The timing of the Finance Committee’s public hearing last week on the recent property revaluations that resulted in significantly higher tax bills for some property owners was curious, to say the least, as it came the day after the deadline to file an abatement had come and gone the day before.

On Thursday, February 13, 6:30-8:00 p.m., at Kitchen Inc., 201 Somerville Ave., in Somerville, Elizabete Delfino, a native of Minas Gerais, Brazil, will be teaching how to make delicious sweet treats, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

I am glad that my proposal to the Mass. Poetry Festival has been accepted. Here is the description of the panel blow – hope you, dear readers, will be able to attend the Mass. Poetry Festival in Salem, Mass. this May!

For as long as I have known Cambridge Poet Populist Lo Galluccio, she has always provided a unique take on things. I asked her for a poem, and here is her unique take on fan worship. I would of asked a Somerville Poet Laureate to contribute a poem – but alas – there is none. You would think in this highly touted artistic community the powers-that-be would come up with something!?

Arrests:
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Willgen Sanchez, 21, of 103 Newman Rd., Malden, February 3, 4:59 p.m., arrested at 20 Rush St. on multiple charges of assault and battery.

Charles Michaels, 48, February 4, 2:58 p.m., arrested at 177 Middlesex Ave. on warrant charges of lewd, wanton and lascivious conduct and open and gross lewdness.

El Sistema Somerville commissioned its first original work and established a Composer-in-Residence program for the 2013-2014 school year, a project made possible through grant funding support from the Somerville Arts Council and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The scope of the project includes collaborative sessions with Somerville-based composer Oliver Caplan (ASCAP), rehearsals of the original, multi-layered orchestral work, and a world premiere scheduled for May 20, 2014, at the East Somerville Community School Auditorium.

Mayor Curtatone and Ward 1 Alderman Matt McLaughlin invite all interested residents to a community meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 26, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Capuano Early Childhood Center, 150 Glen St., to discuss new lighting plans for the Capuano School / James McCarthy Field. The city is proposing to install new lighting at the Michael E. Capuano Early Childhood Center Turf Soccer Field in the fall of 2014, but is seeking community input prior to finalizing design plans. For more information, contact Arn Franzen in the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development at 617-625-6600 ext. 2545 orAFranzen@somervillema.gov.

C.J. Chenier brings his Zydeco mastery to Johnny D’s on Tuesday, Feb. 11.

Somerville music fans have a rare treat in store for them as famed Zydeco star C.J. Chenier and The Red Hot Louisiana Band rolls into Johnny D’s next week, Feb. 11.

Clayton Joseph Chenier was born September 28, 1957 – the son of the great King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier. C.J.’s father was the first Creole musician to win a Grammy Award. C.J. spent his childhood in the tough tenement housing projects of Port Arthur, Texas. His earliest musical influences were an eclectic mix of funk, soul, jazz and Motown, and his first musical instruments were piano, tenor saxophone and flute. It wasn’t until his 21st birthday, after winning a scholarship and studying music at Texas Southern University, that C.J. first performed with his famous father and the legendary Red Hot Louisiana band.

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)

Remember that bright orange roof? I think they made it bright orange so you could see it when you were coming home early in the morning from a bar…in a fog. Howard Johnson’s at Wellington Circle was a very popular spot for after-hours meeting and eating.

Cookbooks are one thing some people tend to collect. This Saturday, Feb 8, over 1,000 cookbooks will be displayed and available to you at the Somerville Winter Farmer’s Market. The Friends of the Somerville Public Library will be at The Armory from 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. that day with a huge selection of cookbooks from 1950’s to current day. Buy a cookbook and proceeds benefit the Friends of the Somerville Public Library and also support the farmer’s market SNAP Match Initiative. SNAP payments (the “Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program” formerly known as Food Stamps) are accepted and welcomed at the market in an effort to promote healthy food choices. See you there! 191 Highland Ave: bus #88 or #90.