FREE Halloween event features safe trick-or-treating, pumpkin decorating, activities for kids, and more!

 Join the City of Somerville on Thursday, October 24, for the annual “Haunted Hall” event on the City Hall concourse from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The family-friendly event will feature costumed safe Trick-or-Treating, giant pumpkin decorating, games and activities, refreshments, and more. Due to construction at Somerville High School, the haunted pathway element of the event will be replaced this year with painting giant pumpkins as well as children’s games, sponsored by the Somerville Recreation Department.

In observance of Indigenous People’s Day on Mon., October 14, city offices will be closed, there will be no street sweeping, and parking meters & residential parking passes will not be enforced. Trash & recycling collection will be on a one-day delay all week.

For more information, please contact 311 (617-666-3311).

October 17 marks the 60th wedding anniversary of Thomas (Pete) and Jacqueline Peters. It has been an incredible marriage for these two beautiful people. Pete was born in Pennsylvania and enlisted in the Navy. While in the Navy and stationed in Boston, Pete met Jackie (who has lived in Somerville her entire life) at the Bal-a-Roue Skating rink in Medford. They dated for several years before being married at St. Joseph’s Church in Union Square. They have three daughters: Jacqueline, Patricia and Christine; five grandchildren: Natasha, Neena, Kimberlee, Domenic and Nicholas; and one great granddaughter: Aspen. Congratulations Pete and Jackie.

Public greenways along the Mystic River are undergoing great changes for the better thanks to contributions by Encore Boston Harbor casino and Somerville Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding.

The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) applauds the extraordinary progress being made to revitalize and connect public greenways along the Mystic River and its tributaries. Since breaking ground in 2016, the Encore Boston Harbor casino has been the highest profile project on the Mystic River. What is less obvious is that many other waterfront parks and walk/bike paths involving tens of millions of dollars of new investment are also underway.

The Kennedy Pool has been undergoing a needed renovation project. The pool re-opened on October 10th with Adult Lap Swim and Family Swim from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Please see the online calendar for the Kennedy pool schedule.

Through Traffic to Be Restored Five Months Early
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As Green Line Extension construction has progressed, the MBTA announced this week that a new schedule has been determined that will restore through traffic on Washington St. five months earlier than previously anticipated.

(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 Joseph A. Curtatone

Taking a closer look at notable city data—and interesting numbers.

2 sides: The debate over supervised consumption facilities for persons with opioid addiction has strong opinions on both sides. Some argue the facilities can prevent overdose deaths and connect users to recovery programs. Others argue that the facilities can legitimize drug use or draw crime to the area. In Somerville, we’ve reviewed the data, and we are now looking into supervised consumption as a harm reduction tool. Harm reduction strives to minimize the risks and harms caused by drug use. It is a strategy many doctors, researchers, and advocates are calling for as part of our response to the opioid epidemic.

By Jim Clark

While on patrol along McGrath Hwy. last Thursday afternoon, a Somerville Police officer observed the operator of a moped make an illegal U-turn at the intersection of McGrath Hwy. and Greenville St.

The officer activated the cruiser’s lights and sirens and attempted to stop the moped at the intersection of McGrath Hwy. and Washington St.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

First published in the June 10, 2009 edition.

As a nosey loudmouth who always adds his two cents, whether anyone wants to hear it or not, here comes about $500.00 worth of gripes.

It’s hard enough driving in the first place, but when a jogger is running toward you in traffic, that is just plain treacherous. First, you have to swerve away from him or her because, well, it’s a natural reaction. This poses the problem of swerving into the oncoming traffic, thus scarring the hell out of the driver in the other lane. WHY? Why do you people want to give us drivers heart attacks?

Donald F. Norton– Of Somerville passed away quietly in his home, surrounded by many friends, on October 9, 2019.

Beloved husband of the late of Patricia R. (Manahan) Norton.

Dear son of the late Julia (Brosnan) Dugan and stepson of the late Raymond Dugan.