We hope everyone enjoyed their Presidents’ Day holiday – for those who were fortunate enough to actually get the day off. The occasion reminds us that this is a presidential election year, so let’s all remember to get out and vote in the primary on March 3. Remember, it’s our Republic, and it’s up to us to keep it that way.

Drive-By Truckers stops off at the Somerville Theatre on Saturday in support of their latest release, “The Unraveling.” — Photo by Andy Tennille

Drive-by Truckers and Sonny Landreth to perform
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Two separate Somerville venues will play host to performances by two internationally renowned southern roots rocker outfits this week.

The alternative country/Southern rock band Drive-By Truckers (DBT) will be playing a show at the Somerville Theatre on Saturday, February 22.

L to R: Samuel Pahk, Elizabeth Gates, Aneurin Hullah, Sahai Virk, and Ultraviolet Gates. — Photo by Daniel Hullah

By Elizabeth Gates

A team of four students from the West Somerville Neighborhood School Math Club participated in the 2020 MetroNorth Chapter Competition on Saturday, February 8, held at Veterans Memorial Middle School in Melrose. WSNS came in 9th place out of 20 participating schools.

Eagle Feathers #198 – The Somerville Junction

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

The oldest passenger railway line in New England was the Boston to Lowell established in 1835. In 1870, it branched off at a location between Lowell and Central Streets and was called the Somerville Junction.

The Presidents’ Day holiday puts us in mind of those great leaders who governed us throughout our country’s tumultuous history: The American Revolution, the Civil War, two world wars, the Great Depression, the Civil Rights movement, Vietnam, and so on.

Arrests:
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Steven Garcia, of Boston, February 10, 4:58 p.m., arrested at Mystic Ave. on warrant charges of larceny under $1200, failure to stop or yield, trespassing, operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license, possession or use of counterfeit receipts, utter false prescription, and  obtaining drug by fraud.

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On any given meeting of the literary group Bagel Bards in Somerville, amidst the bobbing, hoary heads you might notice a strapping young Indian man taking in all the chatter around the table.

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Poet Barbara Reynolds writes: “The evolution of the vacant lot between Central Street and Laurel Street in the Union Square area has always caught my attention when I walk by: not only the changes in vegetation that occur each season, but also, the changes in usage. For a while the lot was allowed to grow wild, then, became a storage spot for trucks and building materials. Now, it is to become the location of a six-story luxury hotel. As recently as last summer, I saw rabbits roaming.”

Latest quarterly opioid data shows continued impact of fentanyl in overdose deaths

The rate of opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts fell an estimated 5 percent from its peak in 2016, despite the growing presence of the synthetic opioid fentanyl as a driver of opioid-related overdose deaths, according to preliminary data in the latest quarterly opioid surveillance report released by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

On January 22, the City of Somerville community meeting on police-community relations following the “Boston Straight Pride Parade” and Counter-Protest was held to gather additional public comment. The Draft Report on Community Feedback is now available online and open for public comment on the city website here: somervillema.gov/CBIDraftReport. The city is continuing to work on a number of initiatives following these events as noted in the City Response Memo posted here, and will now begin efforts to respond to input gathered at the meeting and elsewhere.