Report of the city of Somerville 1955, Part 12

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1955
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 368


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


..


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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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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RECREATION. COMMISSION


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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ANNUAL REPORTS


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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