*Eagle Feathers #53 – “Solar”ville

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

About three weeks ago, Somerville had two days in a row of 80 degree weather, the first time since last August. The winter was long and cold, but the sun did shine; and we all benefitted from its power. The sun has been out there for about 4.5 billion years and scientist’s say it hasn’t even approached its middle age yet. It’s a huge entity in which its actions give us our heat, water, and vegetation. It took a long time, 200,000 years, but newcomer, “man,” is now tapping its gifts.

Mayor Joseph Curtatone signed an executive order last week directing Somerville police to not detain illegal immigrants after they have already posted bail or been ordered released by the courts. The order was issued in response to the federal Secure Communities program, which asks cities and towns to hold such immigrants for processing by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). But the order also reflected a policy already in place within the Somerville Police Department for several years, so it was more of a symbolic gesture than a change in day-to-day practices.

By Tom Bannister

The Somerville High Scholarship Foundation held its annual $10,000 dollar drawing this past Friday night, May 16, at the Highlander Café at SHS. A group of about 60 people attended the event, which was hosted by the foundation’s president, Joe Favaloro, and everyone’s favorite former mayor, Eugene Brune.

Ah! Ain’t love grand!  Yes grand, tragic, maddening, evolving… in all its infinite variety. Feldman in his collection Immortality explores love and its many manifestations, as well as other themes. I had the privilege to interview Feldman on my Somerville Community Access TV show Poet to Poet: Writer to Writer recently.

Poet Steve Lappen has sent us a poem – so please concentrate…if you can.

City to request a $1.35M appropriation that would qualify Somerville for $360,000 to $670,000 in extra state matching funds for affordable housing, open space, outdoor recreation and historic preservation

In an effort to maximize the State’s contribution to Somerville’s Community Preservation Act (CPA) Fund, which is dedicated to affordable housing, open space, outdoor recreation and historic preservation projects, the city has submitted a request to the Board of Aldermen for an appropriation of just over $1.35 million to the fund, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced today.

Arrests:
*

Liban Ali, 23, of 362 Rindge Ave., Cambridge, May 20, 4:55 p.m., arrested at 32 Myrtle St. on charges of operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license, marked lanes violation, and improper operation of a motor vehicle.

Jeremy Gillis, 30, of 15 Weston Ave., May 21, 2:07 p.m., arrested at Bay State Ave. on warrant charges of attempt to commit a crime and drug possession to distribute.

The City of Somerville’s fifth annual SomerStreets series kicks off for summer 2014with Carnaval @ SomerStreets on East Broadway on Sunday, June 1 from noon to 4 p.m. (rain or shine). SomerStreets is the City of Somerville’s take on the internationally-renowned Open Streets concept, closing busy city streets to vehicles, and opening them up for cycling, walking, dancing, running, and other modes of activity. Through SomerStreets, the city and its community partners aim to promote and encourage easy access to physical activity, fresh foods, and reconnecting with neighborhoods and businesses and their unique cultural elements in a thriving urban environment.

10-person team to view projects completed by master developer finalists

With four finalists chosen for master developer of the targeted redevelopment in Union Square, representatives from the Union Square Civic Advisory Committee, the Somerville Redevelopment Authority, the city and the Board of Aldermen will travel to four cities during the last week of May to see for themselves what each of the finalists has accomplished in building mixed-use developments in already dense urban environments.

Thomas Cardon, along with colleague Rosemary Ryan, will be retiring from after more than 30 years teaching in the Culinary Arts program at Somerville High School. — Photo by Claudia Ferro

By Douglas Yu

Two teachers are going to retire from the culinary arts department of Somerville High School this summer. And for over 30 years, the students here have meant everything to them.

Thomas Cardon, chef instructor and the lead teacher in the department, is the trailblazer for the culinary program at SHS, which he started 33 years ago.