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So, I taught Ginsberg’s poem Howl the other day. Out of 36 students in two classes, only one knew who he was. So, I was glad to talk a bit about Ginsberg and the Beat Generation, and my experience with him in Buffalo, NY, in 1975 (I tried to get him on my campus radio show Idea Exchange, to no avail).

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Ron A. Kalman is a poet who lives in the Boston area and has published widely. His poetry has been translated into multiple languages and has appeared in 10 countries. The poem below was first published in Canto Planetario, a global anthology out of Costa Rica about the state of our planet. It had participants from 110 countries, and Ron A. Kalman was one of five poets representing the United States. His chapbook, Appearance of the Sun, is available from Main Street Rag Publishing.

Somerville,

I’m worried about how the water and sewer bills are affecting you, too. That’s why I put forward a City Council order calling for a Public Hearing in the Equity Committee.

Please come to City Hall on Wednesday May 15th, 6:30pm, in the City Council Chambers.

There is also a virtual option on zoom.

— Photo by Bobbie Toner

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne is announcing the members of the School Building Committee (SBC) who will provide oversight of the city’s construction plans for a new school to meet the needs of the Winter Hill Community Innovation School and potentially the Benjamin G. Brown School. 

Opera on Tap Boston and Simons Shoes present Flowers and Opera on Friday June 7, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. at Bow Market in Somerville. Free and open to the public, Flowers and Opera is sponsored by the Somerville Arts Council and the Mass Cultural Council, and will feature live opera singers, free flowers from Nellie’s Wildflowers, and a food drive.

The ‘Slice of the City’ spring meet-up series is an opportunity to connect and engage with city leaders and staff as well as neighbors, all while enjoying Somerville’s parks. Events continue next week with meet-ups in Wards 7 and 5.