By Jim Clark

Somerville Police officers were dispatched to a Foley St. location last week on reports of a breaking and entering of a motor vehicle.

Upon arrival, the officers were met by the two victims of the incident, as well as an employee of the Row Hotel. The employee stated that a white male wearing a Boston Red Sox baseball cap, with a blue mask, on a moped had broken into a vehicle in the garage of the hotel.

Mayor Joe Curtatone announced today on facebook: Ever since I announced I would not be running for re-election people have been asking me what I’m doing next. Well, here’s your answer: After I finish my term, I’m going to become the new president of the Northeast Clean Energy Council and NECEC Institute.  See full announcement below.

The Northeast Clean Energy Council and NECEC Institute announced Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone as the organization’s next president. Curtatone will step into the role in January 2022 following the end of his mayoral term.

According to one local resident, trash bins located in public places like city parks should be upgraded to help in rodent abatement endeavors. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Eileen Qiu

A call to action for city officials to supply the Somerville’s 15 parks with solar compacting closed garbage cans came from one resident as she and her friends witnessed rodents rummaging around open trash bins.

Jean Horstman said she, her friends, and her friend’s children were leaving Lexington park one evening when they saw the rats. Horstman realized the open bins in the park present a danger to guests, especially children who may be exposed to rat droppings or urine.

The Somerville Times put three questions of interest to the voters of Somerville to the four candidates running for mayor of Somerville. The candidates’ answers are presented in alphabetical order, according to their last names. The questions and answers are as follows:

Don’t forget to go out and vote in the city’s primary election on Tuesday, September 14. Somerville voters also have the option to vote early in the September preliminary election. This preliminary election will narrow the field for Mayor, Ward 5 City Councilor, and Ward 7 City Councilor. Four days of in-person early voting will be held prior to election day. For more information on early voting and polling places visit: www.somervillema.gov/departments/elections.

By Joe Creason

The City Council’s Land Use Committee held a meeting on September 1 for the purpose discussing issues around proposed legislation and city planning.

The first item addressed was with regards to zoning ordinance amendment for small business overlay districts. Committee members took time to unpack some of the revisions which had been added to the proposed legislation.

By Fernando Cervantes Jr.

On August 31, Somerville Public Schools (SPS) hosted a virtual School Committee Meeting in order to review vaccination requirements for all public schools.

The meeting was attended by Superintendent Mary E. Skipper and Assistant Superintendent Chad Mazza. It focused on different policies of SPS such as vaccination requirements and school schedules.

Eagle Feathers #237– Lafayette

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier or Marquis de Lafayette was born in a castle in Auvergne, France in 1757. When he was only two years old, his father was killed in battle. At thirteen, his mother died leaving him with vast lands and wealth. He married and entered the French Army in 1774, the same year Somerville’s Powder House was attacked.  In 1777, being sympathetic to the American cause, the twenty-year old who just had military school training volunteered his assistance.