By Andrew Firestone

Somerville playwright John Shea’s newest production, “The Painter” attempts to answer society’s toughest questions by juxtaposing two downtrodden individuals; a penniless Irish-immigrant painter, and his domineering, affluent African-American employer.

“If you put a black man and a white man on stage there are certain expectations that the audience has right away and if there is any animosity there at all, I think that race will heighten that animosity,” said Shea. “Automatically, our mind does make some assumptions, whether negative or positive, whether we want to admit it or not, I think that is true.”

By George P. Hassett

A 19-year-old Everett man punched a woman in the face and threatened bystanders with a knife while claiming to be a member of the MS-13 gang on April 14, police said.

Police said Anthony Azera punched Hannah Diaz, 18, in the face as he walked from Sullivan Square station to Broadway.

By Andrew Firestone

This year’s fifth annual Somerville Youth Peace Conference, produced by youth group Teen Empowerment and presented April 13, was a testament to the diversity and cognizance of Somerville’s youth. Bringing to the fore both a workshop and a large-scale performance, the crowd of around 600 was enthralled the grounded perspectives of Somerville teens.

Was nice to see a bigger and more enthusiastic crowd at Monday’s Patriots Day ceremony, everyone waited anxiously for Paul Revere and his horse. Great work put on by  Brandan Wilson of the Historical committee, everyone did a fine job. Old friend Bob “Monty” Doherty was also present to help with the preparations.

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Speaking of the Foss Park ceremony, this year several politicians showed up as usual. We were surprised to see Alderman At Large Bill White there since we hear that he’s just tired and sick of the political game and since he’s got his house up for sale, we keep hearing he’s not running for re-election. Maybe if someone keeps saying they’re tired of it, then they should retire, shouldn’t they? Still noticeably absent was our Senator Pat Jehlen, she just keeps giving the impression that she’s so anti anything patriotic. We know she’s not a fan of small businesses here, she’s proposing a bill right now in the Senate that will require all small businesses to give seven paid sick days no matter how small the company. Imagine you are running a small company with five employees and you have to by law give them seven paid sick days a year, that would be 35 paid days and who pays the owner of the small company? Another example of someone who has never had a “private sector” job in her life, since the early 70’s she’s been a political hack.

- Photo by Andrew Firestone

By Andrew Firestone

Mayor Joe Curtatone laid out his plan for the business community Wednesday, and answered questions from several dozen members of the  business community.

“What, if anything, can the city do to help businesses generate jobs?” was the first question, posed to Curtatone.

By George P. Hassett

A Cambridge man was charged with selling cocaine and heroin in East Somerville April 13 after he parked his Cadillac in a handicapped spot, police said.

Drug unit detectives allegedly watched as Tawan Dottin, 28, pulled into a handicap parking space at 167 Broadway outside Kentucky Fried Chicken and met Francis Palazzi, 47, and Tracy Dattilio, 32, of 103 Lowell Rd., North Reading.

Come May 13th and 14th, 2011 the Mass. Poetry Festival will arrive at its new home in Salem, Mass. This should be of great interest to Somerville poets, and all others, as there will be a plethora of readings, workshops, musical events, book fairs, etc… to satiate the hungriest Somerville Bard. I talked with the founder of the festival Mike Ansara, and his right hand woman, the accomplished poet and organizer January O’Neil on my Somerville Community Access TV show “Poet to Poet Writer to Writer.”

A fellow poet and faculty member at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston sent me a poem, and I decided to share it with you.  It is a cautionary tale for all you TYPE A types. Cynthia Duda, a native Tennessean, has lived and worked in the Boston area since 1976.  Her work has appeared in The Atlanta Review, Poetpourri, and The Comstock Review among others.