By Donald Norton

A St. Patrick’s Day celebration was held at Sally O’Briens Irish Pub on Sunday. Owner Liam Mannion welcomed many friends and patrons. Bob McWatters also had many friends and family there. Early to arrive and soon had to leave was Secretary of State Bill Galvin. He was heading out to visit a few watering holes. The evening was nice, the corned beef and cabbage was great and the Guinness flowed as it should on this holiday where everyone is Irish. A nice crowd enjoying each other’s company and listening to the Irish band on stage. By the way, if you haven’t been to Sally’s, you are in for a treat. The place has been done over and is now larger.

The long feared bridge closures throughout Somerville to support the Green Line Extension are scheduled to begin this Friday (why Friday?), and area residents as well as those who must travel through are bracing for the worst.

The city has done as much as it says it can to mitigate the misery that will be visited upon us. Rerouting of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, putting up signage to help direct everyone through the alternative pathways, and organizing public transportation to help get everyone through as painlessly as possible has put put in place.

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I like to have these on hand at all times. They are great in a salad, on a sandwich especially with rich proteins like fried chicken or pulled pork, and are especially good on this dish.

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Review by Off the Shelf Correspondent Dennis Daly

Just the polish from A.E. Stallings new translation of Hesiod’s Works and Days can blind. Only momentarily, of course. But certainly the well-wrought formality of each couplet causes the reader a certain hesitancy and a loss of verbal sense as he or she marvels at the architectural details and pinpoint verbiage embedded by Stallings in this brilliant rendition of a fountainhead epic.

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Matt W. Miller is author of The Wounded for the Water (Salmon Poetry), Club Icarus (University of North Texas Press), selected by Major Jackson as the winner of the 2012 Vassar Miller Poetry Prize, and Cameo Diner: Poems (Loom). He has published work in Birmingham Poetry Review, Harvard Review, Narrative, Crazyhorse, 32 Poems, Adroit Journal, The Rumpus, and other journals. He is winner of River Styx’s Microfiction Prize, Iron Horse Review’s Trifecta Poetry Prize, and The Poetry by the Sea Conference’s Sonnet Crown Contest. The recipient of poetry fellowships from Stanford University and The Sewanee Writers’ Conference, Miller teaches English at Phillips Exeter Academy and lives with his family in coastal New Hampshire where he surfs all winter long.

Arrests:
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Ashley Vance-Woods, of 348 Ash St., Brockton, March 11, 5:46 p.m., arrested at River Rd. on warrant charges of failure to dim headlights and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Aniel Wilson, of 44 Deering Rd., Boston, March 12, 5:07 a.m., arrested at Revolution Dr. on charges of furnishing false ID and malicious wanton defacement of property.

The Somerville City Council wishes to inform the community that two significant votes may take place on Thursday, March 21. At the 6:00 p.m. meeting of the Legislative Matters Committee of the Whole at City Hall, Committee Chair and Ward 5 Councilor Mark Niedergang believes that votes may be taken on the Proposed Condominium Conversion Ordinance as well as the Proposed Short-Term Rental Ordinance.

Mr. Edward G. Abate passed away surrounded by his family on Friday, March 15, 2019. Born in Boston he was the son of the late Giacomina (Cala) and Giuseppe Abate. Edward served in the US Navy reserves for many years and was a retired letter carrier for the US Postal Service.

Mayor Curtatone, all members of The Somerville City Council, all members of The School Committee, Chief Fallon, and Superintendent Skipper

In Somerville, we pride ourselves on being a city that is home to people from all around the world and of every religion. So, when an atrocity like the mosque attacks in New Zealand takes place, we feel it here. We want to state emphatically our revulsion over this type of prejudice-driven violence and our solidarity with the people in our local Muslim community.

Openings available on five essential Boards & Commissions

The City of Somerville is seeking to fill vacancies on five essential boards and commissions appointed by the Mayor and coordinated by the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development. Boards and commissions offer an opportunity for community members with a range of experience, skills, expertise, and perspectives to share their talents and insights with their community. The Mayor’s office will be accepting applications for the open positions through Wednesday, April 17, 2019. Openings are available on the Planning Board, the Redevelopment Authority, the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission, and the Somerville Housing Authority. All positions will remain open until filled.