City of Somerville holds unprecedented open and transparent process to select four public members for the committee that guides Community Preservation Act

An unprecedented open and transparent process has yielded four appointees for the public positions on the newly formed Community Preservation Committee, and Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone has submitted all four appointments to the Board of Aldermen for final approval.

The Talk will be followed by a short ceremony at the 1863 Civil War Monument at Milk Row Cemetery, 400 Somerville Avenue at 4 p.m.

Struggles Unceasing: 1864-1865  The POW Experience of the Somerville Guard

A talk by Dr. Daniel Breen Monday, November 11, 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. at the Somerville Museum, One Westwood Road. Professor Daniel Breen continues his exploration of the activities of  the Somerville Guard Volunteers in this second of a four part series to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. The Talk will be followed by a short ceremony at the 1863 Civil War Monument at Milk Row Cemetery, 400 Somerville Avenue  at 4 p.m.

Monday, November 11,  the City of Somerville offices will be closed in honor of Veterans Day.

Somerville Public Schools and offices will also be closed Monday.

Trash, recycling, and yard waste collection will be delayed by one day all week.

On Monday there will be no street sweeping and parking meters will not be in effect.

Brattle Book Shop owner Kenneth Gloss also serves as Chairperson for the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair.

The Somerville Times’ antiquarian book columnist and expert, Kenneth Gloss, is owner of the historic Brattle Book Shop in the Downtown Crossing section of Boston. Since 2000 he’s been seen with some frequency as a guest appraiser on PBS’ Antiques Roadshow. He is also the Chairperson for this “Granddaddy” of Antiquarian Book Fairs. He says that “serious collectors as well as curious browsers will want to see what the many regional, national and international dealers have brought to display, sell, discuss and appraise during this three-day event.” He looks forward to meeting The Somerville Times readers.

In cooperation with the City of Somerville, Tufts University is conducting work at the intersection of Packard Avenue and Powder House Boulevard to improve pedestrian safety infrastructure. The project, which entails the expansion of the sidewalks at each of the four corners of the intersection, will necessitate the temporary closure of the intersection on Tuesday, Nov. 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Wednesday, Nov. 13, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Detours will be in place during these hours, as follows:

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)

In the cellar of my grandpa’s house in West Somerville, you can still see wine barrels, bottle cappers, and other winemaking paraphernalia. I have the last known bottle of his wine. Please enjoy this entertaining and informative story by my friend Anthony Accardi.

Thanksgiving is just weeks away and the fall harvest season as we know it will come to a close. For the old time Europeans however, the fall harvest traditions actually started back in August.

Somerville firefighters have responded to four house fires this week. None of these fires is considered suspicious. Somerville firefighters were kept busy during a six hour period on November 3 and 4 responding to two porch fires.

The first fire was reported at 9:02 pm on Sunday evening. Firefighters responding to 45 Kidder Avenue found fire burning in mulch which had spread to a first floor, front porch. Part of the porch siding had to be removed to complete extinguishment of the fire.

Science teacher and coach Michael Coughlin (rear) organized the running club at Somerville’s Alfred F. Argenziano School just in time to run the Super Hero Race Oct. 27 with Maria Ortega (in white), Ivy Richardson (masked) and Isabella Ferrari (caped).

There was a kilted science teacher, a caped crusader and even a masked marvel all from Argenziano School in Somerville who were running to raise money for local non-profit On The Rise Inc., in the Fifth Annual Super Hero 5K Run/Walk in Cambridge on Oct. 27.

The City of Somerville received a 3.29 rate on its $13 million Municipal Purposes loan after Moody’s assigns City’s highest ever credit rating to borrowing

Reaping the benefits of the City’s highest ever credit rating in the City’s history, the City of Somerville will now receive a low interest rate on its previously approved short-term 20-year Municipal Purposes loan. After Moody’s Investors Service reaffirmed the City’s Aa2 long-term rating earlier this year, the credit rating agency recently also assigned the City’s more than $13 million in short-term borrowing the same high credit rating.

Part 3:  Political Forces
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By William C. Shelton

(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)

Over the last thirty years, globalization and technological change have transformed economic reality. All developed countries had to cope with these forces, and most, to a greater extent than the U.S. But America became the most unequal in wealth and income.