Newly-announced Alderman at Large candidate Will Mbah.

By William C. Shelton

Will Mbah, a Woods Avenue resident, has announced his candidacy for Alderman at Large. His background is unique among modern aldermanic candidates.

It involves a circuitous journey from a West African household of modest means to advocating for economic development and affordable housing in New England’s densest city. Yet its elements of hope, endurance, and determination are common among generations of immigrants who settled in Somerville over the past two centuries.

Eagle Feathers #123 – Happy Anniversaries

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

She’s 175 years old this year and counting. It’s not polite to ask a mature lady her age, but she doesn’t mind at all. Her roots as part of Charlestown, her maiden name, go back to July 4, 1629, the day Charlestown was founded. This makes her older than Boston and Cambridge. Thus, her history before becoming Somerville in 1842 is also Charlestown’s history.

Why is it that so many of us have to get in our cars or board public transportation each day when we go to work?

Is it just our bad luck that that the only job we can possibly work at happens to be 40 miles or more away from where live and shop and play and…well, live our lives?

Lady Highlanders Senior Night and the last home game was held Friday night, February 17. Best of luck to the two seniors on the team: Miranda Melanson #13 and Kiara Alejandro #21.

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Said Not Said
by Fred Marchant
(GRAYWOLF PRESS 2017)
Release Date: May 2, 2017

Fred Marchant, the author of the poetry collections, The Looking House and Full Moon Boat among other titles, has released a new collection Said Not Said from the Graywolf Press.

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Somerville resident Kirk Etherton writes: “I wrote this poem when one of my favorite neighbors was three years old. Last year, she helped to make the igloo. School Street is a fun place to live – in any season.”

Former Somerville resident and Bank of Boston CEO

Ira Stepanian died suddenly on February 13 in Bonita Springs, Florida. He is survived by the family he loved – his wife Jacquie, his son Philip, daughter Alisa, son Steven and his wife Kate, and his three granddaughters: Sophie, Charlotte and Elizabeth. Born in 1936 in Cambridge, MA to Armenian immigrant parents, Ira graduated from Somerville High School and received a B.A. in Economics from Tufts College and an M.B.A. from Boston College Graduate School of Business Administration.

Arrests:
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James Neville, of 380 Somerville Ave., February 13, 1:42 p.m., arrested at Somerville Ave. on a warrant charge of shoplifting by asportation.

Jasmine Noiles, of 8 Pasadena Rd., Dorchester, February 13, 5:50 p.m., arrested at Canal St. on charges of removal of theft prevention device and larceny over $250.

By Doug Holder

Doug Holder interviews Somerville, Mass. photographer Jaclyn Poeschl at the Bloc 11 Cafe in Somerville, Mass. Poeschl talks about her work as a portrait photographer, makeup artist, and cinematographer.

Listen to the interview here.

A meeting on construction impacts from the Nunziato Stormwater and Park Project is being held  on Wednesday, February 22. Stop by the Somerville High School library (81 Highland Ave.) from 6 to 7:30 p.m. to learn more.