Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. From Patch: “Bullying affects more than one in five American students. It’s easy to dismiss that figure, saying ‘kids will be kids,’ but studies show that students who are bullied are at increased risk for anxiety, depression, poor self-image, mental and behavior health problems and poor performance in school.”

Support for domestic violence awareness was one of many issues addressed by the Somerville City Council at their latest meeting last week.

By Lizzie Heintz

Beginning the latest Somerville City Council meeting with a call to action last Thursday, Council President Katjana Ballantyne addressed the city’s residents with a call to action.

“We are a compassionate community.” Ballantyne said. “Let’s further show our compassion by helping others find the help that is available here. You might save a life.”

Ward 5 Alderman Mark Niedergang

(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.)

By Mark Niedergang, Ward 5 City Councilor

Statement from Ward 5 Resistat meeting held on October 10, 2019 (edited on October 15)

I want to say a little bit about my views on the Winter Hill Broadway bus and bike lanes, since that is a subject that we Councilors have received hundreds of emails about, roughly evenly split between pro and con.  I have asked the Administration to respond to the concerns we have heard about the new roadway on Broadway at tonight’s meeting and they will do so.  I have asked them to hold a community meeting and to implement some changes.

The publisher and staff of The Somerville Times are deeply saddened by the loss of Donald Norton, who succumbed last week to cancer. Our sincerest condolences go out to all his many friends and family at this time. Donald was the one-time owner of The Times, and in recent years served as its Managing Editor. We are extremely grateful for all the emails and calls from those offering their condolences. He will be missed by all of us here at The Times.

By Stephanie Hirsch

We start each City Council meeting with moments of silence for community members who have passed away. Some people we discuss are public figures, while others served their community by being the glue that kept a family or neighborhood close. As we hear about how they made a difference, the gaps each person leaves behind are clear, and I am always grateful that we get to reflect on their lives.  Here are two community contributors whose lives we honored recently.

Bluntly Speaking By Ross Blouin 

Somerville lost a tremendous friend last week. Donald Norton, well known Somerville real estate broker and outspoken political sage, passed away after a ten-month battle with cancer. Donald was a local character who was controversial to those who have so little to offer our community and beloved by all those who knew him for any length of time. Donald was a man of principles with the wisdom of Saul and a heart of gold. Donald did not suffer fools gladly. If he saw you doing something stupid or ridiculous he would let you know on no uncertain terms. It did not matter if you were a politician or a real estate broker Donald’s opinion would always be heard.

Whatever one’s feelings may be regarding the relative merits of the city’s SomerStreets events, one thing is clear: a good number of people end having a really great time for themselves.

For many, the best is saved for last. That, of course, is embodied in the Monster Mashed-Up event that brings out the kid in everyone who gets involved.

Master fiddler Jamie Laval returns to the Greater Boston area on Wednesday, November 6 at The Burren in Somerville. Jamie is recognized throughout the U.S. and Britain as one of the premier performers of traditional Celtic music on the international music scene today.

The popular Burren Backroom Series is presented by Boston’s Brian O’Donovan, host of the beloved A Celtic Sojourn on WGBH and producer of Celtic music for over thirty years.

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Donald Norton passed away last week. He was a great guy, tough when he needed to be, but with a heart of gold. Donald brought me on the paper 18 years ago, and it has been a wonderful ride ever since.

Donald Norton has lived in Somerville all of his 68 years. And if there is one thing that most people can agree on about this important figure in our city, it is that he has an unabashed love for Somerville. Norton, once the owner of The Somerville Times, is now the Managing Editor. The ownership of the paper is now in the hands of his longtime friend Ross Blouin. I met with Norton at my usual spot at the Bloc 11 Café in Union Square. Norton is a fount of information about the “Paris of New England,” and he had a plethora of anecdotes about the old city, and his view of things to come.

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Richard E. Brenneman, a native of rural Missouri, has returned to writing poetry after retirement from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He has been published in The Rimrock Poets Magazine, and The Denver Post Magazine in Colorado, in San Jose, California and also in England. He has lived in Boston for the past three decades.