Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Ward 6 Alderman Lance Davis invite you to a West Branch Library Community Meeting. At the meeting you can get updates from the project team and library staff on the plans to renovate the library, ask questions, and provide feedback. The West Branch Library Community Meeting will be held Mon, Nov. 14, at 6:30 p.m., at the Somerville Community Baptist Church, 31 College Ave. For more information, please call the Capital Projects and Planning Department at 617-625-6600 ext. 5120.

Delta Dental of Massachusetts joined Groundwork Somerville employees during Mission Month to tackle projects such as painting, preparing a vegetation bed for the next harvest, vegetable picking and installing a rainwater irrigation system.

Over 300 employees donated 900 hours of volunteer service during fifth annual Mission Month

 Delta Dental of Massachusetts, the largest provider of dental benefits in the state, held its fifth annual Mission Month, a period of service for employees to give back to the company’s home state of Massachusetts. Throughout the month, volunteers engaged with seven organizations that are spearheading change through education efforts, community support, nature preservation and more.

~Photos by Donald Norton

Today Gene Brune and State Rep Denise Provost were among members associated with Historic Somerville, the Somerville Museum, and the City’s Historic Preservation Commission who honored some of Somerville’s oldest veterans from the American Revolution and the War of 1812 who are buried in the City’s historic Milk Row Cemetery on Somerville Avenue. At today’s ceremony  a poppy wreath was placed  in front of the 1863 Civil War Monument by local members of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts and other Somerville residents and visitors. The event was videotaped by the City for viewing on our local cable station.

Your 2016 Amateur Softball Association ASA 10U Fall Ball Champions, the Somerville Tsunami, earned a 13-5 victory over the Charlestown Townies on Saturday. Coach Paul French said, “The girls played their little hearts out. The Tsunami basically said ‘See ya later Townies,’ like it was 1842.” Job well done girls.

The Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree John Ratzenberger

From November  11 to 19, Somerville will be the Center of the Comedy Universe! 

The Boston Comedy Festival, now in its 17th year, will have something for everyone. The festival includes both famous and soon-to-be famous comedians, the latter vying for the top spot of the $10,000 Comedy Contest. 

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)

Sunday 2:00 a.m. officially marked the beginning of my annual descent into Winter funk. That’s when we all “fell back,” setting our clocks an hour later.

On behalf of Middlesex Federal Savings, Peter Bazzinotti, Senior Vice President, Senior Loan Officer presented a $1,000 check to Kathryn Benjamin, Director of Development, Somerville Homeless Coalition. Middlesex Federal Savings was awarded funds at the 2016 Bankers Bank Northeast Annual Charity Golf Tournament to donate to the charity or charities of their choice. The Bank chose the Somerville Homeless Coalition, as well as the Boys & Girls Club of Middlesex County to receive these proceeds.

Friday, November 11 is Veterans Day and City offices will be closed for the holiday. Trash, recycling, and yard waste normally collected on Fridays will be picked up Saturday. There will be no street sweeping on Friday and enforcement of parking meters and resident parking permits will not be in effect.

Each year for the past four, members associated with Historic Somerville, the Somerville Museum, and the City’s Historic Preservation Commission have organized a brief event to help honor some of Somerville’s oldest veterans, from the American Revolution and the War of 1812 who are buried in the City’s historic Milk Row Cemetery on Somerville Avenue. For those who may not be aware, the much newer Cemetery on Broadway, on Clarendon Hill, is the home of the 69 soldiers who proudly served in World War II and beyond, and were killed in action.

By Jim Clark

Somerville Police received a call from Assembly Mall security last week reporting that they had received a complaint from the staff at the Express store of a man who was behaving erratically, and appeared to be on drugs.

Recipient of the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship’s Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism award for 2016, Ralph Fuccillo.

By Katie Leonard

Somerville native Ralph Fuccillo was honored last week as this year’s recipient of the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism. The award is given annually to an individual or organization whose work has positively impacted health for those in need, both here and abroad, as well as whose commitment to service influences and inspires others.