For the past 14 years or so I have been on the board of the Boston National Poetry Festival with Harris Gardner, and his partners in crime Somerville poets Kirk Etherton and Lucy Holstedt. Every year a number of Somerville poets participate in a wide range of events (along with many others), that span several days in April. I strongly encourage residents of the Paris of New England to attend!

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David Krancher once edited a literary journal called Dark Horse (based in Somerville, Mass.). He’s published poems in Dance magazine, Wilderness House, Dark Horse, and Bagelbards. This poem, like many others, is part of character investigation for a novel-in-progress called Stealing Color.

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

The City of Somerville’s snow emergency will end Wednesday, March 15, at 7 a.m. and normal parking rules will resume at that time. It’s important to note that while rain is expected to move in and some streets may appear clear, residents must continue to follow snow emergency parking procedures until the emergency is lifted Wednesday morning. Temperatures are expected to drop below freezing overnight, which will result in hazardous, icy conditions so crews will need to continue treating the roads overnight, as well as clear catch basins and fire hydrants. Because of the expected dangerous conditions, property owners are urged to shovel sidewalks as soon as possible, and all residents are encouraged to take safety precautions if they have to be out walking or driving. 

There will be a Public Hearing before the Board of Aldermen’s Committee on Finance on Wednesday, March 22, 2017, at 6:00 PM, in the Aldermanic Chambers, 2^nd Floor, City Hall, 93 Highland Avenue, on the Order of Alderman Tony Lafuente, Chairman of the Committee, for public input on #202944, a proposed appropriation and authorization to borrow $255,982,704 for the construction of a new Somerville High School.

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 midnight Tuesday, March 14. Residents can begin moving their cars now to the EVEN-numbered side of the street (unless posted signage states otherwise). Those unable to find parking on the correct side of the street may park in any municipal or school parking lot  beginning at 8 p.m. Monday and may remain there for the duration of the emergency but must be moved within two hours of the end of the emergency. Ticketing and towing will begin at 4 a.m. for cars not moved to the correct side of the street or to a municipal or school lot. Again, residents are advised to move their cars earlier, before going to sleep for the night. Full snow emergency and snow removal policies may be found on the City’s website at www.somervillema.gov/snow.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 5 Alderman Mark Niedergang, and the City of Somerville’s Engineering Department invite all interested residents to a community meeting to discuss the ongoing Cedar Street Water and Sewer Infrastructure Upgrade Project, on Tuesday, March 21, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria in the Kennedy School, 5 Cherry St. Construction is expected to begin on Cedar St. at the beginning of April. 

By Louise Carpenter

On January 30, Senator Patricia D. Jehlen (Second Middlesex District) hosted a briefing at the Massachusetts State House to introduce the Massachusetts Consortium for Innovative Education Assessment (MCIEA) to the state legislature. The briefing was sponsored by the 2015-2016 Senate Special Committee on Innovative and Alternative Education. Senator Jehlen, leaders of MCIEA, and key partners introduced the newly launched initiative and discussed how their work will redefine the way we measure student learning and school quality in Massachusetts. MCIEA is a partnership of six MA public school districts and their local teacher unions from Attleboro, Boston, Lowell, Revere, Somerville, and Winchester.

Cremin, Christine L. – Of Somerville March 8, 2017.

Beloved daughter of Katherine Cremin of Stoneham, Albert Rodgers of NH and the late Michael Cremin.
Loving mother of Quinten Sinclair. Companion of Paul Sinclair of Reading.
Sister of Albert Cremin of Peabody, Mark Cremin of Lowell and the late Deanna Cremin. Also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Jayne Davis (second from left) was recently presented the inaugural Kate Thomas Spirit Award, for her work in establishing LGBT meal sites for older adults. The new award was launched by the LGBT Aging Project, in part to honor the contributions of SCES case manager Kate Thomas, who passed in 2014.

By Nathan Lamb

Six years ago, Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) Elder Care Advisor Kate Thomas organized a monthly dinner for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adults and friends. At a recent event, SCES and the LGBT Aging Project honored her memory with the inaugural Kate Thomas Spirit Award.