By Kevin Dickinson

In the emotionally charged discussion regarding the Black Lives Matter movement, whether it is a political or social movement, or whether or not it puts police officers in a bad light, the question remains as to whether or not the banner that hangs at the City of Somerville’s City Hall building should be there or if it should come down.

Wall to Wall: Art Builds Community will be on exhibit at the Nave Gallery, 155 Powder House Blvd, Somerville, from September 24 to October 30.

By Sanjeev Selvarajah

The Nave Gallery is holding the upcoming community event, Wall to Wall, calling on all who want to highlight and help their community using the Arts: there is a $15 entry fee. A maximum of three pieces may be entered for consideration. Submissions will be accepted through August 15. The Nave Gallery will retain only 30% commission for work sold.

Yes, we were assured that the Annual Mayor’s Senior Picnic is being held today, Wednesday, August 3, at Powder House Park in West Somerville. It was not advertised on the City of Somerville’s website like the other Council on Aging events are. Is the Director, Cindy Hickey, trying to keep it a secret? Maybe she decided not to invite those elderly that don’t live in elderly housing? We will be there to check it out this year. We think it’s at around noontime, but who knows?

It’s an issue that dogs us, left, right, and center. No matter which side of it you agree with, the “Black Lives Matter” banner hanging at City Hall has polarized many of us, and for some compromise is just not in the cards.

Last week, a gathering took place at City Hall organized by our local police union and attended by members of that body as well as the general public and the press.

Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services recently distributed $36,000 worth of free farmers’ market coupons, which can be used to purchase produce at several local markets.

Some 1,400 local residents will receive a windfall of fresh produce this summer, thanks to a recent collaboration between Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) and the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program.

Administered through the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), the program delivered $36,000 worth of free farmers’ market coupons for SCES to distribute in late July.

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Somerville fashion designer Sandhya Garg does not lift a middle finger to offend the mandarins of the fashion world. But she uses it as part of her design concept of provocative, beautiful and engaging clothing.

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Joshua Michael Stewart has had poems published in the Massachusetts Review, Louisville Review, Rattle, Night Train, Evansville Review, Cold Mountain Review, and many others. His first full-length collection of poems, Break Every String, has been published by Hedgerow Books in April 2016. He received his BA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He’s a Teacher/Counselor, working with individuals with special needs. Visit him at www.joshuamichaelstewart.com.