Vinyl rules at the Annual Somerville Rock and Roll Yard Sale, hitting Union Square this Sunday.

Enjoy live music while perusing vintage records, DIY crafts and clothing.

The Somerville Arts Council in partnership with Chris and Jennifer Daltry of What Cheer Records presents the Rock and Roll Yard Sale, an ArtsUnion market taking place from 11 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, September 10, on the Union Square Plaza.

Dear Somerville Public Schools Community,

By William C. Shelton

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

Last week, news outlets treated us to a long montage of bleakly hopeless flood victims. We might imagine that comedy is the last thing people who have lost everything need. But we would be wrong.

That’s what I’m learning from Alex the Jester. Alex Feldman is a long-time Ball Square resident who the Boston Globe says “can make the stiffest of stiffs laugh.”

The learning adventure continued throughout the summer for many students and families in our district. Nearly 1,200 Somerville Public Schools students participated in a variety of academic, enrichment, or recreational programs offered in our schools this summer.

The Somerville Museum and Charan Devereaux’s project “Union Square at Work: Photographs, Stories and Music from Somerville’s Oldest Commercial District” has been honored by The American Association for State and Local History.

By Rebecca Danvers

The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) has announced that the Somerville Museum and Charan Devereaux are recipients of an Award of Merit for the special project Union Square at Work: Photographs, Stories and Music from Somerville’s Oldest Commercial District.

The City of Somerville’s Styrofoam Recycling program will return for all Somerville residents on Saturday, September 9, 2017. Residents may visit the Department of Public Works yard, located at 1 Franey Rd., between 9 a.m. and noon to dispose of all types of EPS (Styrofoam) foam packing materials, including foam bracing and packing peanuts. IMPORTANT NOTE: materials must be placed in bags before placing it in the recycling container. A second Styrofoam recycling event is tentatively planned for September 2017, however please call 311 for additional information in the fall.

Assembly Row, the exciting shopping, dining and entertainment destination that’s currently expanding to more than 100 storefronts, has announced that it is extending Riverfest to three days in celebration of the event’s 10th anniversary.

Running from Sept. 8-10, the neighborhood’s signature celebration will feature a range of free events and activities for all ages, including live, local music; children’s activities, local artisans; and fireworks over the Mystic River at sundown on Saturday, Sept. 9.  In addition, The Red Sox Showcase will be stationed in Baxter Park on Sunday, Sept. 10. A full schedule of events is available here: http://www.assemblyrow.com/play/riverfest.

A monthly look at ways to get involved with your city
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By Joseph A. Curtatone

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

Innovation and Opportunity Lab

Are you passionate about innovation and entrepreneurship and want to help Somerville continue to foster a supportive environment for those opportunities? Apply for a spot in the newly created Innovation and Opportunity Lab. This advisory committee will be comprised of nine members, and aims to advance local innovation economy by forging partnerships and examining best practices around municipal innovation policies. A list of qualifications as well as application instructions can be found at www.somervillema.gov/innovationlab. For more information, contact Ben Sommer at BSommer@somervillema.gov. Applications are due Friday, September 22.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

Wednesday, August 30, was the first day of school for Somerville Public Schools. This was the scene at the East Somerville Community School.

Congressman Capuano joined The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) at the Ralph and Jenny Center Thursday, August 24, for a free food distribution to local seniors through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). CSFP is a federally funded program that works to improve the health of low-income, elderly persons by supplementing their diets with nutritious U. S. Department of Agriculture-supplied foods. Pictured here, Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone, Catherine D’Amato, GBFB president and CEO (Somerville resident), and Congressman Michael Capuano.