The Healthy Soil chapter of Mothers Out Front will host a movie night on September 14 spotlighting climate change issues. — Photo courtesy of Mothers Out Front

By Bella Levavi

Chapters of the national organization, Mothers Out Front, are working in Somerville, devoting their time and expertise to fighting climate change at the local level.

The organization started in Somerville and Cambridge in 2012 when one mother had the idea to include mothers in the climate change conversation. Now there are 20 local chapters in Massachusetts, and the organization has mothers fighting in 20 states across the country.

All of us here at The Somerville Times want to wish everyone a happy and safe Labor Day weekend. As summer transitions into fall, we want everyone to keep looking forward to the better times ahead. May the troubles of the past soon be far behind us.

Somerville Human Rights Commission Co-Commissioner Christopher Spicer-Hankle.

By Fernando Cervantes Jr.

On Thursday, August 26, the Somerville Human Rights Commission held a monthly virtual meeting focusing on the overall functioning of the commission.

The meeting, hosted by Commissioners Christopher Spicer-Hankle and Lara Versari, mainly concentrated on the pressing need for an Executive Director for the Human Rights Commission.

How much do we love summer? It’s certain that we all feel varying degrees of enthusiasm for the season. Some may live to revel in the warm sunshine, while others might prefer a cooler climate, even to the extent of pining for snowy picture-postcard scenes straight out of Currier and Ives.

Something that we should all be able to agree on is the fact that the nice weather sure makes it easier to get around to do fun and exciting things. Whether visiting friends and family – within the confines of COVID-19 guidelines – going to the seashore or nearby woodlands, there is plenty to do here in this beautiful and environmentally diverse part of the world.

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I was introduced to a dessert called magas a couple of weeks ago. A friend came over for a visit and brought a few of these sweet squares to try. I was instantly intrigued by this flavor profile and I asked how they were made. I was lucky enough to have a lesson from my neighbor, Shakuntla Patel, who was kind enough to share this recipe. It’s a common dessert of Gujarat in North East India. It has a nutty and buttery flavor and is best described as a fudge that is rich, dense and sweet.

Arrests:
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Emmanuel Robles, of Boston, August 24, 3:23 p.m., arrested at Middlesex Ave. on warrant charges of larceny under $1200, shoplifting by asportation, trespassing, and possession of a class A drug.

Mark Rankin, of Everett, August 26, 5:23 p.m., arrested at Somerville Ave. on a charge of shoplifting by concealing merchandise.

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Somerville writer Clea Simon has written a number of books, ranging from a cat/mystery series, to a book exploring the mental illness of her brother. She has a new novel out, Hold Me Down, that according to the publisher’s website is about:

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Gerry Grubbs is an attorney. He has several books from Dos Madres Press, his most recent is Chrysanthemum Moon. This poem touched me because it is about his communication with his late wife. We are sort of fellow travelers.

State bridges, transit hubs, and local buildings to be lit up in purple as part of national effort to remember lives lost to overdose

Massachusetts will recognize August 31 as Overdose Awareness Day – a day held to remember the lives lost to overdoses, to dispel stigma surrounding addictions and to offer hope and recognize individuals’ recovery from substance use disorder.

Purple flags will be placed in remembrance of those in Somerville who have lost their  lives from an opioid-related overdose in 2020. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

In recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, and Recovery Month in September, the City of Somerville will plant 14 purple flags on the lawn of City Hall in memory of the 14 Somerville residents who died of an opioid-related overdose in 2020. A larger flag will also be on display in recognition of all Somerville residents who have died of an overdose. City Hall will be lit with purple lights through September to bring awareness to Recovery Month.