The Somerville City Council will be working with city staff to establish a plan for removing mandatory parking space requirements.

By Jim Clark

At the latest meeting of the Somerville City Council on Thursday, March 14, a resolution was put forward by Ward 3 City Councilor and Council President Ben Ewen-Campen and City Councilor At Large Willie Burnley Jr. that the Administration collaborate with the Council to draft a zoning ordinance to remove the requirement to build unnecessary new parking spaces.

By Joei Chan

On Saturday, March 16, the City of Somerville, partnered with CultureHouse and Neighborways Design, threw a block party at the East Somerville Community School to show and educate those in attendance the safety improvements for Glen and Otis Streets.

Cambridge Mothers Out Front, along with 350 MA-Cambridge/Somerville and the First Parish of Cambridge UU Environmental Justice Team, is hosting a public forum on March 20 about transitioning off gas to heat our buildings, including a presentation about networked geothermal energy, an innovative solution that is gaining momentum, and an update from Mass. Representative Steven Owens about state legislation currently in process. Wednesday, March 20, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m., First Parish in Cambridge, Unitarian Universalist, 1446 Mass. Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA.

Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll with Adeline Mannion, Liam Mannion and former City Councilor Bob McWatters. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor were spoofing the commercial Matt Damon and Ben Affleck did for the Super Bowl.

Liam Mannion, proprietor of Sally O’Brien’s, and former City Councilor Bob McWatters hosted a celebration of  Irish Heritage on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17 at Sally O’Brien’s. Sally’s featured an Irish fare of corned beef and cabbage, spirits, Irish music, and appearances of local and state elected officials. All were welcome to join the festivities.

(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)

March 8.
Yellow tulips for International Women’s Day were distributed to participants after thirty-five had gathered in Somerville at Davis Square to mourn the indiscriminate killing in Gaza. Alan Jehlen, attending the protest on Friday said “Ceasefire is the only way to be human.”

Eagle Feathers #300 – Boynton Yards

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

Somerville broke away from Charlestown in 1842. This was the same year that the Bunker Hill Monument was capped off and completed. It was also the year that the John P. Squire Company was founded. It was the first packing company established in the city.

After the long chilling days of winter, it’s nice to know that springtime has officially arrived. We anxiously await the final thaw and balmier days ahead.

One of the finer benefits of New England living is standing witness to the massive explosion of nature’s rebirth and renewal, seemingly amplified here. Grass, trees, wildlife and flowers all seem to go forth and multiply at an astounding rate, as if on cue to the call for “Action!”

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Interview by New England Poetry Club Co-President Doug Holder.

Recently, I was at a New England Poetry Club reading to hear poet Robbie Gamble and others read from their work. Gamble has a new chapbook out titled A Can of Pinto Beans. Gamble generously gave me a copy and I decided to interview this accomplished bard.

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Carissa Szabo is a current senior at Endicott College. She is soon to become an elementary school teacher in Turkey after graduation in May. She has always had a passion for new experiences. Growing up in rural Vermont, she was a neighbor to the trees and lakes. Her father and grandmother showed her their love of nature and from there Carissa began writing poetry about the natural world around her.