Eagle Feathers #297 – Somerville’s Liquid Measure

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

“Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink,” is a line from, Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s famous poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. It proposes that regardless of being enveloped by something, you cannot benefit from it. Like a sailor on a ship in idle waters, he is surrounded by salt water that he cannot drink.

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Recently, I had poet Pui Ying Wong read at the Newton Free Library Series, a series that I have curated for over 22 years. Her poems contain lyric beauty; and she is a master of metaphor. Pui Ying Wong’s new poetry collection Fanling in October is from Barrow Street Press.

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Larry Beckett’s poetry ranges from brief lyrics and songs to blank sonnets and book-length narrative works. His work has appeared in Zyzzyva, Salamander, and FIELD. Three book-length poems have been published, Paul Bunyan, by Smokestack Books, Wyatt Earp, by Alternating Current Press, and Amelia Earhart, by Finishing Line Press, with strong reviews in Zyzzyva. This text, along with others, is part of an epic, American Cycle, published by Running Wild Press. The Book of Merlin is out from Livingston Press, and Song to the Siren is forthcoming from Halbaffe Press.

The Presidential Primary election for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is Tuesday, March 5. The primary election is open to all registered voters in Somerville. Somerville voters can vote early in person or by mail.

During the month of February 2024, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) will be conducting water valve maintenance  in Somerville.

Following up on the previous announcement from January 19, the MBTA is  reminding riders that Red Line service will be suspended between Alewife and Harvard stations all day from start to end of service for 10 days from February 5-14. Beginning at approximately 8:45 p.m. through the end of service every day during the same period from February 5-14, this Red Line service suspension will be extended to Park Street (meaning evening service will be suspended between Alewife and Park Street).

The MBTA will host an in-person public meeting on Monday, February 5, at the Dewitt Center in Roxbury from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. regarding proposed MBTA fare changes.

By Nathan Lamb

Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) is offering free Chronic Disease Self-Management (CDSMP) workshops via Zoom, starting in February. Participants who finish the course will also receive $50 grocery gift cards.

CDSMP is an education workshop that aims to build confidence in managing health and help participants stay engaged with their lives. Developed by a team of researchers at Stanford University, it is for adults with chronic health problems, such as arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and other ongoing health concerns.

CDSMP focuses on problem solving and decision making, helping participants set goals and develop action plans to address effects of chronic disease, improve health and communicate better with friends, family and health professionals.

The SCES CDSMP workshop will be facilitated by:

Meghan Ostrander, who is Director of Nutrition and Community Programs at SCES.

Andrea Svartstrom, a registered dietitian with the SCES Nutrition program.

The six-week workshop will convene on Thursdays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., starting on February 29. For more information or to register call Meghan Ostrander at 617-628-2601 ext. 3172 or email meghan.ostrander@eldercare.org.