City Councilor Katjana Ballantyne is asking for your assistance in helping families at the Clarendon Hill Towers. She writes, “As we reach the one-year mark of living in a COVID pandemic, I know this last year has been intense and stressful for many of us. It has also been nearly a year since I let you know about 25-30 families at Clarendon Hill Towers who needed extra help with food, and incidental items. YOU GAVE! Nearly every month for about nine months we received donations of food, face masks, grocery certificates, personal hygiene items and more for our neighbors. Thank you! The duration of the pandemic has even more added economic pressures on our families, I am asking if you can help about 60 families at Clarendon Hill Towers. The request this time is the need for a $20 gift certificates from either Stop & Shop or Market Basket. Due date is Sunday, February 28 end of the day. Drop off at 49 Russell Road (last house in dead end), front porch, deposit in box on red Adirondack chair. (please no cash or checks) OR … Purchase online https://marketbasketfoods.com/gift-cards/ for Market Basket gift card and https://stopandshop.com/pages/gift-cards for Stop & Shop gift cards fill in order and name on gift card, fill out to Yetsanaira (Jessie) Alvira, Clarendon Hill Towers, Resident Services Coordinator, email: YAlvira@firsthartford.com, 1372 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02144, 617-625-7150.”

Eagle Feathers #224 – Washington Irving

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

Washington Irving was born in 1783 in Manhattan near the Hudson River during the last week of the Revolutionary War and died 76 patriotic years later. During his lifetime, he was known as a man of stories and letters.

His early writings spawned a wondrous mythology of Dutch Colonial New York, coining its townsmen the Knickerbockers and their city Gotham. He loved the Hudson River and built his home, Sunnyside, near its shore in Tarrytown.

Last week’s news that schools in Somerville will be partially reopened – tentatively scheduled to commence the first week of March – has been extremely well received by many, but also met with some trepidation by those who are concerned that it may be too soon, considering the extent to which the coronavirus pandemic still affects so many.

The first phase will only bring students in High Needs Special Education programs, English Learner programs, and Pre-K and Kindergarten back to the classrooms at first, with grades 1-8 to follow later.

Marlene Dietrich visits troops during World War II. — Photo © USO Photos

The United Service Organizations (USO), the nation’s leading not-for-profit charity that serves the men and women in the U.S. military and their families, is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year.

Arrests:
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Brandon Daughtry, of Woburn, February 16, 11:33 p.m., arrested at Washington St. on charges of leaving the scene of personal injury, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, and operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor.

Yosvani Hernandez, of Woburn, February 21, 3:16 p.m., arrested at Broadway on warrant charges of number plate violation to conceal identity, receiving stolen property over $1200, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

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I first met Marlena Merrin at a Zoom meeting for the literary group The Bagel Bards that was once happily housed in Davis Square. The Bards remain, and the Au Bon Pain closed, lost in the Pandemic sea. When you first meet someone in a group you really don’t know them until you talk one on one. I was glad to catch up with this accomplished woman, who has many dimensions and diverse interests.

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Our poet this week writes, “My name is Jenna Gleason. I am a senior at Endicott College studying Psychology with a minor in Victimology. I have never taken a poetry class before, but I love to write! I wrote a book of poetry when I was a senior at Westover School called Serendipity and hope to write another book!”

Get the latest information about the COVID-19 Vaccine from last night’s discussion.