July 19, 1955 – May 8, 2022

Manzi, Kenneth D. of Methuen, formerly of Somerville passed away at the age of 66 on Sunday, May 8th, 2022

Born and raised in Somerville. He was the son of the late John Sr. and Ada L. (Choate) Manzi. Ken was a man that was that was not afraid to speak what was on his mind. He was a driver for Green Cab of Somerville for over 25 years, and when it came to doing work he was a great “Supervisor.” He was a Master Mason of Somerville Lodge AF & AM. In 2008 he raised to the 32nd degree (Scottish Rite). In 2009 he joined the Aleppo Shrine Clowns as Pee-Wee. Pee-Wee performed at the Shriners Circus and also volunteered to visit the children at the Shriners Hospital. He was also a Navy Vet.

By Jim Clark

Somerville Police officers were dispatched to a Minnesota Ave. location last week on reports of a person breaking into motor vehicles.

Police dispatch informed responding units that the suspect was walking up Minnesota Ave. heading towards Broadway and supplied a partial description.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

In 1930 you could buy four car tires for about $7.

Gasoline was 26 cents a gallon and Davis Square was a very successful retail destination.

On Monday, May 9, during school dismissal, Somerville Police responded to a call from a relative for a family matter requiring a response to the entrance to Somerville High School.    

Arrests:
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Stephen Costigan, of Cambridge, May 2, 6:32 a.m., arrested at Whipple St. on warrant charges of assault and battery on a police officer, disorderly conduct, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery on a person over 60 or disabled, resisting arrest, and shoplifting by concealing merchandise.

The multi-family zoning demand for MBTA Communities requires communities served by the MBTA to update their zoning to allow at least one district of multi-family housing. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Molly Rains

The Somerville Land Use Committee met on May 5 to continue their discussion of proposed amendments and future updates to the city’s zoning laws.

One area of discussion was the new multi-family zoning requirement for MBTA Communities, part of the Economic Development Bill signed by Governor Baker in 2021. The requirement mandates that communities served by the MBTA update their zoning to allow at least one district of multi-family housing.

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

By State Representative Erika Uyterhoeven

In threatening to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court has become an illegitimate institution. Overturning a seminal, settled constitutional right is a flagrant violation of the intended duties of the judicial branch. This is a violent attack on health care access, abortion rights, and reproductive justice that will disproportionately harm queer, transgender, Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities, young people, and working-class people.

A COVID-Conscious Market with a $15 SNAP Match

Union Square Main Streets kicks off the 18th season of the Union Square Farmers Market in Somerville this Saturday, May 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This season the Market returns to its longtime location on the Union Square Plaza, and will be open rain or shine each Saturday through October 29. 

The 2022 edition of Porchfest takes place this coming Saturday, May 14.

By Ryan DiLello

Somerville’s PorchFest returns this year on Saturday, May 14, 12:00 – 6:00 p.m. The event is “not a festival per se,” but an open invitation for artists to perform on local porches across the city. Artists also raise money for local charities. Each year, PorchFest raises thousands of dollars for local and global charities.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) raised the COVID-19 Community Level for all of Middlesex County including Somerville to HIGH on Thursday evening, May 5. The city is strongly encouraging that high-quality masks be worn indoors in public while the CDC COVID-19 Community Level remains high and that all persons ensure they are up to date on vaccination. Free KN95 masks provided to Somerville by the Commonwealth are being offered to residents at all city libraries and at City Hall. For more information visit https://www.somervillema.gov/departments/programs/coronavirus-covid-19-information-and-resources