Newstalk – January 1

On January 1, 2020, in Latest News, by The Somerville Times

On behalf of the publishers, editors, writers and – most importantly – the staff here at The Somerville Times, we want to wish you all the very best in 2020 for the city, its residents and those who love Somerville like we do. Happy New Year 2020 to all!

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In its annual tradition, the City of Somerville will kick off the New Year today, January 1, with a reenactment ceremony for the anniversary of the “Grand Union” flag-raising ceremony at Prospect Hill Park. Important note: the park is currently closed for renovations, so the event will be held along Munroe St. adjacent to the park. The road will be closed during the morning events. A processional led by a re-enactor portraying General George Washington on horseback will leave from the City Hall Concourse at 11:30 a.m., followed by a ceremony at Prospect Hill Park. As always, members of the public are invited to participate, and are encouraged to wear traditional colonial clothing. Light refreshments will be served, and miniature replicas of the Grand Union Flag, both as a flag and a lapel pin, as well as colonial-era tri corner hats and a few items highlighting the city’s historic assets will be available for purchase. The Tower will also be open to the public following the ceremony.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to a good friend, Christopher Kenney, a true Somervillevillian. A great guy and good friend. Happy birthday to one of the nicest ladies and former teachers here in the city, Sophia Carafotes. We know she will have a great birthday, but that’s her. Happy birthday to Lisa Ludwick, formerly of East Somerville, we hope she had a great day. Happy birthday to everyone here and from the city who are celebrating this week.

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Somerville Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours will be held on January 2 at Foundry on Elm, 255 Elm St, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Free appetizers, excellent networking, business card drawing, cash bar and no cover. Sponsored by Gibson Sothebys Realty. Hosted by Dana Iacopucci of Cubby Oil & Energy.

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Are you a member of Somerville High School’s Class of 1970? The SHS Class of 2020 is looking for participants for this year’s Class Day festivities, which will take place on Friday, May 29, starting at 8:00 a.m. at Somerville High School, 81 Highland Ave. They are looking for 50 graduates from the Class of 1970 to participate. If you would like to take part in the celebration, please email Barbara Favaloro, SHS Main Office, Head Clerk at bfavaloro@k12.somerville.ma.us, or call (617) 625-6600 ext. 6110 to sign up. The first 35 to respond will receive a commemorative gift. The SHS Class of 2020 looks forward to seeing past graduates from the SHS Class of 1970.

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Let’s talk about a Poem with Lloyd Schwartz takes place Saturday, January 4, at the East Branch Library, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Join in for another lovely morning with Somerville’s Poet Laureate Lloyd Schwartz. Listen to and then discuss a selected poem. This month’s poems will be Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening and To Earthward, both by Robert Frost. This program is free and everyone is welcome. If you have questions, please call 617-623-5000 x 2971.

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Lady BOS Productions presents Show &Tell: A [sort of] Open Mic. Join in for a Sunday Funday filled with a variety of performances by local poets, musicians, dancers, comedians and more. Hosted in the extremely cozy Cafe at the Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave. on Sunday, January 5, 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. This event celebrates live performance art in all its forms and stages by welcoming an interdisciplinary cast of makers to share works-in-progress. Art should be accessible to everyone. If you do not have the financial means to support this event, we still welcome your enthusiasm and support for the arts through your free attendance. If you do have the means to support working artists monetarily, we suggest a donation of $5-10, cash or credit, at the door. Donations made at the door will be paid out to the artists performing. 10% of donations will support the production costs of …that’s what she said, an all-femme run production that provides support to female and femme-identifying dance makers through peer-mentored critical response workshops, community outreach programs, and performance opportunities. More information here: https://www.ladybosproductions.com/show–tell-a-sort-of-open-mic.html.

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The Best of Somerville 2019 will be presented in the January 8, edition of The Somerville Times. There’s still time to cast your vote for the best. Email, call in or just drop off at the office your vote for who and what you think is the best. We’re looking for the Best Idea of 2019 here in the city. If you have anyone or anything you’d like to suggest, let us know.

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WSNS Winter Concert 2019-2020, Perseverance, takes place Friday, January 24, 8:45 – 10:45 a.m. You are invited to join them in welcoming winter and see what the students have been learning so far this year. Listen to performances about perseverance by: SMILE-6th Grade Classrooms, 4th, 5th, and 6th Grade Strings and Band Ensembles, 7th and 8th Grade Chorus, World Percussion, and Orchestra. Please contact Mr. Darrell with any questions at: adarrell@k12.somerville.ma.us.

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Are you a Somerville teen 13 years or older? If so, the City of Somerville invites you to consider being part of the Teen Snow Shoveling Program. This paid program is designed for youth to provide seniors in the community with shoveling assistance after a snow storm. Teens and seniors are paired for the season, and after each storm, the senior contacts their assigned teen to request shoveling services. Visit https://www.somervillema.gov/departments/programs/teen-snow-shoveling-program for more information, including details on how to apply. Questions? Contact Jennifer Mancia at (617) 625-6600, x2406.

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Don’t forget to park on the ODD side of the street when they call a snow emergency. And no, you can’t park in the school yards anymore.

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Calling all middle school girls! The winter session of the Somerville Public Library’s Girls Who Code Club gets underway on January 28. Facilitated by volunteers from the tech community, girls join a sisterhood of supportive peers as they learn coding to create a project they care about. The Club meets every Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for 10 weeks at the Central Library, 79 Highland Ave. For more information and to register, contact Karen Stevens at kstevens@minlib.net.

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Is there someone in the Somerville Public Schools that you would like to celebrate? The Duhamel Education Initiative (DEI) invites you to recognize them with a Duhamel Star. The Duhamel Star is a certificate of appreciation given as a donation to DEI in the honoree’s name. You can express your gratitude with a personal message and grow student engagement in SPS through your donation to DEI’s grant fund. Duhamel Stars can be purchased at any time, and the honoree will receive it within one to two weeks of ordering. For more information and to order a Duhamel Star, visit www.duhamelsomerville.org/duhamel-star.html#/.

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Please join the Somerville Public Space and Urban Forestry Division, and Ward 3 Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen on Wednesday evening, January 8, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for a community meeting to discuss the final landscape plan for the Central Hill Campus (Phase I). The meeting will be held in the Somerville High School cafeteria, 81 Highland Ave. Phase I of the Central Hill Campus Master Plan includes the renovation of Central Hill Playground and the installation of Memorial Walk East, a celebratory walk for the Korean and Vietnam War Memorials, and a new Service Memorial. For more information about the project, visit www.somervillema.gov/departments/central-hill-plan, or contact Cortney Kirk at ckirk@somervillema.gov.

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Have you thought you’d like to do some writing, a little story about Somerville as either a newbie or Villen? We have about 80K people and we would love to hear about your adventures here in the city. Maybe you want to write about a particular subject, as do our Bob Doherty and Dorothy DiMarzio, or like Jimmy Del Ponte with his stories about the city. Or maybe you’d like to express your opinion like Bill Shelton. Give us a call at 617-666-4010 or email news@thesomervilletimes.com and tell us about your idea.

 

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