USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1951 > Part 20
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Steamfitting repairs
Engine No. 7
Set glass Stoker repairs Electrical repairs Plumbing repairs Steamfitting repairs
East Branch Library
Set glass Steamfitters repairs Electrical repairs
V.
318
ANNUAL REPORTS
Fire Alarm Building
Stoker repairs Plaster repairs Washed and painted walls Installed cabinets and shelves Plumbing repairs Steamfitting repairs
Foss Park
Installed and repaired locks Steamfitters repairs
Plumbing repairs
G. A. R. Hall
Plaster repairs on walls and ceilings Washed and painted ceilings and walls
Repairs to lights
Glen St. Playground
Replaced defective electrical wiring New door installed
· Repaired roof Steamfitters repairs
Highway Buildings
Repairs to boiler Repaired brick wall of garage
Repaired barn roof
K. of C. Building
Installed electrical fixtures and switches
Lincoln Park
Repaired showers and general plumbing repairs Set glass Steamfitters repairs Repaired locks and doors
New Police Building
Repairs to turntable Washed and painted walls and ceilings
Plumbing repairs Electrical repairs Stoker repairs Steamfitting repairs Put new wires underground for electric door
319
COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Powder House Park
Repaired roof
Repairs to oil burner Painted and kalsomined Steamfitting repairs
Sanitary Buildings
Electrical repairs Steamfitting repairs Plumbing repairs
Sewer Garage
Electrical repairs Steamfitting repairs Plumbing repairs
Ten Hills Library
General cleaning of library
Trum Field House
Steamfitting repairs Plumbing repairs
Union Square Library
General cleaning of library
West Branch Library
Repaired oil burner
Repairs to roof
Plumbing repairs Electrical repairs Steamfitting repairs
Repairs to stoker
Water Buildings
Installed new boiler and piping for oil burner Repaired locks Installed new sash
This department is required to inspect all new building constructions and all alterations, this includes all plumbing and gasfitting, and to issue permits therefor.
The number of building permits issued by the Commis- sioner during the year 1951, having been duly inspected by the Building Inspectors, is as follows:
320
ANNUAL REPORTS
Wood
Fire-Resisting
New Buildings
7
16
Totals 23
Alterations
468
70
538
475
86
561
The fees collected for these permits totals $3,458.00 and this has been turned over to the City Treasurer as revenue.
During the year 1951 there have been approximately 1500 inspections of plumbing and gasfitting, and the number of permits are classified as follows:
The number of plumbing permits issued during 1951 was 456
The number of permits for installation of new plumbing 7
The number of permits for alterations to plumbing 449
The number of buildings in which soil pipes were tested
176
The fees collected for plumbing for the year of 1951 were $889.50 and this has been turned over to the City Treasurer as revenue.
The number of permits issued for gasfitting in 1951 was 542
The number of permits for new installation of gas 0
The number of permits for additions and alterations 542
The number of buildings in which gaspiping was tested with mer- cury test tubes 362
The number of buildings in which gaspiping was tested after
change from gas to electric lighting
5
The fees collected for gasfitting for the year 1951 amount to $500.75 and this has been turned over to the City Treasurer as revenue.
The total estimated cost of new building and alterations as filed by the grantees on the permits issued amounts to $910,314.00 in 1951. For comparison the estimated cost for the same amount was $1,205,723.00 in 1950. The total num- ber of permits for all purposes, not including plumbing and gasfitting, viz 583, is 74 less than in 1950 when 657 permits were issued.
The following is a tabulation showing the distribution of money spent for the operation of the Building Department in 1951:
32]
COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Buildings
Salaries
Fuel
Light
Care and Repair
Totals
Bandstand
$200.14
$200.14
Bathhouse
74.77
74.77
Bow St. Municipal
$6,123.73
$809.70
$638.00
2,095.95
9,667.38
Electrical
3,167.18
501.77
1,406.08
5,075.03
Fire
5,150.73
5,184.74
10,165.68
20,501.15
Municipal Garage
240.64
179.20
419.84
City Hall
15,228.34
1,483.48
12,386.21
29,098.03
Highway
926.83
173.93
2,546.03
3,646.79
City Home
2,751.18
1,239.94
6,720.29
10,711.4}
Central Library
8,469.69
1,406.18
1,123.66
12,979.74
23,979.27
West Branch Library
3,167.18
404.96
501.24
1,108.53
5,181.9฿
East Branch Library
3,167.18
472.67
264.01
209.95
4,113.81
Union Sq. Br. Library
107.37
53.55
804.00
964.92
Parks
1,754.22
433.12
2,462.31
4,649.65
Police
7,645.22
1,768.44
1,645.91
7,481.23
18,540.80
Polling Places
679.50
6.00
3,990.45
4,675.95
Sanitary
155.88
212.08
367.96
Sewer
567.29
410.16
3,284.06
4,544.56
Welfare Dist. Center
79.29
88.52
895.85
1,063.66
Soldiers' Aid
187.73
4,361.61
4,549.34
Contagious Hospital
.......
...
842.00
842.00
Schools
188,732.58
54,574.24
33,104.58
209,865.05
486,276.45
Totals
$236,380.60
$72,287.09
$46,802.53
$291,375.79
$646,846.01
Respectfully submitted,
526.36
1,093.65
Water
850.34
29.32
1,437.75
1,467.07
Teele Sq. Br. Library
5,140.47
5,140.47
Ten Hills Br. Library
EDWARD F. MOYNIHAN,
Commissioner of Public Buildings
322
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH CITY HALL, SOMERVILLE, MASS.
January 2, 1952
To His Honor the Mayor and the
Board· of Aldermen.
Gentlemen:
We respectfully submit the following, which is a summary of the work of the department for the year 1951, as the Seventy-fourth Annual Report of the Board of Health.
RECORD OF LICENSES AND PERMITS ISSUED
DAY NURSERY-Two applications for a permit to conduct a day nursery under the provisions of Section 59 of Chapter 111 of the General Laws relating to Public Health were re- ceived. One was granted.
SLAUGHTER POULTRY-Five applications for a permit to Slaughter Poultry under the provisions of Section 139a of Chapter 679 of the General Laws were received. All were granted.
COLLECT GREASE-Thirteen applications for a permit to collect grease were received and all were granted.
MELT AND RENDER-Four licenses to carry on the busi- ness of melting and rendering were granted.
MASSAGE-Twenty persons have been licensed to prac- tice massage.
BOTTLING CARBONATED BEVERAGES-Five licenses were granted to engage in the business of bottling carbonated
323
BOARD OF HEALTH
beverages, soda waters and mineral spring water. A fee of twenty dollars is charged for each license, ten of which is paid to the Commonwealth.
SALE OF ALCOHOL-Six persons were licensed to sell methyl alcohol.
BOARD INFANTS-Eight applications made to the State Department of Public Welfare for licenses to care for children in this city, were referred to the Board under the provisions of Chapter 119 of the General Laws. Seven were approved.
TRANSPORT GARBAGE-One permit to remove, trans- port and dispose of garbage was granted under the provisions of Chapter 111 of the General Laws. One permit to transport through the city only, was granted.
MORTALITY
There were 868 deaths and 29 stillbirths during the year, as specified in the following tables:
Deaths at the Central Hospital
37
Deaths at the Somerville Hospital
211
Deaths at the Home for Aged Poor (Highland Ave.) ..
41
Deaths at the City Home
4
Deaths at Other Institutions
99
DEATHS BY AGES
Male
Female
Total 27
Under one year
20
7
One to five years
1
1
2
Five to ten years
2
0
2
Ten to fifteen years
1
0
1
Fifteen to twenty years
3
0
3
Twenty to thirty years
2
3
5
Thirty to forty years
5
7
12
Forty to fifty years
29
24
53
Fifty to sixty years
70
40
110
Sixty to seventy years
94
86
180
Seventy to eighty years
113
138
251
Eighty to ninety years
74
111
185
Ninety and over
9
28
37
Totals
423
445
868
324
MORTALITY FOR 1950-Continued
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Totals
1. Infectious and Parasitic Diseases
II. Cancer and Other Tumors
12
1
9
19
5
5
7
4
9
10 10 8
99
III. Rheumatism, Diseases of Nutrition, etc.
. . .
1
1
2
..
....
2
2
V. Chronic Poisoning and Intoxication
9 10 11
12 11
5 11
12 11
7 9 10 118
VII. Diseases of the Circulatory System
7 12 10 13
3
4
1
1
1
4 1
4
....
6
1
1
4
2
3
1
3
2
26
1
XI. Diseases of Pregnancy, Childbirth, etc.
XII. Diseases of the Skin and Cellular Tissue
....
1
-
2
2
2
1
4
1
1
13
XV. Diseases Peculiar to First Year of Life
.. XVI. Senility
2
..
..
4
3
3 3
5
4
1
2
4
2
33
XVII. Violent and Accidental Deaths
XVIII. III-Defined and Unknown Causes
3
1
1
1
1
1
..
....
8
Totals
74 79 76 87 75 70 71 54 52 76 68 86 868
..
..
.... ....
2 2 6 7
8
84 22
IX. Diseases of the Digestive System
X. Diseases of the Genito-Urinary System
1
.. ..
..
..
.. ..
..
.
4
XIV. Congenital Malformations
.. ..
. .
..
1
..
..
...
..
....
..
..
2
1
1
5
1
....
9
4 4
.. ..
..
..
.. ..
..
..
...
1
XIII. Diseases of the Bones and Organs of Movement
..
....
ANNUAL REPORTS
..
....
IV. Diseases of the Blood Forming Organs
5
VI. Diseases of the Nervous System and Sense Organs
37 46 37 34 36 45 35 29 25 40 33 50 447
VIII. Diseases of the Respiratory System
2
3
..
....
..
..
..
..
..
325
BOARD OF HEALTH
DEATHS DURING THE LAST TEN YEARS
1942
833
8,14
1943
952
9.31
1944
894
8.73
1945
870
8.50
1946
874
8.25
1947
841
7.94
1948
941
8.88
1949
847
7,99
1950
828
7.88
1951
868
8.48
Average death rate per 1,000 for ten years
8.41
SPECIMENS AND SUPPLIES
Outfits for specimens to be examined for tuberculosis, diphtheria and typhoid fever as well as biologicals may be ob- tained at the office of the Board of Health, City Hall and at the following places:
George R. Reed & Son, Inc., Hobbs Building, Davis Square
Ernest M. Vose, 310 Broadway
Union Square Pharmacy, 23 Union Square
McClure's Pharmacy, Magoun Square
A. Ernest Zangrilli, 346 Highland Avenue
INSPECTION OF SCHOOL CHILDREN
Eight physicians are employed by the Board of Health, for Inspection of School Children and to them are referred all children who show evidence of disease or abnormal condition. Children who are found unfit to remain in school are sent home with a notice to the parent or guardian that the family physician should be consulted.
An annual examination of all the children in the schools is made and any defects discovered are called to the attention of the parents or guardians.
In accordance with the provisions of the statutes, tests of sight and hearing are made by principals and teachers.
Monthly inspections of the school buildings and premises are made and suggestions or criticisms are referred to the proper authorities. Every effort is made to protect the health of the children and to cooperate with the parents in keeping the children in as normal a condition as possible.
326
ANNUAL REPORTS
Following are the School Physicians and the schools under their jurisdiction:
District I
Francis Shaw, M. D., 202 Broadway Prescott, Hanscom, Dickerman and Edgerly Schools
District II David F. O'Brien, M. D., 44 Summer Street Southern Junior High and St. Joseph's Schools
District III Emil Goduti, M. D., 434 Broadway Senior High, Cummings, Proctor and St. Ann's Schools
District IV
Benjamin Blesoff, M. D., 333 Highland Avenue Morse, Carr, Durell, Burns and Cholerton Schools
District V
Benjamin Russman, M. D., 33 Curtis Street Cutler, Hodgkins, Lowe and Western Junior High Schools
District VI Joseph Scaringi, M. D., 66 Curtis Street Bingham, Brown, Forster and Northeastern Junior High Schools
District VII Anthony Russo, M. D., 2 Austin Street Glines, Grimmons, St. Benedict's and St. Polycarp's Schools
District VIII Charles J. McCarthy, M. D., 432 Medford Street Perry, Baxter and Knapp Schools.
During the year 5593 children were referred to the school physicians during their daily visits and 123 were sent home be- cause of illness.
The following list will show the diseases and defects, ex- cept those of sight and hearing which have been found.
327
BOARD OF HEALTH
LIST OF DISEASES AND NUMBER OF CASES REPORTED
1. Infectious Diseases:
Chicken Pox
8
Mumps 12
Total 20
2. Diseases of the Nose and Throat :-
Enlarged tonsils and adenoids 549
Inflammatory diseases 12
Other abnormal conditions 87
Total 648
3. Diseases of the Eyes 8
4. Diseases of the Ear 22
5. Diseases of the Skin:
Eczema
3
Herpes
24
Impetigo 43
Dermatitis
3
Pediculosis
41
Scabies
3
Miscellaneous conditions
54
Total 171
6. Diseases of the Feet 90
7. Miscellaneous Conditions :-
Diseases of the Circulatory System 28
Diseases of the Digestive System 1
Diseases of the Respiratory System 6
Wounds and injuries 57
Other conditions Total 153
61
Diphtheria inoculations
889
Total number of diseases 1112
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
Under the provisions of Chapter 114, Section 49 of the Laws Relating to Public Health, thirty persons were duly li- censed as Funeral Directors.
328
ANNUAL REPORTS
HEALTH NURSES
Seven nurses are employed by the Board of Health, three as Public Health Nurses and four School Nurses. The work of the Public Health Nurses consists of follow-up work on tuber- culosis cases, post natal hygiene, quarantining for contagious diseases and other related duties. The reports of the School Nurses are included in the report of the School Committee while those of the Public Health Nurses are submitted, in de- tail, in subsequent pages of this report.
INFANT HYGIENE CLINICS
During the year, under the supervision of this Board, clinics have been held every Tuesday afternoon at the New Vocational School, every Wednesday at the Knights of Colum- bus Building and every Thursday at the Western Junior High School, except when the days were holidays. The average weekly attendance at the New Vocational School was 18, at the Knights of Columbus Building 10 and at the Western Junior High School 13. The attendance for the year at these clinics was 1811.
329
BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF THE HEALTH NURSES
Somerville, Mass. January 2, 1952.
To the Board of Health, Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen:
We submit the following report of work performed by us in infant hygiene, post natal, contagion and tuberculosis cases for the year ending December 31, 1951:
INFANT HYGIENE
Infants reported born in Somerville during 1951 780
Infants born elsewhere resident in Somerville 1158
Pairs of twins born in Somerville 17
Stillbirths in Somerville 29
There were 27 deaths of infants under one year of age dur- ing the past year as shown in the following table:
Prematurity 10
Congenital Diseases
5
Accidental Injury
2
Pneumonia and other diseases
10
Total 27
Total attendance at Well Baby Clinics during 1951 .. 1811
New Registrations during 1951 351
Average Attendance 15
TUBERCULOSIS
Pulmonary tuberculosis reported in 1951 45
Other forms of tuberculosis reported in 1951 5
Number of patients admitted to Middlesex County Sanatorium in Waltham 52
Number admitted to Lakeville State Sanatorium 6
Number admitted to North Reading State Sanator- ium 3
Number admitted to Rutland State Sanatorium 2
Number admitted to Rutland Training Center
1
Clinics are held on the first and third Monday afternoons of each month, at the Knights of Columbus Building, Highland Avenue, for x-ray and examination of patients and contacts. The average attendance at these clinics was 30 patients.
330
ANNUAL REPORTS
TABLE SHOWING AGES AND SEXES OF CASES REPORTED DURING 1951
PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS
Male
Female
Total.
From fifteen to twenty years
1
2
3
From twenty to thirty years
6
6
12
From thirty to forty years
6
2
8
Over forty years
15
7
22
Totals
28
17
45
OTHER FORMS OF TUBERCULOSIS
Male
Female
Total
Under fifteen years of age
1
1
2
Over forty years of age
2
1
3
Totals
3
2
5
RECAPITULATION OF VISITS
Infant Hygiene
4092
Tuberculosis
1965
Contagion
184
Miscellaneous
182
Total visits
6423
Respectfully submitted,
GRACE P. HIGHT, R. N. MARY V. RYAN, R. N. EILEEN A. DAILY, R. N.
331
BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL INSPECTION
Somerville, Mass .. January 2, 1952.
To the Board of Health, Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen:
Following is the report of the Department of Medical In- spection for the year 1951:
VISITS FOR RELEASE FROM QUARANTINE
Scarlet Fever 110
HOSPITALIZATION
During the year patients were admitted to the Haynes. Memorial Hospital or the Children's Medical Center as follows:
Scarlet Fever 7
Infantile Paralysis
6
Miscellaneous 12
Total 25
TUBERCULOSIS
There were two deaths in the city from pulmonary tuber- culosis, eight in sanatoria and seven patients reported as hav- ing tuberculosis who died of other causes.
DIPTHERIA IMMUNIZATION
Clinics for immunization against diphtheria are held on the last Wednesday of each month, throughout the year, at the Knights of Columbus Building, Highland Avenue. Notices are sent to the parents whose children have reached the age of four months, advising them of the opportunity to have their children immunized.
Clinics are also held for the immunization of all children in the kindergarten and the first grade of each school in the city.
332
ANNUAL REPORTS
Following are the statistics on these clinics:
Total number of doses of vaccine administered 2737
Number who completed three doses 602
Number who received two doses 683
Number who received one dose 634
Boosters
818
Respectfully submitted,
-
WILFRID C. MACDONALD, M. D., Medical Inspector
BOARD OF HEALTH
333
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND PROVISIONS
Somerville, Mass. January 2, 1952.
To the Board of Health, Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen:
Following is a report of the work of the Department of In- spection of Animals and Provisions, for the year ending De- cember 31, 1951:
Number of establishments visited
7463
Complaints investigated 512
Notices sent
182
CONDEMNATIONS
Bakery Products
50 lbs.
Fish
86 lbs.
Candy
463 lbs.
Meats
418 lbs.
Canned Goods
219 Misc.
Nuts
74 lbs.
Poultry
211 lbs.
Fruit:
75 lbs. oranges
13 lbs. grapes
17 lbs. tomatoes
50 lbs. raisins
Vegetables: 15 bu. carrots 260 lbs. Miscellaneous
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS HAGERTY
Chief Health Inspector
334
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND VETERINARY
Somerville, Mass. January 2, 1952.
To the Board of Health, Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen:
The following is my report for the year ending December 31, 1951.
There were a total of 683 calls made in connection with 316 dog bites reported during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
E. WILLIAM JOHANSEN, D. V. M. Inspector of Animals and Veterinary
335
BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DENTAL HYGIENE
Somerville, Mass. January 2, 1952.
To the Board of Health, Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen:
I submit the following statistics as the report of the Divi- sion of Dental Hygiene for the year ending December 31, 1951.
Respectfully submitted,
ANTHONY F. BIANCHI, D. M. D. Supervising School Dentist
336
SCHOOL CHILDREN
OPERATIVE CASES
Number Examined
Old
Patients
New
Patients
Emergency
Cases
Special
Cases
Total Number
of Patients
Number of
Fillings
Extractions Number of
Number of
Cleanings
Number of
Treatments
tificates Granted Number of Cer-
Number
Given Gas
Number of
Patients
Number of
Extractions
January
598
184
93
0 875
588
262
176
1146
135
6
6
25
February
412
167
101
0
680
384
157
220
916
194
1
6
1
March
508
231
94
0
773
430
233
183
1011
164
7
7
24
April
427
160
64
0
651
539
169
137
887
150
3
3
9
May
630
167
106
0
903
601
258
190
1379
177
4
4
17
June
237
42
26
0
305
154
74
62
288
79
5
5
10
July
SCHOOL CLINCS CLOSED
August
SCHOOL CLINICS CLOSED
September
EXAMINING
October
12377
EXAMINING
November
312
333
17
0
742
409
340
74
940
52
17
17
60
December
436
106
57
0
599
374
206
105
740
69
10
10
27
Total
12377
3560
1390
558
O
5528
3479
1699
1177
7307
1020
53
53
173
ANNUAL REPORTS
337
BOARD OF HEALTH
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF MILK AND VINEGAR CHEMICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY CITY HALL, SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS
Somerville, Mass. January 2, 1952.
To the Board of Health, Somerville, Mass.
Gentlemen:
Four hundred and seventy-nine stores are licensed to sell milk, fifty-three dealers are licensed to distribute milk and two hundred and twenty stores are registered to sell oleomargarine. Four pasteurizing plants located in Somerville are licensed to operate and thirty-nine plants in cities and towns adjacent to Somerville are also under the supervision of this department. Four hundred and ten stores and distributors are licensed to sell and twenty-five dealers are licensed to manufacture frozen desserts or ice cream mix.
An average of 45,000 quarts of milk and 1,000 quarts of cream are distributed daily in Somerville.
Revenue for the department for the year was $3,937.50 of which $1,453.50 was for license fees and the balance of $2,484.00 for analytical work.
Samples Collected 1746
Samples Submitted 1385
Total
3131
Bacteriological Examinations 3874
Chemical Examinations
1505
Sediment Tests
767
Phosphatase Tests
1318
Microscopical Examinations
738
Total Examinations
8202
Thirty-six milks were found to be under-pasteurized, twelve were low in solids and one hundred and twenty-two milks, creams, and ice creams slightly exceeded the maximum plate count.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM H. WALLIS, Inspector of Milk & Vinegar
338
ANNUAL REPORTS
The foregoing, a resume of the activities of the several divisions of the Board of Health is submitted by
HUGH J. GALLAGHER, D. S. C., Chairman
JOSEPH H. McSWEENEY, M. D. ALFRED S. WASS, D. M. D. Board of Health
339
RECREATION DEPARTMENT
REPORT OF THE RECREATION COMMISSION
1951
THE REVEREND NAZARENO PROPERZI, Chairman
MEMBERS
Term Expires January
Malcolm D. Blair
1952
William J. Crotty
1953
Jerry C. landoli, Jr.
1952
Mrs. Margaret T. Keane
1952
William J. Koen 1952
Peter Lucarelli 1953
Mrs. Myrtle Macleod 1952
Edward M. McCarty 1953
The Reverend John B. Olds
1953
Secretary To The Commission: CHARLES C. KELLEY
340
ANNUAL REPORTS
December 31, 1951.
To The Honorable The Mayor And The Board of Aldermen:
Gentlemen:
The Recreation Commission commences this report with a statement of its opinion that the requirement for annual re- porting by any organization or body which depends upon public funds for its very existence, is a necessary one. This Commission believes that, irrespective of law or tradition, moral principle alone should warrant periodic reports to the public and to the City authorities as to the progress of its pro- gram, the problems encountered, its financial status, and recommendations for improvement; and that following such reporting it then becomes incumbent upon the community or its delegated authorities, within reason and if justitied, to make some effort to bring about accomplishment of these recom- mendations.
As to the form of the Annual Report, there is a variance of opinion as to the best method of presentation. Many feel that the present accepted method is outmoded - that printed matter alone is just so many words and carries little import. They feel that because people today have become so educated to the photographic method of presentation --- via television, movies, advertising, magazines, etc. - that the Annual Re- ports should be streamlined as to printed matter and made more attractive to the eye by means of pictures. It is the gen- eral opinion also that these reports should be not too lengthy.
The Recreation Commission is conscious of these attitudes. It realizes also that the services rendered by the Commission still require plenty of interpretation and definition, and that the people of Somerville are still unaware of the opportunities available to them through these services. The misconceptions of "just an athletics program", "playgrounds", and "activities for children", as applied to the Recreation program, seem to be more prevalent in Somerville than in other communities. For these reasons the Commission, in supplement to its Annual Report and in order to better accomplish its aims and objec- tives, has prepared a series of slides, has recently issued an.
341
RECREATION DEPARTMENT
illustrated pamphlet depicting its activities, and is now in the process of editing a motion picture film of activities under the Commission; all of which it has instructed its Superintendent to make available to the public. Additionally, the Superintend- ent and members of the year-round staff are available for lectures, talks defining the work of the Commission, and for assistance to other groups promoting recreation activities.
The Commission reports progress in its program, in spite of the problems which continue to present themselves, but which are more or less to be expected in a city with the unique set-up of Somerville (over-population, limited areas, crowded conditions, etc.). And the problems of the Recreation Service are the problems of the community, inasmuch as one affects the other; and the solution of these problems lies within the people themselves, since they are the ultimate beneficiaries upon solution.
The Commission's financial picture continues to improve, and the Commission judges it most deserving that immediate recognition be given to the public authorities (executive and legislative) without whose complete co-operation much of its labors would be in vain.
With respect to OUTDOOR recreation facilities, if all pro- posed projects are completed according to plan and design, then the outlook should be brighter and more promising than it has been in recent years. Certainly the acquisition of a Stadium and a Swimming Pool will add to the wholesome rec- reation enjoyment of the community, as both of these have been needed in Somerville for some time. Proposed further development of the Marchi Playground is also encouraging, as this is an isolated neighborhood and the present facilities there are not sufficient to provide for activities of all age groups.
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