VOL. 7 NO. 25 SOMERVILLE, MASS. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 2019 TWENTY-FIVE CENTS Inside: Overdose Aftercare Community Teams discussion in Somerville By Melissa Rosales ACCESS Drug User Health Program part- nered with the City of Somerville and Everett to discuss overdose aftercare services, harm reduc- tion and the use of fentanyl strips last Wednes- day, June 19 at the Public Safety Building, 220 Washington St. The ACCESS mobile health van was also present for tours to explain how they can assist in reducing overdoses. ACCESS serves active users and their loved Venice in ones with programs and services like education, the 'Ville grief supports, Family Resource Detox Clinics, page 3 family safety planning, Narcan kits, Suboxone treatment, Hepatitis C and HIV testing. “Our mission really is we're reaching out for aftercare to you and your loved ones together to prevent overdoses and keep these people safe. You are the experts in your own lives. You and ACCESS Drug User Health Program, in conjunction with the cities of Somerville and Everett, held a your loved ones deserve access to care, safety, discussion forum last week focusing reducing drug overdoses. — Photo by Melissa Rosales education, and resources in Continued on page 4 2019 Fourth of July celebration Join Mayor Curtatone for the annual 4th of July Fireworks with live entertainment on Thursday, June 27, from 6:30 to 10:00 p.m., at Trum Field, 541 Broadway, Somerville. Somerville veteran The entertainment lineup for the celebra- comes home tion includes performances by the USO Met- page 5 ropolitan New York Performers and local Disco-Funk band Booty Vortex, leading up to a 20-minute fireworks display beginning at approximately 9:15 p.m. To ensure public safety and pedestrian access to events, several road closures and bus detours will be in place. Traffic alterations will be as follows: Broadway (in front of Trum Field): No park- ing 12:00 p.m. – midnight. Street closed from 5:00 p.m. – midnight. Cedar Street from Morrison Avenue to the Bridge: No parking on either side from 8:00 a.m. - midnight. Traffic restricted to resi- dents only from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (from Morrison Ave. only). No access to street af- A day of summer ter 6:00 p.m. family fun Cedar Street from the Bridge to Broadway: page 12 No parking on either side from 8:00 a.m. - mid- The 2019 City of Somerville Fourth of July celebration takes place this Thursday, June 27, at Trum Field, night. Street will be closed Continued on page 17 beginning at 6:30 p.m., with fireworks scheduled at approximately 9:15 p.m. 2••JUNE 26, 2019 TheSomervilleTimes.com Comments of the Week Response to: Newstalk – June 19 Old Taxpayer says: The views and opinions expressed in Newstalk do not necessarily reflect those of We have been moving all our scripts to Stop and Shop. Don’t want to do CVS. The people at Stop The Somerville Times, its publisher or staff. The column has many contributors. and Shop have been very nice. Also stopped going to Home Depot after they closed the registers. Mayor Joe Curtatone held his re-election event this past Monday. About 80 – most were payroll patriots employees – Court says: showed up at this campaign kickoff. We heard his campaign the “new” walgreens/rite aid is dindgy. My scripts don’t get auto renewed when asked to make sure even did robo-calls. One of our Newstalkers mentioned that they do they say they are but they don’t. Their a mess! Really miss the old NICE organized crew he got a call about the kickoff and couldn’t figure out why. He at walgreens. Bad move, smdh! is a registered Republican and has never gone to any of May- or Joe’s fundraisers. The newDilboy Post is said to hold way Bosco says: over a 100 and something. It must have looked bare, with only The property the winter hill yacht club sits on is owned by the state and it is leased to the 80 people present. One person told us that in his speech he mentioned Donald Trump 19 times. Now, don’t you think he club. A very long lease. I believe the club has had lease for at least 100 years. It started at should have been talking about development and various proj- mystic ave and shore drive. The city has no chance in taking over property. At least not in the ects going on in the city? We couldn’t find out why thePerson - foreseeable future. nel Director, who we heard hasn’t received a college degree, had her salary shoot up to $147K. That must piss off some TL says: other department heads. Does the DPW Commissioner Stan Maybe the fired pharmacist can start a career as a real estate professional Koty make that amount? ************************ City Councilor At-Large Bill White held his re-election Response to: Joggers and drivers and bikes, oh my! event on Monday night at the Olde Magoun’s Salon in Ma- MacGyvers says: goun Square. Bill had a lot of competition, but he managed to Jimmy, great article. It sounds like what my life is also like on a daily basis. I live next to the Gilman pull out a small but committed crowd. We heard from one of our Newstalkers there there were about 20-25 there on Mon- St. GLX construction myself. All this traffic also makes me feel like a prisoner of my own home. I day night. Maybe it was the mayor’s time, which was same come home from work and lose any desire to go out and about to avoid a constant battle driving/ night and time. walking/biking. ************************ What is wrong with the city? Potholes this late in the year all They are all dangerous now. I am blessed to have a 6 minute walk to my job, but today still almost over, rubbish on the streets in the squares, sidewalks broken. managed to get myself hit by a car. I was not on my phone, halfway through the crosswalk, when Maybe the city should review the contract with the people who a car finally came to a rapid stop a mere 6 inches from my leg. I am in my early 40’s and still too sweep our city? The city infrastructure just hasn’t been kept up young to turn into a homebody. I can only play my guitar for so long! Somerville, time to say byee and we're wondering what are the councilors are doing, refer- byee. ring people to 311? Was a time in the past that the not so old Board aldermen would pick up a phone and things got done? Chris says: Speaking of pot holes, Aldersey St. in Ward 3 seems to have more than its fair share of pot holes. Maybe the city councilor Jimmy, the speed limit in the vast majority of the city is 25 miles per hour. If you’re having a hard representing Ward 3 might want to check it out. time stopping for people in crosswalks, I know a great brake guy I can send you to. ************************ Continued on page 11 Theosays: Sometimes common sense is just not that common. At 25 miles per hour, the typical stopping distance on a dry surface will be between 60 and 75 feet. There’s little margin for safety when a bicyclist or runner comes running out without looking and 699 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02144 first becomes visible when a vehicle is 100 feet away or less. [email protected] www.thesomervilletimes.com Response to: Third East Somerville Reunion 617-666-4010 • Fax: 617-628-0422 Bob DiGuardia says: It was a great night seeing my friends from the old days. My first band practiced in the basement www.facebook.com/ @somervilletimes at 201 Pearl St. We played at local dances and out in the streets for Somerfest. I have been blessed thesomervilletimes with music and also by growing up in East Somerville with friends like Danny Rogavich whom I Publisher – Somerset Valley Publishing Inc. met in the 5th grade at the Hanscom School and went on to coach little league with him. I truly Editor – Jim Clark hope that we get the opportunity to party again with these people. Assignment Editor – Bobbie Toner Neil Gillis says: Advertising Director – Bobbie Toner Another slam dunk show produced by Danny Rogovitch, Susan Mangherini Griffin, Diane Syl- Arts Editor – Doug Holder vester Ames, with tons of donated food Leones pizza, and others who brought food and the help with the cleanup Ann Ragucci, of course Susan,Diane Dannys daughters helping out selling the Writers: Jim Clark, Denise Keniston, Jackson Ellison, Michael LoPilato, Marshall Collins tickets Michelle and Danielle great time it was and it never fails ppl show up to make it happen Contributors: Jimmy Del Ponte, Dorothy Dimarzo, One Moe Time our own East Somerville band. Blake Maddux, Bob Doherty, Ross Blouin, Donald Norton Photographer: Claudia Ferro Response to: Howe Gelb is back with a solo album and The Somerville Times is published every Wednesday show at ONCE A proud member of the following newspaper organizations: Jay Tarpley says: Good intro for the show. And it was a great evening. Howe is a treasure. © 2019 The Somerville Times except where noted. All rights reserved. Log onto TheSomervilleTimes.com to leave your own comments JUNE 26, 2019••3 Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte Venice in the ‘Ville was like walking into a place you would find in Italy.