*

Review by Timothy Gager

If you’re Elisabeth Kübler-Ross you’ve had a widely accepted theory about the five stages of death and dying. If you are the author, Gavin Broom, your characters get to experience two of them (maybe three, without giving away the ending): the denial stage and the anger stage. In The Scottish Book of the Dead, a father dies and it brings a dysfunctional family together in one location to deal with his death, and to pick up the pieces of their own lives. These characters, the son, the runaway ex-wife, the brother, and the sister-in-law all must address their shortcomings and their past, while attempting to close a chapter with someone else’s.

*
A former Somerville resident, Tom Sheehan, 91, has published 37 books, the last one being Alone, with the Good Graces, Pocol Press. Soon comes Jock Poems for Proper Bostonians, and Small Victories for the Soul VII (from Wilderness House Literary Review, first copy sent to me in today’s mail.) He has multiple works in Rosebud, Literally Stories, Linnet’s Wings, Serving House Journal, Copperfield Review, Literary Orphans, Frontier Tales, Rope & Wire, TQR Total Quality Reading, etc. He’s received 16 Pushcart nominations, 6 Best of Net nominations with one winner, and other awards., He served as a sergeant in the 31st Infantry in Korea 1951-52, and graduated from Boston College in 1956.

Because of the snowfall predicted today, Tuesday, February 12, afternoon and evening activities will be canceled. There will be no Somerville Public Schools or Somerville Parks and Recreation activities after 3 p.m. and all Somerville Public Library branches, the Veterans Memorial Skating Rink, and the Kennedy Pool will be closed at 3 p.m. All City meetings have been canceled, but the second developer-sponsored affordable housing open house at 29 Woodbine St. will take place as scheduled (visit www.somervillema.gov/events for more information).

Arrests:

Paul McGowan, of 124 Otis St., Cambridge, February 4, 12:11 a.m., arrested at Union Sq. on charges of operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor and alcohol from open container.

Gilberto De Castro-Gomes, of 26 Beacon St., Burlington, February 4, 1:27 a.m., arrested at Fellsway on warrant charges of failure to notify RMV of name or address change, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and miscellaneous equipment violation.

Active investigation continues

Investigators are continuing to call on the public for assistance in identifying the operator of the vehicle involved in Friday’s fatal hit and run in Somerville. Somerville Police working with the Middlesex DA’s Office are trying to locate a newer model, full-size, black pickup truck with front-end driver’s-side damage. The vehicle is believed to have a black cover over the bed of the truck and is possibly a Ford F-150. Anyone with related information is encouraged to contact the Somerville Police Department at 617-625-1600 ext. 7250 or 7254. Both phone lines are staffed  24/7 by sworn officers. Tips may be left anonymously through text. Begin your text message with 617spd and send it to TIP411 (847411).

Dear Somerville Local First Members and Friends,

First, Happy New Year! We hope your 2019 is off to a great start, and that it continues to bring joy, health, and success for all of you!

We are writing to share some important news. After a decade of serving the small businesses and artists in our beloved city, Somerville Local First will be ending its run as an organization as of May 1, 2019. This was certainly a difficult decision to make given the deep love our Board of Directors and our most recent Executive Director, Courtney O’Keefe, have for SLF and what it represents. We imagine many of you feel the same way.

In December of 2018 the Board of Aldermen approved the Licensing Ordinance, Zoning Language and Overlay map for adult recreational marijuana establishments. Go to www.somervillema.gov/adult- marijuana to review the documents and learn more.

There are two upcoming meetings to continue the process:

Monday, February 11, 3:00 p.m. – City Hall, 93 Highland Ave, Council Chambers – This is an official Licensing Commission public meeting where staff will inform and update the commission on legislation, zoning, and procedures regarding recreational marijuana. All are welcome to attend but the Chair of the Licensing Commission is not required to take public testimony.

So, I think I’m going to take a few hours and hit the Goodwill and buy up all of their antique and semi-antique Persian carpets. No silver or gold today, just carpets.

Ha, it doesn’t work that way. I’m lucky if I find one good carpet every six months or so of hunting every day. Mind you, I’m not going to high-end shops stocked with goodies, I’m going to junk stores. Less good stuff, but, when I find something, the price is right.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Somerville Chief of Police David Fallon have confirmed the identity of the pedestrian who died last night as the result of an apparent hit-and-run as Allison Donovan, 40, of Somerville.

On February 8, at approximately 7:16 p.m. Somerville Police responded to a report of a hit-and-run at the intersection of Powder House Boulevard and Hardan Road in Somerville. Two adult pedestrian women were transported to Mount Auburn Hospital where Allison Donovan was pronounced dead. The second female has been discharged.