(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 Chris Dwan

On November 30, the administration presented the long-awaited police staffing and operations study to the full City Council. The consulting team was led by Cassandra Deck-Brown, the former chief of the Raleigh Police, who was a powerful presence in the room. She engaged directly and thoughtfully through an hour-long presentation followed by nearly three additional hours of discussion and questions. Deck-Brown noted more than once that nobody is winning in the current situation — morale on the force is low and the police and the public share a feeling of disconnection and mutual distrust.

The SMEA Union will be hosting a clothing drive at their stand during the upcoming Jingle Bell Race on Sunday, December 17, in Statue Park to support the Somerville Homeless Coalition’s clients experiencing homelessness this holiday season. SMEA will be collecting new and lightly used winter clothing and apparel that are crucial to keep our most vulnerable neighbors warm.

Eagle Feathers #294– Sleds and Sleighs

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

Boston Street on Prospect Hill is aptly named. From the top of the street on a winter day, it looks like you could coast down her elevation and not stop until you crossed the Charles and continued on into Boston.  From this spot, your line of sight to the Prudential Building is dead on.

The holiday season gives us that little nudge we sometimes need to take stock in what is most important for us and to share in the sense of appreciation that we feel amongst one another.

Of course, for those of us who may be blessed with material abundance, it is also important to help the less fortunate who may be in need as the winter holiday season unfolds. Consider giving a little of your time or money to make another’s life a little better, particularly during the winter months to come.

(L-R) Program Director Majic Alphonse, The Dojo Youth Extraordinaire Award Recipient Liovens Myrtil, and Rafi Properties Managing Director Collin Yip. At holidayNOVA, Liovens was presented with the first annual The Dojo Youth Extraordinaire

Somernova hosted their annual holidayNOVA party on Wednesday, December 6, featuring live music by the Green Freaks, local vendors, rolling skating, a performance by the Somerville High Step Team, and holiday cheer. At the event, Somernova announced it has officially filed a Zoning Text Amendment application and Zoning Map Amendment application for the first of its kind Climate and Equity Innovation Sub-Area Overlay District with the Clerk’s Office at the City of Somerville. The event was made possible by Also Does Events, EventThem, Green Freaks, Chez Vous Catering and Aeronaut Brewing Company.

*

Review By Off the Shelf Correspondent Andy Hoffman

Lloyd Suh has written in The Heart Sellers, a play that will run in repertory theaters around the country for the next generation. You can see it now at the Calderwood Pavilion of the Huntington Theatre.

*

Hilary Sallick is the author of two full-length poetry collections, love is a shore (Lily Poetry Review Books, 2023) and Asking the Form (Cervena Barva Press, 2020). Her poems appear or are forthcoming in Permafrost, Jet Fuel Review, Notre Dame Review, Ibbetson Street, Poetry Porch, and other journals. A teacher with a longtime focus on adult literacy, she serves on the Board of the New England Poetry Club. She lives and works in Somerville. (www.hilarysallick.com)

Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO) to share constituent stories and ask Senator Patricia Jehlen (2nd Middlesex) and Representatives Christine Barber (34th Middlesex), Marjorie Decker (25th Middlesex), and Erika Uyterhoeven (27th Middlesex) to pledge their support for $1.6 billion in bond bill funding for public housing, Real Estate Transfer Fee enabling legislation, and legislation requiring State IDs for citizens returning from incarceration

Tonight at 7pm more than 100 citizens and faith leaders will gather in Cambridge’s Reservoir Church to share moving stories of the struggle to obtain safe, affordable housing, and to ask their Beacon Hill representatives to publicly commit to supporting legislation and funding measures targeting the Commonwealth’s severe, and worsening, affordable housing shortage.

The City of Somerville’s Fair Housing Commission (FHC), which works to ensure that all current and prospective Somerville have equitable housing access, seeks one new member.