There is something to be said about my unofficial office in the back of the Bloc 11 Café in Union Square in Somerville. There is a nice brick wall where I can rest my glasses, books and papers, and a fireplace rests on top of the brick, a perfect pick for a winter’s day. My space also provides a sense of intimacy where I can probe the minds of my subjects for my column in The Somerville Times. My subject in this week’s column is Julie Ann Otis, a poet, a writer, a personal coach, a motivational speaker, to name just a few roles she plays.

Local poet Julia Carlson writes The Times: “As a clinical social worker, my training cautioned me to pay close attention to ‘my own stuff’ and how that can unconsciously influence the direction of therapy. When this poem happened, I wasn’t 100% sure of where it was going. Reading it now, the poem reminds me that human relationships, as well as therapeutic ones, can be one-sided, and maybe for the best!”

By Jim Clark

Police were alerted to reports of a man punching cars on Broadway as they passed him last Friday evening.

Officers located the man, later identified as Edward Feeney, near 300 Broadway and approached him for questioning.

The Somerville Arts Council’s ArtsUnion Project is an initiative designed to boost the cultural economic development of Union Square, Somerville. Since 2005, ArtsUnion has been instrumental in reinvigorating the artistic and business landscape of the area.

By Jim Clark

The Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority said today that the budget for the Green Line extension into Somerville and Medford is short by as much as $1 billion.

State transportation secretary Stephanie Pollack is saying that officials are considering modifications to the plan, and even a possible cancellation of the project, which she indicated was not a desirable option.

Arrests:
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Paul Fidler Jr., of 10 Wellington Ave., August 17, 9:57 a.m., arrested at Somerville Ave. on a charge of operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

Humberto Mundo-Rivera, of 19 Berkeley Rd., Hull, August 18, 4:44 p.m., arrested at Ibbetson St. on charges of operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license and operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended registration.

As of Friday, Aug. 21, the city will pilot a “movable furniture” project in Kenney Park in Davis Sq. The park, which was recently renovated, will now include additional, brightly colored café tables and chairs to enhance the public plaza. Recent planning studies and observations of open space have shown that comfort plays a large role in whether residents remain in and enjoy public places, and movable furniture is one way to allow park-goers to move and arrange seating as desired. During the pilot program, the city will study how the use of the space before and after the installation of the movable furniture changes to determine whether to install movable furniture in other parks across the city.

The Somerville Fire Department will begin the annual inspection of all fire hydrants on Monday, August 24 and conclude on Saturday, September 5. This procedure requires the flushing of water from the hydrants as well as a check of the mechanical operation of the hydrant. The inspection/testing program will take approximately two weeks to complete.

Somerville residents encouraged to read “The Martian,” the selected 2015 book, and discuss the novel at a series of events this fall

The 2015 “Somerville Reads” campaign kicks off this fall with the book The Martian by Andy Weir. Somerville Reads is a project that promotes literacy and community engagement by encouraging all Somerville residents to read and discuss the same book. The 2015 project will kick off on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. at the Central Branch Library, 79 Highland Ave., with a family-friendly presentation on Mars exploration. The event is free and open to the public, and door prizes will be raffled.

Eight local female musicians will be presenting This Year’s Model: All Femme Birthday Tribute to Elvis Costello at Johnny D’s on August 25.

By Blake Maddux

Whether you know him by his voice, his face, or both, Elvis Costello is one of the most recognizable individuals in popular music. In his unremitting five decades as a professional musician, Costello has been a solo artist, fronted The Attractions and The Imposters, and written, recorded, and toured with colleagues such as The Pogues, Paul McCartney, Burt Bacharach, Allen Toussaint, Emmylou Harris, Aimee Mann, and The Brodsky Quartet.