(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.)

To the Editor:

I write to correct the errors made in the May 22nd front-page article, “Short term rental ordinance set for recommendation to the City Council.”

Your May 22nd article on the short-term rental (STR) ordinance was based on a rather old version of the ordinance, which went through many changes and versions.  The City Council passed the STR ordinance on May 23rd, and it will take effect on January 1, 2020.

SPD is one of 86 accredited departments across the state.

On June 4, 2019, the Somerville Police Department received state accreditation from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission.

Accreditation is a self-initiated evaluation process by which police departments strive to meet and maintain standards that have been established for the profession, by the profession. These carefully selected standards reflect critical areas of police management, operations, and technical support activities. They cover areas such as policy development, emergency response planning, training, communications, property and evidence handling, use of force, vehicular pursuit, prisoner transportation and holding facilities. The program not only sets standards for the law enforcement profession, but also for the delivery of police services to citizens of the commonwealth. The Assessment Team found the Somerville Police Department to be in compliance with all applicable standards for Accreditation.

The Somerville City Council passed a resolution expressing support for the 1973 Supreme Court protections for a pregnant woman’s liberty to choose whether or not to have an abortion.

By Jim Clark

At the latest regular meeting of the Somerville City Council, a resolution was put forward reaffirming support for the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision which affirmed that access to safe and legal abortion is a constitutional right.

The “Just One Run” 5k in Memory of James M. Pefine, a fundraiser that benefits those in recovery, took place last Sunday in Somerville. — Photos courtesy of the Ryan Harrington Foundation

By Jennifer Grimes

The fourth annual 5k adult race and walk bravely named “Just One Run” began at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 2. The three-mile loop started at the Blessing of the Bay Boathouse, snaked around the Mystic River, and crossed over the Wellington Bridge in Somerville.

Tonight, Wednesday, June 5, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., The Committee to Elect Mary Marshall for Ward 3 School Committee is hosting her campaign kickoff fundraiser at The Neighborhood Restaurant in Union Square. All are welcome to attend. You can find out more about Mary’s campaign platform by going to her website: MaryVMarshall.com.

The Big Gay Dance Party in Union Square helped kick off Pride Month on Saturday. ~Photos by Michele J Martin

By SC

The Somerville Arts Council and the Department of Health and Human Services presented the Big Gay Dance Party to celebrate the beginning of Pride Month on Saturday, June 1.

The dance party, which took place in the heart of Union Square, beginning at 5:30 p.m. and ending around 8:30 p.m., was free and open to all ages.

The “Bridge Hopper” shuttle service, intended to help alleviate the traffic congestion created by GLX construction bridge closures, was but one of a plethora of issues discussed at the Ward 4 ResiStat meeting.

By Melissa Rosales

Community members of Ward 4 gathered together to learn about their neighborhood’s updates and news at Healey School on Thursday, May 30.

The Spring 2019 ResiStat Community Meetings is a twice-yearly effort by Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and the Board of Aldermen to share and discuss the latest on city news, data, policies, programs, and more.

DavisNOW.org, the community group who developed the “punchlist” of problems in Davis Square (go to http://online.flipbuilder.com/havm/vrsp/) will be holding a public progress update meeting on June 10 at the (new) Dilboy Post, 351 Summer St., starting at 6.30 p.m.

Another year passes and we pause at this time to congratulate and honor the hard-working students who achieved their goal of successfully completing their courses of studies at their respective high schools and colleges.

It takes a lot of dedication and commitment to follow through to completion in this world, which is filled with so many challenges and distractions. It is no small feat to take one’s education to the limit, and these moments represent important milestones along the path to success in life.

Eagle Feathers #180 – Kate Smith

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

“May Day” in this country is a day when the sight of budding trees and flowers tells us that winter is over and children sing around May poles to celebrate the arrival of spring. In other countries, like Russia, it’s a day of viewing parades and exhibiting national pride. Kate Smith would spend her life celebrating both of these practices. She was a singing patriot. She was born on May 1, 1907, May Day, and she died on June 17, 1986, Bunker Hill Day. Kathryn Elizabeth Smith grew up in the nation’s capitol. At eight years old, she sang for World War I veterans; and while attending nursing school as a teen, she sang for patients.