Afaa Michael Weaver.

I asked poet Afaa Michael Weaver how he would  define himself or like to be remembered. He told me: ” The kid Michael from Federal Street in East Baltimore with the funny looking glasses and big wingtip shoes. He grew up to write poetry”. And indeed Weaver, 60, has written poetry, plays, essays, and is currently working on a memoir. This longtime Somerville resident is an English professor at Simmons College in Boston, a winner of the prestigious Pushcart Prize, a winner of the New England Poetry Club’s Mary Sarton Award, an NEA, not to mention the Ibbetson Street Press Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as many other accolades.. His papers are now archived at the Howard Gotllieb Archival Research Center at Boston University. I talked with him on Independence Day at the bustling Bloc 11 Café in Union Square, Somerville.

Somerville poet Afaa Michael Weaver sent the LYRICAL this fine poem. Weaver is a professor at Simmons College in Boston, and an award-winning poet. He has received national and international acclaim for his work.

City on List for State Grant to Support Relocation and Construction of New Public Library; Union Square Site under Consideration for New Building

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Director of Libraries, Maria Carpenter, announced today that the City of Somerville has been approved by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) to be placed on a waiting list for an $18 million construction grant to partially fund a new public library in the heart of Union Square.  Fourteen other communities were listed, but Somerville received the highest grant award in the state and placed first in the second round of review. Eight more Massachusetts communities received provisional construction grants.  Somerville’s high placement on the list means that the City will almost certainly receive funding provided that it meets the MBLC’s criteria, including a the requirement that the recipient community match the grant with funds of its own.

Arrests:
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Guy Kehoe, 47, of 326 Somerville Ave., July 23, 12:29 a.m., arrested at home on a charge of assault and battery.

Christopher Hicks, 24, July 23, 2:02 p.m., arrested at 735 Broadway on charges of larceny from a building and receiving stolen property.

Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian proudly recognized the Arlington, Belmont, Medford and Somerville graduates of the 2012 Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Youth Public Safety Academy (YPSA) on Friday, July 27, 2012. The ceremony, which recognized a total of 218 children ages 9-11, was held at the Middlesex Training Academy in Billerica. Of the graduates, 52 cadets were from Arlington, 79 from Belmont, 56 from Medford and 31 from Somerville.

In addition to the ongoing annual hydrant flushing currently being conducted citywide by the Department of Public Works, the Somerville Fire Department will begin their annual inspection of all fire hydrants on Monday, August 6, and conclude on Saturday, August 18.  These procedures require flushing water from all hydrants, as well as mechanical checks by the Fire Department.

All parents/guardians who have a student-athlete that intends to play high school football, boys soccer or girls soccer should attend an informational parent meeting regarding preseason camp and fundraising on Wednesday, August 1, at 7 p.m. at  Dilboy Stadium.

“Seize the Summer,” the July installment of the City’s seasonal SomerStreets festival, will take place on Sunday, July 29^th from noon to 4pm between Walnut and Cedar Streets onHighland Ave.  It is the second of five SomerStreets celebrations planned for 2012, with the first event having drawn more than 3,000 attendees in June along East Broadway.  For this unique street fair, where “roads are closed to cars and open to you,” programming includes: a “Kidical Mass” bike ride to Davis Square; Cambridge Health Alliance health & fitness fair; family-friendly activities; health workshops including an American Red Cross blood drive; arts and craft vendors; live music, and more.  SomerStreets is the centerpiece of the City’s Open Streets Initiative, which closes sections of roadways one Sunday per month to promote and support active living – walking, biking, running, dancing, and more.

On The Silly Side by Jimmy Del Ponte

(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.)

In the last few years I have seen a lot of my old neighbors selling their houses. These are families that were already living on the street when my family got here in 1961. Just last week, I found out that the house next door on my left is up for sale. And you can bet your bottom dollar that it will be turned into a CCC. A cookie cutter condo. You know what I’m talking about. Stainless appliances, marble countertops, a parking space or two, central A/C, and those storage cages in the basement. They buy up the houses, gut them, and sell them for astronomical prices.

Klezwoods play Johnny D’s this coming Sunday night.

By Max Sullivan

Johnny D’s will be rocking with an Eastern flare this coming Sunday night as Klezwoods bring their unique take on traditional klezmer music.

Klezwoods are not your traditional klezmer group. While rooted in the traditional Jewish musical form, the group’s members have a fascination with all Eastern music. Balkan, Egyptian, Polish, Arabic, Israeli, Gypsy- all of these flavors have crept into the Klezwoods sound. There is even a hint of Americana in there. Sam Dechenne, the band’s trumpet player and booker, grew up with a personal love of Dixie-land jazz.