Join the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission and ArtsUnion on Sunday, September 25, for a free walking tour of historic Union Square. “Tracking Progress: How Somerville Yards – Rail, Stock, and Brick – Have Shaped Union Square,” will step off from the SCATV building at 90 Union Square at 2 p.m., and conclude at 4:30 p.m. at Juliet for complimentary refreshments. The tour will be led by Ed Gordon, New England Chapter President of the Victorian Society in America. For more information and to RSVP, contact Brandon Wilson at BWilson@somervillema.gov, or 617-625-6600, x. 2532.

Somerville residents are encouraged to read “The Witches,” the selected 2016 book, and discuss the novel at a series of events this fall.

The 2016 “Somerville Reads” campaign kicks off this September with the book The Witches, by Stacy Schiff. Somerville Reads is a program that promotes literacy and community engagement by encouraging all Somerville residents to read and discuss the same book.

Somerville residents will be able to partake in early voting ahead of this year’s November 8 general election. The first-ever early voting period will run from October 24 through November 4. All early voting sessions will take place in the Aldermanic Chambers on the 2^nd floor of Somerville City Hall, located at 93 Highland Ave. The hours for early voting are:

By Steve Jones

Security officers are hard-working, highly trained men and women who deter crime, lead evacuations, provide information, work closely with local law enforcement, and are vigilant in their efforts to keep us safe. Security professionals help maintain safe and secure workplaces, schools, shopping malls and communities, and are our country’s first responders.

Last Saturday evening, September 10, the Somerville High School Class of 1976 held its 40th reunion at the City Club in Somerville.

By Jim Clark

A police unit was dispatched to the Kmart store on Middlesex Ave. last Saturday on reports of two suspected shoplifters under observation.

Upon arrival, police escorted the suspects to the store’s loss prevention office for search and questioning.

By Amy Swain

This week, The Somerville Theatre will be holding the 70 MM & Widescreen Festival. It is the first festival of its kind in New England, and promises to be a very unique and entertaining experience.

~Photo by Mark Jones.

The 2nd Annual Evolution of Hip Hop Festival will take place in Union Square Plaza in Somerville on September 17 from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.

The Evolution of Hip Hop Festival was created to share positive hip hop music and spoken word with people of all ages, and share the history of hip hop music and what it brings to our communities.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

On Sunday, September 11, in Union Square Plaza, What Cheer presented ArtsUnion’s annual Rock And Roll Yard Sale showcasing New Englands’s top vinyl dealers.

XQ: The Super School Project Announces Powderhouse Studios as One of 10 Winning Super Schools Out of Nearly 700 Proposals

After a rigorous 11-month application and evaluation process, XQ Institute has announced winning Super Schools, including Somerville-based team Powderhouse Studios. Each school will be awarded $10 million over the next 5 years. All 10 schools will serve as catalysts for change, making high school more relevant, engaging and effective for every student, everywhere.