Neighborhood Produce in Ball Square is offering fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, baked goods, and much more via online ordering. —Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Anqi Zhang

“It’s here and it’s epic, folks. It’s something we started pre-Covid and we didn’t let the pandemic stop us – we’re opening a second location in Ball Square!” wrote on the latest Instagram post from Neighborhood Produce, a grocery store located in the community of Sommerville.

For the past 15 years, an October weekend has been the moment when thousands of participants from the Greater Boston area in the USA have enjoyed the HONK! Festival of Activist Street Bands, a raucous celebration of music and community that took Somerville, by storm in 2006. Although the pandemic has made both intimate and spectacular gatherings impossible, they did not want to let a year go by without honoring and activating the HONK! spirit, especially in these times when it is urgent to fight for social justice and to renew our lives with the joy of music and art. HONK!United started on October 5 and will run through October 11. The best way to watch will be on YouTube at youtube.com/watch?v=l2K9XkWIPcc or on their website at honkunited.org/.

Veggie Crust’s kitschy exterior leads you into a world of Indian spices and aromas. Veggie Crust is known for its pizzas, but they also offer dosa, panini, pasta, salads, and vegan ice cream.

By Denise Keniston
tw:@denisekeniston

Veggie Crust’s neon “OPEN” sign welcomes you past the restaurant’s kitschy exterior and into an aromatic world of Indian culinary tradition and creativity. Here pizza is the name of the game.

If there’s one thing that most Americans cherish and revere it’s our freedom to express ourselves in our political and social opinions, and to even openly protest when we disagree so strongly about various issues that confront us – peaceful protest, of course.

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I really look forward to the fall season every year. However, I always think it comes on too fast, especially since I was just getting used to the summer weather. But I always think that about every other season too.

Harold Cohen
1/16/1931 – 9/29/2020

Harold Cohen – of Salem, MA and Boca Raton, FL, formerly of Swampscott and Nantucket, MA, entered into rest on Tuesday, September 29, 2020 surrounded by his family, at the age of 89. Beloved husband of the late Janice (Samuelson) Cohen. Devoted father of Jill & Tom Bloom of Hollywood, FL, Beth & Peter Shribman of Swampscott, MA, Linda & Steven Weinstein of Marblehead, MA, and Brian & Michele Cohen of Marblehead MA.  Cherished grandfather of Jeremy & Sharlene Weber, Ross & Ari Weber, Cory Weber, Randy Weber, Danny & Laura Shribman, Nikki & Doug Lutin, Katie & Mark O’Shea, Samantha & Zach Weiss, Tim Weinstein, Karly Cohen, Jake Cohen, Jessica Cohen, and the late Charlie Madyson Weber.  Treasured great-grandfather to Ava Weber, Tyler Weber, Harry Shribman, Benny Shribman, Lizzie Shribman, Kelsey Lutin, Jake Lutin, Nathan Weber and William O’Shea. The loving brother of Gertrude Gilman, the late James Cohen and the late Melvin Cohen. Dear son of the late Samuel and Minnie (Goldstein) Cohen.

Arrests:
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Steven Andrade, September 30, 10:23 p.m., arrested at Mystic Ave. on warrant charges of carrying a firearm with ammunition, improper storage of a firearm, possession of a firearm without FID card, distribution of a class D drug, carrying a firearm without a license, and possession of ammunition without FID card.

Marvin Vivas-Miguel, October 1, 1:45 a.m., arrested at Glen St. on multiple warrant charges of possession of a class B drug and distribution of a class B drug.

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The Essential Doug Holder: New and Selected Poems
By Doug Holder
$15 Big Table Publishing
http://bigtablepublishing.com

Review by Ravi Teja Yelamanchili

Doug Holder’s poetry is an examination of people and things, but more importantly their patinas. In many of the poems there is a gentle awareness conveyed to the reader – an acknowledgement that everything will eventually deteriorate. Holder’s poetry is subtle, deeply empathetic, and captures moments of vulnerability with unmatched elegance and fragility. In the poem On the Ward: Stuffed Animals, Holder writes:

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Janelle Solviletti is a twenty-five-year-old writer from Boston. The poem is an excerpt from her debut poetry book, The Cameo, which explores the tensions and competing entities between time and love. She hopes that those who delve into her poetry will recollect moments that were once taken for granted by time’s natural order. You can find out more about Janelle or order her new book on janellesolviletti.com.

Ward Councilors, City staff, and the Gilman Square Neighborhood Association will be holding a virtual meeting on Wednesday, October 7, to present conceptual streetscape designs and roadway improvements for the Gilman Square area. The meeting will run from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and interested parties can register to attend it at http://bit.ly/GilmanSqMeeting.