By Jim Clark

Police officers were dispatched to the intersection of Temple and Puritan Roads just after midnight last Wednesday on a report of a motor vehicle accident.

Upon arrival, officers failed to immediately locate any damaged vehicles at the intersection, but after a brief search did locate one nearby.

Not every abutter – not even every group of abutters – to a project has the time or resources to fight it in court if concerns are not addressed and resolved through the normal permitting and public-hearing process, which often stretches out over months and continuance after continuance. Sometimes going through the regular process ends with a compromise, a few redesigns and a decision that is not appealed (and even sometimes plans, as first presented, receive no objections).

Resident input sought for composting program in Somerville. Interested applicants asked to submit personal statement to Office of Sustainability by March 24

Furthering its commitment to sustainability and best practices surrounding trash and recycling policies, the City of Somerville announces its newest task force to review feasibility and implementation options for a Curbside Composting Initiative. Announced this week by Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and to be co-Chaired by Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz, who is the Vice Chairperson of the Board of Aldermen’s Committee on Energy and Environment, the Curbside Composting Task Force is currently seeking applicants from the Somerville community.

Our guest columnist this week is School Street resident Kirk Etherton. http://bagelbards.com
*
Bridget Galway and I both have exhibits at the Somerville  Public Library (Central Branch) for the month of February. Also, we’re both Somerville residents—plus members of the Bagel Bards writing group—so Doug Holder suggested I write up a conversation/review involving our visual art. Bridget liked the idea; we met and talked (quietly, of course!) at the library.

Poet Kathleen Aguero writes: “This poem reflects my attempt to grapple with a radical change in two important people in my life: a close friend who became clinically depressed and my mother who suffered from Alzheimer’s. The very core of their beings seemed transformed, and I wondered what constitutes a self, how stable is our character, if it can be so altered.  Some of the details in this poem are taken from life; many are invented.”

Arrests:
*

Joseph MacKenson, 30, of 5 Cherry St., Medford, February 19, 12:17 a.m., arrested at 1370 Broadway on a charge of assault and battery.

Gardy Ferdinand, 26, of 130 Bowden, Lowell, February 20, 12:16 p.m., arrested at McGrath Hwy. on charges of drug violation near a school, possession of a counterfeit note, and distribution of a class B drug.

New code enforcement officer dedicated to rodent control and public sanitation results in nearly 200 new dumpster licenses

The new Code Enforcement Officer hired by the City of Somerville’s Inspectional Services in October has yielded demonstrable results after only months on the job, as part of the city’s war on rodents.

Students from all over Somerville are invited to participate in the Somerville City-Wide Swim Meet at the John F. Kennedy School Pool from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 1.

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)

“Before there was Home Depot or Lowe’s, my family always went to Somerville Lumber for any home project that needed to be done.”  Somerville Lumber was located on McGrath Highway in the area where Stop & Shop is now. You may remember the huge American flag that flew over Somerville Lumber.

(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)

On behalf of the Somerville Pride Girls Basketball teams, I would like to thank some of our local businesses that donated gift certificates to help make our Snow Ball Dinner Dance a success.