We marvel at the audacity of those who would lead us by our hands, regarding us as lost and wayward children, unable to think for ourselves and behave responsibly.

The culture of the Nanny State has proliferated to the point of shear absurdity in these modern times. Big Brother is not only watching you, he is clocking your rate of speed, checking your credit rating, and, above all, regulating every possible civil code and ordinance that he can lay his well oiled hands on.

Kennedy school students get hands on experience in what it takes to get that stuff that usually comes out of a can in a fresher, tastier form.

Somerville Public schools served locally grown food last week to the kids at school.

Somerville Public Schools students were invited to shuck corn at breakfast on Thursday, September 20, with the Somerville Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services department, Groundwork Somerville and UMass Extension.

Arrests:
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Marc Russell, 31, of 2 Mt. Vernon St., September 18, 6:30 a.m., arrested at Broadway on a warrant charge of unarmed robbery.

Carl Barnhill, 44, of 23 Windsor Rd., September 18, 12:35 p.m., arrested at 1364 Broadway on charges of possession of a class A drug and resisting arrest, and on a warrant charge of larceny over $250.

Ida Azzolino turned 100 and the Holland Street Center got to celebrate with her. Ida was surprised at the end of Bingo on September 27 as they brought in a cake to celebrate her 100th birthday. Her friends joined her for a group photo after the singing. When Ida was leaving to go home she took the stairs, which impressed her younger friends. As one of them said, “That’s how she got to be 100!”

Rachael Popek.

Rachael Popek is the producer for R Jeffreys’ popular radio show the Write Step and is the Executive Coordinator, (working alongside Program Coordinator and Co-Chair R Jeffreys , and Coordinating Liaison and Co-Chair Kathleen Bitetti) for the 100,000 Poets for Change event at the Boston Public Library, Copley Branch, Sept 29 at 1p.m. to 3p.m. According to Popek’s website the event will be”…the largest, single poetry reading in the history of the world. This event will also be archived, recorded and stored at Stanford University in California, and simulcast throughout the globe that day.”

Andrea Le.

Our poet this week is the talented Andrea Le. She is a sophomore at Endicott College, majoring in English with a focus in Creative Writing and a minor in Studio Art. Le has won several awards for her drawing and painting. She has danced most of her life and teaches at the Boston Ballet School in Marblehead. Currently, she is an intern and writer for Art Throb Magazine.

Firefighter Melvin Dominique works inside a charred bedroom on the first floor of 167 Pearl Street. – Photo courtesy of Somerville Fire Department.

The Somerville Fire Department responded at 9:46 a.m. to a reported building fire at 167 Pearl Street.  This is an occupied three unit apartment building.  Upon arrival firefighters found a fire in the rear of the first floor apartment with a heavy smoke condition.   The tenant in the first floor apartment where the fire originated suffered from smoke inhalation and was transported  to the hospital by Cataldo Ambulance.  Her injuries do not appear serious at this time.

State’s Premier Urban Agriculture Ordinance Includes Regs for Farming on City and Private Land, Keeping of Chickens and Bees.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced that, following approvals by the City’s Board of Aldermen (Aug. 16), Planning Board (Aug. 16) and Board of Health (Sept. 20), ,  Somerville is now the first city in Massachusetts to pass an Urban Agriculture Ordinance that  establishes formal guidelines for urban farming and gardening, the keeping of chickens and bees, and other policies governing the growth and sale of agricultural products in an urban setting.  Residents, non-profit agencies or businesses seeking to obtain permits to begin farming or keeping bees or chickens should visit the City’s Urban Agriculture webpage:  www.somervillema.gov/urbanag. Information on the initiative and upcoming events can also be found on the Urban Agriculture blog: somervilleurbanag.tumblr.com.

The City of Somerville & Somerville Public Schools, in partnership with the El Sistema Somerville Advisory Council present: El Sistema Somerville’s Kick-Off Concert & Celebration, Thursday, September 27,  5:30-7:30 p.m. at the  East Somerville Community School
8 Bonair St., Somerville.

Early Sunday morning Somerville Fire Department Rescue Units were dispatched the intersection of McGrath Highway and Mystic Avenue for a two car motor vehicle accident.

Upon arrival to the scene rescue workers extracted two of the occupants of one of the motor vehicles involved in the accident.

The two victims were transported to local hospitals by ambulance.