The timeframe benchmark of summer for old and new Somervillians has been Memorial Day to Labor Day for as far back as we can remember. For the last 20 to 25 years, the location benchmark has been Falmouth/Cape Cod. Only in the last couple of years has the Lake Winnipesaukee region grown in any kind of measurable popularity.

This usually means not much in the way of excitement happens in and around Somerville – other than the fireworks and maybe one or two trips back here for a cruise/fundraiser on Boston Harbor. That seemed to be the direction this summer was taking, but ended up being cut short, and for a number of reasons.

One need only look towards local news highlights over the last several weeks to get a snapshot of why this summer seemed to be cut so short:  an incumbent who lost his signatures, an elected official who lived up to the moniker ‚Äúvideo-boy‚Äù, a write-in campaign as a result of said antics, a charter commission farce, an even greater ‚Äúnew and improved‚Äù condo conversion ordinance farce and an indicted local attorney – and that’s the short list.

Toss in the just-ended Olympics and now the foaming at the mouth style political Party Conventions, and you have a delicious stew of pod people just bristling to get out there and spread the word, so to speak, of their latest ideal (obsession?).

Contrary to the narrow-minded opinion of some, we at The Somerville News try to keep an open mind when it comes to people, places and politics – our personal political proclivities range from moderately conservative to progressive/middle of the road and all the way over to the far liberal left. So, it will be interesting to see the events unfold over the next few months into what is being called an ‚Äúearly winter‚Äù by the Old Farmer’s Almanac. Stay with us and enjoy the ride.