Somerville Police Chief David Fallon reported on the state of crime prevention and other matters concerning the safety and welfare of Ward 7 residents at last week’s ResiStat meeting.

By Amy Swain

Last Wednesday, May 11, residents and officials of Ward 7 gathered at the West Somerville Neighborhood School for the semi-annual ResiStat meeting.

The meeting opened with Chief David Fallon of the Somerville Police Department reviewing recent crime statistics. Most common crimes were down, including theft from motor vehicles, which dropped from 34 to only 9 this year. Death from opioid overdose was also down from last year, but unfortunately overdoses themselves continue to rise.

The Beacon St. Reconstruction Project officially kicked off on Monday. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Charles Lane

Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 2 Alderman Maryann Heuston, and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) conducted the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Beacon St. Reconstruction Project Monday morning.

On Thursday, May 19, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian T. Ryan, who is originally from Somerville, is having a fundraiser starting at 5:30 over at the Royal Sonesta Hotel. Her campaign coordinator here in the city Ward 3 Alderman Bob McWatters has let us know he is looking for a good showing from Somerville. Marian Ryan is doing a great job as District Attorney working hard here in both Somerville as well as Middlesex County. We supported her in her very first election bid for the seat back couple of years ago and see that she has done a great job representing Middlesex County.

By Donald F. Norton

Well known matriarch of the Hart family, Mary Kane-Hart, mother, nurse and friend to many was surprised this past Sunday at Kitty’s in North Reading when her family threw her a surprise 70th birthday party.

Peter Wolf blew away the crowd at The Somerville Theatre last Thursday night. — Photo by Matt Stone

By Daniel Sullivan

When I heard that Peter Wolf, front man for the legendary J. Geils Band, would be performing at the Somerville Theatre on Thursday night, May 12, I got tickets right away.

Chris Pino and Casey Revilla celebrated Somerville High’s Senior Prom at the Boston Cambridge Marriot Friday night.

Daniela Abbott (center), with her parents Marcia and Jeffrey Hansen.

By Louise Carpenter

More than 320 swimmers are currently registered for the 40th Annual Save The Bay Swim on August 13. For one family, joining the Swim for the very first time, with two swimmers and two kayakers, the iconic event has special meaning. Daniela Abbott, 34, has lived in Portsmouth, Rhode Island for many years with her husband Branden and their children. Abbott grew up a swimmer, and she and her husband have many friends who’ve done the Swim, but she’s never quite found the right reason to dive in herself. Until now.

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Mayra Gomez, a student at Endicott College, writes The Somerville Times: “I’m from Honduras, Central America.  I’m 19 years old. My major is International Business. I love literature and learning different writing styles.”

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Part of life is losing touch. People disappear from our lives, sometimes never to appear again. Somerville writer Stefan Cooke author of Barbara Newhall Follett: A Life in Letters is not satisfied to let the disappearance of his half aunt Barbara disappear into the ether. With his new book he traces Follet’s life through her letters. Follett was gifted child prodigy writer, who vanished in 1939 from her home in Brookline, Mass. at age 25. She was never to be heard of again.

Somerville’s talented teens show off their skills at the free “Somerville Rocks!” show on Friday, May 20 at the Somerville High School Auditorium. The show starts at 7 p.m.