~Photos by Claudia Ferro

East Somerville Main Streets hosted a Halloween Block Party on Saturday at Chuckie Harris Park.
The free fun for all ages featured Make your own Halloween Mask, Doughnut on a String Eating Contest, Face Painting, Fear Factor Game, Make Wearable Lights, Mini Trick-or-Treating and Halloween Family Photos.

 (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)

By Michael Flanary of Somerville, MA

I grew up in Massachusetts and lived in the suburbs near 495. Needless to say my life was somewhat isolated in the woods. I went to a good public school system and rode my bike every day in elementary school. Somewhere around fourth or fifth grade, we had a local police officer come in and teach us about every illegal drug that would kill us. This program was called the D.A.R.E. program, standing for drug abuse resistance education, and it was taught in elementary schools all over the United States in the 90’s in an effort to educate America’s youth about illegal drugs even before they knew anything about them. The program’s heart was in the right place, but it’s execution and content left much to be improved. The officer came in with a suitcase display with each of illegal dangerous drug, showing kids examples.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

The annual “Haunted Hall” event took place at the Somerville High School atrium and gym last Thursday.
The family-friendly event featured a costumed Halloween Stroll, safe Trick-or-Treating, games and activities, refreshments, a Haunted Pumpkin Patch tour, and more.

The ongoing wages dispute between Tufts University and its janitorial staff was among several issues addressed at the most recent regular meeting of the Somerville Board of Alderman.

By Amy Swain

The Board of Alderman held its regular meeting last Wednesday, October 26. The meeting was unusually brief, but not lacking in important discussion.

The opener was a resolution submitted by almost the entire board, and supported by the rest, in support of the Tufts University janitorial staff. The staff has complained about unfair wages and staff cuts for more than a year, with no real resolution. Ward 1 Alderman McLaughlin voiced frustration: “The last time around there was some success. They didn’t lay off as many people as they planned. But the people that are working there now are working twice as hard for the same amount or less money. It’s a problem all around the country with major institutions bleeding their people dry, and taking away from people who need the most.”

The city’s review of Somerville Police Policies regarding Biased Based Policing has been postponed until the Board of Alderman meets again next week.

By Joe Ruvido

At its latest meeting on Wednesday, October 19, the Public Health and Safety Committee tabled a discussion about Somerville Police Policies regarding Biased Based Policing. The item was referred to the committee at a July Board of Aldermen meeting, with no action yet taken. Part of the reason the committee did not discuss the matter at Wednesday’s meeting was that Somerville Police Department Chief David Fallon was unable to attend and comment. Mayor Joe Curtatone is open to the idea, stating, “posting bias complains and their outcomes online is something I would certainly support looking at.”

Somerville City Hall,  Saturday, October 29, 2016 ~ Photos by Kevin Dickinson

Somerville voters have been taking advantage of the early voting opportunity over the past couple of weeks. According to the Election Dept., by end of day Monday  some 9,165 voters have already cast early ballots for the General Election set for November 8. Early voting will continue in Somerville until Friday, November 4 in the Board of Aldermen Chambers at City Hall: Wednesday and Thursday, November 2 and 2, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Friday, November 4, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Go to http://www.somervillema.gov/departments/elections for more info, sample ballots, and polling places.

The national and state election is this coming Tuesday, November 8. Please go out and vote. And let’s put an end to the ads, opinions, and nasty wisecracks made about individuals. Actually, thank God this month of November has Thanksgiving, and who knows, maybe after the election is finally over we can all sit down and break bread together once again and enjoy other conversations that are less troubling. Christmas is only 54 days away! Peace!

One thing’s for certain in this crazy, mixed up political season: a lot of people are liking and taking advantage of the opportunity to vote early in this year’s general election.

If there’s one thing that most of us can agree on, it’s that not being tied down to one particular day of the year to get out and vote is a good thing for many of us.

This is my take on a dish I had while visiting the café at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. The combination of flavors, sweet and tangy and a mixture of textures go very well together. It makes for a beautiful presentation if you’re having a dinner party. You can place these on an individual dish or on a platter for a buffet. Either way, your guests will be impressed with the presentation.

(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)

The people of Massachusetts have a wonderful opportunity this election to stand up against egregious animal cruelty. It is currently legal in Massachusetts to raise and sell animals for food that have been locked in tiny cages their entire lives, virtually immobilized. It is legal to treat pigs, cows, and chickens in ways that would be felony animal cruelty if done to cats and dogs. We would never even consider treating the most dangerous criminals in ways that are perfectly legal to treat farm animals.