The Somerville News Person of the Week, Mary Williams Killoren.

Meet Mary Williams Killoren. Oh, you probably have already seen her around the city. If you parked at a meter that has expired you might have met her, but she’s always nice about giving out those tickets. It’s hard to be mad at her, she’s doing a job and she does it with a lot of class when she’s writing up those tickets. She’s very charming and not cold like some might think in her position. We bet she has an impressive full boat of tickets so to speak when her shift is done, which is, after all, making money for the city.

The U14 Somerville Storm are on a roll with their recent victory over Medford.

The U14 Somerville Storm sit at 5-3 half way through the MiddleEssex softball season after defeating Medford Madness 10-4 at Memorial Field in Medford last week.

The U14 Storm, after finishing with a record of 10-4 last season, made the jump from the B to the A division in U14. Having lost six girls from last year’s roster, the emergence of outstanding first year players for the U14 have helped the team make the step up in competition.

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.