Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

If you really want to appreciate your childhood city, move away for a while. You’ll either stay away or eventually yearn to come back.

I or my family family have maintained an address in Somerville since 1919. I did however pack my bags a few times and move away. I thought I was relocating permanently. I found out a geographical solution was not the answer. Lol.

The Somerville City Council is asking for an update on what plans may be in place to deal with any potential water contamination problems that may arise in the future.

By Jim Clark

An order was put forward and approved at the the latest regular meeting of the Somerville City Council asking for the Director of Health and Human Services to report to the Council on the plan for an emergency response to the increased risk of disruption to the potable water supply due to water contamination from strong storms caused by climate change.

The public was recently invited to a meeting to report on progress in the planning of the Arthur D. Healey School’s new schoolyard.

By Adam Parise

Last Thursday, November 7, city officials and residents gathered at the Arthur D. Healey School’s cafeteria to discuss the layout, features and construction for the new schoolyard.

During the presentation, residents asked questions regarding the current situation and the future for the schoolyard, including what it would look like.

— Photos by Claudia Ferro

Fourteen veterans were recognized for their service at this year’s Somerville Heroes Salute ceremony held on Saturday, November 9, at the Holiday Inn.

Eight World War II veterans, two Vietnam veterans, this year’s Somerville Police and Fire Veterans of the Year, and the first inductee to the Iraq/Afghanistan Hall of Fame were honored. Bishop Henry A. Moultrie II received this year’s Somerville Profile in Courage Award. Along with being a Vietnam veteran, Bishop Moultrie recently retired after 45 years as the pastor and founder of the Mission Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ in Somerville.

As part of the Crossing the Line: In Search of Sanctuary exhibit at the Nave Gallery, there will be a Community Panel Discussion Shelter from the Storm – The Importance of Sanctuary Cities, on Sunday, November 17, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. This special community panel discussion will feature Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone, Prof. Susan Akram, Boston University, Ben Echevarria, Executive Director, Somerville Welcome Project and Somerville Councilor, Wilfred Mbah. The Nave Gallery is located at 155 Powder House Blvd. For more info, visit https://navegallery.org/wp/crossing-the-line-in-search-of-sanctuary.

— Photo courtesy of PUMA

By Eloise Driscoll

This fall, global sports brand PUMA donated sports equipment and uniforms to several athletic teams at Somerville High School. The donation comes ahead of PUMA’s upcoming 2021 headquarters move to Somerville’s Assembly Square, where it will unify its two offices, currently located in Westford, Mass. and Boston.

~Photos by Bobbie Toner

The Little Sisters of the Poor held their final Bazaar on Saturday, November 9.

A long-standing tradition in Somerville, it was a great way to get an early start on Christmas shopping, win big raffle prizes, and enjoy food and games while supporting a great cause. Attendees took advantage of the chance to win an Apple Watch, a Roomba i7 Robot vacuum, drones, cash prizes, and much more.

Once again the democratic process has run its course and those of us who chose to participate can rest assured that we have done our parts in having a say in who governs and guides our city as we head into the future.

We congratulate all who participated as candidates, not only those who were elected, but also those who missed achieving their victories. Everybody benefits when clearly diverse choices are presented to voters. Without that, the process could only be regarded as a hollow covenant. It takes a lot of courage and self-confidence to put oneself on the block in this way.

Arrests:
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Joanir Deoliviera, November 5, 12:21 p.m., arrested at Broadway on warrant charges of trespassing, possession of heroin, and felony daytime breaking and entering.

Kyle Breton, of 592 Ash St., Brockton, November 5, 4:13 p.m., arrested at Middlesex Ave. on warrant charges of receiving a stolen motor vehicle, possession of a class A drug, shoplifting over $250 by asportation, shoplifting over $250 by concealing merchandise, conspiracy, receiving stolen property under $1200, drug possession to distribute, and larceny under $1200.

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Review by Off the Shelf Correspondent Dennis Daly

X.J. Kennedy knows what he’s doing. Into his ninth decade he is one of a handful of poetry grandmasters who revived the ongoing formalist tradition of rhyme and meter, giving it new life and introducing original beats and jazzy tones. His countermeasures against the status quo not only presented an alternative to the undisciplined brand of free verse popular at the time, but rejected its mirror image, the old, tired, formalist drivel being foisted by academia onto that unsuspecting generation of long-suffering students.