Eagle Feathers #125 – The Beautiful Beast

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

Benjamin Franklin Butler was born in Deerfield, New Hampshire in 1818. He was raised in Lowell, Massachusetts and left a love-hate impression in Massachusetts and American history that carries on today. He was a brilliant lawyer, a controversial Civil War general, a popular politician, and a successful businessman.

By Jim Clark

A man was struck and killed by an inbound Fitchburg Line MBTA commuter rail train near the Park St. Grade Crossing in Somerville shortly after noon on Monday.

Police said that the man, whose name has not yet been made public, was trespassing on the tracks at the time he was struck by the train.

By Donald Norton

This past Friday afternoon and into the evening a lot of city officials dropped in to have a pint of Guinness and to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Sally O’Brien’s in Union Square, a great pub where a lot of locals and many newcomers to the city are flocking to. The friendliest of pub owners, Liam, and his crew behind the bar are legendary as the nicest in the city. Everyone who showed up had a good time. Later in the evening a bagpiper was even present. There was lots of fun and entertainment for celebrating the holiday.

L to R Linda, Brad, Dan Spinosa, Alderman Bill White, Ricky, Angela and Karen Spinosa.

By Donald Norton

This past Saturday, Daniel Spinosa of Winter Hill, lifelong Somerville resident, World War II veteran, businessman and political figure, celebrated his 95 years of devotion to his country and city.

A book of poems by Simrin Tamhane
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Somerville writer Michael Todd Steffen reviews a poetry collection from Endicott College student Simrin Tamhane, as part of Somerville’s Ibbetson Street Press/Endicott College Young Poet Series, as founded by yours truly and professor Daniel Sklar. It is currently directed by Emily Pineau and all books are designed by Steve Glines.

Soon the national pastime will start up once again. So Somerville poet Ed Meek throws us a curve ball of a poem. Ed has recently released a collection of short stories titled Luck.

Arrests:
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Matthew Powers, March 13, 4:15 p.m., arrested at Alewife Brook Pkwy. on charges of receiving stolen property under $250, fugitive from justice, and receiving a stolen credit card.

Derek Correia, of 60 Albion St., March 13, 4:40 p.m., arrested at home on warrant charges of negligent operation of a motor vehicle, felony daytime breaking and entering, larceny from a building, malicious wanton defacement of property, possession of a class A drug, marked lanes violation, distribution of a class E drug, operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license, witness intimidation, and operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs.

Join Ward 5 Alderman Mark Niedergang, and the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development on Wednesday, March 29, for a community meeting to discuss upcoming renovations to the Hoyt-Sullivan Playground. The meeting will be held at the Visiting Nurse’s Association, 259 Lowell St., from 6:30 to 8 p.m. City staff and project architects will present new plans for the playground, which are based on community feedback. To review the plans, visit www.somervillema.gov/hoytsullivan. For more information, contact Arn Franzen at AFranzen@somervillema.gov, or 617-625-6600 ext. 2545. 

Drive is one of seven a cappella groups that will be competing in the Boston regional edition of the Harmony Sweepstakes on April 1 at the Somerville Theatre.

By Ariana Colozzo

On Saturday, April 1, come to the Somerville Theatre for a night of a cappella with the 33rd annual Harmony Sweepstakes. Seven Boston area a cappella groups will compete for the title of Boston’s best: Birdland Avenue, Bostonality, Carpe Singem, Drive, Fermata Town, Fireside Quartet, and Harmonious Soul, chosen from nearly 20 groups that auditioned for the chance to compete.

Isley Goulart (left) and Margarida Holmes are Community Care Coordinators for a Home to Hospital program that Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services provides in partnership with Cambridge Health Alliance.

By Nathan Lamb

A hospital to home program that helps patients avoid unnecessary readmissions is set to expand in 2017.

Launched in 2012, the Hospital to Home program is a partnership between Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES), Mystic Valley Elder Services, and the Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA). Originally funded by a Medicare grant, the collaboration was so successful that the organizations decided to continue the collaboration past the grant’s expiration date, earlier this year.