On The Silly Side by Jimmy Del Ponte

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

As I face another birthday I go into reminiscing mode. I look back over my many years in Somerville and think about all the changes I have seen. Forget the obvious ones like the Red Line because that topic has been all talked out.

New York City transplant Jen Fries utilizes a storytelling approach in her art. The Diver is intended to convey a sense of “taking a leap.”

By Tatiana Kombo

This summer, the Brickbottom Artist Association (BAA) is having a member’s exhibition based on the theme of escaping. Works including photography, painting and printmaking, among other forms of artistic narration, will be on display at the Brickbottom Gallery in Somerville through August 18.

The Somerville Olympics of a Special Kind will take place on July 26 at Trum field. To restart this popular summer event it will be sponsored by; The Somerville School Department, Walnut Street Center, Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, Rotary and Lions clubs.

By William Tauro

Buddy’s Dinner, located on Washington Street in Somerville, has been shut down and now displays an orange sign that indicates the seizure was executed and issued by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.

By William Tauro

On Friday morning Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) work crews, along with prisoners on a state work release program from the Department of Correction, cleared downed trees along the Mystic River in Somerville after a Wednesday evening micro-burst wreaked havoc in Somerville.

By William C. Shelton

  (The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

My houseguest Nina Kammerstan kept apologizing for how rich Norwegians are. She’s a journalist with NRK, Norway’s public broadcasting system. I bluntly told her, “Americans are richer.”

The following letter was sent today from the U.S. offices of IKEA. After nearly 15 years, IKEA has officially decided to abandon its plans to open a store in Somerville, and it will work with the city to determine what will happen to the property it owns at Assembly Square.

Letter to Mayor Curtatone click here

By Joseph A. Curtatone

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

It wasn’t that long ago – as recently as 2005 – when there were only four ways to get the word out in an emergency like this week’s heat wave.

ArtBeat comes to Davis Square this weekend

ArtBeat hits the streets this coming weekend. – Photo by Christina M. Acosta

By Elizabeth Sheeran

It’s already a hotspot for entertainment and cultural pursuits. But Davis Square will step up its game still further this weekend for ArtBeat, a two-day celebration of all things creative and artistic.

– Photo by William Tauro

By William Tauro

Somerville Police officers were on scene of a call of a tree down at Somerville’s Winter Hill Yacht Club on Foley Street when they were hailed down by construction workers of Aggregate Industries who were locked in a work site at the new Assembly Square Mall project behind The Big Kmart.