— Photos by Kevin Dickinson.

Somerville Fire Department took part in the Fill the Boot campaign for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA)  last weekend, inviting donors to help fill their donation boot.

By Jim Clark

Police were called to the Cityline Laundromat on Broadway last week on reports that a man, later identified as Robert Galvin, was stripping off his clothes and attempting to wash them in machines claimed by other patrons.

In response to recent questions regarding the Black Lives Matter banner at Somerville City Hall, and a letter sent to the Mayor by the President of the Police Employees Association, Somerville Chief of Police David Fallon made himself available this morning at City Hall to answer questions and provide a brief statement.

A statement from the Mayor is below.

By Mayor 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)

One of the central goals for our proposed zoning overhaul is to create more attainable housing here in Somerville. It’s no secret that the cost of housing in our city, like all of greater Boston, continues to rise. It puts enormous stress on our lower- and middle-income residents. Young families are struggling to buy homes that would allow them to raise their children in our community. Seniors are stretched to stay in the community where they’ve lived most of their lives. Many renters find themselves barely able to keep up with annual increases.

Major James Marques

By Tom Bannister

Major James Marques, a lifelong resident of Somerville, is about to become Lieutenant Colonel James Marques.

It has been five years since Marques has been last deployed overseas. In 2011, he returned from Afghanistan. Prior to that, he had been deployed twice to Iraq, once in 2005 and once in 2008. He was a Logistics Officer when he started, turned to Civil Affairs, and is now in a Training Unit with the 75th Training Command in Newport, Rhode Island.

The Metro team prevailed with a 7-3 victory over the Southeast/Coastal team in the bronze medal game last week.

By Charles Lane

On July 10, two Somerville residents captured a bronze medal at the Bay State Games with the Metro girl’s hockey team. Kaleigh Conte (Phillips Exeter) and Shannon Higgins (Somerville High) helped lead the Metro team to 7-3 victory over the Southeast/Coastal team in the bronze medal game.

Airbnb rentals have entered the crosshairs of city officials who see a need for regulation and taxation of the service.

By Josie Grove

Short-term vacation rentals have proliferated in recent years, thanks to sites like Airbnb, which boasts hundreds of vacation apartments and rooms in Somerville. Airbnb handles payments between guests and hosts, but it has cut the state and municipalities out of the deal, and skirts the regulations governing hotels. Legislation on Beacon Hill could change the equation, and Somerville’s board of aldermen is considering how to regulate the short-term rental market.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

Presented by the Somerville Arts Council, ArtBeat took place last weekend in Somerville’s Davis Square.
This is one of the area’s largest and most innovative arts festivals, with over a dozen bands, dance troupes, 75 craft vendors, food, and all-age activities.

Cambridge Community Television (CCTV) and Somerville Community Access Television (SCATV) this Thursday night will hold a candidates’ debate will be held, beginning at 6:00 p.m. The first one is for the 2nd Middlesex Senate District and the second one is for the 27th Middlesex Representative District. The debate will be held over at the Cambridge studio, 438 Massachusetts Avenue, and will be between incumbent State Senator Pat Jehlen and challenger, Cambridge City Councilor Leland Cheung. Following the Senate race debate, there will be another one between incumbent State Representative Tim Toomey and Mike Connolly, beginning at approximately 7:30 p.m. The debate will be produced and moderated by Joe Lynch of SCATV. The panelists will be from Somerville, Medford and Cambridge.

‘Villens United by Chris Haskell

(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)

Black lives matter. Blue lives matter. ALL LIVES MATTER…

Over the last few weeks the media has been flooded with horrible images of innocent black men and innocent police officers being gunned down. While there is justifiable anger on both sides of this senseless violence, there are those in the media who are carelessly fanning the flames of rage and ignorance to push their own agenda. Instead of trying to shine a light on the problem and help unify our country they choose only to blame and further divide. Unfortunately one such media outlet is The Somerville News Weekly.