Active investigation continues

Investigators are continuing to call on the public for assistance in identifying the operator of the vehicle involved in Friday’s fatal hit and run in Somerville. Somerville Police working with the Middlesex DA’s Office are trying to locate a newer model, full-size, black pickup truck with front-end driver’s-side damage. The vehicle is believed to have a black cover over the bed of the truck and is possibly a Ford F-150. Anyone with related information is encouraged to contact the Somerville Police Department at 617-625-1600 ext. 7250 or 7254. Both phone lines are staffed  24/7 by sworn officers. Tips may be left anonymously through text. Begin your text message with 617spd and send it to TIP411 (847411).

Dear Somerville Local First Members and Friends,

First, Happy New Year! We hope your 2019 is off to a great start, and that it continues to bring joy, health, and success for all of you!

We are writing to share some important news. After a decade of serving the small businesses and artists in our beloved city, Somerville Local First will be ending its run as an organization as of May 1, 2019. This was certainly a difficult decision to make given the deep love our Board of Directors and our most recent Executive Director, Courtney O’Keefe, have for SLF and what it represents. We imagine many of you feel the same way.

In December of 2018 the Board of Aldermen approved the Licensing Ordinance, Zoning Language and Overlay map for adult recreational marijuana establishments. Go to www.somervillema.gov/adult- marijuana to review the documents and learn more.

There are two upcoming meetings to continue the process:

Monday, February 11, 3:00 p.m. – City Hall, 93 Highland Ave, Council Chambers – This is an official Licensing Commission public meeting where staff will inform and update the commission on legislation, zoning, and procedures regarding recreational marijuana. All are welcome to attend but the Chair of the Licensing Commission is not required to take public testimony.

So, I think I’m going to take a few hours and hit the Goodwill and buy up all of their antique and semi-antique Persian carpets. No silver or gold today, just carpets.

Ha, it doesn’t work that way. I’m lucky if I find one good carpet every six months or so of hunting every day. Mind you, I’m not going to high-end shops stocked with goodies, I’m going to junk stores. Less good stuff, but, when I find something, the price is right.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Somerville Chief of Police David Fallon have confirmed the identity of the pedestrian who died last night as the result of an apparent hit-and-run as Allison Donovan, 40, of Somerville.

On February 8, at approximately 7:16 p.m. Somerville Police responded to a report of a hit-and-run at the intersection of Powder House Boulevard and Hardan Road in Somerville. Two adult pedestrian women were transported to Mount Auburn Hospital where Allison Donovan was pronounced dead. The second female has been discharged.

As part of the next phase of the Somerville Ave. Utility & Streetscape Improvements Project, City contractors will set up a large work zone in Union Square on or around February 19 that will require some through-traffic to be rerouted. The detour will remain in place for approximately six months.

The Health and Human Services Department, Community Clothing Closet of the Somerville Public Schools, and 311 are collecting donations of new or gently used winter clothing for residents and students who need them. Items most urgently needed include winter coats, pants, hats, gloves, socks, and boots for children (sizes 4T and up), as well as winter items for teens and adults. You can drop off donations through February at one of three locations during their normal business hours:

Many teachers have great ideas on how to make their classrooms a better place for their students to learn math. The teachers’ ideas frequently outrun the budget schools have for supplies and their own ability to subsidize their classroom.

The Somerville Mathematics Fund tries to fill this need through the generosity of their donors. Jay Landers and Jasper Lawson and the Apple Tree Fund each sponsored multiple grants. Lali and Jay Haines, Tufts University, Winter Hill Bank and Rebecca Wood-Spagnoli each sponsored a teacher’s grant.

(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 Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone

The City of Somerville recently filed a lawsuit against 19 opioid manufacturers and distributors that we believe engaged in deceptive and illegal practices to increase sales and generate profit at the expense of patients.