(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 Senator Pat Jehlen

Last week, the Senate passed another climate bill, An Act Driving Climate Policy Forward.  WBUR had a good summary of its many provisions.  Combating climate change is an issue that so many people in our communities have written, called, and met with us about, and the bill takes important steps.  Among the provisions of the bill which people asked me to support:

Open Positions: One full and one alternate; Term: Five years for full members, two years for alternate members

The City of Somerville seeks two new members for the Zoning Board of Appeals, and all Somerville residents are invited to apply. A background in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, urban planning, and/or land use law is beneficial but not required.

Moratorium now has 60-day sunset period and will end June 30

The City of Somerville’s proposed extension and sunset date for its eviction moratorium was unanimously approved by the Somerville Board of Health at their Thursday, April 21, meeting. Otherwise set to expire on April 30, the moratorium now has a 60-day sunset period and will end on June 30.

Open Positions: Seven, Term: Three years

The City of Somerville seeks seven members for the Historic Preservation Commission, and all Somerville residents are invited to apply. Boards and commissions offer an opportunity for residents with a range of experience, skills, and perspectives to share their talents and insights with their community. Six of the current openings are for candidates with specific expertise: one architectural historian, one contractor, one architect, one historian, and two Local Historic District residents or architects. 

Join in for a poetry reading with Denise Provost at the Somerville Museum on April 28 at 7:00 p.m. This is an in-person event at the Somerville Museum.

Provost will read from her recently published book, City of Stories and other poems. Provost has received the Best Love Sonnet award from the Maria C. Faust Sonnet Competition in 2012, and the New England Poetry Club’s Samuel Washington Allen Prize in 2021. She is also a beloved member of the Somerville Museum and a long-time Somerville resident.

The Davis Square farmers market is back with an expanded vendor roster that includes locally grown fruits and vegetables; farm-raised protein and cheese; mushrooms, baked goods, ready-to-eat meals; along with a host of other locally made products.

Find the full vendor list here: https://www.massfarmersmarkets.org/davis

Francesca “Frances” (Giacalone) Giglio, age 85, of Somerville passed away on Monday, April 18th, at Massachusetts General Hospital of Boston. Born in Salemi, Trapani, Sicily, she was the daughter of the late Giuseppe and Marianna (Amico) Giacalone. Frances came to the U.S. at the age of ten and settled with her family in Boston’s North End. She was employed for many years as a seamstress and lived again in Italy and Venezuela before settling in Somerville over 50 years ago.

By Jim Clark

Somerville Police officers were dispatched to a Grand Union Blvd. location last Sunday after a 9-1-1 called was received reporting that a man and woman had broken into the caller’s vehicle.