By Jennifer Purcell

On Saturday, September 16, residents of Somerville gathered at The Growing Center’s garden oasis for a fairy-themed event for children and adults of all ages, the Gathering of the Fairies. Attendees were encouraged to dress up as their favorite fairies and immerse themselves in the world of imagination as they turned the beautiful garden into their playground.

(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

Last week, as I often do, I complained on social media (https://twitter.com/somershade1/status/1701725665936957598).

This time it was about a dumpster in the street at 371 Beacon Street in Somerville, MA. The builders have had it there for months, blocking a part of the intersection where the bike lane ends, where Beacon Street meets Oxford Street at an oblique angle, where Somerville becomes Cambridge, and a few feet from a sharp bend in the road leading to the complex intersection of Beacon Street and Somerville Ave.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Of all the old businesses in Somerville, I miss The Venice Cafe most. But there are plenty of past businesses that we would like to see come back. Somerville Lumber was one of my favorite stores. I’m going to toss out a few places my Facebook friends shared.

Somerville’s restaurateurs are likely to face new fees imposed by the city in the near future for use of public space for outdoor dining.

By Beatriz Leite

This past Thursday, Rachel Nadkarni, representing the City of Somerville, held a meeting regarding the Outdoor Dining License Fees for the 2024 season and beyond. The proposal will be taken to the mayor’s office and have it established by October.

A final listening session was recently held by Somerville’s Anti-Displacement Task Force concerning rent stabilization in the city.

By Jennifer Purcell

On the evening of Tuesday, September 12, Somerville’s Anti-Displacement Task Force (ADTF) held its third and final rent stabilization listening session. Much like the previous two sessions, residents of Somerville were invited to voice their opinions on the subject and share their personal experiences in order to aid the task force in making an educated decision regarding what should and should not be included in the home repetition process. The questions that ADTF chair Luis Quizhpe asked listeners to focus on were as follows:

Spanish rock band Calypso performing at Sunday’s SomerStreets event. — Photos by Bobbie Toner

SomerStreets: Strike Up the Bands returned to Highland Ave. on Sunday, September 17. The day was filled with entertainment for everyone, whether you were dancing with Los Nitidos or rocking out with Spanish rock band Calypso. The Alejando Brittes Quarte demonstrated to the crowd,  the core elements of chamamé music. In addition to live music, the festival included craft vendors, community tabling groups, and interactive activities, including performances by the Boston League of Wicked Wrestlers (BLOWW). The next SomerStreets event will be held on October 22, 2:00 – 6:00 p.m., with a rain date of October 29, on Somerville Avenue from School Street to Warren Avenue in Union Square.

(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 Jason Mackey

Remember the “this car survived Highland Avenue” bumper sticker that circulated on Reddit last Spring? Initially, it was a humorous nod to our communal struggles with Highland Avenue’s deteriorating condition. But as seasons have changed, that fun joke is now overshadowed by the undeniable realities that Highland Avenue is an unmitigated disaster and getting worse by the day.

Reminder: Green Line Union Branch service is suspended through Thursday, October 12, to allow for MassDOT work on the Route 28 Squires Bridge. Riders can use Routes 86, 91, and CT2 between Union Square and East Somerville Station on the Medford Branch. These routes also service Sullivan Square Station on the Orange Line. Route 87 can also be used between Union Square and Lechmere Station.