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Interview with Meia Geddes.

Off the Shelf correspondent Meia Geddes, a former Somerville resident, is the author of The Little Queen, a whimsical and wise epic that received a starred Kirkus review and was included on their “Best Indie Books” list. Actor Rosie Jones recently narrated The Little Queen to create a beautiful audiobook, good company for these pandemic times. Below is an interview with narrator Rosie Jones on the craft of audio and acting.

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Joshua Corwin, a Los Angeles native, is a neurodiverse, two Pushcart Prize, one Best of the Net nominated poet and Spillwords Press Publication of the Month winner. His collection Becoming Vulnerable (2020) details his experience with autism, addiction, sobriety and spirituality. Corwin has forthcoming collaborative poetry projects with Ellyn Maybe and David Dephy. He hosts the poetry podcast Assiduous Dust, writes for Oddball Magazine and teaches poetry at The Miracle Project, an autism nonprofit. www.joshuacorwin.com.

Arrests:
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Jason Ventolieri, December 4, 9:55 a.m., arrested at Franklin St. on warrant charges of shoplifting by asportation, possession of a burglarious instrument, and larceny from a building.

Somerville High School students in the National Honors Society with staff members Cynthia Massillon and Veronica Rowlinson held a Thanksgiving Food Drive for non-perishable food items and monetary donations that smashed previous records. Students were able to donate meal kits directly to families, donate food to a local pantry and give $1300 to the Clarendon and Mystic Housing Authority Toy Drive, an initiative Dean Massillon described as “close to home for the students.”

Open Positions: Eight positions available

Term: 12 months (anticipated)

Availability: Immediate

The City of Somerville is seeking community members to serve on a Charter Review Committee.

As a follow-up to an Arts Community Town Hall held in September, two additional virtual meetings have been scheduled to discuss issues related to Somerville’s arts and culture community. 

Cash prizes up to $1000, Elfie-Selfies that support local food programs and more

Union Square Main Streets (USMS) announces details for its 6th Annual Holiday Stroll including rad retail, unique eats, a mile long inflatable trail, the Keep Small Strong Challenge and much more. This free and family friendly celebration began Friday, December 4 and continues throughout the square for eight days. 

— Photo © McCormick

It may take a little extra time and creativity, but a holiday cookie exchange can be held virtually and it’s worth the effort according to experts.

“There’s a famous quote, ‘If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.’ It’s so true for me as I find great joy in developing easy, flavorful recipes,” says Cindy Gilbert, McCormick Test Kitchen chef. “My friends have come to me for years requesting tips and tricks, and over 20 years ago, they anointed me the annual holiday cookie exchange leader. This past year has been challenging, but I knew I wanted to keep the tradition alive while following social distancing guidelines.”

Simple eco-friendly changes to your daily routines can help the planet. — Photo © lady_in_red13 / iStock via Getty Images Plus

Each American throws out about 4.5 pounds of trash per day, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. By incorporating the “Three Rs” (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) into routines, you can help divert some of this waste away from landfills to help protect the environment.

Here are a few ideas for changing your habits to be more eco-friendly: