(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)

By Chris Dwan

The zoning proposal currently on the table from Rafi Properties is a non-starter. They should withdraw it and propose incremental adjustments to the current zoning instead. If they choose not to withdraw, the City Council should swiftly and unanimously vote it down – after the legally required public hearing, of course.

(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)

By Justin Klekota

On March 5, Massachusetts Democrats will have the opportunity to renominate President Joe Biden and elect local Democratic State, Ward, and Town Committee members.  I’m Justin Klekota, your Democratic State Committeeman, and it’s been an honor representing the Second Middlesex District including Somerville, Medford, Cambridge & Winchester. I am the first member of the LGBTQIA+ community to win this seat. Together, we organized dozens of phonebanks drawing hundreds of volunteers for Biden/Harris and Senate Democrats, knocked thousands of doors, and advocated successfully for climate and mail-in voting legislation that is now law.

Red Line service will be suspended between Alewife and Harvard stations all day from start to end of service for 10 days from February 5-14. Beginning at approximately 8:45 p.m. through the end of service every day during the same period from February 5-14, this Red Line service suspension will be extended to Park Street (meaning evening service will be suspended between Alewife and Park Street). For more information, please visit mbta.com.

(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)

By Rand Wilson

The Democratic Party needs new, progressive, and energetic leadership. Elected Democrats are now in control of all branches of our state government. Despite this, we can’t pass some form of rent control or build enough affordable housing. Our minimum wage is well below a living wage. Our public transportation is neither affordable nor well-functioning. Year after year the Democratic-controlled legislative leadership won’t even allow a state single-payer insurance plan to come to a floor vote.

Valentine’s Day is coming around once again next week, an occasion that many hold dear and cherish. For some, in fact, it is one of their favorite days of the year.

Sure, many people think it’s a corny tradition. Just another gimmick to ramp up sales of candies, cards, wine and what-not. For others, it’s a special time that provides an opportunity to express their deepest affections to the one – or many – who mean so much to them.

Eagle Feathers #297 – Somerville’s Liquid Measure

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

“Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink,” is a line from, Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s famous poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. It proposes that regardless of being enveloped by something, you cannot benefit from it. Like a sailor on a ship in idle waters, he is surrounded by salt water that he cannot drink.

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Recently, I had poet Pui Ying Wong read at the Newton Free Library Series, a series that I have curated for over 22 years. Her poems contain lyric beauty; and she is a master of metaphor. Pui Ying Wong’s new poetry collection Fanling in October is from Barrow Street Press.

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Larry Beckett’s poetry ranges from brief lyrics and songs to blank sonnets and book-length narrative works. His work has appeared in Zyzzyva, Salamander, and FIELD. Three book-length poems have been published, Paul Bunyan, by Smokestack Books, Wyatt Earp, by Alternating Current Press, and Amelia Earhart, by Finishing Line Press, with strong reviews in Zyzzyva. This text, along with others, is part of an epic, American Cycle, published by Running Wild Press. The Book of Merlin is out from Livingston Press, and Song to the Siren is forthcoming from Halbaffe Press.

The Presidential Primary election for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is Tuesday, March 5. The primary election is open to all registered voters in Somerville. Somerville voters can vote early in person or by mail.