— Photos by Bobbie Toner

On Thursday of last week the SHS Girls Basketball teams played their last home games of the regular season against Gloucester in Somerville. Girls Varsity moved forward to the playoffs. All three teams beat Gloucester, with the Freshman scoring 18-12. Junior Varsity prevailed 36-32, and Varsity won by a score of 66-52.

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Mary Buchinger Bodwell, president of the New England Poetry, published her first poem in Somerville’s literary magazine Ibbetson Street. Robert Pinsky (former U.S. Poet) and Mike Ansara (founder of the Massachusetts Poetry Festival) have used adjectives like “impressive” and “distinguished” in describing this literary journal. Sam Cornish (former Boston Poet Laureate) opined about the press, “Ibbetson Press books are as varied and more provocative than most publications of poetry.”

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Lawrence Kessenich won the 2010 Strokestown International Poetry Prize. His poetry has been published in Sewanee Review, Atlanta Review, Poetry Ireland Review and many other magazines. He has two poetry chapbooks, Pearland Strange News, and two full-length poetry books, Before Whose Glory and Age of Wonders. Three of his poems were nominated for Pushcart Prizes and three read on Writer’s Almanac. Kessenich has also published essays, including one read on NPR’s This I Believe, and had short plays produced at festivals in Boston, New York and Durango, Colorado. His first novel, Cinnamon Girl, was published in September 2016. His latest book of poetry is titled Pearl.

Arrests:
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Alam Deoliveira, of 221 London St., East Boston, February 13, 1:06 a.m., arrested at Glen St. on warrant charges of failure to stop or yield and operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

Jeffrey Solomon, of 1370 Broadway, February 13, 5:39 p.m., arrested at home on warrant charges of conspiracy and shoplifting over $100 by concealing merchandise.

The Somerville Historic Preservation Commission (SHPC) and Historic Somerville are currently seeking volunteers for the City’s Docent Program, which offers guided tours and information about Somerville’s historic sites. Somerville’s Docent Program operates on a scheduled basis from May through October. Public openings are offered at three historic sites, twice a month: the Milk Row Cemetery on Somerville Ave., the Prospect Hill Tower, and the Powder House in Nathan Tufts Park. The Docent Program was started in 2012 and expanded in 2017. Each site opening is for a two hour period.

Savvy Caregiver instructors Nathaniel Meyer (left) and Liz Aguilo recently appeared on Somerville public access to discuss how the program provides family caregivers with skills and knowledge about dementia. SCAT program host Nathan Lamb is also in the photo.

By Nathan Lamb

A free training program that provides family caregivers with skills and knowledge about dementia is returning to Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) in March.

Registration is now open for the next round of Savvy Caregiver training, which starts March 23. SCES social worker and Savvy Caregiver instructor Nathaniel Meyer said the research-based program is tailored to help family caregivers navigate the many challenges of dementia.

The Tufts University Department of Music presents Family and Children’s Concert Series – Tufts Jazz Orchestra, a concert for families and children under the direction of Joel LaRue Smith, in the Distler Performance Hall at the Perry and Marty Granoff Music Center on Saturday, March 10, at 1:00 p.m. The concert includes works by Stevie Wonder, the Beatles, and Leonard Bernstein.

What did the grape say when it got stepped on?

Somerville Media Center (AKA SCATV, SCAT, whatever your heart desires) is celebrating creativity by throwing a Media Mixer event. SMC kicks off the first event in the free 2018 event series on Sunday, February 25, from 4:00–6:00 p.m. at Aeronaut Brewing Company. Get to know other media makers, filmmakers, editors, actors, aspiring creatives and more at this event. Aeronaut Brewery is a safe space to bring your own snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. There will be two picnic tables off to the left-hand side in the beer garden.