On Tuesday, September 19, 2017, voters will cast their ballots in a Preliminary Election for the offices of Mayor of Somerville and School Committee Member in Ward 1. The Somerville Times asked each of the qualified candidates to describe why they would be the best choice for the office they are running for and what specific policies they would advocate or implement in that position, along with a bio if they choose to include one. Their responses are presented here in alphabetical order based on their last names, beginning with the Office of Mayor, followed by School Committee Member in Ward 1.

The primary election here in Somerville is next Tuesday, September 19. Only Ward 1 has a primary race for School Committee with four candidates running. The top two vote getters will run in November. It’s possible for a School Committee candidate to get elected and be declared a winner with less than 300 votes, maybe less than 200. The citywide primary is for mayor in all the wards and precincts in the city. Three candidates are running. The top two vote getters will run in November. It’s the first time a mayoral primary will be held in about 13 years.

By Union Square Station Associates

On Tuesday, over one hundred and fifty residents, business owners and community stakeholders attended a neighborhood meeting hosted by Union Square Station Associates (US2) at the Public Safety Building in Union Square. Following the City of Somerville’s passage of the Union Square Overlay District zoning ordinance in June, the public meeting was US2’s first opportunity to present its overall vision for Union Square and start the Coordinated Development Plan process required by the zoning. The redevelopment of the seven parcels entrusted to US2 will serve as a catalyst for Union Square’s evolution into a pedestrian-friendly, 2.4 million-square-foot mixed-use employment center, all centered around the long anticipated MBTA Green Line station.

Somerville remembers the fallen and the brave

By Jim Clark

The City’s annual vigil walk, in honor of the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, took place on Monday evening, September 11.

Senior receiver/cornerback Jiovanny Pierre was a big contributor to the Highlanders’ win over the Peabody Tanners on Friday.

By Beckett Bathanti

After an inauspicious start, the Somerville Highlanders rolled over Northeastern Conference opponent Peabody 24-7 at Dilboy Stadium in Somerville Friday night.

Third-year Head Coach Makonnen Fenton preached discipline during practice earlier in the week and was pleased with his team’s showing Friday night.

Competition is great, especially for politicians. It brings forth debate on the real issues, and we shouldn’t elect an Emperor. But the current mayor’s challengers don’t even come close to being qualified to run pet shop, let alone a city of 78K people with budget of over $200 million, and a city work force of 1000 plus.

We feel that Joe Curtatone, in spite of some of his political stands, has done a fantastic job for Somerville. Just look, we’re not called Slumerville anymore.

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The Mercat de La Boqueria, or the La Boqueria Market, located in Barcelona, Spain has been up and running since 1217. Of course, over the years, it has become much larger, from one table selling meat to close to 300 vendors today! Some offerings at the market are fresh meats, fish, olives, cheese, fresh fruit, dried fruit, produce, eggs, bread, cured meats, smoothies, spices, specialty sea salts, dried mushrooms, chocolate, prepared foods and much more.

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Review by Neil Silberblatt
Founder, Voices of Poetry

Leo Max Frank (April 17, 1884 – August 17, 1915) was an American factory superintendent. Born to a Jewish-American family in Texas, he was raised in New York and earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Cornell University before moving to Atlanta in 1908. He became involved in Atlanta’s Jewish community and was elected president of that city’s chapter of the B’nai B’rith.

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For many years, Marguerite Bouvard was a professor of political science at Regis College and a director of poetry workshops. She is the author or 12 non-fiction books in the area of women and human rights as well as 8 books of poetry, two of which have received awards. Both her poetry and essays have been widely anthologized. Marguerite has received fellowships at the Radcliffe Institute, the Wellesley College Center for Research on Women and from the Puffin Foundation. She has been a writer in residence at the University of Maryland and has had residencies at the MacDowell Colony, the Yaddo Foundation, the Djerassi Foundation, the Leighton Artists’ colony at the Banff Centre and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.

Arrests:
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William Moschetto, of 8 Farnham, Roxbury, September 4, 3:18 p.m., arrested at Artisan Way on a warrant charge of possession of a class E drug.

Khalid Allen, of 11 Penn St., Revere, September 5, 1:34 a.m., arrested at McGrath Hwy. on a warrant charge of unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.