The Somerville City Council’s Legislative Matters Committee will be examining a proposed amendment to the current construction noise ordinance.

By Jim Clark

At the most recent regular meeting of the Somerville City Council on Thursday, April 13, an ordinance was put forward by Council President and Ward 3 Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen amending Section 9-116 of the Code of Ordinances, the Noise Ordinance, by prohibiting loud and disruptive construction activities on Saturdays and evenings.

A family of squirrel siblings were rescued and brought back to health by a group of generous local volunteers. — Photos courtesy of Jess Reese

By Jess Reese
Salem Wildlife Rescue

Last week, I took in two baby squirrels from Somerville. Mom was gone so the babies fell out of the nest looking for help. They were dehydrated, had bugs on them, a bit of blood on their faces, and were in obvious need of help. Many adult dead squirrels have been seen due to it being a high-traffic area.

On Monday, April 17, the City of Somerville celebrated Patriots’ Day at Foss Park on Broadway. The event featured a reenactment of Paul Revere’s famous ride from Boston to Lexington, which happened to pass right through Somerville. Attendees enjoyed period-appropriate refreshments and games. They were invited to complete their “Colonial Passports” to win a prize and shop for educational items at the Somerville Museum’s table, all while enjoying music from the Somerville High School band. Colonial clothing was encouraged and worn by many who attended. — Photos by Claudia Ferro and Bobbie Toner

The City of Somerville is participating in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this month, hosting two collection events for residents to safely dispose of prescription medications. Collection events will take place Saturday, April 22, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 220 Washington St. and 6 Newbury St. Staff from the city’s Community Outreach, Help, and Recovery (COHR) Department and the Prevention Services Division will be at both locations to collect unused or expired medications and used sharps (needles and syringes) and to provide overdose prevention information and resources. Free harm reduction materials including Narcan, fentanyl test strips, CPR face shields, and syringe disposal boxes will also be available. For more information, contact Prevention Services Manager Matthew Mitchell at mmitchell@somervillema.gov or (617) 625-6600 ext. 25.

Eagle Feathers #276 – A Glorious Morning in April

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

“What a glorious morning for America.” Today, this quote circles the logo of Lexington, Massachusetts. It is attributable to the Samuel Adams quote of April 19, 1775 to John Hancock upon hearing the gunfire at the Battle of Lexington. They had just been saved by a desperate rider’s message.

It began after a bad oil spill that took place in 1969 off the coast of California. A year later, the first annual Earth Day was celebrated to demonstrate universal support for environmental protection and responsible stewardship of the planet and its inhabitants.

Local slacker-rock group, Otis Shanty, of Prospect Hill, is set to play a string of local shows as daylight hours add up in Somerville. The band is currently in the studio recording their next album, a double EP. Otis Shanty is Sadye Bobbette, Ryan DiLello, Julian Snyder, and Jono Quinn. The four have played for four years, and hope to play forever.

— Photo by Denise Provost

Captive moon.

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Review by off the Shelf correspondent Dennis Daly

Internalized reality and memory need inspired, mindful editing to reach their fated shape of first-rate poetry. Ben Mazer showcases his skills as the genre’s perfect (or, at least, near-perfect) editor in his new book, The Ruined Millionaire. Somehow, in the evident density of Mazer’s work, his mirrored image metaphorically seems to appear distributing versified handbills that alert his already captured audience to the celebration of self-consciousness unquestionably underway. Oxidized word-bronzes and broken shards of stained-glass history are reinvigorated by this poet into contemporary, albeit runic, measures. Here the mind’s suzerainty is never in doubt. And Mazer is nothing if not the self-conscious observer of his own cognizant creations.