David Colombo, “Celebrating Cimmerian Mirth”. — Photos by Jeffrey Shwom

Brickbottom Artists Association and Gallery and Joy Street Studios presented their annual Open Studios, featuring over 65 artists in The Brickbottom Artists Building and roughly 20 at Joy Street Studios.

A draft of the City of Somerville’s Armory Master Plan has been released, with a final version expected to be adopted by next month. — Photo courtesy of Arts at the Armory

After an extensive community process, the City of Somerville has released a draft Somerville Armory Master Plan, a roadmap of how to best preserve and envision a future for the Armory building, located at 191 Highland Ave., as a thriving community arts center for years to come.

Start shopping at smaller stores to support Somerville’s economy.

By Cathleen Twardzik

Small Business Saturday is November 30, in just a few days. That’s why it’s paramount to shop locally in Somerville at small places, such as Magpie.

So why shop locally in more detail? “We think shopping locally is important to support local artists and keep your neighbors employed. Shopping locally supports generations of community [members],” said Heaven Euvrard, Co-Manager/Consignment Sales Magpie. She has worked at the shop for more than two years.

The city’s Climate Forward goals were, among other things, discussed by the Central Somerville Avenue Project group at their recent meeting.

By Katherine Davis   

On Monday, November 18, the Central Somerville Avenue Project group met to go over the summaries from that morning’s workshops on infrastructure and zoning in the proposed development area.

We here at The Times wish everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday. As we approach holiday gift shopping don’t forget to shop local to support local businesses. City offices will be closed on Thursday, November 28, and Friday, November 29, for Thanksgiving. Trash, recycling, and yard waste collection will be delayed by one day. All Somerville Public Library locations will be closed after 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27, all day Thursday, November 28, and all day Friday, November 29 for the Thanksgiving holiday. Regular hours will resume on Saturday, November 30. The Council on Aging will be closed on November 28 and Friday, November 29 in observance of Thanksgiving.

— Photos by Jeffrey Shwom

This past Thursday, a laughing audience took in Atomic Comedy’s Indie Improv Night at ROOTED Café in Somerville at the Armory. Three acts included players from Stop That Baby! (like Addy Gover, Emma Hobbs, Harry Pearce, and Drew Briggs) and the Atomic Comedy All-Stars (Amy Clare Parker). Sketches included a town in New Jersey with only coast land everywhere, three Elton Johns (one who was Melting John) and a raspy-voiced school janitor who mixed dangerous chemicals to give to adults and children. Hosted every Third Thursday of the month by Addy, who also organized a monthly LGBTQ+ Improv Comedy Community Meetup.
—  Jeffrey Shwom

Eagle Feathers #318 – Thanksgiving – 420 years

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

In the autumn of 1621, the custom of Thanksgiving in America was first announced by Governor Bradford of the Plymouth Colony. This tradition was created to give thanks for the survival of the European immigrants who fled religious and self-governing intolerance and survived the grueling sixty-six-day voyage across the stormy Atlantic Ocean.

Giving thanks for our blessings is normally an easy thing to do. We may often get caught up in the day-to-day trappings of scratching out a living, ducking misfortune, and seeking out an occasional highlight to add to our mental scrapbooks. Usually, though, we come around to feeling and expressing that special sense of appreciation and gratitude that comes in moments of qui-et reflection just in time to validate ourselves as worthy recipients of such blessings.

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Review by Off the Shelf Correspondent Ed Meek

 A creative literary take on the mystery novel

In Egypt when someone dies, relatives hire professional mourners to help the family and friends grieve. Jews sit shiva for seven days after the death of a close one. For many of us though, there is a funeral mass and service. Then, we are expected to get on with our lives. Alina Grabowski delves into the way women in a small town process the tragic death of a high school girl.