By Rebecca Danvers

The Somerville Arts Council continues one of its most popular citywide events with Puppet Palooza! Events like this allow the community to participate, interact, and engage in non-traditional ways in untraditional venues while cultivating the idea of Somerville as a cultural arts incubator without walls.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

Yesterday Mayor Joe Curtatone made a presentation to the Board of Aldermen on the proposed fiscal year 2017 budget. This page provides links to documents relevant to the proposed City of Somerville Budget now under review by the Board of Aldermen, as well as previous years’ budgets.

By Donald Norton, class of 1966

Class Day 2016 at Somerville High School was held this past Friday, and as is traditional, the school invited alumni of 50 years ago to join in and celebrate this, the class of 2016, maybe to show them what they will look like in 2066 when they will come back. Not to worry, we looked nothing like our parents back in 1966, and there were no walkers to help us get around.

Somerville residents were updated on the latest design plans for the West Branch Library last Wednesday, and many questioned some of the choices made by the planners involved. — Photo by Josie Grove

By Josie Grove

One should not judge a book by its cover, but Davis Square-area residents were quick to judge the proposed addition to the West Branch Library by its exterior and landscape. Many of the hundred-odd neighbors gathered in the Tufts Administration building last Wednesday were vehemently opposed to the addition to the library, and expressed skepticism about the value of new programs it would enable. Although the design was selected from four options based on input from community members, neighbors at the meeting were upset about the proposed addition and reworked grounds.

The $1B Everett Wynn Casino’s construction, originally set to begin in April of this year, is on hold until environmental impact issues are officially resolved.

By Jim Clark

The City of Somerville aggressively presented its case at a hearing in Boston last Thursday that the Department of Environmental Protection incorrectly gave its approval for the Wynn Boston Harbor project to go ahead with construction of its casino complex in Everett.

Somerville’s own Mallcops, out on the road and having the time of their lives.

By Jimmy Del Ponte

Mallcops is a Boston based “emo-punk “ band that is currently in the midst of a ten state tour with the band Sleeping Patterns. They left on Wednesday, June 1 and two of those “cops” are my sons.

State senate candidates, incumbent Pat Jehlen and challenger Leland Cheung engaged in a lively debate at last week’s Democratic meeting.

By Donald Norton

On Tuesday evening, May 31 at the Somerville High School library, the Somerville Democrats met to handle business of each ward and to vote on business of the committee.

Celebrate East Somerville at Carnaval @ Somerstreets! This Saturday, June 11 from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Broadway will be closed off to cars for the celebration. Music and entertainment on three stages. Performances from A Nova Brazil, Los Nitidos, Nuz, Federator Number 1, Mariachi los Viajeros de Mexico, Banda Bahia, Banda de la Paz, El Sistema Somerville, On Stage Dance Company, Teen Empowerment and more. Craft Fair. Food and activities from Around the World Arts, Crafts, Games and more. Motion Parade starts at 2:00 p.m. from the Cross St. Senior Center. For more info visit www.somervillema.gov or www.eastsomervillemainstreets.org/carnaval.

Eagle Feathers #105 – Two Centuries – Two Trials

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

They were both called the trial of their century. The first was the Parkman/Webster murder trial of 1849 to 1850 that was based on money. It shook Boston’s high society to its core. Both George Parkman and John Webster were Harvard-educated doctors and popular members of Boston’s elite.