Enjoy live performances and 40 local vendors offering food, gifts, and activities

On Saturday, May 30, join the third annual New England Hong Kong Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Seven Hills Park in Somerville to celebrate the culture, food, and creativity of the Hongkonger community across the region. The event is free and open to all. Rain date is Sunday, May 31.  

Parade steps off at 11 a.m. from City Hall; Accessible parking spaces and viewing area available on first-come basis; Remembrance ceremony to follow on 5/25

This weekend, events kick off in Somerville to honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans. First, join us this Saturday, May 16, for the “Salute to Service” parade (also known as Somerville’s Memorial Day parade). Then on Monday, May 25, Somerville’s annual Memorial Day remembrance ceremony will be held at Veterans Cemetery.

By Dennis Fischman

S.A. Cosby, a multiple-time winner of the Anthony Awards at the World Mystery Convention, grew up in Virginia. He was influenced by Southern Gothic literature, and it shows. Another Southern writer, William Faulkner, famously wrote, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” That’s certainly true in this book, where both the hero, Sheriff Titus Crown, and Charon County, VA, his territory, are haunted by shades of racism, violence, and death.

The City of Somerville’s annual Water System Flushing Program will begin on Monday, May 18, and conclude in late October. This annual program flushes pipes at high velocities to clean water mains and maintain the highest possible water quality. 

Somerville is bringing art into City Hall with the new Community Collections series of rotating art exhibits. The program puts the halls and walls of City Hall to use as a mini-gallery to feature community and student artwork.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Last week’s Porchfest, with huge numbers of people crowding the streets, brought back memories of when I was a kid and played in the neighborhoods. There were kids everywhere. Most streets were two-way back in the 60’s and 70’s. We played games like buck buck and Relieve E O.

Despite the rain, thousands of people came out Saturday to enjoy a day of free, live musical performances throughout the city. Hundreds of bands at more than 500 locations performed music ranging from indie, punk, and hip hop to Latin, jazz, country, and world music. ~ Photos by Bobbie Toner, Denise Provost, and Will Mbah.