Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

My dad’s favorite saying was, “You tell them your Daddy said…!” My dad was a fierce family man and went to great lengths to protect his kids. He turned into Superman when he once threatened to “tip a car over” during a minor confrontation. He stuck up for me against bullies and unfair teachers. He became a scoutmaster when my brother and I joined.

The City Council affirmed its commitment to creating both administrative and public watchdog groups to aid in regulating police policies and conduct. — Photo by Kevin Carmichael

By Jim Clark

At the latest meeting of the Somerville City Council last week, a resolution was put forward and approved that would call upon the Council to create a police commission and a community police review agency.

By Alberto Gilman

The Water and Sewer Information Session on Thursday, June 11, brought the public and the Water and Sewer Department together to discuss the fiscal 2021 water rate increases for the city of Somerville.

Director of Water and Sewer John DeLuca presented and proposed a 7.5% water rate increase and 2.5% sewer rate increase with no change to base charges or fees for the 2021 fiscal year, a combined rate adjustment of 4%.

On Sunday, June 14, the City of Somerville recognized Flag Day as a day of remembrance and reflection to honor those lost to the COVID-19 virus and those who have been victims of systematic racism. The mayor and City Council asked that everyone take time to personally acknowledge and reflect on the gravity of these events and to mourn the loss of life associated with them. Residents were encouraged to reclaim our nation’s flag as a symbol of hope, welcome, comfort, and progress during these trying times. A joint letter from Mayor Joseph Curtatone and City Councilor At-Large Will Mbah regarding the unanimously passed City Council resolution to declare this day of remembrance can be read at https://www.thesomervilletimes.com/archives/100739.

Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone sporting his face mask for the “Masks of Boston” project. — Photo by Katherine Taylor

By Rachel Berets

Throughout the month of June, The Somerville Museum will present a virtual exhibit, Masks of Boston by Boston-based photographer Katherine Taylor. Taylor’s Masks of Boston project features portraits of Massachusetts residents, including Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, with masks on against a black background.

Thirty-fourth Middlesex District State Rep. Christine Barber.

Representative Christine P. Barber (D-34th Middlesex) of Somerville and Medford, led an effort along with Hannah Kane (R-11th Worcester) and Jay Livingstone (D-8th Suffolk District) that resulted in the extension of children’s meal sites throughout Massachusetts for the entire summer. 

Rep. Barber partnered with Project Bread, an anti-hunger organization committed to providing all people with access to nutritious food, to organize her colleagues and request the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) extend the child nutrition program area eligibility waiver through the summer – allowing all meal sites for children to continue to operate after the school year.

— Photos by Claudia Ferro

Somerville High School students had an opportunity to individually walk across the stage and pick up their diploma in a series of three hour events – two each day – scheduled by House in a series of “drive-up” graduation events at the Dilboy Stadium parking lot over the course of two days.

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I spoke with Somerville’s David Thorne Scott about his music and his life as an artist. Here is a bio that Scott sent me: “David Thorne Scott is an entertainer whose beautiful voice and creativity have thrilled audiences in venues large and small. His passion for bringing a modern edge to the classics of the Great American Songbook, as well as his original songs, earned his album Shade a ‘Top 5 CD of the Year’ by the Jazz Education Journal. Cadence Magazine said, ‘He phrases like a saxophone player and is as slippery and hip as the young Mel Tormé.’ Herb Wong, one of the west coast’s leading jazz experts, wrote, ‘I haven’t been this moved by a performance of For All We Know since Carmen McRae.’ David has sung with the Boston Pops, the Capital Jazz Orchestra, the New England Wind Symphony, and the Melrose Symphony, the Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra and the Thinkin’ Big Band.”

C.D. Collins is the author of three books, a collection of short stories, Blue Land (Polyho Press), a poetry collection (Ibbetson Street Press) and a novel, Afterheat (Empty City Press). Her fiction has appeared in numerous literary magazines including StoryQuarterly, Phoebe, Salamander and The Pennsylvania Review. Ms. Collins has received grants and awards from the Massachusetts College of Art, the Somerville Arts Council, the St. Botolph Club, The Kentucky Foundation for Women, the Cambridge Arts Council, the Malden Arts Council and Women Waging Peace.

Opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts continued a steady decline in the first three months of the year, according to the latest opioid-related overdose deaths report released today by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH).