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Betsy Lenora arrived at my unofficial office in the Bloc 11 Cafe to tell me about her relatively new undertaking – namely ownership of the Blue Cloud Gallery in Ball Square. Lenora, 62, is the same age as this writer, so we were able to talk turkey – without the necessary footnotes that are sometimes needed. This longtime artist – who has traversed the shoals of both the Cambridge and Somerville art scene for many years – is still very much in the game with her stewardship of this venue.
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Heather Sullivan’s work has appeared in numerous print and online journals, most recently Chiron Review, Paper and Ink Literary Zine and Trailer Park Quarterly. Her debut collection, Waiting for an Answer (Nixes Mate Books 2017), is available both through the publisher and Amazon. She is also the co-editor at Live Nude Poems. She and novelist Rusty Barnes live with their family in the area.
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(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)
MEPA waiver filing
To the Editor,
I would like to make sure that you and your readers are aware of an important recent waiver filing which was made by Union Square Station Associates (US2), the city-designated master developer for the massive redevelopment planned for the Union Square area. US2 has applied for a “Phase One” waiver from regulations specified in the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA), which, if granted, would enable that organization to start construction at a time of their choosing on the parcel of land referred to as “D2,” located at the intersection of Somerville Ave. and Prospect Street immediately adjacent to the new MBTA Green Line station presently under construction, with no further public review.
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The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is awarding more than $6 million over the next four years to prevent nicotine use and improve public health. The funding will strengthen capacity in 182 cities and towns to enact and enforce policies, systems, and environmental changes that reduce tobacco use, protect the public from secondhand smoke and youth from exposure to tobacco and vaping industry tactics.
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Arrests:
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Carlos Rivera, of 165 Cottage St., Chelsea, July 31, 10:18 p.m., arrested at Mystic Ave. on warrant charges of negligent operation of a motor vehicle, shoplifting by asportation, forgery of document, larceny from a building, utter false prescription, larceny under $1200, and operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor.
Dante Quinn, of 260 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, August 3, 4:47 p.m., arrested at Middlesex Ave. on charges of distribution of a class B drug and possession of a class A drug.
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Please join Somerville Commissioner of Veterans’ Services Bryan Bishop, Ward 5 Alderman Mark Niedergang, and project design team CBA Landscape Architects on Tuesday, August 21, for the final community meeting to discuss the redesign of Henry Hansen Park. The community meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the third floor conference room of the Visiting Nurse Association, 259 Lowell Street. The design team will present the final design concept for the park redesign. For more information, please contact Somerville Veterans’ Services at 617-625-6600 x4700 orveterans@somervillema.gov.
By Kristin Bell
Fatima, 64, lost her husband and her home. But she kept going and was able to find a new housing, with some assistance from Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) and other local agencies.
Fatima, of Somerville, recently shared her story with SCES, which she described as a miraculous turnaround after a time of troubles. She initially moved in with family members after the death of her husband, but soon realized that was not going to work out for the long run.
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Celebrate Free Open Streets event to feature live music, family-friendly activities, and more!
Celebrate the season at “Seize the Summer,” the August installment of the City’s SomerStreets festival, on Sunday, August 5, from 2 to 6 p.m. between Davis Square and Teele Square on Holland Street. SomerStreets is the City of Somerville’s take on the internationally renowned Open Streets concept, closing busy city streets to vehicles, and opening them up for cycling, walking, dancing, running, and other modes of activity. Through SomerStreets, the City and its community partners aim to promote and encourage easy access to physical activity, fresh foods, and reconnecting with neighborhoods and businesses and their unique cultural elements in a thriving urban environment.
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