USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1955 > Part 12
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1,459.00
1,023.00
EYE CARE:
a. Recipients
840
538
193
47
62
b. Amount
12,236.20
8,111.00
2,425.20
737.75
962.25
VISITING NURSING ASS'N .:
a. Units
4098
3047
112
936
3
b. Amount
7,778.08
5,789.80
213.57
1,769.04
5.67
ANCILLARY SERVICES:
Amount
3,308.00
2,953.00
33.00
231.00
91.00
OTHER:
Amount
20,630.91
11,919.93
3,181.64
3,601.65
1,927.69
....
625
1261
b. Amount
164,000.53
b. Amount
46,068.61
3,943.26
186
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN
January 23, 1956
To the Board of Public Welfare Somerville, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
I submit the following as the report of the City Physician for the year ending December 31, 1955.
Patients treated at Clinic, January 1, thru December 31, 1955 (Includes Old Age Assistance, Aid to Dependent Children, Disability Assistance, General Relief, Veterans' Services, Recreation Department, Examination for Camp, Vaccinations, and Emergencies.) 5279
Patients treated at home, January 1, thru December 31, 1955 (Includes Old Age Assistance, Aid to Dependent Children, Disability Assistance, General Relief, Veterans' Services, Police and Fire Depts., Prisoners, Commitments to Mental Institutions, and Emergencies.) 2240
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN M. TAVARES,M.D. City Physician
STATISTICAL REPORT OF THE CITY PHYSICIAN - 1955
Calls Made at the Clinic
Aid to Dependent Children
1745
Miscellaneous Welfare (General Relief)
....
1332
Disability Assistance
602
Old Age Assistance
330
Veterans' Services
30
Recreation Commission
430
Examinations for Camp
700
Vaccinations
110
Total
5279
Home and Other Calls
Aid to Dependent Children
990
Miscellaneous Welfare (General Relief)
410
Disability Assistance
370
Old Age Assistance
296
Veterans' Services
6
Fire Department
..
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Police Department
80
Prisoners
18
Commitments to Mental Institutions
10
Totla
2240
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60
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ANNALED CHART OF EXPENDITURES FOR OLD AGE ASSISTANCE SINCE DATE OF ORIGIN - 1931 - 1955
.
No. of Cases on Jan. 1st
No. of Cases on Dec. 31st
Gross Costs
%
Grants, Reimbursements, Refunds Recoveries
Net Cost To City
Percentage of Gross Costs Represented by Net Costs
1931
14
161
$13,710.92
.05
$13,710.92
100.0%
1932
161
308
86,803.88
.38
$37,528.08
49,275.80
56.8%
1933
321
355
108,297.78
.48
39,897.84
68,399.94
63.3 %
1934
355
434
128,777.64
.58
44,255.41
84,522.23
65.6%
1935
434
567
157,985.74
.71
60,633.52
97,352.22
61.6%
1936
567
1009
234,129.58
1.05
144,949.77
89,179.81
38.1%
1937
1025
1220
397,203.74
1.78
265,337.37
131,866.37
33.2%
1938
1241
1363
464,592.63
2.71
368,441.05
96,151.58
20.7%
1939
1363
1527
524,758.50
2.36
415,668.01
109,090.49
20.8%
1940
1527
1569
534,405.27
2.41
444,487.63
89,917.64
16.8%
1941
1569
1606
541,864.00
2.44
459,764.27
82,099.73
15.2%
1942
1574
1492
578,141.50
2.51
496,734.68
81,406.82
14.0%
1943
1470
1396
615,477.63
2.57
516,158.32
99,319.31
16.0%
1944
1393
1344
658,540.37
2.79
551,228.53
107,711.84
16.3%
1945
1314
1357
719,709.88
3.24
627,735.49
91,974.39
12.8%
1946
1357
1616
914,699.75
4.13
724,080.91
190,618.84
20.8%
1947
1616
1796
1,128,792.45
5.09
889,141.71
239,650.74
21.2%
1948
796
1914
1,341,752.67
6.06
1,088,921.14
252,831.53
18.1%
1949
1918
2170
1,567,412.50
7.08
1,304,093.15
263,319.35
16.8%
1950
2170
2256
1,852,724.61
8.36
1,612,192.84
240,531.77
12.9 %
1951
2240
2232
1,831,562.43
8.27
1,710,686.34
120,876.09
7.0%
1952
2224
2124
1,974,867.49
8.91
1,721,304.21
253,563.28
12.9%
1953
2124
2130
1,911,660.44
8.63
1,641,793.94
269,866.50
14.1%
1954
2130
2083
1,929,605.27
8.71
1,639,997.38
289,607.89
15.0%
1955
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2083
2032
1,927,606.82
8.70
1,673,730.84
253,875.98
13.2%
TOTALS ....
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22,145,083.49
100.0
18,478,762.43
3,666,721.06
16.6%
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WELFARE DEPARTMENT
187
Year
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188
ANNUAL REPORTS
ANNALED CHART OF EXPENDITURES FOR AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN - 1931 - 1955 (Mother's Aid Before 1937)
Year
No. of Cases on Jan. 1st
No. of Cases on Dec. 31st
Gross Costs
Grants, Reimbursements, Refunds Recoveries
Net Cost To City
Percentage of Gross Costs Represented by Net Costs
1931
51
49
$36,291.84
$9,666.00
$26,625.84
73.3%
1932
49
57
39,893.73
10,410.00
29,483.73
73.9%
1933
57
62
35,205.51
6,225.00
28,980.51
82.3%
1934
62
63
43,299.38
7,618.00
35,681.38
82.4%
1935
63
75
54,669.98
9,884.50
44,785.48
81.9%
75
80
64,279.07
11,166.00
53,113.07
82.6%
1937
80
127
97,511.63
49,644.49
47,867.14
49.0%
1938
127
196
145,265.87
60,563.30
84,702.57
58.3%
1939
200
209
158,930.39
103,741.51
55,188.88
34.7%
1940
223
225
163,102.51
80,923.10
82,179.41
50.3%
1941
225
237
171,358.23
83,372.54
87,985.69
51.3%
1942 ...
227
171
170,298.86
115,291.35
55,007.51
32.3%
1943
175
134
132,193.20
114,309.31
17,883.89
13.5%
1944
134
141
135,464.96
76,984.67
58,480.29
43.1%
1945
142
170
168,787.17
83,543.83
85,243.34
50.5%
1946
170
202
222,460.87
106,175.52
116,285.35
52.2%
1947
202
225
276,903.91
156,489.36
120,414.55
43.4%
1948
225
290
348,429.52
192,383.97
156,045.55
44.8%
1949
292
375
467,787.67
270,710.17
197,077.50
42.1%
1950
375
346
533,904.44
378,364.09
155,540.35
29.1 %
1951
348
319
471,820.45
358,562.60
113,257.85
24.4%
1952
328
318
480,288.45
357,305.35
122,983.10
25.6%
1953
318
301
456,887.68
372,215.69
84,671.99
18.5%
1954
... .............
301
307
501,500.21
378,830.27
122,669.94
24.4%
1955
.............
307
307
526,962.80
402,045.83
124,916.97
23.7%
TOTALS
........
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5,903,498.33
3,796,426.45
2,107,071.88
35.7%
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1936
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1
POPULATION AND GROSS EXPENDITURES, 1931 THRU 1955
Year
Population
Welfare
City Home
A. D. C. $36,291.84
O. A. A.
D. A.
Totals
1931
103,604
104,000
650,893.45
14,983.46
39,893.73
86,803.88
792,574.52
1933
104,000
594,108.10
13,643.51
35,205.51
108,297.78
751,254.90
1934
104,000
747,993.71
13,499.64
43,299.38
128,777.64
933,570.37
1935
100,773
551,351.15
13,722.16
54,669.98
157,985.74
777,729.03
1936
100,773
897,986.79
15,238.88
64,279.07
234,129.58
1,211,634.32
1937
100,773
924,302.76
16,957.13
97,511.63
397,203.74
1,435,975.26
1938
100,773
875,654.35
16,740.71
145,265.87
464,592.63
1,502,253.56
1939
100,773
842,163.70
16,590.48
158,930.39
524,758.50
1,542,443.07
1940
105,000
769,452.31
17,359.02
163,102.51
534,405.27
1,484,319.11
1941
105,000
446,195.74
16,927.91
171,358.23
541,864.00
1,176,345.88
1942
105,000
349,640.74
17,523.97
170,298.86
578,141.50
1,115,605.07
1943
105,000
195,794.28
19,671.71
132,193.20
615,477.63
963,136.82
1944
105,000
149,427.33
20,757.56
135,464.96
658,540.37
964,190.22
1945
105,882
153,897.81
21,673.44
168,787.17
719,709.88
1,064,068.30
1946
105,882
184,142.24
23,759.40
222,460.87
914,699.75
1,345,062.26
1947
105,882
211,415.73
24,960.46
276,903.91
1,128,792.45
1,642,072.55
1948
105,882
252,167.58
28,297.62
348,429.52
1,341,752.67
1,970,647.39
1949
105,882
359,466.38
30,577.42
467,787.67
1,567,412.50
2,425,243.97
1950
105,882
427,568.68
31,043.35
533,904.44
1,852,724.61
2,845,241.08
1951
105,882
346,393.60
37,314.84
471,820.45
1,831,562.43
$10,220.82
2,697,312.14
1952
105,882
245,870.75
42,008.75
480,288.45
1,974,867.49
194,839.28
2,937,874.72
1953
105,882
208,292.35
43,303.16
456,887.68
1,911,660.44
257,156.34
2,877,299.97
1954
* 102,254
216,902.70
27,385.91
501,500.21
1,929,605.27
261,034.06
2,936,428.15
1955
* 102,254
247,953.95
526,962.80
1,927,606.82
307,906.10
3,010,429.67
$11,251,778.76
$537,315.15
$5,903,498.33
$22,145,083.49
$1,031,156.60
$40,868,832.33
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WELFARE DEPARTMENT
* Federal Census 1950
$402,742.58
$13,374.66
$13,710.92
$466,120.00
1932
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189
190
ANNUAL REPORTS
REIMBURSEMENTS FROM OTHER CITIES AND TOWNS - 1953 - 1955
Year
O. A. A.
Misc. Welfare
City Home
Totals
1953
$28,704.40
$9,857.10
$1,748.15
$40,309.65
1954
26,503.13
8,168.94
2,611.96
37,284.03
1955
45,141.85
18,917.33
2,548.22
66,607.40
MONEY RECOVERIES FROM LIENS, ESTATES, INSURANCE AND OTHER SOURCES - 1953 - 1955
Year
O. A. A.
A. D. C.
D. A.
Totals
1953
$9,642.33
$212.00
$2,213.74
$12,068.07
1954
24,506.71
250.00
1,394.72
26,151.43
1955
39,603.30
1,780.00
1,470.39
42,853.69
PAYMENTS TO OTHER CITIES AND TOWNS (1936 - 1955)
Year
Old Age Assistance
Welfare Miscellaneous $51,400.04
Totals
1955
$32,205.50
$83,605.54
1954
40,477.03
20,504.95
60,981.98
1953
28,761.56
32,266.63
61,028.19
1952
51,902.94
34,610.97
86,513.91
1951
26,534.09
34,009.74
60,543.83
1950
41,132.06
57,025.52
98,157.58
1949
9,132.56
19,243.58
28,376.14
1948
20,511.22
22,434.06
42,945.28
1947
19,732.83
11,669.29
31,402.12
1946
12,930.45
8,771.62
21,702.07
1945
19,388.13
13,773.74
33,161.87
1944
6,384.72
12,539.92
18,924.64
1943
10,477.21
23,634.43
34,112.14
1942
14,288.82
49,530.74
63,819.56
1941
9,140.99
31,349.21
40,490.20
1940
8,740.53
62,240.49
70,981.02
1939
8,472.39
33,708.27
42,180.66
1938
14,193.80
62,214.46
76,408.26
1937
7,653.73
77,978.56
85,632.29
1936
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8,551.26
35,011.26
43,562.52
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TRANSFERS OF MONEY WITHIN THE WELFARE DEPARTMENT DURING THE YEAR 1955
D. A.
Sept. 16-Transferred $13,500.00 from Disability Assistance Personal Serv- ices to Disability Assistance Ordinary Maintenance.
Oct. 17-Transferred $679.52 from Disability Assistance Ordinary Main- tenance to D. A. Equipment.
A. D. C.
Sept. 16-Transferred $22,000.00 from A. D. C. Personal Services to A.D.C. Ordinary Maintenance.
O. A. A.
May 3-Transferred $425 from O. A. A. Personal Services to O. A. A. Equipment.
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19
WELFARE DEPARTMENT
June 1-Transferred $103.04 from O. A. A. Personal Services to Miscel- laneous Welfare Personal Services.
July 12-Transferred $350.00 from O. A. A. Personal Services to Miscel- laneous Welfare Ordinary Maintenance.
Sept. 16-Transferred $50,000.00 from O. A. A. Personal Services to O.A.A. Ordinary Maintenance.
Sept. 16-Transferred $5,000.00 from O. A. A. Personal Services to Mis- cellaneous Welfare Personal Services.
Nov. 23-Transferred $679.52 from O. A. A. Ordinary Maintenance to O. A. A. Equipment.
BALANCES IN ACCOUNTS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1955
Welfare Miscellaneous Ordinary Maintenance
$29,212.40*
Disability Assistance Ordinary Maintenance 2,790.54
Disability Assistance Administrative Federal Grant 1,068.68
Aid to Dependent Children Ordinary Maintenance 2,165.64
Aid to Dependent Children Ordinary Maintenance Federal Grant
3,859.33
Aid to Dependent Children Administrative Federal Grant ..
931.70
Old Age Assistance Ordinary Maintenance 12,873.21
Old Age Assistance Administrative Federal Grant
4,169.98
$57,071.48
TO: MUNICIPAL EXCESS AND DEFICIENCY ACCOUNT
Miscellaneous Welfare Personal Services
$1,179.72
Aid to Dependent Children Personal Services 1,185.42
Old Age Assistance Personal Services 3,832.60
$6,197.74
* Of this amount, $20,000 has been encumbered for the State Department's Division of Child Guardianship bills.
192
ANNUAL REPORTS
THE RECREATION COMMISSION 1955
THE REVEREND NAZARENO PROPERZI, Chairman
MEMBERS
Term Expires January
Mrs. Marion M. Cabral
1956
James L. Colbert
1957
William J. Crotty
1957
Edmund Hadley
1956
William J. Koen 1956
Edward M. McCarty 1957
Mrs. Angela B. Mercurio 1956
Mrs. Theresa M. Turner 1956
Francis E. Wiley
1957
Secretary To The Commission: CHARLES C. KELLEY
193
RECREATION COMMISSION
December 31, 1955
To The Honorable The Mayor And The Board of Aldermen:
Gentlemen:
In presenting for your study its 1955 Annual Report, the Recreation Commission is hesitant as to where to begin. Should it feature the polio epidemic of the past Summer season which affected the attendance at several of the playgrounds, even though the Recreation Commission believes that Somerville's excellent record in this respect is traceable partially to its sus- tained Summer Playgrounds program which exposed the chil- dren to wholesome and healthful activities and surroundings? Or should it feature the further expansion of its program in several directions? Perhaps it should emphasize the continued improvement of Recreation facilities in Somerville? Or perhaps develop the Commission's concern as to whether, despite the, high degree of participation in the majority of its activities, the citizens of Somerville as a whole are aware of the recreational opportunities available to them throughout the year? Some of these questions are answered in this report. Others by their mere mention may help to stimulate curiosity and interest, and by this method could very well bring favorable results. All of the questions and their answers warrant mention and deserve consideration.
ACTIVITIES PROGRAM
All phases of the September-to-June program, both as to the activities themselves and the degree of participation, were in keeping with the Commission's customary standards, with the exception of Drama, which has been a major program problem in recent years. Inasmuch as results attained with respect to participation, community response, and attitude on the part of the participants did not justify the continuance of the Community Theatre or Youth Theatre groups, nor warrant the expenditure involved, activities of these two groups have been temporarily suspended. Although the Superintendent is of the opinion that Drama has a definite place in a Community Recreation program, at the same time Drama must be consid- ered in its relation to the over-all program, and its continuance as a part of the program must be justified. At the present time, the continuance of these two Drama groups is not justi- fied for the reasons mentioned. On the other hand, however, it is worthy of note that the Children's Theatre program has continued to be a very successful one, and that the response
194
ANNUAL REPORTS
to this program has been excellent, both with respect to par- ticipation and community support. Each of the three Children's Theatre units, representing three sections of the City, pre- sented public performances in May which were a credit to the activity, the Leaders, and the Commission.
All communities are concerned about Recreation programs for teen-agers, and in this respect Somerville is no exception .. This Commission, up to the limit of its resources, is doing everything possible to provide recreational opportunities for the boys and girls in this age bracket. A glance at the list of activities provided through the Commission's program is proof of this statement, and the list includes many activities not commonly a part of a Municipal Recreation program. But per- haps the greatest contribution the Commission makes to the recreational enjoyment of the community is in the 7-to-12- year-old age group. It is safe to say that at least seventy-five per cent of the children in this age bracket are participants in the Commission's programs in some form throughout the year, and these youngsters are given opportunities for voluntary ex- pression through Arts And Crafts, Model Aircraft, Children's Theatre, and other programs that could very well determine their future vocations. In any event, these programs are bound in various degrees to shape the lives of the child participants in future years.
In the Adult Softball Leagues, both American and National Leagues enjoyed a successful season, despite a rainy Spring which required rescheduling of forty-four games. Somerville acted as Host City for the Metropolitan Boston Softball Tour- nament in August. Although none of the eight Somerville entrants survived beyond the second round, and despite several postponements because of torrential rain which resulted in the transfer of the final game in Class A to Quincy, the Tourna- ment was very successful, and large throngs attended the games at Trum Field, Glen Street, and Lincoln Park.
During the first part of 1955 the Adult Bowling Leagues found sixteen teams completing a twenty-eight weeks season in two Leagues that had been graded according to ability. In the American League, which comprised teams of bowlers with outstanding ability, the Ball Square team proved to be the best team, winning the championship over the Logan Post, a pre- vious winner. In the National League, six teams battled throughout the season, with the final outcome always in doubt. In the closing weeks of the season, the Seven Oaks team held the lead, winning over the Driscoll, Pickett A.C. and Virgie's teams.
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Meanwhile, the Municipal Basketball League enjoyed one of its best seasons of play. St. Joseph's and D.A.V. battled right down to the wire, with D.A.V. winning the League cham- pionship. Six of the eight teams entered in the League con- tended for the play-off berths until the final night, when two, of them lost out by the narrowest of margins.
The Junior Municipal Basketball League, for boys between the ages of sixteen and nineteen, had a good season, with a very close race between three excellent teams. The winner proved to be the Berry A.C. over the powerful St. James Epis- copal Church team. Entered in this League were six teams representing nearly every area of the City. The limiting of the League to six teams was due in part to the unavailability of gymnasiums and the fact that playing more than three games in an evening would be difficult.
Interest in the outdoor Twilight Basketball League proved to be the greatest in the five year history of the League. Two Divisions of eight and six teams played on the courts at Trum Field and Shaw Playground, drawing large crowds of spectators each evening.
In the eight-club Eastern Division, the teams were not lim- ited by age, since it was felt that to allow older players would increase the interest in the League. This proved to be sound judgment, and each night found more than one hundred spec- tators watching the proceedings. St. Joseph's team was the winner of this Division, but the competition throughout the season was good.
In the six-team Western Division, which consisted of players under twenty years of age, the competition was good, though one team was dropped from the League due to a forfeit. Unfortunately, this team had been the winner of the first half of the schedule. The winner of this Division was the Comet team.
The lighting at Richard Trum Field proved adequate for the playing of these games and received favorable comment from the City Fathers as an investment well worth the cost. Spec- tators saw some excellent games, as well as many outstanding future college stars. The number of schools and colleges around Boston desiring to place teams in this League was sur- prising. All seem to feel that it is an excellent method for grooming their teams for the following year. However, the
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primary purpose of this League still remains to provide a pro- gram for teen-agers of the 16-through-19-year-old age bracket.
Other accomplishments of the past year include the Com- mission's participation in the Home Modernization Show con- ducted by the Somerville Chamber of Commerce in June. For this show the Recreation Commission provided a booth, under sponsorship of the Kiwanis Club of Somerville, which consisted of a display of Arts And Crafts projects made by the Commis- sion's personnel and its Arts And Crafts groups. The display received many complimentary comments, and as a result, seventy-five persons were registered who indicated their inter- est in the Adult Arts And Crafts Club, and nearly half of these are present members of this group.
SOMERVILLE RECREATION COMMISSION Somerville Kiwanis Club
NOW ISN'T THAT SOMETHING !
Or words to that effect as three civic leaders get a first-hand look at the Recrea- tion Commission's Arts and Crafts Exhibit during the 1955 Chamber of Commerce Home Modernization Show at the High School Gym. The Recreation Commission per- sonnel includes June DeCourcey and Josephine Fierro, while doing the admiring are Graydon Toothaker, Thomas Russell and Joseph McHugh, all three of whom are leading lights in both the Kiwanis Club and The Chamber of Commerce.
SUMMER PLAYGROUNDS
The 1955 Summer Playgrounds season will long be re- membered as a most taxing one on the entire staff. Every effort had been made to provide programs adaptable to an
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extensive spell of hot weather, with emphasis on quiet games involving little or no action, handcraft, story-telling, and a variety of bathing opportunities. However, the play surfaces of Somerville are hardly conducive, despite program and excel- lent leadership, to maintain continuous attraction when the temperature on twenty-seven days out of a two-months period is recorded at ninety-plus degrees. It is to the credit of both the full-time and part-time staffs that the program was as suc- cessful as it was. Additionally, the threat of polio made inrosds on the attendance at certain areas, especially in the western section of the City. As a final blow, the excessive and con- tinuous rain brought about by Hurricane Diane caused the postponement of a number of major demonstrations during the final week of the season and resulted in several events being crowded into the closing few days.
The usual problem of enlisting qualified male personnel again presented itself this year. However, the entire staff, with one exception, was completed prior to the opening of the Summer season, and the calibre of the work performed by all, despite the extreme weather conditions mentioned, is deserv- ing of commendation. There was a greater than usual amount of absence of workers due to sickness and injury during the Summer, and this necessitated the transfer of workers from various units frequently throughout the season.
Three new playgrounds were introduced to the children in three sections of the City this Summer. Two of the three areas (Florence St. and North St.) fall within the category of play lots; i.e., areas whose limited dimensions restrict the extent of organized play, while the program at the third area (Mystic Ave. Housing Project) was conducted on a space normally used for automobile parking. All three playgrounds were well at- tended, and whatever success they enjoyed is traceable almost exclusively to the leaders assigned to those units. The Mystic Ave. Housing Project area replaced the Marchi Playground (now the site of the Healey School) and was totally devoid of any type of apparatus. Trees at any of the above areas, as well as at a number of others, certainly would have provided some shade and reduced the extreme heat from the sun's rays during the Summer season.
"Bicycle Safety Week" was conducted again in July, with the assistance of the Somerville Police Department, the Massa- chusetts Safety Council, and the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The program was sponsored by the Exchange Club, the junior member of the Service Clubs of Somerville, and this group has given evidence of its satisfaction with the results by offering to sponsor the activity again next year.
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The Inter-Playground Athletic Meet enjoyed its customary success, and established a new high in participation with 211 boys entered in the various events. The Maintenance person- nel's contribution to the success of the Athletic Meet is espe- cially deserving of mention. Their interest in insuring that the appearance of Trum Field on this occasion left nothing to be desired, was indicative of their spirit of co-operation through- out the season.
JUST A FAMILY HABIT
The three Brady brothers, William, James and Edward, representing Class B, Class C, and Class A respectively, came off the Lincoln Playground track in the Summer of 1955 with practically every medal there was to win. And they lost no time in annex- ing a few awards at the Inter-Playground Meet in August. The appearance of their names in the books during one season sets a new record for family participation in Recreation Commission activities.
A new experiment was attempted this year with respect to the final demonstration of the season, by conducting a series of "Sectional" Play Days on five days, at five different areas, with an average participation of five playgrounds. This method
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of dividing the playgrounds into sectional groups instead of assembling the children all together at one location, thereby eliminating possible danger to the health of the children through new contacts, proved to be a judicious one in view of the serious polio situation. It is difficult to determine the suc- cess of this experiment in general as the deluge of the final week necessitated the postponement of three of the five "Sec- tional" Play Days, with one being postponed twice, and two others having to be conducted on the same afternoon. It is believed, however, that there was an increase in the number of child participants and spectators as a result of this experiment. As to the merit of this type of arrangement for the future, it is difficult to say in view of the unusual conditions under which it was conducted this season.
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