By Jim Clark

Police received a tip by phone that a possible drunk driver was heading into Union Square at approximately 1:00 a.m. last Saturday. The witness was following the vehicle in question along Washington St. while filling police in on what was happening.

While meandering through the cobblestone streets of the Trastevere section of Rome, just south of Vatican City, on the west bank of the Tiber, we came across a gelateria tucked away on a very narrow cobblestone street. The store couldn’t have been 50 square feet in total. That of which freezers took up most of the space. The vibrant colors and flavor combinations were abundant.

The annual two-day sales tax holiday was once again approved by the State Senate last week, in spite of opposition by a group of dissenting legislators who feel that the measure actually does more harm than good. Among them were our own Rep. Christine Barber, Rep. Denise Provost and Senator Patricia Jehlen.

Somerville kids are stepping up to participate in Jimmy Fund Little League to help battle cancer.

Team playing in Jimmy Fund Little League
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By Rebecca Danvers

Children in Somerville are among the thousands of boys and girls, ages 8-14, participating in Jimmy Fund Little League presented by Extra Innings and Franklin Sports to help support adult and pediatric cancer care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The Institute is asking for the public’s support of Somerville 11 by generously helping them take a swing at cancer.

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Somerville’s Sarah Ignatius met me on a warm spring morning, at my unofficial office in the backroom of the Bloc 11 Café in Union Square. Ignatius is the Executive Director of the Political Asylum/Immigration Representation Project in Boston, and also a Somerville Arts Council Grant Fellow, who presented a talk and visual presentation at the Somerville Public Library entitled Remembering 1915: The 100-Year Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. She is also the author of a young adult novel (not yet published) The Devil’s Kaleidoscope. The novel concerns a 14-year-old Armenian boy caught up in the genocide.

Our poet this week is Mary Schroth.   She sent us her bio statement: “Mary Schroth is a 19-year old college sophomore at Worcester State University. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in English due to her love of the written word. She is passionate about literature, writing, and humanitarian efforts such as women’s rights, hunger awareness, and the LGBTQ community. Her poetic style is generally lyrical in nature, and she prefers to write about abstract concepts that have a visceral, introspective origin. Schroth is fascinated by the concept of human emotions and relations, which is a common theme that she likes to explore in her poetry.”

Candidates sought for Fair Housing Commission and Condominium Review Board

Two City of Somerville housing boards, charged with preventing housing discrimination in the city and with enforcing the condominium conversion ordinance to protect renting tenants, have vacancies and the city invites interested candidates to apply and represent the community.

Calling all talented teens and young adults: Somerville Public Library and The Center for Teen Empowerment, Inc. have teamed up to host a series of open mics at the library.

Arrests:
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Eleazar Clayton, of 48 Clarkwood St., Boston, August 3, 5:38 p.m., arrested at McGrath Hwy. on warrant charges of operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license, marked lanes violation, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and leaving the scene of personal injury.

The Massachusetts Workforce Alliance, Groundwork Somerville, the City of Somerville, and Land Escapes Design will install two rain gardens on the campus of Somerville’s Mystic River Housing Development. This project will demonstrate the job, business and industry creation potential in green infrastructure techniques of storm water management. Volunteers will be trained in installation techniques, build the structure and learn about jobs in the industry.