The fall and winter schedule for the “Somerville by Design” neighborhood planning effort kicks off in Winter Hill on Monday, Sept. 29. Over the next four months, residents, business owners, community organizations and commercial property owners will have the opportunity to roll up their sleeves along with city officials to prepare a plan that guides public and private investment in the Winter Hill neighborhood, from Mystic Avenue to Medford Street, and from Foss Park to Magoun Square.

Part 3: What would work
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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)

All political factions acknowledge that our immigration system doesn’t work. Yet this 113^th Congress will be another one that does nothing to fix it, even though honest political leaders on both the left and the right agree on the essentials of a workable system.

National Take Back Day: Prescription & OTC Medications Saturday, September 27 is National Take Back Day

Help  keep our youth safe by properly disposing of unused and unwanted medications. This Saturday is a National Take Back Day, and residents are encouraged to dispose of unwanted medications safely and properly. There is a permanent MedReturn Drug Collection Kiosk in the lobby of the Somerville Police Department, 220 Washington Street in Somerville. Disposal is free, anonymous and available 24/7. The following items can be deposited in the kiosk:Prescription and over-the-counter medications Pet medications Samples of medications Pills, capsules, inhalers, ointment and patches Vitamins Liquids in glass or leak-proof containers Remove any identifying information (like your name, address, etc. on the label) from the container OR place medication is a clear ziplock type of bag.

Former Acting Chief to head Public Safety at Endicott College
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From the City of Somerville

Former Acting Chief of Police, Charlie Femino, announced last week his intended retirement from the Somerville Police Department, effective September 30, 2014. Femino has accepted the position as Chief of the Campus Safety Division at Endicott College, serving the Beverly, Gloucester, and Boston campuses. Femino had served as Acting Chief of Police in Somerville from December 2013 to September 2014 during a nationwide search for a permanent Police Chief.

Fluffers are standing by. Get your Fluff on in Union Square this coming Saturday.

By Mariya Manzhos

The 9th annual “What the Fluff?” Festival will rock the streets of Union Square on Saturday, September 27. More than 10,000 visitors are expected to flood into the heart of Somerville to celebrate the neighborhood’s community, history and culture by integrating Marshmallow Fluff into every aspect of the festivity. Somerville’s quirkiest annual party pays tribute to the Irish immigrant Archibald Query, who in 1917 concocted the recipe for this scrumptious gooey spread in the basement of his Union Square home.

Attempted robbery suspect Edwin O’Grady.

UPDATE:

On Thursday, September 25, 2014, at approximately 10:55 a.m., two suspects were taken into custody by the Somerville Police at the Rockland Trust Bank located at 399 Highland Avenue in Somerville after an attempted robbery.

By Joseph A. Curtatone

(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)

The casino process has failed. Last week the Gaming Commission voted 3-1 to award a license to Wynn for its proposed gambling center in Everett, even though critical questions about the proposal remain unresolved. It is a disappointing result but unfortunately not surprising. We have seen throughout this entire process that it was designed, from start to finish, to favor the gambling industry. Neither Wynn, nor Mohegan Sun, nor any of the gambling pushers looking to open shop in Massachusetts have had their feet held to the fire by the officials appointed to scrutinize their applications. Whenever there was a question or doubt, the discussion seemingly always resolved in the casino developers’ favor.

— Photos by Claudia Ferro

On Tuesday, September 16, the East Somerville restaurant offered food lovers the sights and smells of Ethiopia, the tastes of El Salvador and the colors of Haiti. Over a dozen restaurants, representing five continents, once again threw open their doors to a horde of foodies.

This year’s crawl featured newly opened La Brasa and their wood-fired eats, as well as the newly completed East Broadway Streetscape, allowing for outdoor music and seating while you enjoy the evening!

All profits support East Somerville Main Streets, a non-profit 501c3 organization dedicated to building a vibrant neighborhood through a thriving business district to improve the quality of people’s lives.

Educating the Somerville community about tap water
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The organizers of the event (L to R): Wendy Blom (Director of SCATV), Oliver Sellers-Garcia (Office of Sustainability), Lisa Brukilacchio (Somerville Community Health Agenda), and David Hudson (Director of Shape Up Somerville).

By Gabriela C. Martinez

Last Thursday, Somerville Community Access Television (SCATV) held a film screening and panel discussion aimed at debunking the common myths about tap water in Somerville and raising awareness about the environmental effects of consuming bottle water.