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Review by Off The Shelf correspondent Timothy Gager

Softly Glowing Exit Signs is a book of poetry with three longer pieces included: one of non-fiction, one of fiction, and an excerpt taken from Georgia Park’s writing catalog. The takeaway from reading Softly Glowing Exit Signs is that the writing is real life, and that overall poetry is real life, and that real life can be measured and unmasked within writing itself. When reading Softly Glowing Exit Signs I felt I was left in a room with Georgia Park, and she is telling me everything with a vulnerability she has not shown many people. It left me needing to read more, or sit and listen because anything else would be unjust.

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Shay Murphy writes: ” I am a freshman at Endicott College majoring in Digital Media with a concentration in Journalism. I am originally from Thomaston, Connecticut and spend most of my time with friends or my golden retriever, Chase.”

The Somerville Parks and Recreation Department is launching a new program: family-friendly field trips to fun locations in and around the Boston area. Beginning in December, Parks and Recreation will sponsor trips to places like the Stone Zoo, the Blue Man Group, Museum of Fine Arts, and more. Activities are appropriate for all ages, but children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. A full list of dates, activities and pricing is below and is also available at www.somervillerec.com. Participants must register at least two weeks prior to the field trip. Prices for each activity are per person, and include transportation.

Darlene M. (Varney) Pefine of Medford formerly of Somerville December 1, 2019.

Beloved wife of Ronald F. Pefine,Sr.

Dear daughter of the late Janet (Mead) and Harold “Chubby” White.

Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services is sending out thanks to the 66 volunteers who delivered Meals on Wheels Thanksgiving morning.

By Meghan Ostrander, Lindsey Smilack, and Nathan Lamb

For many of us, Thanksgiving is a wonderful day to relax and spend time with our families. On behalf of Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES), we are thanking all the volunteers who turned out Thanksgiving morning, so that our regular Meals on Wheels drivers could have the day off.

Nearly 45 local businesses and Union Square Main Streets will merrily present the Union Square Holiday Stroll for a fifth year on Saturday, December 14 from noon to 6:00 p.m.

This free, family-friendly event invites all to join in an afternoon of Union Square discovery filled with festive happenings and holiday delight. Event-goers will find:

Shop Small MA has teamed up with Tiny Turns Paperie and Courtney O’Keefe to present holiday markets spread across Somerville this season. Vendors will be setting up shop in Warehouse XI (11 Sanborn Court), La Brasa (124 Broadway) and the main hall of the historic Armory, 191 Highland Avenue, with crafted goods perfect to conquer anyone’s shopping list.

Please join the Somerville Department of Public Space and Urban Forestry, Ward 7 City Councilor Katjana Ballantyne, and the Somerville Public Schools on Wednesday evening, December 11, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for a community meeting to discuss layout and design options for the new West Somerville Neighborhood School schoolyard. The meeting will be held in the WSNS cafeteria, 177 Powder House Blvd.

What and where are Somerville’s Opportunity Zones and Why Should You Care?

By Diego Marcano and Flaviana Sandoval

Did you know that there are two “Opportunity Zones” in the city where investors can get tax breaks on capital gains they invest in property and businesses located in these areas?