Paul Giamatti as Jean and John Turturro as Berenger in Eugene Ionesco’s “Rhinoceros”. ~Photos by Keith Foster

By Keith Foster

The latest play featured at the American Repertory Theater in Harvard Square is the absurdist comedy stage play Rhinoceros by French playwright Eugene Ionesco, translated into English by Derek Prouse. The play’s engagement from August 14 to September 27 features the Hollywood elites Paul Giamatti and John Turturro. Giamatti plays Jean, and Turturro plays Berenger.

Designed by the City’s Public Space & Urban Forestry team and installed with help from the Department of Public Works, the updates aim to make Davis Square more welcoming and comfortable for residents, visitors, workers, and shoppers. The effort is also designed to support the small businesses, restaurants, arts venues, and gathering places that make the square one of Somerville’s most active neighborhood centers. Residents and business owners have worked to activate the area with musical performances, both planned and spontaneous.

Two human cases reported in Middlesex County; Get tips to protect yourself from mosquito-borne illness

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has announced the first two human cases of West Nile virus in Massachusetts this year. The cases were diagnosed in a man in his 60s and a man in his 90s, both exposed in Middlesex County. As a result, the risk level for West Nile virus has been raised to “High” in Somerville and other neighboring communities.

Celebrate the rich flavors and vibrant culture of Nepal at the Somerville Nepali Street Food Festival on Saturday, September 5, from 2 to 8 p.m. at Somerville City Hall (93 Highland Ave). The rain date is Sunday, September 6.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

I always hated this time of year because TV is showing back-to-school sales. The yearly ritual of getting new school clothes begins.

It was a men’s suit store named Anderson Little at Wellington, which was usually our stop for pants. They were always itchy. We had to wear the clothes our parents bought us. That is, up to a certain age when we demanded our shopping rights.

You don’t need to be a medical professional to help someone in an emergency. Sometimes, knowing who to call and what to do in the first few minutes can make an important difference.

The $100,000 grant from the City of Somerville is intended to help The Dojo @ Somernova continue its valuable programs benefiting local youth.

Teen Time @ The Dojo, a partnership between The Center for Teen Empowerment and The Dojo @ Somernova, a free youth-driven community space on Somernova’s innovation campus, has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the City of Somerville’s Department of Health and Human Services.

Mayor Jake Wilson welcomed Senior Urban Forestry and Landscape Planner, Dr. Vanessa Boukili, to a recent episode of “Open Door Chats” to discuss Somerville’s canopy cover.

By Harry Kane

Planting more trees and expanding the canopy cover in Somerville was the focus of a recent episode of Open Door Chats hosted by Mayor Jake Wilson.

The mayor sat down with the city’s Senior Urban Forestry and Landscape Planner, Dr. Vanessa Boukili, to learn about the work that is being done to increase the canopy cover, which in 2018 was 14.6 percent. The city’s goal is to increase the canopy cover to 16 percent, explained Boukili.

In recognition of Overdose Awareness Day and Recovery Month, the City of Somerville invites community members to a candlelight vigil and flag planting on Thursday, August 27, from 6 to 7 p.m. at City Hall (93 Highland Ave.) in memory of residents whose lives were lost to opioid-related overdose in 2025 and years prior. Somerville Prevention Services staff will host events and trainings to distribute free overdose prevention information and harm reduction materials such as nasal spray naloxone (Narcan), Fentanyl test strips, CPR face shields, and syringe disposal boxes. To register for an in-person training, visit the SPL website https://somervillepubliclibrary.org/. For more information on the vigil and flag planting, visit somervillema.gov/news.

Vernon Street Studios.

By Mina Rose Morales

While filming her documentary A Matter of Light, Anne Continelli uncovered a hidden truth that changed the film’s original storyline: Artists face economic displacement.