Poet Jesse Mavro Diamond has a visit with Socrates and Gertrude Stein and tells us about it.

Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development invite residents, business owners and community members to an information session about the proposed zoning ordinance overhaul on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 6:30 p.m. at the Somerville Armory, 191 Highland Ave. The session will include a presentation on the new code followed by an opportunity to review the code and map and discuss them with city staff. Following this information session, the Land Use Committee of the Board of Aldermen and the Planning Board have scheduled a joint public hearing on the proposed ordinance for Thursday Jan. 29, 2015 at 6 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chambers at City Hall, 93 Highland Ave. The city invites public feedback through these meetings and a new website that will go live later this month. This feedback will be considered as part of the review process before a final vote on the ordinance by the Planning Board and Board of Aldermen.

Arrests:
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Ada Bontoja, of 41-43 Columbia, Cambridge, January 1, 2:31 p.m., arrested at 775 McGrath Hwy. on a warrant charge of assault.

Jose Andrade, of 142 Broadway, January 1, 10:40 p.m., arrested at 7 Cross St. on charges of carrying a firearm without a license and carrying a firearm with ammunition.

New year – new immunity!

Smiles By Rosie Family Dentistry will be holding a Community Immunization Day on January 7,  from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. for adult vaccinations and boosters. Most immunizations are free with health insurance.

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) presented its Patriot Award to Somerville resident, Anthony Benedetti, on December 17, 2014, in recognition of his support of employees who serve in the Massachusetts National Guard and Reserve.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte 

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

Unless you are a bank robber, embezzler, common thief, con-artist, or just a jerk, you may not have a list of resolutions this year. Jerks for the most part don’t think they are jerks so why would they want to change? Giving up smoking is always one worth trying, but normal workaday folks probably don’t have to worry about major changes. We can, however wish for other people to make some minor tweaks in their personalities. Say … your boss or a co-worker has an annoying habit that bugs you, now would be a good time for them to ease up on it. Ya, like that’s going to happen!

— Photos by Claudia Ferro

Teen Empowerment hosted their yearly holiday event, December 20, for anyone who wanted to spend their holiday season celebrating with their fellow Somervillens. All were welcome to come by their site at 165 Broadway and join them downstairs for some holiday cheer. Delicious food, fun activities, and amazing performances were shared by attendees that included Alderman at Large Mary Jo Rossetti and Ward 1 Alderman Matthew McLaughlin.

By Rebecca Danvers

Somerville Songwriter Sessions at the Armory Cafe celebrates its third anniversary with a concert featuring founding members Bethel Steele, Jan Luby, Beth DeSombre and Terry Kitchen plus newest member Kim Jennings on Saturday, January 3.

Marjorie McKenzie

Mckenzie, Marjorie C. (Cowie) Of Somerville December 28, 2014. Beloved wife of the late John R. McKenzie. Dear mother of Bruce and his wife Susan of Medford, David and his partner Erik Karlstad of Haverhill, Douglas and his wife Michi of Tucson, AZ, Deborah Teal and her husband Ken of Westford and Joyce McKenzie of Somerville. Sister of Helen Johnston, Betty Parechanian and the Late Stanley Cowie. Also survived by 6 grandchildren, 1 late grandson and 6 great grandchildren. A Funeral Service will be held for Marjorie, in the George L. Doherty Funeral Home, 855 Broadway (Powder House Sq.) Somerville, Friday, January 2 at 5:00. Relatives and friends invited. Calling hours Friday 4-5. Interment private. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Marjorie’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, 480 Pleasant St. Watertown, MA 02472, alz.org.

By Jim Clark

Police were summoned to the Somerville Hospital Emergency Room last week on reports of a patient behaving violently.

Upon arrival, the responding officers were met by the reporting party, a nurse on duty in the ER, who was visibly shaken, according to police reports.