The City of Somerville’s Prevention Services Division, in partnership with Cambridge Health Alliance, will host a virtual photovoice exhibition facilitated by Somerville youth to raise awareness about underage problem gambling. Photovoice is a method of exploring social issues that empowers individuals to tell a story through photography. The event will be held on Thursday, January 28, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. Visit somervillema.gov/ProblemGambling at that time for a link to attend. 

By Jim Clark

Somerville Police officers were dispatched to the Temple and Derby St. area on reports of a man wearing a blue mask, yellow hooded sweatshirt and backpack, riding a blue bicycle and circling the area, suspiciously checking out houses.

Shortly thereafter, the officers located a man matching that description in the area of 49 Fellsway West (Foss Park), just a street over from where the reporting party observed the suspicious individual.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Being born in Somerville in 1953 and growing up here in the 60’s and 70’s, there were certain stories and tales that bordered on reality. Was there really a kid that hung around playgrounds stealing kids’ balls and then biting the air valve? Fact or fiction? Let’s go back…

Thirty-fourth Middlesex District State Rep. Christine Barber.

From the Office of State Rep. Christine Barber

Governor Baker, in a private ceremony on Friday, January 15th, is expected to sign into law S.2931, An Act ensuring safe patient access to emergency care, also known as “Laura’s Law.” The Massachusetts House and Senate previously passed this bill to require every hospital emergency department in the state to have entrances that are properly monitored by security, clearly marked, and easily accessible, particularly to patients in distress.

Revolutionary Clinics’ Somerville location at 67 Broadway. — Photo courtesy of Revolutionary Clinics

By Hongyu Liu

On January 5, Revolutionary Clinics presented its plan of selling adult-use cannabis in its Somerville store.

Revolutionary Clinics is a medical dispensary selling medical marijuana in the State of Massachusetts. One of its three clinics is located at 67 Broadway Street in Somerville. It opened more than three years ago.

Officers James Torres, Joseph Moreira and Thomas Lambert received award medals

On November 18, 2020, at approximately 1:38 p.m., multiple units were dispatched to a residence on Medford St., for a reported overdose. Officer James Torres and Officer Joseph Moreira arrived on the residence first and observed a female running out the back door. Shortly after, the roommate of the victim arrived at the door to allow responding units inside.

The first phase of COVID–19 vaccinations is underway. Somerville Public Safety personnel are getting vaccines next week. Cambridge Health Alliance has been steadily vaccinating health workers with success, and now the city has just received 500 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine that were administered to first responders and 911 staff starting January 12 as part of Phase 1 vaccinations. For information on where you fall in the state’s vaccine rollout plan, check the timeline on the state’s website: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-vaccination-program. This is rapidly evolving information that may be subject to change, and city staff will continue to keep you updated via emails, their website, and other outreach. Have more questions about the vaccine? The Department of Public Health has a list of FAQs online and watch for a continually updated list of more FAQs at somervillema.gov/covidvaccine.

The city’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day ceremony will be held virtually this year with a pre-recorded program. Beginning Monday, January 18, the pre-recorded ceremony will air on City Cable (RCN channel 13 and Comcast channel 22) and the city’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/SomervilleCityTV. The event will include remarks from Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, School Committee Chair Andre Green, and Somerville resident Keidrick Roy; readings from student essays; music from the World Percussion Ensemble; and poetry by Arthur Collins.

Eagle Feathers #221 – Voyage to China

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

Joseph Barrell was born in 1739 and died in 1804. He was a Boston ship owner, a fishery merchant, a former member of the patriotic organization, Sons of Liberty, and was an exceedingly wealthy trader. Ten years after the American Revolution in 1793, he purchased Cobble Hill in Charlestown, which is now Somerville, and the over 211 acres of land surrounding it.