Debra Spark.

Debra Spark is author of the novels Coconuts for the Saint, The Ghost of Bridgetown and Good for the Jews. She edited the best-selling anthology Twenty Under Thirty: Best Stories by America’s New Young Writers. Her popular lectures on writing are collected in Curious Attractions: Essays on Fiction.

I received this letter from a proud granddaughter:

“Hello Doug,

My grandmother asked me to type this up for her and email it over to you. She is 85yrs. old (A Somerville resident for over 25 years) and has a hidden poem collection that she has slowly shared with me and now wants to share with the world. I feel honored that I am able to share this.”

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

All Somerville Public Schools will be open tomorrow, Wednesday, October 31, 2012 with classes beginning at the regularly-scheduled time.

The City of Somerville announced today that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Somerville Municipal Employees Association (SMEA) that clears the way for the City’s East and West Branch Libraries to open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The SMEA has already ratified the change and the new hours will go into effect on November 10, 2012. This will mark the first time since the 1970s that the Somerville Public Libraries East and West Branch Libraries have opened their doors on weekends.

Trees down on Pinckney Street, Somerville.

By William Tauro

Strong winds from Hurricane Sandy began wreaking havoc in Somerville.

The Somerville Council on Aging’s Voter Information Forum, originally scheduled for Tuesday, October 30 at 10:30 a.m. has been cancelled.

Somerville Public schools remain closed Tuesday.

The horror. Sans Nomenclature will breath new life into the Day of the Dead on November 1 at the Rosebud.

By Max Sullivan

On this year’s Day of the Dead, the night will end with an evening of very heavy and possibly frightening horrorpunk at the Rosebud in Somerville  Thursday night.

12-Hour Period of Sustained High Winds (50 MHP+) Forecast to Begin Late Monday Morning. Somerville Public Schools Cancelled for Monday. Residents Urged to “Shelter in Place.” Monday Trash Pickup Begins at 5 a.m.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced today that, in conjunction with Governor Deval Patrick’s Saturday declaration of a weather-related  State of Emergency for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the City of Somerville has declared a public State of Emergency effective 1 a.m. on the morning of Monday, October 29, 2012.  Superintendent Tony Pierantozzi announced that he has cancelled Monday classes and activities for all Somerville Public Schools.  Additionally, Monday morning trash pickup will begin earlier than normal, 5:00 a.m., in order to minimize additional debris caused by unusually high winds.

Update:

Based on current predictions for the track of Hurricane Sandy (currently a Category 1 Hurricane), Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone has ordered storm preparations and is reminding all residents of necessary precautions in advance of the storm, which is packing unusually powerful winds and heavy downpours.