Eagle Feathers #68 – First Call

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

“It is my heart-warm and world-embracing Christmas hope and aspiration that all of us, the high, the low, the rich, the poor, the admired, the despised, the loved, the hated, the civilized, the savage (every man and brother of us all throughout the whole earth), may eventually be gathered together in a heaven of everlasting rest and peace and bliss, (except the inventor of the telephone.)” This was quoted from a letter Mark Twain sent to Gardiner Hubbard, father-in-law of Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone. This was Twain’s reaction to phone usage in the 1890’s, much like today’s older generation’s reaction to the modern assault of today’s cell phone technology and its lack of ethics.

The sign at Sav-Mor Liquors piqued our curiosity this week. We are not sure of what “Blitzen” may have done to deserve the admonition, but we hope that all will soon be forgiven. In the spirit of Christmas, of course.

Kate Chadbourne is about all things Irish. She radiates warmth and a passion for Irish folklore, music, literature, poetry, food…in short everything the Emerald Isle has to offer.

Singer/Songwriter Jennifer Matthews responds to the massacre of school children in Pakistan with this poem.

Arrests:
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David Cormier, of 314 Ocean Ave., Marblehead, December 16, 1:36 p.m., arrested at 75 Mystic Ave. on charges of conspiracy to violate drug law and possession of a class B drug.

Antonio Lee, of Bx 456, Weymouth, December 16, 1:36 p.m., arrested at 75 Mystic Ave. on charges of drug possession to distribute, violation of city ordinance possession of a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to violate drug law, and distribution of a class B drug.

Winter is coming—and with it updated snow removal policies in the City of Somerville.

To ensure streets and sidewalks remain safe and accessible throughout the snowy winter months, changes to the city’s existing ordinance, effective immediately, make shoveling timelines more predictable and understandable; increase fines for properties with un-cleared sidewalks; and add a “clean and lien” component, allowing the city to address repeat offenders by removing snow and ice and placing liens on those properties to recover associated costs.

The City of Somerville welcomed its new Housing Director, Michael Feloney. Feloney brings broad public and private sector experience to the position including serving as the Executive Director of Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation (SWBCDC), a community-based nonprofit engaged in community and housing development in Boston’s Hyde Park and Roslindale neighborhoods. Feloney will play a key role in implementing Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone’s recently announced Sustainable Neighborhoods Initiative and in helping to achieve the City’s SomerVision goal of adding 9,000 new units to Somerville’s housing stock by 2030.

By Jim Clark

Police were called to the McDonalds restaurant at Twin City Plaza last  Friday in response to complaints that an unwanted person was refusing to leave the establishment.

Jeremy Spindler is bringing quality home-style confectionary delights to Somerville sweets lovers.

By Laura Stiffler

If you’ve ever been to Magpie, Formaggio or Dave’s Fresh Pasta, then you’ve seen the rectangular white boxes with the delicate cursive ‘Spindler Confections’ label. Salted caramels, peanut brittle and caramel nut clusters; images causing this reporter to salivate like, well … a kid in a candy shop. All those and more, hand- made and packaged right here in Somerville.

By Jim Clark

Police were called to the Kmart store on Middlesex Ave. last Sunday afternoon on reports of an alleged shoplifter being detained there.