Kate Dalrymple captured this video of the Honk Festival parade as it marched by her front door two weekends ago. Thank you Kate and we hope everyone enjoys it.

Local Somerville businessman and alderman at large candidate Tony Lafuente was busy at Fenway Park last week. He took time off from his campaign to dress up the park and get it ready for the playoffs. His company, Flagraphics was hired to design and construct the huge “2007 Division Championship” banners.

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Clearly the so-called “Progressives” are strongly supporting life-long resident Joe Lynch for Ward 5 Alderman – noticed at his function this past Monday evening was the head of the Progressives, state Senator “Queen” Pat Jehlen, along with Rep. Denise Provost and late arrival Rep. Carl Sciortino. A couple of us that were there could have sworn we saw the newest so-called “Progressive” candidate for mayor – Ms. Suzanne Bremer.

Connolly: They’ll never replace Tingle

By George P. Hassett

Jimmy Tingle’s Off-Broadway Theater packed the crowds into Davis Square every weekend for five years, but beginning next month those crowds will not be squeezing into the small, underground art space any more. The theater, which became a Davis Square landmark just a few years after opening, will close Oct. 31 after Tingle decided not to renew the lease.

“It’s been a dynamite 5 years,” said Tingle, a stand up comedian and the theater’s owner, artistic director, producer and principal performer. “But after 5 years, it got to be too much work and responsibility for me. I was losing the time I need to write, to perform, to sleep. I decided at the last minute not to renew the lease.”

By Joseph A. Curtatone

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

In recent weeks, west Somerville residents – and several elected officials, including Ward 7 Alderman and Board President Bob Trane – have been understandably upset by the rude behavior of some Tufts students. As Trane has noted, it’s simply unacceptable for late-night drinking and rowdiness to spill off-campus and spoil the peace and quiet of our residential neighborhoods. So, since public drunkenness can all too easily move from being an annoyance to an actual public safety hazard, residents should call 911 if they see or hear a problem: the Somerville and Tufts Police maintain joint patrols in the area and they will respond together to any reports of trouble. The Tufts administration and faculty take these incidents seriously and have an array of penalties at their disposal to help them discipline students (or student organizations) that breach the peace.

By George P. Hassett

The former alderman who submitted the resolution making Somerville a sanctuary city for illegal immigrants in 1987 said this week he stands by his vote that allowed immigrants with questionable documentation status to access city services.

Former Ward 4 Alderman and current Register of Probate John Buonomo said the resolution made it clear to city employees that they did not have to inquire about documentation status before offering help to city residents. According to records on the city’s Web site, Buonomo submitted the sanctuary city resolution at the April 23, 1987 Board of Aldermen meeting.

Off The Shelf by Doug Holder

If there was a casting call for a scrappy independent bookstore, Porter Square Books would certainly fit the bill. Located in the Porter Square shopping mall, the bookstore is a successful character actor in the shrinking pool of independent bookstores in the area. Walk through the welcoming doors and your nostrils will be assaulted by the roasting smells of brewing coffee from the Café Zing. In the back of the store you might observe a gaggle of bibliophiles discussing books or participating in a workshop. On any given day you might run into such literary figures as Claire Messud or her partner James Woods. And on more than one occasion I have spotted the actor John Malkovich staring up at the ceiling, floating around the perimeter of the store.

By Ethan Backer

American Civil Liberties Union organizers and volunteers from the Lucy Parsons Center shared Davis Square with left-leaning brass bands honking out raucous tunes last weekend as The Honk Festival rolled into town for the second straight year. The festival kicked off Friday afternoon at Tufts University’s Distler Performance Hall with "The Philosophy of Honk: Street Bands, Civic Engagement, and Social Change," a symposium featuring a performance by the Original Big Seven Social Aid & Pleasure Club from New Orleans and a panel discussion including ethnomusicologist Charles Keil, author of "Urban Blues." The evening concluded with an open discussion on HONK! band politics with the Brass Liberation Orchestra in Somerville’s Dilboy VFW Hall, and a jam session at the Abbey Lounge in Inman Square. But the main show took place in Davis Square Saturday afternoon as the bands marched, danced, stilted and stomped their way around five stations (7 Hills Park, Statue Park, Davis Square Plaza, Redbones, and Dilboy VFW Hall.)

On The Silly Side by Jimmy Del Ponte

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

There used to be three junior high schools in Somerville – the Western, the Southern and the Northeastern. I went to the Western, which was up near Teele Square. Dr. Horne was the principal and Mr. Mackey was the vice-principal – it was 1968.

I wish I could find that huge rolled up class picture they gave us, but it’s long gone Рit was all cracked and ripped anyway. But hey, who needs a photo Рthe images are still fresh in my mind.

The slicked back hair and pegged pants were on the way out, and long hair was growing.

Bell-bottoms were starting and pointy shoes were ending. Guys named Porky and Chickie were cool and girls named Lynn and Debbie were hot.