Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

I can’t believe 1969 was 50 years ago. You could buy a house in Somerville for about $17,000. Gas cost 35 cents a gallon. All our favorite stores were still around. It was way before Assembly Square and the Davis Square Red Line. The anti-war, and hippie movements were ramping up.

The Massachusetts State Police continue to investigate a hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian that occurred in Somerville early Sunday morning. The victim was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital with serious injuries and died a result of those injuries a day later.

The D2 block is phase one of several phases. The completed project will include eleven green open spaces on 3.6 acres of the total 15-acre development.

By Denise Keniston

On Thursday, August 22, the Somerville Planning Board approved phase one of the Union Square Revitalization Project, a $1.5 billion mixed-use transit-oriented development in Union Square known as USQ.

Former Somerville Mayor Eugene Brune received a commendation by the City Council last week commemorating his 90th birthday and thanking him for his many years of devoted service to the city.

By Jim Clark

At the latest meeting of the Somerville City Council, former Somerville Mayor Eugene Brune was honored with a citation from the Council on the occasion of his 90th birthday.

The City of Somerville Elections Department is seeking polling place workers for the Tuesday, September 10, preliminary election. To be eligible to work in a polling place you must be a registered Massachusetts voter. Polling place workers are paid $165 for the day and work from 6:30 a.m. until shortly after the polls close at 8 p.m. with a two-hour break. For more information, please contact Maria Pierotti at 617-625-6600 ext. 4200 or mpierotti@somervillema.gov.

L to R: Priyadarshini Kumar, ELA/Humanities teacher at Edwards Middle School; Jeff Bellows, VP of Corporate Citizenship + Public Affairs at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts; and Erin McAleer, President of Project Bread.

One in nine children in Massachusetts lives in a food insecure household. When children are hungry, it impacts their focus and learning abilities in the classroom. Concerned teachers across the Commonwealth are going above and beyond, often tapping into personal resources, to ensure students are nourished throughout the school day.

(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.)

Powder House Blvd used to be the prettiest, safest street in Somerville. It was a tree lined street with plenty of light. Besides the usual 5 o’clock traffic most cars that traveled the Blvd were residents of the West Somerville neighborhood.

If there is one thing that most Somerville residents can agree on it’s the importance of supporting initiatives that help solve the problem of addiction and recovery in our community and others.

In recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) on Saturday, August 31, and National Recovery Month in September, advocates and officials in Somerville have united in their call for Somervillians to observe both events in a few simple but powerful ways. From displaying purple lights and ribbons to attending vigils and events, residents can send a message of support and hope for recovery.

Eagle Feathers #186 – Man’s Best Friend

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

John Winthrop kept a record book that gave a clear picture of his early life at Ten Hills. He wrote about October 11, 1631, when he took an after-supper walk, got lost in the direction of today’s Tufts University, and after a fearful night around a campfire, safely returned the next day.

Virtual Reality Demo & Open House

Wednesday, August 28 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Come have fun and explore our new Virtual Reality station at VOX POP. Adam Stone, Studio & Technical Manager at Somerville Media Center will host a fun interactive session for the community. They will have Google Tilt Brush which lets you paint in 3D space with virtual reality. Unleash your creativity with three-dimensional brush strokes, stars, light, and even fire. You can also play with Beat Saber, a VR rhythm game, where your goal is to slash the beats which fit perfectly into precisely handcrafted music.