This week will mark one year since the passing of Donald and Patricia Norton. Donald was, of course, the publisher of The Somerville Times, a successful real estate agent, and a colorful presence in the city. We miss them both and are thinking of them at this time.

Meal of Fortune Week replaces the Foodie Crawl of past years, but the experience and delicious world cuisines are still available. Support your local restaurants!

By Denise Keniston
tw:@denisekeniston

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 has pretty much touched everything and anything that has to do with restaurants, and that includes East Somerville Main Streets’ much-loved Foodie Crawl, taking place every September.

Out of necessity, organizers are changing things up this year and rolling out a foodie week compliant with state COVID-19 rules. “Meal of Fortune Week” will offer food lovers a fun and flavorful event.

Local favorites Mallcops are up for several awards at the upcoming 2020 Boston Music Awards.

Mallcops, Somerville’s own “emotional rockstars,” have been nominated in four categories for the 2020 Boston Music Awards. The nods include Album of the Year, Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Punk/Hardcore Artist of the Year, and Music Artwork of the Year. The awards ceremony has been celebrating rising stars in the Boston music scene since 1987. Past-winners include Donna Summer, Aerosmith, Boston, Shea Rose, Amanda Palmer, Phish, and James Taylor.

Eagle Feathers #214 – The Conway Complex

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

Conway Park celebrates the memory of Somerville’s United States Army hero, Sergeant Patrick Conway, who was killed in action during World War I. Patrick was an immigrant, born in County Galway, Ireland, and is buried in the American Cemetery at Lorraine, France.

Knowing what to do – if anything – about occupation of public spaces by the homeless is a complex issue.

Most of us feel compassion for these people, but few can offer viable solutions to both their needs and the public interest in keeping these spaces safe and uncluttered.

*

Review by Off the Shelf Correspondent Dennis Daly

Too often contemporary poetry dwells on the versifier rather than the verse. The confessional reigns and the uniqueness and self-importance of the poet drives both the narrative and the music. In the worst and most extreme examples of this navel-gazing art the poet and his readers develop an unhealthy bond of elitism, which separates them from any objective world view and renounces the joy of detail shared by soulful creation.

*
Cynthia Duda lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina where she enjoys tennis, gardening, and the company of her wire-fox terrier. She teaches writing on the collegiate level. Her work has appeared in Ibbeston Street, The Comstock Review, Hanging Loose, and The Atlanta Review among others.

Representative Mike Connolly of Somerville and Cambridge spoke at today’s virtual press conference

Nearly 30 organizations and over 200 physicians, state legislators, community and public health leaders have signed a letter urging Governor Baker to act to concretely curb the spread of COVID-19 by implementing stringent workplace protections, provide actionable contact tracing reports, and enact legislation to help Massachusetts residents comply with public health directives. The group issued the letter publicly at a virtual press conference on Tuesday, September 29, 2020 at 11 A.M. 

Everyone has a role to play to combat foreign influence and protect our elections

The Boston Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is providing the public with information to guard against foreign influence and disinformation campaigns in advance of the 2020 election.

Arrests:
*

Adam Ackerley, September 21, 10:34 p.m., arrested at Assembly Row on a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon.

Lennox Pierre-Louis, of Brighton, September 23, 9:16 p.m., arrested at MacArthur St. on charges of receiving a stolen motor vehicle and resisting arrest.