The play “Interview with a Gorgon” by Greg Lam, was performed at the “Giving@First” theater festival on January 11.

By Shira Laucharoen

Mack Carroll would be writing the play in one night. He said he would most likely be considering several different outlines and test out genres such as science fiction and fantasy. The play would probably use a prop, a silver hand mirror, as a focal point to build a story around. “I’m ready to stay up all night,” said Carroll. “I’m looking forward to it.”

On Thursday, January 16 at 6:30 p.m., the Somerville Museum presents an evening of history and music about Somerville composer Henry Hadley.

Hadley (1871-1937) was one of the most performed and published American composers of his day. Born in Somerville to a musical family, Hadley’s mother was active in local church music as a member of Somerville’s First Congregational Church, then located on Franklin Street.

Among those joining the hate crimes panel were (L to R) David Fallon Somerville Chief of Police, Mary Skipper, Superintendent of Somerville Schools and Irma Flores, Community Engagement Specialist with the Somerville Department of Immigrant Affairs.

Urges importance of response and reporting
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By Anna Schaeffer

Members of the Somerville community gathered last Thursday evening to discuss the rising occurrence of hate crimes in the city and state. Representatives from religious groups, city departments, legal nonprofits, the educational system, and law enforcement answered questions from the public and provided information about the city’s various methods for responding to and mitigating the impact of hate crimes.

Somerville Teachers Association (STA) and community members turned up, wearing red, at the latest Somerville School Committee Meeting at City Hall on Monday, January 13, speaking on behalf of paraprofessionals in advance of the next negotiation session. The STA and supporters met at the corner of Highland Ave. and School St. for a pre-meeting gathering. According to the participating activists, paraprofessionals currently make between $20,000 – $25,000 a year, which they feel is not enough to live on. Many of those who are advocate for better wages for the city’s many paraprofessionals addressed the Committee and expressed their concerns on the issue. The contract negotiations are ongoing.

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The annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration event will take place Monday, January 20, at the East Somerville Community School. Festivities for this free family event will begin at 10:00 a.m. The celebration will be emceed by Marcus Santos and will feature musical performances by El Sistema Somerville and the Somerville High School World Percussion Ensemble, as well as readings by student essayists. A keynote address will be given by Aba Taylor, a social justice educator, facilitator and organizer. Following the speaking program, the Beautiful Stuff Project will facilitate the creation of a community mosaic. This year the Somerville Human Rights Commission will hold a drive during the event, to benefit Project SOUP. Attendees are invited to bring toiletries such as shampoo, toilet paper and soap. The event is organized in cooperation with the City of Somerville’s Health and Human Services Department, Somerville Public Schools, and the Somerville Human Rights Commission.

In response to inquiries about the educational material which was mailed to residences regarding lead in the drinking water, the city of Somerville has issued this high level recap:

Somerville Heroes by Stephanie Hirsch

Thank you this month to residents who helped make the holiday season magical. Some invented or carried on traditions, and some shared stories through different types of holiday displays. Thanks are also due to those people who had to work extra hard this season while many of us took breaks.
Here are a few signs of the season from around town…

— Photos by Claudia Ferro

People took advantage of record breaking temperatures  in the Assembly Row–Mystic River area last weekend.

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Serving the Davis Square area since 1996, The Burren is a wonderful venue to meet up with family and friends and enjoy the authentic Irish pub experience. They feature live entertainment seven nights a week, and offer up great food and the most proper pint of Guinness you can find in the square.

A hot topic of discussion in the city through the years is how best to deal with development and upkeep of our public recreational playing fields. Specifically, a debate is still underway concerning the use of artificial grass versus natural turf.

Those opposed to the artificial option point to safety concerns based on the chemical composition of the materials used, as well as the perceived unnatural way the turf responds to the activities of those who play on the fields. So called “heat islands” – i.e., excessive heat given off due to the nature of the turf’s materials – creates further cause for concern, in consideration of possible health risks to those who use the turf, along with larger scale environmental concerns.