Eagle Feathers #264 – The Ether Controversy

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

On October 16, 1846, Charlton, Massachusetts’ native Dr. William T.G. Morton successfully administered ether for the first time. The following day, The Boston Evening Journal (later to merge with today’s Boston Herald) gave a detailed account of the successful, painless operation at McClean Hospital, a part of Massachusetts General Hospital. A dentist had taken the first giant step in eliminating surgical suffering.

The original HONK! festival returned in full force last weekend, bringing music and activism to the streets of Somerville and Cambridge. An early party was held in Union Square on Thursday, October 6, with five local brass bands playing booty-shakin’ tunes for you to dance the night away to. The main HONK! festival took place Friday – Sunday, with music all weekend in Davis Square and Harvard Square.
— Photos by Claudia Ferro

Whether it be homegrown or imported, we have at our fingertips an incredibly diverse and nearly exhaustive supply of mellifluous entertainment to keep us amused and amazed as we watch it pass through our community.

The same goes for commitment to political and social issues. It’s natural for the HONK! festival organizers to choose our community in which to hold this event. Activism thrives here, driven by a long tradition of dialog on important issues of the day and a genuine concern for the betterment of our own community as well as that of the world at large.

Arrests:
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Craig Smith Jr., of Cambridge, October 4, 11:29 a.m., arrested on warrant charges of carrying a firearm without a license, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and assault to murder.

Christian Donaruma, of Cambridge, October 4, 5:11 p.m., arrested at Somerville Ave. on charges of violation of city ordinance possession of a dangerous weapon, shoplifting by concealing merchandise, and trespassing.

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Reviewed by Susan Isla Tepper

There are past moments that are remembered with pin-point accuracy by those who were involved. And there are others who prefer to bundle away the past into a sealed, locked container, to never see the light of day.

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Gary Margolis is the author of the poetry collection Museum of Islands. He was a former Professor of English at Middlebury College in Vermont.

The Somerville Community Growing Center has finalized its community events for the fall season, which include music performances, yoga, a film screening and panel, garden workshops, and the annual events, The Gathering of the Fairies and Harvest Festival. The season culminates with several major fundraising events, October into December. The full slate of fall events, ending with our annual Winter Wreath Project, can be found here: bit.ly/3eJmDbT.