~Photos by Bobbie Toner

SomerStreets: Monster Mash, the final SomerStreets festival of the year, took over Somerville Avenue on Sunday, October 30, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. There were family-friendly festivities for tricks and treats aplenty between School Street and Warren Avenue, including: The annual costume parade, led by School of HONK, all-day live music on two stages, the annual pumpkin carving contest, games for kids and various exhibitions for all to enjoy. 

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the City of Somerville Department of Veterans Services are thrilled to share that the city will host a joint Veterans Day ceremony with the City of Medford to honor all military who have served our country.

The Center for Arts at the Armory (CAA) announces that it will host and manage the 13th Annual Somerville Winter Farmers Market (SWFM) every Saturday beginning November 5 through April 8, 2023. This weekly market offers the best locally grown and regionally produced agricultural items, including vegetable produce, cheese, eggs, meats, fish, breads, pastries, and sweets. Each market will feature more than 35 weekly vendors and several rotating guest vendors while welcoming an anticipated 1,000 visitors.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Davis Square is in for some drastic changes.

We will say goodbye to Martsa on Elm, Tibetan Cuisine, When Pigs Fly, Dragon Pizza, Sligo pub, Kung Fu Tea, and McKinnon’s. Obliterated will be 231-249 Elm St and 6-8 Grove St. A science research center with commercial space will rise from the ruins.

1st place: Return of the Crimson Quackateers.

By Erica Dakin Voolich

On October 23, 21 high school students on seven teams gathered in the Gantcher Gym at Tufts University to compete in the Somerville Math Fund’s 16th annual Scrapheap Showdown.

SPS Athletic Director Stanley Vieira and Phil Reavis, Sr. view the new SHS trophy case which features a plaque with Reavis’ name, and a recent addition of Reavis’ Sports Illustrated cover feature.

By Jim Clark

The City of Somerville has a rich history of supporting the achievements of its many local athletes and athletics programs of its public and private schools. Some have gone on to excel in professional careers, gaining success and notoriety in their chosen fields of activity.

Former Somerville High School athlete and U.S. Olympian, Phil Reavis Sr., paid a visit to his alma mater on October 27 to tour the new high school field house and gym. Reavis, a graduate of the class of 1954, rose to international acclaim for his skill in track and field as a high jumper.

Community activist Stephenson Aman, who passed earlier this year.

During an October 26 meeting of the Memorialization Committee, the group tasked with the naming of public buildings, spaces, and streets voted unanimously to honor Stephenson Aman by naming one of the new streets coming to the soon-to-be redeveloped Clarendon Hill.

(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 Jack Connolly
Jackconnolly422@gmail.com

If you take a look at the previous Ward community meetings over the past several weeks on the city of Somerville website, you see that each one has a significant repeating ‘boilerplate’ theme for these Ward community get-togethers.

Historic reenactors helped to educate visitors about Milk Row Cemetery and its many “residents” during the “SomerStreets Monster Mash” event last Sunday. — Photos by Emilia Wisniewski

By Emilia Wisniewski

On the final SomerStreets event of the year, Milk Row Cemetery held their annual Ghosts of Somerville event on October 30.

People of all ages entered the cemetery for a guided tour and were able to interact with historical actors who told the stories of the people who were buried.

The Massachusetts general election is being held on Tuesday, November 8. This election will determine Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Auditor, Representative in Congress, Governor’s Council, Senator in General Court, Representative in General Court, District Attorney, and Sheriff. There are also four ballot questions. Sample ballots are available at somervillema.gov/sampleballots. Somerville voters can vote early, by mail, or on Election Day. For all information about voting in Somerville, go to somervillema.gov/elections.