Adapted from Mayor Curtatone’s speech at the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration.

By Joseph A. Curtatone

(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)

Last year at the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day event I reminded us all that Dr. King’s mission remains acutely relevant today. Looking back at all that’s occurred in our nation over the past year, I’m not sure that I realized just how much his words are still needed to help inspire and guide the many who continue to fight for social justice today.

The East Somerville Community School and Somerville High School debate teams made impressive showings in their first tournament appearances. Under the guidance of Ms. Gouvea and Mr. Weaver, ESCS sent six middle grades student teams and four individual debaters to compete in a tournament at Suffolk University.

Koty, Barbara G. (Magrath) – Of Somerville January 16, 2018. Beloved wife of the late Stanley M. Koty. Loving mother of Stan Koty and his wife Gay of Somerville, Diane Glenn and her husband Brad of North Reading. Dear grandmother of Stanley “Chip” M.  III and his wife Jocelynn, Russell Koty, Alison Fernandes and her husband Mark, Caroline Koty, Kassondra Glenn, and Jason Glenn. Sister of the late George Magrath. Aunt of Lorraine and Paul Magrath.

Funeral procession from the George L. Doherty Funeral Home, 855 Broadway (Powder House Sq.) Somerville, Saturday morning at 9am, followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Clement Church, Somerville at 10:00. Relatives and friends invited. Calling hours Friday 4-8. Interment Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge. Late employee Somerville Public Schools.

Many residents have complained that city snow plows have piled snow onto already shoveled sidewalks and driveways, leaving some – such as the elderly and disabled – unable to cope with the situation as it stands.

By Jim Clark

The City of Somerville Board of Aldermen addressed several issues related to snow removal at its most recent regular meeting last Thursday.

An order sponsored by Ward Five Alderman Mark Niedergang and Alderman At-Large Wilfred N. Mbah asked for the Commissioner of Public Works deploy a shoveling crew after major snowstorms to shovel out the sidewalks of elderly and disabled residents that get buried by city snow plows, and that the Director of Health and Human Services and the Director of Communications work together to register such residents so they can contact 311 to get their sidewalks re-shoveled after they have been buried by snow plows.

These modular constructions will serve as temporary classrooms while the Somerville High School renovation project is underway.

By Genevieve Bien-Aime

If you have recently driven by Somerville High School on the Highland Ave. side you may have noticed a long, one story air force blue colored building facing the street. Considering it sits directly in front of the left side of the high school, it’s really hard to miss.

By Sabrina Joseph/Photos by Claudia Ferro

Somerville celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a variety of performances at the annual event, this year entitled “Growing Our Community,” on Monday at the East Somerville Community School. The first performance was by Marcus Santos, who is a master Brazilian drum teacher and a graduate of the  Berklee College of Music.

Somerville is looking for crossing guards. Crossing Guards provide essential public safety by ensuring safe student crossing at intersections along the routes to school. The salary is $37 per day with some incentive bonuses. Uniforms and on-the-job training are provided. Access to a motor vehicle is preferred but not required. Work BOTH mornings and afternoons based on school year calendar. Must pass a pre-employment CORI and drug screen. Applications are available and must be submitted to City Hall Personnel Office, 93 Highland Ave. Somerville, MA 02143 or fax @ 617-666-4426. You can also email resumes to: employment_opportunities@somervillema.gov. Inquiries can be referred to School Safety Officer Sean Sylvester at 617 625 1600 X7248 or by email: ssylvester@police.somerville.ma.us.

Medford and Somerville boys and girls varsity basketball teams squared off at the Cousens Gym at Tufts University on Sunday, January 14. Somerville boys defeated Medford, 62-54. Somerville girls defeated Medford, 35-32. The girls game came down to the final shot.

Update: Maple Tree Tapping Day has been changed to this Sunday, January 21. They don’t want people to have to choose between tapping local maple trees and attending the Women’s March on Saturday. They hope to see you on Sunday, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

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When I walk through the door, I see a line of seniors sitting on chairs – a Greek Chorus of sorts – crooning commentary on the flash of patrons who continually come through the store. There is the heavily accented cacophony, “Paper or plastic?” There are the coupon men and women who confusingly rifle through their list of bargains, as the people who stand on line have the zombie-like sort of posture that would make the filmmaker George Romero proud. The deli counter is a symphony of shouts, a friendly argument or conversation with the customers, “What’s it gonna be, hon?” “Do you want the Provolone thick or thin?” “Not an ounce of fat on it, chief. God be my witness.” The fish mongers come out from the back, hearty, red-faced from the freezers, staring down the poker -faced fish eyes of the Red Snapper, admiring the sleek texture of an upscale piece of swordfish, even giving the lowly chowder fish its due.