The Boston Comedy Festival turns twenty and while it is not quite old enough to buy you a drink it is old enough to make you laugh until beer comes out of your nose.

This year the Boston Comedy Festival kicks off on Tuesday, November 12 that the prestigious Rockwell Theater in Davis Square, Somerville and it will keep roaring there all week with two shows a night featuring the newest faces in comedy. The festival wraps up at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square on Saturday, November 16 at 8:30 p.m. when one very funny soon to be famous human will be crowned the 2018 Boston Comedy Festival Champion taking home a $10,000 check along with bragging rights as the best new comic in Boston.

Caregiving is an inter-generational effort for Lisa (right), Manuel (second from left) and Gloria (center). The family enjoys monthly support and assistance from Allison (left) and Donna (second from right), of the Adult Family Care program.

By Nathan Lamb

Surrounded by his artwork and mementos of the many lives he’s touched, Manuel loves his home in Somerville.

On this day he’s at the kitchen table, telling the story of how an art student at his last job painted a large portrait of  him, which hangs on a nearby wall.

Somerville immigrant advocates discuss potential “public charge” rule changes

By Keminni Amanor, Somerville Neighborhood News

Immigration advocates and allies expressed alarm at certain immigration rule changes the Trump administration was proposing that would primarily affect low-income individuals and families during a meeting at City Hall on October 10.

A proud 2010 graduate of Somerville High School’s Center for Career and Technical Education (CTE), Tony Dasilva has been volunteering for over a decade with CTE’s Automotive shop. Tony organizes and stocks supplies, helps with engine assembly and repair, cleans equipment and spaces, and hangs with staff and students. Tony’s smile and energy fill the room when he talks about his work with Automotive staff and helping out. Tony’s mom Joan says “We tried another program (outside of SPS) but Tony didn’t feel comfortable there. He knows and trusts staff here, and they truly make him one of the family.

(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 Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone

A monthly look at ways to get involved with your city: Don’t just live in Somerville, be Somerville!

Don’t Forget to Vote, November 5

Remember to visit your polling place on Tuesday, November 5, to cast your ballot in the municipal election. This year there are contested races for Mayor, Councilor-at-Large, and Ward 3 School Committee. Polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and if you’re not sure where you vote, you can use the address lookup tool at www.somervillema.gov/mysomerville to find out. Because of ongoing construction at Somerville High School, the polling locations for Ward 3 Precincts 1 and 2 have been relocated. Ward 3 Precinct 1 residents will vote at Properzi Manor, 13-25 Warren Ave., and Ward 3 Precinct 2 residents will vote at the Cummings School, using the entrance at 42 Prescott St. You can fine more information about the upcoming election and voting at www.somervillema.gov/elections.

Scary and not-so-scary fun seekers took part in the festivities at last Sunday’s “Monster Mashed-Up” extravaganza on Somerville Ave. ~Photos by Claudia Ferro

The last SomerStreets festival of the year, the spooky and fun “Monster Mashed-Up” took place last Sunday on Somerville Ave. between Union Square and Park St.

SomerStreets is the City of Somerville’s take on the internationally renowned Open Streets concept, closing busy city streets to vehicles, and opening them up for cycling, walking, dancing, running, and other modes of activity. Through SomerStreets, the city and its community partners aim to promote and encourage easy access to physical activity, fresh foods, and reconnecting with neighborhoods and businesses and their unique cultural elements in a thriving urban environment.

By Jim Clark

Somerville Police officers and EMT’s were dispatched to the intersection of Beacon St. and Beacon Pl. last Saturday for a motor vehicle accident.

Upon arrival, police were met by two ambulances and three fire units. The officers observed a motor vehicle situated at an angle with the driver side damaged.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

I heard these wise words on a Kia commercial: “The problem of holding onto the past, is that if we’re always looking back, we can’t see what’s coming.”

I am proud to have been part of the team that competed for and won the 2009 All America City award. It was a great bunch of Somer-Villens who worked hard together for months. The contingent consisted of former and current elected officials, folks with diverse ethnic backgrounds longtime and newly arrived residents, old and young. We spread the Somerville spirit and conveyed our city’s determination for improvement, progress, and growth. I think we should all reassess our pride in Somerville with its colorful past and encouraging future.

The City Council is asking the Chief of Police and the Chief Fire Engineer to share information gleaned from their meetings with Spectra Energy relating to possible risks public safety posed by gas pipelines.

By Jim Clark

An order was put forward at the latest regular meeting of the Somerville City Council asking that the Chief of Police and the Chief Fire Engineer provide an update on upcoming and past meetings with Spectra Energy (now Enbridge) related to the Algonquin Gas Transmission line and the J2 loop and any communications on risks and safety procedures related to those pipelines.

On October 5, nine city council candidates and two mayoral candidates appeared before an audience of 75 climate change preparedness advocates and answered tough questions about how Somerville will prepare for, and in any way possible lessen or prevent, the many impacts we will face in the near future.

A number of questions for and responses by candidates for Councilor At-Large are presented here to help you decide who should get your vote: