to conduct an interview about his life and his accomplished work.

From his website:

Bruce earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and a Master of Fine Arts in studio art from the University of Connecticut, Storrs.

*
Robin Stratton is the author of seven novels, including one which was a National Indie Excellence Book Award finalist (On Air, Mustang Press, 2011), three collections of poetry and short fiction, and a writing guide. A four-time Pushcart Prize nominee, she’s been published in Word Riot, 63 Channels, Antithesis Common, Lyrical Somerville, Poor Richard’s Almanac(k), Blink-Ink, Pig in a Poke, Chick Flicks, Up the Staircase, Shoots and Vines, and many others. Since 2004 she’s been Acquisitions Editor for Big Table Publishing Company, Senior Editor of Boston Literary Magazine since 2009, and she was Director of the Newton Writing and Publishing Center until she moved from Boston to San Francisco in 2018. Her latest book, Three Sister Stories, won the 2022 Pinnacle Book Achievement Award for Women’s Fiction. She’d love to have you visit her at www.robinstratton.com.