The city released three Anti-Displacement Task Force reports late last month.

By Jeffrey Shwom

Almost 20 months after beginning its effort, the City of Somerville released three Anti-Displacement Task Force (ADTF) Reports on January 30, with hopes of informing and guiding city and state level policies concerning displacement. Three committees were formed “to develop recommendations aimed at reducing the rate of displacement,” per the city.

(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 Denise Provost

People all over town are talking about the 25-story building proposed for Davis Square. The most asked question seems to be, are you for it, or against it? But it seems to me that this question is premature.

We probably all have first reactions to the concept of a 500-apartment high-rise. But whatever these initial feelings, it will help to have more detailed information.

Join a public Community Meeting regarding 231-249 Elm Street and 6-8 & 12 Grove Street (the development project from the Burren to Dragon Pizza). Wednesday, February 12, at 6 p.m. Somerville Community Baptist Church, 31 College Ave. The property owner and developer will be engaging in a discussion regarding the project. This is the 5th conversation and meeting notes from the previous four meetings can be found here: https://allevents.in/somerville/community-meeting-re-231-249-elm-street-and-6-8-and-12-grove-street/200027806790629.

Members of the city’s Equity, Gender, Seniors, Families and Vulnerable Populations Committee have expressed concerns over the quality of transportation options provided for our senior population. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Lexi O’Neil

Concerns are on the rise as Seniors are at the forefront of the Monday, February 3, meeting held by the Equity, Gender, Seniors, Families and Vulnerable Populations Committee. Some of the topics on the agenda varied from helping seniors deal with the grocery inflation prices to ensuring their voices are being represented and heard in council meetings and decisions.

(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

The mood was cautiously optimistic at the Argenziano School cafeteria on a Wednesday night a couple of weeks ago. Nearly a hundred people gathered in person, and another 80 or so joined online, to see the Union Square Neighborhood Council and Rafi Properties share a “mid-point update” in their negotiations towards a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) for the proposed “Somernova” development.

Valentine’s Day is coming around once next week, an occasion that many hold dear and cherish. For some, in fact, it is one of their favorite days of the year.

Sure, many people think it’s a corny tradition. Just another gimmick to ramp up sales of candies, cards, wine and what-not. For others, it’s a special time that provides an opportunity to express their deepest affections to the one – or many – who mean so much to them.

Eagle Feathers #322 – King George

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

At the end of the victorious eight-year American Revolutionary War, some of his officers wanted to crown him “King.” They had grown to love and respect their leader and wanted him to continue to lead the country that they had fought for.  General George Washington, the object of their honor and devotion, resolutely turned them down. He reminded them that they had just fought and won a war for freedom, not for a monarchy.

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Review by Off The Shelf correspondent Lee Varon

In this exquisite collection, poet Ruth Chad interweaves her keen attention to the details of our natural world with deep emotions of love, loss, joy, and grief.

Many of the poems in this collection (divided into three sections) focus on the poet’s mother who suffered from Alzheimer’s before she succumbed to the disease in her 90s. These poems read like journal entries with often just dates for titles.

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Dennis Daly was born in Salem Massachusetts. He graduated from Boston College with a B.S. degree and earned an M.A. degree in English Literature at Northeastern University. He has twice visited Thomas Merton’s hermitage on the grounds of the Trappist Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky. Daly has published eleven books of poetry and poetic translations. Please visit his blog here: dennisfdaly.blogspot.com.