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

By Will Mbah
Candidate for Somerville City Councilor at Large

I have been following with interest the planning activity for Gilman Square, where a newly recognized Neighborhood Council hopes to achieve a community-directed redevelopment plan.      

When a community comes together to celebrate and honor something truly worthy, it is especially heartwarming and inspiring.

This week, our city stepped up and gratefully accepted its place among other Purple Heart Communities.

Eagle Feathers #285 – Arlington National Cemetery

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

The western border of Somerville is marked lengthwise by the Dilboy Recreation Field which honors a World War I veteran, the Alewife Brook Reservation and the Alewife Brook Parkway which stretches between Medford and Cambridge.

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I recently caught up with artist/curator Bess Paupek. The objects of her affection are … well … objects.

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Sarah Hirsch is a painter, writer, and teacher. She lives in coastal Wickford, Rhode Island, surrounded by beautiful water and light. Recent works have centered on the sublime and the ordinary, dancers, enormous flowers, loss, the ocean and her many moods, and children in their many states of motion. Sarah holds a Masters of Education from Lesley University, Montessori certification, and a BA from Colby College. She has lived and taught in the Boston area, as well as Maine, Rhode Island, India, France, and Morocco while on a Fulbright Grant. www.sghirsch.com.

Flash flooding at Broadway and McGrath Tuesday morning.

Flash floods caused travel issues in and around the city Tuesday morning. Somerville Fire, Police and DPW were busy all morning dealing with reports of stranded cars, flooded streets, garages and underpasses.

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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne visits The Greater Somerville Homeless Coalition’s new home in Davis Sq. for a listening session, tour, and ribbon cutting on July 31.

Prospect Hill Tower illuminated in purple tonight to observe National Purple Heart Day. ~Photos by Bobbie Toner

To celebrate National Purple Heart Day, Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Department of Veterans’ Services recognized and commemorated Somerville Purple Heart Recipients at Dilboy Post 529.

Also, at today’s event, Somerville was formally named a Purple Heart Community by the Military Order of the Purple Heart organization.

The summer session at Edgerly Education Center ended abruptly last week after it was determined that disruptions caused by renovation work were creating problems for students and school staff. — Photos by Claudia Ferro

By Jim Clark

Last week, parents of students attending the summer session at the Edgerly Education Center were notified that classes would end three days early due to disruptions caused by construction crews working in and around the building.