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It’s that time of year when a substantial number of people bail on their New Year resolutions of exercising and eating healthy. However, there are still about 40% of people who do follow through with those resolutions for at least six months. https://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/2019/01/08/saturday-jan-12-day-most-people-give-up-new-years-resolution/2483512002/ Regardless of where you fit into the above mentioned statistics, this smoothie is delicious and packed with protein without making you feel as though you’re on a diet. I find this to be quite satisfying and can also be made completely dairy free.

The tension is mounting in certain circles as we all await what doom may befall us once the Ball Square Broadway Bridge closing takes place.

What is already not the most ideal traffic situation will surely become a snarl of some measurable magnitude once the big event becomes a fact of our daily life. How bad it can be is anyone’s guess, but we can surely hope for the best, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable frustration.

Arrests:
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Jesse Golden, of 37 Wareham Rd., Medford, January 14, 12:29 p.m., arrested at Washington St. on warrant charges of leaving the scene of property damage, failure to stop for police, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, resisting arrest, and reckless operation of a motor vehicle.

Scott MacDougall, of 19 Pearson Rd., January 15, 7:14 a.m., arrested at home on a warrant charge of knowing purchase or possession of visual material.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro
West Somerville Neighborhood School just wrapped up the first ever Boosterthon Fun Run. Boosterthon is a school solutions provider that goes into elementary and middle schools all over the country and provides a two-week experience, including both character and wellness elements.

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Poet Dorinda Hale arrived at my table at the Bloc 11 Cafe with a frosted pastry of some kind and a rich, roasted coffee. Hale, who has lived in Somerville since 1974, was here to talk about her first book of poetry released by the Finishing Line Press, Disorientation and the Weather.

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Susan Tepper was a TWA stewardess during the Vietnam War years and flew with the troops on the charter flights into Vietnam. Today she is the author of seven published books of fiction and poetry. Her newest title, Monte Carlo Days & Nights, is set in the South of France and narrated by a stewardess of a later time period. www.susantepper.com.

Linda J. (Dunbar) O’Leary – 47, Of Somerville after a hard fought battle with cancer on January 19, 2019. Loving wife of Timothy D. O’Leary. Cherished mother of Khileigh and Anthony O’Leary both of Somerville.

Dear daughter of Janice T. (Monahan) Taranto of Maine and Gerry Daley of Somerville.

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 Elizabeth Henehan, MPH

The MBTA has loosened their ban on alcohol ads despite the fact that research from the BU School of Public Health notes that alcohol ads in subway and streetcar stations reach the equivalence of every 5th through 12th grader in the city of Boston. More than just advertising affects underage alcohol consumption – peers, parents, income, gender to name a few. However, advertising has been shown to influence underage drinking behaviors particularly among adolescents who are susceptible to the appeals of certain advertising messages. Advertisements with animals, humor, and those with appeals to social benefits of drinking are particularly alluring for youth. The alcohol industry is subject to voluntary advertising guidelines that suggest best practices for advertising content and media placement requirements of alcohol ads. That being said, it is unclear why the MBTA is now allowing alcohol ads when the placements themselves may not be compliant with the current advertising guidelines.

Stay safe during today’s extreme cold. Take a few minutes to review Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)‘s extreme cold safety tips.

Also be careful when using space heaters. Make sure to keep them away from anything flammable and use appropriate outlets.

L to R: Chief of Operations Christopher Major, Rafael Flores, John Blake, John Driscoll, John Mucci, Dennis Moynihan and Chief Charles Breen. — Photo courtesy of Somerville F.D.

Last week, five new firefighters were appointed to the Somerville Fire Department . They were Dennis Moynihan, John Blake, John Driscoll, John Mucci and Rafael Flores. The new recruits will begin their training  Tuesday.