By Stephanie Hirsch

As we wrap up summer, and get back into fall routines, I’d like to pass along kudos to three of the many people who help keep our children engaged when school is not in session. What Sam, Ramón, and Michael have in common, according to the colleagues who nominated them, is that they keep kids safe, they help children and adults feel happy and included, and they inspire learning, fun, and action.

(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 State Representative Christine P. Barber

Daily we hear of new attacks by the Trump Administration on the rights of immigrants – from threatening DACA and TPS holders, to threatening to deport those with serious medical issues, to separating children from their parents in brutal ways. Now more than ever, we need to stand up and protect our local immigrant communities.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro
The 10th Annual Somerville Dog Festival, a community-wide event to celebrate dogs and the families who love them, took place last Sunday at Trum Field.

By Marshall Collins

While the Boston area’s real estate market continues to expand, financial forecasts warn of a forthcoming economic downturn. However, in Somerville, the master developer selected by the city to revitalize Union Square, Union Square Associations (US2), may finally break ground very soon.

Eagle Feathers #187 – Historic Elm Street

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

Cambridge has its celebrated Washington Elm Tree under which General George Washington drew his sword and took command of the Continental Army on July 3, 1775. Somerville also has its historic Elm.

Although 18 years will have passed since the terrible and tragic events of September 11, 2001, took place, for many of us the shock and horror remains fresh in our memories.

And since we, as New Englanders, were relatively close to the sites of destruction and loss of life, we can perhaps feel those sensations of sadness and even anger a little deeper than some others might, especially since our own Logan Airport played a role in the perpetrator’s deadly scheme.

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Book Review by Off the Shelf Correspondent Ed Meek

Charles Simic is now 81 years old. He’s been a force in the world of poetry for many years. He has penned forty books of poetry. He writes articles about poetry for The New York Review of Books. He was a Poetry Editor for The Paris Review, won the Pulitzer Prize in 1990, and was the recipient of a MacArthur Grant. His poetry is somewhat enigmatic. His poems are generally short, combining colloquial language, observed details and surrealism. Here’s an early poem that has stuck with me. It’s called Fear:

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Sharon Paradiso teaches English and gender studies at Endicott College. Her work has appeared in The Faulkner Journal, Modern Language Studies, and English Language Notes. Lately, she’s been inspired by feathers on the ground in unusual places.

Somerville voters headed to the polls today to cast ballots for Mayor and Ward 3 School Committee in a preliminary election, which is similar to a primary election.

Voters narrowed down both the mayoral and the Ward 3 School Committee candidates to two candidates each. This was a nonpartisan preliminary and all voters were permitted to vote for any candidate running for either office.

Arrests:
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Stacy Powell,  September 3, 12:53 a.m., arrested at Cutter Ave. on a charge of operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor.

Jeffrey Lefoy,  Quincy, September 3, 1:18 a.m., arrested at Moreland St. on a charge of receiving a stolen motor vehicle.