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)

As I stood in line to participate in the City’s first ever early voting session on Monday morning, I met residents who were so excited to cast their vote in this year’s election that they had been at City Hall since 7:30 a.m. Forty-five minutes later when I arrived and took my place in line, it stretched down our hall way, and it continued to grow until the polls opened at 8:30. What an incredible experience to watch our democracy at work! I was reminded then about what makes Somerville unique and special.

This past weekend, from doors open on Friday to doors close on Sunday, $1 from every half moon cake sold went directly to the Somerville Auxiliary Police Sean Collier Memorial Fundraiser which helps Somerville High students interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement.

~Photos by Kevin Dickinson

On Sunday, October 23, residents flocked to Somerville Ave. for the annual Monster Mashed-Up SomerStreets event, the final installment of the city’s annual SomerStreets series between Union Square and Spring St.

Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development Senior Planner Melissa Woods and others filled Ward 4 residents in on details of the city’s proposed revitalization plan.

By Amy Swain

Residents of the Winter Hill area of Ward 4 gathered at the Healey School Thursday for the semi-annual discussion of resident statistics.

Melissa Woods, Senior Planner at the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, opened the meeting with excitement regarding the publication of the Winter Hill revitalization plan on the city’s website.

The memory of Deanna Cremin was honored on Saturday as friends, family, and others gathered at the newly renovated park for its official dedication ceremony. ~Photo by Chris Pedersen

By Donald Norton

A crowd of over 200 family, friends and residents showed up this past Saturday morning at the old Otis Street Park for the dedication of the newly renovated Deanna Cremin Playground.

Bluntly Speaking by Ross Blouin

Supporters packed City Hall last week for a public hearing to discuss pending zoning changes required to advance over 15 acres of planned development in Union Square. The Union Square Neighborhood Plan, adopted this past year, stipulates the project include 60 percent commercial and 40 percent residential. The development will generate over $10 million in new tax revenue annually and create over 5,000 new permanent jobs.

The one and only original “Best of Somerville” ballot is out now and the winners will be announced on Wednesday, November 9, so hurry up and nominate in your favorite category. We also want best idea this year and worst idea this year for 2016 here in Somerville. You can email, mail, call in or just drop your votes in the mail slot at 699 Broadway, Somerville.

Villens United by Chris Haskell

It’s official Villens! Somerville now has its own community media holiday!

In celebration of inaugural holiday on Thursday October 20, Somerville Community Access opened its doors to the public and Boston Free Radio took their live broadcasts to the streets of Union Square.

Eagle Feathers #115 – Fort Knox

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

There is a common cliché which states that a person wouldn’t take an action “for all the gold in Fort Knox.” It is in reference to an army fort by that name.

Do you like bad movies? Like really, really, REALLY bad movies? Join a tribe of similarly snarky trash lovers every month for a brand new bad movie series, Disasterpiece Theater 3000 Jr.

In the vein of Mystery Science Theater, youth will provide live commentary while watching terrible films that should by all means be relegated to the deepest caverns of the Goodwill donation bin, but which have instead been unearthed for our collective viewing displeasure.