Public meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 28 to gather community feedback

A report detailing an exhaustive six-month evaluation of the city’s accessibility is now available at www.somervillema.gov/departments/personnel/ADA and by clicking the link “Self-Evaluation Plan” on the right-hand side of the page.

August’s installment of Open Streets series to feature local “green” initiatives and businesses, live entertainment, activities, food and more

Rt. 16 goes green this weekend as Somerstreets takes over just for the fun of it.

For the third installment of the 2013 SomerStreets series, the City of Somerville presents “Going Green on Rt. 16” scheduled for Sunday, August 18 from noon – 4:00 p.m. along Route 16 (Alewife Brook Parkway), from Broadway to Dilboy Stadium. For this unique street fair, where “roads are closed to cars and open to you,” programming includes: Curious Creatures exhibit; live entertainment; craft fair; green initiative businesses; mini golf course; free swim at Dilboy Pool, and much more.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The  Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and  do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff  or publishers)

There were lots of visitors to the old neighborhoods of Somerville. Visiting vendors, that is.  We saw the trusty milkman delivering those thick glass bottles for years. Remember the sound of the bottles clinking together in the metal cases? We heard the fruit man singing out “strawberries…raspberries…CHE–EEEE-RIES!” The Dydee diaper truck, the knife sharpener and ice cream man were always dropping by also.

By Jim Clark

Police officers took custody of a suspected shoplifter as he attempted to flee from store personnel at the Market Basket last week.

The officers were reportedly told that a man, Michael England, 30, was observed stuffing a package of pork ribs into his pocket by the store manager.

By William C. Shelton

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The  Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and  do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff  or publishers)

I’ve often heard that it’s unwise to discuss religion or politics in polite company. Having been raised by politically conservative fundamentalist Christians, I heard both topics discussed often and together from the time that I could understand words. And I will be discussing them both in this and the following column.

The athletic prowess of the members of the Somerville Boxing Club are set to have their abilities tested at the big fight night on August 23 at Dilboy Stadium. – Photo by Harry Kane

By Harry Kane

The second annual boxing tournament at Dilboy Stadium is quickly approaching, and all the boxers at the Somerville Boxing Club are training for the big fight night on Aug. 23.

By Jim Clark

A Somerville Police officer working a security detail at Market Basket last Sunday afternoon was approached by a woman who said that her purse had been stolen while she was inside the store, according to reports.

By Joseph A. Curtatone

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The  Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and  do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff  or publishers)

Protecting the environment and making your daily life easier do not have to be in conflict. As more and more people realize the importance of being green, making environmentally friendly choices is becoming simpler and more accessible. It’s that last part, accessibility, where government can step in and make the green choice the easy choice. Take the zero-sort recycling program that Somerville fully adopted in October 2011. Within nine months of eliminating the need to separate cans and bottles from paper and cardboard when recycling at home, the city’s recycling totals increased by 51 percent.

The new development on Broadway has its supporters and detractors, each eager to have the Somerville Planning Board see it their way. – Photo by Harry Kane

By Harry Kane

A new residential and commercial project at the edge of Somerville has been stalled because of concerns that the property under development is too close to the neighboring house.

‘Odysseo’ opens to standing ovation; extended to Sept. 1
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Cavalia’s ‘Odysseo’ will continue its run at Assembly Row through September 1. – Photo by François Bergeron

By Elizabeth Sheeran

Cavalia’s Odysseo opened at Somerville’s Assembly Row on August 7 to a completely full house. Skeptics have said the production could not possibly live up to all the advance hype generated by the U.S. premiere of the largest touring show in the world. But nearly all of the 2,000 spectators in the opening night audience were on their feet with a standing ovation as soon as the curtain call began.