The Director of Traffic and Parking will be reporting to the Board of Aldermen this week to clarify parking permit policy.

By Jim Clark

At the latest Board of Aldermen meeting, an order was put forward and approved requesting that the Director of Traffic and Parking explain to the Board in writing by September 26, 2017 why residential parking permits are not issued with a renewal date of one year from the last day of the month it was purchased, and appear before the Board on September 28, 2017 to discuss the matter.

Residents left feedback on location of a new park for Union Square master developer during an open house.

(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)

Dear Editor,

Green & Open Somerville and Union Square Neighbors call on city leaders and Union Square master developer, US2, to make good on commitments to design, develop, and build new parks in and around Union Square.

Under the new Union Square zoning, US2, Union Square’s master developer, must construct a “Neighborhood Park” that is at least half an acre. During the zoning review process, US2 promised the Union Square community that we would have the opportunity to evaluate several different locations for this park.

By Eesha Pendharkar

In 1917, a candy salesman named Archibald Query invented marshmallow fluff in Somerville’s Union Square. Last Saturday, an estimated 20,000 fluff enthusiasts gathered to celebrate hundred years of Query’s invention and revel in an afternoon of sticky, sweet fun.

Next week, on Wednesday October 4, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Ward 3 Alderman Bob McWatters will be having a campaign get together and fundraiser at Sally O’Brien’s on Somerville Ave. The last time his opponent sent spies to monitor the event. Alderman McWatters is a good person. He’s being accused of taking money from developers, but maybe some unopposed candidates might want to stop spreading lies. They might find an opponent in two years that they might not like.

Somerville’s bond rating continues its streak of upgrades; Rises to highest ever rating based on City’s strong financial practices, growing economy, healthy reserve levels, diverse tax base, manageable current and projected debt levels

Moody’s has raised the City of Somerville’s bond rating from the City’s highest ever rating, Aa2, to a new high of Aa1, the second highest rating on the agency’s scale and one step from the Aaa rating. In its report, the bond rating agency cited the City’s healthy financial position, strong financial practices, conservative budget management, robust and growing economy, diverse tax base, and healthy reserves.

The “What the Fluff?” festival hit Union Square once again this past weekend, an event that has grown in the hearts of so many here. It also hit a significant milestone as the sweet, sticky confection itself turns 100 years old this year.

For all these years Marshmallow Fluff has been a favorite snack food for many, while others could, frankly, take it or leave it. Either way, few would argue that the annual festival itself is chock full of fun and frivolity for everyone who attends.

September 27-October 25, 2017
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Somerville Recreation is offering FREE Boys Basketball Clinics for grades 4-8, on the following Mondays and Wednesdays. Clinics will be held at the SHS Field House and will be instructed by SHS Boys Basketball staff and Somerville Tradition Basketball staff. Questions? Contact Coach Mark Antonelli at mantonelli@k12.somerville.ma.us.

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Review by Kate Hanson Foster

Iron Moon, An Anthology of Chinese Migrant Worker Poetry originates from the documentary of the same name directed by Qin Xiaoyu and Feiyue Wu. This collection gives voice to the voiceless – unknown names penning a “sharp-edged oiled language of cast iron … language of tightened screws.” (Alu, “Language”). To be a migrant worker in the 21st century is a calloused portrayal of rural residents voyaging into the city for the first time, abandoning their autonomy and transforming into human machines:

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Walter Lincoln Howard is a retired history professor, English teacher and journalist. He is a member of the Longfellow Society, the Bagel Bards, Natick Writers Group, and the Wayland Poetry Workshop. His first poetry collection, Seed Upon the Wilderness, was published in 1963. His poems, often set in New England, have appeared in many journals. He took the slam prize in 2009 at Natick Poetry Month with his poem The Moon in a Bad Mood. He was featured reader at the 2009 Stone Soup Poetry Series in Cambridge. He was also featured at the 2011 Annual Reading of the Wayland Poetry Workshop, not to mention many other public appearances. As Chad Parenteau sums it up, “Walter Howard is a longtime fixture in the Boston poetry scene and the open miker’s open miker.” Walter has a new collection of poetry of poetry coming out later this year from the Wilderness House Press.

Arrests:
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Corey Stein, of 70 Hollace St., Waltham, September 18, 12:19 p.m., arrested at Greenville St. on a warrant charge of operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

Yessenia Garcia, of 25 Canal Lane, September 19, 10:34 p.m., arrested at home on a warrant charge of operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor 2nd offense.