Eagle Feathers #335 – Don’t Spill Your Coffee

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

Tradition has told us that a ninth-century Ethiopian shepherd once observed that some of his goats were behaving erratically. They were happier and livelier than others because they ate the magenta berries on a dark green shrub.

Those in public service to our city must be ready, willing, and able to rise to the occasion when called upon to do so. Each one of us, whoever we may be supporting in this year’s citywide election, is searching our hearts to determine whom we feel will best fill those roles.

Most of us seem to be very confident that our favored candidates are up to the task. Others bemoan a lack of integrity or skills required to do the job well among those who are running.

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Since Harvard University has a course on Taylor Swift in its catalogue, I thought, “What the heck, maybe I could use Swift as a teaching tool.” During class, we discussed the Found poem. And our exercise that day was to create a ‘Found’ poem based on Taylor Swift’s recent album release.

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Bridget Seley-Galway artist/poet’s collections of poems, What Moments Yield, was published by Ibbetson Press, and Shorelines was published by Wilderness Press, and are included in several permanent collections. Her poems have also been published in Provincetown Magazine, Somerville Times Lyrical, Poetry Porch, Ibbetson Press, and Bagel with the Bards Anthology. Her art has been exhibited throughout New England. Her paintings have been selected for the covers of Bagel with the Bards, Ibbetson Press, and individual poet publications. She is currently the arts editor/curator of Wilderness House Literary Review. You can view her art on brieartistality.com

Extended Subway Service on Fridays and Saturdays 

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) today announced that, effective August 24 as part of Fall 2025 service changes, all subway lines and eight frequent bus routes will offer extended service on Fridays and Saturdays with five of the MBTA’s most frequent bus routes with the highest number of later riders offering extended service every day of the week. Trip end times for these lines and routes will be about one hour later compared to current service end times. Extended service will also be added on some ferry lines on Fridays and Saturdays through the end of September with additional trips added.  

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Somerville Chief of Police Shumeane Benford have confirmed that Luis Carlos Ramos Teixeira, age 27, of Brockton has been charged with rape and indecent assault and battery on a person over fourteen.  The defendant, a Lyft driver, is alleged to have sexually assaulted a female passenger over the weekend.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has issued an air quality advisory, effective today, for Bristol, Essex, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk and Worcester Counties. Due to elevated ozone levels, air quality in these nine counties is expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups. Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, such as asthma, older adults, children, teenagers, and people who are active outdoors. People with either lung disease or heart disease are at greater risk from exposure to air pollution.

An aerial ladder and a ground ladder are seen raised to the second and third floors of 268 Powderhouse Boulevard. ~Photos courtesy of SFD.

Update from the Department of Fire Services:

Fire Officials: Extinguish Candles Before Leaving the Room or Going to Sleep

The fire that broke out in an apartment building on Powderhouse Boulevard last night is not suspicious and most likely started with an unattended candle, said Somerville Fire Chief Charles Breen, Jr, Somerville Police Chief Shumeane Benford, and State Fire Marshal Jon Davine.

Hollie and her Little Sister at a college football game. Photo courtesy of Hollie Fletcher

On August 17, Hollie Fletcher, of Somerville, will take on the Falmouth Road Race to support youth across Cape Cod and the Islands. Running on behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod & the Islands, part of Massachusetts’ leading one-to-one mentoring program, she is raising funds and awareness to help youth to thrive with a caring adult in their corner.