The connection between music therapy and dementia was recently spotlighted on Aging Well, a monthly production of Somerville Cable Access Television. Music & Memory Coordinator Rory Silvia (right) discussed the recently launched program with Mental Health Social Worker Cassie Cramer and show host, Nathan Lamb.

By Nathan Lamb

A new program that uses music to help dementia patients reconnect with the outside world was recently featured on Aging Well, a monthly public-access production of Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES).

The discussion was led by SCES Music & Memory coordinator Rory Silvia and Mental Health Social Worker Cassie Cramer.

Silvia described Music & Memory as a specialized form of music therapy, which uses tailored playlists to trigger memories and improve quality of life for people with dementia.

The Somerville Board of Aldermen presented a citation Commending the Somerville Youth Softball Tsunami, for finishing as 2017 MiddleEssex Softball League champions in the 12B Division at its latest regular meeting last week.

While hunting for things, I sometimes come across strange out-of-place items. One time at the Goodwill in Somerville, an employee pushed out a bin of fresh merchandise.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

Movie Nights in the Park returned to Chuckie Harris Park Monday evening for a series of short movies organized by East Somerville Main Streets, Somerville Media Center and the Arlington International Film Festival.

The Union Square Farmers Market is open Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., May 13 to November 18.

By Robert Sondak

The Union Square Farmers Market in Somerville has evolved since its founding in 2005 from a local community farmers market into a large urban farmers market. Today it is the largest farmers market in Somerville, having doubled in size to its current size, featuring roughly 40 vendors weekly.

Proprietors of P.A.s Lounge, Tony and Jerry.

By JT Thompson

Tony and Jerry: father and son team at P.A.’s Lounge, an ‘old school’ Somerville bar at the heart of Union Square, which Tony opened 45 years ago, when he was 31. Jerry and his brother Tony Jr. are now the owners; Tony is retired, but still spends many of his days at the bar.

Jonathan T. Perry

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan announces that police are seeking to locate Jonathan T. Perry, 17 of Somerville in connection with the Tuesday, August 29 fatal shooting of Tenzin Kunkhyen, 16 of Malden.

Perry is a white male, clean shaven with brownish shoulder length hair and green eyes. He is 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 120 pounds.

Dear Community Supporters,

The George Dilboy Post 529’s Annual Marine Corps Birthday Celebration, will be held on November 10, 2017, all veterans are invited and encouraged to attend. This year marks the 242nd anniversary of the United States Marine Corps. For the past 20 years, members gather each year to honor those that served and continue to serve our country by providing toys for disadvantaged children.

By Jim Clark

Police officers were dispatched to the Puma store at Assembly Row last week on a report of a shoplifter.

Upon arrival, the officers were provided with a description of the suspect and the last known direction of travel.

As the officers drove along Assembly Row towards the train station, they were flagged down by a security officer who told them that she saw the suspect drop off a bag in a vehicle and then walk into the Clarks store.

By Joseph A. Curtatone

(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)

Taking a closer look at notable city data—and interesting numbers. 

30-year crime rate low, and then some:  In 2014, the city reached an important public safety marker: a 30-year low in recorded criminal incidents. But the crime rate has since fallen even farther. So far this year, Somerville’s crime rate is 2.5 percent below 2014. Nearly every crime category—including robbery, assault, burglary, motor vehicle larceny, and theft—is at a four-year low so far for 2017. Given historical crime trends in Massachusetts, we estimate that 2017 could yield the city’s lowest crime rate since the 1960s. Many factors play into to this change, but they most certainly include outstanding police work. The Somerville Police Department has pursued many programs and initiatives to help drive this decrease in crime including officer Crisis Intervention Training, de-escalation training, and an impressive increase in community engagement, which we’ll take a closer look at below.