Incidents:
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Theft:

March 3, 10:39 a.m., police reported a theft at Otis St.

March 3, 12:11 p.m., police reported a theft at Pennsylvania Ave.

One of the many characters in Davis Square, Somerville was poet Ricardo Fitten. He used to sell me a poem for a  buck, – three for two dollars – outside the Diesel Cafe. He was a  former scientist, worked at Mass General Hospital, but fell on hard times. We published a number of poems of his in the Wilderness House Literary Review and in the Bagel Bards anthology. He was adopted by many of the artists and folks who hang in the Square. He died of lung cancer this  Saturday. God Bless.

The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University today announced the appointment of Somerville, Massachusetts Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone as a senior fellow affiliated with the Ash Center.  Curtatone’s non-stipendiary appointment represents a continuation of a strong collaboration between the Ash Center and the City of Somerville to strengthen and promote innovative ideas in city government.

The City of Somerville has begun its nationwide search for its next Chief of Police, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced this week, beginning with a public hearing last week and the recent formation of the Police Chief Selection Committee. Kicking off the process with its first organizational meeting, the Committee will meet over the course of several months to review candidates and select finalists to submit to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen for consideration.

Public hearing scheduled in  response to citizens’ petition urging the City of Somerville to divest its pension funds from the world’s 200 largest fossil fuel  companies
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In response to a petition signed  by 129 registered Somerville voters, the City of Somerville’s Board of Aldermen  has announced a public hearing to discuss a resolution urging the city to divest its pension funds from fossil fuel companies. The hearing, scheduled for  Thursday March 13 at 6:00 p.m., marks the culmination of a yearlong effort led  by Fossil Free Somerville, the community group who organized the petition  effort. The proposed resolution urges the Somerville Retirement Board to  immediately cease any new investments in fossil fuel companies, and fully divest  from direct holdings and commingled funds within five years. While the decision  of whether or not to divest ultimately rests with the retirement board, approval  by the Board of Aldermen would communicate democratic, grassroots support for  the strategy.

Somerville Youth Softball is looking for athletes willing to try playing softball.  All girls ages 7-15 are welcome to come down to the batting cages at Edgerly Education Center (8 Bonair Street, entrance to gym on Otis & Cross Street) for in-person registrations or register online at www.SomervilleSoftball.com.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Ward 1 Alderman Matthew McLaughlin invite you to the third public meeting for the design of Symphony Park, located on the corner of Pearl and Florence Streets in East Somerville. Based on community input, the park is being designed as a neighborhood pocket park containing amenities for all age groups and abilities. The meeting will take place in the Community Room at Bryant Manor (75 Myrtle Street) at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19. For more information and to view slideshows from the first two meetings, visit the city’s website at: http://www.somervillema.gov/departments/ospcd/parks-and-open-space/symphony-park

Over 200 will attend Teen Empowerment’s Celebration of Hope and Caring on March 12, 2014 at the Center for the Arts at the Armory at 6:30 p.m. The event, chaired by Somerville Aldermen Jack Connolly and Mary Jo Rossetti, honors Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and the City of Somerville for their dedication to improving youth development outcomes. It also marks Teen Empowerment’s tenth anniversary of working in Somerville. The Celebration will include performances by youth, a silent auction and interactive activities for the diverse crowd, and hopes to raise $60,000.