The Labor Day holiday is Monday, September 2. City offices will be closed. Trash pickup will be delayed by one day for the full week. We wish everyone a safe happy Labor Day weekend!

Once again it is time to shift gears and power down a bit as we roll out of the high-octane frenzy of summer time and into the laid back breezy days of autumn and on into the winter months ahead.

We all need to become a bit more aware of what lies ahead of us on the road, and to be especially alert to activities near our schools and playgrounds as the kids are now back to their normal schedules.

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I absolutely love salads during the summer months. We have a small garden in our yard and usually just grow tomatoes and herbs. But this year, we added zucchini and cucumbers to the mix. Needless to say, we had an abundance of great vegetables. About 50 tomatoes, some picked already, and some still growing on the vines. Many zucchinis, I was able to make zucchini bread and zucchini meatballs, all meatless of course.

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Origami Night, a choreo poem based on the poetry of Pamela Annas. Performed by Elenaluisa Alvarez; narrated by Luz Nicolàs; choreographed by Graham Cole; libretto, set design and lighting by Christopher Annas-Lee; costumes designed by Virginia Belt. At the Boston Center for the Arts Plaza Black Box Theatre, 539 Tremont Street, Boston, Massachusetts.

 Review by Off the Shelf correspondent Tom Daley

Recently I went to see Origami Night at the Black Box Theater at Boston Center for the Arts. I want to most enthusiastically encourage anyone who is able to brave the heat wave we are enduring in the Boston area to get out and take in this riveting, brain-shimmering, thoroughly engaging fifty minutes of theater, which has three performances remaining (the theater is air-conditioned, in case that wasn’t clear!).

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Eric Benson Taylor is a multifaceted artist whose talents span music composition, poetry, and film producer. As a music composer and performer, he is best known under the moniker The Dystopian Rhythms, captivating audiences with dynamic performances that blend poetic lyrics and evocative melodies. His approach to songwriting is deeply rooted in poetry, adding an extra layer of meaning and resonance to his music. Eric’s passion for storytelling extends beyond music into the realm of film. He has produced notable documentaries such as City as Canvas: Above the Free Walls, Turning The Page, and Art In Public. His poems, such as Long Ago, Summer Sky, and Pendulum of Memories, weave rich tapestries of imagery and emotion.

Arts at the Armory’s Spotlight Series will kick off its 3rd full season with singer-songwriter Lady Lamb on Friday, September 6.

From her humble beginnings in a video rental store in Brunswick, Maine to the stages of New York City, Lady Lamb’s journey has been one of passion and profound musicality. Before Lady Lamb was a breakout star, she would stay long after her shift ended at the local video store to experiment and record music all night. The young artist distributed her first recordings in homemade packages to music stores in Brunswick, like Bullmoose Record Store. Lady Lamb was quick to develop a reputation on New England stages for quieting rowdy crowds with arresting a cappella melodies to open her sets. Lady Lamb moved to New York to make a name for herself when she turned 20.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is recognizing 103 WIC clinics, among 10,000 nationally, with WIC Breastfeeding Awards of Excellence for work being done to help moms and babies successfully breastfeed. In Massachusetts, two clinics received awards:

• Cambridge Health Alliance, Somerville, MA, Premiere, with 58% of moms fully or partially breastfeeding
• Health First Family Care Center, Fall River WIC Program, Fall River, MA, Gold, with 32% of moms fully or partially breastfeeding

On Tuesday, September 3, 2024 the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will hold its State Primary Elections.

The offices on the ballot for this election include:

• U.S. Senator
• U.S. Representative
• Governor’s Councillor
• State Senator
• State Representative
• Register of Deeds
• Clerk of Courts

The primary election is open to all registered voters in Somerville. Somerville voters can vote early in person or by mail or on Election Day.