New affordable housing for seniors that offers quality of living and services   previously seen only in private communities is set to officially open its doors September 13, as the Somerville Housing Authority (SHA) celebrates the Grand Opening of its new, 95-unit Capen Court active senior development in West Somerville.

Although most residents of the now complete, fully occupied Capen Court moved into sparkling apartments this summer, the SHA’s September Grand Opening date was designed to give residents time to settle in and possibly enjoy cooler weather for the event.

By George P. Hassett

A Somerville woman was arrested at Dave’s Fresh Pasta in Davis Square on Sept. 1 after continually harassing an employee there, police said.

Punjabi father and son. - Photo by Nathan Boucher

By Ashley Troutman

Embrace Indian food, dance, and movies at Utsav!, a festival celebrating the Punjabi and Sikh cultures in Union Square Sept. 10 from 6 to 9 p.m.

The event, organized by the Somerville Arts Council and Somerville Community Access Television, is part of the ArtsUnion series – a program designed to stimulate the neighborhood’s economy through arts events.

At Utsav!, the Sikh Sangat Society will provide free salad, rice, Chole a Chickpea curry, and Naan an Indian flatbread. Vendors have Jalbi, a sweet fried dessert, Aloo-bikki, hash browns and onions with sauce, and vegetable fritters available.

Entertainment will include University Bhangra dancing, a martial arts team from New York City, Millis Gurdwara Yoga, and Somerville Gurdwara music. The Kartar Singh Anan and Group, from New Dehli, India, will perform.

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.)

A former classmate of mine got my e-mail address from this article and we started corresponding.  We both graduated from the Western Junior High School in 1968. ( the last graduating class before the big fire) He graciously sent me a copy of our graduation picture, you know, the ones that are all rolled up?  I can’t believe we were ever that young.  We thought were so old and mature, but we were really still children. I got several lumps in my throat when I saw the faces of some friends who are no longer with us. But after unearthing a slew of memories, I got to thinking about how the fashions have changed.   First of all, where the hell did those clothes come from? 

Big Sam Williams is a bona fide Jazz innovator from the heart of flavor country.

By Andrew Firestone

It is five years since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, and the music has not died. As Johnny D’s Uptown welcomes Jazz Trombonist Sam Williams, also known as Big Sam of Big Sam’s Funky Nation, on Saturday – the radical flavor of New Orleans arrives in Somerville.

Born  and raised in New Orleans, Williams looks back on his experience with some bitterness.

“Katrina happened, we saw how long it took for us to get a response from the government, and get people come down and save our city. It took forever,” says Williams. “For the oil spill, it took two or three months before we got any kind of real attention on it. It was taken lightly but it shouldn’t have been.”

By George P. Hassett

A Somerville man broke into his girlfriend’s apartment on Aug. 28 by pushing an air conditioner out of a window, police said.

Christian Perez, 34, of 1 Minnesota Ave., Aug. 28, 7:53 p.m., was arrested and charged with breaking and entering in the nighttime for a felony and witness intimidation.

(from the city of Somerville)

Street and Infrastructure Repairs Have been Made on City Streets; Public Safety Building and Schools Undergoing Preventative Measures

Anticipating potential effects as Hurricane Earl passes close to the Massachusetts shoreline, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced today that the City of Somerville and Somerville public safety officials are taking necessary precautions against heavy rains and potential flooding throughout the City.  Mayor Curtatone also advised residents, at the request of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), to take preventative measures in your own home as the Boston area may be affected by tropical storm-force winds and heavy rains.  Preparations are already underway at the City’s Public Safety Building and in public school buildings, and several streets have undergone repairs and testing over the last several weeks to alleviate flooding.  The City will work with the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) for the duration of this storm to minimize affects in low-lying areas, including the use of two additional pumps at the Public Safety Building on Friday night.

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.)

Somerville’s economic golden age was driven by people who made useful things—automobiles, bricks, baked goods, brass tubes, garments, soap, ceramics, mattresses, machine tools, and many more.

Some people designed the products, the packaging they came in, the graphics used to sell them, and the buildings required to house their firms and workers. Others fabricated them.

By George P. Hassett

The city’s Planning Board voted tonight to reject a bid by a discount close-out store to open in a Broadway lot vacant since 2007, causing a lawyer for the property owner to cry foul over the city’s handling of the process.

After the Planning Board voted unanimously to accept city staff’s recommendation to deny Ocean State Job Lot the special permit they needed to open at 299 Broadway, Bob Allen, the attorney for property owner James Cohen, said his client may pursue a lawsuit against the city.

Sandbags were placed at the doors of the Somerville public safety building in preparation of the coming storm.- Photo by Bobbie Toner

By William Tauro

DPW crews built a barrier of over two thousand sandbags that were strategically placed around the rear of the Somerville Police Station while police personal evacuated the station’s rear parking lot and police garage. All the police vehicles are being parked on higher ground at the Target parking lot located on Somerville Avenue.