Thanks to Solar Flair, Solarize Somerville resident participants, and the City of Somerville, local non-profit CASPAR, Inc. (Cambridge and Somerville Program for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Rehabilitation) expanded its far-reaching positive impacts on the community, and now they’re helping out the environment too. The organization was previously selected to receive a 5kW solar array donation that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions – and lower utility bills.

Eagle Feathers #157 – God Bless America

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

“God Bless America” is our unofficial anthem and was written one century ago this year in 1918 by Irving Berlin. This hymn was hidden in his desk drawer for twenty years before he dusted it off and revived it for Kate Smith to sing during World War II. Kate made her debut at Davis Square’s Somerville Theatre when she was a teenager, and by 1943 she was considered the musical voice of America.

The Somerville Arts Council’s ArtBeat festival has become a much beloved annual tradition here in the city for many.

One thing can be said for certain, it brings to the fore some of the most imaginative and unique creations one could ever wish to see, hear, and – sometimes – even feel.

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Zvi A. Sesling is Poet Laureate of Brookline, MA. His poetry is in print and online journals in U.S., India, Ireland, France, U.K., N.Z., Ireland, Canada, Australia and Israel. He publishes and edits Muddy River Poetry Review. He reviews for Boston Small Press and Poetry Scene. Sesling’s poetry books include The Lynching of Leo Frank, Fire Tongue and King of the Jungle. Chapbooks include Across Stones of Bad Dreams and Love Poems From Hell. His latest volume of poetry is War Zones, due out from Nixes Mate Books in August. He edited Bagel Bard Anthologies #7, #8 and #12. He lives in Brookline, MA with his wife Susan J. Dechter.

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I was pondering a question over my dark ale (with a hint of citrus) at the Remnant Brewery in the new Bow Market in Union Square. It was posed by the poet Robert Pinsky in the foreword of an anthology of poems about sculpture. He asked, “What has art made of breath to do with art made of matter?”

Pictured L to R: David Gasson, chair of the Building Better Together Steering Committee and vice president and director at Boston Capital; John Valverde, CEO of YouthBuild USA; Alexandria Benson, guest speaker and YouthBuild student from Buffalo, N.Y.; Linda Dorcena Forry, keynote speaker and northeast vice president of diversity, inclusion and community relations at Suffolk Construction; Chris Duverneau, guest speaker and graduate of YouthBuild Boston.

Fundraiser featured special guest speaker Linda Dorcena Forry of Suffolk Construction

Global youth service nonprofit YouthBuild USA celebrated its 13^th annual “Building Better Together” event on Thursday, June 21 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Nixon Peabody in Boston.

Arrests:
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Nicholas Marks, of 50 Draper St., Dorchester, July 3, 2:43 p.m., arrested at Artisan Way on warrant charges of possession of a class A drug, possession of a class B drug, and possession of a class C drug.

James McNeil, of 35 Windsor St., July 5, 8:00 p.m., arrested at Davis Sq. on warrant charges of possession of a class B drug, removal of theft prevention device, possession of a class A drug, operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license, larceny over $1200, not being in possession of license, and failure to signal.

Ribbon Cutting Planned for 9:00 a.m. Playing fields and grass areas will remain closed through fall 2018.

Please join Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 2 Alderman J.T. Scott, and the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development on Friday, July 20, to celebrate the grand re-opening of Lincoln Park. A ribbon cutting ceremony and event is planned for 9:00 a.m., and will include games, face painting, and music as well as lots of free play. A brief speaking agenda is also planned to celebrate the new facilities.

The Cambridge Citywide Senior Center hosted a special forum on the social impacts of opioids and elder abuse in June, as part of a month-long campaign to raise awareness of those issues. The forum was attended by various advocates and community members, and featured a performance from True Story Theatre.

By Susan Pacheco and Norah Al-Wetaid

Elder abuse is a widespread issue that often flies under the radar. The Cambridge Council on Aging and Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) would like to thank everyone who has joined with us to try and change that over the past month.