Spanish rock band Calypso performing at Sunday’s SomerStreets event. — Photos by Bobbie Toner

SomerStreets: Strike Up the Bands returned to Highland Ave. on Sunday, September 17. The day was filled with entertainment for everyone, whether you were dancing with Los Nitidos or rocking out with Spanish rock band Calypso. The Alejando Brittes Quarte demonstrated to the crowd,  the core elements of chamamé music. In addition to live music, the festival included craft vendors, community tabling groups, and interactive activities, including performances by the Boston League of Wicked Wrestlers (BLOWW). The next SomerStreets event will be held on October 22, 2:00 – 6:00 p.m., with a rain date of October 29, on Somerville Avenue from School Street to Warren Avenue in Union Square.

(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 Jason Mackey

Remember the “this car survived Highland Avenue” bumper sticker that circulated on Reddit last Spring? Initially, it was a humorous nod to our communal struggles with Highland Avenue’s deteriorating condition. But as seasons have changed, that fun joke is now overshadowed by the undeniable realities that Highland Avenue is an unmitigated disaster and getting worse by the day.

Reminder: Green Line Union Branch service is suspended through Thursday, October 12, to allow for MassDOT work on the Route 28 Squires Bridge. Riders can use Routes 86, 91, and CT2 between Union Square and East Somerville Station on the Medford Branch. These routes also service Sullivan Square Station on the Orange Line. Route 87 can also be used between Union Square and Lechmere Station.

On Tuesday, September 19, the U.S. Department of Education recognized 353 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2023. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student groups on assessments.

(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

Since Congress passed the Infrastructure and Jobs Act in November 2022, economic development advocates and the business press have anticipated a flow of new investment into the sector of clean energy in the Boston region. To what extent is this flow of funding and resulting growth now reaching Somerville? Do we fully understand how our economic development policies and our spatial, urban systems and fiscal/financial planning are able to support and accommodate the needs of these enterprises and workforce as they grow?

Eagle Feathers #288 – Somerville Spirits

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

This article first appeared in the November 4, 2015, edition of The Somerville Times.

Somerville’s roots run deep. As a city, she goes back to 1872. As a town, she goes back to 1842; and as Charlestown, Beyond the Neck, she dates back to 1628. This was two years before Boston was established in 1630.

Most change leads to new beginnings. That’s what they say anyway. We’ve been through challenging times these past few years, and here we are once again with autumn on our doorstep, bringing with it the undeniable realization that change is inevitable.

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Review of Prayer for the French Republic
A play by Joshua Harmon
At Huntington Theater through October 8, 2023

By Andy Hoffman

The Huntington Theater presents a new play by Joshua Harmon, Prayer for the French Republic, an extraordinary evening of theater. This ambitious drama concerns a family of French Jews and the uncertainty Jews everywhere feel about wherever they live. We may be comfortable now, the play posits, but for how long? We can look back to violent acts of antisemitism and ask ourselves, “Are we safe? Might we be safer somewhere else?”

With the community’s strong support, the Center for Arts at the Armory (CAA) exceeded its goal of 1,000 signatures on a petition related to the Armory Master Plan within a 30 day window. As promised, CAA has presented the petition results, the recording of the August 15th Community Meeting (see below for recording link), and an accompanying letter to the Mayor, Somerville City Council, Somerville Arts Council, the Armory Master Plan consultant Create Today, and the Somerville Armory Master Plan Advisory Committee.