The horrific collapse of part of the roof at the Brown School last week sent shock waves through the community and served as a wake up call that the structural integrity of some of our public buildings is far from sure and safe.

Eagle Feathers #74 – Bringing Light to Somerville

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

In 1853, when Somerville’s Charles Tufts was asked what he intended to do with his large parcel of land in the western part of the city, he replied, “I will put a light upon that hill.” Today, this light brightly burns on in the form of Tufts University and is on its college seal that proclaims in Latin, “peace and light.”

By Rebecca Danvers

Your 2015 Prospect Hill Academy Lady Wizards.

The MCSAO Championship Tournament took place this past weekend on the University of Massachusetts, Boston Harbor Campus with the quarter-finals match-ups on Friday night, the semi-finals on Saturday and the championship match on Sunday morning. Three-time defending MCSAO Champion, KIPP Academy, advanced to this year’s championship game with convincing early round wins over Foxborough Regional (59-41) and Boston Collegiate (60-25).

Well, when you work  three jobs like I do, you meet a lot of interesting people. And because I am a local journalist, I get to interview a fair number of interesting people. Have if you will … one Mr. George MacDonald, a comedian, playwright, and for now–a night counselor at McLean Hospital, where I work. George and I were like two ships passing in the night. I was leaving the 3 to 11 shift and George was starting his usual graveyard. George looked like an interesting dude, and so we eventually got talking. George is originally from Southie, and was part of the comedy explosion here in Boston in the 80s and 90s. Since we are both a year or so on either side of 60 – we knew a lot of the people, places, and folks on the scene for the past decades. George is good friends with the comedian Jimmy Tingle, who I worked with with when I ran The Somerville News Writers Festival. He had great anecdotes about many of the other great comedians, poseurs, players, what have you… in Boston and L.A.–his stomping grounds during his career.   Here is a brief bio for George:

Zvi Sesling is a poet of the stacked deck, and the loaded dice…take his advice! 

Arrests:
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Sean Brooks, of 444 Harrison Ave., Boston, March 9, 8:01 a.m., arrested at 660 Broadway on charges of destruction of property over $250, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault to murder, and attempted murder.

The City of Somerville will host its 15^th annual rabies clinic for cats and dogs on Saturday, April 11, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Department of Public Works (1 Franey Rd.). Rabies vaccinations and on-site licenses for dogs will be available at the clinic. Vaccines are offered at a cost of $10, and dog licenses at $20 for spayed and neutered dogs with proof, and $30 for all other dogs.

Help the city re-live Paul Revere’s historic ride from Boston through Somerville and onto Lexington and Concord. Adults and high school students are needed to help plan and execute the city’s annual Patriots Day event, a Colonial Fair at Foss Park on Monday, April 20.

Katrina Leskanich will be entertaining at Johnnie D’s on Wednesday, March 18.

By Blake Maddux

In the summer of 1985, Katrina Leskanich and her band The Waves were ubiquitous on radio and MTV thanks to the worldwide smash hit Walking on Sunshine.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan’s Office And Middlesex Partnerships For Youth Host Annual SECURE XVII Event

DA Marian Ryan and Chris Herren.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Middlesex Partnerships for Youth (MPY) hosted an opiate overdose prevention conference, “It Stops Here – Ending Opiate Abuse In Our Communities.”  More than two hundred school professionals, law enforcement officials, and legislators from towns and cities in Middlesex County attended the program at Nashoba Valley Technical High School in Westford.  Participants heard the latest data and research on opiate use and learned “best practices” to help cities and towns effectively respond to substance abuse among youth.