This is the largest Brazilian cultural event in New England, and is organized by the community for the community with a lot of help from volunteers. This year, the festivities will be held from September 3rd to the 8th, and there will be plenty of activity. Massachusetts is home to one of the largest and most organized Brazilian communities in the United States.

Celebrate Pixels of Somerville,Saturday, August 24, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m., Central Library, 79 Highland Ave.

This month, the library is pleased to display the artwork of local artist Jael Whitney Brothers in the Gallery @ SPL with her exhibition: Pixels of Somerville. 

Benford to depart dual roles as Boston Housing Authority Police Chief and Boston Chief of Emergency Management to lead Somerville PD  

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne announced today the selection of Boston’s Shumeane Benford as the City of Somerville’s new police chief. After a thorough community-driven, nationwide search, Benford will assume leadership of the Somerville Police Department on September 16. The 30-year law enforcement veteran will be departing current dual roles as Boston Housing Authority Police Chief as well as Boston Chief of Emergency Management.  

(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 State Senator Pat Jehlen

 Probably the most urgent issue in our state is the cost of housing. It’s a big part of the reason shelters are full and the state is limiting access. I’ll write about lots of end-of-session news soon.

On August 11, 1834, an Ursuline Convent on Mt. Benedict, in what is now Somerville, was vandalized and then burned to the ground by an anti-Catholic mob.
Author and Salem State Professor Emeritus Nancy Schultz explores the tensions over class, gender, religion, ethnicity, and education that fueled the convent’s destruction at Aeronaut Brewery.

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the City of Somerville’s Department of Racial and Social Justice (RSJ) are sharing an opportunity for community members to join the vital work of the City’s Anti-Displacement Task Force (ADTF) by contributing their experiences with displacement for a public video series the ADTF is creating to show how displacement affects real people in Somerville and why anti-displacement efforts are so important to helping our community stay together. 

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Here we are staring down Labor Day weekend. In the old days we would go to our camper up in New Hampshire for the weekend. We would also rent a room at Old Orchard Beach which was a lot of fun. We did that for years. The kids grew out of spending all their time with their parents.

City of Somerville, has reached a new agreement with the union representing its Emergency Telecommunicators (Police Dispatchers) for a new contract. ~Photos courtesy of City of Somerville

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, on behalf of the City of Somerville, has reached a new agreement with the union representing its Emergency Telecommunicators (Police Dispatchers) for a new contract, providing improved wages and benefits for a vital group of the City’s public safety workforce.

Former Red Sox stars Lou Merloni and Jonathan Papelbon will play in the 30th annual Abbot Financial Management Oldtime Baseball Game on Thursday, August 22 at St. Peter’s Field in Cambridge. The pregame program begins at 7:00 p.m.

The game is being played as a fundraiser for The Boston Home, a non-profit residence and national resource for adults with advanced neurological disorders, primarily multiple sclerosis.