(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 Alan Bingham

Historically a worker’s town, Somerville is densely populated bordering Cambridge and Boston. Its location always meant higher than median land prices. The population in the late 19th and early 20th centuries included workers of many ethnic backgrounds, but heavily Irish and Italian.

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Popcorn is one of those versatile snacks that doesn’t have to be boring. There are many different choices out there when it comes to the type of popping corn to choose from, white, yellow, red, blue, heirloom, and so on. Once you chose the type of corn, you can decide what flavorings you want to add to the finished product. I prefer my popcorn with savory flare. In addition to the rosemary flavor, I have tried a mixture of chili powders and even za’atar seasonings.

Arrests:
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James Butler, of 306 Woburn St., Wilmington, April 23, 1:27 p.m., arrested at Mystic Ave. on charges of operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license, possession of a class B drug, motor vehicle operator giving false name or address to a police officer, and failure to stop or yield, and on a warrant charge of possession of a class B drug.

A play by Lawrence Kessenich and Doug Holder*

Reviewed by playwright, Mary M. McCullough

Paul Victor Walsh (center-as the patient) Greg Hovanesian (as Leon–the mental health worker), Lis Adams (the nurse). Presented by the Boston Playwright’s Platform

The Patient, a play adapted by Lawrence Kessenich from a short story by Doug Holder, has three characters. LEON, a mental health generalist, as he refers to himself, sleeps days in his boarding house room. He is getting a graduate degree in American Literature, while working nights in a mental hospital. His work entails sitting by the bedside of a drugged and bound PATIENT. Other than speaking directly to the audience, his only interactions are with the patient and an overly friendly NURSE who attempts to engage Leon in her social life, outside the hospital. The play raises questions about sanity. When the patient wakes to confront Leon, the patient’s questions and analysis of Leon life threatens Leon’s fragile sense of himself. Leon tells him to go back to sleep but who is really asleep? The patient is more alive and more rational than Leon, asserting that Leon can choose to live differently. He also tells Leon that his boarding house room is a “suicide suite.” Leon, in a beautifully written, poetic monologue, early in the play, confirms he is “dreaming of remote possibilities that are actual dead ends.” Is Leon a suicide candidate? The play leaves one thinking that Leon and the patient are opposite sides of the same coin; and that the coin is about to be flipped. The play is well written and very intriguing.

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Jason Youngclaus was born in Boston and graduated from College of the Holy Cross 2005. In university he studied and was captivated by the Romantic poets, particularly Coleridge. You will find his poems in Junto Magazine, Swimming with Elephants Publications, From Whispers to Roars, the Esthetic Apostle and others. He lives in the Bronx, NY.

Listen to music on your neighbors’ porches throughout the city

Have you ever sat on your porch and overheard a neighbor strumming guitar on another porch? PorchFest takes this idea and multiplies it to create a city-wide event where neighbors share their love of playing and listening to music.

John (Jack) McCarthy died suddenly on April 24^th 2019 at age 55.  He was predeceased by his parents Thomas and Mary Jane (Kiley).  Jack attended Saint Clement High School in Medford where he played football and referred to himself as “Engine 88.”  He enlisted in the US Army and attended the Defense Language Institute in California where he studied Russian.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and the City Council invite residents to attend the first ResiStat Community Meetings of 2019. These meetings are held twice a year in each of Somerville’s seven Wards to share the latest City news, data, and neighborhood updates with residents and provide an opportunity for residents, elected officials, and City staff to talk with each other.

Frank R.  Senesi Sr. – of Somerville April 23, 2019. Beloved husband of Assunta M. (Scafiddi) Senesi. Loving father of Karen M. Toner and her husband Robert of Somerville, Frank R. Senesi, Jr. of Arlington. Brother of the late Rose Restivo, Gus Senesi, Teresa Mederios and Alyce Tolle. Dear grandfather of Jennifer, Marissa and Kimberly Toner.

Deb McLean (left) of Somerville Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) recently appeared with Sue Tabb (right) on the Exceptional Women podcast at Magic 106.7. McLean is the Nutrition Programs Director at SCES and was in-studio to discuss the health and social benefits of meals programs.

The social and health benefits of Meals on Wheels were recently featured on the Magic 106.7 podcast, Exceptional Women.

The episode featured Deb McLean, who is Nutrition Programs Director at Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES). Speaking on behalf of a consortium of 27 agencies that provide Meals on Wheels across Massachusetts, McLean said the program plays a vital role in combating malnutrition and food insecurity.