Educating the Somerville community about tap water
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The organizers of the event (L to R): Wendy Blom (Director of SCATV), Oliver Sellers-Garcia (Office of Sustainability), Lisa Brukilacchio (Somerville Community Health Agenda), and David Hudson (Director of Shape Up Somerville).

By Gabriela C. Martinez

Last Thursday, Somerville Community Access Television (SCATV) held a film screening and panel discussion aimed at debunking the common myths about tap water in Somerville and raising awareness about the environmental effects of consuming bottle water.

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators gathered in New York City last Sunday for the People’s Climate March. — Photo by Shadia Fayne Wood/Survival Media Agency

By Kate Bond

This past Sunday was a day of historical importance as New York City, and the world, saw a group of over 400,000 people (four times the estimated amount), including several from Somerville, show up to march for Environmental Action in the People’s Climate March.

Somerville native Shawn Clark was among those honored at the Garden of Peace ceremony last Thursday.

Hundreds of family members and friends gathered on Thursday, September 18 as the names of 40 victims of homicide were added to the statewide memorial, bringing the total number of homicide victims memorialized since the Garden was first dedicated in 2004 close to a thousand. The newly engraved names were read by family members and community supporters who founded the Garden of Peace, which was dedicated in 2004.

A “Honey Bee Demonstration” will take place this Saturday at 1p.m. at Best Pest Control Services on Elm St. near Cedar. The one and only Rod Kreimeyer will be giving a demonstration on how our Villen Bees can help our community. Rod will be harvesting some honey and some samples should be available. He will be able to answer any questions you or your children might have about these busy little animals. It is an outdoor event and there will be lots of bees flying overhead. Their honey bees are very docile and calm but if you are interested in coming just know you are going to be around a lot of bees. They want everyone to BEE there and to BEE in a Honey mood.

By Jim Clark

A police officer patrolling the Davis Square area on foot last week happened upon two men who were standing near the bushes by the MBTA station on Holland St.

According to reports, the men were observed handling a large plastic bag, which they reportedly walked away from as they noticed the officer approaching.

The Somerville Times’ photographer, Claudia Ferro, won second place for her photography at the Malden River Festival held at the Park at River’s Edge on Saturday, September 20. In addition to the art exhibit by local artists, there was food for purchase, children’s bicycle helmet giveaways and family fun activities. Congratulations, Claudia, from all of us here at The Times.

The past informs the present. And in the mystery novel based in Somerville Looking for Art by Bert Robbens, the ghost of Somerville’s past haunts the present day landscape. Robbens mines the milieu of the 60s and 70s Somerville, the very one that spawned the likes of Howie Winter and the Winter Hill Gang, and other assorted thugs. His story involves the men and women from that crowd and its ilk who remain around today, and the younger folks who heard the stories, the myths, the hype, and the brass tacks.

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Any veteran human service worker has seen this before, ( I can say this because I have worked in Human Services in one capacity or another since 1978)— this scenario, this kid, in clinics, hospitals, at colleges, etc… across the country.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and the Somerville Commission for Women announce the Annual Candlelight Vigil in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month on Wednesday, October 1 at 6 p.m. at the Somerville Public Safety Building, 220 Washington Street. The vigil walk begins at 6 p.m. through Union Square, concluding with a speaking agenda at the Public Safety Building at 6:30 p.m. City and local agencies will be available beginning at 5:30 p.m. with informational materials and to answer questions. The vigil is an annual event bringing the community together to remember those who have lost their lives over the last year to domestic violence. For more information about the Vigil, contact Director of Somerville Commissions, Sonja Darai, at 617-625-6600 x2406 or SDarai@somervillema.gov. For more information about domestic violence, contact RESPOND at their Hotline number (617) 623-5900 (TTY accessible for the hearing impaired) and for on-line information go to www.respondinc.org.