By Harry Kane

In a quirky coffee shop named Ola, located in the heart of Ward 1, newly appointed school committee representative, Steve Roix, sipped on Colombian coffee and reminisced about his arrival to Somerville.

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

I can strongly relate to the poll and Editorial piece on road closures in Somerville in the current issue of the Somerville News as a resident of Medford who relies on the MBTA buses to get me to Somerville or Cambridge or Boston.

Dog owners are among the most faithfully loyal of all the animal species in the world. They pamper their pets lavishly, oftentimes treating them as if they were members of their own families.

Arrests:
*

Jennifer Cheek, 37, of 31 William St., Medford, March 18, 10:04 a.m., arrested at 483 Broadway on warrant charges of misdemeanor breaking and entering and destruction of property over $250.

Carlton Buscemi, 24, of 22 Wellington Ave., March 19, 2:37 p.m., arrested at 44 Boston St. on charges of felony daytime breaking and entering and possession of a burglarious instrument.

Proposed Zoning Overhaul Seeks to Implement SomerVision, Somerville by Design Goals

Mayor Joseph Curtatone and the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD) announce the formation of a Zoning Advisory Committee, a team of 20 individuals from a variety of backgrounds, which will advise the Mayor and Planning Staff as they seek to overhaul the Somerville Zoning Ordinance.  The team will serve as a sounding board as the City develops strategies to develop the new Somerville by Design Zoning Ordinance that will implement the goals of the SomerVision Comprehensive Plan. The new zoning will also implement the transit-oriented goals of the recent Station Area Planning series and address concerns addressed in last summer’s report submitted to the Board of Aldermen about the RA and RB zoning districts.

Well– I advise all Somerville poetry lovers to attend this event. I have been a featured reader in the Boston National Poetry Festival for 12 years, and always have had a great time–hosting, running the book table, and reading from my work.  Somerville poets like Harris Gardner ( Founder of the Festival), Afaa Michael Weaver, Kirk Etherton, Lucy Holstedt, and more will be reading at this three day event. Hope to see you there!  –Doug Holder

I always tell my creative writing students:  “Details! Details! Details!”  Here poet Corey Cook drives home my point with the details of a Sunday Morning at Grammy and Grandpa’s.  

Race Includes Children’s “Fun Run,” Adult Race & Walk; Refreshments, Music, Activities Follow Race on City Hall Concourse

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced that the City’s annual Shape Up Somerville / Somerville Recreation Road Race will be held on Sunday, April 7, starting and ending at the Somerville High School concourse, 93 Highland Avenue.  The day will begin with a 1-mile children’s “Fun Run” at 10:30 a.m., followed by a 2.7-mile walk at 10:30 a.m. and a 2.7-mile adult race at 11:00 a.m.  Registration is open to all community members at a price of $5 for youth under age 10, and $20 for adults.  Price includes a commemorative t-shirt, refreshments and activities and light refreshments immediately following the adult race. Adult runners are also invited to a post-race celebration at Casey’s, located at 173 Broadway.

Somerville Community Access Television was incorporated in March 1983 by Mayor Gene Brune. The Mayor recognized the benefits of having a non-profit organization rather than the cable company provide media services to Somerville citizens. He and his Communications Director Howard Horton worked out the details of this new entity, Somerville Community Access Television, which was the first in Massachusetts and served as a model for access centers around the country. The Mayor’s vision was to provide a free-speech platform to Somerville residents, in the hope that it would promote healthy community conversations. Since then, thousands of Somerville residents have come to SCATV to learn video production skills to produce programs for their neighbors.

Derrick Paul (L) and Anthony Paulino (R).

Shortly after 10:30 a.m., Somerville Police responded to 60 Derby Street for a report of a breaking and entering in progress.

Police officers arrived on the scene within one minute of receiving the call, and observed two suspects fleeing the area. Officers pursued on foot.