The Somerville Times submitted 5 questions to the candidates for the 34th Middlesex District State Representative seat, along with the opportunity to include a short bio/statement. The following answers were submitted by the candidates:

Don’t forget next Tuesday, November 4, is Election Day. It’s our duty to go out and vote so we can have a say in what’s happening. Everyone should vote. There should be a line a mile long at each polling place. All the candidates that are running for office have worked hard for your consideration.

The repairs at Somerville High School’s auditorium are breathtaking. — Photos by Donald Norton

By Donald F. Norton

The Somerville High Auditorium is done and ready for use, after repairs were made for the damage that was done in 2012.

In January of this year, the Board of Aldermen authorized the city to borrow $2.6 million to renovate the Somerville High School auditorium, kitchen and cafeteria. All of these areas had been damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The amount was later increased to $3,090,000 in July. Some of that money used will come from an insurance claim to help pay for damages.

A unique advocacy and arts program featuring presentations by leading disability advocates, performances by talented poets with disabilities, and a demonstration of new technology that aids accessibility will celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month in Somerville.

U.S. Army Veteran Frank Ellis sprints onto the field at Gillette Stadium for a running drill. He is joined by U.S. Air Force Veteran Paul O’Connor of Raynham, MA.

By Tom Bannister

Frank Ellis of Somerville spent a dream day at Gillette Stadium working on his football skills with New England Patriots alumni while being cheered on by Patriots mascot Pat Patriot and New England Patriots cheerleaders, all courtesy of CVS Health.

In a salute to some of the men and women across New England who have served our country, CVS Health and the New England Patriots teamed up to host the third annual CVS Health/New England Patriots Football Skills Camp for Veterans.

Paige Shippie, one of our talented students at Endicott College, took on the challenging task to review poet Afaa Michael Weaver’s new collection of poetry City of Eternal Spring. Weaver recently won the Kingsley Tufts Award in Poetry.

*
Bagel Bard Dona Stein writes: “After a Stegner Fellowship in Poetry at Stanford University and some years in California teaching, writing, and publishing, I lived in Colorado also teaching, writing, and publishing, but also producing and hosting a radio program, The Poetry Show on KRFC FM in Fort Collins, Colorado. My most recent poetry collection is Alice in Deutschland.”

The second of two job fairs this year, hosted by Somerville’s First Source Jobs Initiative, will be held on Wednesday, October 29, from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the Cambridge Health Alliance/Somerville Hospital Campus (230 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA). This is an opportunity to connect Somerville residents to local jobs. Job seekers who live, work or study in Somerville, or have been displaced within a year, are encouraged to attend.

Arrests:
*

Shawn Frederick, of 7 Vine St., Medford, October 20, 2:37 p.m., arrested at 175 Fellsway on a warrant charge of operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

Patrick Scully, of 394 Broadway, October 20, 4:04 p.m., arrested at 300 Alewife Brook Pkwy. on a warrant charge of uninsured motor vehicle or trailer.

The Somerville Police Department will once again join forces with the Somerville Auxiliary Police and School Crossing Guards on Friday, October 31, Halloween evening, to help make a safe and fun filled evening for Somerville Trick-or-Treaters.