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)

Fifteen people were victims of domestic violence homicide last year in Massachusetts, and including perpetrators, there were 22 domestic violence deaths last year in our state. So far this year, there have been seven domestic violence homicide victims and 14 deaths in total. Last week, we once again walked through Union Square for our Annual Candlelight Vigil in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We walked to remember those we have lost to this continuing epidemic, and we walked to stand up together, as a community, and let victims and witnesses alike know—you are not alone. I am glad that as a community we stand up and speak out on domestic violence, but if the events of the past year have taught us anything, it’s that we have a long way to go, and a lot to learn.

— Photos by Claudia Ferro

A Cappella groups converged at the Prospect Hill Monument on Sunday, Oct. 5, for a fun day of song and hanging out in the sun at the ‘A Taste of A Cappella’ event.

Somerville’s own The Eight Tracks performed, along with Fermata Town, Sound Off A Cappella, Boston Accent, and Bostonality.

By Jim Clark

Police officers were working a paid detail in the vicinity of Beacon St. and Washington St. last week, directing traffic through a construction zone.

At one point a man in a box truck reportedly began yelling at the officers, complaining that he could not make a turn that he wanted to take.

Ground has been broken for Symphony Park, a new addition to the recreational landscape of East Somerville.
— Photo by Jackie Rossetti

By Gabriela C. Martinez

The groundbreaking ceremony for the construction Symphony Park was held last Thursday on October 2. The new park, which will be located between Florence and Pearl Streets in East Somerville, is part of SomerVision’s long-term goal of creating 125 acres of open space.

State and local officials, along with members of the general public, gathered on Monday for the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Wellington underpass bridge.
— Photos by Donald Norton

By Donald Norton

A ribbon cutting ceremony took place dedicating the long awaited underpass bridge connecting Ten Hills & Assembly Square on Monday afternoon, October 6.

This unique underpass bridge was built with over $1M given by First Federal Realty along with $250,000 from public monies, an example of how businesses in the private sector work to improve the city when working together.

Now running through October 18 at the NextDoor Center for the Arts located at 40 Cross Street in Winchester, Somerville’s own David Lebahn is the producer for the play Marry Me A Little, a delightful musical revue featuring a selection of previously removed songs from the works of Stephen Sondheim including: Company, Follies, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, and Saturday Night. Two young New Yorkers (Katie Clark and Taylor Hilliard) spend a Saturday night sharing dreams of love and marriage although they have never met. Directed/Designed by Brian Milauskas with Musical Direction by Bethany Aiken. Performance Dates: Fri. Oct 10, 17 at 8:00 p.m.; Sat. Oct 11, 18 at 8:00 p.m.; Thur. Oct 16 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday Oct 5 at 2:00 p.m. (with audience talkback). Tickets are $32 General, $25 Sen./Student, $15 Under 18. For more information and to purchase tickets please visit them online at http://www.nextdoortheater.org/ or call the box office at 781-729-6398.

By Jim Clark

Honey Bee Day was held on Saturday, September 27 behind the office of Best Pest Control Services at 63 Elm St., Somerville.

The event was attended by about 50 adults and children who learned some basic honey bee facts from Rod Kreimeyer about how the bees help our urban environment, the way the bees work and live and how important bees are to our survival.

Artist Danielle Festa exhibited her unique “selfie” series of paintings that features textural materials that add a touch of realism to her work at the See Art, Talk Art, Be Art event at Washington St. last weekend. ~Photos by Douglas Yu

By Douglas Yu

Art can be explored in many ways: painting, literature, photography, handcrafts and so on. This past weekend, Somerville residents were lucky enough to breathe in these forms of art at Washington Street gallery all at once – they saw, talked and made art through interacting with local artists at the See Art, Talk Art, Be Art exhibition.

Club Officers for 2014-2015 (L to R): Secretary, George McLean; President-Elect, Toni Shelzi, President Tony Ciccariello; Vice-President Mike McWilliams; Immediate Past President, Rui Domingos; Board Secretary, Jay Lynch.

The Somerville Kiwanis Club held its Annual Officers Installation on Sunday, September 28, 2014. New officers for the 2014-2015 administrative year are: Tony Ciccariello, President; Toni Shelzi, President-Elect; Mike McWilliams, Vice President; Pauline D’Aurora, Treasurer and George McLean, Secretary.

Each week prior to the November election The Somerville Times will present the Statewide ballot questions, along with pro and con arguments, one at a time for examination and further consideration. We continue the series this week with Question 2: Expanding the Beverage Container Deposit Law.