On January 25, details for the revitalization of Lincoln Park will be formally presented to the public by the City of Somerville.

Parts of the plan have already been revealed, however, and one of the more popular decisions that the planners have made is the inclusion of a natural grass playing field.

By Maureen Bastardi

Since September of 2014, older adults in Somerville have been able to attend various Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) events for free. This is made possible through a wonderful program the BSO sponsors called “Symphony for Our City.”

This program strives to build deeper relationships with representatives from various organizations across the greater Boston area, bringing together individuals of various backgrounds, and informing the BSO’s work through reciprocal relationships.

I was just having breakfast with an artist acquaintance at the Bloc 11 Cafe in Somerville, Mass, when the subject turned to where we would move to if we were forced out of our city. We thought of isolated burgs like North Adams, an old mill in Lawrence, far flung nowherevilles in the western part of the state. But of course none of these places are like our hometown of Somerville, where both of us have lived for many years. Across the country artists, low-income folks, and others are being forced out of their communities due to the hungry tendrils of gentrification.

Wayne-Daniel Berard teaches English and Humanities at Nichols College in Dudley, MA. An adoptee and former Franciscan seminarian, his birth-search led him to find and embrace his Jewishness. Wayne-Daniel is a Peace Chaplain, an interfaith clergy person, and a member of B’nai Or of Boston. He has published widely in both poetry and prose, and is the co-founding editor of Soul-Lit, an online journal of spiritual poetry. He lives in Mansfield, MA with his wife, The Lovely Christine.

Russell Joyner, former Boston College football player and General Manager of Assembly Row (2012-2014), spearheaded the on-site police substation facility. He passed away in January 2015 before the substation’s completion. 

On Tuesday, January 12, dozens gathered from across Somerville to open and dedicate the brand new Assembly Row Somerville Police Substation in memory of Russell Anthony Joyner, former General Manager of Federal Realty’s Assembly Row. Spearheaded and constructed by Federal Realty Investment Trust, the new substation thanks Russ Joyner’s leadership and mission to ensure a safe and prosperous future for Somerville’s newest neighborhood.

Arrests:
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John Medeiros, of 10 Clayton Ave., Medford, January 11, 12:58 p.m., arrested at Bay State Ave. on warrant charges of operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license, marked lanes violation, and speeding.

Atem Agok, January 11, 3:54 p.m., arrested at McGrath Hwy. on charges of trespassing and shoplifting by asportation.

Anthony A. Laurentano of Medford died on Friday, January 15, at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Born and raised Boston’s North End, he was the son of the late Alfonso Lauretano and the late Jean “Gina” (Matarazzo) and her late husband Vito Maniscalco. Anthony lived for many years in Somerville, where he was employed as a carpenter, before moving to Medford ten years ago.

The City of Somerville announced today several changes to the ongoing public meeting series surrounding the proposed Zoning Overhaul Process. An updated meeting schedule is included below, and important changes are:

• The Mobility meeting has been changed from Mon., Feb. 8, to Mon., Feb. 22.
• The Economic Development meeting has been moved from Mon., Feb. 22, to Mon., Feb. 8
• A second Attainable Housing meeting has been added on Mon., Mar. 21, as a follow up to the Jan. 11 meeting.
• A meeting about Sustainability has been added on Mon., Apr. 11.

Community members invited to join in series of discussions, panel presentations on three popular books covering the topic of race and racism.

Jan 21, discuss Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, at Somerville’s Central Library.

The Somerville Public Library and the Office of Somerville Commissions invite your participation in newly-created book discussion series on race and racism.

The Somerville Library Book Series on Race and Racism is a program that features three separate books and discussions, plus a panel discussion co-sponsored by the Office of Somerville Commissions from January to April on every third Thursday evening at the Main Branch Library (79 Highland Ave.) from 7 to 8:30 p.m.