Eagle Feathers #164 – The Cannon

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

The celebrated USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned warship in the world and the pride of our country, is berthed in the Boston Naval Shipyard at Charlestown. She received the nickname, Old Ironsides, while in battle during the War of 1812.

Josh Brown and Pam Norgustin of Warren J. Nordin & Son painting company strip thick layers of paint from the cannon on the hill on July 25, 2018. The cannon is being stripped down to the base for the first time in decades. (Alonso Nichols/Tufts University)

A decades-old Tufts University tradition of students painting messages of encouragement, resistance, love and celebration on a historic cannon located on campus just got a refresh. Thousands of layers of paint – weighing 2,000 pounds – were removed from the cannon to stabilize the fixture and allow for new generations of Jumbos to enjoy.

For years, tradition has dictated that the cannon must be painted under cover of darkness. Students who paint the cannon are then tasked with guarding their work until dawn to make sure their message is not painted over during the night.

As part of Safe Routes to school National Walk to School Day, the Winter Hill Community Innovation School PTA hosted a “Walk and Roll to School Day” event on Wednesday, October 10. Students and parents were encouraged to walk or bike (or otherwise roll) to school that morning. The festivities started at 7:00 a.m. in the Winter Hill schoolyard with music, special prizes, and an opportunity for students and parents to meet PTA officers and representatives from several partner city departments and organizations including Shape Up Somerville, The Beautiful Stuff Project, and Somerville Cares About Prevention.

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Monica Hileman joined me at my table at Remnant Brewing in the new Bow St. Market in Union Square, Somerville. The large wooden table, the view of the courtyard, the tasty brews, made a perfect spot for conversation.

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George Rosatone is a freshman at Endicott College in Beverly, MA. He grew up in Woburn, MA, where he first developed his passion for writing and photography. Currently, he spends his time writing poetry, short stories, and working on photography projects, with hopes of one day finding his path as a film director.

Application deadline extended to October 26

Residents encouraged to apply; Committee to identify funding priorities for ~$2 million per year in affordable housing, historic preservation, and open space projects

Do you have a passion for affordable housing, historic preservation, and parks and open space? The City of Somerville wants your help and is now accepting applications for two public positions on the Community Preservation Committee, which oversees the selection of projects to be recommended for funding by an estimated $2 million in annual Community Preservation Act (CPA) revenues. Residents are encouraged to apply and applications must be submitted by October 26, 2018.

Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services Community Outreach Manager and Volunteer,   Colleen Morrissey.

By Colleen Morrissey

The annual Medicare Open Enrollment period starts in October. If you receive health insurance through Medicare that means it’s a good time to review your coverage – and possibly get in touch with a volunteer SHINE Counselor.

Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7, and in most cases it is the only time participants can adjust their coverage for the coming year. This is important, because Medicare plans often change and you’ll want to ensure that the premiums and prescription coverage for your current plan will still be a good fit in the coming year.