People can meet the local celebrity, “Max,” Somerville's only police dog. - Photo by Bobbie Toner

Dog fest promises games, contests and tricks

By Julia Fairclough

Somerville by now is well known for its multitude of festivals that go on throughout the year. But never before has an event been staged just for our furry, loveable, four-legged friends.

Enter the Somerville Dog Festival, which will take place Sunday, September 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Union Square, at the Conway Park on Somerville Avenue (just past the Market Basket).

Do I risk parking tickets by speaking out in Somerville?

(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.)

I am taken back by the voicemail I just received.  Perhaps I should have known better than to try to do a good deed in the community where I work every day.  After all, I was only interested in general public safety, but I guess that’s just not important anymore?

My office is located at 163 Gore St. in Cambridge, adjacent to the Twin City Shoppping Center.  This morning during my commute at approximately 9 a.m., I waited in line behind either five or six other cars on the Northbound side of the McGrath Highway for a green arrow, allowing me to cross the Southbound side of McGrath and to enter the Twin City Plaza.  After three full light cycles, it was clear that the green arrow was not appearing as part of the regular cycle, and so eventually I chose a safe opportunity to cross, following the decision of the cars in front of me.   I realized how potentially unsafe this was, and discussed it with some co-workers upon my arrival.  I learned that this had been a fairly common occurrence over the past few weeks, and so I decided to call the Somerville Police and notify them of the situation.

Comanchero, one of the bands that will play at the fair. ~Photo courtesy of SAC

Country fair hits the city

By Ashley Troutman

Music, dancers, vendors, and all things “country” will come to Somerville with the Urban Country Fair on Saturday. The Somerville Arts Council and Truth Serum are producing the fair in Union Square.

Meagan O’Brien, of the arts council, said the fair will be, “complete, with hay bales, country music, and guaranteed to be a mighty fine time.”

By Katie Willis Morton

- Photo by Trevor Failor

(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.)

The Massachusetts chapter of Surfrider Foundation held their annual Surfing To Teach Kids Environmental Education event last Saturday at Nahant Beach.

For the last four years Surfrider MA has teamed up with Big Brothers Little Brothers of Boston to bring kids, many of them for the first time, for a day at the beach to help them make the connection to a great sport usually not accessible to them and to the fact that the cities they live in are connected to the ocean and how they care for the environment in their own neighborhoods has a big impact on the world. Everything that goes down a household drain or into a city gutter ends up having an effect on the ocean.

The Somerville Home's semiformal annual masquerade dinner dance will take

By Cathleen Twardzik

The Somerville Home’s semi-formal annual masquerade dinner dance will take place on Saturday, Sept. 18 at the Holiday Inn in Somerville at 30 Washington St. from 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Prizes will be awarded for best and most creative masks. Some masks will be available on the night of the event for a small donation.

A cash raffle will round out the fun-filled evening.  Raffle tickets cost $5 each or three for $10.  Further, the cash pot will continue to “build” until the Masquerade Dinner Dance begins, at which time, the lucky winner will be chosen.

By George P. Hassett

A Malden drug dealer with an unlimited supply of heroin told investigators he was just a small time pusher selling drugs to pay his bills, police said this week.

Reynaldo Cuevas, 31, was caught delivering 19 grams of heroin to the Holiday Inn on Washington Street Sept. 7, police said. He was allegedly set up by a drug-dealing underling – Michael Robertson, 56, of Exeter, New Hampshire.

Union says city tactics ‘unprecedented’

By George P. Hassett

Mayor Joe Curtatone is facing allegations of union busting after a state labor investigator issued a complaint against the city last month.

The allegations include failing to notify the Somerville Municipal Employees Association about proposed cuts,  assigning new tasks without bargaining, failing to give them time to make their own reductions  and giving work to non-union employees. The association includes most city employees aside from police, fire and teachers.

Alan McDonald, an attorney for the employees association said the efforts of city officials add up to “disrespecting and marginalizing the union.”

By Rose Scherlis

Audrey Ryan will be hosting the fifth annual Viva La Vinal

The fifth annual Viva La Vinal Festival, hosted by Audrey Ryan of Somerville, is soon approaching.

On Friday and Saturday, there will be a celebration of live music and independent film in the Somerville Community Growing Center. It is a free, all ages event to benefit the Growing Center.

The event starts Friday with an open-air film festival featuring four new independent films. Saturday, 12 talented and diverse musicians will take the stage, ranging from global jazz to old-time Gothicana. Children’s Hour, 12-1, will feature Argentinean bassist Mariana Iranzi.

By George P. Hassett

Police arrested an Everett man last week for a stabbing in Davis Square that left a man with lacerations from his ear to his throat.

Nardeep Singh, 22, confessed to the stabbing after he told a detective several different versions of what happened, said Deputy Chief Paul Upton.

“[Singh] admits he was the one with the knife who did the stabbing,” Upton said.

By William Tauro

Under tight security, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is scheduled to visit Harvard Square Wednesday to promote his new book “A Journey.”