The lack of a crossing guard or police assistance at the intersection of Curtis St. and Powder House Blvd. prompted an inquiry at the behest of City Councilors Mbah and Pineda Neufeld. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Katherine Davis

On Thursday, October 24, the Somerville City Council held its regular meeting to cover a number of topics city-wide. Some of these fell under the securement of third-spaces for teens in the city, others were regarding the securement of a permit for Trick-or-Treat on October 31. A few of the more unique discussions are as follows:

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, the Somerville Commission for Women, RESPOND, Inc., the Somerville Public Library, and the Department of Racial and Social Justice (RSJ) invite residents to attend the city’s annual Domestic Violence Vigil on Wednesday, October 30. This annual vigil is dedicated to commemorating the lives lost to domestic violence in the past year, recognizing the strength of survivors, and renewing our community’s dedication to eradicating domestic violence. The 2024 Somerville Domestic Violence Vigil will begin at 6:00 p.m. at the East Somerville Library (115 Broadway). If there is rain, the vigil will move indoors to Connexion, 149 Broadway. The event is free and open to the public. Light food and refreshments will be provided. There will be American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation at the event. If you would like to attend, please consider RSVPing in advance here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/city-of-somerville-2024-domestic-violence-vigil-tickets-1038275519027?aff=oddtdtcreator.

(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 Chris Dwan

The conversation around the fate of the low brick industrial buildings along Somerville Ave between Park and Church Streets (AKA American Tube Works, AKA the Ames Envelope Complex, AKA “SomerNova”) has entered a new and hopefully more productive phase. Mayor Ballantyne’s administration has started something they call the Central Somerville Avenue Plan – a city-led process to:

Eagle Feathers #316 –All Hallows’ Eve

 By Bob (Monty) Doherty

Halloween, the last day of October and the day before the Christian, All Saints Day, had its origin in ancient Celtic lore. It was considered a time of year when both good and evil spirits and ghosts flourished. Bonfires were lit, masks were made, jack-o-lanterns were carved out, and witches were said to have haunted the skies on brooms.  Most of these fables and myths never crossed the ocean, but some unfortunately took root here.                                     

For some of us it feels like forever since we’ve shaken off the cares and concerns that seem to be bearing down so heavily as we observe the divisions and discord that has been so prevalent in our society over the past few years.

The local election is just around the corner, and the national election is coming up next year. The balance of power in Washington will be in play, and more than ever it seems as though so much will be at stake in that particular election cycle, no matter which side we align with.

Somerville ran the table at the Greater Boston League (GBL) Championships last week. Both teams won in convincing fashion, with the Boys Team besting runner up Medford, 35-55, out of the eight (8) team field. The Girls Team held off a determined challenge by Medford again, also copping the GBL crown 53-62. Somerville placed six (6) runners (4 Boys/2 Girls) in the top ten to garner All Star status. The Teams now turn their attention to the MIAA Division 1 Championship Meet at Northfield Mountain on November 9.

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Recently I caught up with Joey Gould, a well-admired poet in Massachusetts and beyond. Gould is all about breaking the traditional labels that have been entrenched in our society.

From their website,

“Joey Gould is the author of The Acute Avian Heart (2019, Lily Poetry Review). Joey is a long-time contributor to Mass Poetry, for which they assist the Poetry Festival Planning Committee, lead workshops for Student Day of Poetry events around Massachusetts, write web articles for MassPoetry.org, and judge slams for Louder Than a Bomb MA. Their work has appeared in Paper Nautilus, Drunk Monkeys, The Compassion Anthology, Memoir Mixtapes, and District Lit, amongst others. They have twice been nominated for Bettering American Poetry and once for a Pushcart Prize. Since their first public reading as a fellow of Salem State University’s Summer Poetry Seminar, they have performed in The Poetry Circus, Elle Villanelle’s Poetry Bordello, and The Poetry Society of New York’s Poetry Brothel. In addition to their Mass Poetry work, they have taught workshops for the Salem Poetry Seminar and Salem Lit Fest. They write 100-word reviews as poetry editor for Drunk Monkeys. Most important, they like Pusheen and painting their nails.”

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Kevin Gallagher is a poet, publisher, and political economist living in Greater Boston. His latest book is And Yet it Moves. Gallagher edits spoKe, a Boston-based annual of poetry and poetics. He was born in Somerville and now works as a professor of global development policy at Boston University.

Ronald S. Perry of West Roxbury, passed away peacefully, on Friday, October 25, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. Beloved husband of the late W. Patrica (Craddock) Perry. Devoted father of Maryellen (Perry) Collins and her husband, Bernie, Ronald K. Perry and his wife, Sheila and Patrice (Perry) Berens and her husband, Michael. He also leaves behind nine treasured grandchildren, Dr. Andrew Collins and his husband, Dan Batchelder, Christine Collins Bunnell and her husband, William, Megan Collins Schmitt and her husband, Michael, Matthew Perry and his wife, Katie, Jessica Perry, Dr. Cassandra Perry, Alicia Perry, Caroline Berens and Emma Berens. He also leaves behind nine cherished great-grandchildren.