Master fiddler Jamie Laval returns to the Greater Boston area on Wednesday, November 6 at The Burren in Somerville. Jamie is recognized throughout the U.S. and Britain as one of the premier performers of traditional Celtic music on the international music scene today.

The popular Burren Backroom Series is presented by Boston’s Brian O’Donovan, host of the beloved A Celtic Sojourn on WGBH and producer of Celtic music for over thirty years.

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Donald Norton passed away last week. He was a great guy, tough when he needed to be, but with a heart of gold. Donald brought me on the paper 18 years ago, and it has been a wonderful ride ever since.

Donald Norton has lived in Somerville all of his 68 years. And if there is one thing that most people can agree on about this important figure in our city, it is that he has an unabashed love for Somerville. Norton, once the owner of The Somerville Times, is now the Managing Editor. The ownership of the paper is now in the hands of his longtime friend Ross Blouin. I met with Norton at my usual spot at the Bloc 11 Café in Union Square. Norton is a fount of information about the “Paris of New England,” and he had a plethora of anecdotes about the old city, and his view of things to come.

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Richard E. Brenneman, a native of rural Missouri, has returned to writing poetry after retirement from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He has been published in The Rimrock Poets Magazine, and The Denver Post Magazine in Colorado, in San Jose, California and also in England. He has lived in Boston for the past three decades.

Arrests:
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John Elwell, of Malden, October 7, 10:42 p.m., arrested at Dartmouth St. on multiple warrant charges of shoplifting by asportation.

Nicholas Steriti, October 8, 3:26 a.m., arrested at Pearson Rd. on warrant charges of distribution of a class C drug, possession of a class B drug, destruction of property over $1200, and felony nighttime breaking and entering.

FREE Halloween event features safe trick-or-treating, pumpkin decorating, activities for kids, and more!

 Join the City of Somerville on Thursday, October 24, for the annual “Haunted Hall” event on the City Hall concourse from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The family-friendly event will feature costumed safe Trick-or-Treating, giant pumpkin decorating, games and activities, refreshments, and more. Due to construction at Somerville High School, the haunted pathway element of the event will be replaced this year with painting giant pumpkins as well as children’s games, sponsored by the Somerville Recreation Department.

In observance of Indigenous People’s Day on Mon., October 14, city offices will be closed, there will be no street sweeping, and parking meters & residential parking passes will not be enforced. Trash & recycling collection will be on a one-day delay all week.

For more information, please contact 311 (617-666-3311).

October 17 marks the 60th wedding anniversary of Thomas (Pete) and Jacqueline Peters. It has been an incredible marriage for these two beautiful people. Pete was born in Pennsylvania and enlisted in the Navy. While in the Navy and stationed in Boston, Pete met Jackie (who has lived in Somerville her entire life) at the Bal-a-Roue Skating rink in Medford. They dated for several years before being married at St. Joseph’s Church in Union Square. They have three daughters: Jacqueline, Patricia and Christine; five grandchildren: Natasha, Neena, Kimberlee, Domenic and Nicholas; and one great granddaughter: Aspen. Congratulations Pete and Jackie.

Public greenways along the Mystic River are undergoing great changes for the better thanks to contributions by Encore Boston Harbor casino and Somerville Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding.

The Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) applauds the extraordinary progress being made to revitalize and connect public greenways along the Mystic River and its tributaries. Since breaking ground in 2016, the Encore Boston Harbor casino has been the highest profile project on the Mystic River. What is less obvious is that many other waterfront parks and walk/bike paths involving tens of millions of dollars of new investment are also underway.

The Kennedy Pool has been undergoing a needed renovation project. The pool re-opened on October 10th with Adult Lap Swim and Family Swim from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Please see the online calendar for the Kennedy pool schedule.

Through Traffic to Be Restored Five Months Early
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As Green Line Extension construction has progressed, the MBTA announced this week that a new schedule has been determined that will restore through traffic on Washington St. five months earlier than previously anticipated.