~Photos by Claudia Ferro

West Somerville Neighborhood School afternoon program students did some celebrating on their last day of school on December 21, prior to the holiday break. The carnival featured games, face painting, and various other fun activities.

Eagle Feathers #169 – Holiday Connections

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

We all love the time we can devote to rest and relaxation and take an intermission from our everyday pattern of work. Students call it a break, the military refers to it as a Leave of Absence or furlough, and it is publicly known as a holiday.

— Photos by Ana Bahnke

Residents of the Lowell St. Visiting Nurses Association facility were treated to some seasonal cheer on December 21 as the Moonlighters, led by Brian Bishop, entertained by singing holiday songs.

Arrests:
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Kevin O’Brien, of 93 Electric Ave., December 27, 11:50 a.m., arrested at Fellsway on warrant charges of alcohol from open container, marked lanes violation, operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor third offense, and operation of a motor vehicle with registration revoked as HTO.

Cameron Bourque, of 3 Mt. Vernon St., Melrose, December 27, 5:56 p.m., arrested at Temple St. on charges of drug possession to distribute and carrying a dangerous weapon, and on warrant charges of threat to commit a crime, criminal harassment, and witness intimidation.

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By Karen Friedland

Union Square resident Gloria Mindock has long had a mission of bringing poetry to the people.

This month, she’s wrapping up a successful two-year stint as Somerville’s second Poet Laureate, having brought poetry and music to elders at the Little Sisters of the Poor, puppet shows to children at two Somerville libraries, and a bi-monthly poetry round table, poetry readings and how-to workshops at the Arts at the Armory on Highland Avenue, as well as outdoor poetry readings at Union and Davis Squares. Her last event, on December 14, was a tribute to Claribel Alegria and other Salvadoran Poets, reflecting the sizable Salvadoran community in Somerville. To top it all off, she gave away 500 books of poetry all over town.

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Poet Sergio Inestrosa writes, “From my book Unstop Moon (Luna que no cesa) translated by Margaret Young three senryus.” Inestrosa is a professor at Endicott College, and the author of several poetry collections.

~Photos by Bobbie Toner

In its annual tradition, the City of Somerville will kicked off the New Year today with a reenactment ceremony for the anniversary of the “Grand Union” flag-raising ceremony at Prospect Hill Park. A processional led by a re-enactor portraying General George Washington on horseback left the City Hall Concourse at 11:30 a.m., followed by a ceremony at Prospect Hill Park.

Visiting briefly from his home in St. Louis, Missouri, author Byron DeLear will tell the fascinating story about how our nation came to be known as “United States of America”, amidst events occurring right here in Somerville in 1776.

Talk with the author and obtain a personally signed copy of his book at two uniquely Somerville sites. Byron DeLear is an author, enviro-entrepreneur, media producer, and twice former US House candidate. He is a member of the Organization of American Historians and the Missouri Lodge of Research, and is past Editor-in-Chief for NAPA News, the newsletter of the North American Vexillological Association.