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Recently I caught up with Joey Gould, a well-admired poet in Massachusetts and beyond. Gould is all about breaking the traditional labels that have been entrenched in our society.

From their website,

“Joey Gould is the author of The Acute Avian Heart (2019, Lily Poetry Review). Joey is a long-time contributor to Mass Poetry, for which they assist the Poetry Festival Planning Committee, lead workshops for Student Day of Poetry events around Massachusetts, write web articles for MassPoetry.org, and judge slams for Louder Than a Bomb MA. Their work has appeared in Paper Nautilus, Drunk Monkeys, The Compassion Anthology, Memoir Mixtapes, and District Lit, amongst others. They have twice been nominated for Bettering American Poetry and once for a Pushcart Prize. Since their first public reading as a fellow of Salem State University’s Summer Poetry Seminar, they have performed in The Poetry Circus, Elle Villanelle’s Poetry Bordello, and The Poetry Society of New York’s Poetry Brothel. In addition to their Mass Poetry work, they have taught workshops for the Salem Poetry Seminar and Salem Lit Fest. They write 100-word reviews as poetry editor for Drunk Monkeys. Most important, they like Pusheen and painting their nails.”

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Kevin Gallagher is a poet, publisher, and political economist living in Greater Boston. His latest book is And Yet it Moves. Gallagher edits spoKe, a Boston-based annual of poetry and poetics. He was born in Somerville and now works as a professor of global development policy at Boston University.

Ronald S. Perry of West Roxbury, passed away peacefully, on Friday, October 25, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. Beloved husband of the late W. Patrica (Craddock) Perry. Devoted father of Maryellen (Perry) Collins and her husband, Bernie, Ronald K. Perry and his wife, Sheila and Patrice (Perry) Berens and her husband, Michael. He also leaves behind nine treasured grandchildren, Dr. Andrew Collins and his husband, Dan Batchelder, Christine Collins Bunnell and her husband, William, Megan Collins Schmitt and her husband, Michael, Matthew Perry and his wife, Katie, Jessica Perry, Dr. Cassandra Perry, Alicia Perry, Caroline Berens and Emma Berens. He also leaves behind nine cherished great-grandchildren.

Get familiar with the work of Somerville’s Water & Sewer Department at their upcoming open house. Following a brief presentation, attendees can talk with staff and visit information stations on topics such as: affordability and water rates study, redesign of water and sewer billing rates, stormwater management, meter replacement project, metron meters and leak monitoring, and water scope technology.

(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)

Hello there,

I noticed that your article references an outdated stat. You mentioned that “415,000 animals” are euthanized in shelters annually. Based on our most recent data, these figures have been updated, and According to the latest data, around 689,000 Shelter Animals are Euthanized each year including 359,000 dogs and 330,000 cats.

The Somerville Public Schools is celebrating Massachusetts Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Week (October 21 – 25) with the announcement of a new middle grades after-school Climate Change Clubs program for grades 6–8. 

(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 State Senator Pat Jehlen

As you know, there are five ballot questions on our November ballots. Last week, I wrote about why I am voting yes on Question 2.
There are also local ballot questions about increasing local revenue in Somerville, Medford, and Winchester. I will vote yes in Somerville, and would vote yes in Medford and Winchester.

The Massachusetts general election is Tuesday, November 5. Voters will elect the U.S. President and Vice President, U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, and more. There are also five statewide ballot questions and one City of Somerville ballot question. View a sample ballot.