Area residents took part in an informational community meeting where issues concerning the ongoing Green Line Extension project were discussed.

By Adam Parise

Last Tuesday, November 19, residents gathered at the East Somerville Community School to discuss the current and upcoming status regarding the MBTA’s Green Line Extension (GLX) Project to extend the light rail system to the Union Square and Tufts University communities.

Lucas Turner-Owens of the Boston Ujima Project and Yamila Ruiz of Restaurant Opportunities Centers United spoke at Slow Food Boston’s panel. — Photos by Shira Laucharoen

By Shira Laucharoen  

Panelists and community members explored the topic of fairness in the restaurant industry at Slow Food Boston’s second Slow Food Conversation: Worker Justice = Food Justice on November 19. Hosted at Union Square’s Remnant Brewing, the talk featured speakers Yamila Ruiz, director of RAISE at Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC United), and Lucas Turner-Owens, fund manager of the Boston Ujima Project. The event was moderated by Irene Li, chef and operating manager of Mei Mei Restaurant.

The recent community panel discussion provided residents and civic leaders with an opportunity to engage in a dialog concerning challenges faced by immigrants and the cities that take them in. — Photo courtesy of Nave Gallery

By Lizzie Heintz

On Sunday, November 17, citizens of Somerville gathered at the Nave Gallery, inside the Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church, for a community panel discussion on “The Importance of Sanctuary Cities.” Speakers at the panel were Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone, Prof. Susan Akram of Boston University, Executive Director of the Somerville Welcome Project Ben Echevarria, and Somerville Councilor At-Large Wilfred Mbah.

The Somerville High School Highlanders battle the Cambridge Rindgeand Latin School Falcons in the annual Backyard Football Rivalry. Cambridge hosts the game this year at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 28 at Russell Field. Tickets are $7 on game day. Don’t miss the chance to support our team. The game location is subway accessible by taking the RedLine to Alewife Station. For directions to Russell Field visit their webpage: http://cpsdcrls.ss5.sharpschool.com/cms/One.aspx

(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.)

On Friday, November 22, Somerville Bicycle Safety delivered a petition signed by almost 700 people to Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone. The petition asks that the mayor make a public commitment to build protected bike lanes on Powder House Boulevard and to build protected bike lanes when the city does significant road work on major thoroughfares throughout the city.

Former Somerville Mayor, and Congressional Rep. Mike Capuano is a 1969 graduate. (L) Jim Donovaro, (R) Michael Capuano.

Some 120 guests were in attendance at Anthony’s of Malden on Saturday, November 23 for the 50th Anniversary reunion of the Class of 1969. DJ Dave Glinner entertained and the Memorabilia Table was filled with treasures classmates brought to show and share.

Thanksgiving Day gives us that little nudge we sometimes need to take stock in what is most important for us and to share in the sense of appreciation that we feel amongst one another.

Some of us have it better than others, it goes without saying. Conversely, many of us may be struggling to simply make ends meet. One thing that unites us all in common spirit is the heartfelt acknowledgement of what we do have to be grateful for.

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Reviewed by Gregory J. Wolos

Put me in Coach, I’m ready to play today
Look at me, I can be Centerfield
— John Fogerty, Centerfield

What is Baseball? It’s a sport, of course, but it’s more than just that. It’s not a religion, but it’s close. It’s called America’s pastime, but its time is more than simply the “past” – baseball encompasses past, present, future in a way that makes the passing of time irrelevant. Which isn’t to say that baseball doesn’t live in its moments – in fact, it’s the moments that snag in our memory – a hit, a catch, a pitch, a play at the plate, an argument with an umpire, a portrait on a baseball card.

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Megan Hemenway is a freshman at Endicott College, majoring in Communications and minoring in Creative Writing. She is originally from Woburn, Massachusetts and has had a passion for writing and the arts since she was a little girl. Although she has found poetry difficult in the past, she believes this poem (among others), has helped her grow a fondness for poetic expression.

The message was sent out tonight to the parents and guardians of Somerville Public School students.

A message from SOMERVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

It is with a very heavy heart that we share the devastating news that our colleague and friend Leo DeSimone died unexpectedly this evening.

A long-time member of the Somerville High School leadership team, Leo was most recently Associate Principal and Director of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) program at SHS. More importantly, 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. Under his leadership, the SHS CTE program was widely recognized as one of the best in the Commonwealth, drawing from a vast network of support from private industry partners who shared in his vision for our students.