By Jim Clark

While monitoring a peaceful demonstration in the Davis Sq. area by students from Tufts University last Thursday afternoon, police were reportedly forced to place several individuals under arrest after they failed to clear the roadway as requested by officers.

One of the foods I enjoy, especially in the spring and summer is fresh tomato salsa. I use it in a variety of ways. I serve it with my favorite tortilla chip, on a taco, and on the side along with grilled chicken or a piece of fish, adding freshness to any dish.

On Sunday, May 3 the Massachusetts Sons of Italy presented Mayor Joseph Curtatone (pictured right) with the 2015 Public Service Award in honor of Law Day. During his twelve years as Mayor and eight years as a Somerville Alderman, Curtatone brought reforms and redevelopment to Somerville earning it distinctions by regional and national organizations, including the “Best Run City in Massachusetts” by the Boston Globe, and a winner of the 2009 All American City Award. Somerville Attorney Phil Privitera (pictured left) serves as the Sons of Italy’s Massachusetts Commissioner on Laws. Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kathryn Polito (pictured center) served as Toast Master of the celebration. Both Privitera and Polito are members of the Sons of Italy Greater Boston Renaissance Lodge.

For four days last week Somerville firefighters conducted training using a vacant, commercial building at 311 Highland Avenue. Firefighters trained on rescuing an injured firefighter trapped in a basement during a fire. They also practiced using thermal imaging cameras to see through smoke, practiced using search ropes and two newly purchased Pak Tracker firefighter locating devices that lock on a signal produced when a downed firefighter activates an emergency alert. Firefighters were tasked with entering the dark and smoke filled basement, searching for and locating an injured firefighter, providing him with an air supply and removing the firefighter to safety. The training took place in a darkened, windowless basement that was filled with “smoke” from a fog machine to create realistic conditions. The Somerville Fire Department would like to thank Marshall and Gwen Simpkins for allowing firefighters to utilize this property to provide critical training for Somerville firefighters.

Somerville offers many opportunities for writers and other creative types. There are a plethora of writing groups and organizations where the aspiring poet and writer can hone their skills and network. But just beyond our borders, I found yet another place, the Newton Writing and Publishing Center. This nascent Center, has many writers  on its board that I have worked with and know, such as Somerville’s Timothy Gager, a stalwart of the literary community. Robin Stratton, whose poetry has appeared in the Lyrical Somerville column in The Somerville Times, is the founder of the said organization, and is a force of nature in the local writing community. In addition to publishing my new lyrical memoir Portrait of an Artist as a Young Poseur… through her affiliated Big Table Publishing  press, the center will be awarding me their first Allen Ginsberg Poetry Award, with a ceremony this August. 

The poet David Lombino looks beyond the happy horse…. (well you know what I mean), to what he sees as a rotten underbelly to this new vision of Somerville that is taking place under our noses.  There is always two sides of the coin–and you got to look carefully at both. Lombino writes The Times: 

Arrests:
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Brian McCarthy, of 237 American Legion Hwy., Revere, April 28, 11:18 a.m., arrested at Broadway on warrant charges of negligent operation of a motor vehicle, speeding, marked lanes violation, operation of a motor vehicle with a revoked license, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs, operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license and failure to wear a seatbelt.

Five Tufts University students have been on hunger strike for nearly 48 hours and plan to continue indefinitely until the Tufts administration agrees to stop plans to cut 17% of its janitorial workforce.  Student supporters have also set up an occupation of tents outside the main administrative building on Tufts’ Medford/Somerville campus. Dozens of students stayed the past two nights and are planning to remain there until the administration agrees to the janitors’ demands. But as of this morning, the Tufts administration had not issued any response to students or janitors aside from enclosing the tent occupation with fences.

— Photo by Claudia Ferro

Summer performance program open to youth in grades 7 through 12; Performances held Monday through Thursday evenings during July and August

Calling Somerville youth! The City is seeking talented, energetic and music-loving teens between the ages of 12 and 18 to participate in the historic Somerville Sunsetters for summer 2015. The Sunsetters is a traveling performance troupe that performs classic show tunes and modern musicals in Somerville neighborhoods throughout July and August.  The Sunsetters is led by local entertainment specialist and Somerville Youth Arts Coordinator, Jimmy Del Ponte.

Somerville’s Senior Planner to succeed Hayes Morrison in OSPCD. Rawson played key role in SomerVision, Somerville by Design station area planning initiatives.

Somerville Senior City Planner Brad Rawson has been selected to head the Transportation and Infrastructure Division in the Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development (OSPCD), Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and OSPCD Executive Director Michael F. Glavin announced.