“Inside the Dream Palace: The Life and Times of New York’s Legendary Chelsea Hotel”

I have often called my hometown Somerville, Mass., a burg just outside  Boston and Cambridge, the “Paris of New England.” And what I mean by  this is not that it remotely resembles Paris physically, but that it  harbors that same creative energy and that molten core of poets,  writers, and artists, all in close proximity. And of course with  encroaching gentrification of our town–the new developers, and the  desire to attract the upscale folks–rents rise, and the artists will  look to cheaper environs that are more inviting to a bohemian  sensibility. This may or may not happen here in Somerville, but if we  look at history, we will see that it is more or less inevitable. And in  some ways the artistic community of the Chelsea Hotel and its fate  reminds me of my hometown.

Arrests:
*

Adilson Santos, 29, of 158 Walnut St., March 31, 7:46 p.m., arrested at Memorial Rd. on a warrant charge of unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Maura Quinlan, 37, of 112 Pearson Rd., April 1, 1:48 a.m., arrested at home on a charge of assault and battery and on warrant charges of conspiracy to violate drug law and possession of a class B drug.

As work continues to repair the McGrath Highway/McCarthy Overpass, MassDOT announced this week that upcoming work will require the complete closure of the overpass between Prospect Hill Avenue and Poplar Street, and the Medford Street Tunnel between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. weeknights beginning Monday, April 7. Weather permitting, work is expected to continue overnight for a period of two months.

During these work hours, vehicles will be detoured as follows:

Medford Street Tunnel:

— Northbound traffic from Medford Street will be detoured left onto Somerville Avenue and right onto Washington Street (at Ricky’s Flower Market).

— Southbound traffic from Somerville Avenue will be detoured left onto Washington Street (at Ricky’s Flower Market), or may continue on to access Medford Street or McGrath Highway at Poplar Street.

McCarthy Overpass:

— Southbound traffic on McGrath Highway will be detoured onto the surface road at Prospect Hill Avenue, across Somerville Avenue and back onto McGrath Highway at Poplar Street.

For the three week look-ahead, visit www.somervillema.gov/alerts/city-construction-updates. If you have questions, please contact 311 (617-666-3311).

The City of Somerville will host its 14th annual rabies clinic for cats and dogs on Saturday, April 8, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Department of Public Works, 1 Franey Road. 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.

Citizen task force to explore and recommend enhancements to recreational programming; Applications due April 16

Mayor Curtatone invites residents who have a passion for recreation in Somerville to serve on the newly formed Recreation Task Force. The Task Force will review the current recreation programming available to Somerville residents of all ages and make recommendations on how the city might strengthen its offerings. Members will meet at least monthly for the next eight months starting in late April. Applications are due Wednesday, April 16.

L to R: Jennifer Hammel and Yhara Casimir.

By Tom Bannister

Yhara Casimir, 18, of Waltham, immigrated to the United States four years ago after her native country, Haiti, was greatly affected by an earthquake. She came with her younger sister, leaving behind their parents, and moved in with family friends whom the girls refer to as their aunt, uncle and cousins. Casimir entered John F. Kennedy Memorial Middle School as an eighth-grader and did not know how to speak a word of English. She was bright, but she was shy and had not been exposed to many traditions, foods and experiences that were considered a way of life for her American peers.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 1 Alderman Matt McLaughlin, and the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission invite all residents and community members to the city’s 239^th annual Patriot’s Day celebration, to be held at Foss Park on Monday, April 21 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Co-sponsored by the Preservation Commission, Historic Somerville, the Somerville Museum, and East Somerville Main Streets, the day’s events will include Colonial games and songs, light refreshments, youth readings, and a visit from Paul Revere on horseback on his historic ride from Boston to Lexington through Somerville.

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)

Walking into The Railside Lounge and restaurant in the ‘70s was not like walking into one of the bars/restaurants in Davis Square today. You were met with a blast of cigarette smoke that stayed on your clothes and your hair. If you weren’t supposed to be there, your pungent scent ratted you out! The clientele was a lot different, too, because Somerville back then was different. Salt of the earth, slice of life, work with your hands, shot and a draft beer different. They called that drink a boilermaker, and you could get a good one at The Railside.

On April 7, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan invites local seniors to an important program about how seniors can better protect themselves from scams and abuse.