(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 Liam Beretsky-Jewell

 Note: This is the third of a series of articles exploring climate change education in Somerville Public Schools (SPS). The prior article can be found here.

In recent years, climate education initiatives have been piloted in a growing number of middle school classrooms throughout the city. These efforts have been led by Jason Behrens, the SPS innovation specialist, who introduced a climate unit into sixth-grade science classrooms at the West Somerville and Argenziano schools. For the upcoming school year, the climate unit will be expanded to sixth graders at all of the city’s public schools. “I think this is the most intentional [climate] unit that we have,” he explained, adding that these schools are adopting a climate change unit created in collaboration with Tufts University. The entire science curriculum is currently under review across grades 6, 7, and 8, which he sees as an opportunity to add a climate unit: “Whatever curriculum we decide to pick for middle grades, there’s going to be a fair amount of climate integration that we’re going to build into that.” This ongoing review is one reason climate education is advancing more quickly in middle school than at the high school level. It’s where the district’s primary focus is now.

Last Thursday, July 10, Ward Six City Councilor Lance L. Davis was elected by members of the City Council to serve as its President, following the resignation of the post by Ward Seven City Councilor Judy Pineda Neufeld on June 30. City Councilor At Large Wilfred N. Mbah was subsequently elected to serve as Vice-President.

The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory through Thursday, July 17. High heat and humidity are expected with feels-like temperatures up to 100 degrees. It’s important to know how to keep yourself and loved ones cool and safe on high heat days. The expected weather conditions can cause heat illness if precautions are not taken. Visit www.somervillema.gov/keepcool for heat safety tips, which are also available in multiple languages, and more ways to keep cool in and around Somerville this summer.

(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)

On 7.8.2025, the National Education Association (NEA) voted to cut ties with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and not accept the ADL’s definition of antisemitism. This was a regretful decision that undermines the many efforts ADL undertakes to combat any form of racism and discrimination generally and antisemitism particularly, and puts many, if not most Jews around the country on high alert as it comes in the midst of a palpable and significant rise in antisemitic acts around the country following the October 7th attacks and the war that followed.

Eagle Feathers #333 – Person’s Ten Acres

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

In 1871 Person Davis was a member of the “Town” of Somerville’s last Board of Selectmen. The following year in1872, he was a member of the “City” of Somerville’s first Board of Aldermen. In business he was a successful grain dealer and merchant. In Massachusetts politics, he represented Somerville for two terms, served on the General Court, and worked on the Committee of Street Railways. Davis Square, which grew up and around Person’s house, gardens and orchards, was named after him in 1883. After the Civil War, West Somerville developed rapidly, and since then Davis Square has been at its heart.

The Somerville Arts Council’s ArtBeat festival has become a much-loved annual tradition here in the city for many.

One thing can be said for certain: it brings to the fore some of the most imaginative and unique creations one could ever wish to see, hear, and – sometimes – even feel.

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I recently caught up with New England Poetry Club advisory board member Gloria Monaghan. She has a new poetry collection out from the Lily Press titled The Diary of St. Marion.

From her website:

Gloria Monaghan is a Professor at Wentworth University. She has published seven collections of poetry. Her seventh book, Diary of Saint Marion, Lily Poetry Review (2025), was featured at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (2025, AWP). Her poems have appeared in Nixes Mate, NPR, Poem-a-Day, Lily Poetry Review, Mom Egg Review, Quartet, and River Heron, among others. She has been nominated twice for the Pushcart Prize, as well as the Massachusetts Book Award and the Griffin Prize. She has also been nominated for the Sheila Margaret Motton Book Award from the New England Poetry Club. Thanks to a Bistline Grant from Wentworth Institute, she recently completed a film on the painter, Nancy Ellen Craig, Daughter of Rubens, which was accepted into the 2023 Provincetown Film Festival. She is currently working on another film about the Dominican painter, Jose Ricon Mora.

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Mel Schorin writes about nature and other things. He published a book of roadkill poems titled Raccoon Sympathy. He lives in Cambridge.