Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

“The grass is always greener in the other fella’s yard.”

When I was a kid that song was the theme song of Big Brother Bob Emery’s live TV show on channel 4. His previous show in the late 1940’s was called Small Fry Club and he referred to his young guests as “small fries.”

— Photo courtesy of Students for a Free Tibet

The following press release was issued by the Students for a Free Tibet organization on Wednesday:

Following years of campaigning by local activists, including 13 weeks of continuous weekly protests, and pressure from city and state elected leaders, Tufts University announced its plan to close its controversial Confucius Institute (CI) today.

MRA open letter posted on Instagram on March 15, 2021, via MRA @ma_restaurants calling for Mayor Curtatone to change his lone policy on reduced restaurant capacities.

By Denise Keniston

On Monday March 15, Somerville Mayor Curtatone officially extended the 25% capacity restriction on Somerville businesses to March 30, while the rest of the state moves towards reopening.

The mayor’s policy decision flies in the face of Governor Charlie Baker’s March 1 announcement that he was dropping capacity limits on restaurants, but still requiring masks and social distancing of six feet for patrons. The Massachusetts Restaurant Association, with a membership of 1800 restaurants, has fired back at Curtatone with an open letter posted on Instagram.

City officials and outside consultants recently met to discuss the latest plans for renovation of the Gilman Square area.

By Joe Creason

On Thursday, March 10, City Councilors and members of the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, held a meeting to discuss the implementation of renovations for the Gilman Square area. Consultants from the Boston architecture firm NBBJ, were present to give a concurrent review of their plan and existing conditions at the Gilman Square site.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all of our readers. No matter what one’s ancestral heritage, we can all be a bit Irish on this day. And as they say on the Emerald Isle, may the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, the rains fall soft upon your fields, and, until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Protestors gathered on Packard Avenue last Saturday, calling for Tufts University to close the controversial Confucius Institute. — Photos by Joe Creason

By Joe Creason

The crowd’s chants echoed down Packard Avenue in the brisk afternoon air on Saturday, March 13. Amplified sound waves shook the atmosphere on the Tufts University campus as over 100 protestors, including elected officials, organizers, students and supporters of the Free Tibet, East Turkestan, Hong Kong movements, made their grievances known.

Twelve years of an era have come to an end. I cannot count the number of homes my crew and I have saved, and the lives we’ve transformed over the last decade. With deep gratitude and excitement, I am honored to share with you my personal transformation.

I humbly announce my departure from the Somerville Fire Department.

Whether one is of Irish lineage or not, St. Patrick’s Day stands for a recognition of Irish and Irish American culture, and in many ways its cultural appropriation throughout our society.

The religious origins of the day have, for some, been obscured and often all but forgotten in favor of the “wearing of the green,” throwing parties, and holding parades. The day has been celebrated on the North American continent since before the American Revolution, and is actually an official holiday in neighboring Suffolk County. Ask any of our Boston brethren and they would – to a single soul – be aware of this fact.

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This is my go-to dish for St. Patrick’s Day. It’s very easy to make, and goes perfectly with corned beef. The cabbage adds a nice sweetness and texture to the mashed potatoes. I have tried both, the cabbage and the kale, and personally prefer the cabbage. Give it a try.

Peter D. Privitera, formerly of Somerville and the West End of Boston, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 7, 2021 at Woburn Nursing Center, at age 88. 

Peter was born on October 29, 1932 in Boston, a son of the late Gaetano Privitera and Josephine (Morello) Privitera. A native of the West End of Boston, Peter was raised with a strong sense of pride in his roots and maintained a lifelong connection with the neighborhood and his friendships. At the young age of 16, he began his lifelong love for the sea when he started working on the commercial fishing boats run by his family. He grew up learning the ocean, boating, and many life skills that he carried forever. When not on the water, he surrounded himself with anything that evoked the sea. From his experience with knotting fishing line, he made numerous macrame scarves for family members. Peter had a great appreciation for all lighthouses and was completely fascinated by anything related to the sea.