Michelle Malone.
— Photo by Clay Miller

By Blake Maddux

“My brother had a guitar and he told me not to touch it,” singer, songwriter, and guitarist Michelle Malone says. “That’s how I became a guitar player, because all I wanted to do was play the damn guitar because he told me not to!”

— Photo by Bobbie Toner

The Little Sisters of the Poor announced this week with sadness, that they will be withdrawing from Jeanne Jugan Residence in Somerville. The Sisters met with the residents, their families, lay associates, staff and volunteers sharing their decision.

The Somerville Community Growing Center hopes you can join in for its Harvest Festival on Sunday, September 29, 2:30 – 5:00 p.m., 22 Vinal Ave, Somerville. Free to all, donations are welcome.

Celebrate Pollinators and Migration. In honor of all the creatures and people who make harvest of the food we eat possible, come join in a visual and auditory feast and participatory activities.

There will be a Public Hearing before the City Council’s Committee on Public Health and Public Safety, on Wednesday, September 18, 2019, at 6:00 p.m., in the Somerville High School Auditorium, 81 Highland Avenue, on the Order of Councilor Jesse Clingan, Chair of the Committee, for public input on airplane noise in Somerville.     

Stanley “Stan” M. Koty, Jr. passed away suddenly on September 12, 2019, he was 64. Born in Cambridge he was the cherished son of the late Barbara (Magrath) and Stanley M. Koty, Sr.

Beloved husband of 43 years to Gay (Russell) Koty. Devoted father Stanley “Chip” M. Koty, III of Peabody, Russell Koty and his wife Michelle of Billerica, Alison Fernandes and her husband Mark of Canton and Caroline Koty of Somerville. Cherished grandfather of Gianna Miranda, James Fernandes and one on the way. Dear brother of Diane Glenn and her husband Brad of North Reading and uncle of Kassondra and Jason Glenn.

Ball Square Festival planned for 9/22; Gilman Square Block Party set for 9/28

Construction for the Green Line Extension Project (GLX) is in full force, and the City of Somerville has partnered with local organizations to host events at locations for several of the future GLX stations. Please join us for the following events this month, and stay tuned for additional events as GLX construction continues.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced last week $33.6 million in direct assistance grants to 166 fire departments nationwide through the agency’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. Additional phases will soon be announced.

The Somerville Fire Department will receive $77,047 from FEMA for an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG). The grant will be used for Mass Casualty and Active Shooter training for Somerville’s firefighters.

(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 Joseph A. Curtatone

The Greater Boston housing crisis is a complex problem that will require a variety of approaches to fix. In Somerville, we’ve been taking steps like building more housing, adopting our 20% inclusionary housing requirement, establishing a community land trust, opening our Office of Housing Stability, and enacting new regulations that will help keep more housing units on the market. But many of these steps will take time to have a broad impact, and we need to help the many people struggling to pay their rent now.

By Jim Clark

According to reports by the Massachusetts State Police, a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle, believed to have been a garbage truck, this afternoon at approximately 2:30 p.m.

The victim, who is said to have sustained life-threatening injuries, was taken to the hospital for treatment.

(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 Matt Harutunian, Edith Mooers, and Tara Ten Eyck

Dear Editor,

The MIT RNAV Study has reached a point at which the communities impacted by the 2013 implementation of the 33L RNAV Standard Instrument Departure (SID) procedure are being asked to provide feedback to Massport about which proposed dispersion concepts are most desirable – and equitable – to our cities.