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Review by Off the Shelf Correspondent Dennis Daly

Poets practice their profession as solitaries, with the time spans often lengthy, and the intensity profound. They hear voices and often respond with cursive arcs or, more commonly, by tapping computer keys. The disabling isolation demanded by this profession fosters envy, grandiose pretentions, and bitterness. Not exactly a healthy atmosphere for bardic lads and lasses coming into their own.

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Julia Carlson’s poems have been published in many small presses, such as Ibbetson Street, Muddy River Poetry Review, Nixes Mate Review, Poetry Super Highway, and others. Most recently, her poems appeared in The Poet Magazine (Childhood Anthology). She authored Prayer for the Misbegotten (Oddball Press, 2017) and Little Creatures (Wilderness House Press, 2019), and two chapbooks, Drift and Turn of the Century. A graduate of Boston University and Toulouse-le-Mirail University (France), Carlson lives in Boston, where she reads, gardens, and cooks (too much). She likes rock and roll and a wee dram on a cold night. Follow on Instagram – Uberhu

Four days of early voting will be held in advance of the September 14 preliminary election

Somerville voters will have the option to vote early in the September preliminary election. Four days of in-person early voting will be held prior to election day on Tuesday, September 14.

Collection of carved Collins and Old-Fashioned glasses. — Photo by SaraBeth Post.

In its newest online exhibition, “CraftBoston: Cups of Good,” the Society of Arts + Crafts highlights the art of handmade vessels and explores the personal connections, favorite recipes, and memories behind treasured cups, bowls, mugs, pots, and boxes. “Cups of Good” showcases more than 50 New England and national fine craft artists who apply a wide range of techniques, mediums, and interpretations to what a vessel can be. 

Plan provides roadmap to preserve and expand Somerville’s tree canopy, maximizing benefits for community and climate

After years of data collection, research, and community engagement, the City of Somerville published its first comprehensive Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) to guide the next decade of urban forestry planning and policymaking.

Somerville Board of Health to review proposed extension at September 9 meeting

The City of Somerville is seeking to extend its eviction moratorium through November 30, announced Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone today. With the current moratorium otherwise set to expire on September 15, the Somerville Board of Health will consider the city’s extension proposal at its September 9 meeting. The administration’s request comes as COVID-19 cases rise and amid President Joseph R. Biden’s call for states and cities to enact local eviction moratoria after a Supreme Court ruling ended the federal moratorium.

As the Labor Day weekend and cooler temperatures approach, residents should continue to take precautions to protect themselves against mosquito bites and mosquito-borne diseases, including West Nile virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, three positive human cases of WNV have been confirmed in the state so far this year. Somerville and surrounding communities are considered to be at moderate risk for WNV.