(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)

To the editor:

On Thursday, March 1, an awards assembly for grades 5 and 6 was held in the East Somerville Community School auditorium. As the grandparent of one of the children and a visitor from out of town, I attended the ceremony. Here is what took place.

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A new member of Somerville’s Bagel Bards chimes in with this review…

Review by Ravi T.Y

David Giannini’s poetry and prose poetry collection, The Future Only Rattles When You Pick It Up, explores the myth of Sisyphus, and uses it as an anchoring point to explore topics such as innocence, love, death, and meaning. The book is witty yet genuine, raw yet elusive, and just when you begin to think that it is getting too nostalgic – it dawns on you that you are lost in one of Giannini’s intricate meditations. The book opens with:

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Meg Smith is a poet, journalist, dancer and events producer living in Lowell, Mass. In addition to Poetry Bay, her poems have appeared in The Cafe Review, The Offering, Astropoetica, Illumen, Dreams & Nightmares, the Dwarf Stars anthology of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association and many more. As a journalist, her coverage has been in honored by the New England Newspaper And Press Association, including first place awards for coverage of racial and ethnic issues, and coverage of religion. She is a past board member of Lowell Celebrates Kerouac! and produces the Edgar Allan Poe Show, honoring Poe’s presence in Lowell, Mass. She recently published a second book of poetry, Dear Deepest Ghost.

Students, including Co-Organizer, Sam Dornstein (far right), hold signs up to oncoming traffic during protest.

#walkoutwednesdays

Students across the state will walk out of class on March 14th at 10:00am, as a part of the national walkout organized by Women’s March Empower. They will proceed to sit in silence for 17 minutes and then will head to the State House. There, students from many schools across Massachusetts will be congregating. At the state house they will be lobbying to pass the Extreme Risk Protective Orders (ERPO) (H. 3610).  Join us in fighting for our lives.

All cars must be moved from City and school lots by 9 a.m. Wednesday to avoid ticketing and towing. Property owners must shovel sidewalks by 1 p.m. Wednesday (within 6 daylight hours following end of snowfall). 
School is canceled Wednesday.

The City of Somerville’s snow emergency will end Wednesday, March 14, at 7 a.m. and normal parking rules will resume at that time. The information below offers tips to avoid ticketing and towing as well as strategies for being a good neighbor and staying safe.

Arrests:
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John Gill, of 499 Walnut St., Lynn, March 8, 12:03 p.m., arrested at Central St. on a warrant charge of unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Jaclyn Agosto, of 1374 Broadway, March 8, 2:43 p.m., arrested at home on warrant charges of possession of a class B drug and larceny over $250.

All cars must be moved to the ODD side (unless otherwise posted) by Monday night at 9 p.m. to avoid ticketing and towing.

School, Recreation, and Public Library activities are canceled;City, School, and Library offices are closed Tuesday, March 13.

In accordance with the City’s Snow Emergency Procedures, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone has declared a snow emergency for the City of Somerville to go into effect at 5 p.m. on Monday, March 12. All vehicles must be moved to the ODD-numbered side of the street by 9 p.m. Monday evening (unless signs posted on your street state otherwise).

The City of Somerville Health & Human Services Department, and Somerville Animal Control will host the city’s annual rabies clinic for cats and dogs on Saturday, April 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., in the yard at the Department of Public Works (1 Franey Rd. Enter gate to the right of the main building and follow signs for the Rabies Clinic). Rabies vaccinations and on-site licenses for dogs will be available at the clinic. The cost of the vaccine is $10, and a dog license is $20 for spayed and neutered dogs with proof and $30 for all other dogs. Prior vaccination records are not required and all vaccinations will be valid for one year. All Somerville residents are required to license their dogs and a current rabies vaccine is required to obtain a license. Dogs must be leashed and cats must be in carriers in order to access the clinic.