The people of Somerville gathered in Davis Square last week to show their support for the victims of violence in Charlottesville, and to disavow the hatred and intolerance that drove the situation to its tragic outcome.

Our civic leaders, both local and state level, spoke of the challenges and responsibilities that everyone shares in holding together a civilized society, free from fear of violence and oppression.

— Photo courtesy of Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts/Mae Beerman

More than 125 girls and family members gathered at Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts’ Camp Cedar Hill in Waltham to watch the solar eclipse on Monday. Pictured here, Avi Borgatti of Somerville wearing her solar eclipse glasses.

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This is an article I wrote in 2009:

Afaa Michael Weaver, 58 and Major Jackson, 40 are two major African American poets from two different generations, but they both continually feed from their shared heritage, and the continuum of the Black experience in America. Weaver, a professor of English at Simmons College in Boston, a recent Pushcart Prize winner, and the author the critically acclaimed poetry collection Plum Flower Dance (U/Pitt), and Major Jackson, the author of Hoops, an asst. professor at the University of Vermont and a core faculty member at the Bennington Writing Seminars, met for a filmed discussion at the Somerville Community Access TV studios. The show was moderated by Gloria Mindock (Cervena Barva Press) and produced by Doug Holder (Ibbetson St. Press).

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Robert K. Johnson was the poetry editor of the Ibbetson Street literary magazine. Now retired, he had taught at Suffolk University for many years. He is the author of several collections of verse and has been widely published in the small press.

Maxine C. Faulkner     May 9, 1936 – August 20, 2017

FAULKNER, Maxine C. (Lovell) – 81, Of Lexington, August 20, 2017. Beloved wife of 52 years to Burton F. Faulkner, Jr. Loving mother of Sherry A. Ciardi and her husband Mark of Winchester, Jennifer L. Faulkner and her husband Scott Busnach of Reading. Dear sister of Marilyn Burke and her husband Leo of Bangor, Maine. Devoted grandmother of Ryann and Sydney Ciardi, Arianna and Scott Busnach, Jr.

Arrests:
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Claudio Sousa, of 92 Central St., August 14, 8:21 p.m., arrested at home on warrant charges of uninsured motor vehicle or trailer and operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended registration.

Jeremy Lentz, of 128 Front St., Weymouth, August 15, 4:51 p.m., arrested at Meacham Rd. on a warrant charge of trespassing.

The Somerville Fire Department will begin the annual inspection of all fire hydrants on Monday, August 21, 2017 and conclude on Saturday, September 1, 2017. This procedure requires the flushing of water from the hydrants as well as a check of the mechanical operation of the hydrant. The inspection/testing program will take approximately two weeks to complete.

Photo taken today in South Carolina

Photo  courtesy of Mr. Mario Sousa.

Photo taken over Boston

The Community Preservation Committee is made up of Somerville residents who set the priorities for approximately $2 million in Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds each year and recommend which projects should be funded to the Board of Aldermen. A general public seat is opening on the committee on January 1, 2018, and Somervillians are invited to share feedback on the applicants’ qualifications, which can be found at www.somervillema.gov/CPA. Email feedback to City CPA Manager Kristen Stelljes atkstelljes@somervillema.gov by Tuesday, August 29.

Loretta Saint-Louis.

By Nathan Lamb

Want to make a difference in our community by providing empathic listening and spiritual support for elderly and disabled people who are having difficulty coping with loss of purpose, grief, loneliness, illness, and other challenges? The Spiritual Caregiver Program at Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) might be for you!