The Somerville Times submitted six questions to the candidates for Governor, along with the opportunity to include a short bio/statement. The following answers were submitted by the candidates:

The unused building at the corner of Avon and School Streets sustained serious damage to its roof during last week’s patch of rough weather. — Photos by Donald F. Norton

By Donald F. Norton

A long deserted building at the corner of Avon and School Streets lost big portions of its roof from the huge winds and rain that struck the city throughout last week.

The property, which has a huge fence around it and has been abandoned for many years, is apparently owned by the MBTA own. According to the neighbor directly on the other corner, former Mayor Dot Gay, mentioned that they bought their home in 1973 and the building has sat there unoccupied for all that time. She saw that a big portion of the roof came off and notified the city and local Ward 3 Alderman Bob McWatters. Alderman McWatters immediately put forth an order at the last Board of Alderman meeting for the city to notify the owners to do something about it and to report back to the Alderman.

The Somerville Times submitted 5 questions to the candidates for the 34th Middlesex District State Representative seat, along with the opportunity to include a short bio/statement. The following answers were submitted by the candidates:

Don’t forget next Tuesday, November 4, is Election Day. It’s our duty to go out and vote so we can have a say in what’s happening. Everyone should vote. There should be a line a mile long at each polling place. All the candidates that are running for office have worked hard for your consideration.

The repairs at Somerville High School’s auditorium are breathtaking. — Photos by Donald Norton

By Donald F. Norton

The Somerville High Auditorium is done and ready for use, after repairs were made for the damage that was done in 2012.

In January of this year, the Board of Aldermen authorized the city to borrow $2.6 million to renovate the Somerville High School auditorium, kitchen and cafeteria. All of these areas had been damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The amount was later increased to $3,090,000 in July. Some of that money used will come from an insurance claim to help pay for damages.

A unique advocacy and arts program featuring presentations by leading disability advocates, performances by talented poets with disabilities, and a demonstration of new technology that aids accessibility will celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month in Somerville.

U.S. Army Veteran Frank Ellis sprints onto the field at Gillette Stadium for a running drill. He is joined by U.S. Air Force Veteran Paul O’Connor of Raynham, MA.

By Tom Bannister

Frank Ellis of Somerville spent a dream day at Gillette Stadium working on his football skills with New England Patriots alumni while being cheered on by Patriots mascot Pat Patriot and New England Patriots cheerleaders, all courtesy of CVS Health.

In a salute to some of the men and women across New England who have served our country, CVS Health and the New England Patriots teamed up to host the third annual CVS Health/New England Patriots Football Skills Camp for Veterans.

Paige Shippie, one of our talented students at Endicott College, took on the challenging task to review poet Afaa Michael Weaver’s new collection of poetry City of Eternal Spring. Weaver recently won the Kingsley Tufts Award in Poetry.

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Bagel Bard Dona Stein writes: “After a Stegner Fellowship in Poetry at Stanford University and some years in California teaching, writing, and publishing, I lived in Colorado also teaching, writing, and publishing, but also producing and hosting a radio program, The Poetry Show on KRFC FM in Fort Collins, Colorado. My most recent poetry collection is Alice in Deutschland.”

The second of two job fairs this year, hosted by Somerville’s First Source Jobs Initiative, will be held on Wednesday, October 29, from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the Cambridge Health Alliance/Somerville Hospital Campus (230 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA). This is an opportunity to connect Somerville residents to local jobs. Job seekers who live, work or study in Somerville, or have been displaced within a year, are encouraged to attend.