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A poet with a strong sense of responsibility
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Afaa Michael Weaver does not just write pretty poetry. He pens poetry that addresses things like the recent tragedies in Baltimore, South Carolina, Ferguson and elsewhere, where African Americans were killed—victims of hate crimes, and questionable actions of the police. His poetry does not consist of rants, and hopefully his art is a potent catalyst for people to think about injustice and change.

Paige Roberts works as an archivist at Phillips Academy in Andover when she’s not swimming or hiking. Her work has appeared in the Muddy River Review, and the Bagel Bard Anthology.

(Somerville’s Haiti & Brazil Hit the ‘Ville Festival was scheduled for Oct 4 but due to  last weekend’s  forecast it has been postponed to Sunday, Oct. 18)

Somerville’s Haitian and Brazilian communities are coming together for “Haiti and Brazil Hit The ‘Ville,” a cultural festival on Sunday, Oct. 18, featuring music, dance, food, family-friendly activities and more for the entire community.

Arrests:
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Osvaldo Lima, of 5 Canal St., September 28, 10:04 a.m., arrested at Canal Ln. on a warrant charge of witness intimidation.

Florette Louissant, of 39 Bishop Allen Dr., Cambridge, September 28, 9:18 p.m., arrested at Willow Ave. on a warrant charge of operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

Daniel Griffin of Somerville talks with Father Michael Collins at Porter Square Books.

By Aileen McElroy

Father Michael Collins, assistant pastor of St. Mary’s in Dublin wrapped the US segment of his book tour at Porter Square Books where he spoke on His Holiness Pope Francis and signed copies of his new book titled Pope Francis: A Photographic Portrait of the People’s Pope.

— Photo by Bobbie Toner

Beacon Street will receive an overlay resurfacing and restriping in mid-October to address the deteriorated road surface until the roadway’s full-depth reconstruction project starts next spring, and cyclists are strongly encouraged to seek alternate routes until that work is completed later this month.

By Tom Bannister

The City of Somerville has announced that it will host a new round of its Community Conversations Series, focusing on race and racism in light of ongoing national conversations surrounding this topic, beginning on Oct. 5.

Judy Walker adds her artistic touch to the mural on Deano Pasta’s wall.

Members of Somerville Overcoming Addiction and the general public joined in recently in painting a mural as part of East Somerville Main Streets and the Somerville Arts Council’s mural design event. The stated goal of the event is to bring together a wide variety of community members and organizations to play a key role in developing a mural design that explores, celebrates, maintains and promotes East Somerville’s identity at a time of change for the neighborhood.

By William C. Shelton

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

Throughout his visit to Cuba and the United States, certain observers in the media have commented on “contradictions” in Pope Francis’ message. Anticipating his speech before Congress, they speculated that both Republicans and Democrats would take turns cheering and sitting in stony silence.

— Photos by Claudia Ferro

The “This Is East” Video Project Premiere took place at Chuckie Harris Park on Saturday, September 24, as community members and business owners told their stories of East Somerville. The video project is an active collaboration between East Somerville Main Streets and SCATV.