On Friday, Somerville residents, policemen, firemen,
and elected officials joined to honor those lost to the tragic fate of
September 11. They came together at the Cedar Street entrance to the
Community Bike Path to commemorate the day our nation lost thousands of
innocent lives. The grey skies set a somber tone and while the mood was
heavy, it wasn't a burden that was unwelcome. It was an honor to carry
a candle and hold each other up under the weight of the memory of lost
loved ones and brave servicemen and women.

This seventh annual
memorial followed the community path behind the bagpipes, played
elegantly by Patrick McDonnell, who has played them each September at
this event. The colorguard led a group of police and firemen with Old
Glory held high. Somerville residents turned out to carry candles and
march alongside Mayor Curtatone in quiet remembrance.

As
candles were lit and the march began, people quietly shared their
stories of 9/11, where they were that day, who they knew that passed
away, and why they came to march. As we walked, crowds gathered
alongside the bike path, many looking down in prayer, some crying, and
several saluting. The procession made its way into Davis Square and
onto the main median where a permanent memorial to September 11 stands.
Mayor Curtatone said a few words, reminding all who had gathered that
this was the spot where the people of Somerville gathered on that
tragic day. "We are here to continue that tradition, to say our thanks
to the Fire Department and the Police Department and all others who
serve their community." He urged all to remember those who have been
lost and carry on their spirit, their inspiration, and their
dedication.

The final moments of the memorial included a
prayer led by Betty Walker, Spiritual Leader at the Somerville Unity
Church of God, and a blessing by Judy Kohatsu that encouraged all to
remember the strength of the men and women who fought to save lives on
that September day, and to "go with that strength and do good."

"A lot of people came out to represent from the Red
and Blue," she said, referring to the Haitian flag colors. "It's
wonderful to be sharing ideas and culture."

Brown was among
over 150 people who met at Union Square Plaza for La Grande Fête: A
Celebration of Haitian Culture, sponsored by the Somerville Arts
Council as part of its ArtsUnion project series, and in conjunction
with the Haitian Coalition.

The event included Haitian music and
dance, art, literature readings, a documentary viewing, authentic
Haitian cuisine catered by local restaurants and a Haitian food table
lined with traditional ingredients used in Creole cooking.

Brown
is the director of Books of Hope, an organization at the Mystic
Learning Center that creates opportunities for self-expression and
advocacy through creative writing for young people. Teenagers like
Jessica Jean-Louis, 18, who presided over the Books of Hope table at
the festival, get together on Thursday nights to write. A group of
young Haitian writers from Books of Hope read their work from the stage
on Sunday night.

"It's good for the Haitian community to come
out and to celebrate our shared culture," Jean-Louis said. Jean-Louis
never used to take her writing very seriously, until she joined the
group. Working with others encouraged her to improve upon her writing
and appreciate the skill. After three years being in the program and
participating in public readings, she doesn't get nervous anymore. It's
all about communicating ideas.

Brown added that it was
wonderful to see the half dozen Haitian teens come to the event. It's
important for them to celebrate their heritage since they tend to
assimilate quickly and adopt American traditions, more so than their
parents.

Carey Dardompre, a local artist, liked that the event
was family oriented and less raucous than some ethnic festivals around
town. It was also nice to see familiar faces in the square, as he used
to have a gallery down the road in Cambridge.

"It's great to
see people express themselves through singing, drumming, writing and
painting," said Jean Brice, who sat at a Haitian paintings table.
"Tonight we celebrate our culture through art."

Marie Louise
Jean-Baptiste, who moved to the United States from Haiti in 1982 and
who teaches Haitian cooking classes, appreciated the Haitian food
table. Judith Laguerre, who volunteered to teach people about Haitian
cooking, displayed the traditional Haitian ingredients that one will
find in just about any dish: hot peppers, sweet bell peppers, garlic,
shallots, chives and parsley. Laguerre also displayed Haitian
specialties, like djon-djon mushrooms and malanga and ńame roots.

Jean-Baptiste
looked over the table approvingly, relating to the importance of
Laguerre's traditional method of making everything painstakingly from
scratch.

At the board's Sept. 10 meeting Taylor
asked both the Traffic Commission and the mayor-appointed Parking
Solutions Task Force to find a way to give short-term residents in
Somerville access to parking permits.

"I just want to make sure
these individuals are considered when it comes to these policies,"
Taylor said, adding later he still opposes citywide permit parking as a
whole.

Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz, a member of the
Parking Solutions Task Force, said one resident told her she may no
longer be able to rent a room to visiting graduate students who are
left out of a law permitting students to avoid registering their
vehicles in Massachusetts.

"It's very important not to overlook
this issue," Gewirtz said. "We can do better than that in Somerville,
and I demand we do better than that on the Parking Solutions Task
Force."

In another resolution passed on Sept. 10, the board
asked the city to make parking permits and visitor passes available at
senior housing complexes.

Of
course the highlight is the four bands that will play from 3 to 9 p.m.
this Sunday (the rain date is September 20). The event will take place
in the large parking lot behind the Precinct bar and restaurant, and a
portion of the proceeds from the $15 entry fee will go toward Community
Action Outreach Somerville (CAAS) and Respond.

"It's going to
be a total community and family event," said Robert Elliott, who
organized the event along with Precinct manager Ronan Geary. "I like
the idea of giving back to the community that supports us."

It
was a natural fit to donate funds to Respond and CAAS, since the
non-profits are housed above the Precinct in Union Square plaza.
Respond is New England's first domestic violence agency and the second
in the nation to provide safe haven for women dealing with abuse.

Music
Festival 09 is sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon, which will flowing
during the fest. The first 30 dogs to join the festivities-before the
bands go on at about 2 p.m.-will receive a Pabst Blue Ribbon dog collar.

Elliott
wanted to include the canines because he loves animals. He thought it
would be more fun for the family to bring the dog along. There will be
a certified vet and dog masseuse on site, and a masseuse for humans, as
well.

The kid activities will also take place before the live music, and will include a dunk tank, bouncy castle, and face painting.

Barrence
Whitfield (http://www.barrencewhitfield.com/) will be the headliner.
His newest CD is entitled, "Raw, Raw Rough." The other musicians are:

o
Jess Tardy-This blues musician has been performing locally since 2001.
She is a familiar face at Sally O'Briens in the square.
http://jesstardy.com

o Andrea Gillis-Gillis, with her true
Motown spirit, was named in 2004 one of the ten local performers to
look out for. Since then, she has been nominated for two Boston Music
Awards and a Maxie Award. http://www.andreagillis.com

o Jenny
Dee and The Deelinquents-This band's "coquettish" presence and all-soul
repertoire evoke the all-girls bands of the 1960s.

The Sea
Monsters will round out the acts and play downstairs in the Precinct at
10 p.m. The Independent and Cantina Mexicana will also offer a variety
of food and drink.

Andy was a former
State Representative for the town of Holbrook and a former candidate
for Massachusetts Governor in 1982,when he failed to secure the
republican nomination for that office. He also made a strong promise
that if it comes time for a more formal announcement of his intention
of running, that " you will be the first to know!"

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Alderwoman
Rebekah Gewirtz will be having her fundraiser next Wednesday from
5:30pm to 7pm at Redbones BBQ, she's up for re-election this year and
has an opponent – local TV personality Jim Campano. RSVP Rebekah's time
to Alex Pearson at 210-643-5915. Rebekah has a new web site and we give
it high ratings – very nicely thought out – www.rebekahgewirtz.org

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School
Committeeman Jamie Norton will also be having a fundraiser at the "On
the Hill Tavern" on Broadway, Monday September 28, from 6pm to whenever
– RSVP Jamie's email at jamesnorton@yahoo.com or visit his web site – www.ward4somerville.com

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Our
own Bob Publicover is starting his chemo treatment this week, he's in
good spirits and he's very confident that things will turn out good –
we and his many friends here wish him the best.

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Condolences
go out to the family of John Clancy and his longtime companion Sandra
Mattson – he passed away early Monday morning. John was a custodian at
the Brown School and a friend to many people in this city – he will be
sorely missed.

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Somerville Rotary –
another great club here in Somerville – will be having its Annual
Charity event on October 29th at 7pm at Giggles Comedy Club in Saugus.
Contact Gilda Nogueira at 617-551-2302 or Gene Brune at 617-679-6310 if
you would like to buy an ad and/or attend the event. Rotary is another
great business club that donates a lot of money here in Somerville – as
well as scholarships. For information on joining, call the President
this year – Tony Pierantozzi (Superintendent of Schools) or any of the
above names with numbers – they're always looking for new members –
they meet Tuesdays at Noon at the Mt. Vernon Restaurant.

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The
last of the Hart children was married over the weekend, Richard &
Mary's last of 10 kids (and the one of the twins) Maureen was married
over the weekend, we wish her and her new husband the best.

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The
late Paul Corbin will have a square in Somerville named and dedicated
to him this coming Saturday, September 12th. The square located at the
corner of Bartlett and Vernon Streets will be dedicated in his memory.
Paul was a great guy and truly another Somerville legend to all his
neighbors and family.

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Just a reminder of
the 2nd Anniversary get together over at the Ball Square Café Рboth
Mike and Omar will be on hand with #1 waitress Patty (recently
celebrated her birthday last week – we won't tell you, ask her how
old). So don't forget the 17th from 6:30 a.m. to 3p.m. Come in and
toast a cheer to them and wish them the best.

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Somerville
High School's Class of 1959 is celebrating their 50th Reunion on
November 7th and the Holiday Inn. For more information, Mary
(Capobianco) Oliveira at 617-623-8881 or 781-475-0938.

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Most
liquor stores in the city have what you call an ID Register – connected
directly to their cash register that will stop an underage sale before
it happens. This device enables the store clerk to be informed that
their customer that they are serving is underage by scanning their
driver's license or identification card and then causes the cash
register to not allow the sale to be rung in. Unfortunately, we heard
that many clerks in the city are too lazy to use the device in order to
make a quick sale quickly.

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