Assembly Row unveiled its unique holiday lighting installation on Saturday night. Rather than just putting up another holiday tree, Assembly Row commissioned the team behind the Illuminus festivals to create an installation that surrounds and lights up the destination’s iconic feature, its three, huge metal trusses.The installation – which includes cabins, lights, sleds and faux hills – was constructed entirely from reclaimed materials – wood, iron, metal, etc. – sourced from within a 20-mile radius. It befits the Somerville vibe, Assembly history and the trusses themselves, which were reclaimed from the old Assembly plant.

When I read in that other newspaper, The New York Times, that Somerville-based writer Claire Messud has a new book out, The Emperor’s Children (Knopf), I was like a dog on a meat truck. I was hungry for an interview. Messud’s book made number five on the New York Times hardcover fiction list. I emailed her and she graciously agreed to answer a few questions I threw her way.

Dianne Silvestri’s poems have been published in Earth’s Daughters, The Comstock Review, The Pharos, The Somerville Times, Evening Street Review, Steam Ticket, Boston Literary Magazine, Apeiron Review, Blast Furnace, and The Healing Muse. Her work also appears in two anthologies: Joys of Eating and paniK: Candid Stories of Life Altering Experiences Surrounding Pregnancy.

The Somerville Historic Preservation Commission (SHPC) is now accepting nominations for the 2016 Preservation Awards. During its annual celebration in honor of Historic Preservation Month in May 2016, the SHPC will honor Somerville residents who performed significant restoration or maintenance efforts on designated historic buildings, or on non-designated buildings erected before 1965. The nomination period is open through Monday, December 7, 2015.

Somerville’s Cervena Barva Press has published a collection of short stories by Ed Hamilton: The Chintz Age. The stories deal with artists, writers, poets, and other folks trying to hold on and find meaning in an increasingly gentrified  New York City. This is very applicable to Somerville, a city that is experiencing massive new development and rapid change. Here is an interview I conducted with Hamilton.

Arrests:
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Lorenzo Gross, of 76 Bluefield St., Boston, November 23, 3:56 p.m., arrested at Canal St. on charges of conspiracy and larceny over $250, and on a warrant charge of larceny over $250.

Anthony Mays, of 136 pleasant St., Dorchester, November 23, 3:56 p.m., arrested at Canal St. on charges of conspiracy and larceny over $250.

The Somerville nonprofit community has embarked upon a new journey of collaborative fundraising: GivingTuesday Somerville: GiveLocal. Expanding on a successful effort last year, in 2015 14 Somerville nonprofit organizations are joining forces to collaborate on a joint fundraising effort as part of the international GivingTuesday program. GivingTuesday is an annual global day of giving that helps to raise funds and awareness for important causes everywhere, taking place traditionally on the first Tuesday in December. The GiveLocal campaign will honor the diversity of our nonprofit organizations by highlighting them over 2 months, culminating in a raucous Giving Tuesday celebration on December 1 at Arts at the Armory.

Meeting to discuss old Post Office Building plans

A meeting will be held on December 1st, 2015 to present initial plans for redevelopment of the former Union Square Post Office Building. The owners, Union Square Partners, are excited about sharing their plans and eager to hear feedback from the community.

By Charles Lane

The Somerville Family Learning Collaborative (SFLC) and the Mystic Learning Center (MLC) recently partnered on a Healthy Bodies Healthy Minds workshop for families, which included a delicious and healthy meal from Dave’s Fresh Pasta, and opportunities to discuss PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports) in the schools and physical activity programming offered in afterschool programs and throughout the community.