November 29, 1923 – April 29, 2022

Vito Vaccaro of Somerville, quietly passed away on April 29, 2022, he was 98. Born in Boston, he was the son of Annie (Palmieri) and Filippo Vaccaro. Vito is survived by the love of his life and wife of 77 years, Josephine (Della Piana) Vaccaro and his sister Frances Marotta. His sister Rose Nazzaro predeceased him. He will be missed by his children Vivian Nelson and her husband Bill, Phil Vaccaro and his wife Dottye, Nick Vaccaro and his wife Tonna and Joanne Vaccaro and his devoted grandchildren, Eric Nelson and Marie Maffei, Scott and Rashmi Nelson, Karen and Tom Morrissey, Philip and Michele Vaccaro, Craig and Amber Vaccaro, Tara and Hal Gudmundsen, Tonna Vaccaro, Nicholas and Hope Vaccaro. Vito is survived by many loving great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

By Kyle Dante

(The following story comes from the March 3, 2022, Legislative Matters Committee Meeting at 6:00 p.m.  The meeting was remotely conducted on Zoom and publicly accessible through the Somerville City website.)

Safety is a concern in schools. With several mass shootings across the United States, there is a call to action. Not only in protecting children and staff but response time by nearby police departments.

July 19, 1955 – May 8, 2022

Manzi, Kenneth D. of Methuen, formerly of Somerville passed away at the age of 66 on Sunday, May 8th, 2022

Born and raised in Somerville. He was the son of the late John Sr. and Ada L. (Choate) Manzi. Ken was a man that was that was not afraid to speak what was on his mind. He was a driver for Green Cab of Somerville for over 25 years, and when it came to doing work he was a great “Supervisor.” He was a Master Mason of Somerville Lodge AF & AM. In 2008 he raised to the 32nd degree (Scottish Rite). In 2009 he joined the Aleppo Shrine Clowns as Pee-Wee. Pee-Wee performed at the Shriners Circus and also volunteered to visit the children at the Shriners Hospital. He was also a Navy Vet.

By Jim Clark

Somerville Police officers were dispatched to a Minnesota Ave. location last week on reports of a person breaking into motor vehicles.

Police dispatch informed responding units that the suspect was walking up Minnesota Ave. heading towards Broadway and supplied a partial description.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

In 1930 you could buy four car tires for about $7.

Gasoline was 26 cents a gallon and Davis Square was a very successful retail destination.

On Monday, May 9, during school dismissal, Somerville Police responded to a call from a relative for a family matter requiring a response to the entrance to Somerville High School.    

Arrests:
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Stephen Costigan, of Cambridge, May 2, 6:32 a.m., arrested at Whipple St. on warrant charges of assault and battery on a police officer, disorderly conduct, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery on a person over 60 or disabled, resisting arrest, and shoplifting by concealing merchandise.

The multi-family zoning demand for MBTA Communities requires communities served by the MBTA to update their zoning to allow at least one district of multi-family housing. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Molly Rains

The Somerville Land Use Committee met on May 5 to continue their discussion of proposed amendments and future updates to the city’s zoning laws.

One area of discussion was the new multi-family zoning requirement for MBTA Communities, part of the Economic Development Bill signed by Governor Baker in 2021. The requirement mandates that communities served by the MBTA update their zoning to allow at least one district of multi-family housing.

(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 Representative Erika Uyterhoeven

In threatening to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court has become an illegitimate institution. Overturning a seminal, settled constitutional right is a flagrant violation of the intended duties of the judicial branch. This is a violent attack on health care access, abortion rights, and reproductive justice that will disproportionately harm queer, transgender, Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities, young people, and working-class people.