— Photos by Bobbie Toner

Shortly before midnight last night, the Somerville Fire Department responded to a fire on Thurston Street to find a house under construction fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters operated a three-alarm fire working to keep the neighboring houses from the fire. The home under construction eventually collapsed and the homes on either side of the fire sustained extensive damage.

No injuries were reported. The Red Cross is assisting residents displaced. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Buffalo Bob Smith, Clarabelle the clown, and a wooden puppet named Howdy Doody entertained all of us members of the peanut gallery in the early days of television. They don’t make TV shows like they used to, do they?

Fair Housing means no discrimination! Candidates for Mayor and City Council had the chance to present their views on non-discrimination in housing by answering a questionnaire from the Somerville Fair Housing Commission, a nonpartisan group of volunteers. We are sharing all the answers we received. The Commission hopes you, the voters, will use the candidates’ answers as you decide how to vote in the September 16 primary and the November general election.

Children’s book author and illustrator, Jef Czekaj, with a couple of friends. — Photo by Jacy Edelman

By Norah Doyle

If you caught the “Might Delete Later” reading event the other week on Thursday, August 7, at Remnant Brewing, then you may be familiar with children’s book author and illustrator, Jef Czekaj.

Czekaj is a Somerville native, having resided here for more than 20 years, and moved to Arlington during the pandemic. 

The Fair Housing Commission recently held an online community meeting to discuss several issues of public interest.

The Somerville Fair Housing Commission discussed how to inform voters, reduce barriers for housing voucher holders, and address criminal record discrimination in an online public meeting last Thursday.

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Somerville Arts Council, in partnership with producer Yvette Wilks of Wilks Productions Consultancy, invite community members to the eleventh annual Evolution of Hip Hop Festival on Saturday, August 23 (rain date: August 24), from 4:00 to 7:30 p.m. in Union Square Plaza. Evolution of Hip Hop is an annual ArtsUnion festival and is free for all to attend. This year’s event is building an intergenerational community of those who love music, beats, and storytelling, which are part of the many components of Hip Hop.

This September, purple flags will once again be placed on the front lawn of Somerville City Hall to honor residents whose lives were lost to opioid-related overdose in 2024 and in years past. The annual display is part of the city’s recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day and Recovery Month.

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Tucked into the heart of Teele Square, The Buzzin’ Bean is a cozy vegetarian café that delivers far more than just a good cup of coffee. With a warm, welcoming atmosphere and standout customer service, this local gem has quickly become a favorite of mine.

This September, purple flags will once again be placed on the front lawn of Somerville City Hall to honor residents whose lives were lost to opioid-related overdose in 2024 and in years past. The annual display is part of the city’s recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day and Recovery Month.

On Thursday, August 28, Mayor Ballantyne will host an Overdose Remembrance Event to remember the eight Somerville residents who passed away from a substance use-related overdose in 2024.