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.)

In the last few years I have seen a lot of my old neighbors selling their houses. These are families that were already living on the street when my family got here in 1961. Just last week, I found out that the house next door on my left is up for sale. And you can bet your bottom dollar that it will be turned into a CCC. A cookie cutter condo. You know what I’m talking about. Stainless appliances, marble countertops, a parking space or two, central A/C, and those storage cages in the basement. They buy up the houses, gut them, and sell them for astronomical prices.

Klezwoods play Johnny D’s this coming Sunday night.

By Max Sullivan

Johnny D’s will be rocking with an Eastern flare this coming Sunday night as Klezwoods bring their unique take on traditional klezmer music.

Klezwoods are not your traditional klezmer group. While rooted in the traditional Jewish musical form, the group’s members have a fascination with all Eastern music. Balkan, Egyptian, Polish, Arabic, Israeli, Gypsy- all of these flavors have crept into the Klezwoods sound. There is even a hint of Americana in there. Sam Dechenne, the band’s trumpet player and booker, grew up with a personal love of Dixie-land jazz.

By Jim Clark

Police responded to a reported larceny in progress at 276 Elm St. last week. As police arrived at the scene they reportedly observed a man walking two bicycles down the street.

By William Tauro

Somerville’s icon, Buddy’s Truck Stop Diner, located at 113 Washington Street has reopened after a very brief closing.

Area restaurants are being encouraged to join in the Shape Up Somerville spirit.

By Cathleen Twardzik

Shape Up Approved Somerville has partnered with Somerville restaurants to assist patrons to recognize options which are healthier each time that they venture out to eat.

The Shape Up Approved logo will indicate Somerville’s Shape Up Approved selections, all of which are nutritious, and they taste good, too.

A bidder racks up totals on his treasure finds from his unit.

By William Tauro

Dozens of curious treasure seekers were lined up at the U-Haul located on Linwood St. in Somerville Thursday afternoon for their “abandoned storage unit auction.”

Bidder Jonathan Zajac of Derry, NH, said, “Some bidders paid around one hundred dollars for a unit and received thousands of dollars worth of treasures on their return. Others might have paid a little more and ended up with a bin full of worthless junk.”

By Jim Clark

Police responded to a 911 call reporting an alleged assault in progress at Summer and Putnam streets last Thursday morning. Dispatchers reportedly told responding officers that three men had exited a moving vehicle and were beating up one other man.

Due to the threat of severe weather in the area this evening, the showing of “The Muppets” in Seven Hills Park has been cancelled for Thursday, July 26.  Please check www.somervillema.gov for future movie listings, held every Thursday night through August.

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.)

Back in 1999, when IKEA bought prime riverfront property near the largely derelict Assembly Square Mall, Somerville was struggling to find the best way to unlock our city’s stalled economic potential.  We knew that the 45-acre Assembly Square sites would be one of the keys to our economic future, but we weren’t sure exactly how to make it work.

Tomorrow’s Somerville Olympics of a Special Kind at Trum Field has been postponed due to a forecast of rain. The rain date will take place on Thursday August 2 at Trum Field, starting at 5:30 p.m.