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A woman who brings the burlesque to her performance and art
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Usually when someone comes to meet me in the back of the Bloc 11 Cafe in Somerville they find a white-bearded, bald guy hunched over a bagel or a newspaper – contemplating the meaning of meaning or whether it’s chicken or meatloaf for dinner. They are cautious in their approach – calculating in their movements. This was not the case with the multi-talented Somerville artist/performer jojo lazar. She burst into my quiet cocoon like a jovial Ethel Merman, as if, “everything is coming up roses” as the song goes. And indeed lazar is a performer and that is evident the first time you meet her.

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Cindy Veach is the author of Gloved Against Blood (CavanKerry Press), named a finalist for the 2018 Paterson Poetry Prize. Her work has appeared in The Academy of American Poets Poem-A-Day, AGNI, Prairie Schooner, Poet Lore, Michigan Quarterly Review, Salamander and elsewhere. She is a recipient of the Phillip Booth Poetry Prize and the Samuel Washington Allen Poetry Prize. Cindy is co-poetry editor of Mom Egg Review.

Arrests:
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Shannon McKim, of 5 Lincoln St., May 15, 7:07 p.m., arrested at Broadway on a warrant charge of miscellaneous statutory violation.

Noe Hernandez, of 90A Flint St., May 15, 8:04 p.m., arrested at Broadway on charges of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

(L to R) Firefighter Christine Guelpa, Legoland Master Model Builder Megan Amaral, Lt. Francis Otting, Chief Charles Breen, Firefighter Danielle O’Hearn and Lt. Blanca Alcaraz. — Photo courtesy of Somerville F.D.

On Friday, May 17, Legoland Discovery Center celebrated the Somerville Fire Department’s women firefighters. Four of Somerville’s five women firefighters represented the department and spoke about their careers in the fire service and their love for their job. They also presented fire safety tips to the children in attendance.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 2 City Councilor J.T. Scott, and Ward 3 City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen invite you to a public meeting for an update on the Somerville Ave. Utilities & Streetscape Improvements project and ongoing construction in the Union Square area. The meeting will be held Tuesday, June 4, at 6 p.m. in the Academy Room at the Somerville Public Safety Building, 220 Washington St.

Carolynn Nagao Marcotte is a licensed social worker.

By Carolynn Nagao Marcotte

Sometimes we see changes with older friends or family members that spark concerns.  Wanting to help is entirely natural, but those good intentions can sometimes lead to disagreements, frustration, and arguments.

It is a common challenge: what is the best way to tactfully offer assistance? Having worked with many families to help unravel these kinds of issues, I will caution that each circumstance is unique, but the following tips might be helpful:

East Somerville Main Streets in collaboration Somerville Media Center present A Conversation with East Somerville on Thursday, May 23 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Somerville Media Center’s VOX POP at Assembly Row, a pop up community, arts and media space (somervillemedia.org/voxpop).

The Green Line Extension (GLX) project and the City of Somerville High School (SHS) Project have accelerated the scheduled closure of the Medford Street Bridge in Gilman Square at Pearl Street.

A public information session regarding contamination at Conway Park will be held on Wednesday, May 29, at the Public Safety Building (Police Headquarters) at 220 Washington Street, at 6:30 p.m. The purpose of the Meeting is to present the Draft Public Involvement Plan (PIP) for the Site in accordance with 310 CMR 40.1405 (5)(a)(2), provide an update with respect to Site activities, and to solicit feedback from the public.

The American Red Cross has a critical shortage of type O blood and urges eligible donors to give now to help patients facing trauma and other life-threatening situations. As a thank-you for helping replenish the blood supply, all donors who come to give blood or platelets now through June 10 will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email.