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.

A tree landed on a SUV on Foley Street and  on Alewife Brook Parkway in Somerville during Wednesday’s rainstorm.

– Photos By William Tauro and Bobbie Toner

Self-propelled into a new role as front man and singer, Franchot Tone rises to the occasion. – Photo by Ben Moon.

By Max Sullivan

Four years ago, Franchot Tone was a guitarist in the reggae/surf/pop band Culver City Dub Collective. He was a producer and a composer by trade. However, it took an old friend from Boston to convince him to add one more tool to his repertoire.

An architect’s rendering of the building planned for 181 Washington Street. – Photo courtesy of Dimella Schaffer

Controversy surrounds affordable housing project

By Elizabeth Sheeran

Conflict over a planned Union Square affordable housing development has grown so heated, the mayor is enlisting professional mediators to cool things down.

At the center of the controversy is a proposed five-story, 40-unit apartment complex that the Somerville Community Corporation (SCC) plans to build at 181 Washington Street, the former Boys and Girls Club site. SCC Director Danny Leblanc said the project supports the non-profit’s mission to increase affordable housing options in Somerville.

The annual ArtBeat event is this weekend, starting Friday evening at Seven Hill Park at 6p.m. Saturday and Sunday in Davis Square starting at 11 a.m. going through to 6 p.m.  It’s our largest and most innovative arts festival, complete with two stages of music with over 15 bands, dance troupes, lots of crafts and food booths.