Somerville’s 2019 holiday celebrations will kick off on Thursday, December 5, with the Christmas Tree Lighting on the City Hall Concourse, followed by a meet-and-greet with Santa Claus in the City Council Chambers. All children who attend will receive a special gift from Santa. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. with live entertainment prior to the official tree lighting. Santa Claus will, as always, be escorted by the Somerville Fire and Police Departments.

(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.)

Dear editor,

Vaping by youth has become what the U.S. Surgeon General calls an epidemic and many people are working to find solutions.  I’m asked frequently what can be done to turn the tide, and now new resources are available to educate youth and help those who want to quit vaping.

Somerville High Schools students gathered for a vigil last Friday that they organized to honor CTE Director Leo DeSimone, who passed away unexpectedly last Tuesday. DeSimone was highly respected by both SHS students and staff, as expressed in a statement released by the school last week: “…he was a trusted, much-loved, and highly respected colleague, mentor, teacher, and friend. His compassion for his students was evident in the way he interacted with them on a daily basis; he was quick to offer a smile, a high five, and a word of encouragement. He took great pride in the exceptional work of his staff, his students, and his colleagues and was the ultimate team player, always putting the best interests of his school community ahead of his own. Leo’s work ethic and commitment to helping students find their professional passion was unparalleled.”

So, the first significant snowfall of the season has touched down and left us with a picturesque Currier and Ives type dusting of the region just in time to serve as decoration for the holiday season.

Does everyone love it? No. Does anyone hate it? Maybe. Some can live with it, while others wouldn’t live without it.

Eagle Feathers #193 – Night Lights

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

Light means different things to many people. One of the descriptions in Merriam Webster’s Dictionary is “it’s the essential condition of vision, the opposite of darkness.” At this time of year when the days are shorter and the nights are approaching their darkest, Somerville’s citizens have always endured. They learned to light up the night. They lit their torches, candles, lanterns and beacons; and as time went by, they flicked on the Edison switches of today to make things bright.

Arrests:
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Justin Myrick, of 4 Golden Court, Medford, November 27, 12:20 a.m., arrested at Mystic Ave. on a warrant charge of drug possession to distribute.

James McKenna, of 31 Cheverus Rd., Dorchester, November 30, 12:38 a.m., arrested at Linwood St. on charges of felony daytime breaking and entering of a vehicle or boat, violation of city ordinance open container, and assault and battery on a public employee, and on a warrant charge of assault and battery.

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Toni Bee met me in the backroom of the Bloc 11 Cafe to discuss her life as a poet, mother, woman, activist, African-American, etc. Bee made it clear to me that she doesn’t want to be straight-jacketed into any particular label. A formidable figure, with a voice that makes sure it is heard, Bee also exhibits a great deal of warmth. But she is not one who is afraid to spit out the truth no matter how uncomfortable it feels.

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Margery Hutter Silver’s first career was as an editor for the Atlantic Monthly and Boston book publishing houses. After her retirement from her second career in geriatric europsychology, during which she wrote and published the book, Living to 100 (Perseus, 1999) and many journal articles, she expected to return to her first love, writing short stories. Instead, she began to write and loves poetry.

O’Donnell, Keith J. – 60, of Somerville, passed away on November 30, 2019. Beloved husband of Denise J. (Splaine) O’Donnell.

Cherished son of the late Wanda Fleming.

Loving father of Keith M. O’Donnell of Somerville and his fiancée Nicole, Daniel F. O’Donnell of Somerville, Michaela J. O’Donnell of Greenfield and her fiancé Thomas Richardson.