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Any veteran human service worker has seen this before, ( I can say this because I have worked in Human Services in one capacity or another since 1978)— this scenario, this kid, in clinics, hospitals, at colleges, etc… across the country.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and the Somerville Commission for Women announce the Annual Candlelight Vigil in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month on Wednesday, October 1 at 6 p.m. at the Somerville Public Safety Building, 220 Washington Street. The vigil walk begins at 6 p.m. through Union Square, concluding with a speaking agenda at the Public Safety Building at 6:30 p.m. City and local agencies will be available beginning at 5:30 p.m. with informational materials and to answer questions. The vigil is an annual event bringing the community together to remember those who have lost their lives over the last year to domestic violence. For more information about the Vigil, contact Director of Somerville Commissions, Sonja Darai, at 617-625-6600 x2406 or SDarai@somervillema.gov. For more information about domestic violence, contact RESPOND at their Hotline number (617) 623-5900 (TTY accessible for the hearing impaired) and for on-line information go to www.respondinc.org.

Arrests:
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Clifford Flynn, 29, September 15, 10:42 a.m., arrested at College Ave. on charges of drug possession to distribute and disorderly conduct.

Stephen Danca, 32, of 246 Albion St., Wakefield, September 15, 10:50 a.m., arrested at Buena Vista Rd. on a charge of violation of city ordinance open container.

There’ll be dancing … dancing in the streets … a guaranteed ingredient at HONK!, this year to include a total of 27 bands (www.honkfest.org/2014-festival/bands-2014), all with social and/or political activism as part of their charters, as well as individual local players who are inevitably inspired to run home, grab their respective unplugged sound makers, and dive right under the HONK! community umbrella.

District maintains upward trajectory on 2014 MCAS as state’s leading urban district in growth; West Somerville Neighborhood School advances to Level 1 state accountability designation

Somerville Public Schools maintained its phenomenal upward trajectory as the leading urban district in the state for student growth, breaking into the top 15% of all Massachusetts districts in combined growth in English-Language Arts (ELA) and Math, according to Spring 2014 MCAS results released today by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Somerville’s continuing improvement in student growth was coupled with more students scoring higher on English-Language Arts, Math and Science MCAS tests, and those results have catapulted nearly every school in the District to either the highest or second highest levels on the state’s accountability scale, showing that Somerville is making significant progress in addressing the needs of students at every level.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

(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)

I loved pouring thick, chocolaty Bosco chocolate syrup into an ice-cold glass of milk when I was a kid. Of course, the milk wasn’t in a cardboard or plastic container. It came in a thick glass bottle that the “milkman” delivered. Can’t you still hear the clinking of those empty milk bottles as the milkman picked them up? And what about those cool old milk trucks? You don’t see those anymore unless you are watching a rerun of Leave it To Beaver or some other old TV show.

— Photos by Claudia Ferro

In its 7th year, Riverfest is the culmination of a summer of activity at Assembly Row. Last Saturday, it celebrated all that is great about the property with live music, art, food, children’s activities and a fireworks show. Riverfest also marked the final installment of ASSEMBLED: The Handmade Arts Market at Assembly Row. In addition to the dozens of handmade artists, Riverfest also featured plenty of free children’s activities, live music all day long, and fireworks over the Mystic River.

Coming from far and wide tiny homes, small house builders, creators and crafters, organizations, and enthusiasts will gather in Somerville on Saturday, September 20th to discuss little living!

The tiny house movement has ramped up over the last decade from a subculture proposing a move away from McMansion-sized homes to very small and often portable houses. Several people have jumped on this bandwagon.

The City of Somerville’s Commission on Energy Use and Climate Change (CEUCC) is currently seeking new commissioners.The CEUCC advises the City and the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and Environment on climate change and energy policy issues, including upcoming sustainability initiatives such as the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change impacts, innovative approaches to energy efficiency, and community outreach and education on climate change and energy. The CEUCC typically meets one weeknight per month at 7 p.m.

Due to the overwhelming popularity and close-out of this Sunday’s Sept. 21st Walking Tour entitled “Union Square: An Intermixing of Industry, Immigration and Innovation,” the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission expects to repeat the tour the following Sunday, Sept. 28.

Again it will be a free event co-sponsored with ArtsUnion. It will start at Somerville High School (91 Highland Ave.) at 2pm and end at 4:30pm. The route will include interior visits to the historic St. Anthony’s Church on Properzi Way and the new Greentown Labs off Dane St. There is no rain date if heavy rain or wind prevails. Prior registration is again required by contacting Brandon Wilson via bwilson@somervillema.govor 617-625-6600, ext. 2532.