Civic activists and those concerned or curious about the present state of digital privacy and its effect on Civil Liberties are encouraged to attend a local CryptoParty for informed insight, advice, and a general good time.

By Ahmed Sorour

Suffering the fallout of the Equifax hack? Email password stolen? Victim of identity fraud? Maybe it’s time to party.

Last week, CryptoParty-Boston held its monthly meetup at Sprout & Co. in Somerville. What is a CryptoParty? Going by the name, you couldn’t be blamed if the image of cowled cypherpunks (vis-a-vis Mr. Robot) hacking to the backdrop of German disco music entered your mind. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth.

By Donald Norton

This past Saturday at a packed Sally O’Brien’s – both inside and out – about 150 people attended as U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren endorsed Mayor Joseph Curtatone for reelection.

The Little Sisters of the Poor annual Christmas Bazaar takes place on Saturday, November 11, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the home on Highland Ave. Once again this year the entire first floor will be filled with goodies, baskets and gifts suggestions. A great place doing great work, stop in and support the fine Little Sisters of the Poor and all the residents of the home.

The victorious Crimson Quackateers team.

By Erica Dakin Voolich

On October 29, 30 high school students on 10 teams gathered in “The Cage” in Cousens Gym at Tufts University to compete in the 13th annual Scrapheap Showdown. Instead of the usual interesting “junk” in the center of the room when the students walked in, there were piles of paper along with large cones of string. The students were given their challenge: to design and build a four-foot-span paper bridge. The teams worked intensely, designing, building, testing, reinforcing, and adjusting their bridges.

Free Halloween event features pumpkin decorating, activities for kids, haunted “house,” and more!

Join the City of Somerville on Thursday, November 2, for the annual “Haunted Hall” event on the City Hall concourse from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The family-friendly event will feature a costumed Halloween Stroll, safe Trick-or-Treating, games and activities, refreshments, a Haunted “Hallway” tour, and more.

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Recently I had the pleasure to interview poet Ben Berman. Berman is a thin, wiry man who sports an amused smile and doesn’t take himself too seriously. He has the look of a man who is curious about the world. I can picture him closely examining a leaf or an ant with his children for an extended length of time.

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Daniel Hudon sends us three prose/poetry pieces from his new book, Brief Eulogies for Lost Animals: An Extinct Reader. Hudon, originally from Canada, is a lecturer in astronomy and math. He lives in Boston, MA, and can be found at danielhudon.com and @daniel_hudon.

By Donald Norton

This past Saturday at a packed Sally O’Brien’s – both inside and out – about 150 people attended as U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren endorsed Mayor Joseph Curtatone for reelection.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

Saturday, October 28, East Somerville came together at the Chuckie Harris Park for this years Halloween Block Party.
This years event  featured make your own Halloween mask, doughnut on a string eating contest, face painting, Fear Factor game, mini trick or treating, Halloween family photos and much more!

Arrests:
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Bela Pakular, of 411 Windsor St., Cambridge, October 23, 7:37 p.m., arrested at Grandview Ave. on a charge of operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor.

Nicholas Stiles, of 10 MacArthur St., October 26, 3:23 p.m., arrested at Broadway on charges of disorderly conduct, assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery.