Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

I’ve been retired for almost five years. I miss that nice paycheck every week and my former work buddies but that’s it. I don’t miss the bosses at all. In fact, I have a recurring nightmare that has one of my past bosses terrorizing me. I don’t miss getting up early every day. I don’t miss cleaning the car off when it snows. I don’t miss taking orders from a little twerp – lol.

~Photos by Bobbie Toner
Sunday, September 11,SomerStreets:Strike Up the Bands took over Highland Ave. between Central St and Lowell St. It was a free and family friendly event. This street festival included local craft vendors, community tabling groups and many interactive activities for kids and adults. Also, Esh Circus Arts, Parkour Generations, Somerville Recreation activities, and Event Them bringing all the yard games.

Member (Mayor Emeritus) Eugene Brune, John Caruso, Kiwanis President Mernaysa Rivera-Bujosa.

On Thursday, September 8, the members of the Somerville Kiwanis Club gathered at the Mount Vernon Restaurant for the first joint meeting of District Kiwanis Clubs as well as local Service clubs since 2019.

The Brown School has received funds to renovate its playground and surrounding exterior spaces. ~ Photo courtesy of Ryan Williams

By Fernando Cervantes Jr.

In 2017, the Brown School PTA and its members were awarded funds by the City of Somerville to develop landscape design plans for the renovation. After approval from the city in late 2021 the playground was slated to be rebuilt this past summer.

Beginning in September 2022, the city will be making pedestrian safety and accessibility improvements around Davis Square. Planned improvements include ADA-compliant accessible curb ramps and crosswalks. These improvements will increase safety and make it easier for people to move around the square.

~Photos by Bobbie Toner
To cap off the summer season, Riverfest 2022 returned Saturday, September 10, at Assembly Row at Assembly. It was a day filled with free events, fun, and fireworks all brought to you by Assembly Row and Capital One Café. There was handmade goods at the mini craft fair brought to you by Boston Women’s Market,live music, a Chalk Walk, airbrush tattoos and retailer giveaways, all culminating in a fireworks show over the Mystic River!

The city is fitting out a new fire station on the corner of Middlesex Avenue and Foley Street in Assembly Square. The City Council approved the lease in Fall 2021 and the tenant fit out will start in 2023. The 10,000 square foot, first floor, fire station will be part of a larger development.

September is Recovery Month. Additional Narcan distributions will take place Thursday, September 15, in Union Square from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Friday, September 30, at Foss Park from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information, resources, or to get involved, email mmitchell@somervillema.gov or visit https://www.somervillema.gov.

Eagle Feathers #262 – City of Squares

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

Squares are hip throughout the world. London has its Trafalgar Square, Rome has its St. Peters Square, Moscow its Red Square, Paris its Place de la Concorde, Beijing its Tiananmen Square, and New York has its Time Square.

If there is one thing that most Somerville residents can agree on it’s the importance of supporting initiatives that help solve the problem of addiction and recovery in our community and others.

In recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day on Wednesday, August 31, and Recovery Month in September, the City of Somerville planted 15 purple flags on the City Hall lawn in memory of the 15 Somerville residents who died of an opioid-related overdose in 2021.