The City of Somerville is currently seeking applicants for a member of the public with expertise in urban forestry to join the Urban Forestry Committee, as well as a youth member for the Committee. The Committee’s input is intended to support and guide policies and plans currently being reviewed and advanced by the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development and the Department of Public Works. The Committee shall advise the city on matters related to the management and maintenance of all existing and new trees and shrubs on public grounds and public ways. Members may also review issues related to the health, effective maintenance, and protection of existing trees and shrubs on public grounds and public ways; update information in the tree inventory; support public education and outreach on urban forestry; and provide comments during any city permitting review processes.

Stacey Dell’Anno, daughter of Anthony and Patricia Dell’Anno, a Somerville High School standout, had the honor of being inducted into the Merrimack College Hall of Fame on October 4.

In 2017, the Somerville City Council passed a proclamation to designate October 20 officially as Community Media Day and is meant to ensure that the media landscape remains inclusive for all artists, across all forms of media.

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers.)

By Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone

Democracy is not a fixed object. Ever since average people first got a say in how they’re governed, we have been expanding our sense of who the stakeholders are in our society. Initially it came via violent struggle and later via democratic reform, but our collective sense of the “self” in self-government has undergone constant revision.

The HONK! Festival 2019 took to various venues and outdoor locations throughout Somerville over the past weekend, bringing bold and brassy music alongside political activism. ~Photo by Adam Parise

By Adam Parise

This past weekend, the HONK! Festival returned for another fun filled year. The first day of events took place on Thursday, October 10, with the Pre-Honk Festivities in Union Square and at Aeronaut Brewery.

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers.)

By Benjamin Gross

This article is not an act of erasure of “marijuana” and other slang terms associated with cannabis or of the relationships certain communities may have with Cannabis sativa and its products.

Marijuana is a slang term for cannabis with roots in Mexican Spanish. Its original recorded use in English dates to the late 19th Century. Strangely, this slang term became official United States government nomenclature for cannabis in the 1930s. Why?

By Jim Clark

After receiving reports that drug distribution appeared to be taking place from the door step of a Prescott St. residence, Somerville Police began routine surveillance of this area.

The resident of this address, Steven Andrade, was known to police from various arrests including firearm and drug distribution charges.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. From Patch: “Bullying affects more than one in five American students. It’s easy to dismiss that figure, saying ‘kids will be kids,’ but studies show that students who are bullied are at increased risk for anxiety, depression, poor self-image, mental and behavior health problems and poor performance in school.”

Support for domestic violence awareness was one of many issues addressed by the Somerville City Council at their latest meeting last week.

By Lizzie Heintz

Beginning the latest Somerville City Council meeting with a call to action last Thursday, Council President Katjana Ballantyne addressed the city’s residents with a call to action.

“We are a compassionate community.” Ballantyne said. “Let’s further show our compassion by helping others find the help that is available here. You might save a life.”

Ward 5 Alderman Mark Niedergang

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers.)

By Mark Niedergang, Ward 5 City Councilor

Statement from Ward 5 Resistat meeting held on October 10, 2019 (edited on October 15)

I want to say a little bit about my views on the Winter Hill Broadway bus and bike lanes, since that is a subject that we Councilors have received hundreds of emails about, roughly evenly split between pro and con.  I have asked the Administration to respond to the concerns we have heard about the new roadway on Broadway at tonight’s meeting and they will do so.  I have asked them to hold a community meeting and to implement some changes.