Two popular Somerville Arts Council events – PorchFest and the Ignite! Global Food and Fire Festival – are happening Saturday, October 2 (rain date Sunday, October 3). PorchFest musicians of most genres you have heard – and probably a few you haven’t – will be playing live music around the city on porches and in yards between noon and 6:00 p.m. Performers will be given a time to play based on where they are located: west of Willow Avenue performs from noon to 2:00 p.m., between Willow Avenue and Central Street performs from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., and east of Central Street performs from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. A full list of performers and a map of performer locations is available at somervilleartscouncil.org. There is also still time to sign up to play PorchFest. Registration is open on the Somerville Arts Council’s website until Thursday, September 30.

— Photos by Eileen Qiu and Union Square Main Streets.

By Eileen Qiu

Let’s take a trip back to 1917, when a man from Somerville who went by the name Archibald Query went door to door selling a sweet white fluffy confectionary cream.

Query lost interest in his business after facing hardships from WWI and sold his recipe to Harold Durkee and Fred Mower for $500. Durkee and Mower started making batches in a kitchen at night and selling them during the day, catalyzing the creation of Marshmallow Fluff in 1920.

*

This past week I harvested two cups of jalapeños from the garden and decided to pickle them to preserve them a bit longer. I made a black bean soup and topped it with guacamole and the pickled jalapeños. They are also great in salads, sandwiches, and wherever else you want to add a burst of heat and flavor.

Ready or not, this year’s installment of PorchFest will be hitting the city this coming weekend.

Those who have, in the past, taken notice of the event – and it is an event that is rather difficult not to notice – usually have fairly strong opinions of approval or distaste for the goings on.

Arrests:
*

Steven Collymore, of Cambridge, September 22, 4:52 p.m., arrested at Assembly Row on charges of larceny under $1200, removal of theft prevention device, furnishing a false ID, and possession of a counterfeit note, and on warrant charges of larceny under $1200, larceny over $1200, shoplifting by asportation, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and threat to commit a crime.

*

I caught up with Somerville composer Reynaliz Herrera, who uses very unconventional objects as instruments.

Doug Holder: You are originally from Mexico. How has Somerville been for your life as an artist?

Reynaliz Herrera: I’ve lived in Boston for 11 years now and lived specifically in Somerville on and off for the past years. I love how Somerville is so mindful and supportive of its artists, I feel like there are a lot of opportunities for artists in this area (festivals, events, grants, etc.) and I like that the scene here is also very supportive of “quirky art,” and art that doesn’t necessarily fit a particular genre. We need that!

*
Dennis Daly has published eight books of poetry and poetic translations. His most recent book Shield Wall (Dos Madres, 2021) resurrects the rondel form as used by Francois Villon (a disappeared French poet of the fifteenth century). Daly writes, “The following rondel is from Shield Wall, my just released collection from the Dos Madres Press.” Visit Daly’s blog, Weights and Measures, at dennisfdaly.blogspot.com.

Due to rain expected on September 28, the Healey Community Play Area ribbon cutting ceremony at 5 Meacham Street has been rescheduled for Thursday, October 7, at 1:45 p.m.  

Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Ward 4 City Councilor Jesse Clingan invite you to celebrate the newly renovated playground, formerly known as the tot lot, which features state-of-the-art play structures for children ages 2 through 5, an expanded natural area with log seating, and bright colors and graphics. The design was developed in partnership with the Healey School community and the Friends of Healey group. Renovations were funded entirely using Community Preservation Act funds.