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Poet David Daniel grew up in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Daniel has taught at Emerson College in Boston, where he served as editor of Ploughshares. He is the director of undergraduate creative writing at Farleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey.

Arrests:
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John Gogos, of 51 Fairmont, Malden, December 10, 8:32 a.m., arrested at Broadway on warrant charges of operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor second offense, carrying a dangerous weapon, and negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

James McKenna, of 31 Cheverus Rd., Dorchester, December 11, 10:03 p.m., arrested at Broadway on a warrant charge of assault and battery.

Please join the Somerville Public Space and Urban Forestry Division, and Ward 3 Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen on Wednesday evening, January 8, 2020, from 6:30 to 8 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.

The Conway Park meeting previously announced for November 20, has been rescheduled. Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 2 Councilor J.T. Scott, and the City’s Public Space and Urban Forestry Division invite the community to discuss site remediation at Conway Park as well as its future design at a community meeting now scheduled for Monday, December 16. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Public Safety Building, 220 Washington Street. City staff will be joined by consultants from Weston Sampson Associates, who have been developing the site remediation plan in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Federal Environmental Protection Agency.

The Somerville Cambridge Elder Services Board of Directors recently bid a fond farewell to three long-serving members (from left) Neil Winston, Liz Aguilo, and Kathryn Erat. The board is currently taking applications for new members. SCES Executive Director Paul Hollings is also in the photo.

By Leslie Hergert

Want to help a great organization make a difference in the lives of local older adults? Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) is currently taking applications for several vacancies on our board of directors.

SCES’s mission is to support elders and people with disabilities to live with dignity in the setting of their choice. Here are a few common examples of how we help older adults overcome challenges to independence and well-being:

An aerial view of Foss Park, taken from the document “2019 Foss Park Community Meeting Kickoff – 10-30 and 11-13” available on the city’s Foss Park webpage.

By Jane Regan and Stephanie Wittenbach
Somerville Neighborhood News

Residents, city and state officials all say that Foss Park, one of the city’s biggest open spaces, needs a facelift. And likely much more. And anyone who has played ball or walked a dog there knows about the dustbowls, lack of drainage and other challenges. Last year the state finally announced a $1.2-million-dollar project that includes building a new artificial turf field, field lighting, walkway upgrades and drainage improvements.

Historic new ordinance uses national best practices to implement SomerVision.

 Somerville is the first and largest municipality in the Boston metropolitan region to adopt a citywide form-based code.

After over seven years of research and analysis, hundreds of community meetings, multiple public hearings and extensive review by the former Board of Aldermen and current City Council, Somerville officially has a new zoning ordinance. On December 12, 2019, the City Council voted to approve the administration’s proposed new zoning ordinance, making this the first major overhaul of zoning in Somerville since 1990, and an update of some regulatory elements that have existed since zoning was first adopted in 1924.

Just in time to complete your holiday shopping, the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission has “Preserving Somerville” merchandise available for sale. All merchandise can be viewed on the Commission’s website at www.somervillema.gov/historicshop, and a list of available items is below.

(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.)

By Joseph A. Curtatone

The Tuesday after Thanksgiving has become known as Giving Tuesday. The Giving Tuesday campaign started in 2012 to encourage people to donate to charities and non-profit organizations during the holiday season. While Giving Tuesday is a good reminder to make a donation, nonprofits need support throughout the year to carry out their missions.