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

By Chris Dwan

Somernova — a subsidiary of Rafi Properties —is applying for a zoning overlay under which they would demolish the low-slung industrial buildings along the railroad tracks between Market Basket and Park Street, replacing them with new buildings 9 to 16 stories tall — well beyond the four stories allowed by current zoning.

We here at The Times wish everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday. As we approach holiday gift shopping don’t forget to shop local to support local businesses.

The Somerville Bicycle Advisory Committee is weighing in on its views regarding plans to overhaul sidewalks and repave Tufts Street and its immediate environs. — Photos by Bobbie Toner

By Beatriz Leite

This past Thursday, November 16, the Somerville Bicycle Advisory Committee met to further discuss the plans for Tufts Street reconstruction. The meeting primarily centered on the concept design with a focus on the overarching goals to improve safety and accessibility.

Giving thanks for our blessings is normally an easy thing to do. We may often get caught up in the day-to-day trappings of scratching out a living, ducking misfortune, and seeking out an occasional highlight to add to our mental scrapbooks. Usually, though, we come around to feeling and expressing that special sense of appreciation and gratitude that comes in moments of quiet reflection just in time to validate ourselves as worthy recipients of such blessings.

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Whenever I ask what I can bring to a gathering, this particular appetizer is the most requested. I have made other recipes over the years for stuffed mushrooms, but have been disappointed with the stuffing coming out soggy. After multiple testings of my own recipe I finally came up with a combination where multiple textures are experienced, moist on the inside and crunchy on the top.

The new Brown Schoolyard. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and Superintendent Rubén Carmona invited the Somerville community to join a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Brown Schoolyard on Tuesday, November 14. New schoolyard features including ADA accessible surfaces, colorful court game markings, a small turf field, seating, garden beds, stormwater management features to prevent puddling and flooding, and more were introduced to those who attended.

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I have heard about Somerville artist Martha Friend and her expansive “found” projects for a while now. So I decided to contact for an interview.

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Tom Driscoll is a poet, columnist, and essayist. He lives in Lowell, Massachusetts with his wife, artist Denise Driscoll. The Champion of Doubt was published in the summer 2023 from Finishing Line Press. Previously, he had released several collections of poetry, including Odd Numbers and Absence Singing as well as a volume of song lyrics, Songs For All The Wrong Reasons and Personal Histories a collection of short prose. Tom’s poem Duty Leave Home won the Robert P. Collén Poetry Prize in 2017. Notes on Demolition was selected an Editor’s Choice for the Allen Ginsberg Prize and This isn’t the first time received Third Place in The Frank O’Hara Prize, both in 2021.

This Thursday (11/23) morning, the Somerville Road Runner’s 27th annual Gobble Gobble Gobble road race will be held in and around the Davis, Teele, Ball, and Magoun Square areas.